WEBVTT

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 Thanks very much, Derek. Good morning, everyone. I'll repeat the welcome as I gave you.

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 Really good to have you with us, whether in person or electronically.

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 It will help if you keep your Bibles open so you can refer to the passage as we go along.

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 I want to start this morning with an Only Connect type question.

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 So I'm going to show four pictures on the screen, and you have to think, what is it that links?

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 And I've not got buzzers, I'm not expecting you to shout out, but if you get after two or three,

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 you can give yourself a pat on the back.

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 So here are the four pictures.

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 First one is a rainbow.

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 The second one is a sandy beach and a starry sky.

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 I'm sure a lot of people are getting there pretty quickly.

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 The third one is a wooden box covered and decorated in gold.

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 And then the fourth picture is a glass of wine.

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 I think some puzzle faces, some people have clearly got it.

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 They're all signs of covenants in the Bible.

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 The rainbow was the sign of the covenant that God made with Noah,

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 that he would never destroy the earth again with a flood.

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 The stars and the sand are the covenant God made with Abraham,

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 when God said that his descendants would be as many as the sand on the seashore

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 or the stars in the sky.

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 The wooden box is the Ark of the Covenant.

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 It's representative of the covenant God made with Noah and with the Israelites.

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 And in the Ark of the Covenant, among other things,

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 were the tablets with the commandments on them.

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 And then the glass of wine is a symbol of the covenant that Jesus made with us,

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 the new covenant.

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 It is part of what we call communion.

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 And Jesus said,

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 this cup is the cup of the new covenant in my blood.

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 Four Bible covenants.

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 There are more,

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 but four key ones that are represented by these symbols.

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 A covenant is simply an agreement or a mutual commitment.

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 Let me give you an example of a modern day covenant.

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 When you go to a wedding,

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 then the bride and the groom,

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 they make their vows,

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 and they make commitments to each other that are for life.

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 Before the congregation,

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 before God,

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 they promise to be faithful,

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 they promise to love one another,

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 and all the other things that are part of the marriage ceremony.

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 That is a covenant,

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 people making an agreement,

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 committing themselves to one another.

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 And in a covenant,

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 we have commitments,

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 and we have reasonable expectations of the parties to the covenant.

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 And the covenants in the Bible are just that.

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 They are commitments made by God to his people,

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 with a corresponding commitment by the people to God.

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 One difference from any other covenants

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 is that the covenant isn't negotiated.

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 It's not something that both parties discuss and agree to.

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 God says the terms of the covenant,

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 because he is the great creator,

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 but they are fair,

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 and they demonstrate his love and concern for us.

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 Now,

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 when we come to the Old Testament,

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 and particularly the prophets of the Old Testament,

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 including Malachi,

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 the prophets are covenant enforcers.

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 They are largely there to remind the people of the covenant

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 that God has made with them,

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 and their responsibilities under it.

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 And that's very much the case in the book of Malachi.

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 You can see Malachi as being based around six disputes.

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 Six disputes between God and the Jewish nation.

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 And in both of them,

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 all of them,

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 God says something,

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 and the people respond in some kind of way.

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 And then God explains why generally the people are wrong.

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 So the first dispute,

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 the people say,

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 well,

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 how does God love us?

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 We're not doing very well physically.

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 Has God broken his part of the covenant?

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 And God says,

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 no,

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 I've not broken my covenant.

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 I still love you.

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 And then he goes on to make it clear

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 that the covenant has actually been broken by the people.

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 That they've despised God.

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 That they've not followed God in the way they should.

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 That they've given substandard sacrifices.

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 Given the worst of their animals rather than the best.

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 That they've been unfaithful.

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 Unfaithful in marriage,

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 but also unfaithful to God.

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 And in our passage today,

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 God says,

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 you've robbed me.

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 Strong language,

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 isn't it?

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 God says,

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 you have robbed me.

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 So we're going to think about what that means.

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 And we're going to think about what it means for us.

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 And I think this is very relevant for us.

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 Because if we think about what's happening here,

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 we have a people who think that they're okay with God.

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 God says,

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 this is not like it was in the time of Elijah,

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 when you had a king, Ahab,

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 who was totally opposed to God

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 and everything he stood for.

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 Not even like the time of Jeremiah,

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 where Jeremiah preached God's word.

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 And because of that,

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 he was thrown into prison

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 and put in a pit.

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 In these circumstances,

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 the nation was in many ways opposed to God.

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 And they were judged for it.

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 But in this situation we're looking at today,

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 the people were saying,

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 we are God's people.

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 We follow God.

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 We live for God.

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 And they're thinking God's not doing his part of the bargain.

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 And God's saying,

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 no,

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 actually what's happened

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 is that you're not keeping your part of the covenant.

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 You're not doing what you committed to do.

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 So let's say we'll go through the passage first

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 and try and work out what it means

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 in its original context for the people of God.

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 And then we'll go back through it again

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 and we'll learn some lessons for today.

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 So three headings as we think about the original meaning,

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 an unceasing covenant,

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 an uncomfortable claim,

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 and an unchanged commitment.

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 So we'll start to take it verses six

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 and the beginning of verse seven.

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 And God says,

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 you need to return to me.

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 That's in every part of verse seven.

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 Return to me and I will return to you.

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 Now for a people to return to God,

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 they must have gone away from God,

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 mustn't they?

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 They can't have been living the way

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 that God expected them to do.

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 And having broken the covenant,

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 you might think,

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 well, God could have rejected his people.

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 God would have said,

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 right, that's it.

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 The covenant's been broken.

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 I'm having no more to do with you.

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 But God says,

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 no, I'm not like that.

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 I don't change.

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 You may have broken the covenant,

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 but I am still adhering to the covenant

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 if you meet the conditions attached to it.

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 I'm not just a God who demands of you.

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 And if you don't do what I say,

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 I'll destroy you.

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 Rather, I'm a God who is merciful

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 and who understands your weaknesses

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 and has mercy on you

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 and not destroying you.

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 But I'm a God of justice.

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 And the law demands that you do

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 the things that I have said.

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 And if you don't do it,

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 the law says you will lose out on my blessing.

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 So in this case,

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 the crops weren't yielding

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 what the people expected them to.

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 They were going through a period

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 when physically things were quite hard for them.

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 And God says,

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 I could have destroyed you.

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 I could have said,

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 I want no more to do with you.

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 But my covenant is still intact.

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 In fact, return to me

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 and I will return to you.

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 I am a merciful God

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 and his covenant hadn't stopped.

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 He then makes what I've called

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 an uncomfortable claim.

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 So the people come back and say,

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 well, how can we return?

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 We've never left you.

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 Why are we to return?

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 And God says,

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 you robbed me.

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 You have taken things that are mine

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 and have treated them

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 as if they were yours.

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 The people say,

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 well, how is that?

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 How have we robbed you?

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 And God said,

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 you haven't given

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 what you were due to give

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 under the covenant.

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 You haven't given the tithes

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 and offerings

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 that were due to me.

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 Let's just take a minute

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 to think about tithes.

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 It's a concept

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 that will be familiar to many people,

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 but perhaps not to everyone.

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 So tithing is giving to God.

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 Why do we do it?

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 Why should the Israelites do it?

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 Because everything we have

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 comes from God.

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 Nothing that is ours

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 is because of us

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 or because we are wonderful.

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 It is because God

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 has so graciously provided

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 this wonderful world

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 we live in

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 and everything in it.

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 it all belongs to him

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 and we are simply giving back

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 something that comes

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 from God.

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 Giving it in this case

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 to some extent

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 out of duty

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 because the covenant said

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 that the Israelites

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 would give a tithe,

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 a tenth of everything

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 they had.

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 But also giving out of

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 love and thanksgiving.

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 Recognizing that our great God

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 is so generous to us

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 and has given us

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 so bountifully.

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 So a tithe is a recognition

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 of all that we have

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 comes from God.

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 And in the Old Testament context,

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 as the Israelites

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 gave their tithe,

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 what it was

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 was a tenth of all

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 their crops,

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 their fruit,

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 and their livestock.

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 Ten percent of everything

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 that they made,

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 everything that came to them,

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 was to be given to God.

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 They could give on top of that.

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 They could give additional offerings

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 to show their love for God

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 and for all that he had done

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 for them.

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 But ten percent,

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 one tenth,

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 was the minimum.

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 And it wasn't just to show

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 their obedience

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 and their love to God.

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 It had a specific purpose

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 as well.

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 The tithe went towards

00:10:50.620 --> 00:10:51.460
 God's work,

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 God's workers,

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 the Levites,

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 the Levites and the priests,

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 and the poor.

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 And there are various rules

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 about how it was

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 divided up

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 and how it was

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 to be given.

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 But it was for God's work

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 for those who served God

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 full time

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 and it was for those

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 who were going through

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 times of particular need.

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 And if people gave

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 generously,

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 if they gave their tithe

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 and did it willingly

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 and maybe on top of that,

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 then says God,

00:11:21.160 --> 00:11:23.259
 I will bless you.

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 And the outcome

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 of being obedient to God

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 was that the people

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 experienced his blessing

00:11:29.179 --> 00:11:29.980
 in their lives

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 and at that time

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 it was largely talking

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 about a physical blessing.

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 The nation was at peace,

00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:36.639
 didn't have other nations

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 round about

00:11:37.220 --> 00:11:38.500
 trying to take it,

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 or it was that they had

00:11:40.379 --> 00:11:41.080
 good crops

00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:43.539
 that God prospered them.

00:11:44.559 --> 00:11:45.299
 And God says,

00:11:45.299 --> 00:11:46.500
 you've been robbing me

00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:48.799
 by not giving your tithe.

00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:50.600
 Now notice what he says,

00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:50.819
 he says,

00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:52.439
 give all your tithe.

00:11:52.440 --> 00:11:53.520
 So it wasn't that

00:11:53.520 --> 00:11:54.600
 the Israelites had said,

00:11:54.900 --> 00:11:56.020
 we're not giving God anything.

00:11:56.440 --> 00:11:57.440
 We're going to keep it

00:11:57.440 --> 00:11:59.000
 all for ourselves.

00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:00.660
 They were making

00:12:00.660 --> 00:12:01.880
 a bit of an effort

00:12:01.880 --> 00:12:03.160
 but not enough.

00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:04.780
 They were thinking

00:12:04.780 --> 00:12:06.640
 a bit is enough for God,

00:12:06.800 --> 00:12:07.900
 doesn't really matter

00:12:07.900 --> 00:12:09.220
 if it's not the full amount

00:12:09.220 --> 00:12:11.200
 that he's asked for.

00:12:11.680 --> 00:12:12.380
 And God says,

00:12:12.520 --> 00:12:12.800
 no,

00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:14.400
 the covenant says,

00:12:14.740 --> 00:12:15.620
 give your 10%,

00:12:15.620 --> 00:12:16.780
 give your tithe,

00:12:17.080 --> 00:12:18.840
 that is what I expect

00:12:18.840 --> 00:12:20.000
 from you.

00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:21.919
 And then finally,

00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:22.879
 as we look quickly

00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:23.779
 through this section,

00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:26.279
 there is an unchanged commitment

00:12:26.279 --> 00:12:28.919
 and that in verses 10 to 12.

00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:32.100
 Throughout the Old Testament,

00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:33.419
 God has said,

00:12:33.580 --> 00:12:35.080
 if my people honour me,

00:12:35.460 --> 00:12:36.980
 then I will honour them

00:12:36.980 --> 00:12:39.940
 and they will know my blessing.

00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:42.379
 And he says the same thing here

00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:43.899
 in quite colourful language.

00:12:43.899 --> 00:12:45.419
 He says,

00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:46.579
 I will throw open

00:12:46.579 --> 00:12:48.179
 the floodgates of heaven

00:12:48.179 --> 00:12:50.759
 and pour out so much blessing

00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:52.720
 there will not be enough room

00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:53.919
 to store it.

00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:55.639
 I think when he talks

00:12:55.639 --> 00:12:56.679
 about opening the floodgates

00:12:56.679 --> 00:12:57.179
 of heaven,

00:12:57.500 --> 00:12:58.480
 he is talking particularly

00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:00.299
 about the rains coming.

00:13:00.959 --> 00:13:01.699
 Perhaps the rains

00:13:01.699 --> 00:13:02.539
 had been withheld

00:13:02.539 --> 00:13:04.579
 because of the disobedience

00:13:04.579 --> 00:13:05.299
 of the people.

00:13:05.819 --> 00:13:07.519
 God will provide enough rain

00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:08.379
 and more

00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:09.699
 so that they can get

00:13:09.699 --> 00:13:11.259
 the best possible crop

00:13:11.259 --> 00:13:12.659
 from their land.

00:13:12.659 --> 00:13:14.399
 And alongside it,

00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:15.039
 he says,

00:13:15.319 --> 00:13:16.659
 I'll also stop the pests

00:13:16.659 --> 00:13:18.000
 devouring your crops,

00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:19.159
 the locusts

00:13:19.159 --> 00:13:19.620
 and the others

00:13:19.620 --> 00:13:20.379
 that would come in

00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:21.439
 and would take

00:13:21.439 --> 00:13:22.779
 the valuable crops

00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:23.459
 from the people

00:13:23.459 --> 00:13:24.939
 and I'll make sure

00:13:24.939 --> 00:13:26.100
 the grapes don't fall

00:13:26.100 --> 00:13:26.899
 from the vine

00:13:26.899 --> 00:13:28.980
 before they're ripe.

00:13:29.719 --> 00:13:30.319
 In other words,

00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:31.079
 God says,

00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:33.079
 if you honour me,

00:13:33.839 --> 00:13:35.120
 if you give me

00:13:35.120 --> 00:13:36.579
 what is due to me,

00:13:37.100 --> 00:13:38.639
 you won't lose out

00:13:38.639 --> 00:13:40.759
 because I will bless you

00:13:40.759 --> 00:13:41.899
 abundantly.

00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:44.539
 I wonder if in the

00:13:44.539 --> 00:13:45.480
 background here

00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:47.000
 the people are saying,

00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:48.240
 well, we've not got

00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:49.539
 very much at the moment.

00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:51.639
 We're not very well off

00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:52.480
 because our crops

00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:54.059
 haven't been particularly good.

00:13:54.579 --> 00:13:55.620
 So we're going to have

00:13:55.620 --> 00:13:56.919
 to cut back on the amount

00:13:56.919 --> 00:13:58.039
 that we give to God.

00:13:58.639 --> 00:13:59.860
 We're going to have to give

00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:00.860
 less than 10%

00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:02.500
 because we're not feeling

00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:03.299
 very well off

00:14:03.299 --> 00:14:04.519
 and it's going to hurt us

00:14:04.519 --> 00:14:06.319
 if we give more.

00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:08.500
 And God is then saying to him,

00:14:08.539 --> 00:14:09.279
 no, you've got it

00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:10.299
 the wrong way round.

00:14:10.299 --> 00:14:12.559
 You don't expect me

00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:13.240
 to bless you

00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:14.939
 and then you will get

00:14:14.939 --> 00:14:15.979
 the blessing.

00:14:17.099 --> 00:14:18.299
 And then you can give to me,

00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:18.539
 rather.

00:14:18.599 --> 00:14:19.439
 Don't expect me to bless you

00:14:19.439 --> 00:14:20.699
 and then you give to me.

00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:22.359
 Rather, you do your part

00:14:22.359 --> 00:14:23.959
 and I will then

00:14:23.959 --> 00:14:25.479
 bless you.

00:14:26.479 --> 00:14:27.599
 So that, broadly speaking,

00:14:27.659 --> 00:14:28.979
 is what the passage says.

00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:30.000
 And then at the end,

00:14:30.039 --> 00:14:31.299
 there's this wonderful thing

00:14:31.299 --> 00:14:32.199
 that the Lord says

00:14:32.199 --> 00:14:33.379
 is not just going to be

00:14:33.379 --> 00:14:34.199
 for you.

00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:36.580
 all the nations round about

00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:37.620
 will see

00:14:37.620 --> 00:14:39.240
 what a delightful land

00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:40.040
 you have.

00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:40.620
 In other words,

00:14:40.680 --> 00:14:42.040
 as God's people obey him,

00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:43.840
 as God blesses them,

00:14:44.300 --> 00:14:45.240
 then the people around

00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:46.040
 look on enviously

00:14:46.040 --> 00:14:46.620
 and say,

00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:47.300
 this nation

00:14:47.300 --> 00:14:48.440
 which God has blessed,

00:14:48.700 --> 00:14:49.620
 how can we get

00:14:49.620 --> 00:14:50.280
 that blessing?

00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:51.720
 Why is God

00:14:51.720 --> 00:14:52.720
 so wonderfully

00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:54.100
 doing this

00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:54.780
 to them?

00:14:54.840 --> 00:14:55.879
 They will be called

00:14:55.879 --> 00:14:56.720
 blessed.

00:14:58.520 --> 00:14:59.100
 So how does that

00:14:59.100 --> 00:14:59.820
 apply to us?

00:14:59.820 --> 00:15:03.040
 A lot of Old Testament passages

00:15:03.040 --> 00:15:04.640
 we can't just take

00:15:04.640 --> 00:15:05.360
 and say,

00:15:05.480 --> 00:15:06.560
 here's what happened then.

00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:07.740
 Exactly the same thing

00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:08.660
 must apply to us.

00:15:08.900 --> 00:15:10.120
 Let's just move it over

00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:11.820
 and put a Christian context

00:15:11.820 --> 00:15:12.840
 to it.

00:15:13.320 --> 00:15:14.580
 We have to look at passages

00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:15.540
 in the context

00:15:15.540 --> 00:15:16.720
 in which they were written

00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:18.740
 and in the circumstances

00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:20.240
 of the time.

00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:21.700
 So let's go back

00:15:21.700 --> 00:15:22.360
 through the passage

00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:23.700
 and let's think

00:15:23.700 --> 00:15:25.440
 how it might apply to us.

00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:26.500
 And I've got three G's

00:15:26.500 --> 00:15:27.380
 for this section.

00:15:27.500 --> 00:15:28.300
 The same verse is

00:15:28.300 --> 00:15:28.780
 grace,

00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:29.780
 generosity,

00:15:29.820 --> 00:15:31.680
 and gain.

00:15:32.780 --> 00:15:33.700
 So to begin with,

00:15:33.740 --> 00:15:34.680
 as I said at the start,

00:15:34.760 --> 00:15:35.620
 we're talking about

00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:36.800
 a covenant here.

00:15:37.460 --> 00:15:38.140
 God's covenant

00:15:38.140 --> 00:15:39.160
 with the Israelites

00:15:39.160 --> 00:15:40.400
 under which

00:15:40.400 --> 00:15:41.620
 if they were obedient

00:15:41.620 --> 00:15:42.320
 to him,

00:15:42.680 --> 00:15:44.720
 he would bless them.

00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:46.020
 It was a covenant

00:15:46.020 --> 00:15:47.740
 based on God's law

00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:49.780
 and on what the people did

00:15:49.780 --> 00:15:51.520
 as they saw

00:15:51.520 --> 00:15:52.980
 and sought to obey

00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:54.100
 God's law.

00:15:54.800 --> 00:15:56.240
 Be obedient to God

00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:58.820
 and he will bless you.

00:15:59.820 --> 00:16:00.820
 Now we said

00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:00.840
 that we said

00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:01.340
 at the beginning

00:16:01.340 --> 00:16:02.640
 there is a new covenant,

00:16:02.780 --> 00:16:03.680
 a different covenant

00:16:03.680 --> 00:16:04.980
 that has been given

00:16:04.980 --> 00:16:07.080
 to us under Jesus.

00:16:08.020 --> 00:16:08.700
 And the basis

00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:09.760
 of this new covenant

00:16:09.760 --> 00:16:11.540
 is not that we do

00:16:11.540 --> 00:16:12.560
 lots of things,

00:16:12.680 --> 00:16:14.340
 that we obey God's law

00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:16.580
 and then he blesses us

00:16:16.580 --> 00:16:17.540
 for it.

00:16:18.280 --> 00:16:18.860
 Rather,

00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:19.680
 the new covenant

00:16:19.680 --> 00:16:21.700
 is based on God's grace

00:16:21.700 --> 00:16:24.080
 or on God's undeserved

00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:25.220
 favour on it.

00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:26.680
 And the basis

00:16:26.680 --> 00:16:27.700
 for the new covenant

00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:30.000
 is that God blesses us

00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:31.639
 and then in response

00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:32.080
 to that,

00:16:32.180 --> 00:16:33.600
 as a thanksgiving to that,

00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:34.759
 we are obedient

00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:36.100
 to what he calls us

00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:36.980
 to do.

00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:38.519
 Do you get the difference?

00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:39.779
 On the one hand,

00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:40.460
 you've got,

00:16:40.680 --> 00:16:41.379
 you do this

00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:42.779
 and you'll get the blessing.

00:16:43.740 --> 00:16:44.680
 On the other hand,

00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:46.000
 you've got the blessing.

00:16:46.680 --> 00:16:48.100
 Now it's your responsibility

00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:49.220
 to be obedient

00:16:49.820 --> 00:16:50.899
 to it.

00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:52.579
 The one covenant

00:16:52.579 --> 00:16:53.679
 based on the law,

00:16:54.179 --> 00:16:55.000
 the other covenant

00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:57.419
 based on God's grace.

00:16:58.899 --> 00:16:59.439
 But they do have

00:16:59.439 --> 00:17:00.379
 some things in common.

00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:02.019
 We talked about

00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:02.899
 God's justice

00:17:02.899 --> 00:17:04.920
 and God's mercy.

00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:06.599
 God's justice

00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:07.539
 in that if the people

00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:08.299
 didn't obey,

00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:09.519
 didn't keep the law,

00:17:09.859 --> 00:17:11.039
 then they would lose out,

00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:13.139
 the conditions of the law

00:17:13.139 --> 00:17:14.720
 would come into play.

00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:16.480
 God's mercy

00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:17.480
 that the people

00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:18.420
 weren't destroyed

00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:19.519
 even though

00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:20.700
 they hadn't obeyed

00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:22.100
 his law.

00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:24.120
 And the new covenant

00:17:24.120 --> 00:17:25.620
 is also based

00:17:25.620 --> 00:17:26.860
 on God's justice

00:17:26.860 --> 00:17:28.980
 and God's mercy.

00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:30.940
 God's justice

00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:31.640
 that says

00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:32.799
 if you sin,

00:17:33.080 --> 00:17:33.860
 then there are

00:17:33.860 --> 00:17:34.640
 consequences

00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:35.920
 of that.

00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:37.360
 That the person

00:17:37.360 --> 00:17:37.980
 who sins

00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:38.920
 deserves

00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:40.360
 God's divine wrath,

00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:41.279
 God's punishment

00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:42.779
 for what they've

00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:43.500
 done.

00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:45.740
 But there is justice

00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:46.680
 in the new covenant

00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:48.019
 because Jesus

00:17:48.019 --> 00:17:48.940
 took that

00:17:48.940 --> 00:17:49.720
 punishment.

00:17:50.700 --> 00:17:51.319
 The punishment

00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:52.000
 that was due

00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:52.680
 to us,

00:17:53.080 --> 00:17:54.460
 Jesus went to the cross

00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:55.940
 and took on himself

00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:57.700
 so that if we trust

00:17:57.700 --> 00:17:58.380
 in him,

00:17:58.900 --> 00:17:59.900
 then through the grace

00:17:59.900 --> 00:18:00.559
 of God,

00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:01.620
 we are forgiven

00:18:01.620 --> 00:18:02.840
 for all the wrong

00:18:02.840 --> 00:18:03.519
 we've done.

00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:04.980
 We are restored

00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:06.400
 to a relationship

00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:07.700
 with the almighty

00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:09.460
 God of heaven.

00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.360
 It's not that the old covenant

00:18:11.360 --> 00:18:12.480
 was about justice

00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.860
 and the new covenant

00:18:13.860 --> 00:18:14.559
 isn't.

00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:15.860
 God's justice

00:18:15.860 --> 00:18:16.759
 hasn't changed.

00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:18.039
 God hasn't changed.

00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:19.779
 But in his grace,

00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:21.220
 he has satisfied

00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:22.039
 his justice

00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:23.579
 by his son,

00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:24.359
 the Lord Jesus,

00:18:24.859 --> 00:18:25.819
 taking the penalty.

00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:27.019
 So by grace,

00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:28.119
 we are saved

00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:29.019
 through faith

00:18:29.019 --> 00:18:31.159
 in the Lord Jesus.

00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:32.819
 And we still have

00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:34.039
 that mercy of God

00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:35.440
 but so wonderfully

00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:36.180
 displayed

00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:37.119
 through Jesus.

00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:37.879
 So much

00:18:37.879 --> 00:18:39.460
 clearer to us

00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:40.659
 what a merciful

00:18:40.659 --> 00:18:41.879
 God we have.

00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:43.659
 That we who deserve

00:18:43.659 --> 00:18:44.319
 nothing,

00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:46.099
 we who had nothing,

00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:47.740
 we who should have been punished

00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:48.500
 for all the wrong

00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:49.079
 we've done.

00:18:49.619 --> 00:18:51.240
 God, if we trust in Jesus,

00:18:51.379 --> 00:18:52.399
 has wiped that out

00:18:52.399 --> 00:18:54.459
 and we have experienced

00:18:54.459 --> 00:18:56.000
 his mercy.

00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:57.679
 If we know the Lord Jesus,

00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:58.939
 we should be rejoicing

00:18:58.939 --> 00:19:00.379
 in that today.

00:19:01.139 --> 00:19:02.339
 But as we rejoice,

00:19:02.439 --> 00:19:03.480
 as we come with

00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:04.559
 thankful hearts

00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:06.039
 before God,

00:19:06.859 --> 00:19:08.159
 then we want to be

00:19:08.159 --> 00:19:09.379
 obedient to him

00:19:09.379 --> 00:19:10.500
 as well.

00:19:11.159 --> 00:19:12.899
 Not so that we'll gain

00:19:12.899 --> 00:19:13.579
 from it

00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:15.579
 in any material sense,

00:19:15.579 --> 00:19:17.720
 but because we love

00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:18.779
 the Lord Jesus,

00:19:18.939 --> 00:19:20.179
 we love everything

00:19:20.179 --> 00:19:21.619
 that he has done

00:19:21.619 --> 00:19:22.759
 for us.

00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:24.960
 Under the old covenant,

00:19:25.139 --> 00:19:26.460
 the law was summed up

00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:28.379
 by love the Lord your God

00:19:28.379 --> 00:19:29.359
 with all your heart

00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:29.859
 and soul

00:19:29.859 --> 00:19:30.339
 and mind

00:19:30.339 --> 00:19:31.019
 and strength

00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:32.419
 and love your neighbour

00:19:32.419 --> 00:19:33.779
 as yourself.

00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:35.919
 Well, that hasn't changed.

00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:37.099
 But actually,

00:19:37.159 --> 00:19:38.639
 we could really simplify things

00:19:38.639 --> 00:19:40.039
 and say under the new covenant,

00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:43.119
 what is expected of us

00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:45.879
 is that we be like Jesus.

00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:48.399
 That we look at the Lord Jesus

00:19:48.399 --> 00:19:49.539
 and what he was,

00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:50.759
 all that he did,

00:19:51.159 --> 00:19:52.279
 all the love

00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:54.199
 and care he showed for others.

00:19:54.659 --> 00:19:55.779
 And that is our example.

00:19:55.899 --> 00:19:57.500
 And if we can be like Jesus,

00:19:58.079 --> 00:19:58.439
 then yes,

00:19:58.479 --> 00:19:59.779
 we will love the Lord our God

00:19:59.779 --> 00:20:00.479
 with all our heart,

00:20:00.579 --> 00:20:01.559
 soul, mind and strength

00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:02.619
 and our neighbour

00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:04.000
 as ourselves.

00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:05.159
 But we'll do it

00:20:05.159 --> 00:20:05.959
 out of gratitude

00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:07.700
 and out of love

00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:08.680
 for him.

00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:10.340
 We have experienced

00:20:10.340 --> 00:20:11.220
 God's grace

00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:13.200
 if we have trusted in him.

00:20:13.860 --> 00:20:14.559
 And therefore,

00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:15.400
 we should be

00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:17.220
 of a real desire

00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:18.480
 to obey him

00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:19.620
 and to live

00:20:19.620 --> 00:20:20.620
 for him.

00:20:22.059 --> 00:20:23.160
 Let's move on.

00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:24.559
 And the following verses

00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:25.980
 were about giving,

00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:28.299
 about the tithe

00:20:28.299 --> 00:20:29.340
 that the Israelites

00:20:29.340 --> 00:20:30.500
 had to give

00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:31.420
 to God.

00:20:31.900 --> 00:20:32.460
 And the question

00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:33.100
 then arises,

00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:35.180
 should we be tithing

00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:35.940
 today?

00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:37.320
 How should we

00:20:37.320 --> 00:20:38.279
 give to God?

00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:39.120
 How much

00:20:39.120 --> 00:20:40.240
 should we give

00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:41.320
 to God?

00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:43.840
 I'm not here

00:20:43.840 --> 00:20:45.200
 to guilt trip anyone

00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:46.440
 into giving to the church

00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:47.000
 or to anyone

00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:47.940
 anything else.

00:20:48.140 --> 00:20:49.120
 But I do want us

00:20:49.120 --> 00:20:49.580
 this morning

00:20:49.580 --> 00:20:50.920
 to take very seriously

00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:52.340
 our finances

00:20:52.340 --> 00:20:54.900
 and our responsibilities

00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:56.299
 with them.

00:20:57.220 --> 00:20:58.220
 I'm sure there are

00:20:58.220 --> 00:20:59.200
 some people here

00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:00.340
 who give very

00:21:00.340 --> 00:21:01.279
 sacrificially

00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:02.440
 to God.

00:21:03.080 --> 00:21:04.120
 Might be to the church,

00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:04.820
 might be to other

00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:05.639
 Christian work,

00:21:05.899 --> 00:21:06.879
 might be to the

00:21:06.879 --> 00:21:07.779
 relief of those

00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:08.159
 in need,

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.119
 relief of poverty

00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:10.439
 and those who have

00:21:10.439 --> 00:21:11.919
 particular needs.

00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:13.439
 There are some

00:21:13.439 --> 00:21:14.319
 who give what they

00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:15.019
 can afford

00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:16.139
 and more

00:21:16.139 --> 00:21:17.339
 for that

00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:18.779
 and make great

00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:19.480
 sacrifices

00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:20.899
 so that they can

00:21:20.899 --> 00:21:21.819
 demonstrate their

00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:22.679
 love for God

00:21:22.679 --> 00:21:23.779
 and show it

00:21:23.779 --> 00:21:24.779
 to others.

00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:26.919
 I expect for a lot

00:21:26.919 --> 00:21:27.359
 of us,

00:21:27.679 --> 00:21:28.139
 we give.

00:21:28.379 --> 00:21:29.079
 We give maybe

00:21:29.079 --> 00:21:30.159
 a reasonable amount,

00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:31.319
 but it doesn't

00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:32.579
 hurt us that much.

00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:33.779
 We give what

00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:34.740
 we can afford

00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:35.899
 and we do it

00:21:35.899 --> 00:21:36.779
 for God's work,

00:21:37.439 --> 00:21:38.399
 but it's not

00:21:38.399 --> 00:21:39.819
 really making us

00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:40.919
 feel any worse

00:21:40.919 --> 00:21:42.299
 off materially.

00:21:42.419 --> 00:21:42.899
 Perhaps there are

00:21:42.899 --> 00:21:43.439
 some people

00:21:43.439 --> 00:21:44.579
 who don't give at all,

00:21:44.679 --> 00:21:45.639
 maybe haven't even

00:21:45.639 --> 00:21:47.839
 thought about giving.

00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:49.639
 So what does

00:21:49.639 --> 00:21:50.819
 the Bible say to us

00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:51.839
 about how we

00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:52.419
 should give?

00:21:53.220 --> 00:21:53.839
 Now there are

00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:54.419
 two views

00:21:54.419 --> 00:21:55.679
 on tithing.

00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:57.379
 One is

00:21:57.379 --> 00:21:58.779
 that the pattern

00:21:58.779 --> 00:21:59.939
 was set by God

00:21:59.939 --> 00:22:01.000
 in the Old Testament.

00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:02.420
 You give a tenth,

00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:03.259
 that is the core

00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:03.960
 of your giving,

00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.259
 and Christians

00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:06.000
 shouldn't work

00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:07.079
 to a lower standard

00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:08.400
 than that.

00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:09.500
 Christians should

00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:10.220
 give a tenth

00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:11.059
 of everything

00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:11.700
 they make

00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:13.359
 to God's work.

00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:15.299
 The second view

00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:16.319
 is that everything

00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:17.099
 I have

00:22:17.099 --> 00:22:18.579
 belongs to God.

00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.720
 I don't want

00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:20.460
 to get caught up

00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:21.799
 in legalistic things.

00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:22.480
 I will give

00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:23.579
 as God enables me,

00:22:23.619 --> 00:22:24.599
 as God puts it

00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:25.880
 on my heart.

00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:28.380
 Now both of them

00:22:28.380 --> 00:22:29.940
 have good points.

00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.039
 Systematically

00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:33.019
 giving a tenth

00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:34.200
 means we are giving

00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:35.200
 a good amount

00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:36.480
 to God's worth.

00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.279
 Giving when God

00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:39.319
 leaves it in our heart

00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.259
 is also good

00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:41.259
 that we're not

00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:42.220
 giving mindlessly,

00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:43.380
 that we're giving

00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:45.400
 as God prompts us to.

00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:47.460
 The danger

00:22:47.460 --> 00:22:48.279
 with tithing

00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:49.619
 is that we could

00:22:49.619 --> 00:22:50.259
 come up with

00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:51.319
 an attitude that says,

00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:52.099
 well a tenth of what

00:22:52.099 --> 00:22:53.039
 I get is God's

00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:54.539
 and the rest is mine.

00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.779
 I've done my duty

00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:56.940
 to God and that's it.

00:22:57.119 --> 00:22:58.420
 I can do what I like

00:22:58.420 --> 00:22:59.880
 with the rest of it.

00:22:59.880 --> 00:23:01.620
 The danger

00:23:01.620 --> 00:23:02.680
 of not tithing

00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:03.640
 is perhaps

00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:04.520
 we give quite a lot

00:23:04.520 --> 00:23:06.440
 less than 10%.

00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:08.480
 If only when we feel

00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.720
 called to give

00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:10.720
 we give money,

00:23:11.280 --> 00:23:12.420
 then there's a good chance

00:23:12.420 --> 00:23:13.300
 it actually won't

00:23:13.300 --> 00:23:14.160
 be that much.

00:23:14.840 --> 00:23:15.620
 And in particular,

00:23:16.020 --> 00:23:17.180
 if we're having a month

00:23:17.180 --> 00:23:17.980
 when things are maybe

00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:19.220
 feeling a little bit tight,

00:23:19.560 --> 00:23:20.260
 we might say,

00:23:20.340 --> 00:23:20.860
 well this month

00:23:20.860 --> 00:23:21.960
 I won't give quite as much,

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.820
 I've not really got

00:23:22.820 --> 00:23:24.480
 very much to give.

00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.960
 Our giving to God

00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:27.300
 takes lower priority

00:23:27.300 --> 00:23:28.820
 than other things.

00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:30.319
 So good points

00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:31.460
 and bad points

00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:32.519
 with both.

00:23:33.419 --> 00:23:35.480
 Let me focus for a minute

00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:36.079
 on a verse

00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:37.079
 from the New Testament

00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:38.700
 and we'll try to learn

00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:39.240
 from that

00:23:39.240 --> 00:23:40.899
 and come to a conclusion.

00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:42.359
 So this is Paul

00:23:42.359 --> 00:23:43.319
 writing to the church

00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:44.059
 in Corinth.

00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:45.859
 A couple of chapters,

00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:46.679
 chapters 8 and 9

00:23:46.679 --> 00:23:47.419
 of 2 Corinthians,

00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:48.339
 well worth reading

00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:49.579
 in the context

00:23:49.579 --> 00:23:50.559
 of thinking about

00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:51.419
 our attitudes

00:23:51.419 --> 00:23:52.200
 towards money.

00:23:52.379 --> 00:23:53.039
 Paul's encouraging

00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:53.700
 the Corinthians

00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:55.039
 to give generously

00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:56.399
 to help Christians

00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:57.420
 who are going

00:23:57.420 --> 00:23:57.920
 through times

00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:58.519
 of poverty.

00:23:59.560 --> 00:24:00.300
 And he says this,

00:24:00.340 --> 00:24:01.040
 each one of you

00:24:01.040 --> 00:24:01.660
 should give

00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:03.340
 just as he decided

00:24:03.340 --> 00:24:04.300
 in his heart,

00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:06.580
 not reluctantly

00:24:06.580 --> 00:24:08.160
 or under compulsion,

00:24:08.820 --> 00:24:10.420
 because God loves

00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:12.620
 a cheerful giver.

00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:14.620
 Can I suggest

00:24:14.620 --> 00:24:15.519
 that this verse

00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:17.440
 presents three attitudes

00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.780
 towards giving

00:24:18.780 --> 00:24:20.019
 to God?

00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:23.099
 The first we could call

00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:24.139
 grudge giving.

00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:26.460
 I'm giving because

00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:28.019
 I feel I'm obliged to.

00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:29.539
 I've been made

00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:30.319
 to feel guilty

00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:31.379
 that I'm not giving.

00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:32.339
 I think I shouldn't

00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:33.099
 really need to,

00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:35.299
 but it's going to cost me.

00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:36.839
 I'm not really wanting

00:24:36.839 --> 00:24:38.180
 to do it.

00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:39.319
 And yes,

00:24:39.400 --> 00:24:40.460
 giving in that way

00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:41.440
 is better than not giving

00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:42.039
 at all,

00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:43.299
 but it's not giving

00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:43.980
 that's going to bring

00:24:43.980 --> 00:24:44.859
 us great joy

00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:46.819
 and great satisfaction

00:24:46.819 --> 00:24:48.400
 in our lives.

00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:51.539
 Second kind of giving

00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.579
 you might call

00:24:52.579 --> 00:24:53.539
 duty giving,

00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:55.440
 under compulsion.

00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.519
 So this is people

00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.299
 who may be tithe

00:24:58.299 --> 00:24:58.799
 or maybe give

00:24:58.799 --> 00:24:59.720
 a different percentage,

00:25:00.339 --> 00:25:01.019
 but they think,

00:25:01.359 --> 00:25:02.879
 I need to be systematic

00:25:02.879 --> 00:25:03.740
 in my giving.

00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:05.500
 I want to do that,

00:25:06.059 --> 00:25:06.779
 but I'm doing it

00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:07.960
 out of a sense of duty.

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.059
 A bit like the Israelites

00:25:09.059 --> 00:25:10.059
 here were being told,

00:25:10.379 --> 00:25:11.139
 give your tenth,

00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:13.079
 don't give the lower amount

00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:14.139
 that you're giving.

00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:15.779
 So people are saying,

00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:17.599
 I know I need to give

00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:18.440
 and I'll give

00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:19.319
 a certain amount,

00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:20.439
 but I'm doing it

00:25:20.439 --> 00:25:21.659
 out of a sense of duty

00:25:21.659 --> 00:25:23.379
 and they don't really

00:25:23.379 --> 00:25:24.799
 get any benefit,

00:25:25.179 --> 00:25:27.119
 any blessing from it.

00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:28.679
 Better than giving

00:25:28.679 --> 00:25:29.720
 grudgingly,

00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:30.599
 better than not giving

00:25:30.599 --> 00:25:31.159
 at all,

00:25:31.639 --> 00:25:32.879
 but perhaps not really

00:25:32.879 --> 00:25:33.839
 bringing us the blessing

00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:35.119
 that God would want

00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:35.819
 us to give.

00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:38.279
 And so the third kind

00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:39.299
 of giving I've called

00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:40.119
 thanksgiving.

00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:42.240
 This is giving

00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:43.159
 because God

00:25:43.159 --> 00:25:44.299
 has given to us

00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:45.879
 and we want to give

00:25:45.879 --> 00:25:46.720
 back to him

00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:47.960
 and we want to give

00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:49.059
 towards his work

00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:50.559
 and towards the blessing

00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.819
 of others.

00:25:52.880 --> 00:25:53.740
 It is giving

00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:54.519
 cheerfully

00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:56.000
 and willingly

00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:58.079
 even when it costs us

00:25:58.079 --> 00:25:59.680
 because we know

00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:00.840
 it is what God

00:26:00.840 --> 00:26:01.920
 wants us to do

00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:03.220
 and we want

00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:04.539
 to be obedient

00:26:04.539 --> 00:26:05.740
 to God

00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:07.620
 and to his word.

00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:08.720
 Really great

00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:09.620
 if all our giving

00:26:09.620 --> 00:26:10.600
 came into that

00:26:10.600 --> 00:26:12.500
 thanksgiving category.

00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:15.720
 Now just as I finish

00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:17.079
 on thinking about giving,

00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:19.019
 come back to this question

00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:19.660
 of tithing.

00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:21.779
 How should we give

00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.900
 to God's work?

00:26:23.420 --> 00:26:24.019
 I think,

00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:24.960
 and I'm not forcing

00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.539
 this on anyone,

00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:27.160
 I think it's good

00:26:27.160 --> 00:26:28.059
 if we have

00:26:28.059 --> 00:26:29.059
 a portion

00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:29.740
 of our giving

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.779
 that comes

00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:31.619
 automatically

00:26:31.619 --> 00:26:33.039
 out of our bank account

00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:34.099
 and in a sense

00:26:34.099 --> 00:26:35.599
 we don't see it

00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:36.839
 and don't miss it.

00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:38.359
 So every month

00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:39.259
 we know we're giving

00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:40.079
 a certain amount

00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:41.460
 towards God's work

00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:43.880
 and that is fixed.

00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:45.480
 On top of that,

00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:47.480
 God may well prompt us

00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:49.019
 and put a need

00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:49.700
 before us

00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:50.880
 whether a Christian need

00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:52.059
 or a need

00:26:52.059 --> 00:26:53.100
 in our world situation.

00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:54.100
 Turkey at the moment

00:26:54.100 --> 00:26:55.299
 would be an example.

00:26:55.860 --> 00:26:56.440
 Being willing

00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:57.380
 to give on top

00:26:57.380 --> 00:26:59.860
 of our regular amounts.

00:27:01.079 --> 00:27:01.860
 And one last thing.

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:03.740
 For some people

00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:04.240
 I've said

00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:05.140
 giving 10%

00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:07.299
 would be a major sacrifice

00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:08.620
 and some people do it

00:27:08.620 --> 00:27:10.440
 and that's highly commendable.

00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:12.539
 For many of us

00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:14.140
 10% probably

00:27:14.140 --> 00:27:15.480
 isn't enough.

00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:17.860
 If God has given us

00:27:17.860 --> 00:27:18.779
 abundantly

00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:20.240
 of what

00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:21.860
 we have,

00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:23.000
 if we have

00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:24.140
 all we could need

00:27:24.140 --> 00:27:25.319
 and more,

00:27:26.059 --> 00:27:26.819
 then we shouldn't be

00:27:26.819 --> 00:27:27.600
 seeing 10%

00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:28.500
 as a cap

00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.880
 or as a norm.

00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:31.279
 It may be a useful guideline

00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:32.759
 but many of us

00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:33.319
 can afford

00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:34.340
 to give much more

00:27:34.340 --> 00:27:34.860
 than that

00:27:34.860 --> 00:27:35.920
 if we want to

00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:37.420
 and if God calls us to

00:27:37.420 --> 00:27:38.799
 and to do it

00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:39.620
 cheerfully.

00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:40.859
 I'll leave that

00:27:40.859 --> 00:27:41.299
 with you

00:27:41.299 --> 00:27:42.439
 to think about.

00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:44.879
 But let's come on

00:27:44.879 --> 00:27:45.619
 to the last couple

00:27:45.619 --> 00:27:46.059
 of verses

00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:47.119
 and there are

00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:47.979
 differences of views

00:27:47.979 --> 00:27:49.399
 on this as well.

00:27:50.399 --> 00:27:51.239
 If we give

00:27:51.239 --> 00:27:52.199
 to God's work,

00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:52.959
 if we give money

00:27:52.959 --> 00:27:53.619
 to God,

00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:54.979
 should we expect

00:27:54.979 --> 00:27:55.979
 to receive more

00:27:55.979 --> 00:27:56.639
 from God

00:27:56.639 --> 00:27:57.679
 in return?

00:27:58.739 --> 00:27:59.599
 If you listen

00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:00.559
 to many preachers,

00:28:00.639 --> 00:28:01.339
 particularly American

00:28:01.339 --> 00:28:02.019
 preachers,

00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:03.099
 they would suggest

00:28:03.099 --> 00:28:04.319
 if you give to God,

00:28:04.579 --> 00:28:05.459
 you can expect

00:28:05.459 --> 00:28:06.179
 to receive

00:28:06.179 --> 00:28:07.179
 much greater

00:28:07.179 --> 00:28:08.419
 material blessings

00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:09.100
 back.

00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:09.660
 Sometimes it's called

00:28:09.660 --> 00:28:10.680
 the health and wealth

00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:11.519
 gospel.

00:28:12.340 --> 00:28:13.340
 Is that what

00:28:13.340 --> 00:28:14.539
 we should expect

00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:15.800
 from God?

00:28:16.840 --> 00:28:17.740
 Well, let's go back

00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.779
 to what we said earlier

00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:20.320
 about the covenants.

00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:22.640
 Under the old covenant,

00:28:23.460 --> 00:28:24.560
 you gave to God

00:28:24.560 --> 00:28:25.860
 and God

00:28:25.860 --> 00:28:26.900
 blessed you.

00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:28.580
 And that is what

00:28:28.580 --> 00:28:29.759
 the writer in Malachi

00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:31.100
 is talking about here.

00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:32.100
 God is saying

00:28:32.100 --> 00:28:33.360
 that my covenant is

00:28:33.360 --> 00:28:34.519
 if you're obedient

00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:35.140
 to me,

00:28:35.340 --> 00:28:36.600
 I will honor that

00:28:36.599 --> 00:28:38.119
 and you will be blessed

00:28:38.119 --> 00:28:39.159
 through it.

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:41.359
 Under the new covenant,

00:28:41.959 --> 00:28:42.839
 the blessing comes

00:28:42.839 --> 00:28:43.699
 first to us.

00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:44.480
 We have been blessed

00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:45.059
 by God

00:28:45.059 --> 00:28:45.899
 with the salvation

00:28:45.899 --> 00:28:47.219
 through the Lord Jesus

00:28:47.219 --> 00:28:48.039
 and everything else

00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:48.819
 that we have.

00:28:49.439 --> 00:28:50.459
 And as a consequence

00:28:50.459 --> 00:28:51.079
 of that,

00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:51.899
 we should have

00:28:51.899 --> 00:28:52.959
 a real desire

00:28:52.959 --> 00:28:54.539
 to give to him,

00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.740
 to give our time,

00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:56.359
 our gifts,

00:28:56.439 --> 00:28:57.219
 and our money

00:28:57.219 --> 00:28:59.639
 and not to expect

00:28:59.639 --> 00:29:00.419
 a lot

00:29:00.419 --> 00:29:01.559
 in return.

00:29:02.379 --> 00:29:03.279
 We will be blessed

00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:03.819
 by giving.

00:29:04.379 --> 00:29:05.299
 We will be blessed

00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:06.119
 by the knowledge

00:29:06.119 --> 00:29:06.740
 that we are

00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.779
 obeying God,

00:29:07.879 --> 00:29:08.339
 that we are

00:29:08.339 --> 00:29:10.000
 joyfully serving him,

00:29:10.139 --> 00:29:11.759
 that we are helping others

00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:13.299
 and helping God's work

00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:14.639
 through what we give.

00:29:15.539 --> 00:29:16.440
 We will know also

00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:17.440
 that we're building up

00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.919
 treasure in heaven.

00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:19.859
 If we honor God

00:29:19.859 --> 00:29:20.639
 in this world,

00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:21.819
 he will honor us

00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:23.039
 in the next.

00:29:24.119 --> 00:29:25.039
 But we shouldn't

00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:25.779
 be doing it

00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:26.940
 so that we will be

00:29:26.940 --> 00:29:27.700
 better off

00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:28.720
 materially.

00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:29.980
 Indeed,

00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:30.539
 if we're giving

00:29:30.539 --> 00:29:31.419
 sacrificially,

00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:33.039
 we should expect

00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:34.700
 to be worse off

00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.359
 materially,

00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:37.039
 but much better

00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:38.139
 spiritually.

00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:39.659
 Let me end this section

00:29:39.659 --> 00:29:40.119
 with a quote

00:29:40.119 --> 00:29:41.079
 from C.S. Lewis.

00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:43.319
 C.S. Lewis

00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:43.799
 in his book

00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:44.480
 Mere Christianity

00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:45.480
 says this,

00:29:45.859 --> 00:29:47.319
 I don't believe

00:29:47.319 --> 00:29:48.180
 one can settle

00:29:48.180 --> 00:29:48.799
 how much

00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:49.680
 we ought to give.

00:29:50.619 --> 00:29:51.460
 I'm afraid

00:29:51.460 --> 00:29:52.680
 the only safe rule

00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:53.279
 is to give

00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:54.659
 more than we can spare.

00:29:55.799 --> 00:29:56.659
 In other words,

00:29:57.319 --> 00:29:58.359
 if our expenditure

00:29:58.359 --> 00:29:59.319
 on comforts,

00:29:59.420 --> 00:29:59.940
 luxuries,

00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:00.740
 amusements,

00:30:00.879 --> 00:30:01.480
 etc.,

00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:02.860
 is up to the standard

00:30:02.860 --> 00:30:04.000
 common among those

00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:05.059
 with the same income

00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:05.660
 as us,

00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:07.160
 we are probably

00:30:07.160 --> 00:30:08.000
 giving away

00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:09.120
 too little.

00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:11.319
 If our charities,

00:30:11.420 --> 00:30:11.980
 and I would encourage

00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:12.640
 Christian giving,

00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:13.559
 do not at all

00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:14.740
 pinch or hamper us,

00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:15.819
 I would say

00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:16.720
 they're too small.

00:30:17.640 --> 00:30:18.380
 There ought to be

00:30:18.380 --> 00:30:19.039
 things we should

00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:19.839
 like to do

00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:21.339
 and cannot do

00:30:21.339 --> 00:30:22.559
 because our

00:30:22.559 --> 00:30:23.920
 charitable expenditure

00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:25.259
 excludes them.

00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:26.180
 I'll leave that

00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:27.339
 takeaway and think about.

00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:28.099
 You may or may not

00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:28.839
 agree with it,

00:30:29.120 --> 00:30:30.160
 but these were the words

00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:31.519
 of C.S. Lewis.

00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.820
 Let's try and get

00:30:33.820 --> 00:30:34.500
 away directly

00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.060
 from giving

00:30:35.060 --> 00:30:35.980
 and let's

00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:37.400
 pull things together

00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:38.940
 as we finish

00:30:38.940 --> 00:30:39.940
 this morning.

00:30:41.620 --> 00:30:42.660
 There was a

00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:43.720
 company called

00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:44.680
 F Secure

00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:46.360
 who ran an experiment

00:30:46.360 --> 00:30:47.480
 a few years ago.

00:30:47.600 --> 00:30:48.700
 They're an online

00:30:48.700 --> 00:30:49.660
 security company.

00:30:51.060 --> 00:30:51.660
 They went to

00:30:51.660 --> 00:30:52.279
 Canary Wharf

00:30:52.279 --> 00:30:52.759
 in London.

00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:53.440
 Canary Wharf,

00:30:53.600 --> 00:30:54.580
 many people will know,

00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:55.900
 is a big complex

00:30:55.900 --> 00:30:56.660
 of businesses,

00:30:56.900 --> 00:30:58.019
 high-rise towers

00:30:58.019 --> 00:30:58.680
 and so on.

00:30:59.019 --> 00:30:59.480
 They went to

00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:00.220
 Canary Wharf

00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:01.480
 and they set up

00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:02.039
 in a cafe

00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:03.420
 and they got out

00:31:03.420 --> 00:31:04.339
 a Raspberry Pi

00:31:04.339 --> 00:31:05.299
 microcomputer

00:31:05.299 --> 00:31:07.539
 and a wireless

00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:08.180
 aerial.

00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:09.019
 Connected the two

00:31:09.019 --> 00:31:09.660
 together with

00:31:09.660 --> 00:31:10.400
 elastic bands

00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:10.920
 apparently

00:31:10.920 --> 00:31:12.259
 and set up

00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:13.579
 a Wi-Fi hotspot.

00:31:14.359 --> 00:31:14.879
 Most people

00:31:14.879 --> 00:31:15.599
 feel with a

00:31:15.599 --> 00:31:17.099
 Wi-Fi hotspot.

00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:18.119
 If you go somewhere

00:31:18.119 --> 00:31:18.539
 where you've not

00:31:18.539 --> 00:31:20.379
 got a mobile

00:31:20.379 --> 00:31:21.240
 phone reception,

00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:22.319
 you might look

00:31:22.319 --> 00:31:22.799
 on your phone

00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:23.259
 and see if there

00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:24.279
 any Wi-Fi nearby

00:31:24.279 --> 00:31:25.359
 and if you find

00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:26.099
 something you log

00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:26.420
 onto,

00:31:26.920 --> 00:31:27.740
 then you can do

00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:28.619
 your internet.

00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:29.839
 So this company,

00:31:30.059 --> 00:31:30.839
 they set up

00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:32.139
 this Wi-Fi hotspot

00:31:32.139 --> 00:31:33.879
 just using a Raspberry Pi

00:31:33.879 --> 00:31:35.279
 and a little

00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:35.980
 aerial.

00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:38.139
 And as many

00:31:38.139 --> 00:31:38.879
 companies do

00:31:38.879 --> 00:31:39.480
 when they

00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:41.039
 offer us hotspots,

00:31:41.359 --> 00:31:42.119
 they added some

00:31:42.119 --> 00:31:43.139
 terms and

00:31:43.139 --> 00:31:43.660
 conditions.

00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:45.539
 And the terms

00:31:45.539 --> 00:31:46.160
 and conditions,

00:31:46.420 --> 00:31:47.599
 long list as usual,

00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:48.519
 but the terms

00:31:48.519 --> 00:31:49.079
 and conditions

00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:50.279
 included a clause

00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:51.220
 that says,

00:31:51.420 --> 00:31:51.960
 in return

00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:53.440
 for free Wi-Fi,

00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:54.820
 I commit to

00:31:54.820 --> 00:31:55.299
 giving you

00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:56.080
 my firstborn

00:31:56.080 --> 00:31:57.120
 child to do

00:31:57.120 --> 00:31:57.660
 whatever you

00:31:57.660 --> 00:31:58.299
 want to with

00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:59.039
 them for the

00:31:59.039 --> 00:31:59.580
 rest of their

00:31:59.580 --> 00:32:00.000
 lives.

00:32:00.580 --> 00:32:01.100
 And they called

00:32:01.100 --> 00:32:01.500
 that the

00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:02.299
 Herod clause

00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:03.740
 in the contract.

00:32:04.320 --> 00:32:04.820
 And in a very

00:32:04.820 --> 00:32:05.559
 short time,

00:32:05.900 --> 00:32:06.519
 they had a good

00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.240
 number of people

00:32:07.240 --> 00:32:08.059
 who signed up

00:32:08.059 --> 00:32:09.000
 obviously hadn't

00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:09.980
 read it or

00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:10.880
 didn't believe

00:32:10.880 --> 00:32:12.059
 what was said.

00:32:12.320 --> 00:32:12.779
 And we might

00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:13.120
 have some

00:32:13.120 --> 00:32:14.019
 sympathy with them.

00:32:14.600 --> 00:32:15.279
 I think one

00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:16.460
 of the times

00:32:16.460 --> 00:32:17.120
 when Christians

00:32:17.120 --> 00:32:18.039
 routinely lie,

00:32:18.140 --> 00:32:18.700
 maybe don't

00:32:18.700 --> 00:32:19.340
 feel guilty

00:32:19.340 --> 00:32:19.960
 about it,

00:32:20.140 --> 00:32:20.580
 is when you

00:32:20.580 --> 00:32:21.320
 tick that box

00:32:21.320 --> 00:32:21.700
 that says,

00:32:21.779 --> 00:32:22.299
 I've read all

00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:22.759
 the terms

00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:23.320
 and conditions

00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:24.460
 of this

00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:25.039
 contract.

00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:25.799
 And perhaps

00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:26.179
 we should

00:32:26.179 --> 00:32:26.679
 read them

00:32:26.679 --> 00:32:27.779
 more carefully.

00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:29.720
 But the

00:32:29.720 --> 00:32:30.159
 point of that

00:32:30.159 --> 00:32:30.480
 is,

00:32:30.700 --> 00:32:31.619
 these contracts

00:32:31.619 --> 00:32:32.259
 we could

00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:33.399
 compare to

00:32:33.399 --> 00:32:34.200
 the law

00:32:34.200 --> 00:32:35.019
 in the Old

00:32:35.019 --> 00:32:35.480
 Testament.

00:32:36.159 --> 00:32:36.679
 It's

00:32:36.679 --> 00:32:37.379
 complicated.

00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:39.039
 It's

00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:39.579
 difficult to

00:32:39.579 --> 00:32:40.159
 understand

00:32:40.159 --> 00:32:41.059
 and difficult

00:32:41.059 --> 00:32:42.079
 to meet

00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:42.939
 completely.

00:32:43.099 --> 00:32:43.399
 Apparently,

00:32:43.539 --> 00:32:43.919
 on average,

00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:44.200
 there are

00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:44.579
 two and a

00:32:44.579 --> 00:32:45.339
 thousand words

00:32:45.339 --> 00:32:46.000
 in these

00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:46.899
 online contracts.

00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:47.279
 You take

00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:47.759
 about ten

00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:48.679
 minutes if

00:32:48.679 --> 00:32:49.099
 you read

00:32:49.099 --> 00:32:50.139
 every word.

00:32:50.839 --> 00:32:51.179
 So things

00:32:51.179 --> 00:32:51.700
 are difficult.

00:32:51.700 --> 00:32:52.660
 Israelites

00:32:52.660 --> 00:32:53.360
 signed up

00:32:53.360 --> 00:32:53.600
 to them,

00:32:53.660 --> 00:32:54.220
 maybe not

00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:55.279
 realizing what

00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:55.580
 they were

00:32:55.580 --> 00:32:56.220
 signing up

00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:56.539
 to.

00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:57.360
 And it

00:32:57.360 --> 00:32:57.799
 was really

00:32:57.799 --> 00:32:58.180
 difficult.

00:32:58.380 --> 00:32:58.680
 In fact,

00:32:58.700 --> 00:32:58.900
 it was

00:32:58.900 --> 00:32:59.980
 impossible to

00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:00.460
 keep the

00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:01.519
 law of

00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:01.940
 God.

00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:03.440
 When it

00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:03.860
 comes to

00:33:03.860 --> 00:33:04.220
 the new

00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:04.580
 covenant,

00:33:05.160 --> 00:33:06.180
 it's very

00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:06.620
 simple.

00:33:07.620 --> 00:33:07.980
 Yes,

00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:08.319
 there are

00:33:08.319 --> 00:33:09.019
 guidelines in

00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:09.460
 the Bible.

00:33:10.500 --> 00:33:10.759
 Yes,

00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:11.400
 we can read

00:33:11.400 --> 00:33:11.900
 what God

00:33:11.900 --> 00:33:12.620
 expects from

00:33:12.620 --> 00:33:12.880
 us,

00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:13.500
 particularly in

00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:14.500
 the letters

00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:15.039
 of the New

00:33:15.039 --> 00:33:16.360
 Testament and

00:33:16.360 --> 00:33:17.059
 the instructions

00:33:17.059 --> 00:33:17.860
 that are given

00:33:17.859 --> 00:33:18.679
 there.

00:33:19.359 --> 00:33:19.899
 But it's

00:33:19.899 --> 00:33:20.379
 not that

00:33:20.379 --> 00:33:20.599
 there are

00:33:20.599 --> 00:33:21.059
 lots of

00:33:21.059 --> 00:33:21.719
 hidden terms

00:33:21.719 --> 00:33:22.379
 and conditions

00:33:22.379 --> 00:33:23.519
 and if we

00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:24.039
 don't keep

00:33:24.039 --> 00:33:24.519
 to them,

00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:25.319
 then God

00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:26.439
 will reject

00:33:26.439 --> 00:33:26.919
 us.

00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:28.079
 Rather,

00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:28.619
 under the

00:33:28.619 --> 00:33:29.259
 new covenant,

00:33:29.479 --> 00:33:29.939
 God has

00:33:29.939 --> 00:33:31.039
 accepted us

00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:31.839
 for what

00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:32.439
 we are

00:33:32.439 --> 00:33:33.619
 in all

00:33:33.619 --> 00:33:34.219
 our sin,

00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:35.039
 in all

00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:36.019
 our inadequacy,

00:33:36.339 --> 00:33:36.799
 if we've

00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:37.439
 trusted in

00:33:37.439 --> 00:33:37.759
 him.

00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:38.799
 And that's

00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:39.240
 not going

00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:39.959
 to change.

00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:41.179
 But we

00:33:41.179 --> 00:33:41.419
 have the

00:33:41.419 --> 00:33:41.979
 opportunity,

00:33:42.179 --> 00:33:42.779
 very simply,

00:33:42.879 --> 00:33:43.240
 as I said

00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:43.719
 earlier,

00:33:43.939 --> 00:33:44.819
 to try to

00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:45.199
 be like

00:33:45.199 --> 00:33:45.500
 Jesus,

00:33:45.699 --> 00:33:46.319
 to live the

00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:46.719
 way that

00:33:46.719 --> 00:33:47.779
 Jesus lived,

00:33:47.859 --> 00:33:48.559
 and to

00:33:48.559 --> 00:33:49.559
 become more

00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:50.579
 and more

00:33:50.579 --> 00:33:51.579
 like him.

00:33:52.119 --> 00:33:52.679
 We're not

00:33:52.679 --> 00:33:53.359
 governed by

00:33:53.359 --> 00:33:54.119
 lots of

00:33:54.119 --> 00:33:54.559
 rules.

00:33:55.379 --> 00:33:55.899
 As I also

00:33:55.899 --> 00:33:56.419
 think I said

00:33:56.419 --> 00:33:56.839
 earlier,

00:33:57.199 --> 00:33:57.919
 it's not a

00:33:57.919 --> 00:33:59.119
 lower standard.

00:34:00.199 --> 00:34:00.779
 Being like

00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:01.439
 Jesus is a

00:34:01.439 --> 00:34:02.079
 standard we'll

00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:02.959
 never reach

00:34:02.959 --> 00:34:03.839
 in this

00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:04.319
 world.

00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:05.419
 But we

00:34:05.419 --> 00:34:05.799
 should make

00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:06.439
 every effort

00:34:06.439 --> 00:34:07.039
 because he

00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:07.740
 died for us,

00:34:07.799 --> 00:34:08.460
 we love him,

00:34:08.659 --> 00:34:10.019
 we care about

00:34:10.019 --> 00:34:10.880
 him, we want

00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:11.699
 him to be

00:34:11.699 --> 00:34:12.380
 glorified.

00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:13.639
 And in our

00:34:13.639 --> 00:34:14.900
 lives, whether

00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:15.420
 it's in our

00:34:15.420 --> 00:34:16.719
 giving, whether

00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:17.139
 it's in our

00:34:17.139 --> 00:34:17.699
 relationships,

00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:18.519
 with others,

00:34:18.880 --> 00:34:19.420
 whether it's in

00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:20.220
 our service,

00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:21.000
 or whatever

00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:22.059
 other area,

00:34:22.460 --> 00:34:23.519
 if we truly

00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:24.039
 love the

00:34:24.039 --> 00:34:24.480
 Lord Jesus,

00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:24.880
 if we have

00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:25.980
 truly experienced

00:34:25.980 --> 00:34:27.039
 his grace,

00:34:27.660 --> 00:34:28.200
 what God

00:34:28.200 --> 00:34:28.960
 expects of

00:34:28.960 --> 00:34:29.900
 us is that

00:34:29.900 --> 00:34:30.460
 we seek to

00:34:30.460 --> 00:34:30.960
 be like

00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:32.180
 Jesus and

00:34:32.180 --> 00:34:32.559
 to live

00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:33.480
 lives that

00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:33.960
 are pleasing

00:34:33.960 --> 00:34:35.019
 to him.

00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:36.300
 May that be

00:34:36.300 --> 00:34:37.360
 true of

00:34:37.360 --> 00:34:38.000
 all of us.

00:34:38.559 --> 00:34:38.960
 Let's pray

00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:39.340
 together.

00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:40.820
 Father, we

00:34:40.820 --> 00:34:41.200
 thank you for

00:34:41.200 --> 00:34:41.760
 your word this

00:34:41.760 --> 00:34:41.980
 morning.

00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:42.519
 We thank you

00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:43.519
 for this very

00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:44.440
 powerful passage

00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:45.099
 from Malachi

00:34:45.099 --> 00:34:45.679
 and for the

00:34:45.679 --> 00:34:46.880
 way that

00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:47.880
 you very

00:34:47.880 --> 00:34:48.360
 strongly

00:34:48.360 --> 00:34:49.019
 condemned the

00:34:49.019 --> 00:34:49.619
 people because

00:34:49.619 --> 00:34:50.039
 they were

00:34:50.039 --> 00:34:50.820
 half-hearted

00:34:50.820 --> 00:34:51.679
 in their

00:34:51.679 --> 00:34:52.539
 attitude towards

00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:52.800
 you.

00:34:53.480 --> 00:34:54.059
 They were

00:34:54.059 --> 00:34:54.880
 robbing you

00:34:54.880 --> 00:34:55.320
 by not

00:34:55.320 --> 00:34:56.400
 giving what

00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:56.800
 they should

00:34:56.800 --> 00:34:57.099
 have.

00:34:57.639 --> 00:34:57.960
 We pray

00:34:57.960 --> 00:34:58.099
 that you

00:34:58.099 --> 00:34:58.579
 help us

00:34:58.579 --> 00:34:59.099
 not to be

00:34:59.099 --> 00:34:59.579
 half-hearted

00:34:59.579 --> 00:35:00.059
 as we have

00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:00.740
 experienced

00:35:00.740 --> 00:35:01.579
 abundant

00:35:01.579 --> 00:35:02.940
 grace through

00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:03.340
 the Lord

00:35:03.340 --> 00:35:03.700
 Jesus.

00:35:04.539 --> 00:35:05.079
 Help us

00:35:05.079 --> 00:35:05.900
 to be

00:35:05.900 --> 00:35:06.800
 willing to

00:35:06.800 --> 00:35:07.720
 give and

00:35:07.720 --> 00:35:08.039
 to give

00:35:08.039 --> 00:35:09.460
 again of

00:35:09.460 --> 00:35:10.260
 all that

00:35:10.260 --> 00:35:10.840
 we have.

00:35:11.659 --> 00:35:12.179
 Help us

00:35:12.179 --> 00:35:13.019
 to know

00:35:13.019 --> 00:35:13.679
 the joy

00:35:13.679 --> 00:35:14.539
 that comes

00:35:14.539 --> 00:35:15.000
 from being

00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:16.360
 obedient as

00:35:16.360 --> 00:35:17.000
 we seek to

00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:17.780
 follow him.

00:35:18.460 --> 00:35:18.800
 We pray for

00:35:18.800 --> 00:35:19.300
 any who maybe

00:35:19.300 --> 00:35:19.780
 don't know

00:35:19.780 --> 00:35:20.119
 the Lord

00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:20.659
 Jesus this

00:35:20.659 --> 00:35:20.900
 morning,

00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:21.300
 who haven't

00:35:21.300 --> 00:35:22.320
 yet experienced

00:35:22.320 --> 00:35:23.079
 his grace.

00:35:23.159 --> 00:35:23.539
 We thank

00:35:23.539 --> 00:35:23.940
 you that

00:35:23.940 --> 00:35:25.079
 Jesus died

00:35:25.079 --> 00:35:25.740
 so that

00:35:25.740 --> 00:35:26.119
 they could

00:35:26.119 --> 00:35:26.679
 be forgiven

00:35:26.679 --> 00:35:27.659
 and we pray

00:35:27.659 --> 00:35:27.960
 that they

00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:28.360
 will come

00:35:28.360 --> 00:35:28.920
 in faith

00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:29.860
 and put

00:35:29.860 --> 00:35:30.420
 their trust

00:35:30.420 --> 00:35:30.800
 in him.

00:35:31.280 --> 00:35:31.559
 We thank

00:35:31.559 --> 00:35:31.760
 you for

00:35:31.760 --> 00:35:32.119
 this time

00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:32.579
 together.

00:35:33.159 --> 00:35:33.480
 We commit

00:35:33.480 --> 00:35:34.059
 ourselves to

00:35:34.059 --> 00:35:34.500
 you now

00:35:34.500 --> 00:35:35.280
 in the name

00:35:35.280 --> 00:35:35.720
 of the Lord

00:35:35.720 --> 00:35:36.059
 Jesus.

00:35:37.059 --> 00:35:37.460
 Amen.