WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.100 All right. 00:00:12.380 --> 00:00:13.599 Good morning, everybody. 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:15.960 We'll go ahead and get started here this morning. 00:00:16.379 --> 00:00:19.580 In our Sunday school hour, we're going to start in a new series. 00:00:20.460 --> 00:00:23.600 And I would tell you who we're going to talk about, 00:00:23.719 --> 00:00:27.300 but we're basically going to talk about people in Scripture that had no name. 00:00:27.300 --> 00:00:32.160 No name that was mentioned in the impact that they have. 00:00:32.340 --> 00:00:35.960 Because, you know, sometimes we think about all those big names, 00:00:36.219 --> 00:00:37.640 you might say in Scripture. 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:39.780 You know, when you think about names in Scripture, 00:00:40.280 --> 00:00:42.159 what are some of the names that jump out to you? 00:00:43.980 --> 00:00:44.460 Moses. 00:00:45.820 --> 00:00:46.460 What's that? 00:00:47.040 --> 00:00:47.519 Abraham. 00:00:49.219 --> 00:00:49.700 Paul. 00:00:50.740 --> 00:00:53.079 I mean, you've got a lot that really stand out. 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:58.219 But, you know, the reality is, is God speaks a lot about those that were not given their name, 00:00:58.619 --> 00:00:59.979 but made a difference. 00:01:01.039 --> 00:01:07.480 I think it's important to realize that you don't have to have a big name to make a difference for God. 00:01:09.299 --> 00:01:13.180 And as we're going to look here this morning and talk a little bit about this, 00:01:13.219 --> 00:01:15.939 let's go ahead and open with a word of prayer, 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:19.060 and then we'll get into the lesson here this morning. 00:01:19.060 --> 00:01:22.040 So, Heavenly Father, if we just come before you today, Lord, 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:24.120 we just thank you for the day, for the opportunity. 00:01:24.280 --> 00:01:29.799 Pray for those who are ill and the others that didn't feel safe traveling, Lord. 00:01:29.879 --> 00:01:33.439 Pray just that this would be a blessing this morning as they listen online. 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:36.420 Lord, just thank you for what you've given to us, Lord. 00:01:36.460 --> 00:01:41.740 Help us to be mindful that a life lived for you is the most important. 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:44.980 And, Lord, we just give you all the praise and glory here today. 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:46.980 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:01:46.980 --> 00:01:50.040 You know, as we begin looking here at a name, 00:01:50.120 --> 00:01:52.159 because, you know, we talk about, you know, 00:01:52.200 --> 00:01:55.040 the importance of a name in Scripture is also there. 00:01:55.140 --> 00:01:56.880 You know, you think about the name of Jesus. 00:01:57.100 --> 00:01:59.280 You know, we hear a few weeks ago on Christmas, 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:03.359 we talked about the name of Jesus and what it means, 00:02:03.400 --> 00:02:05.180 a name above all other names. 00:02:05.820 --> 00:02:11.960 But, you know, Jesus also makes mention in his word about those who had no name given. 00:02:12.500 --> 00:02:14.140 It's not that they didn't have a name, 00:02:14.139 --> 00:02:16.679 because all of them have a name. 00:02:16.859 --> 00:02:19.199 You know, we all are given a name. 00:02:19.419 --> 00:02:28.059 It's that name itself is a reality because our name identifies us through our life and even beyond. 00:02:28.939 --> 00:02:30.219 You know, none of us. 00:02:30.619 --> 00:02:33.219 The funny thing is, is none of you get to choose your name. 00:02:33.279 --> 00:02:34.219 Not normally anyways. 00:02:35.079 --> 00:02:38.599 You know, nowadays you can legally change your name and you do things. 00:02:38.599 --> 00:02:44.120 But, you know, but normally speaking, you get your name from your parents when you're born. 00:02:44.919 --> 00:02:48.900 It's a name that you have and sometimes people don't like their name. 00:02:48.959 --> 00:02:52.459 And other times, you know, they wish they had a different name or other things. 00:02:52.459 --> 00:02:55.859 But the reality is you don't get to choose our name. 00:02:56.159 --> 00:03:02.419 But we do choose what we do every day and what kind of name that we have. 00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:05.060 You might not be able to choose your name, 00:03:05.060 --> 00:03:08.400 but you definitely choose what is associated with your name. 00:03:09.060 --> 00:03:11.120 What's associated with those things? 00:03:11.219 --> 00:03:14.920 Because when people hear our name, what do they think about? 00:03:15.879 --> 00:03:20.780 You know, when somebody hears your name in a conversation, what comes to mind? 00:03:21.020 --> 00:03:23.340 That could be a good question to ask ourselves. 00:03:23.340 --> 00:03:29.340 Because what it is, it represents what others perceive or understand about us. 00:03:30.340 --> 00:03:37.140 In our name, the reputation that is built behind our name is important and it has value. 00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:40.819 You know, consider, look over to Proverbs chapter 22 for a moment. 00:03:41.480 --> 00:03:43.560 Proverbs 22 in verse 1. 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:48.340 The Word of God tells us here something very important. 00:03:48.640 --> 00:03:51.520 Here in Proverbs 22 in verse 1. 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:58.320 It says, a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches and loving favor rather than silver and gold. 00:03:58.939 --> 00:04:02.439 You know, a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. 00:04:03.080 --> 00:04:06.260 You know, that verse, we could spend some time just unpacking what's in there. 00:04:06.320 --> 00:04:08.080 But the reality is, is you choose. 00:04:08.620 --> 00:04:13.920 You have some choices that impact the reputation associated with your name. 00:04:14.780 --> 00:04:16.060 Those things are clear. 00:04:16.060 --> 00:04:21.259 You know, Ecclesiastes 7 says a good name is better than precious ointment. 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:28.039 You know, Proverbs 10, 7 says, the memory of the jest is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot. 00:04:29.079 --> 00:04:31.180 You know, the Bible goes on. 00:04:31.259 --> 00:04:35.439 There's many places in reference it speaks about your name and what it's talking about. 00:04:35.439 --> 00:04:43.199 Is it just how you sign something, you know, or what the bank says ownership of something is? 00:04:43.399 --> 00:04:48.860 When it's talking about a name, it has that reputation of what people think about when it's associated. 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:52.259 What comes with your name? 00:04:52.819 --> 00:04:56.920 You know, because your name doesn't mean near as much as what the reputation is. 00:04:56.920 --> 00:05:02.460 You know, really, Shakespeare spoke to this fact about what you call something when he said, 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:05.780 a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. 00:05:05.860 --> 00:05:09.819 In other words, a rose, you could change its name to whatever you want to change it to, 00:05:09.879 --> 00:05:11.500 but it's not going to change what it is. 00:05:13.400 --> 00:05:14.879 The same with our name. 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:20.900 What your name is isn't as important as the reputation and what's attached to it. 00:05:20.899 --> 00:05:23.620 The things attached to your name. 00:05:24.279 --> 00:05:29.179 No matter your name, it's secondary to the testimony that you have. 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:33.719 And we're going to look here, because this is the case with many of the characters here in Scripture, 00:05:34.099 --> 00:05:40.500 that we don't know their names, but God, for some reason, has withheld their names from his record. 00:05:40.599 --> 00:05:46.279 But the lessons they taught in their life are still living and instructing us today. 00:05:47.379 --> 00:05:49.259 You know, the choices they make, you know. 00:05:49.259 --> 00:05:51.959 So consider what Hebrews 11, 4 says. 00:05:52.459 --> 00:05:54.099 Speaking of Abel, he says, 00:05:54.199 --> 00:05:55.819 In being dead, yet speaketh. 00:05:56.680 --> 00:06:00.839 You know, here's Abel, one of the first people on the earth that says, 00:06:00.920 --> 00:06:02.480 Though he's dead, he still speaks. 00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:08.659 The reputation, the things said about him, continue even today. 00:06:08.779 --> 00:06:11.740 Many people know your name, or perhaps just a few, 00:06:11.740 --> 00:06:18.360 but anything from your life will continue to speak long after your name is etched on a tombstone. 00:06:18.360 --> 00:06:25.620 You know, you think about, we consider a lot of those from the past and what they have associated with them. 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:29.160 You know, think about the names that we have. 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:32.480 I mean, you have names and even history of our nation. 00:06:32.620 --> 00:06:36.699 You know, when you mention the name of Abraham Lincoln, is there things associated with him? 00:06:36.699 --> 00:06:45.060 I mean, he's dead and gone, but there's still things that speak about his life. 00:06:45.099 --> 00:06:50.740 Or George Washington, or you could have a name, a number of, infinite number of people, you might say, 00:06:51.319 --> 00:06:55.459 whose name still has an impact after it's on a tombstone. 00:06:55.459 --> 00:07:01.159 Now, we need to realize sometimes that's a good name and sometimes it's a bad name. 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:04.699 You know, because both happen, don't they? 00:07:05.539 --> 00:07:08.879 But we're going to look here at these ideas of a name, 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:15.339 because the first unnamed individual we're going to consider here is just a boy, just a lad, the Bible calls him. 00:07:15.799 --> 00:07:23.879 His name's not given to us, but what he did, his generosity touched the lives of thousands of people. 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:26.939 Because we're going to talk about a boy who brought a lunch. 00:07:28.519 --> 00:07:28.740 You know? 00:07:29.379 --> 00:07:33.180 You know, and we don't know, you know, whether his mom made the lunch, or you don't know a lot. 00:07:33.240 --> 00:07:35.040 We don't, we're not told anything about the lunch. 00:07:35.740 --> 00:07:36.060 You know? 00:07:37.079 --> 00:07:39.779 Maybe you remember in school, how many packed the lunch to school? 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:41.379 You know? 00:07:41.819 --> 00:07:43.500 I mean, I think we can all do it. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:48.279 You know, you remember you have a lunchbox or a bag, and your mom would write your name on it. 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:52.040 You know, to make sure it was identified as yours, you know? 00:07:52.040 --> 00:07:56.340 And you had that name associated with that lunch. 00:07:56.740 --> 00:08:03.560 And so nobody else would be mistaken about whose lunch it is. 00:08:03.660 --> 00:08:06.760 But, you know, we understand the importance of a name. 00:08:07.080 --> 00:08:10.780 But this lad here, even though he's not named, made a difference. 00:08:10.779 --> 00:08:19.439 Because this lad here in John chapter 6 was carrying his five loaves and two small fishes, you know? 00:08:19.579 --> 00:08:25.659 And we understand that he was probably carrying it in something that he had brought with him. 00:08:25.819 --> 00:08:31.959 And God used this unnamed boy to display a miraculous power associated. 00:08:32.959 --> 00:08:40.339 Because this young man, this event here, is one of the few recorded in all four Gospels. 00:08:40.779 --> 00:08:42.299 You know? 00:08:43.579 --> 00:08:45.779 That's kind of like making the highlight reel, you know? 00:08:45.839 --> 00:08:47.439 It's like when you're mentioned in all of them. 00:08:48.679 --> 00:08:54.939 You know, here's this man with no name, this young man with no name that's mentioned in all of them. 00:08:55.000 --> 00:09:01.720 And the multitudes went home that day full and satisfied, never even knowing the boy's name. 00:09:01.720 --> 00:09:07.360 I mean, there's nothing about his name that we know, but there's much that we can talk about his character. 00:09:08.259 --> 00:09:13.560 Because let's take a look here this morning in John chapter 6, here this morning. 00:09:13.879 --> 00:09:18.220 Because as we look here in John chapter 6, we'll pick up here in verse 1. 00:09:18.220 --> 00:09:48.200 It says, 00:09:48.220 --> 00:10:16.700 You know, consider here as Jesus puts this, and we find something here about this little boy. 00:10:16.700 --> 00:10:24.840 Anyway, his character, the boy's character stands out because Scripture doesn't record anything about this boy 00:10:24.840 --> 00:10:27.580 other than the fact that he was there and he had a lunch. 00:10:28.500 --> 00:10:31.480 I mean, that's not a whole lot of detail about somebody. 00:10:32.320 --> 00:10:32.560 You know? 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:35.820 When you say you don't even know their name, but all you know is they had a lunch. 00:10:36.640 --> 00:10:37.560 That's what they brought. 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:39.020 They're known for what they brought. 00:10:39.800 --> 00:10:40.100 You know? 00:10:40.100 --> 00:10:43.680 Now, when it comes to a potluck, sometimes that's good. 00:10:45.139 --> 00:10:45.379 You know? 00:10:45.540 --> 00:10:48.220 Some people make things, everybody wants to know who made it, you know? 00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:50.120 And then they can pick that out. 00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:53.879 But, you know, we see here he's looked here at, and he has a lunch. 00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:55.240 But we're going to see something. 00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:58.500 What he did here has something to do with his character. 00:10:58.500 --> 00:11:00.960 Because we see the boy's character on display. 00:11:01.779 --> 00:11:06.139 Because the choices he made reveal his character. 00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:11.059 Because we see first thing that we find about his character that I think we can learn from 00:11:11.059 --> 00:11:13.379 is that he had a right preparation. 00:11:13.539 --> 00:11:14.179 He was prepared. 00:11:15.019 --> 00:11:15.220 You know? 00:11:15.399 --> 00:11:18.000 He came with what he knew he was going to need, you know? 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:21.679 That's the reason we, you know, he was a young lad. 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:24.579 I mean, that's one of those things you know he wasn't going to leave home without food. 00:11:25.819 --> 00:11:29.879 If you've been around young boys, I guarantee you, they don't want to get very far from food. 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:31.620 You know? 00:11:31.719 --> 00:11:33.539 That's just kind of a natural thing, isn't it? 00:11:33.559 --> 00:11:33.799 You know? 00:11:33.859 --> 00:11:36.299 They want to stay close to where the food is. 00:11:36.599 --> 00:11:39.959 But he brings these five barley loaves and two small fishes. 00:11:39.959 --> 00:11:48.319 And 5,000 men, plus the women and children, were sitting on that hillside for a good portion of the day. 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:51.219 And only one person still has food left. 00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:52.959 You know, that's interesting. 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:56.679 Because I want you to understand what's going on here. 00:11:56.759 --> 00:12:03.019 Because this one little boy in this entire crowd had a meal. 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:06.979 Now, I think we'll find there's a reason for that as you read through the Scripture. 00:12:06.979 --> 00:12:10.979 God always answers the question of why these things are so. 00:12:11.099 --> 00:12:14.299 And I think it was pretty logical why other people didn't have a meal left. 00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:17.859 You know, when you read the account, you'll find those details. 00:12:17.860 --> 00:12:24.320 But often we look forward to those moments that are kind of performance moments in life. 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:28.200 But there's been very little time preparing for moments. 00:12:28.820 --> 00:12:32.620 We find this young man was prepared for the moment that he was going to be in. 00:12:33.279 --> 00:12:35.139 He was prepared for those things. 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:36.440 He didn't even know what it was. 00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:37.440 But yet he was prepared. 00:12:38.539 --> 00:12:40.080 He didn't know why he had prepared. 00:12:40.740 --> 00:12:41.539 You know, we don't know. 00:12:41.539 --> 00:12:46.500 Maybe he left home with ten barley loaves and four fishes that morning and ate half of it. 00:12:47.539 --> 00:12:48.480 You know, we don't know. 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:53.480 Like I said, there's a lot of things we're not told about this situation except for the fact that he had it. 00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:55.240 That he was there. 00:12:55.659 --> 00:12:56.779 He had a preparation. 00:12:57.419 --> 00:13:02.299 And, you know, we understand that we want sometimes for God to use us. 00:13:02.699 --> 00:13:04.159 But yet we don't come prepared. 00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:11.639 You know, if you're not prepared, you're generally not going to be available to make things come about. 00:13:12.899 --> 00:13:15.719 Preparation makes a big part in those things. 00:13:15.839 --> 00:13:19.559 And when we neglect to prepare, especially even like today, 00:13:20.079 --> 00:13:23.459 have you ever heard people come and I've heard this complaint about church sometimes? 00:13:23.579 --> 00:13:25.439 Well, I just don't get anything out of it. 00:13:27.179 --> 00:13:29.079 You know, part of the problem is preparation. 00:13:30.579 --> 00:13:33.959 You know, sometimes people don't serve the Lord because they weren't prepared to serve the Lord. 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:38.039 They weren't prepared for those things, you know. 00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:40.480 Think about Ezra in the Old Testament. 00:13:41.779 --> 00:13:45.360 God used him to stir the people to revival. 00:13:45.899 --> 00:13:50.539 But God didn't use a man who just lived his life wandering through it. 00:13:50.959 --> 00:13:51.620 Look in the Old Testament. 00:13:51.679 --> 00:13:53.519 Go over to Ezra chapter 7 for a moment. 00:13:54.439 --> 00:13:59.799 Because Ezra chapter 7 gives us a good example here of this. 00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:01.039 Ezra chapter 7. 00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:03.740 And we find here in verse 10, it says, 00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:14.620 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. 00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:17.180 So in other words, we see Ezra did what? 00:14:18.299 --> 00:14:20.840 He prepared his heart. 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:24.759 Now, you might say, well, that's just for the exceptional. 00:14:25.320 --> 00:14:26.420 Let's look at the opposite. 00:14:28.160 --> 00:14:31.000 You know, because God also speaks exactly the opposite of this. 00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:33.440 Look over to 2 Chronicles chapter 12 for a moment. 00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:36.160 2 Chronicles chapter 12. 00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:38.899 We find an individual here by the name of Rehoboam. 00:14:40.360 --> 00:14:41.240 King of Israel. 00:14:41.580 --> 00:14:44.460 Verse 14 of chapter 12 of 2 Chronicles says, 00:14:44.460 --> 00:14:56.340 What a contrast. 00:14:56.340 --> 00:15:01.620 You have Ezra that God used mightily because he had prepared his heart. 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:06.980 You have Rehoboam who did evil in the sight of God because why? 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:09.600 He didn't prepare. 00:15:09.920 --> 00:15:11.500 Being prepared is important. 00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:16.220 Because how we do is only as good as our preparation. 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:21.399 You know, when you consider the reality of preparation, you know, 00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:26.340 we need to look at what ways do you want God to use you in your life, 00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:29.340 both over the course of your lifetime and even this week. 00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:32.220 And you need to ask, what do I need to be prepared for? 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:37.120 Because in order to be used, you have to be prepared. 00:15:39.160 --> 00:15:39.780 You know, it's interesting. 00:15:39.899 --> 00:15:44.040 There's a story about President Nixon talking to Winston Churchill. 00:15:44.040 --> 00:15:47.560 If you know anything of history, Churchill was known for his speeches. 00:15:48.660 --> 00:15:52.340 He would make these great speeches that seemed just like off the cuff. 00:15:53.340 --> 00:15:57.680 But there's a record about Nixon asking Churchill's son, 00:15:57.679 --> 00:16:01.579 and he told him how much he admired the prime minister's great ability at giving 00:16:01.579 --> 00:16:03.379 experitaneous speeches. 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:08.679 And so Churchill's son replied, oh yes, I've watched my father work for hours preparing those. 00:16:10.479 --> 00:16:11.139 You know? 00:16:12.239 --> 00:16:15.039 In other words, what people thought was off the cuff 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:19.379 was actually what people thought was exceptional because he was prepared. 00:16:19.719 --> 00:16:22.459 Nobody knew it, but few. 00:16:22.819 --> 00:16:24.679 But he was prepared for what was going to happen. 00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:29.219 He had the right preparation, but he was also in the right place. 00:16:29.319 --> 00:16:31.199 Look at our text there in verse 9. 00:16:31.299 --> 00:16:32.059 Look what it says. 00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:34.679 It says, there is a lad here. 00:16:35.699 --> 00:16:37.399 You know, to be in the right place. 00:16:37.479 --> 00:16:41.699 You know, the Bible doesn't indicate that this boy was with anybody. 00:16:41.819 --> 00:16:44.239 It doesn't say he was with his friends or his parents. 00:16:44.579 --> 00:16:47.579 He appears to be there almost by himself 00:16:47.579 --> 00:16:50.799 because there was many things he could have chosen to do, 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:53.299 but he found his way to where Jesus is. 00:16:53.479 --> 00:16:55.659 I don't know about you, but young lads, 00:16:55.699 --> 00:16:58.219 here's a young boy, basically when they're calling him a lad, 00:16:58.299 --> 00:17:01.459 he's probably between 10 and 14 years old. 00:17:01.939 --> 00:17:04.059 And I don't know about you, 10 and 14 year old boys 00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:05.740 have a tendency to wander to places. 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:08.059 You know? 00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:10.180 They kind of want to go and do, 00:17:10.180 --> 00:17:14.980 but this boy thought it was important to be where Jesus was. 00:17:14.980 --> 00:17:17.880 You know, to be where he needed to be 00:17:17.880 --> 00:17:19.220 that was going to make a difference. 00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:20.299 You know? 00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:24.700 He had chosen to do the very thing 00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:25.839 that was going to be beneficial. 00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:27.000 You know? 00:17:28.539 --> 00:17:31.940 Nobody drug him there. 00:17:32.740 --> 00:17:34.220 You know, the Bible doesn't say anything, 00:17:34.339 --> 00:17:35.319 but it says he was there. 00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:37.380 He was here. 00:17:37.460 --> 00:17:39.539 He was present where he was available. 00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:42.460 You know, he didn't need to be drugged there. 00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:44.539 He chose to be there. 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:47.299 You know, Joshua made a great example of this 00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:49.160 in Joshua 24 and verse 15, 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:49.579 where it says, 00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:51.500 If it seemed evil unto you to serve the Lord, 00:17:51.920 --> 00:17:53.799 choose you this day whom you will serve. 00:17:54.460 --> 00:17:55.840 You know, think about the reality. 00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:58.740 This boy made a choice of where he was going to be. 00:17:59.860 --> 00:18:01.860 I'm glad you made a choice this morning 00:18:01.860 --> 00:18:04.440 to be here at church. 00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:05.920 You know? 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:08.380 Being here makes a difference, you know? 00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:11.680 We shouldn't take something to keep us away. 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:14.279 We ought to measure how much does it take 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:15.620 to keep us away from something. 00:18:15.960 --> 00:18:17.279 It puts a priority on it. 00:18:17.940 --> 00:18:18.200 You know? 00:18:18.560 --> 00:18:20.120 Because sometimes it doesn't take much 00:18:20.120 --> 00:18:21.259 to keep us from doing something. 00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:22.360 You know? 00:18:22.380 --> 00:18:23.140 And what's that tell us? 00:18:23.140 --> 00:18:24.279 It's not very important. 00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:27.920 The priority you put makes a difference 00:18:27.920 --> 00:18:31.080 in that, in the choices that you make. 00:18:31.180 --> 00:18:33.340 And so the best way to be a testimony 00:18:33.340 --> 00:18:35.600 to those around you is to always be 00:18:35.600 --> 00:18:37.799 where you should be on the Lord's day. 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:38.940 You know? 00:18:40.599 --> 00:18:41.440 You know, it's funny. 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:42.480 I guarantee you this morning 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:43.919 your neighbors noted that you 00:18:43.919 --> 00:18:45.159 shoveled the driveway and left. 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:45.579 Amen? 00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:46.559 They make a note. 00:18:46.639 --> 00:18:47.759 They may not say something, 00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:49.519 but they made a note that you 00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:51.399 got up 00:18:51.399 --> 00:18:53.980 and left this morning. 00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:55.220 That it was a Sunday morning. 00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:56.500 It's something that they see you do 00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:57.059 all the time. 00:18:57.139 --> 00:18:58.099 You know, that makes a statement 00:18:58.099 --> 00:18:59.680 of being where you ought to be. 00:19:00.379 --> 00:19:02.319 It's fulfilling what God tells us 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:03.399 in Hebrews chapter 10, 00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:04.600 not forsaking the assembling 00:19:04.600 --> 00:19:05.580 of ourselves together 00:19:05.580 --> 00:19:07.380 as the manner of some ends, 00:19:07.500 --> 00:19:08.600 but exhorting one another 00:19:08.600 --> 00:19:09.759 and so much more 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:11.860 as you see the day approaching. 00:19:12.580 --> 00:19:14.080 You know, to be in the right place, 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:15.340 to have the right preparation, 00:19:16.100 --> 00:19:17.560 but also the right people. 00:19:18.100 --> 00:19:19.460 You know, look here at verse 8 00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:20.759 here in our text. 00:19:20.840 --> 00:19:21.600 Notice what it says. 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:23.280 And one of his disciples, Andrew, 00:19:23.820 --> 00:19:24.980 Simon Peter's brother, 00:19:25.140 --> 00:19:25.960 said unto him, 00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:28.500 There is a lad here. 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.340 You know? 00:19:29.339 --> 00:19:31.299 When Jesus asked the disciples 00:19:31.299 --> 00:19:33.959 to get food to feed the hungry people, 00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:34.939 it just so happened 00:19:34.939 --> 00:19:36.819 that the only person with food 00:19:36.819 --> 00:19:38.740 was standing next to Andrew. 00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:39.959 You think that was coincidence? 00:19:40.459 --> 00:19:40.699 You know? 00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:43.359 We find here that it tells us 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:45.240 that Jesus already knew 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:46.679 what he was going to do. 00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:48.519 The Lord would have known 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:50.699 long before anyone got hungry 00:19:50.699 --> 00:19:52.119 that the only food available 00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:53.779 was that little boy's lunch, 00:19:53.959 --> 00:19:55.299 and he was going to use it 00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:56.000 to make the need. 00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:57.639 He was going to use it 00:19:57.639 --> 00:19:58.899 to provide what was needed, 00:19:58.900 --> 00:20:00.000 and Jesus knew 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:01.940 the boy with the lunch 00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:03.640 wouldn't get lost in the crowd. 00:20:03.780 --> 00:20:05.000 He knew the boy wasn't just 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:07.040 looking for friends or activities 00:20:07.040 --> 00:20:08.680 or trouble to get into. 00:20:08.820 --> 00:20:09.540 The boy was there 00:20:09.540 --> 00:20:10.780 looking to hear Jesus, 00:20:11.259 --> 00:20:12.660 and Jesus knew the boy 00:20:12.660 --> 00:20:13.720 was going to get as close 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:14.660 to someone 00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:16.420 who was already close to Jesus. 00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:17.480 You know? 00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:19.740 When we associate ourselves 00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:21.100 with the right kind of people, 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:22.620 we put ourselves in positions 00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:23.740 where God can use us. 00:20:24.900 --> 00:20:26.480 You know, who you associate with 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.080 makes a difference. 00:20:27.080 --> 00:20:28.160 Here's this young lad 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:29.600 wanted to associate 00:20:29.600 --> 00:20:30.980 with Andrew. 00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:32.519 He wanted to be close 00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:33.960 to one that was close to Jesus. 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:36.019 You know, the friends 00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:36.759 that we make 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:37.580 make a difference. 00:20:38.820 --> 00:20:39.360 You know, the Bible, 00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.840 consider what Proverbs tells us. 00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:42.040 Proverbs 13, 20, 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:42.680 says, 00:20:42.800 --> 00:20:44.360 He that walketh with wise men 00:20:44.360 --> 00:20:45.300 shall be wise, 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:47.460 but a companion of fools 00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:48.400 shall be destroyed. 00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:49.500 You know? 00:20:50.840 --> 00:20:51.840 Who you choose 00:20:51.840 --> 00:20:52.600 to hang out with 00:20:52.600 --> 00:20:53.259 makes a difference. 00:20:53.259 --> 00:20:55.920 It influences us 00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:58.000 and influences others 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:58.619 also. 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:00.579 You know, God isn't looking 00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:01.180 for people 00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:02.599 who are sleeping in 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:03.160 on Sunday 00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:04.440 or wasting their time 00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:05.079 on the internet 00:21:05.079 --> 00:21:06.779 to use it 00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:07.640 for His work. 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:08.240 You know, people, 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:09.500 God uses people 00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:10.379 who are willing 00:21:10.379 --> 00:21:11.019 to be available 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:11.740 to be used, 00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:13.059 that are looking 00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:13.879 to be used, 00:21:13.940 --> 00:21:15.039 that are in the right place, 00:21:16.140 --> 00:21:16.900 prepared to do 00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:17.799 the right things. 00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:18.079 You know, 00:21:18.119 --> 00:21:19.759 consider Psalm 1 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.700 in verse 1, 00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:20.920 it says, 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:21.840 Blessed is the man 00:21:21.840 --> 00:21:22.680 that walketh not 00:21:22.680 --> 00:21:23.299 in the counsel 00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:24.220 of the ungodly, 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:25.400 nor standeth 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:26.759 in the way of sinners, 00:21:26.860 --> 00:21:27.420 nor sitteth 00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:27.880 in the seat 00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:28.580 of the scornful, 00:21:28.860 --> 00:21:29.900 but his delight 00:21:29.900 --> 00:21:31.000 is in the law 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:31.460 of the Lord, 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:32.039 and in His law 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:33.000 doth he meditate 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:35.360 day and night. 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:36.240 You know? 00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:38.039 Being prepared 00:21:38.039 --> 00:21:39.059 and being around 00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:39.940 the right people 00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:40.660 walketh not 00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:41.340 after the counsel 00:21:41.340 --> 00:21:42.299 of the ungodly. 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:43.299 You know? 00:21:44.819 --> 00:21:45.299 You know, 00:21:45.319 --> 00:21:45.840 when you're raising 00:21:45.840 --> 00:21:46.420 your kids, 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:46.960 what's one thing 00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:47.380 you tell them? 00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:48.120 You need to be careful 00:21:48.120 --> 00:21:50.039 with your friends 00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:50.799 that you keep. 00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:53.139 You know, 00:21:53.180 --> 00:21:53.680 your friends 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:54.500 can get you in trouble. 00:21:54.839 --> 00:21:55.079 You know? 00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:57.079 I can tell you, 00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:57.960 I've seen many people 00:21:57.960 --> 00:21:59.059 who've gotten lives 00:21:59.059 --> 00:21:59.659 messed up 00:21:59.659 --> 00:22:01.359 because somebody 00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:02.159 they hung out with 00:22:02.159 --> 00:22:02.759 chose to do. 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:03.859 You could go down here 00:22:03.859 --> 00:22:04.839 to the county jail 00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:05.819 or the state jail 00:22:05.819 --> 00:22:06.279 and they're going 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:06.859 to find people 00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:07.299 in there 00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:08.500 that are there 00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:09.339 because of the people 00:22:09.339 --> 00:22:09.839 they chose 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:10.559 to hang out with. 00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:13.339 Because the people 00:22:13.339 --> 00:22:14.059 they hung out with 00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:14.599 did something 00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:16.480 and they got put in jail 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:17.139 because they were 00:22:17.139 --> 00:22:18.359 an accomplice to something. 00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:21.079 because of the people 00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:21.759 they hung out with. 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:22.500 I know people 00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:23.500 personally who have 00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:26.219 had jail issues 00:22:26.219 --> 00:22:27.179 because of that. 00:22:27.479 --> 00:22:28.299 Somebody they were with 00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:28.959 stole something. 00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:29.919 It was big enough 00:22:29.919 --> 00:22:30.759 it was on a trailer 00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:31.219 and they took 00:22:31.219 --> 00:22:31.839 the whole trailer 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:32.379 and the guy said, 00:22:32.459 --> 00:22:32.539 well, 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:33.500 they told me to pick it up 00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:34.139 so he didn't think 00:22:34.139 --> 00:22:34.859 anything about it 00:22:34.859 --> 00:22:36.039 and he found out later 00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:36.879 the guy stole it. 00:22:37.119 --> 00:22:38.139 But since he was present, 00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:38.740 guess what? 00:22:39.099 --> 00:22:39.500 Accomplice. 00:22:39.699 --> 00:22:40.679 The friends you keep 00:22:40.679 --> 00:22:43.399 can have an impact. 00:22:44.899 --> 00:22:45.599 If you want to have 00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:46.839 an impact for God, 00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:47.559 you need to hang around 00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:48.199 people who are going 00:22:48.199 --> 00:22:50.359 to have a godly impact. 00:22:51.439 --> 00:22:52.679 To do those things. 00:22:52.819 --> 00:22:52.919 You know, 00:22:52.959 --> 00:22:54.500 he had the right patience. 00:22:54.639 --> 00:22:54.779 You know, 00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:55.299 as a kid, 00:22:55.339 --> 00:22:56.799 do you ever eat your lunch 00:22:56.799 --> 00:22:57.599 before lunchtime? 00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:58.199 You know? 00:23:00.099 --> 00:23:00.459 Yeah, 00:23:00.659 --> 00:23:01.339 as a kid. 00:23:02.099 --> 00:23:02.599 Jared's like, 00:23:02.639 --> 00:23:03.539 glad mom's not here. 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:07.299 You know? 00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:09.659 This miracle appears 00:23:09.659 --> 00:23:10.519 to take place 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.240 sometime here 00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:12.359 in the late afternoon 00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:13.980 just before the people 00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:15.359 were making their way home. 00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:15.599 You know, 00:23:15.659 --> 00:23:16.500 Matthew 14 00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:17.959 tells us that 00:23:17.959 --> 00:23:19.099 it was evening. 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:20.719 Luke 9 says 00:23:20.719 --> 00:23:22.599 the day was wearing away. 00:23:22.719 --> 00:23:23.179 In other words, 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:25.019 this is not lunchtime. 00:23:26.219 --> 00:23:27.419 It's at the end of the day. 00:23:28.679 --> 00:23:28.939 You know, 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:29.619 I think the reason 00:23:29.619 --> 00:23:30.059 a lot of people 00:23:30.059 --> 00:23:31.319 didn't have much left to eat 00:23:31.319 --> 00:23:32.259 because they were there 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:32.959 all day 00:23:32.959 --> 00:23:35.019 and what'd they do at lunch? 00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:36.979 They ate their 00:23:36.979 --> 00:23:38.479 lunch. 00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.119 You know? 00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:42.299 They'd already eaten 00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:43.179 what they'd brought. 00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:45.700 So now, 00:23:45.900 --> 00:23:46.860 if the day is weary, 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:47.960 it's dragging on 00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:48.700 and now they don't 00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:49.240 have anything. 00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:49.860 You know, 00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:50.560 it's possible 00:23:50.560 --> 00:23:51.440 there were other people 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:52.000 that day 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:53.560 who had brought food 00:23:53.560 --> 00:23:54.420 and they'd already 00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:55.160 eaten it 00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:56.820 earlier in the day 00:23:56.820 --> 00:23:57.519 which would make 00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.400 logical sense 00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:59.200 that that would happen. 00:23:59.820 --> 00:24:00.060 You know, 00:24:00.080 --> 00:24:01.080 as you're sitting there 00:24:01.080 --> 00:24:02.100 and Jesus is speaking, 00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:03.019 I imagine people 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:04.160 were munching, 00:24:04.340 --> 00:24:04.600 you know, 00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:05.860 it's just something 00:24:05.860 --> 00:24:07.039 that people naturally do 00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:07.680 especially if you're 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.799 someplace for a long time. 00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:09.880 You know? 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:11.140 It comes natural. 00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:11.860 It's just like us 00:24:11.860 --> 00:24:12.540 when we hang out 00:24:12.540 --> 00:24:13.160 we do what? 00:24:14.120 --> 00:24:14.840 We eat. 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:16.000 You know? 00:24:16.360 --> 00:24:17.540 Food is associated 00:24:17.540 --> 00:24:18.180 with fellowship. 00:24:19.100 --> 00:24:20.520 The two seem to tie together. 00:24:21.280 --> 00:24:22.080 I don't care 00:24:22.080 --> 00:24:23.380 who or what, 00:24:23.400 --> 00:24:24.220 it's a human thing, 00:24:24.300 --> 00:24:24.600 isn't it? 00:24:25.180 --> 00:24:25.860 That those things 00:24:25.860 --> 00:24:26.680 tie together 00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:28.280 in what we do. 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.840 And so we realize, 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:30.780 you've probably noticed 00:24:30.780 --> 00:24:31.340 in Scripture 00:24:31.340 --> 00:24:31.980 and no doubt 00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:32.940 in your own life, 00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:34.900 that God's timing here 00:24:34.900 --> 00:24:36.120 though is always perfect 00:24:36.120 --> 00:24:37.020 because the boy 00:24:37.020 --> 00:24:38.900 waited for the right time 00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:40.800 and everyone experienced 00:24:40.800 --> 00:24:41.560 the benefits 00:24:41.560 --> 00:24:43.200 of him being 00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:44.320 in the right place 00:24:44.320 --> 00:24:45.720 at the right time 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:47.220 ready to serve 00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:48.200 the Lord. 00:24:48.540 --> 00:24:49.580 Because we understand 00:24:49.580 --> 00:24:50.660 that God's timing 00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:51.640 is always perfect. 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:53.400 He's never early 00:24:53.400 --> 00:24:55.160 and he's certainly 00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:55.860 never late. 00:24:57.000 --> 00:24:58.400 God always provides 00:24:58.400 --> 00:24:59.440 at the right time. 00:25:00.280 --> 00:25:00.400 You know, 00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:02.240 Ecclesiastes 3.1 says, 00:25:02.340 --> 00:25:03.120 for everything there is 00:25:03.120 --> 00:25:04.160 a season and a time 00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:05.080 to every purpose 00:25:05.080 --> 00:25:06.580 under heaven. 00:25:06.579 --> 00:25:07.819 You know, 00:25:07.899 --> 00:25:09.079 when we realize 00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:10.399 that God's timing 00:25:10.399 --> 00:25:11.919 is definitely different 00:25:11.919 --> 00:25:12.639 from our timing. 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.019 You know, 00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:14.679 that's one of the things 00:25:14.679 --> 00:25:15.359 as a Christian, 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.819 as one that follows Christ, 00:25:16.899 --> 00:25:17.939 you need to keep in mind 00:25:17.939 --> 00:25:19.500 that God's timing 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:21.179 is not always our timing. 00:25:22.599 --> 00:25:23.019 Or should I say, 00:25:23.079 --> 00:25:24.079 our timing is not always 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:24.679 God's timing. 00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:25.399 Might be a better way 00:25:25.399 --> 00:25:25.819 of putting it. 00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:27.619 We want to be on our time. 00:25:28.619 --> 00:25:28.859 You know, 00:25:28.859 --> 00:25:29.699 we want everything centered 00:25:29.699 --> 00:25:30.740 about how we think 00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:31.639 and what we want 00:25:31.639 --> 00:25:32.960 and want to get 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:33.639 that accomplished. 00:25:34.639 --> 00:25:34.819 You know, 00:25:34.819 --> 00:25:36.500 but consider what Isaiah 55 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:37.240 tells us. 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:37.500 It says, 00:25:37.639 --> 00:25:38.240 for my thoughts 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:39.179 are not your thoughts, 00:25:39.559 --> 00:25:40.639 neither are your ways 00:25:40.639 --> 00:25:41.259 my ways, 00:25:41.399 --> 00:25:42.059 saith the Lord. 00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:43.319 As for the heavens 00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:44.379 are higher than the earth, 00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:45.200 so are my ways 00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:46.480 higher than your ways 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.819 and my thoughts 00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:49.000 than your thoughts. 00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:49.859 You know, 00:25:50.179 --> 00:25:51.559 waiting on God 00:25:51.559 --> 00:25:52.939 is important. 00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:55.359 To know God's timing 00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:56.519 and to wait 00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:58.359 and to see God work 00:25:58.359 --> 00:25:59.980 because when we prepare 00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.659 yourself 00:26:00.659 --> 00:26:02.899 for what God would have, 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:03.139 you know, 00:26:03.140 --> 00:26:03.820 that's preparing 00:26:03.820 --> 00:26:05.560 by spending time 00:26:05.560 --> 00:26:06.120 with Him, 00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:07.340 being in the right place, 00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:08.200 staying faithful 00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:09.520 in your home 00:26:09.520 --> 00:26:10.280 and in church, 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:12.220 fellowship with the right people, 00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:14.360 make good and godly friends 00:26:14.360 --> 00:26:15.580 who will encourage you 00:26:15.580 --> 00:26:16.120 spiritually 00:26:16.120 --> 00:26:18.060 and then let God work 00:26:18.060 --> 00:26:19.520 because those things 00:26:19.520 --> 00:26:20.259 play out 00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:21.080 and you know, 00:26:21.340 --> 00:26:21.980 we see here 00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:23.420 that these four priorities 00:26:23.420 --> 00:26:24.240 are part 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:25.700 of your character. 00:26:25.880 --> 00:26:27.040 God's going to use you. 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:27.880 You know, 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:29.640 when you see the character 00:26:29.640 --> 00:26:30.700 of this young man, 00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:31.660 when you have 00:26:31.660 --> 00:26:32.720 that same character, 00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:36.440 God can use you. 00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.740 When you're prepared 00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.779 in the right place, 00:26:40.420 --> 00:26:41.620 ready for the right things 00:26:41.620 --> 00:26:42.800 and have the patience 00:26:42.800 --> 00:26:44.100 to wait upon God 00:26:44.100 --> 00:26:45.140 to do it. 00:26:45.560 --> 00:26:45.740 You know, 00:26:45.800 --> 00:26:47.519 Psalm 37, 7 says, 00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:48.340 rest in the Lord 00:26:48.340 --> 00:26:49.320 and wait patiently 00:26:49.320 --> 00:26:50.820 for Him. 00:26:51.360 --> 00:26:53.340 So we see the boy's character 00:26:53.340 --> 00:26:54.200 but we also 00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:56.700 see the boy's charity. 00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:58.560 See the boy's charity. 00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:59.919 when they say 00:26:59.919 --> 00:27:00.720 that the weight 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.480 of a man's heart 00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:02.399 is through his stomach, 00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:03.500 I would add 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:04.740 the way to know 00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:05.819 a little boy's heart 00:27:05.819 --> 00:27:06.980 is to see what he does 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.740 with his lunch. 00:27:08.419 --> 00:27:08.639 You know, 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:10.179 because think about this, 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:11.279 here's a young boy 00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:12.179 that was just as hungry 00:27:12.179 --> 00:27:13.000 as everybody else 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.859 but he was willing 00:27:13.859 --> 00:27:14.379 to give it. 00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:15.279 That makes an interesting 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:16.139 statement, doesn't it? 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:17.539 Because this young man, 00:27:17.659 --> 00:27:18.599 Jesus used 00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:20.039 the little boy's generosity 00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:21.379 to reach the hearts 00:27:21.379 --> 00:27:22.039 and minds 00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:24.339 of 5,000 men 00:27:24.339 --> 00:27:25.619 plus women and children 00:27:25.619 --> 00:27:28.159 as they got their 00:27:28.159 --> 00:27:29.639 stomachs filled 00:27:29.639 --> 00:27:32.779 from what Jesus made 00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:33.679 from a small meal. 00:27:33.919 --> 00:27:35.139 I want you to notice here 00:27:35.139 --> 00:27:36.219 he gave willingly. 00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.539 You know, 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:39.219 that's important. 00:27:39.299 --> 00:27:39.799 The willingness 00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:40.759 of giving. 00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:42.279 You know, 00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:42.859 we don't know 00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.859 if Andrew asked 00:27:43.859 --> 00:27:45.039 the boy for his lunch 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:46.059 or if the boy 00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:47.399 offered it on his own 00:27:47.399 --> 00:27:48.319 but the very least 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:48.859 we know 00:27:48.859 --> 00:27:50.639 there was no resistance 00:27:50.639 --> 00:27:51.939 on the part of this boy, 00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:53.699 no desire for negotiation, 00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:56.000 no what's-in-it-for-me attitude. 00:27:57.980 --> 00:27:58.920 The Bible says 00:27:58.920 --> 00:27:59.580 that he was willing 00:27:59.580 --> 00:28:00.299 to give. 00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:01.640 You know, 00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.940 think about how would 00:28:02.940 --> 00:28:03.920 this story have been different 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:04.580 if the boy wouldn't 00:28:04.580 --> 00:28:05.480 have been willing to give? 00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:06.160 Would have turned 00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:06.900 the whole thing around, 00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:07.220 wouldn't it? 00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.640 His charity, 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.500 his desire, 00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:13.059 his boy gave his lunch 00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:14.140 willing to see 00:28:14.140 --> 00:28:15.960 what God would do. 00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:17.039 You know, 00:28:17.080 --> 00:28:17.720 willing to say, 00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:17.900 hey, 00:28:17.980 --> 00:28:19.240 this is what I have. 00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:21.400 What can God do with it? 00:28:21.400 --> 00:28:23.240 You know, 00:28:23.300 --> 00:28:24.019 sometimes I think 00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:25.600 we begin to withhold 00:28:25.600 --> 00:28:26.700 from God 00:28:26.700 --> 00:28:28.420 things thinking 00:28:28.420 --> 00:28:29.720 what we want to do 00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:30.000 with it 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.380 and saying, 00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:30.700 God, 00:28:30.840 --> 00:28:32.220 this is what I have. 00:28:32.280 --> 00:28:33.259 What can you do with it? 00:28:34.420 --> 00:28:35.500 This is what I have 00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:35.980 available 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:37.600 for you to use. 00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:39.160 Because sometimes 00:28:39.160 --> 00:28:40.080 we hold back 00:28:40.080 --> 00:28:40.620 from God 00:28:40.620 --> 00:28:41.680 thinking we need it 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:43.920 when God says, 00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:46.400 look what I can do 00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:47.620 if you're willing 00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:48.080 to give. 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:50.120 What are you trying 00:28:50.120 --> 00:28:50.740 to negotiate? 00:28:50.740 --> 00:28:51.400 Have you ever 00:28:51.400 --> 00:28:52.059 tried to negotiate 00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:52.579 with God? 00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:53.279 I won't ask 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:54.120 for a raise of hands. 00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:56.460 That seems to be 00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:56.940 something else. 00:28:57.039 --> 00:28:57.120 You know, 00:28:57.160 --> 00:28:57.279 well, 00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:57.440 Lord, 00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:58.460 if I give this, 00:28:58.559 --> 00:29:01.359 I expect this. 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:01.819 You know, 00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:02.640 people do it often. 00:29:04.120 --> 00:29:04.859 I would venture 00:29:04.859 --> 00:29:05.599 to say we're probably 00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:06.099 all guilty 00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:06.680 at one point 00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:07.079 or another. 00:29:07.400 --> 00:29:07.740 That you try 00:29:07.740 --> 00:29:08.319 to negotiate 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:09.160 with God. 00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:09.720 You say, 00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:09.880 well, 00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:10.279 what do people, 00:29:10.380 --> 00:29:11.099 I guarantee you, 00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:11.480 I've seen it 00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:11.880 over the years. 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:12.519 I've seen people 00:29:12.519 --> 00:29:13.319 as soon as life 00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:14.500 gets turned upside down, 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:15.200 they show back up 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:16.079 at church saying, 00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:16.299 God, 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:16.660 I'm going to get 00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:17.200 back in church. 00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:17.700 You just make 00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:18.400 everything right. 00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:18.839 Yeah, 00:29:18.839 --> 00:29:19.460 you might be doing 00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:20.059 something right, 00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:20.519 but you're not 00:29:20.519 --> 00:29:21.019 doing it for the 00:29:21.019 --> 00:29:21.579 right reason. 00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:22.299 You're not doing 00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:22.880 it because you 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:23.340 love the Lord. 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:23.840 You're doing it 00:29:23.840 --> 00:29:24.240 because you're 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:25.059 trying to negotiate. 00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:27.059 You're trying 00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:27.720 to manipulate. 00:29:28.140 --> 00:29:28.779 That's not being 00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:30.620 willing to do 00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:31.460 what God's asked 00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.019 you to do. 00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:33.340 You know, 00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:34.140 we talk about 00:29:34.140 --> 00:29:35.420 people willing 00:29:35.420 --> 00:29:36.059 to give. 00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:36.420 I mean, 00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:37.079 when you consider 00:29:37.079 --> 00:29:38.140 2 Corinthians 00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:38.960 chapter 8 00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:39.660 where the apostle 00:29:39.660 --> 00:29:40.640 Paul talks about 00:29:40.640 --> 00:29:41.220 the churches 00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:42.220 of Macedonia 00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:43.519 and he makes 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:43.980 a statement, 00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:44.319 he says, 00:29:44.319 --> 00:29:44.720 out of their 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:45.840 deep poverty 00:29:45.840 --> 00:29:46.759 they were willing 00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:47.539 to give, 00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:49.700 it wasn't 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.099 out of their 00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:50.599 abundance, 00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:53.019 it wasn't 00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:53.399 out of the 00:29:53.399 --> 00:29:53.839 fact that 00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:54.159 they had 00:29:54.159 --> 00:29:54.859 surplus. 00:29:56.639 --> 00:29:57.420 Paul makes 00:29:57.420 --> 00:29:57.839 a note 00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:58.240 there in 00:29:58.240 --> 00:29:59.279 2 Corinthians 00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:00.200 chapter 8, 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:01.200 look over there 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:01.940 in 2 Corinthians 00:30:01.940 --> 00:30:02.680 chapter 8 00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:03.180 and down in 00:30:03.180 --> 00:30:03.759 verse 1, 00:30:03.839 --> 00:30:04.099 it says, 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:04.480 moreover, 00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:04.819 brethren, 00:30:05.379 --> 00:30:05.960 we do you 00:30:05.960 --> 00:30:06.700 to wit 00:30:06.700 --> 00:30:07.339 of the grace 00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:07.819 of God 00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:08.500 bestowed upon 00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.000 the churches 00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:09.759 of Macedonia 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:10.339 how that in 00:30:10.339 --> 00:30:10.899 great trial 00:30:10.899 --> 00:30:11.539 of affliction 00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:12.619 the abundance 00:30:12.619 --> 00:30:13.460 of their joy 00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:14.159 and their deep 00:30:14.159 --> 00:30:15.139 poverty abounded 00:30:15.139 --> 00:30:15.879 under the riches 00:30:15.879 --> 00:30:16.960 of their liberality. 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:18.619 For to their 00:30:18.619 --> 00:30:19.399 power I bear 00:30:19.399 --> 00:30:19.940 record, 00:30:20.359 --> 00:30:20.519 yea, 00:30:20.619 --> 00:30:21.079 and beyond 00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:21.639 their power 00:30:21.639 --> 00:30:21.980 they were 00:30:21.980 --> 00:30:22.779 willing of 00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:23.339 themselves. 00:30:24.159 --> 00:30:24.460 I mean, 00:30:24.519 --> 00:30:24.899 think about 00:30:24.899 --> 00:30:25.500 the reality 00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:26.399 of that passage 00:30:26.399 --> 00:30:26.940 when it says 00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:27.240 that they 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:28.319 didn't give 00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:29.039 to the saints 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:29.379 that were 00:30:29.379 --> 00:30:29.980 suffering in 00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:30.440 Jerusalem 00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:31.759 with full 00:30:31.759 --> 00:30:32.299 pockets, 00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:33.319 they gave 00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:33.759 knowing it 00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.000 was going 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:34.399 to cost 00:30:34.399 --> 00:30:34.920 them something 00:30:34.920 --> 00:30:35.240 too. 00:30:35.559 --> 00:30:35.819 They were 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:36.359 willing to 00:30:36.359 --> 00:30:36.859 give the 00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:37.220 goodness 00:30:37.220 --> 00:30:37.599 and the 00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:37.920 blessing 00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:38.579 of God 00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:39.619 awaits 00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:40.200 believers 00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:40.700 who have 00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:41.119 a willing 00:30:41.119 --> 00:30:41.740 heart. 00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:42.920 You know, 00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:44.039 stinginess 00:30:44.039 --> 00:30:45.420 and stubbornness 00:30:45.420 --> 00:30:46.960 always have 00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:47.420 a bitter 00:30:47.420 --> 00:30:47.819 end. 00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:48.519 You know, 00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:50.579 look at 00:30:50.579 --> 00:30:51.340 Isaiah chapter 00:30:51.340 --> 00:30:51.920 1 for a 00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:52.120 moment. 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:54.000 Isaiah chapter 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:55.740 1 verse 19 00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:56.500 tells us this, 00:30:56.600 --> 00:30:56.960 if you be 00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:57.880 willing and 00:30:57.880 --> 00:30:58.539 obedient you 00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:59.000 shall eat 00:30:59.000 --> 00:30:59.340 the good 00:30:59.340 --> 00:30:59.880 of the land 00:30:59.880 --> 00:31:00.259 but if you 00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:00.960 refuse and 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:01.539 rebel you 00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:01.840 shall be 00:31:01.840 --> 00:31:02.299 devoured 00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:02.700 with the 00:31:02.700 --> 00:31:03.620 sword for 00:31:03.620 --> 00:31:04.360 the mouth 00:31:04.360 --> 00:31:04.700 of the 00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:05.299 Lord hath 00:31:05.299 --> 00:31:06.319 spoken it. 00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:07.299 But notice 00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:07.680 that if you 00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:08.100 be what? 00:31:08.200 --> 00:31:08.559 Willing 00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:11.440 and obedient. 00:31:11.840 --> 00:31:12.140 That's 00:31:12.140 --> 00:31:12.660 important. 00:31:13.180 --> 00:31:13.799 He gave 00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:14.559 willingly. 00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:14.980 He was 00:31:14.980 --> 00:31:16.480 willing and 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.119 obedient but 00:31:17.119 --> 00:31:17.559 he also 00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:18.940 gave wholly 00:31:18.940 --> 00:31:20.200 or completely. 00:31:20.399 --> 00:31:20.779 This boy 00:31:20.779 --> 00:31:21.159 had given 00:31:21.159 --> 00:31:22.319 three loaves 00:31:22.319 --> 00:31:22.720 and one 00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:23.200 fish. 00:31:23.659 --> 00:31:23.759 You know, 00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:24.359 he very easily 00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:24.659 could have 00:31:24.659 --> 00:31:25.339 gave smaller 00:31:25.339 --> 00:31:25.779 amount. 00:31:26.579 --> 00:31:26.759 I mean, 00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:27.220 you think about 00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:27.859 that of what 00:31:27.859 --> 00:31:28.899 was happening. 00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:29.220 He said he 00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:30.159 had five loaves 00:31:30.159 --> 00:31:30.500 and two 00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:30.839 fishes. 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:31.259 He could have 00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:31.379 said, 00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:31.599 hey, 00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:33.059 I'll trade 00:31:33.059 --> 00:31:33.740 this in here. 00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:34.440 I'll give you 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:35.119 half of it 00:31:35.119 --> 00:31:35.899 or at least 00:31:35.899 --> 00:31:36.539 some of it. 00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:37.399 You know, 00:31:37.480 --> 00:31:37.980 that's pretty 00:31:37.980 --> 00:31:38.559 generous. 00:31:39.419 --> 00:31:39.779 You know, 00:31:39.779 --> 00:31:42.119 but he 00:31:42.119 --> 00:31:42.599 didn't, 00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:43.700 even though I 00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:44.119 believe the 00:31:44.119 --> 00:31:44.639 Lord could have 00:31:44.639 --> 00:31:44.940 fed them 00:31:44.940 --> 00:31:45.539 all on 00:31:45.539 --> 00:31:47.440 whatever the 00:31:47.440 --> 00:31:48.119 boy gave. 00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:48.740 Matter of 00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:48.920 fact, 00:31:49.019 --> 00:31:49.519 Jesus had 00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:49.940 already proved 00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:50.220 he could 00:31:50.220 --> 00:31:50.539 feed them 00:31:50.539 --> 00:31:50.799 without 00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:51.220 anything. 00:31:52.200 --> 00:31:52.379 I mean, 00:31:52.399 --> 00:31:52.720 here's the 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:53.059 one that 00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:53.899 spoke creation 00:31:53.899 --> 00:31:55.019 in that the 00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:55.740 process of 00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:56.119 what he was 00:31:56.119 --> 00:31:56.819 doing wasn't 00:31:56.819 --> 00:31:57.279 the issue. 00:31:57.460 --> 00:31:57.619 I mean, 00:31:57.680 --> 00:31:58.180 Jesus could 00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:58.480 have fed 00:31:58.480 --> 00:31:58.779 the whole 00:31:58.779 --> 00:31:59.779 crowd without 00:31:59.779 --> 00:32:00.339 the boy, 00:32:00.660 --> 00:32:00.879 but he 00:32:00.879 --> 00:32:01.559 wanted to, 00:32:02.220 --> 00:32:02.619 he already 00:32:02.619 --> 00:32:03.079 knew what 00:32:03.079 --> 00:32:03.559 he was going 00:32:03.559 --> 00:32:04.639 to do and 00:32:04.639 --> 00:32:05.059 there was a 00:32:05.059 --> 00:32:06.039 purpose behind 00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:06.339 it. 00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:07.139 You know, 00:32:07.539 --> 00:32:08.180 he wasn't 00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:09.099 generous with 00:32:09.099 --> 00:32:09.559 the lesser 00:32:09.559 --> 00:32:10.039 amount. 00:32:10.439 --> 00:32:10.799 He made 00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:11.419 the entire 00:32:11.419 --> 00:32:12.740 dynamic. 00:32:12.899 --> 00:32:13.079 He was 00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:13.500 willing to 00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:13.980 give it 00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:14.679 to the 00:32:14.679 --> 00:32:15.019 Lord. 00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:15.839 He's willing 00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:16.259 to give 00:32:16.259 --> 00:32:16.759 all. 00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:17.719 You know, 00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:18.339 sometimes I 00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:18.819 think instead 00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:19.399 of like this 00:32:19.399 --> 00:32:19.759 boy, 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:20.279 we like to 00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:20.759 hold things 00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.240 back from 00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:21.539 God. 00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:22.819 To say, 00:32:22.899 --> 00:32:23.139 God, 00:32:23.219 --> 00:32:23.599 you can have 00:32:23.599 --> 00:32:24.139 this part 00:32:24.139 --> 00:32:24.459 and this 00:32:24.459 --> 00:32:24.819 part, 00:32:25.419 --> 00:32:26.679 but not 00:32:26.679 --> 00:32:27.119 this part 00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:27.319 of my 00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:27.559 life. 00:32:29.199 --> 00:32:29.879 We want 00:32:29.879 --> 00:32:30.279 to hold 00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:31.059 things back 00:32:31.059 --> 00:32:31.439 instead of 00:32:31.439 --> 00:32:31.740 God, 00:32:31.819 --> 00:32:32.079 I want to 00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:32.299 give it 00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:33.439 all to 00:32:33.439 --> 00:32:33.740 you. 00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:34.219 So often 00:32:34.219 --> 00:32:34.899 we focus 00:32:34.899 --> 00:32:35.379 on what 00:32:35.379 --> 00:32:36.059 we are 00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:36.480 giving 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:37.000 God, 00:32:37.699 --> 00:32:38.579 but God 00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:39.199 really is 00:32:39.199 --> 00:32:39.879 more focused 00:32:39.879 --> 00:32:40.259 on what 00:32:40.259 --> 00:32:40.399 we are 00:32:40.399 --> 00:32:40.699 keeping. 00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:41.299 What are 00:32:41.299 --> 00:32:41.740 we holding 00:32:41.740 --> 00:32:42.220 back? 00:32:44.059 --> 00:32:44.619 What are 00:32:44.619 --> 00:32:45.159 we keeping 00:32:45.159 --> 00:32:45.740 from him? 00:32:46.059 --> 00:32:46.240 You know, 00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:48.839 consider the 00:32:48.839 --> 00:32:49.740 importance of 00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:49.960 this. 00:32:50.039 --> 00:32:50.240 If you 00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:50.639 remember back 00:32:50.639 --> 00:32:51.399 in 1 Kings 00:32:51.399 --> 00:32:52.319 chapter 3, 00:32:53.399 --> 00:32:53.699 a pretty 00:32:53.699 --> 00:32:54.579 famous passage 00:32:54.579 --> 00:32:55.119 of scripture 00:32:55.119 --> 00:32:55.519 where you 00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:56.179 have Solomon 00:32:56.179 --> 00:32:56.919 has two 00:32:56.919 --> 00:32:58.039 harlots who 00:32:58.039 --> 00:32:58.559 lived in the 00:32:58.559 --> 00:32:59.259 same house 00:32:59.259 --> 00:32:59.639 and each 00:32:59.639 --> 00:32:59.980 had given 00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:00.480 birth to 00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:00.980 a son. 00:33:01.179 --> 00:33:01.939 And a few 00:33:01.939 --> 00:33:02.699 days apart, 00:33:02.799 --> 00:33:03.079 one of the 00:33:03.079 --> 00:33:03.839 babies died 00:33:03.839 --> 00:33:04.359 in the night. 00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:04.679 So the 00:33:04.679 --> 00:33:05.859 mother of the 00:33:05.859 --> 00:33:06.419 dead baby 00:33:06.419 --> 00:33:07.220 exchanged the 00:33:07.220 --> 00:33:07.779 two children 00:33:07.779 --> 00:33:08.180 when the 00:33:08.180 --> 00:33:08.620 other mother 00:33:08.620 --> 00:33:09.100 woke up 00:33:09.100 --> 00:33:09.460 to feed 00:33:09.460 --> 00:33:09.920 her son 00:33:09.920 --> 00:33:10.740 and he 00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:11.380 was dead 00:33:11.380 --> 00:33:11.819 but upon 00:33:11.819 --> 00:33:12.180 further 00:33:12.180 --> 00:33:12.740 examination 00:33:12.740 --> 00:33:13.920 she realized 00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:14.660 that it 00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:15.160 was not 00:33:15.160 --> 00:33:15.759 her son 00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:16.420 and there 00:33:16.420 --> 00:33:16.720 was an 00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:17.140 argument 00:33:17.140 --> 00:33:17.740 and exchange 00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:18.500 that took 00:33:18.500 --> 00:33:19.019 place. 00:33:19.660 --> 00:33:20.000 And so we 00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:20.620 find here 00:33:20.620 --> 00:33:20.940 that they 00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:21.519 come before 00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:22.279 King Solomon 00:33:22.279 --> 00:33:23.279 and when 00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:23.720 the matter 00:33:23.720 --> 00:33:24.299 was brought 00:33:24.299 --> 00:33:25.000 before King 00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:25.620 Solomon he 00:33:25.620 --> 00:33:26.440 declared divide 00:33:26.440 --> 00:33:26.880 the living 00:33:26.880 --> 00:33:27.620 child in two 00:33:27.620 --> 00:33:27.960 and give 00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:28.500 half to the 00:33:28.500 --> 00:33:28.799 one and 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:29.279 half to the 00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:29.539 other. 00:33:30.539 --> 00:33:30.779 You know? 00:33:31.900 --> 00:33:32.519 Now that 00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:32.700 would have 00:33:32.700 --> 00:33:33.120 been great 00:33:33.120 --> 00:33:33.839 advice if you 00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:34.200 were talking 00:33:34.200 --> 00:33:34.600 about the 00:33:34.600 --> 00:33:35.660 apple pie or 00:33:35.660 --> 00:33:36.039 the gallon 00:33:36.039 --> 00:33:36.740 of ice cream. 00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:39.059 you know? 00:33:39.160 --> 00:33:39.799 But I want 00:33:39.799 --> 00:33:39.980 you to 00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:40.680 understand 00:33:40.680 --> 00:33:42.860 this was a 00:33:42.860 --> 00:33:43.720 living human 00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:45.279 being but 00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:45.900 notice the 00:33:45.900 --> 00:33:46.779 response. 00:33:48.259 --> 00:33:48.660 The mother 00:33:48.660 --> 00:33:49.240 was very 00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:49.779 willing to 00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:50.259 say I 00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:50.700 would much 00:33:50.700 --> 00:33:51.140 rather I 00:33:51.140 --> 00:33:51.559 will give 00:33:51.559 --> 00:33:52.160 him up 00:33:52.160 --> 00:33:54.480 if he 00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:54.759 lives. 00:33:55.019 --> 00:33:55.480 She's willing 00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:56.059 to give 00:33:56.059 --> 00:33:57.259 everything for 00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:57.839 the sake 00:33:57.839 --> 00:33:59.000 of another. 00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:00.059 You know? 00:34:00.500 --> 00:34:01.319 Because a 00:34:01.319 --> 00:34:02.180 divided baby 00:34:02.180 --> 00:34:03.000 is no baby 00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:03.480 and guess 00:34:03.480 --> 00:34:03.839 what? 00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:04.480 A divided 00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.440 life is no 00:34:05.440 --> 00:34:05.779 life. 00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:07.420 God doesn't 00:34:07.420 --> 00:34:08.199 desire just 00:34:08.199 --> 00:34:08.840 to be part 00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:09.099 of our 00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:09.779 life or a 00:34:09.779 --> 00:34:10.259 few hours 00:34:10.259 --> 00:34:10.800 on Sunday. 00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:11.500 He desires 00:34:11.500 --> 00:34:12.840 our whole 00:34:12.840 --> 00:34:13.659 self. 00:34:15.099 --> 00:34:16.000 He desires 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:16.860 all of us. 00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:18.219 You know? 00:34:18.860 --> 00:34:19.259 Consider 00:34:19.259 --> 00:34:19.960 Deuteronomy 00:34:19.960 --> 00:34:20.659 5 and 00:34:20.659 --> 00:34:21.400 or excuse me 00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:21.900 Deuteronomy 00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:22.420 6 and 00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:22.960 verse 5 00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:23.199 where it 00:34:23.199 --> 00:34:23.480 says thou 00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:23.900 shalt love 00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:24.199 the Lord 00:34:24.199 --> 00:34:24.699 thy God 00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:25.079 with all 00:34:25.079 --> 00:34:25.440 thy heart 00:34:25.440 --> 00:34:25.800 with all 00:34:25.800 --> 00:34:26.139 thy soul 00:34:26.139 --> 00:34:26.340 and with 00:34:26.340 --> 00:34:26.639 all thy 00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:26.940 might. 00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:27.539 The key 00:34:27.539 --> 00:34:28.000 word there 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:28.420 is all. 00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:28.820 Not 00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:29.239 some 00:34:29.239 --> 00:34:31.840 but all. 00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:33.059 He gave 00:34:33.059 --> 00:34:33.480 willingly, 00:34:33.719 --> 00:34:34.000 he gave 00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:34.300 wholly, 00:34:34.300 --> 00:34:34.720 he gave 00:34:34.720 --> 00:34:35.260 wisely. 00:34:36.220 --> 00:34:36.440 You know? 00:34:37.680 --> 00:34:38.500 Verse 12 00:34:38.500 --> 00:34:38.860 there in 00:34:38.860 --> 00:34:39.440 John chapter 00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:40.180 6 says when 00:34:40.180 --> 00:34:40.539 they were 00:34:40.539 --> 00:34:41.060 filled. 00:34:41.780 --> 00:34:42.019 You know, 00:34:42.039 --> 00:34:42.480 what a great 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:43.340 decision this 00:34:43.340 --> 00:34:43.960 turned out to 00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:44.400 be for the 00:34:44.400 --> 00:34:44.920 little boy. 00:34:45.720 --> 00:34:45.920 You know, 00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:46.700 in verse 12 00:34:46.700 --> 00:34:47.280 certainly would 00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:48.500 have included 00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:48.960 the little 00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:49.360 boy. 00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:50.220 He was 00:34:50.220 --> 00:34:51.500 filled right 00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:52.019 along with 00:34:52.019 --> 00:34:52.640 the rest 00:34:52.640 --> 00:34:53.280 of the 00:34:53.280 --> 00:34:53.680 multitude. 00:34:54.460 --> 00:34:54.820 In other 00:34:54.820 --> 00:34:54.960 words, 00:34:54.980 --> 00:34:55.519 he was willing 00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:55.960 to give 00:34:55.960 --> 00:34:56.800 all and 00:34:56.800 --> 00:34:57.340 still got 00:34:57.340 --> 00:34:57.680 everything 00:34:57.680 --> 00:34:58.240 he wanted. 00:34:59.940 --> 00:35:00.280 You know? 00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:01.360 Everything 00:35:01.360 --> 00:35:02.080 for the meal 00:35:02.080 --> 00:35:02.560 he left 00:35:02.560 --> 00:35:03.240 full. 00:35:03.239 --> 00:35:05.439 He didn't 00:35:05.439 --> 00:35:06.019 lack 00:35:06.019 --> 00:35:07.219 anything 00:35:07.219 --> 00:35:09.339 by giving 00:35:09.339 --> 00:35:10.479 all to 00:35:10.479 --> 00:35:10.919 the Lord. 00:35:11.819 --> 00:35:12.099 You know? 00:35:12.359 --> 00:35:12.899 This little 00:35:12.899 --> 00:35:13.379 boy 00:35:13.379 --> 00:35:15.859 was willing 00:35:15.859 --> 00:35:17.199 to give 00:35:17.199 --> 00:35:18.379 to the 00:35:18.379 --> 00:35:18.799 Lord and 00:35:18.799 --> 00:35:19.379 was willing 00:35:19.379 --> 00:35:20.559 and received 00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:21.319 in return 00:35:21.319 --> 00:35:23.159 his stomach 00:35:23.159 --> 00:35:23.759 was full. 00:35:24.219 --> 00:35:24.399 You know? 00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:26.859 This is a 00:35:26.859 --> 00:35:27.359 better deal 00:35:27.359 --> 00:35:27.919 than the buffet. 00:35:28.339 --> 00:35:28.819 He gave 00:35:28.819 --> 00:35:29.579 what he had 00:35:29.579 --> 00:35:31.039 and got 00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:31.639 far more. 00:35:31.639 --> 00:35:33.920 it's a 00:35:33.920 --> 00:35:34.339 principle 00:35:34.339 --> 00:35:34.719 that we 00:35:34.719 --> 00:35:35.359 can realize 00:35:35.359 --> 00:35:36.119 because God 00:35:36.119 --> 00:35:36.579 will always 00:35:36.579 --> 00:35:37.219 do more 00:35:37.219 --> 00:35:37.639 with what 00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:38.259 we give 00:35:38.259 --> 00:35:39.099 him 00:35:39.099 --> 00:35:39.879 than we 00:35:39.879 --> 00:35:40.179 could have 00:35:40.179 --> 00:35:40.579 done with 00:35:40.579 --> 00:35:41.199 it ourselves. 00:35:41.379 --> 00:35:41.559 God 00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:42.239 promises to 00:35:42.239 --> 00:35:42.960 give more 00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:43.440 than we 00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:43.900 give. 00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:44.739 It's not 00:35:44.739 --> 00:35:45.400 merely a 00:35:45.400 --> 00:35:46.079 promise about 00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:46.739 our money 00:35:46.739 --> 00:35:48.039 but it's 00:35:48.039 --> 00:35:48.579 a surety 00:35:48.579 --> 00:35:49.179 with respect 00:35:49.179 --> 00:35:49.539 to our 00:35:49.539 --> 00:35:50.000 time, 00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:50.659 our talents, 00:35:50.779 --> 00:35:51.359 our treasures, 00:35:51.719 --> 00:35:52.559 and everything 00:35:52.559 --> 00:35:53.039 that we 00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:53.339 possess. 00:35:53.579 --> 00:35:53.719 You know, 00:35:53.739 --> 00:35:54.420 look over 00:35:54.420 --> 00:35:54.739 in Luke 00:35:54.739 --> 00:35:55.579 chapter 6. 00:35:55.719 --> 00:35:56.699 Luke chapter 6 00:35:56.699 --> 00:35:57.619 in verse 38 00:35:57.619 --> 00:35:59.000 tells us this. 00:35:59.119 --> 00:35:59.339 It says, 00:35:59.340 --> 00:35:59.980 give and it 00:35:59.980 --> 00:36:00.320 shall be 00:36:00.320 --> 00:36:00.940 given unto 00:36:00.940 --> 00:36:01.400 you. 00:36:01.780 --> 00:36:02.480 Good measure 00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:03.220 pressed down, 00:36:03.360 --> 00:36:04.019 shaken together, 00:36:04.120 --> 00:36:04.460 and running 00:36:04.460 --> 00:36:05.340 over shall men 00:36:05.340 --> 00:36:06.000 give into your 00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:06.360 bosom. 00:36:06.780 --> 00:36:07.340 For with the 00:36:07.340 --> 00:36:07.940 same measure 00:36:07.940 --> 00:36:08.559 that you meet 00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:09.019 with all, 00:36:09.120 --> 00:36:09.519 it shall be 00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:10.260 measured to 00:36:10.260 --> 00:36:11.680 you again. 00:36:12.620 --> 00:36:13.059 Now, 00:36:13.820 --> 00:36:14.880 I like to 00:36:14.880 --> 00:36:15.260 call this 00:36:15.260 --> 00:36:15.700 verse the 00:36:15.700 --> 00:36:16.240 scoop shovel 00:36:16.240 --> 00:36:16.600 effect. 00:36:16.760 --> 00:36:16.900 You know, 00:36:16.980 --> 00:36:19.039 the size 00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:19.700 shovel you 00:36:19.700 --> 00:36:20.280 choose to 00:36:20.280 --> 00:36:20.620 give to 00:36:20.620 --> 00:36:21.120 God is 00:36:21.120 --> 00:36:21.480 the same 00:36:21.480 --> 00:36:22.059 size as 00:36:22.059 --> 00:36:22.340 the shovel 00:36:22.340 --> 00:36:22.980 he uses 00:36:22.980 --> 00:36:23.340 to give 00:36:23.340 --> 00:36:23.680 back. 00:36:23.980 --> 00:36:24.280 Because, 00:36:24.380 --> 00:36:24.559 you know, 00:36:24.640 --> 00:36:25.000 sometimes, 00:36:25.220 --> 00:36:25.940 you know, 00:36:25.940 --> 00:36:26.260 it's kind of 00:36:26.260 --> 00:36:26.680 like in the 00:36:26.680 --> 00:36:26.940 kitchen, 00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:27.240 you know, 00:36:27.300 --> 00:36:27.880 certain things 00:36:27.880 --> 00:36:28.460 you only want 00:36:28.460 --> 00:36:29.119 a small bit 00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:29.420 of. 00:36:30.139 --> 00:36:30.300 You know, 00:36:30.440 --> 00:36:30.940 have you ever 00:36:30.940 --> 00:36:31.220 seen them 00:36:31.220 --> 00:36:31.840 little grapefruit 00:36:31.840 --> 00:36:32.300 spoons? 00:36:33.980 --> 00:36:34.500 You know, 00:36:34.619 --> 00:36:34.920 how many know 00:36:34.920 --> 00:36:35.119 what a 00:36:35.119 --> 00:36:35.480 grapefruit 00:36:35.480 --> 00:36:36.000 spoon is? 00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:37.280 It's that 00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:37.920 little dinky 00:36:37.920 --> 00:36:38.599 spoon with 00:36:38.599 --> 00:36:39.139 the serrated 00:36:39.139 --> 00:36:39.720 edges on 00:36:39.720 --> 00:36:40.099 the side 00:36:40.099 --> 00:36:40.380 of it, 00:36:40.780 --> 00:36:41.039 and that's 00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:41.240 so you can 00:36:41.240 --> 00:36:41.659 dig the 00:36:41.659 --> 00:36:42.480 grapefruit 00:36:42.480 --> 00:36:42.780 out of 00:36:42.780 --> 00:36:42.940 there. 00:36:43.659 --> 00:36:43.920 You know, 00:36:44.500 --> 00:36:45.019 then you 00:36:45.019 --> 00:36:45.519 have a 00:36:45.519 --> 00:36:47.460 tablespoon 00:36:47.460 --> 00:36:49.679 and teaspoons 00:36:49.679 --> 00:36:50.920 and what's 00:36:50.920 --> 00:36:51.400 unique about 00:36:51.400 --> 00:36:51.699 all the 00:36:51.699 --> 00:36:52.300 different spoons, 00:36:52.420 --> 00:36:52.760 there's what, 00:36:52.820 --> 00:36:53.099 they're all 00:36:53.099 --> 00:36:55.240 different sizes 00:36:55.240 --> 00:36:55.860 for different 00:36:55.860 --> 00:36:56.280 purposes. 00:36:56.280 --> 00:36:57.620 you know, 00:36:58.440 --> 00:36:59.060 now certain 00:36:59.060 --> 00:36:59.440 things you 00:36:59.440 --> 00:36:59.800 like, 00:36:59.880 --> 00:37:00.040 you know, 00:37:00.100 --> 00:37:00.880 when you're 00:37:00.880 --> 00:37:01.360 eating ice 00:37:01.360 --> 00:37:01.600 cream, 00:37:01.680 --> 00:37:01.900 you don't 00:37:01.900 --> 00:37:02.180 want to 00:37:02.180 --> 00:37:02.900 have a 00:37:02.900 --> 00:37:03.300 grapefruit 00:37:03.300 --> 00:37:03.640 spoon. 00:37:04.000 --> 00:37:04.220 You know, 00:37:04.740 --> 00:37:05.360 most people, 00:37:05.500 --> 00:37:05.900 I've seen 00:37:05.900 --> 00:37:06.340 very few 00:37:06.340 --> 00:37:07.560 people deal 00:37:07.560 --> 00:37:08.600 out ice 00:37:08.600 --> 00:37:08.960 cream with 00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:09.400 a grapefruit 00:37:09.400 --> 00:37:09.780 spoon. 00:37:11.420 --> 00:37:12.040 Most of 00:37:12.040 --> 00:37:12.340 them get 00:37:12.340 --> 00:37:12.760 an ice 00:37:12.760 --> 00:37:13.860 cream scoop. 00:37:15.519 --> 00:37:16.000 Have you 00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:16.400 ever noticed 00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:16.760 that's one of 00:37:16.760 --> 00:37:17.060 the biggest 00:37:17.060 --> 00:37:17.620 spoons in 00:37:17.620 --> 00:37:17.940 the drawer? 00:37:18.180 --> 00:37:18.640 They're usually 00:37:18.640 --> 00:37:19.300 broad and 00:37:19.300 --> 00:37:19.860 wide and, 00:37:19.980 --> 00:37:20.060 you know, 00:37:20.120 --> 00:37:20.900 what this 00:37:20.900 --> 00:37:21.340 verse is 00:37:21.340 --> 00:37:21.680 saying, 00:37:22.560 --> 00:37:23.320 what spoon 00:37:23.320 --> 00:37:23.740 you want 00:37:23.740 --> 00:37:24.000 to get 00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:24.460 out, 00:37:24.460 --> 00:37:26.579 to give 00:37:26.579 --> 00:37:27.039 to God, 00:37:27.119 --> 00:37:27.440 God's 00:37:27.440 --> 00:37:27.639 going to 00:37:27.639 --> 00:37:28.059 in turn 00:37:28.059 --> 00:37:28.559 use that 00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:29.119 same size 00:37:29.119 --> 00:37:29.440 spoon. 00:37:31.059 --> 00:37:31.619 You know, 00:37:31.900 --> 00:37:32.480 if you use 00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:33.000 a grapefruit 00:37:33.000 --> 00:37:33.300 spoon, 00:37:33.400 --> 00:37:33.579 you don't 00:37:33.579 --> 00:37:33.840 get a 00:37:33.840 --> 00:37:34.199 whole lot. 00:37:34.440 --> 00:37:34.780 Use an 00:37:34.780 --> 00:37:35.220 ice cream 00:37:35.220 --> 00:37:35.599 scoop, 00:37:35.800 --> 00:37:36.139 you have 00:37:36.139 --> 00:37:36.500 a lot. 00:37:37.679 --> 00:37:38.480 Very simple. 00:37:38.820 --> 00:37:39.099 It's a 00:37:39.099 --> 00:37:39.720 great picture. 00:37:40.099 --> 00:37:40.260 You know, 00:37:40.300 --> 00:37:40.539 when we 00:37:40.539 --> 00:37:41.480 understand of 00:37:41.480 --> 00:37:41.840 what we 00:37:41.840 --> 00:37:42.460 have, 00:37:43.320 --> 00:37:44.159 because in 00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:44.760 our life, 00:37:44.860 --> 00:37:45.320 our time, 00:37:45.420 --> 00:37:45.880 our talents, 00:37:46.000 --> 00:37:46.559 our treasures, 00:37:46.900 --> 00:37:47.980 are really 00:37:47.980 --> 00:37:48.619 caught up in 00:37:48.619 --> 00:37:48.980 this little 00:37:48.980 --> 00:37:49.800 boy's lunch 00:37:49.800 --> 00:37:50.980 as a picture. 00:37:51.679 --> 00:37:52.340 Because what 00:37:52.340 --> 00:37:52.880 are we willing 00:37:52.880 --> 00:37:53.619 to give 00:37:53.619 --> 00:37:55.400 to the 00:37:55.400 --> 00:37:55.679 Lord? 00:37:56.259 --> 00:37:56.900 Because what 00:37:56.900 --> 00:37:57.380 we have 00:37:57.380 --> 00:37:57.819 there is a 00:37:57.819 --> 00:37:58.239 decision, 00:37:58.359 --> 00:37:58.539 are you 00:37:58.539 --> 00:37:58.739 going to 00:37:58.739 --> 00:37:59.219 keep it, 00:37:59.639 --> 00:37:59.900 or are 00:37:59.900 --> 00:38:00.059 you going 00:38:00.059 --> 00:38:00.299 to give 00:38:00.299 --> 00:38:00.460 it? 00:38:02.139 --> 00:38:02.799 The question 00:38:02.799 --> 00:38:03.039 is are we 00:38:03.039 --> 00:38:03.259 going to 00:38:03.259 --> 00:38:03.639 give it 00:38:03.639 --> 00:38:04.500 to the 00:38:04.500 --> 00:38:05.539 one who 00:38:05.539 --> 00:38:07.480 provided it 00:38:07.480 --> 00:38:08.000 in the first 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:08.460 place, 00:38:08.460 --> 00:38:08.940 and watch 00:38:08.940 --> 00:38:09.679 him multiply 00:38:09.679 --> 00:38:11.219 and bless 00:38:11.219 --> 00:38:11.440 it, 00:38:11.579 --> 00:38:11.859 and not 00:38:11.859 --> 00:38:12.339 only for 00:38:12.339 --> 00:38:13.039 our benefit, 00:38:13.179 --> 00:38:13.460 for the 00:38:13.460 --> 00:38:13.920 benefit of 00:38:13.920 --> 00:38:14.420 the multitude 00:38:14.420 --> 00:38:14.859 around. 00:38:16.480 --> 00:38:16.699 You know, 00:38:16.739 --> 00:38:17.139 this young 00:38:17.139 --> 00:38:17.440 boy, 00:38:17.519 --> 00:38:17.779 we don't 00:38:17.779 --> 00:38:18.139 even know 00:38:18.139 --> 00:38:18.699 his name, 00:38:18.779 --> 00:38:19.000 but he 00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:19.699 benefited 00:38:19.699 --> 00:38:21.559 thousands 00:38:21.559 --> 00:38:22.420 of people, 00:38:22.420 --> 00:38:23.200 because he 00:38:23.200 --> 00:38:23.860 was willing 00:38:23.860 --> 00:38:25.320 to give. 00:38:25.960 --> 00:38:26.539 He was 00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:27.119 willing to 00:38:27.119 --> 00:38:27.539 give. 00:38:27.900 --> 00:38:28.039 You know, 00:38:28.079 --> 00:38:28.380 so if we 00:38:28.380 --> 00:38:28.720 want to 00:38:28.720 --> 00:38:29.300 reap those 00:38:29.300 --> 00:38:29.800 blessings, 00:38:29.960 --> 00:38:30.220 let us 00:38:30.220 --> 00:38:30.639 take a 00:38:30.639 --> 00:38:32.260 lesson from 00:38:32.260 --> 00:38:32.820 this boy. 00:38:33.079 --> 00:38:33.420 We need 00:38:33.420 --> 00:38:33.840 to prepare 00:38:33.840 --> 00:38:34.619 ourselves to 00:38:34.619 --> 00:38:35.200 be used 00:38:35.200 --> 00:38:35.480 of the 00:38:35.480 --> 00:38:35.780 Lord, 00:38:36.420 --> 00:38:36.599 you know, 00:38:36.599 --> 00:38:37.099 to invest 00:38:37.099 --> 00:38:37.539 our time 00:38:37.539 --> 00:38:38.400 seeking him 00:38:38.400 --> 00:38:38.840 through his 00:38:38.840 --> 00:38:39.920 word and 00:38:39.920 --> 00:38:41.159 spending time 00:38:41.159 --> 00:38:41.720 in prayer. 00:38:42.260 --> 00:38:42.440 You know, 00:38:42.460 --> 00:38:42.760 we need to 00:38:42.760 --> 00:38:43.139 be in the 00:38:43.139 --> 00:38:43.920 right place. 00:38:44.079 --> 00:38:44.280 We need to 00:38:44.280 --> 00:38:44.460 be, 00:38:44.659 --> 00:38:45.119 let's speak 00:38:45.119 --> 00:38:45.380 of being 00:38:45.380 --> 00:38:46.099 faithful in 00:38:46.099 --> 00:38:46.760 our homes 00:38:46.760 --> 00:38:47.900 and serving 00:38:47.900 --> 00:38:48.400 the Lord 00:38:48.400 --> 00:38:48.760 and being 00:38:48.760 --> 00:38:49.280 in church, 00:38:49.380 --> 00:38:49.700 being where 00:38:49.700 --> 00:38:50.059 we ought 00:38:50.059 --> 00:38:50.440 to be. 00:38:50.440 --> 00:38:52.360 You know, 00:38:53.519 --> 00:38:54.099 do we need 00:38:54.099 --> 00:38:54.440 to seek 00:38:54.440 --> 00:38:54.940 fellowship 00:38:54.940 --> 00:38:55.679 with people 00:38:55.679 --> 00:38:56.059 who are 00:38:56.059 --> 00:38:56.740 already close 00:38:56.740 --> 00:38:57.079 to the 00:38:57.079 --> 00:38:57.360 Lord? 00:38:57.900 --> 00:38:58.360 We need 00:38:58.360 --> 00:38:58.860 to patiently 00:38:58.860 --> 00:38:59.619 trust his 00:38:59.619 --> 00:39:00.280 plan and 00:39:00.280 --> 00:39:00.880 his timing, 00:39:00.880 --> 00:39:02.039 and we need 00:39:02.039 --> 00:39:02.740 to be prepared 00:39:02.740 --> 00:39:04.280 ourselves in 00:39:04.280 --> 00:39:05.119 the ways that 00:39:05.119 --> 00:39:05.820 we will prepare 00:39:05.820 --> 00:39:07.119 to give at 00:39:07.119 --> 00:39:07.960 the right time. 00:39:08.280 --> 00:39:08.900 Our heart 00:39:08.900 --> 00:39:09.579 will be prepared 00:39:09.579 --> 00:39:10.340 to give as 00:39:10.340 --> 00:39:11.200 this boy did 00:39:11.200 --> 00:39:11.740 willingly, 00:39:12.360 --> 00:39:12.679 wholly, 00:39:13.119 --> 00:39:13.720 and wisely 00:39:13.720 --> 00:39:14.840 for the 00:39:14.840 --> 00:39:15.119 Lord. 00:39:16.119 --> 00:39:16.619 You know, 00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:17.099 this morning 00:39:17.099 --> 00:39:17.760 it's a good 00:39:17.760 --> 00:39:18.519 time to ask 00:39:18.519 --> 00:39:19.360 ourselves as we 00:39:19.360 --> 00:39:19.840 enter into a 00:39:19.840 --> 00:39:20.420 new year, 00:39:20.440 --> 00:39:22.900 are you 00:39:22.900 --> 00:39:23.500 withholding 00:39:23.500 --> 00:39:24.059 something of 00:39:24.059 --> 00:39:24.519 your life 00:39:24.519 --> 00:39:25.059 from God? 00:39:25.240 --> 00:39:25.579 Are you 00:39:25.579 --> 00:39:26.019 willing to 00:39:26.019 --> 00:39:26.619 trust that 00:39:26.619 --> 00:39:27.039 he could do 00:39:27.039 --> 00:39:27.639 more with 00:39:27.639 --> 00:39:28.000 it than 00:39:28.000 --> 00:39:28.460 you could? 00:39:28.659 --> 00:39:28.840 You know, 00:39:28.860 --> 00:39:29.179 we need to 00:39:29.179 --> 00:39:29.539 consider, 00:39:29.700 --> 00:39:29.920 will we 00:39:29.920 --> 00:39:30.539 ask God 00:39:30.539 --> 00:39:30.940 to take 00:39:30.940 --> 00:39:31.360 what little 00:39:31.360 --> 00:39:32.039 we have 00:39:32.039 --> 00:39:34.460 and do 00:39:34.460 --> 00:39:34.700 something 00:39:34.700 --> 00:39:35.000 big? 00:39:36.340 --> 00:39:36.880 So I 00:39:36.880 --> 00:39:37.420 believe God 00:39:37.420 --> 00:39:37.840 can take 00:39:37.840 --> 00:39:38.679 little things 00:39:38.679 --> 00:39:40.460 that we're 00:39:40.460 --> 00:39:40.960 willing to 00:39:40.960 --> 00:39:42.059 give and 00:39:42.059 --> 00:39:42.500 do big 00:39:42.500 --> 00:39:43.940 things that 00:39:43.940 --> 00:39:44.380 not only 00:39:44.380 --> 00:39:45.320 impact us, 00:39:46.059 --> 00:39:47.200 but impact 00:39:47.200 --> 00:39:47.960 thousands of 00:39:47.960 --> 00:39:48.280 others. 00:39:48.480 --> 00:39:48.880 This little 00:39:48.880 --> 00:39:49.320 boy with 00:39:49.320 --> 00:39:49.960 no name 00:39:49.960 --> 00:39:52.660 brings forth 00:39:52.660 --> 00:39:53.120 that very 00:39:53.120 --> 00:39:53.600 principle. 00:39:55.600 --> 00:39:56.200 Something to 00:39:56.200 --> 00:39:56.980 consider as we 00:39:56.980 --> 00:39:58.720 enter a new 00:39:58.720 --> 00:39:59.000 year. 00:39:59.200 --> 00:39:59.460 Is there 00:39:59.460 --> 00:39:59.900 something you're 00:39:59.900 --> 00:40:00.539 holding back 00:40:00.539 --> 00:40:01.180 from God 00:40:01.180 --> 00:40:01.900 that you need 00:40:01.900 --> 00:40:02.340 to give? 00:40:03.700 --> 00:40:04.380 Turn over to 00:40:04.380 --> 00:40:06.340 him in your 00:40:06.340 --> 00:40:06.640 life. 00:40:07.920 --> 00:40:08.539 Let's pray. 00:40:08.620 --> 00:40:08.780 Heavenly 00:40:08.780 --> 00:40:09.120 Father, 00:40:09.220 --> 00:40:09.400 as we 00:40:09.400 --> 00:40:09.620 just 00:40:09.620 --> 00:40:10.500 humbly 00:40:10.500 --> 00:40:11.019 come before 00:40:11.019 --> 00:40:11.340 you this 00:40:11.340 --> 00:40:11.580 morning. 00:40:11.580 --> 00:40:11.780 Amen. 00:40:11.780 --> 00:40:12.080 Amen. 00:40:12.080 --> 00:40:12.080 00:40:12.080 --> 00:40:12.080 00:40:12.080 --> 00:40:12.080 00:40:12.080 --> 00:40:12.080 00:40:12.080 --> 00:40:12.080 00:40:12.080 --> 00:40:12.080 00:40:12.080 --> 00:40:12.080 00:40:12.080 --> 00:40:12.080 00:40:12.080 --> 00:40:12.080 00:40:12.080 --> 00:40:12.080