WEBVTT 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:03.339 Hello, it is good to be with you, virtually anyway. 00:00:04.179 --> 00:00:07.360 For those of you who do not know me, my name is Adam Wingrove, 00:00:07.879 --> 00:00:13.259 and I'll be talking today, carrying on the sermon series based on the Generosity Project, 00:00:13.900 --> 00:00:16.920 with today's theme looking at the inward curve of the heart, 00:00:18.140 --> 00:00:23.519 focusing on the Bible passage in Deuteronomy, chapter 8, verses 11 to 20. 00:00:25.400 --> 00:00:28.300 Let's have a quick dive into the background of Deuteronomy. 00:00:28.300 --> 00:00:33.439 The name Deuteronomy comes from the Greek translation, Deuteros Nomos, 00:00:33.880 --> 00:00:37.320 which misunderstands the phrase copy of the law for the second law. 00:00:39.240 --> 00:00:45.260 Deuteronomy was written to appear as a reminder and reinforcement of Leviticus and Numbers. 00:00:46.480 --> 00:00:51.120 However, its language is less complicated and regulated than the preceding books. 00:00:52.939 --> 00:00:57.939 In verses 11 to 13, now the Israelites have found the promised land. 00:00:58.299 --> 00:01:00.179 And are now well established. 00:01:01.159 --> 00:01:04.379 Moses brings a reminder not to forget the Lord in a time of plenty. 00:01:05.179 --> 00:01:09.539 He was concerned that the Israelites would exalt themselves and not Yahweh, 00:01:10.819 --> 00:01:13.819 especially as they have everything they ever needed. 00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:17.039 Moses would do this for two reasons. 00:01:17.040 --> 00:01:20.980 The first being that Yahweh brought them out of captivity, 00:01:22.300 --> 00:01:26.719 called them by name and delivered them safely into the promised land. 00:01:29.060 --> 00:01:36.440 Secondly, the Israel culture submits their obedience to Yahweh to receive his blessing and remain in covenant with him. 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:41.320 They do this through tithing, strict worship and annual feasts. 00:01:41.319 --> 00:01:51.419 In verses 15 to 16, Moses continues to remind the Israelites that they have been delivered from captivity. 00:01:52.839 --> 00:01:56.659 Yahweh provided food in the form of manna and water from a rock. 00:01:56.659 --> 00:02:01.159 It is easy to assume that they should remember. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:07.719 However, the audience he was addressing is actually two to three generations later and was not actually present. 00:02:08.759 --> 00:02:11.359 Which is why he was giving them this reminder. 00:02:12.359 --> 00:02:13.479 To change their ways. 00:02:13.479 --> 00:02:19.039 It is easy to forget what God has done for us. 00:02:20.060 --> 00:02:21.259 For you, for me. 00:02:21.979 --> 00:02:24.939 Our families, friends and communities. 00:02:27.939 --> 00:02:34.079 Can you remember when God has brought you out of alone moment and delivered you into safety and provision? 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:40.180 As a child from a non-Christian family, we lived in a big house. 00:02:40.660 --> 00:02:41.300 We had a piano. 00:02:41.880 --> 00:02:43.200 We had a family horse. 00:02:43.760 --> 00:02:45.900 We had all the latest gadgets and gizmos. 00:02:47.040 --> 00:02:49.640 My mum and dad had a divorce. 00:02:50.600 --> 00:02:51.439 We sold everything. 00:02:53.320 --> 00:02:56.480 I remember one particular time, due to the circumstances, 00:02:57.180 --> 00:03:00.160 we lived on food parcels from a local food bank. 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:04.979 We went from having everything to nothing. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:09.340 One of my darkest moments, God was planting the seed. 00:03:09.819 --> 00:03:16.280 And little did I know that the church who was feeding us was the ones in years to come I recall home. 00:03:18.259 --> 00:03:24.159 In verses 17 to 18, Moses gives caution not to get carried away with ourselves. 00:03:24.819 --> 00:03:26.900 And forgetting where our provision comes from. 00:03:26.900 --> 00:03:32.620 As the Israelites' provision and wealth had grown over the years, 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:37.379 it is easy to slip into the thinking pattern that our provision is from salaries. 00:03:39.219 --> 00:03:43.439 And if I'm successful, that makes me a self-made person. 00:03:44.580 --> 00:03:46.659 Becoming proud can slip in easily. 00:03:48.540 --> 00:03:53.259 Moses reminds us that it is God who has provided for us. 00:03:53.259 --> 00:03:56.120 It is God who gives us strength to be successful. 00:03:56.900 --> 00:04:01.340 In times of plenty, our hearts turn inwards. 00:04:01.860 --> 00:04:04.420 And we often take credit for our own prosperity. 00:04:05.060 --> 00:04:10.040 And become proud that our hard work and cleverness made us rich. 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:18.699 It is easy to get so busy trying to make it being rich that we actually push God right out of our lives. 00:04:19.620 --> 00:04:21.019 And we have no time for him. 00:04:21.019 --> 00:04:30.159 In verses 19 to 20, if we forget the Lord and bow down to other gods, destruction will certainly come. 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:35.339 Naturally, we are not generous nor thankful. 00:04:35.339 --> 00:04:41.560 We get caught up in the world greediness with materialistic thinking and obsession. 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:45.139 When I was working in recruitment. 00:04:46.519 --> 00:04:48.019 I was earning good money. 00:04:49.100 --> 00:04:57.740 At one lunchtime, I went out to treat myself and walk past a homeless person who asked for some money. 00:04:57.740 --> 00:05:01.980 I did not give him anything because I don't carry change on me. 00:05:04.519 --> 00:05:07.740 However, I could have brought him a sandwich. 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:13.400 Yet because of my busyness and what I wanted to do, I did not stop and help. 00:05:13.399 --> 00:05:24.179 God reminded me that it was him who provided me with the food box from the church when I was younger. 00:05:26.099 --> 00:05:28.620 It was him who provided me with this money. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:34.659 Walking away without helping someone that stayed with me, I regret doing that. 00:05:37.179 --> 00:05:41.419 Pride and self-sufficiency are deeply rooted in us. 00:05:41.420 --> 00:05:50.240 We must remember that our provision comes from God and give thanks to him for that provision. 00:05:52.300 --> 00:05:54.439 God calls us to be generous. 00:05:55.060 --> 00:06:06.220 We can do this by giving our time, knowledge, caring, sharing our possessions and simply loving people. 00:06:06.220 --> 00:06:06.720 God bless you. 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:07.260 God bless you. 00:06:07.260 --> 00:06:07.780 God bless you. 00:06:07.780 --> 00:06:08.400 God bless you. 00:06:08.400 --> 00:06:08.880 God bless you. 00:06:08.880 --> 00:06:10.600 God bless you. 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:12.620 Mother Teresa once said, 00:06:13.500 --> 00:06:18.880 May God break our heart so completely that the whole world falls in. 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:37.379 And so I pray that our hearts should turn away from inward looking to have the heart looking outwards with overflowing generous love, which our world so desperately needs right now. 00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:42.279 I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.