WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.179
 This morning, I don't know what you feel about this,

00:00:04.740 --> 00:00:11.900
 I am ending the series of messages on giving.

00:00:13.120 --> 00:00:15.500
 And I feel a little self-conscious about that

00:00:15.500 --> 00:00:22.260
 because I got a text from somebody earlier in the week

00:00:22.260 --> 00:00:23.620
 who comes to church saying,

00:00:23.620 --> 00:00:27.160
 are you banging on about giving again?

00:00:27.160 --> 00:00:31.640
 And the answer is yes, in a way.

00:00:31.940 --> 00:00:33.820
 And I hope you will bear with me.

00:00:33.920 --> 00:00:37.439
 And if you're a visitor to this church or you're not a member here,

00:00:38.439 --> 00:00:41.820
 please just kind of take the principles I'm talking about.

00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:45.039
 We're not trying to wring every last buck out of everybody

00:00:45.039 --> 00:00:48.320
 who walks through the door of this church, mostly.

00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:53.159
 So, yeah, I...

00:00:53.159 --> 00:01:01.000
 And I remembered that I read R.T. Kendall's book on tithing.

00:01:01.859 --> 00:01:06.039
 I don't actually think that tithing is a New Testament principle.

00:01:06.219 --> 00:01:08.079
 I think it's...

00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:13.159
 The principle for people in the New Testament is surely generosity,

00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:17.719
 sacrificial generosity, not simply tithing.

00:01:17.719 --> 00:01:21.500
 And tithing is, you know, it's a good kind of guideline.

00:01:21.819 --> 00:01:24.260
 It's not a bad place to kind of aim for.

00:01:24.420 --> 00:01:26.539
 Some of you might be able to achieve better than that.

00:01:26.659 --> 00:01:31.539
 But one of the things he says in what is a very good book on generous giving,

00:01:33.019 --> 00:01:39.000
 and I think this may be why Clive and Russ planned it this way,

00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:46.540
 is that there is something about giving that will unlock something in you spiritually

00:01:46.540 --> 00:01:49.280
 that nothing else will unlock.

00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:54.799
 Let me say that again, because it's so counterintuitive, isn't it,

00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:56.240
 to say something like that.

00:01:56.319 --> 00:02:01.079
 But once you get giving for the right reasons in your heart,

00:02:01.079 --> 00:02:08.400
 it will unlock things in you spiritually that nothing else will unlock as well.

00:02:09.939 --> 00:02:12.379
 That was R.T. Kendall's thought, and it's my thought.

00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:15.020
 And I want to start with a true story,

00:02:15.139 --> 00:02:18.960
 which illustrates in a way where I want to get us

00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:20.819
 when we start to look at the scripture.

00:02:21.819 --> 00:02:24.819
 I met this German hotel owner,

00:02:24.819 --> 00:02:30.479
 and he owns hotels in America,

00:02:30.819 --> 00:02:34.560
 and in America, you may or may not know this,

00:02:34.780 --> 00:02:38.900
 but it is, that tipping is a big deal out there, right?

00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:43.519
 So you are supposed to, when you vacate your hotel room,

00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:47.060
 leave some dollars for your chambermaid who's cleaned the room for,

00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:49.359
 I'd rather like that, I don't have a problem with that,

00:02:49.419 --> 00:02:50.379
 I think it's a good thing.

00:02:51.180 --> 00:02:53.840
 And generally the kind of guy price would be,

00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:55.640
 you know, say you've been there two or three nights,

00:02:55.740 --> 00:02:58.759
 you'd leave $20, somebody generous might leave $50,

00:02:59.319 --> 00:03:02.719
 somebody mean might not leave anything.

00:03:04.199 --> 00:03:11.759
 So this Hispanic chambermaid went into a room where this guy had been,

00:03:12.360 --> 00:03:17.920
 and she finds $100 left on the little table in the room.

00:03:19.379 --> 00:03:22.460
 And her thought is, and it's your thought, that's a mistake.

00:03:22.460 --> 00:03:26.280
 You know, no idiot would leave $100 in a room.

00:03:26.719 --> 00:03:28.900
 So she takes it to her supervisor,

00:03:29.260 --> 00:03:31.920
 who takes it to the floor manager of the hotel,

00:03:32.200 --> 00:03:33.280
 and hands it in.

00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:39.360
 The floor manager contacts the guest and says to the guest,

00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:46.000
 I'm sorry to bother you, but we've noticed that you left $100 in your room.

00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:46.780
 Did you?

00:03:46.860 --> 00:03:49.159
 And before he could say, did you mean that, the guy said,

00:03:49.259 --> 00:03:50.060
 I did what?

00:03:51.300 --> 00:03:53.580
 He said, you left $100 in the room.

00:03:53.659 --> 00:03:54.719
 He said, how do you know that?

00:03:54.780 --> 00:03:58.819
 He said, the chambermaid picked it up and handed it in.

00:03:58.819 --> 00:04:01.959
 He said, she did what?

00:04:03.239 --> 00:04:06.259
 He said, the chambermaid picked up the $100 bill,

00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:09.519
 assumed you've made a mistake, and she brought it in.

00:04:12.120 --> 00:04:14.099
 There's a little silence on the phone.

00:04:14.180 --> 00:04:17.139
 The guy said, you give that $100 back to her.

00:04:17.980 --> 00:04:21.039
 He said, and give me a name, and I'll send her another $100,

00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:24.180
 because I want to bless that kind of honesty.

00:04:27.460 --> 00:04:31.800
 See, when you get that kind of generosity,

00:04:31.980 --> 00:04:34.760
 which is in response to the honesty of another,

00:04:35.220 --> 00:04:37.980
 incidentally, the thing that pleased the hotel owner was,

00:04:38.660 --> 00:04:43.500
 that he said that one of their core values as a hotel chain was honesty.

00:04:45.420 --> 00:04:47.960
 And it's kind of rewarding if you run a company,

00:04:47.959 --> 00:04:52.599
 when you discover that your employees actually get the values that you're on about.

00:04:54.579 --> 00:04:59.180
 So let's turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 9.

00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:02.259
 I don't know if we can have that up on the screen or not.

00:05:02.799 --> 00:05:03.879
 That would be helpful.

00:05:05.179 --> 00:05:08.459
 And I want to focus on one verse today,

00:05:08.620 --> 00:05:10.699
 and I think you might have seen this coming,

00:05:12.039 --> 00:05:13.019
 where Paul writes,

00:05:13.019 --> 00:05:17.819
 whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly.

00:05:17.959 --> 00:05:24.919
 It's a very simple little quip, isn't it?

00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:30.740
 Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly.

00:05:31.959 --> 00:05:38.620
 German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer said this.

00:05:38.620 --> 00:05:38.939
 He said,

00:05:38.939 --> 00:05:42.299
 every man takes the limits of his own vision

00:05:42.299 --> 00:05:45.000
 for the limits of the world.

00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:47.319
 Let me say that again.

00:05:47.939 --> 00:05:50.659
 Every man takes the limits of his own vision

00:05:50.659 --> 00:05:52.680
 for the limits of the world.

00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:55.259
 Paul says, along the same theme, I think,

00:05:55.959 --> 00:05:59.199
 you go and sow sparingly.

00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:03.139
 Don't come crying when you reap sparingly.

00:06:03.139 --> 00:06:08.339
 What we know is,

00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:11.360
 there's a kind of general rule in life,

00:06:11.479 --> 00:06:15.399
 though it's generally true rather than exclusively true,

00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:18.699
 that inputs affect outputs.

00:06:20.419 --> 00:06:22.360
 What you put into your life

00:06:22.360 --> 00:06:25.159
 or what somebody else puts into your life

00:06:25.159 --> 00:06:29.360
 will dictate some of the outputs in your life.

00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:34.600
 Right now, nearly every day in one of the newspapers,

00:06:34.600 --> 00:06:36.420
 you will find in one of the special,

00:06:36.420 --> 00:06:39.780
 many special supplements that they do day by day,

00:06:40.639 --> 00:06:45.580
 an article about artificial intelligence.

00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:49.180
 Be very careful not to say artificial insemination at that point.

00:06:49.180 --> 00:06:51.939
 Artificial intelligence.

00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:54.560
 And what we know is,

00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:57.100
 and this now is becoming a grey area,

00:06:57.199 --> 00:06:58.560
 but what we always used to say,

00:06:58.860 --> 00:07:02.259
 computers are as good as the programs you put into them.

00:07:02.259 --> 00:07:07.379
 But the next generation of AI devices

00:07:07.379 --> 00:07:09.879
 will be able to think for themselves.

00:07:10.159 --> 00:07:15.279
 And so, you know, there's some ethical anxiety around that.

00:07:15.339 --> 00:07:17.399
 You probably read in the newspaper last week

00:07:17.399 --> 00:07:23.199
 that an algorithm has found a new strain of drugs

00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:26.719
 that will combat severe infections

00:07:26.719 --> 00:07:29.060
 that antibiotics today won't touch.

00:07:30.500 --> 00:07:31.500
 I mean, imagine that.

00:07:31.500 --> 00:07:32.620
 It's an algorithm.

00:07:33.779 --> 00:07:35.240
 You can't go shake hands with it.

00:07:35.319 --> 00:07:37.620
 You can't give it a kiss on the cheek and say thank you.

00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:42.620
 And it's done something that human beings fail to do.

00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:43.980
 Perhaps we're right to be anxious.

00:07:44.139 --> 00:07:44.800
 Perhaps we're not.

00:07:44.860 --> 00:07:45.439
 I don't know.

00:07:47.060 --> 00:07:48.060
 Paul, of course,

00:07:48.279 --> 00:07:51.079
 in talking about sowing sparingly here,

00:07:51.399 --> 00:07:53.100
 is talking about giving.

00:07:53.779 --> 00:07:57.040
 But if you were to turn over just a few pages in your Bible,

00:07:57.040 --> 00:07:58.040
 if you have one,

00:07:58.420 --> 00:08:00.300
 to Galatians chapter 6,

00:08:00.300 --> 00:08:02.439
 we read these words,

00:08:02.520 --> 00:08:06.759
 where Paul is talking about sparse sowing

00:08:06.759 --> 00:08:09.819
 and sparse reaping being related

00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:12.180
 as a kind of universal principle.

00:08:12.620 --> 00:08:12.960
 He says,

00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:13.959
 Don't be deceived.

00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:15.739
 God cannot be mocked.

00:08:16.419 --> 00:08:17.979
 A man reaps what he sows.

00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:20.659
 The one who sows to please his sinful nature,

00:08:21.359 --> 00:08:22.899
 from that sinful nature,

00:08:23.079 --> 00:08:24.359
 will reap destruction.

00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:27.319
 The one who sows to please the Spirit,

00:08:27.459 --> 00:08:28.199
 from the Spirit,

00:08:28.779 --> 00:08:31.159
 will reap eternal life.

00:08:31.160 --> 00:08:37.620
 You start to see that this sowing and reaping

00:08:37.620 --> 00:08:41.779
 has massive application for our lives today,

00:08:41.860 --> 00:08:43.480
 has massive application

00:08:43.480 --> 00:08:47.720
 throughout the centuries to all human life.

00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:50.980
 You need to understand this,

00:08:51.680 --> 00:08:53.300
 that what you put into life,

00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:55.100
 or if you're a parent,

00:08:55.220 --> 00:08:57.040
 what you put into the lives of others,

00:08:57.039 --> 00:09:02.399
 is going to have some outputs in those lives.

00:09:04.019 --> 00:09:07.599
 I think back to some of those little children

00:09:07.599 --> 00:09:09.539
 on the streets of Guatemala.

00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:13.539
 I think of the girls of 12 years old

00:09:13.539 --> 00:09:16.259
 who don't reach that age

00:09:16.259 --> 00:09:18.299
 without ending up with a baby.

00:09:18.719 --> 00:09:21.500
 Not fathered by, you know,

00:09:21.500 --> 00:09:22.820
 a 15-year-old,

00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:23.419
 loud,

00:09:23.620 --> 00:09:25.960
 but by a 50-year-old man

00:09:25.960 --> 00:09:28.960
 who wants no responsibility,

00:09:29.179 --> 00:09:29.419
 nothing.

00:09:29.559 --> 00:09:30.840
 You think you can put that

00:09:30.840 --> 00:09:32.139
 into the life of another

00:09:32.139 --> 00:09:35.019
 and it's not going to have ramifications.

00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:37.360
 You think that you can go on

00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:38.620
 living a sinful life,

00:09:38.740 --> 00:09:39.700
 doing it your way,

00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:41.059
 as Frank Sinatra said,

00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:43.139
 and that is not going to have impact

00:09:43.139 --> 00:09:44.480
 on other people.

00:09:46.460 --> 00:09:47.639
 Don't be deceived,

00:09:48.419 --> 00:09:50.179
 says Paul in Galatians.

00:09:50.179 --> 00:09:53.179
 God is not to be mocked.

00:09:54.699 --> 00:09:56.659
 See, Paul had this idea

00:09:56.659 --> 00:09:59.359
 that if we're claiming

00:09:59.359 --> 00:10:02.599
 the privilege of being a child of God,

00:10:02.739 --> 00:10:05.319
 but we're not living like a child of God,

00:10:06.899 --> 00:10:08.739
 then effectively,

00:10:09.359 --> 00:10:11.039
 we're mocking God.

00:10:13.179 --> 00:10:14.399
 And I don't know about you,

00:10:14.439 --> 00:10:16.240
 I kind of think that must be serious,

00:10:17.859 --> 00:10:19.839
 that we would live like that.

00:10:21.179 --> 00:10:22.519
 So Paul says,

00:10:23.219 --> 00:10:24.859
 whoever sows sparingly

00:10:24.859 --> 00:10:26.500
 will reap sparingly.

00:10:27.299 --> 00:10:29.199
 But Paul here is using

00:10:29.199 --> 00:10:31.939
 another very important principle

00:10:31.939 --> 00:10:34.039
 to make this point.

00:10:34.479 --> 00:10:36.399
 Again, it just illustrates

00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:38.079
 why this principle is important,

00:10:38.539 --> 00:10:40.079
 not just in the realm of giving,

00:10:40.519 --> 00:10:43.159
 but in the realm of our Christian walk with God.

00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:47.199
 What Paul argues here is

00:10:47.199 --> 00:10:49.959
 that God's relentless grace

00:10:49.959 --> 00:10:55.980
 provokes reckless generosity in us.

00:10:56.199 --> 00:10:57.219
 Let me say that again.

00:10:58.219 --> 00:10:59.559
 God's relentless grace

00:10:59.559 --> 00:11:03.779
 provokes reckless generosity in God

00:11:03.779 --> 00:11:07.379
 if we really get that relentless grace.

00:11:07.579 --> 00:11:09.019
 2 Corinthians chapter 9,

00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:10.079
 Paul says this,

00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:13.060
 God is able to make,

00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:14.259
 this is verse 8,

00:11:14.460 --> 00:11:17.100
 God is able to make all grace abound to you

00:11:17.100 --> 00:11:19.000
 so that in all things at all times,

00:11:19.320 --> 00:11:20.560
 having all that you need,

00:11:20.680 --> 00:11:23.800
 you will abound in every good work.

00:11:23.799 --> 00:11:29.299
 I'm minded to say

00:11:29.299 --> 00:11:32.059
 that I think the most misunderstood

00:11:32.059 --> 00:11:36.019
 principle of the Christian faith,

00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:39.179
 probably represented here by,

00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:40.139
 dare I say,

00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:42.199
 potentially two-thirds of you,

00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:45.539
 is that you sit in church week by week,

00:11:45.599 --> 00:11:46.479
 you sing the hymns,

00:11:46.539 --> 00:11:47.419
 you say the prayers,

00:11:47.479 --> 00:11:48.279
 you shout amen,

00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:49.659
 and we move on.

00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:52.179
 But actually,

00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:55.519
 do we really understand grace?

00:11:57.439 --> 00:12:01.480
 Do we really understand God's love for us

00:12:01.480 --> 00:12:04.240
 even though we don't deserve it?

00:12:06.019 --> 00:12:06.959
 I mean, imagine that.

00:12:07.019 --> 00:12:09.220
 That's not just somebody who fancies you.

00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:10.079
 This is God.

00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:15.460
 This is the God who looks at you as you are

00:12:15.460 --> 00:12:17.759
 and still manages to love you,

00:12:18.200 --> 00:12:21.000
 but loves you too much to leave you as you are.

00:12:25.460 --> 00:12:26.600
 And look,

00:12:26.680 --> 00:12:28.340
 a little litmus test for you.

00:12:28.540 --> 00:12:31.759
 I've asked you to apply this litmus test

00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:32.800
 to your life before.

00:12:33.580 --> 00:12:36.700
 If you think that blessing with God

00:12:36.700 --> 00:12:38.400
 is to do with earning it,

00:12:38.400 --> 00:12:40.020
 you don't understand grace.

00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:43.960
 Grace,

00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:46.180
 as,

00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:49.220
 terrible thing when you get old,

00:12:49.280 --> 00:12:49.500
 isn't it?

00:12:49.520 --> 00:12:50.700
 Your names go out of your,

00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:52.360
 out of your head.

00:12:52.500 --> 00:12:54.000
 Dallas Willard said,

00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:57.259
 grace means the end of earning,

00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:01.220
 but it doesn't mean the end of effort.

00:13:03.800 --> 00:13:04.080
 See,

00:13:04.180 --> 00:13:05.340
 you're sitting here thinking,

00:13:05.879 --> 00:13:06.100
 you know,

00:13:06.100 --> 00:13:07.540
 what I do is going to affect,

00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:07.879
 you know,

00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:08.660
 no.

00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:12.780
 God's grace is that he loves you

00:13:12.780 --> 00:13:14.520
 even though you don't deserve it.

00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:17.580
 And where does he show that grace primarily?

00:13:18.060 --> 00:13:21.220
 He shows it on the cross of Calvary.

00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:25.340
 Back in the days of the Old Testament,

00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:27.740
 in the book of Isaiah,

00:13:28.740 --> 00:13:30.020
 chapter 53.

00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:31.299
 I mean,

00:13:31.340 --> 00:13:32.500
 this is truly amazing.

00:13:32.500 --> 00:13:32.779
 I mean,

00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:35.139
 writing 650 years,

00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:39.720
 700 years before Jesus appeared on planet Earth.

00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:45.379
 This prophet prophesies about the person who would be the Messiah.

00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:47.120
 I mean,

00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:47.939
 imagine it.

00:13:48.220 --> 00:13:48.919
 Watch this.

00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:55.439
 He's talking about the person who will come and rescue his people in the future.

00:13:56.079 --> 00:13:57.759
 The first thing he says is,

00:13:58.259 --> 00:14:00.699
 you're not going to be that impressed with his physical looks.

00:14:00.759 --> 00:14:01.860
 This is not Brad Pitt.

00:14:01.860 --> 00:14:07.159
 He said,

00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:10.000
 he was despised and rejected by men.

00:14:10.560 --> 00:14:12.960
 A man of sorrows and familiar with suffering,

00:14:13.060 --> 00:14:15.700
 like one from whom men hide their faces.

00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:19.139
 He was despised and we esteemed him not.

00:14:19.139 --> 00:14:22.019
 You know,

00:14:22.220 --> 00:14:23.439
 you're kind of worried,

00:14:23.580 --> 00:14:23.919
 don't you?

00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:24.379
 I mean,

00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:24.939
 Jesus,

00:14:26.779 --> 00:14:27.059
 you know,

00:14:27.100 --> 00:14:28.159
 in the minds of this man's,

00:14:28.319 --> 00:14:28.600
 I mean,

00:14:28.699 --> 00:14:31.080
 you've seen pictures of Jesus in Sunday school,

00:14:31.220 --> 00:14:31.500
 haven't you?

00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:34.620
 He looks like the lead singer of Deep Purple or something like that.

00:14:37.059 --> 00:14:38.960
 I don't know if he did look like that.

00:14:40.699 --> 00:14:40.860
 You know,

00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:42.500
 would he pass the Hollywood screen test?

00:14:42.580 --> 00:14:43.279
 I don't know.

00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:46.439
 But then Isaiah goes on,

00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:46.720
 he says,

00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:47.679
 surely he took,

00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:51.199
 took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows.

00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:54.099
 And yet we still considered him stricken by God,

00:14:54.239 --> 00:14:55.799
 smitten by him and afflicted.

00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:58.719
 For he was pierced for our transgressions.

00:14:59.059 --> 00:15:01.500
 He was crushed for our iniquities.

00:15:02.419 --> 00:15:02.620
 Okay,

00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:07.799
 let me just graphically show you what I think Isaiah is prophesying here.

00:15:08.199 --> 00:15:12.559
 Imagine at the moment that this is your life and this is God.

00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:13.659
 And I'm putting him up there,

00:15:13.659 --> 00:15:15.059
 not because I think God is,

00:15:15.179 --> 00:15:15.459
 you know,

00:15:15.559 --> 00:15:16.639
 up there as such,

00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:18.220
 but bear with me.

00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:19.059
 Right?

00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:24.399
 What Isaiah is telling us is that it's our sins that separates us from God.

00:15:24.840 --> 00:15:25.080
 Now,

00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:31.199
 imagine this book is the book of the record of all the sins in my life.

00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:31.879
 Right?

00:15:31.980 --> 00:15:32.179
 I mean,

00:15:32.199 --> 00:15:33.279
 this would be volume one,

00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:33.679
 honestly.

00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:36.120
 Right?

00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:37.019
 It's a big collection.

00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:37.340
 I mean,

00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:39.340
 forget the Encyclopedia Britannica.

00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:40.559
 Okay?

00:15:40.939 --> 00:15:46.439
 So what Isaiah is saying is this sin lies on my life and it's between me and God.

00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:48.360
 It separates me from God.

00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:48.399
 God,

00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:52.740
 that's terrible.

00:15:52.740 --> 00:15:55.639
 And maybe we don't take that seriously enough,

00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:57.100
 but even if we do,

00:15:57.180 --> 00:16:01.399
 it's terrible unless there is a way past it.

00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:06.340
 A way that my sin might be taken away.

00:16:06.340 --> 00:16:07.120
 And what,

00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:09.120
 what grace is,

00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:13.600
 a God who in the person of Jesus comes down to earth.

00:16:14.920 --> 00:16:15.899
 And Isaiah says,

00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:16.660
 on him,

00:16:17.820 --> 00:16:19.519
 the burden of my sin is laid.

00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:20.440
 So I'm free

00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:23.500
 to have a relationship with God.

00:16:23.580 --> 00:16:24.180
 Someone say,

00:16:24.280 --> 00:16:24.780
 hallelujah.

00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.200
 Some of you are thinking,

00:16:27.300 --> 00:16:28.120
 I never knew that.

00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:28.920
 Don't say that.

00:16:28.920 --> 00:16:29.080
 But,

00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:29.780
 see,

00:16:33.900 --> 00:16:35.320
 that's where grace begins.

00:16:36.340 --> 00:16:43.720
 It begins on the cross that Isaiah saw would be the place where my iniquity would be laid upon him.

00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:46.960
 That's why Paul talks about a new righteousness.

00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:50.820
 The old righteousness under the Jewish law was,

00:16:51.160 --> 00:16:54.180
 if you keep all the law or you do the best you can,

00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:56.220
 you might make it into heaven.

00:16:57.460 --> 00:16:57.720
 No,

00:16:57.780 --> 00:16:58.220
 says Paul,

00:16:58.300 --> 00:16:59.440
 there's a new righteousness.

00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:01.660
 A righteousness based on grace.

00:17:01.980 --> 00:17:04.620
 A righteousness based not on what I do,

00:17:04.619 --> 00:17:07.939
 but on what God in Jesus Christ has done.

00:17:08.159 --> 00:17:09.519
 How do I access that?

00:17:12.879 --> 00:17:13.199
 Well,

00:17:13.219 --> 00:17:14.339
 that's a great question,

00:17:14.439 --> 00:17:14.779
 isn't it?

00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:17.199
 Someone say,

00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:20.459
 you're going to tell me I've got to give generously and then I can access it.

00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:25.079
 Some of you say,

00:17:25.199 --> 00:17:27.359
 am I going to have to live a neurotic life,

00:17:27.639 --> 00:17:29.539
 wondering whether or not I've done enough?

00:17:29.539 --> 00:17:35.000
 Enough good things to kind of cancel out the stuff that's not so good in my life.

00:17:35.980 --> 00:17:36.339
 No.

00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:37.559
 The Bible says,

00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:39.759
 we access this grace through faith.

00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:41.099
 Ephesians chapter 2,

00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:42.279
 verses 8 and 9.

00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:43.159
 If you don't believe me,

00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:44.359
 read them when you get home.

00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:47.240
 It is by grace,

00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:49.460
 you have been saved.

00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:50.859
 Not by works,

00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:51.180
 i.e.

00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:52.599
 not by your own effort.

00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:55.959
 So that none of you can boast.

00:17:57.879 --> 00:18:02.799
 I remember we had a great preacher in the church when I was a young preacher.

00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:03.699
 So funny.

00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:04.959
 When I was a curate,

00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:06.279
 I read all this guy's books.

00:18:06.379 --> 00:18:07.559
 They're really good books.

00:18:08.139 --> 00:18:08.819
 And I'd be,

00:18:08.899 --> 00:18:09.799
 I'd preach a sermon,

00:18:09.939 --> 00:18:10.059
 you know,

00:18:10.099 --> 00:18:14.299
 I'd be allowed out about once a month to preach a sermon when I was a curate.

00:18:14.619 --> 00:18:15.099
 And you know,

00:18:15.159 --> 00:18:15.799
 you do the thing,

00:18:15.879 --> 00:18:18.959
 you stand at the back of the church and you're saying goodbye to everybody.

00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:20.759
 Everybody would say to me,

00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:23.500
 your sermon sounds just like David Watson.

00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:26.180
 I'm like,

00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:26.779
 no wonder,

00:18:26.900 --> 00:18:27.120
 you know,

00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:29.600
 it's about two thirds of his book in that last effort.

00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:34.680
 See,

00:18:35.420 --> 00:18:40.039
 it's not about what we do.

00:18:40.660 --> 00:18:42.340
 It's about what God has done.

00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:44.059
 And when David Watson died,

00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:46.380
 he had written a book called,

00:18:46.380 --> 00:18:47.940
 I Know Where I'm Going.

00:18:47.940 --> 00:18:49.600
 And the,

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:53.140
 his obituary in the Daily Telegraph was truly shocking.

00:18:54.380 --> 00:18:56.900
 It was written by a person I won't name,

00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:58.259
 but is generally,

00:18:59.120 --> 00:18:59.340
 you know,

00:18:59.360 --> 00:18:59.920
 is a very,

00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:01.700
 he claims to be a Christian,

00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:02.200
 but he's,

00:19:02.360 --> 00:19:02.620
 you know,

00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:04.259
 he's like a mean-spirited Christian.

00:19:05.120 --> 00:19:05.799
 He said,

00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:09.080
 what about this arrogant man who wrote the book,

00:19:09.140 --> 00:19:10.360
 I Know Where I'm Going?

00:19:11.380 --> 00:19:13.440
 What kind of arrogance is that?

00:19:13.440 --> 00:19:13.559
 Now,

00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:17.680
 somebody wrote a letter in,

00:19:17.900 --> 00:19:19.120
 a man called John Stott.

00:19:20.860 --> 00:19:22.019
 John Stott said,

00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:24.039
 you just don't get it,

00:19:24.080 --> 00:19:24.400
 do you?

00:19:24.840 --> 00:19:25.100
 I mean,

00:19:25.120 --> 00:19:25.920
 I'm paraphrasing,

00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:26.420
 obviously.

00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:28.460
 You don't get it.

00:19:30.100 --> 00:19:31.960
 David Watson knows where he's going,

00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:34.299
 not on the basis of his effort,

00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:38.799
 but on the basis of what God has done.

00:19:38.899 --> 00:19:39.139
 Listen,

00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:39.559
 friends,

00:19:39.639 --> 00:19:40.819
 you want to access this,

00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:42.480
 it is by grace through?

00:19:43.779 --> 00:19:44.220
 Faith.

00:19:46.539 --> 00:19:48.680
 You can have a change of heart today.

00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:52.480
 You can come to the one

00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:55.140
 who sent his son to a cross

00:19:55.140 --> 00:19:57.640
 so that the sinful stuff in our lives,

00:19:58.940 --> 00:20:00.940
 I don't meet many sinless people,

00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:01.340
 do you?

00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.960
 So that stuff

00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:06.259
 can be dealt with

00:20:06.259 --> 00:20:09.500
 and dealt with for eternity.

00:20:11.140 --> 00:20:12.160
 You sit there and say,

00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:12.299
 well,

00:20:12.299 --> 00:20:14.200
 I've got too many questions about that

00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:15.680
 and I'm sure you do

00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:18.039
 and I'm sure some of the questions

00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:18.920
 you've got in life

00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:20.980
 are real and genuine questions.

00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:22.440
 The reason why I say

00:20:22.440 --> 00:20:24.940
 sow sparingly,

00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:26.159
 reap sparingly,

00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:27.659
 is that

00:20:27.659 --> 00:20:29.899
 it's generally true,

00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:31.720
 but then there are some things

00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:33.700
 where other people

00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:35.059
 have sowed sparingly

00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:36.039
 into our lives

00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:36.960
 and we've reaped

00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:39.180
 the harvest of that.

00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:43.460
 I'm thinking about people

00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:44.359
 who've been abused.

00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:47.899
 I'm thinking about people

00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:49.980
 who've been treated cruelly

00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:51.200
 and consistently.

00:20:56.900 --> 00:20:57.840
 Watch this.

00:20:58.800 --> 00:21:00.200
 It's not what you do.

00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:02.019
 It's what God

00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:03.320
 in Jesus Christ

00:21:03.320 --> 00:21:04.040
 has done.

00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:09.160
 And in response to that,

00:21:09.360 --> 00:21:09.620
 Paul,

00:21:09.780 --> 00:21:11.180
 in this particular scripture,

00:21:11.360 --> 00:21:11.940
 is saying,

00:21:12.560 --> 00:21:13.860
 if you get grace,

00:21:14.820 --> 00:21:16.240
 if you get how reckless

00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:17.319
 the grace of God is,

00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:18.620
 that he would forgive

00:21:18.620 --> 00:21:19.940
 a sinner like you,

00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:22.680
 then to turn around

00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:24.180
 and be mean-spirited

00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:28.339
 would surely be

00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:30.160
 an inappropriate response.

00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:31.339
 But it's not just about

00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:33.120
 generosity with money.

00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:34.279
 It's about generosity

00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:35.279
 with our time,

00:21:35.660 --> 00:21:36.559
 with our attitudes.

00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:39.940
 I've found that.

00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:40.740
 You know,

00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:42.240
 getting old is a real challenge.

00:21:43.619 --> 00:21:45.079
 Because I've found that,

00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:45.879
 you know,

00:21:45.899 --> 00:21:47.539
 I know why people like me

00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:48.619
 are generally thought of

00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:49.619
 as grumpy old men.

00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:52.779
 Because somehow

00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:53.700
 your attitudes,

00:21:54.759 --> 00:21:55.099
 you know,

00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:56.819
 I have to own up to that.

00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.039
 God wants me

00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.700
 to be generous

00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:00.759
 in my attitudes

00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:02.059
 when I'm 70,

00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:03.420
 not just when I'm 17.

00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:07.200
 And of course,

00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:07.500
 yes,

00:22:07.579 --> 00:22:08.119
 be generous

00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:09.500
 with our money.

00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:14.859
 And the Bible says

00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:15.220
 that

00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:17.599
 it would be great

00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:19.240
 if we could be

00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:20.019
 cheerful givers.

00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:24.019
 I love that.

00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:25.740
 And I've learned that,

00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:26.359
 I think,

00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:27.039
 in my own life.

00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:27.720
 There's a lot of stuff

00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:28.579
 I'm still learning,

00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:29.819
 but I have learned that.

00:22:29.819 --> 00:22:30.939
 It gives me joy

00:22:30.939 --> 00:22:32.439
 to give stuff away.

00:22:35.619 --> 00:22:36.960
 I know that's challenging

00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:38.200
 if you're a hoarder.

00:22:39.939 --> 00:22:41.279
 But I've learned

00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.740
 that it gives me joy.

00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.839
 And I remember

00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:46.099
 in my funny little old church

00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:46.779
 in Slough,

00:22:48.879 --> 00:22:51.259
 we had a woman

00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:52.419
 come to Christ there,

00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:53.519
 Chris her name was,

00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.559
 and she had a husband.

00:22:55.419 --> 00:22:57.339
 And his idea of life

00:22:57.339 --> 00:22:58.480
 was just to lie in bed

00:22:58.480 --> 00:22:58.919
 all day.

00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:01.579
 He had a bad back

00:23:01.579 --> 00:23:03.319
 and he didn't do any work.

00:23:03.619 --> 00:23:04.139
 And usually,

00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:05.220
 if he did get work,

00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:05.700
 it like,

00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:06.639
 you know,

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.379
 two weeks later,

00:23:07.419 --> 00:23:08.000
 he'd give it up

00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:08.679
 because his back

00:23:08.679 --> 00:23:09.279
 was too bad.

00:23:09.339 --> 00:23:10.099
 He was a joiner,

00:23:10.839 --> 00:23:12.379
 kind of made staircases

00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:13.759
 and that kind of thing.

00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:16.759
 The net result of his,

00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:19.799
 they ran up a lot of debt.

00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:22.399
 I mean,

00:23:22.399 --> 00:23:25.000
 it was like four and a half thousand pounds,

00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:26.819
 which doesn't sound like a lot today,

00:23:26.899 --> 00:23:27.720
 but I'm going back,

00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:29.839
 well,

00:23:29.919 --> 00:23:31.019
 40 years almost.

00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:36.919
 And Chris shared this

00:23:36.919 --> 00:23:39.200
 with the home group

00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:40.059
 that we were in.

00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:43.579
 And it was beside herself,

00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:44.000
 really,

00:23:44.099 --> 00:23:44.899
 with anxiety.

00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:45.860
 And then,

00:23:46.800 --> 00:23:48.660
 another single woman

00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:50.540
 in our home group

00:23:50.540 --> 00:23:53.640
 emptied her life savings

00:23:53.640 --> 00:23:55.480
 and gave it

00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:56.820
 to Chris

00:23:56.820 --> 00:23:58.880
 cheerfully.

00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:02.320
 Now,

00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.040
 my view,

00:24:03.300 --> 00:24:03.460
 you know,

00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:03.800
 I was,

00:24:04.180 --> 00:24:04.680
 honestly,

00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:05.480
 I was like,

00:24:05.620 --> 00:24:05.960
 whoa,

00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:06.420
 you know,

00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.660
 be careful with this one.

00:24:08.300 --> 00:24:08.500
 You know,

00:24:08.600 --> 00:24:09.540
 you make sure

00:24:09.540 --> 00:24:10.440
 somebody's put a plug

00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:11.420
 in the bottom of the bath

00:24:11.420 --> 00:24:12.279
 before you start

00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:13.460
 pouring water in it.

00:24:15.060 --> 00:24:15.660
 She's like,

00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:15.900
 Mike,

00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.779
 that's not the point.

00:24:19.320 --> 00:24:20.259
 The point is,

00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:21.259
 I've been forgiven

00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:24.460
 and I need to respond

00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:26.220
 with everything I've got.

00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:27.580
 And if that's what it takes

00:24:27.580 --> 00:24:28.300
 to help Chris

00:24:28.300 --> 00:24:29.720
 through this crisis,

00:24:31.100 --> 00:24:32.759
 that's what helps.

00:24:33.120 --> 00:24:35.519
 And then what Paul says here is,

00:24:35.800 --> 00:24:36.820
 when this happens,

00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:38.720
 when this kind of generosity

00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:39.900
 unravels quickly,

00:24:39.900 --> 00:24:41.960
 it's,

00:24:42.320 --> 00:24:44.300
 it just encourages people.

00:24:45.500 --> 00:24:46.600
 When some people

00:24:46.600 --> 00:24:47.440
 so generously,

00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:48.500
 the rest of us

00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:49.600
 are encouraged.

00:24:50.380 --> 00:24:51.300
 Don't give

00:24:51.300 --> 00:24:52.360
 because you think

00:24:52.360 --> 00:24:53.680
 you will get more back.

00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:56.200
 There is a strand

00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:57.100
 of that in the Bible.

00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:57.380
 You know,

00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:58.220
 honour me in this

00:24:58.220 --> 00:24:58.800
 as the Lord

00:24:58.800 --> 00:24:59.960
 and I will honour you.

00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:01.300
 But I don't think

00:25:01.300 --> 00:25:02.240
 our motive should be,

00:25:02.320 --> 00:25:03.120
 I'll give generously

00:25:03.120 --> 00:25:03.680
 because I'm,

00:25:04.040 --> 00:25:04.300
 you know,

00:25:04.340 --> 00:25:05.240
 I'm hoping that God's

00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:06.019
 going to give me back.

00:25:06.300 --> 00:25:07.040
 Don't believe

00:25:07.040 --> 00:25:07.759
 what they call

00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:09.019
 prosperity teachers

00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:09.680
 in church.

00:25:09.900 --> 00:25:12.200
 If you come to God,

00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:12.700
 you're going to get

00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:13.500
 filthy rich,

00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:14.200
 right?

00:25:14.440 --> 00:25:14.759
 I mean,

00:25:14.800 --> 00:25:15.440
 you'd be amazed

00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:16.140
 you wouldn't get killed

00:25:16.140 --> 00:25:16.800
 in the crush,

00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:17.160
 wouldn't you,

00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:17.960
 if that was a,

00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:19.920
 a true message.

00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:23.340
 Generosity

00:25:23.340 --> 00:25:24.700
 brings wealth

00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:26.860
 of a more holistic kind.

00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:27.720
 When you learn

00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.640
 to be generous,

00:25:29.120 --> 00:25:30.040
 you will discover

00:25:30.040 --> 00:25:31.580
 a richness in your life

00:25:31.580 --> 00:25:32.440
 that doesn't just

00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:33.540
 involve money.

00:25:35.300 --> 00:25:36.120
 Verse 11,

00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:36.660
 Paul says,

00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:37.460
 you will be made

00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:39.860
 rich in every way.

00:25:41.560 --> 00:25:42.600
 Imagine that.

00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:45.759
 When you unlock

00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:46.620
 some generosity

00:25:46.620 --> 00:25:48.480
 in your heart,

00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:50.500
 you will become rich

00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.860
 in every way.

00:25:55.060 --> 00:25:55.580
 So,

00:25:55.740 --> 00:25:55.920
 Lord,

00:25:56.640 --> 00:25:58.720
 we're at the end

00:25:58.720 --> 00:26:00.100
 of our course.

00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:02.399
 And I just want

00:26:02.399 --> 00:26:03.240
 to read this

00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:04.159
 to you to close.

00:26:04.619 --> 00:26:05.299
 This was in

00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:06.899
 our daily readings

00:26:06.899 --> 00:26:07.719
 yesterday.

00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:09.319
 It was written

00:26:09.319 --> 00:26:09.939
 by a guy,

00:26:10.059 --> 00:26:10.939
 I can never remember

00:26:10.939 --> 00:26:11.480
 his name,

00:26:12.339 --> 00:26:13.179
 Gilly Bode,

00:26:13.319 --> 00:26:13.519
 I think,

00:26:13.879 --> 00:26:14.639
 something like that.

00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:15.959
 Anyway,

00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:16.759
 he says this,

00:26:16.959 --> 00:26:17.959
 I think this is really cool.

00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:18.779
 He says,

00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:19.660
 my six-year-old

00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:20.619
 went to his first

00:26:20.619 --> 00:26:21.379
 football lesson

00:26:21.379 --> 00:26:22.039
 and came back

00:26:22.039 --> 00:26:22.299
 saying,

00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:22.639
 Daddy,

00:26:22.899 --> 00:26:23.579
 I've learnt

00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:24.819
 to play football now,

00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:25.720
 I needn't have

00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:26.639
 any more lessons.

00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:29.500
 And Gilly Bode

00:26:29.500 --> 00:26:29.940
 goes on,

00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:30.879
 he thought he'd arrived

00:26:30.879 --> 00:26:31.500
 because he could

00:26:31.500 --> 00:26:32.819
 connect his foot

00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:33.460
 to the ball.

00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:34.440
 He didn't know

00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:34.960
 there was a little

00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:36.000
 more to it than that.

00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:37.139
 He needed to go

00:26:37.139 --> 00:26:38.180
 a whole lot deeper.

00:26:41.660 --> 00:26:42.839
 Then he says this,

00:26:43.139 --> 00:26:43.920
 some people

00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:45.619
 can be like that

00:26:45.619 --> 00:26:46.599
 with God as well.

00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:49.199
 A.W. Tozer,

00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:50.399
 the great Bible

00:26:50.399 --> 00:26:51.459
 teacher and evangelist,

00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:52.579
 warns us of being

00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.879
 among the number

00:26:53.879 --> 00:26:54.399
 of those

00:26:54.399 --> 00:26:55.179
 who think

00:26:55.179 --> 00:26:56.159
 they've got it nailed.

00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:57.480
 Whereas,

00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:58.899
 and this is quoting

00:26:58.899 --> 00:27:00.699
 directly A.W. Tozer,

00:27:01.179 --> 00:27:02.139
 the Apostle Paul

00:27:02.139 --> 00:27:02.899
 was a seeker

00:27:02.899 --> 00:27:03.659
 and a finder

00:27:03.659 --> 00:27:04.819
 and a seeker still.

00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:05.939
 They seek

00:27:05.939 --> 00:27:06.659
 and find

00:27:06.659 --> 00:27:07.879
 and seek no more.

00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:09.699
 After accepting Christ,

00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:11.019
 they tend to substitute

00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:12.500
 logic for life

00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:13.099
 and doctrine

00:27:13.099 --> 00:27:14.159
 for experience.

00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:15.419
 For them,

00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.339
 the truth becomes

00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:16.879
 a veil

00:27:16.879 --> 00:27:17.480
 to hide

00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:18.439
 the face of God.

00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.459
 For Paul,

00:27:19.659 --> 00:27:20.619
 it was a door

00:27:20.619 --> 00:27:22.379
 into his very presence.

00:27:23.319 --> 00:27:24.079
 Paul's spirit

00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:24.539
 was that

00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:25.919
 of the loving explorer.

00:27:26.379 --> 00:27:27.579
 He was a prospector

00:27:27.579 --> 00:27:28.299
 among the hills

00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:28.839
 of God,

00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:30.679
 searching for the gold

00:27:30.679 --> 00:27:31.559
 of personal,

00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:34.199
 spiritual acquaintance.

00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:34.299
 grace.

00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:40.940
 It may well be

00:27:40.940 --> 00:27:44.000
 that this

00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:45.580
 is your moment

00:27:45.580 --> 00:27:46.220
 where God

00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:47.019
 is speaking

00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:47.799
 in your ear

00:27:47.799 --> 00:27:48.460
 where you

00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:49.580
 turn around

00:27:49.580 --> 00:27:50.000
 to him

00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:50.480
 and say,

00:27:50.660 --> 00:27:52.059
 I need that grace

00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:54.519
 that your word

00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:55.299
 speaks of.

00:27:57.580 --> 00:27:58.559
 I need

00:27:58.559 --> 00:27:59.779
 that forgiveness

00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:00.319
 forgiveness

00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:01.279
 of which

00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:01.879
 your word

00:28:01.879 --> 00:28:02.519
 speaks.

00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:04.519
 And I need

00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:05.139
 to learn

00:28:05.139 --> 00:28:06.079
 what does it

00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:06.779
 mean in my

00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.599
 situation

00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:09.099
 to sow

00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:10.259
 generously.

00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:12.639
 Not just with

00:28:12.639 --> 00:28:13.160
 my money,

00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:13.819
 but with my

00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:14.460
 attitudes.

00:28:15.639 --> 00:28:16.319
 Not just with

00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:16.879
 my money,

00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.379
 but with my

00:28:18.379 --> 00:28:18.799
 time.

00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:23.059
 And next week,

00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:24.539
 when I should be

00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:24.940
 far,

00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:25.740
 far away,

00:28:27.420 --> 00:28:28.359
 Clive and

00:28:28.359 --> 00:28:29.539
 Russ are

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:29.759
 going to

00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:30.240
 wind this

00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.659
 thing up

00:28:30.659 --> 00:28:31.339
 totally by

00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:32.259
 asking you

00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:33.500
 to respond.

00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:35.039
 I don't want

00:28:35.039 --> 00:28:35.940
 you to respond

00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:36.920
 out of some

00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:37.639
 bound and

00:28:37.639 --> 00:28:38.259
 duty and

00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:38.700
 service.

00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:39.180
 I really

00:28:39.180 --> 00:28:39.619
 don't.

00:28:42.579 --> 00:28:43.399
 I want it

00:28:43.399 --> 00:28:43.819
 to be

00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:46.159
 because the

00:28:46.159 --> 00:28:46.599
 word of

00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:47.079
 grace

00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:48.700
 has touched

00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:49.339
 your heart.

00:28:50.740 --> 00:28:51.639
 I want it

00:28:51.639 --> 00:28:52.159
 to be

00:28:52.159 --> 00:28:54.059
 because you've

00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:54.940
 decided that

00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:55.819
 one football

00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:56.539
 lesson isn't

00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:57.059
 enough to

00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:57.419
 know the

00:28:57.419 --> 00:28:58.039
 whole skill

00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:58.339
 of the

00:28:58.339 --> 00:28:58.619
 game.

00:28:58.980 --> 00:28:59.279
 And you

00:28:59.279 --> 00:28:59.519
 are going

00:28:59.519 --> 00:28:59.740
 to have

00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:00.079
 to come

00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:00.519
 back to

00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:00.960
 that throne

00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:01.440
 of grace

00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:02.579
 time and

00:29:02.579 --> 00:29:03.480
 time and

00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:04.639
 time again.

00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:08.839
 When that

00:29:08.839 --> 00:29:09.379
 happens,

00:29:10.619 --> 00:29:11.740
 you will

00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:12.579
 find something

00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:13.179
 will be

00:29:13.179 --> 00:29:14.000
 unlocked in

00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:14.259
 you.

00:29:16.099 --> 00:29:16.779
 And who

00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:17.259
 knows,

00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:18.960
 you,

00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:20.759
 you might

00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:21.519
 even become

00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:22.559
 a cheerful

00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:23.000
 giver.

00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:24.279
 amen.

00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:24.740
 In the

00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:25.440
 name of

00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:26.140
 our gracious

00:29:26.140 --> 00:29:27.099
 and generous

00:29:27.099 --> 00:29:27.480
 God,

00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:28.140
 Father,

00:29:28.339 --> 00:29:28.700
 Son,

00:29:28.700 --> 00:29:29.700
 and Holy

00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:30.119
 Spirit,

00:29:30.460 --> 00:29:30.940
 the people

00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:31.420
 who agreed

00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:31.720
 said

00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:32.180
 together,

00:29:32.700 --> 00:29:33.380
 amen.

00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:34.380
 Amen.