WEBVTT

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 Hi everyone, I'm Linda, if you haven't met me, I'm reading from 2 Corinthians chapter

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 8 and 9 today.

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 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches

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 in Macedonia.

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 For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty

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 have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

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 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means of their

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 own accord, begging us earnestly for the favour of taking part in the relief of the saints.

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 And this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and then by

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 the will of God to us.

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 Accordingly, we urge Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of

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 grace.

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 But as you excel in everything, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness

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 and in our love for you, see that you excel in this act of grace also.

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 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love

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 also is genuine.

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 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he

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 became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

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 And in this matter I give my judgment.

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 This benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work, but also to desire

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 to do it.

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 So now finish doing it as well, so that by your readiness in desiring it may be matched

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 by your completing it out of what you have.

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 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according

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 to what he does not have.

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 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened by that as a matter of fairness,

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 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply

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 your need, that there may be fairness.

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 As it is written, whoever gathered much has nothing left over, and whoever gathered little

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 had no lack.

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 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for

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 you.

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 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he is going to you of

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 his own accord.

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 With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching

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 of the gospel.

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 And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry

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 out this act of grace that is being ministered by us for the glory of the Lord himself and

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 to show our goodwill.

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 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being

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 administered by us, for we aim at what is honourable, not only in the Lord's sight, but also in

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 the sight of man.

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 And with them we are sending our brother, whom we have often tested and found earnest in

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 many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in

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 you.

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 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit.

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 And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

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 So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these

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 men.

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 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, for I know

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 your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia

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 has been ready since last year.

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 And your zeal has stirred up most of them, but I am sending the brothers so that our boasting

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 about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would

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 be.

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 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would

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 be humiliated to say nothing of you for being so confident.

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 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance

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 for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.

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 The point is this, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly.

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 Whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

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 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for

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 God loves a cheerful giver.

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 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all

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 things and at all times, you may abound in every good work.

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 As it is written, he has distributed freely, he has given to the poor, his righteousness

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 endures forever.

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 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for

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 sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

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 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving

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 to God.

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 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also

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 overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

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 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that

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 comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your contribution

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 for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing

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 grace of God upon you.

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 Thanks be to God for this inexpressible gift.

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 God bless you.

00:05:58.800 --> 00:05:59.800
 Thank you.

00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:00.800
 Thank you.

00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:01.800
 Thank you.

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 Good morning.

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 My name is Bo.

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 I'm one of the elders in the church.

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 For those of you who don't know me, I would like to welcome David and Alison back, joining

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 us today.

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 Also, Diane Davis and Jason Kimberly.

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 Glad to see them as well.

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 They've been, Diane and Jeff have not been well and been at home.

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 Good to see Diane and Jason here today.

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 And welcome also to all the other visitors.

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 Thank you.

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 This world is not stable.

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 Things don't always work as we expect it to be.

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 And so how should we live then?

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 What should be our priority or what should we focus on in life?

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 And that is the purpose of these four sermons in terms of our attitudes towards wealth and

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 money because that is the main focus for most of us.

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 So for week one, Dave has talked about what we should treasure the most.

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 Last week, he talked about the best thing that we are looking for may not be what is best for us.

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 If we focus on money.

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 Today, I would like to talk about freedom in terms of how the Lord has freed us to be generous in particular.

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 Thanks to Linda for reading the two chapters.

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 It's quite a long reading this morning.

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 But it tells us a pause emphasis on this matter for the Corinthian church.

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 So the story is that the Corinthian church, they started a project to collect money for the

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 Jewish Christians in Jerusalem.

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 This is about a year ago.

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 I think the Jewish Christians, they were suffering most likely because of their conversion to being Christians.

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 And so they might have lost their jobs.

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 And there may be a famine there as well.

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 And so the Corinthian Christians, being new Christians, they were very keen.

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 They want to help.

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 And so they started their project.

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 But this is about a year later.

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 What has happened is that their project or what they wanted to do actually stir up other churches nearby to do the same.

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 And they have collected the money and they were ready to be taken to Jerusalem.

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 But the Corinthian church is still lacking behind.

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 They still haven't completed their collection.

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 And that's why Paul is writing this message.

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 Let us pray first before we go on.

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 Almighty God, we are so thankful that you are the God who teaches good things and great things.

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 To help us to live a life that is according to what you created us to be.

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 And also worthy of your calling.

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 May you teach us your ways this morning.

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 As we consider your words.

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 Thank you, Lord.

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 We pray in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 So I think the main words for me in these two chapters is chapter 9, verse 7, the second half of it.

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 It says that God loves a cheerful giver.

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 A cheerful giver means that someone who has got the freedom of generosity.

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 Someone who is keen to give.

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 Someone who is keen to give.

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 Not because it is under compulsion.

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 But it is just one who wants to share.

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 I think most of us are not cheerful givers.

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 I don't think I am.

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 At least not most of the time.

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 Why is it so I am thinking?

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 Because money is so important to us.

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 I grew up in quite a poor family.

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 So from young I have been hearing my parents worry about not having enough money for food or clothing.

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 And so I straight away knew that money was very important for everyone.

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 And then when I was young, ice cream was introduced to the town for the first time.

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 And I heard a lot about ice cream.

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 But I just didn't have money.

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 I didn't have any money at all to buy.

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 I mean, even usual day-to-day items.

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 Not to mention things that we could enjoy.

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 And so, again, it reinforced to me that I need money to enjoy, to have a good time.

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 And then when I went to school, in primary school,

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 there was a student in the class.

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 She was very poor.

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 I think from the background, she wore very old clothes, school uniform.

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 And she just appeared very, I mean, just a poor person.

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 And she was made fun of by other students, including myself.

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 I mean, we just did not respect anyone who's got no money.

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 And again, reinforced to me that I need money to be someone, to be respected by people.

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 And so, money for us, I think, primarily for survival, for enjoyment, for identity, who we are.

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 And that's why we are reluctant to give for nothing.

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 I mean, we might give money for recognition.

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 And that is, that will happen.

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 And in Malaysia, the churches that publish the names of the people who give money are very rich.

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 Because if your names are published, week by week, who gives how much.

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 I think initially that's done for accountability.

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 But eventually, people just take it as that who is given more and who is given less.

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 And so, those churches usually are quite rich because people have compulsion to give because of the recognition matter.

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 And so, it's hard for us to give without any return for our own enjoyment or survival or recognition.

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 Even the Corinthian church, we can see that in chapter 8, verse 7, Paul says that they were excellent.

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 They excel in many areas of Christian life, such as faith, speech, and knowledge.

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 But they are lacking in generosity.

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 And so, it's possible for us to be very good and mature in different areas of Christian life, but still not being cheerful givers.

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 And we will consider why this will happen.

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 And so, today, we'll cover, first of all, why the Corinthian church is not generous in giving.

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 And then, we will look at the Macedonian churches.

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 Why they are generous.

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 And then, we will look at the effects of generosity, how that will affect the churches.

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 And lastly, then we will consider what can we do.

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 How can we be generous?

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 What is God doing about that?

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 Just how I said, God loves a cheerful giver.

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 And this is the good news.

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 Because whenever the Bible says God loves something, it's not that God is choosing something that's lovely, then he will love.

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 But it's that God is going to change things into what is lovely.

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 And so, when it says that, the Bible says that God loves a cheerful giver, means that God will make us or make people or his people into cheerful givers.

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 And that's why Paul is writing these two chapters to the Corinthian churches.

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 And that's what he's doing.

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 Now, let's consider the Corinthian churches.

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 If we can pull up the map first.

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 This is, now, this part I'm saying is not strictly from the Bible, but this is from the history for us to know the background of the Corinthian church.

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 So, you can see on the map, the Corinthian, the location of it is at a very important spot, if you can make out of it.

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 So, it is a very narrow strip of land that connects the south to the north.

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 And then there's the sea that is on both sides of the city.

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 So, the ship from the east will stop there, and then ship from the west, and then ship from the east will stop at the other port.

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 And that's very important for trade.

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 About 150 years before this letter was written, the city was actually destroyed by the Roman army,

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 because they rebelled against the Roman Empire.

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 So, the whole city was gone, and all the inhabitants were taken as slaves.

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 But about 50 years ago, after 100 years, the Roman Empire knew that that is a very important spot.

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 And so, they rebuilt the place in Corinth.

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 So, first of all, this Corinthian city is quite a new city.

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 Who would move to that city, you can imagine?

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 It's people who are adventurous, people who like to make money,

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 people who are intelligent, have skills to do things.

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 And so, this Corinthian city is full of people who are very clever in making money.

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 They start, most of them start from zero.

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 They've got nothing to start with.

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 And then they became rich as they trade.

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 As they trade.

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 So, you can imagine part of the reason for them not to be generous is that I work hard for this money.

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 Secondly, because the people in the city are quite busy making money,

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 so, religion to them is only a side thing.

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 And so, whether you're Christian or not, it didn't really matter.

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 It doesn't matter for the other people.

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 I mean, so there's not much of a persecution.

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 If you want to be Christian, fine, but so long as don't hinder me from making money,

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 I mean, nobody would persecute you.

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 And so, the Christians in the city have relatively free in terms of being Christians and worshipping God.

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 And so, the Christians in the city, they did not experience much persecution or poverty.

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 So, when we don't experience poverty or persecution,

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 it's hard for us to imagine people who are experiencing it.

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 So, that's part of the reason.

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 The third reason I can think of is that these people, they're very good at making money,

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 but usually they don't have much cash in hand.

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 Why? Because their money, they invest.

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 And so, they may say, oh, I will give, maybe, wait until my fixed-term deposit matures,

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 then I will give.

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 I mean, isn't that the idea?

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 We would, if for people who like to make money,

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 they will invest, and it's very hard for them to take away part of money.

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 So, this is the reason we can think of why the Corinthian church is lagging behind.

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 Now, we come back to the Macedonian churches.

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 The Macedonian churches are those quite not far north to the Corinthian city.

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 They are the Philippi, Testalonica, Bahria, those places as mentioned in Acts.

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 Those are long-established cities.

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 And so, they have their own tradition.

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 So, I suppose most of the Christians are not very rich, or not rich at all.

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 So, the rich people in those cities, long-established cities, are the land owners, usually.

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 And it's usually hard for rich people to become Christians.

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 That's a lot in Chelsea.

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 And so, the church will be full of more lower class in terms of social status people.

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 So, and the church also will be persecuted as well,

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 because in a long established, in a city, there will be long-established tradition.

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 If you depart from that, then it's more likely for you to be persecuted as Christians.

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 And so, we know that from chapter 8, verse 2, that these people were in severe affliction, as Paul said.

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 And they were in also severe poverty as well.

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 But the surprising thing is that they were, in verse 4, they were begging,

00:21:11.399 --> 00:21:14.460
 not to receive money, but to give money.

00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:21.640
 And that is the most unnatural thing, unusual thing that's happened.

00:21:23.380 --> 00:21:29.600
 I don't know whether we can ever understand what severe poverty means.

00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:30.579
 It's very hard.

00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:35.180
 If we have never been there, it's very hard to appreciate that.

00:21:35.180 --> 00:21:41.720
 I couldn't, until a few years ago, when we went to the Philippines,

00:21:42.860 --> 00:21:46.799
 to help out those churches.

00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:58.279
 In one of the conversations, the women there were talking to Lei about the shopping habits.

00:21:58.279 --> 00:22:05.019
 And when they found that Lei said that she shopped once a week, they were all very surprised.

00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:06.359
 Why were they surprised?

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:09.680
 Because they never have the money to shop for a whole week.

00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:15.180
 If they have the money to shop for one day for their needs, they will be very happy.

00:22:15.660 --> 00:22:19.660
 And they were rich, compared to many other people.

00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:23.099
 Because they're so poor, they basically share their resources.

00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:28.139
 Because if you don't have plenty of food, you go to somebody else's house to eat.

00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:30.079
 Hopefully you can get some food.

00:22:31.379 --> 00:22:36.819
 And there's one young pastor with five children, young children.

00:22:37.379 --> 00:22:40.339
 So we said it would be easier if he got a fridge.

00:22:42.399 --> 00:22:46.799
 I mean, most of the people didn't have a fridge, because they buy food every day, so they didn't have a fridge.

00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:49.939
 So we bought them a fridge.

00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:56.000
 A year later, when we went back, we found that the fridge was used as a cupboard.

00:22:56.820 --> 00:22:57.559
 It wasn't a non-recented one.

00:22:58.080 --> 00:22:59.519
 We then asked why.

00:23:00.120 --> 00:23:02.420
 He said we didn't have money to pay for electricity.

00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:09.059
 So, well, I suppose he could have sold the fridge.

00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:11.340
 But I suppose he didn't.

00:23:11.420 --> 00:23:13.880
 He felt embarrassed if he sold it.

00:23:14.580 --> 00:23:18.900
 So that is the poverty that we were talking about.

00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:24.180
 Unless we experience it, it's hard to imagine.

00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:35.279
 And that's partly why the Messianic churches were so keen to help the poor Christians.

00:23:35.620 --> 00:23:38.920
 Because they themselves experience persecution and poverty.

00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:44.039
 And they have sympathy, empathy towards that.

00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:51.279
 But the main reason, I think, is in 8.5,

00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:56.960
 when Paul said that they gave themselves first to the Lord,

00:23:56.960 --> 00:24:03.860
 and then by God's will they also gave themselves to Paul and the other co-workers.

00:24:06.460 --> 00:24:11.400
 Because they were willing to give themselves to the Lord,

00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:13.960
 and so they were doing the Lord's work.

00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:17.579
 They were not living for themselves.

00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:20.100
 That means they are no longer their own masters.

00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:22.720
 They have a new master.

00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:28.720
 When we try to experience these words,

00:24:28.840 --> 00:24:36.079
 I think the Lord's call in Matthew 11, 28-29,

00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:37.240
 which is familiar to us,

00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:38.660
 the Lord said,

00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:42.559
 Come to me, all who labor and heavy laden,

00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:44.720
 and I will give you rest.

00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:46.779
 Take my yoke upon you,

00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:48.960
 and learn from me,

00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:51.579
 for I am gentle and lowly in heart,

00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:53.960
 and you will find rest for your souls.

00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:59.240
 You see, before the Macedonians

00:24:59.240 --> 00:25:01.019
 came to the Lord Jesus Christ,

00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:06.160
 they were busy making money for their livelihood.

00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:09.480
 Maybe for their enjoyment,

00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:11.440
 for their identity,

00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:16.000
 but they didn't have rest in their hearts,

00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:18.620
 because things are all uncertain.

00:25:20.860 --> 00:25:23.440
 But when they heard the Lord's call,

00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:24.540
 they came to Him.

00:25:26.560 --> 00:25:31.540
 So they came to Him not only just to find rest,

00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:36.059
 but they also listened to the verse 29,

00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:37.700
 Take my yoke upon you,

00:25:38.099 --> 00:25:38.899
 and learn from me.

00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:41.700
 And they went further.

00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:45.579
 They learned from the Lord Jesus Christ,

00:25:46.180 --> 00:25:48.539
 and take the yoke upon themselves.

00:25:48.899 --> 00:25:49.920
 Because what they learned,

00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:52.119
 they learned that the Lord,

00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:53.839
 though He was rich,

00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:55.139
 though for their sake,

00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:56.259
 He became poor,

00:25:56.259 --> 00:26:01.379
 and so that they themselves will become rich,

00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:04.720
 spiritually rich.

00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:07.119
 And so they learned from the Lord,

00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:09.039
 that if the Lord can do that for them,

00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:13.759
 they can also do that for other Christians.

00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:16.680
 The Corinthian people,

00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:17.759
 they came to the Lord,

00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:19.420
 I think they heard the same call as well.

00:26:19.420 --> 00:26:24.320
 But maybe they have not taken up the yoke upon them,

00:26:24.800 --> 00:26:25.420
 the Lord's yoke.

00:26:25.620 --> 00:26:28.420
 They're still being burdened

00:26:29.600 --> 00:26:31.060
 by the things of the world.

00:26:31.580 --> 00:26:33.320
 They still have many worries

00:26:33.320 --> 00:26:34.460
 about what they eat,

00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:35.120
 what they drink,

00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:37.380
 what they wear the next day.

00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:40.180
 And that's why in the Corinthian church,

00:26:40.600 --> 00:26:42.640
 we can see there's quite a lot of conflicts

00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:43.560
 and rivalries,

00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:47.460
 as we read from Paul's letter to them.

00:26:49.420 --> 00:26:52.019
 The Macedonian people are simpler,

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:53.600
 they are not sophisticated.

00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:55.259
 And the Lord said that,

00:26:55.360 --> 00:26:56.340
 they did that,

00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:59.640
 and they found the Lord sufficient

00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:02.300
 for all their desire,

00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:03.080
 all their needs.

00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:05.200
 And so they are restful.

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.980
 They no longer need to struggle.

00:27:08.840 --> 00:27:11.180
 If we just trust in money,

00:27:11.800 --> 00:27:12.660
 we will struggle,

00:27:12.800 --> 00:27:14.480
 because we don't actually know

00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:16.140
 whether we've got enough,

00:27:16.340 --> 00:27:18.259
 and we may not have enough.

00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:20.819
 But when they learn to trust in the Lord,

00:27:22.180 --> 00:27:23.740
 they have rest,

00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:25.879
 and they don't struggle anymore.

00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:31.420
 And their generosity also have other effects.

00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:34.819
 First of all,

00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:36.740
 in chapter 8,

00:27:36.819 --> 00:27:38.480
 verses 13 to 15,

00:27:38.879 --> 00:27:39.579
 Paul said that

00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:43.079
 when you are helping another church

00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:43.960
 in one time,

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:46.140
 next time,

00:27:46.340 --> 00:27:48.819
 the other church may come back

00:27:48.819 --> 00:27:49.360
 to help you

00:27:49.360 --> 00:27:50.480
 when it's needed.

00:27:50.920 --> 00:27:51.480
 In actual fact,

00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:52.720
 it may not be your church.

00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:54.059
 It might be other churches

00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:54.700
 that they help,

00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:56.799
 and it will become,

00:27:57.120 --> 00:27:57.740
 it will build up,

00:27:57.840 --> 00:27:58.960
 it will build up the community

00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:00.100
 of the churches.

00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:03.940
 There's a saying saying that,

00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:05.160
 there's a saying,

00:28:05.160 --> 00:28:07.940
 it is scarcity,

00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:09.240
 it is scarcity,

00:28:09.580 --> 00:28:10.440
 scarcity,

00:28:10.759 --> 00:28:11.940
 it is scarcity that

00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:12.940
 builds

00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:14.519
 society.

00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.500
 It means that

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:18.100
 if everybody

00:28:18.100 --> 00:28:19.220
 has got enough

00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:19.840
 for themselves,

00:28:20.380 --> 00:28:21.720
 they don't interact

00:28:21.720 --> 00:28:22.460
 with one another,

00:28:23.040 --> 00:28:23.779
 and so people

00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:24.420
 will become

00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:25.120
 quite isolated.

00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:27.340
 But if there is

00:28:27.340 --> 00:28:27.860
 a need,

00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:29.100
 that need to be fulfilled,

00:28:30.100 --> 00:28:31.380
 then people will start

00:28:31.380 --> 00:28:31.980
 to interact,

00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:33.920
 and that builds

00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:34.660
 up the community.

00:28:35.120 --> 00:28:36.240
 And that's what we could see

00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:36.880
 in the Philippines.

00:28:37.380 --> 00:28:37.700
 People,

00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:39.120
 they were very,

00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:39.700
 I mean,

00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:40.599
 a lot more closer

00:28:40.599 --> 00:28:41.460
 to one another

00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:43.019
 because they rely

00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:43.759
 on one another

00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:46.680
 for their own survival.

00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:49.160
 And what the

00:28:49.160 --> 00:28:50.279
 Mediterranean churches

00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:51.860
 are doing

00:28:51.860 --> 00:28:52.640
 is to help

00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:53.920
 the other churches

00:28:53.920 --> 00:28:56.620
 and get to know them

00:28:56.620 --> 00:28:57.960
 and pray for them.

00:28:59.019 --> 00:29:00.240
 And then that becomes,

00:29:01.140 --> 00:29:01.960
 it will come back,

00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:03.539
 to them

00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:04.559
 as well.

00:29:04.700 --> 00:29:05.160
 Eventually,

00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:06.180
 other people

00:29:06.180 --> 00:29:07.279
 would appreciate

00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:08.460
 what they do

00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:09.880
 and might come back

00:29:09.880 --> 00:29:10.460
 to help them

00:29:10.460 --> 00:29:11.360
 as well.

00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:12.759
 And that's why

00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:14.380
 chapter 9,

00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:15.220
 verse 6,

00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:16.160
 that says that

00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:16.880
 whoever sows

00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:17.920
 sparingly

00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:19.240
 will also

00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:20.539
 reap sparingly.

00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:21.680
 Whoever sows

00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:22.319
 bountifully

00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:23.019
 will also reap

00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:23.620
 bountifully.

00:29:24.579 --> 00:29:25.400
 Thanks, Alex,

00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:26.779
 for mentioning that.

00:29:27.640 --> 00:29:27.799
 And

00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:29.059
 we

00:29:29.059 --> 00:29:31.140
 would know that,

00:29:31.140 --> 00:29:31.460
 I mean,

00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:32.860
 the Corinthian people

00:29:32.860 --> 00:29:33.900
 would know straight away

00:29:33.900 --> 00:29:35.480
 about this concept.

00:29:35.620 --> 00:29:36.540
 If you invest

00:29:36.540 --> 00:29:38.860
 a lot of money,

00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.140
 obviously,

00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:40.780
 you would

00:29:40.780 --> 00:29:41.820
 get more return.

00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:42.980
 But they also know

00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:43.560
 that it may not

00:29:43.560 --> 00:29:44.259
 necessarily be,

00:29:44.340 --> 00:29:45.040
 you may lose

00:29:45.040 --> 00:29:46.720
 all your investment.

00:29:47.180 --> 00:29:47.660
 And that is

00:29:47.660 --> 00:29:49.200
 about money.

00:29:49.560 --> 00:29:50.280
 But what Paul

00:29:50.280 --> 00:29:51.100
 is talking about

00:29:51.100 --> 00:29:51.660
 is not

00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:52.900
 money

00:29:52.900 --> 00:29:54.420
 that we are investing.

00:29:55.100 --> 00:29:55.920
 It's investing

00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:56.700
 something behind

00:29:56.700 --> 00:29:57.100
 the money,

00:29:57.220 --> 00:29:57.960
 behind the giving.

00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:58.940
 that is,

00:29:59.319 --> 00:30:00.240
 we can say,

00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:00.960
 love.

00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:03.360
 If you

00:30:03.360 --> 00:30:05.660
 give,

00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:06.720
 it shows that

00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:07.200
 you love

00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:08.059
 and you care.

00:30:09.340 --> 00:30:09.920
 And it will

00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:10.720
 come back to you.

00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:15.059
 Love

00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:15.860
 means

00:30:15.860 --> 00:30:16.759
 sacrifice.

00:30:17.640 --> 00:30:18.539
 Without sacrifice,

00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:19.019
 it's not

00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:20.100
 love.

00:30:20.779 --> 00:30:21.779
 We've learned

00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:22.620
 this from

00:30:22.620 --> 00:30:22.880
 the Lord

00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:23.400
 himself,

00:30:23.600 --> 00:30:24.539
 because he

00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:25.059
 loves his

00:30:25.059 --> 00:30:25.420
 sacrifice.

00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:27.120
 and if

00:30:27.120 --> 00:30:27.560
 the church

00:30:27.560 --> 00:30:28.320
 is willing

00:30:28.320 --> 00:30:29.160
 to sacrifice,

00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:31.140
 they will

00:30:31.140 --> 00:30:33.000
 be more

00:30:33.000 --> 00:30:33.800
 mature in love,

00:30:34.100 --> 00:30:34.700
 in their joy,

00:30:35.120 --> 00:30:35.759
 in their faith,

00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:37.080
 and so that

00:30:37.080 --> 00:30:37.400
 is the

00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:37.860
 bountiful

00:30:37.860 --> 00:30:39.220
 return

00:30:39.220 --> 00:30:40.660
 to them.

00:30:42.340 --> 00:30:42.840
 And thirdly,

00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:43.279
 the effect

00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:43.759
 will be

00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:44.740
 God will be

00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:46.019
 glorified.

00:30:46.820 --> 00:30:47.200
 So what

00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:47.820
 will we do

00:30:47.820 --> 00:30:48.779
 as a church,

00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:50.400
 the final,

00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:51.960
 the most

00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:52.480
 important

00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:53.740
 aim

00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.320
 will be

00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:56.639
 glory

00:30:56.639 --> 00:30:57.779
 to God.

00:30:58.419 --> 00:30:59.000
 And that

00:30:59.000 --> 00:30:59.659
 is mentioned

00:30:59.659 --> 00:31:00.679
 in verse

00:31:00.679 --> 00:31:01.419
 13 of

00:31:01.419 --> 00:31:01.939
 chapter 9,

00:31:02.639 --> 00:31:03.539
 that not

00:31:03.539 --> 00:31:03.919
 only the

00:31:03.919 --> 00:31:04.259
 receiving

00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:04.720
 church,

00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:05.960
 but all

00:31:05.960 --> 00:31:06.299
 the other

00:31:06.299 --> 00:31:06.779
 churches that

00:31:06.779 --> 00:31:07.460
 observe what

00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:08.000
 is happening

00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:09.079
 will glorify

00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:09.439
 God.

00:31:10.539 --> 00:31:10.939
 And when

00:31:10.939 --> 00:31:11.279
 God is

00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:11.819
 glorified,

00:31:12.619 --> 00:31:14.019
 then people

00:31:14.019 --> 00:31:15.179
 will become

00:31:15.179 --> 00:31:16.359
 mature in

00:31:16.359 --> 00:31:16.579
 him,

00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:17.939
 and there

00:31:17.939 --> 00:31:18.339
 will be

00:31:18.339 --> 00:31:19.559
 joy among

00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:20.079
 the people.

00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:21.899
 So how

00:31:21.899 --> 00:31:22.679
 can we

00:31:22.679 --> 00:31:23.619
 be like

00:31:23.619 --> 00:31:23.959
 this?

00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:25.879
 First of

00:31:25.879 --> 00:31:26.019
 all,

00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:26.500
 we need

00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:28.039
 to know

00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:28.659
 what Paul

00:31:28.659 --> 00:31:29.239
 is talking

00:31:29.239 --> 00:31:29.619
 about.

00:31:30.179 --> 00:31:30.619
 He's not

00:31:30.619 --> 00:31:31.259
 talking about

00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:32.019
 asking us to

00:31:32.019 --> 00:31:32.500
 give more

00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:32.859
 than what

00:31:32.859 --> 00:31:34.019
 we can

00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:34.419
 afford.

00:31:34.899 --> 00:31:35.639
 He's quite

00:31:35.639 --> 00:31:37.679
 specific in

00:31:37.679 --> 00:31:39.179
 chapter 8,

00:31:39.239 --> 00:31:40.119
 verse 12.

00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:40.879
 He says

00:31:40.879 --> 00:31:43.559
 that if

00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:44.019
 there is

00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:44.599
 readiness,

00:31:44.939 --> 00:31:45.239
 it is

00:31:45.239 --> 00:31:45.739
 acceptable

00:31:45.739 --> 00:31:46.899
 according to

00:31:46.899 --> 00:31:47.799
 what a

00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:48.779
 person has,

00:31:48.939 --> 00:31:49.659
 not according

00:31:49.659 --> 00:31:50.319
 to what he

00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:50.799
 does not

00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:51.059
 have.

00:31:51.059 --> 00:31:52.740
 Paul is

00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:53.119
 not even

00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:53.700
 asking the

00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:54.019
 Corinthian

00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:54.379
 churches to

00:31:54.379 --> 00:31:54.859
 give like

00:31:54.859 --> 00:31:55.039
 the

00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:55.359
 Mishnah

00:31:55.359 --> 00:31:55.779
 churches.

00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:56.740
 He just

00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.200
 asked them

00:31:57.200 --> 00:31:57.659
 to give

00:31:57.659 --> 00:31:59.019
 according to

00:31:59.019 --> 00:31:59.460
 what they

00:31:59.460 --> 00:32:00.279
 can afford,

00:32:00.539 --> 00:32:01.240
 what they

00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:01.579
 have.

00:32:02.099 --> 00:32:02.419
 So there's

00:32:02.419 --> 00:32:02.839
 one thing.

00:32:03.079 --> 00:32:03.399
 Secondly,

00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:04.179
 we can see

00:32:04.179 --> 00:32:04.619
 that the

00:32:04.619 --> 00:32:06.359
 giving is

00:32:06.359 --> 00:32:07.279
 a target,

00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:08.119
 a worthy

00:32:08.119 --> 00:32:10.819
 target.

00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:11.440
 It's not

00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:12.139
 simply give

00:32:12.139 --> 00:32:13.039
 to anyhow,

00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:13.960
 but they

00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:15.000
 were giving

00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:15.720
 to help

00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.119
 out the

00:32:16.119 --> 00:32:16.539
 Jewish

00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:17.200
 Christians

00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:17.659
 who were

00:32:17.659 --> 00:32:18.399
 in trouble.

00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:19.720
 And thirdly,

00:32:20.100 --> 00:32:20.540
 the giving

00:32:20.540 --> 00:32:21.900
 was managed

00:32:21.900 --> 00:32:23.000
 by trustworthy

00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:23.640
 persons,

00:32:23.860 --> 00:32:24.080
 as Paul

00:32:24.080 --> 00:32:24.540
 has mentioned.

00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:25.360
 It's not

00:32:25.360 --> 00:32:27.040
 simply

00:32:27.040 --> 00:32:29.240
 given and

00:32:29.240 --> 00:32:30.580
 not knowing

00:32:30.580 --> 00:32:31.380
 how it is

00:32:31.380 --> 00:32:31.740
 managed.

00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:32.340
 So it's

00:32:32.340 --> 00:32:33.759
 all done

00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.759
 properly.

00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:36.220
 With that

00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:36.780
 in mind,

00:32:37.560 --> 00:32:38.380
 how do we

00:32:38.380 --> 00:32:39.340
 become cheerful

00:32:39.340 --> 00:32:39.800
 givers?

00:32:39.799 --> 00:32:40.200
 saying,

00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:42.319
 it will

00:32:42.319 --> 00:32:43.359
 come back

00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:44.119
 to

00:32:44.119 --> 00:32:46.579
 verse

00:32:46.579 --> 00:32:48.339
 9 of

00:32:48.339 --> 00:32:49.019
 chapter 8

00:32:49.019 --> 00:32:49.980
 when it

00:32:49.980 --> 00:32:50.359
 said that,

00:32:50.619 --> 00:32:50.879
 for you

00:32:50.879 --> 00:32:51.319
 know the

00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:51.779
 grace of

00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:52.099
 our Lord

00:32:52.099 --> 00:32:52.299
 Jesus

00:32:52.299 --> 00:32:52.879
 Christ,

00:32:54.720 --> 00:32:55.359
 that though

00:32:55.359 --> 00:32:56.019
 he was

00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:56.819
 rich,

00:32:57.579 --> 00:32:57.980
 yet he

00:32:57.980 --> 00:32:58.599
 for your

00:32:58.599 --> 00:32:58.899
 sake

00:32:58.899 --> 00:32:59.480
 became

00:32:59.480 --> 00:33:00.000
 poor,

00:33:01.579 --> 00:33:02.559
 so that

00:33:02.559 --> 00:33:04.079
 you

00:33:04.079 --> 00:33:05.519
 by his

00:33:05.519 --> 00:33:05.899
 poverty

00:33:05.899 --> 00:33:06.299
 might

00:33:06.299 --> 00:33:06.639
 become

00:33:06.639 --> 00:33:07.019
 rich.

00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:09.900
 when

00:33:09.900 --> 00:33:10.859
 God

00:33:10.859 --> 00:33:11.119
 wants

00:33:11.119 --> 00:33:11.259
 to

00:33:11.259 --> 00:33:11.639
 change

00:33:11.639 --> 00:33:11.920
 us,

00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:12.359
 that

00:33:12.359 --> 00:33:12.819
 usually

00:33:12.819 --> 00:33:13.279
 happens

00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:14.240
 in two

00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:14.519
 ways.

00:33:14.619 --> 00:33:16.099
 One is

00:33:16.099 --> 00:33:17.139
 by grace

00:33:17.139 --> 00:33:17.819
 or the

00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:18.240
 power

00:33:18.240 --> 00:33:19.119
 that is

00:33:19.119 --> 00:33:20.119
 behind the

00:33:20.119 --> 00:33:20.519
 grace.

00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:22.039
 Two is

00:33:22.039 --> 00:33:22.680
 by example.

00:33:23.559 --> 00:33:23.940
 So the

00:33:23.940 --> 00:33:24.359
 Lord Jesus

00:33:24.359 --> 00:33:24.900
 Christ

00:33:24.900 --> 00:33:25.759
 gives us

00:33:25.759 --> 00:33:26.440
 both the

00:33:26.440 --> 00:33:26.839
 grace

00:33:26.839 --> 00:33:28.059
 and the

00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:28.740
 example.

00:33:30.980 --> 00:33:31.119
 The

00:33:31.119 --> 00:33:33.319
 grace

00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:34.460
 is what

00:33:34.460 --> 00:33:35.059
 changes

00:33:35.059 --> 00:33:35.599
 us from

00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:36.059
 inside.

00:33:37.019 --> 00:33:38.359
 what

00:33:38.359 --> 00:33:39.759
 makes us

00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:40.980
 different

00:33:40.980 --> 00:33:41.900
 in our

00:33:41.900 --> 00:33:43.400
 world

00:33:43.400 --> 00:33:43.680
 view,

00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:44.740
 in our

00:33:44.740 --> 00:33:46.139
 desire

00:33:46.139 --> 00:33:46.960
 for things.

00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:49.339
 And the

00:33:49.339 --> 00:33:50.099
 example is

00:33:50.099 --> 00:33:51.660
 what tells

00:33:51.660 --> 00:33:52.460
 us what

00:33:52.460 --> 00:33:52.900
 to do

00:33:52.900 --> 00:33:53.660
 and how

00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:54.059
 to do.

00:33:55.299 --> 00:33:55.819
 And so

00:33:55.819 --> 00:33:57.240
 in

00:33:57.240 --> 00:33:58.139
 chapter

00:33:58.139 --> 00:33:59.220
 8 verse

00:33:59.220 --> 00:33:59.619
 1 he

00:33:59.619 --> 00:34:00.420
 says it's

00:34:00.420 --> 00:34:01.079
 by the

00:34:01.079 --> 00:34:01.519
 grace of

00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:02.119
 God that

00:34:02.119 --> 00:34:02.379
 these

00:34:02.379 --> 00:34:02.680
 messaged

00:34:02.680 --> 00:34:03.139
 churches

00:34:03.139 --> 00:34:04.099
 are doing

00:34:04.099 --> 00:34:04.660
 the giving

00:34:04.660 --> 00:34:05.240
 like that.

00:34:05.240 --> 00:34:06.599
 So the

00:34:06.599 --> 00:34:07.240
 same grace

00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:07.620
 is given

00:34:07.620 --> 00:34:08.719
 to the

00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:09.039
 Corinthian

00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:09.519
 church and

00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:09.900
 to us

00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:10.320
 as well.

00:34:10.619 --> 00:34:11.019
 And we

00:34:11.019 --> 00:34:11.340
 need to

00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:11.960
 know that

00:34:11.960 --> 00:34:12.519
 God has

00:34:12.519 --> 00:34:12.860
 already

00:34:12.860 --> 00:34:14.980
 done that

00:34:14.980 --> 00:34:15.960
 and changing

00:34:15.960 --> 00:34:18.300
 our

00:34:18.300 --> 00:34:20.260
 disposition.

00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:20.739
 That is

00:34:20.739 --> 00:34:21.199
 what we

00:34:21.199 --> 00:34:21.579
 are looking

00:34:21.579 --> 00:34:21.960
 for in

00:34:21.960 --> 00:34:23.300
 life in

00:34:23.300 --> 00:34:23.760
 Christ.

00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:25.260
 But we

00:34:25.260 --> 00:34:25.619
 need to

00:34:25.619 --> 00:34:26.219
 take hold

00:34:26.219 --> 00:34:26.699
 of that

00:34:26.699 --> 00:34:28.460
 and follow

00:34:28.460 --> 00:34:28.799
 his

00:34:28.799 --> 00:34:29.839
 examples.

00:34:30.460 --> 00:34:30.799
 If he

00:34:30.799 --> 00:34:31.319
 is willing

00:34:31.319 --> 00:34:32.859
 to

00:34:32.859 --> 00:34:34.699
 give up

00:34:34.699 --> 00:34:34.960
 his

00:34:34.960 --> 00:34:35.539
 richness

00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:36.500
 and become

00:34:36.500 --> 00:34:36.939
 poor,

00:34:37.359 --> 00:34:37.879
 can we

00:34:37.879 --> 00:34:38.419
 do the

00:34:38.419 --> 00:34:38.719
 same?

00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:40.739
 And what

00:34:40.739 --> 00:34:41.399
 does that

00:34:41.399 --> 00:34:42.000
 mean for

00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:42.639
 Christ to

00:34:42.639 --> 00:34:43.199
 become

00:34:43.199 --> 00:34:44.059
 poor?

00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:47.659
 We know

00:34:47.659 --> 00:34:48.239
 that Christ

00:34:48.239 --> 00:34:49.519
 is the

00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:49.919
 source of

00:34:49.919 --> 00:34:50.659
 life and

00:34:50.659 --> 00:34:51.000
 the giver

00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:51.419
 of life.

00:34:52.139 --> 00:34:52.460
 And when

00:34:52.460 --> 00:34:52.960
 he became

00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:53.379
 poor,

00:34:54.719 --> 00:34:55.399
 he gave

00:34:55.399 --> 00:34:55.699
 up his

00:34:55.699 --> 00:34:56.000
 life.

00:34:56.699 --> 00:34:59.359
 we know

00:34:59.359 --> 00:35:00.219
 that Christ

00:35:00.219 --> 00:35:01.399
 enjoyed

00:35:01.399 --> 00:35:02.239
 the fellowship

00:35:02.239 --> 00:35:02.699
 with the

00:35:02.699 --> 00:35:03.059
 Father

00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:04.639
 from

00:35:04.639 --> 00:35:05.219
 eternity.

00:35:05.819 --> 00:35:06.519
 But when

00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:06.919
 he became

00:35:06.919 --> 00:35:07.359
 poor,

00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:09.019
 he went

00:35:09.019 --> 00:35:09.299
 to the

00:35:09.299 --> 00:35:09.839
 cross and

00:35:09.839 --> 00:35:10.099
 said,

00:35:10.500 --> 00:35:10.919
 my God,

00:35:11.019 --> 00:35:11.519
 my God,

00:35:11.739 --> 00:35:12.199
 why should

00:35:12.199 --> 00:35:13.219
 you forsake

00:35:13.219 --> 00:35:13.480
 me?

00:35:15.759 --> 00:35:17.599
 And we

00:35:17.599 --> 00:35:18.099
 know that

00:35:18.099 --> 00:35:19.579
 Christ was

00:35:19.579 --> 00:35:20.019
 full of

00:35:20.019 --> 00:35:20.359
 glory,

00:35:21.079 --> 00:35:21.399
 the same

00:35:21.399 --> 00:35:21.919
 as God,

00:35:22.319 --> 00:35:22.579
 from

00:35:22.579 --> 00:35:23.039
 eternity.

00:35:24.439 --> 00:35:25.219
 But when

00:35:25.219 --> 00:35:25.599
 he became

00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:26.079
 poor,

00:35:26.699 --> 00:35:27.799
 he let

00:35:27.799 --> 00:35:28.239
 go of

00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:28.960
 his glory

00:35:28.960 --> 00:35:29.460
 and became

00:35:29.460 --> 00:35:29.899
 a man.

00:35:31.500 --> 00:35:31.739
 And

00:35:31.739 --> 00:35:33.579
 what Christ

00:35:33.579 --> 00:35:34.159
 has done

00:35:34.159 --> 00:35:35.079
 is to

00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:35.619
 help us

00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:36.059
 to see

00:35:36.059 --> 00:35:37.439
 that we

00:35:37.439 --> 00:35:38.059
 should or

00:35:38.059 --> 00:35:38.619
 we can

00:35:38.619 --> 00:35:39.539
 be like

00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:39.819
 him,

00:35:40.239 --> 00:35:40.739
 having the

00:35:40.739 --> 00:35:43.099
 joy of

00:35:43.099 --> 00:35:44.399
 sacrificial

00:35:44.399 --> 00:35:45.779
 love to

00:35:45.779 --> 00:35:46.919
 others who

00:35:46.919 --> 00:35:47.699
 have more

00:35:47.699 --> 00:35:49.039
 needs than

00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:49.639
 us,

00:35:50.099 --> 00:35:51.000
 and that

00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:51.519
 we can

00:35:51.519 --> 00:35:52.259
 work as

00:35:52.259 --> 00:35:52.759
 a church

00:35:52.759 --> 00:35:53.339
 to,

00:35:53.839 --> 00:35:54.279
 just like the

00:35:54.280 --> 00:35:54.560
 Methodist

00:35:54.560 --> 00:35:55.040
 churches

00:35:55.040 --> 00:35:58.400
 to work

00:35:58.400 --> 00:35:58.860
 together

00:35:58.860 --> 00:36:00.800
 and have

00:36:00.800 --> 00:36:01.660
 some

00:36:01.660 --> 00:36:02.580
 purpose

00:36:02.580 --> 00:36:03.500
 in helping

00:36:03.500 --> 00:36:04.640
 those others

00:36:04.640 --> 00:36:05.120
 who are

00:36:05.120 --> 00:36:05.720
 in ministry

00:36:05.720 --> 00:36:08.320
 and to

00:36:08.320 --> 00:36:09.300
 bring glory

00:36:09.300 --> 00:36:09.740
 to God

00:36:09.740 --> 00:36:10.060
 at the

00:36:10.060 --> 00:36:10.340
 end.

00:36:12.920 --> 00:36:14.080
 Galatians 5

00:36:14.080 --> 00:36:14.800
 once says

00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:15.240
 that

00:36:15.240 --> 00:36:18.140
 it is for

00:36:18.140 --> 00:36:18.880
 freedom that

00:36:18.880 --> 00:36:19.500
 Christ has

00:36:19.500 --> 00:36:20.680
 set us

00:36:20.680 --> 00:36:21.260
 free,

00:36:21.820 --> 00:36:22.320
 stemmed from

00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:22.780
 therefore,

00:36:24.640 --> 00:36:25.220
 do not

00:36:25.220 --> 00:36:25.820
 submit again

00:36:25.820 --> 00:36:26.300
 to the

00:36:26.300 --> 00:36:26.880
 yoke of

00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:27.260
 slavery.

00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:29.820
 If we do

00:36:29.820 --> 00:36:30.240
 not submit

00:36:30.240 --> 00:36:30.580
 to the

00:36:30.580 --> 00:36:31.140
 yoke of

00:36:31.140 --> 00:36:31.440
 the Lord

00:36:31.440 --> 00:36:32.180
 Jesus Christ,

00:36:32.559 --> 00:36:32.920
 we will

00:36:32.920 --> 00:36:33.640
 continue to

00:36:33.640 --> 00:36:34.360
 submit to

00:36:34.360 --> 00:36:35.500
 the yoke of

00:36:35.500 --> 00:36:36.460
 slavery in

00:36:36.460 --> 00:36:36.940
 this world.

00:36:39.420 --> 00:36:40.019
 Let us

00:36:40.019 --> 00:36:40.280
 pray.

00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:47.519
 Father,

00:36:47.600 --> 00:36:48.720
 we thank

00:36:48.720 --> 00:36:49.160
 you for

00:36:49.160 --> 00:36:50.280
 the freedom

00:36:50.280 --> 00:36:50.800
 that you

00:36:50.800 --> 00:36:51.200
 have given

00:36:51.200 --> 00:36:52.820
 us in

00:36:52.820 --> 00:36:53.840
 Christ Jesus.

00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:55.760
 We ask

00:36:55.760 --> 00:36:55.980
 that you

00:36:55.980 --> 00:36:56.580
 may help

00:36:56.580 --> 00:36:56.900
 us to

00:36:56.900 --> 00:36:57.320
 lift up

00:36:57.320 --> 00:36:57.620
 this

00:36:57.620 --> 00:36:57.980
 freedom

00:36:57.980 --> 00:37:02.420
 and also

00:37:02.420 --> 00:37:03.360
 help us

00:37:03.360 --> 00:37:04.900
 to have

00:37:04.900 --> 00:37:06.080
 this care

00:37:06.080 --> 00:37:07.080
 towards

00:37:07.080 --> 00:37:07.640
 others

00:37:07.640 --> 00:37:08.100
 who

00:37:08.100 --> 00:37:08.480
 suffer.

00:37:11.280 --> 00:37:11.900
 Thank you,

00:37:12.000 --> 00:37:12.100
 Lord.

00:37:12.240 --> 00:37:12.620
 May you

00:37:12.620 --> 00:37:14.400
 make our

00:37:14.400 --> 00:37:15.060
 life worthy

00:37:15.060 --> 00:37:15.360
 of your

00:37:15.360 --> 00:37:15.960
 calling and

00:37:15.960 --> 00:37:16.580
 bring glory

00:37:16.580 --> 00:37:17.280
 to your

00:37:17.280 --> 00:37:17.740
 own name.

00:37:18.820 --> 00:37:19.220
 We pray

00:37:19.220 --> 00:37:19.560
 in Jesus'

00:37:19.560 --> 00:37:19.920
 name.

00:37:20.280 --> 00:37:20.680
 Amen.