Who's The Boss - Part 2 - Offerings
by Kevin Allen
August 23, 2026 · Centerpointe Apostolic Church (Murfreesboro, TN)
Kind: sermon
Scripture: Matthew 6:24, Malachi 3:6-11, Numbers 18:8, Proverbs 3, Psalms 96:8, Exodus 25:2-8, Ezra 1:2-4, Matthew 6, Acts 20:35, Psalms 22:20-21, Psalms 139, 1 Chronicles 29:9, Proverbs 19:17, Psalms 37:25-26, Mark 12:41-43, Luke 6

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/kevin-allen--who-s-the-boss-part-2-offerings
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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Today, today we're going to be going on part two of who's the boss. We started last week talking about the importance of establishing not only dominion, but an understanding of who it is that owns our money. Now, I know when I say money immediately gets tight in the room. I'm here to tell you just kind of shake it off. It's okay. It's all right. They're not trying to to to throw a wet blanket on what God wants to do because God had a lot to say about money. In fact, if you break it down, the major the biggest subject that's talked about inside of scriptures, even in the New Testament, is is involving money.

In fact, Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, "No one can serve two masters, for he either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon," which mammon is just an old way of saying money. So last Sunday we talked about tithing and dominion and we talked about how that is still something that God desires for you and I to have an understanding of in our life and that we are to contribute through our tithes to the house of God. Now, some people want to argue with that. And if you choose to get online and it's your choice, you can get on there and you'll have a lot of people who try to go with you through some of the scriptures to tell you how in the New Testament church that tithing is no longer required and that that that that Jesus took care of that at Calvary that it abolished the law.

To which that statement is true. It did abolish the law. But it did not take away something that predated the law, which was tithing. Tithing was not something that was given to Moses. It was something that was set in order by Abraham before that in the order of Melzdc. It is a spiritual matter for us to have dominion. And I'm not going to repreach last Sunday's sermon, but if you were not here, I would encourage you to go back to our website and look at last Sunday's message because I promise you, one of the most spiritually powerful things that you can do is to be a tither.

>> Amen. >> To take dominion over filthy luger. >> Sounds like something you need to get a shot for. It's money that has not been sanctified yet. So I talked about that last week. But I want to go to the word of God today. I want to talk about what it talks about when it comes to concerning you and I when it is involving our offerings. Malachi chapter 3 verse number six. This is the last book of the Old Testament before the New Testament begins. The prophet says this in verse number six in chapter 3. For I am the Lord. I do not change. I don't know about you, but I'm happy about that.

Therefore, you are not consumed, oh sons of Jacob. Yet from the days of your fathers, you have gone away from my ordinances and have not kept them. Listen to what God says. Return to me and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you said, "In what way shall we return?" Verse eight, "Will a man rob God? Yeah, you have robbed me." But you say, "In what way have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings? You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in my house.

And try me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out on you such a blessing that there will not be room for enough to receive it. And I will rebuke, listen what he's going to do. I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit in your field, says the Lord of hosts. On this subject of tithe and offering, we often make the mistake regardless of the church about emphasizing the tithing and not talking about the offering.

But if you notice what what the Lord said, he said, 'W will a man rob God? And then he asked the question,"Well, how have we robbed you?" And he says, "We've robbed you in tithe and offerings." So they're tied together. It's not just tithing, but there's something about the offering that is there. Now, I want you to know the offerings are to be given according to the measure in which God has blessed you individually. I'm going to do a little teaching today to sort of unpack this so that we have our minds around it. Because sometimes we think, well, tithing is easy. I get that.

That's a tenth. That's 10%. So, it's easy for me to figure out for every $100 I give, the Lord's asking me to give 10 back to him. Leaves me $90 for me to steward, as I talked about last Sunday, for me to steward correctly according to how his spirit leads me. And it's sanctified because I gave on the front side. Now, next week, next Sunday, I'm going to be talking about the the principle of first fruits. And it's a powerful thing for you to have in your life. But I want you to know when you do give that, God sanctifies the 90. Now, here's the deal.

when it comes to offerings. Now, some some churches and some pastors teach this way, and I'm not going to say they're wrong. I'm just going to say there's no Bible for it. So, you do with that whatever you want. That was meant to be funny. You guys still there? Everybody okay? Some churches say that, you know, you're supposed to give 10% of your tithes and you're also supposed to give an X number of percent offerings. Now, I don't know where they get that. I've I've spent the majority of my adult life studying scriptures and I have nowhere have I found a scripture that mandates that.

We do have a mandate and a requirement for you to give offerings. But everything the scripture talks about and hopefully I do my job today to explain this through you both scripture and examples of how that you're you're you should have a desire to give back to God because of how good he has been to you. >> And here's what I know quite often times people when they realize what God is asking of them in evaluating his mercy and his grace and his love and his abundance that he gives to you as it says that I will rebuke the devourer for you. I'll make sure your barns are full.

That when you have an understanding of that, often times your desire to give back in offerings exceeds the tithe. >> That's just part of the process. Because when you realize, God, you've been good to me. >> Everything I have has come from you. All the abilities and talents I have to earn an income and to make a wage. Lord, you gave those to me. You gave me the ability to do that. You gave me the strength to do that, Lord. That has come from you. And when I realize how good you have been, I want to give back to you. Now, I'm going to dive in that a little bit more, but I want to talk about kind of the precedent that has been set in scriptures.

Numbers chapter 18, number verse number eight, I'm reading from the English Standard Version. It says, "The Lord spoke to Aaron, behold, I've given you charge of the contributions made to me and the consecrated things of the people of Israel. I have given them to you as a portion and to your sons as a perpetual due." Now, here's here's what I want to do for just a little bit because money is a sensitive subject. And if I'm being transparent with you, oftent times there's examples that make the headlines about someone who has misappropriated church funds. Now, because of that, I wanted to make sure that you guys understand that we like to be transparent here at Centerpoint.

We have an annual business meeting where we talk about the finances and we have a church board that's set up who oversees things. But I want you to also know that scripture has set things up for a reason that the position of pastor, which is is the office I currently hold. Now, I'm just a man. My name is Kevin Allen. In fact, my name is Kevin Howard Allen, named after my grandfather. My social security number is 408. I'm just kidding. I want to be transparent with you because I know that there's been some situations that have gotten a real bad rap. And when we talk about money at churches, sometimes they look and see what goes on.

They're like, "Well, I just don't know." I don't want that to ever be a question in this church. We're transparent with money because I want to be the best steward that I can in the office that I hold. I have the mandate there in Numbers chapter 18 where we see the Lord spoke to Aaron and said, "Behold, I given you charges of contributions." God placed on Aaron the responsibility of overseeing the money by the reason of the anointing that rested on him because of the position that he held. The pastor has that same anointing and responsibility. I'm being held accountable to God. And I want to tell you right now, I take that very serious.

Take it very, very serious. This church and the staff at this church holds the assets in in in the highest regard. In fact, the church board oversees these things on purpose. I don't want there to ever be a day that you give to this church that you have a question. I wonder what they're doing with the money. Because if that ever happens, then you're hesitant to give. Now, I don't there ever be a moment that God moves on you and you have a hesitation because you're worried about us misappropriating the funds. Does this make sense? We have a church board here for a reason. They hold us all to accountability because we believe in having an environment of accountability.

God's house deserves the best, but it requires someone to be prudent and be a good steward of what he's entrusted to us because God has called us to do this. He's holding the pastor responsible for the entire business and transactions in the church because I know one day I got to stand before him and give an answer. Did you do with what I gave you the way you were supposed to do with it? And I want to be able to stand before him in my hands up and say, God, I did my very best to do everything I was supposed to do with what you entrusted to me.

I take it very serious. Now, having said all that, Proverbs chapter 3 says, "Honor the Lord with thy substance." Everybody say, "Substance." >> And with the first fruits of all thine increase, so that thy barns will be filled with what? >> And then press shall be burst out with new wine. To honor or give God glory is to obey the commands that he gives us. In this verse, honoring God is through offerings that are given and paying ti. That's the substance. Is everybody say substance again? That's the part of our increase that remains after the tithes have been paid. It's from the substance that offerings of various descriptions are given.

Substance belongs to the individual to use as they see fit according to how God leads them. Well, everybody okay? Everybody doing good so far. If one will be faithful in paying their tithes and generous and giving their offerings, God has promised that their barns will be full of plenty. I don't know about you, but that makes me happy. I said this last or I keep saying last Sunday, last Sunday's brother shocked. Two Sundays ago, I I admitted this. My wife will give an amen that I like it when the pantry is full, don't it, babe? Because it gets like half full and I get nervous.

I don't know about you, but I like to know there's something to eat. I may not even want to eat. I just want to know if that ever hits me that I do want something to eat, there's something there for me to eat. Anybody else feel that way? But I read this verse and it says that if I'm going to be a good steward with the substance, which what's what is left over after the tithe, that he's going to make sure my barn is full and that I have plenty. Now, what has been mistaught in modern Christianity is this prosperity doctrine stuff. And that is a lie from the pit of hell.

>> I'm not asking you to sew a seed so that God will bless you. That's right. >> None of those no seed sowing. That's not what he talked about in the scriptures. It said that you out of the abundance and out of your willfulness of doing it. We're going to get into some more scripture talking about having a willful heart because your desire after realizing how God good how good God has been to you, you come back and say, "God, because of the blessings you have bestowed on me, I have a desire to give back towards your kingdom." >> So because of that, the Lord partners with us.

I don't know about you, but the best partnership you can ever be in is the one with God. I want to partner with him. Moses was commissioned by God to build a sanctuary. And because of that, that caused there to be a need for materials. Psalms 96:8 says, "Give unto the Lord the glory, do his name, bring an offering and come into his courts." Before he could begin building the tabernacle, Moses had to ask the people for offerings of all the things they could build the sanctuary. You ever wondered why those of you who have studied out scriptures that when they were leaving Egypt that the Lord asked them to go borrow from their Egyptian neighbors?

You ever wonder why? I mean, let's be honest. If you're going out into the desert, think about this logically with me for a minute. If you're going out into a trip into the desert and you got to carry everything that you have with you, why would you want to burden yourself down with gold bars and silver? Have you ever picked up a gold bar? Yeah. It's not a light thing. Now about you. When I'm going into the desert, I don't want heavy things that I have to tote. But the Lord commanded them. Now, here's what we think is what God's wanting to bless me. I'm going to get down.

I purposely come off the stage to get down in the row where you're at. I'm I'm coming down your road to plow. We often times think that God bestows blessings on us for us to consume oursel. It would have been very easy as they left because it says the Egyptians gave them freely. Now think about this. If you went over to your neighbor's house and said, "You know what? I really like that china you got there. Can I have the silver?" And they said, "Yeah, I'm not doing anything with it. It just collects dust. Here you go. You can have it." Do you think that would be the normal response?

But see, God was ordaining something. He was saying, "Look, I don't need you to understand. I just need you to be obedient." Woo. There's a sermon right there. >> Yeah. You don't always have to understand to be obedient >> because you don't know what's coming down the road. >> So God by human standpoint is blessing them with material wealth to go walk around a desert. This doesn't make logical sense. I would have probably one of those because this is how God and I talk. Maybe you talk to God differently, but I often ask God, I don't understand why God that seems like that's a heavy burden.

Why would I have to pick up silver? I don't want I'm going to the de What am I going to do with it out here? We're not going to have fine dining. What am I going to do with a gold bar in the middle of sand? But there was a plan. The the material wealth was not for them. It was because he knew, I'm going to get you out here and I want you to build me a house. How are we going to build your house? Well, I gave you everything I need. Do you see the connection here? See, I wonder how many times you and I have missed a wonderful opportunity because we had a windfall come our way.

We got a big bonus or we got blessed with something of material value and we thought to ourselves, our very first reaction was, "Oh, how wonderfully good God is that God has given me this to consume for myself." And we've never stopped and asked the question, "God, is there something you want me to do with this? God, you just gave me a $15,000 bonus. Is this $15,000 bonus mean for me to be to have that duck blind? >> Is this Is this Is this bonus meant for us to expand the kitchen? Y'all quiet right now. Leave me alone. Did you ever ask God when it came your way, God, is this meant for me or is this meant for me to steward for you?

See, it's a different way of thinking. It's like, well, I pay my tithe. I'm glad you pay your ti, right? That's minimum requirement. You shouldn't pat yourself on the back because you pay your tithe. God says, I gave it a hundred to you. Like, I gave you the ability to earn the money. I gave you the I gave you the health. I gave you the intellect. I gave you the education. I gave you these things. And all I'm asking back is I'm asking for you to give me the 10 back because I promise you, you can live better on 90 than you can on 10.

But the offering side is a whole different ballgame. It's a way different. And I'm not saying you have to live like a pawper. I don't believe in that at all. I believe God loves to bless his kids. He loves to have barns full of plenty. But what he really loves to do, and I'm hoping you can get this concept of, is he loves to use you and I as a conduit of his love and mercy. >> And so many times you and I, because we never ask the question, we limit what God can do. Not because God's limited, but because we are. Because we think, well, I can just buy a fourth car or I can get this.

Let's be honest with ourselves. A lot of us, I got both my hands and one foot in the air, have more things than we need. And this isn't me preaching a minimalist doctrine. I rebuke that in Jesus name, too. I like my things. But I am saying I know from personal uh experience that there have been times in my life when God has allowed me to be a conduit. It was never meant for me. He just let me be the hands and the feet >> because we were being willing to be open. Chasse and I talked about it. Things have come our way and we just passed it on.

And I'm here to tell you we got way more blessing by passing on than we did hanging on to it oursel. >> Hopefully I'll make you a believer in just a minute. God put all these things to use when when Moses asked him to bring an offering. Now, I'm going to take you to Exodus chapter 25. I want you to listen to this. Listen to the words here. Speak to the children of Israel that they will bring me an offering from everyone who gives it. How? >> That was weak. How' they give it? >> With his heart. You shall take my offering. Whose offering was it?

>> It's a big M there. Who's that? >> God. Take my offering. And this is the offering which you shall take from them. Gold, silver, and bronze purple, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goat's hair, ramkin dyed red, badger skin, acacia wood, oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense, onx stones, and stones to be set on the ephod and the breastplate. Look verse number eight. And let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. How was Moses to acquire these things? What was the qualifications? A willing heart. Now, I've heard people say before, you know, God wants you to to be a cheerful giver, but he'll take it from a tight wad.

I'm here to tell you, he doesn't want it from a tight wad. He doesn't want it from a stingy person. He wants you to have a willing heart. >> Have you ever asked somebody for money and they give it to you begrudgingly? >> Think with me for just a minute. You go to ask, "Do you have a need?" Hey, you have five bucks I can have. And they're like, well, I guess. Well, I mean, I don't know. I don't want your $5 now. I mean, I thought maybe you would be happy to help me out, but it seems obvious to you that that $5 is important to you.

How do you think God feels when you come in begrudgingly? >> I'm here to mess with you today. That's my goal. >> I'm not even trying to hide it. I'm here to to to counteract the thought that you flesh has. Your flesh says no. Every time when there's an offering opportunity, for the majority of the people, immediately our first reaction is no, no, no. I feel like I may need that. And you know what that is? And I feel the Holy Ghost moving right now because I'm I'm way out of my notes, but I'm following the spirit and where he's leading me right now. Your flesh will tell you that you're going to need that.

Do you know what that is? That is your flesh trying to be God. >> That's why Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters because he's going to love the one and hate the other." No. God. No man can serve God. And money, money brings with it this sense of security. Well, this sense of I'm in control. This s this sense of self-sufficiency that always fights against God. It becomes an idol. That is the American way to be a self-made man or self-made woman. Why? So I can be dependent on myself and nobody else has to take care of me. I can take care of myself.

Idol. Idol. Idol. >> Now, I'm not believing that we're not supposed to work. I covered that real well on the book of Ruth we were talking about this past Wednesday night. I covered that you you you need to work >> you don't need the government to take care of you. Can I say that there there is no welfare system in the scriptures? >> Now again I I want to say that very kindly and would love you. I know there are circumstances that are out there and I'm glad that we're able to assist but you should if you have the ability to work you should be working.

I feel good saying that whether you like it or not. >> But God, his desire is for you and I to be dependent on him. >> Now, sometimes we do real good when it comes to I need a physical touch in my body to trust God, >> but something about getting into my wallet >> makes me brustle up a little bit. Now, if you've been around this church any length of time, you know this. I It is a rare rare rare thing that I when I talk about money and I've I've been transparent about that and told you that God has convicted me and has led me to this understanding that it is not about me.

That's a good thing to have have knowledge about it. It's not about you. Look at your neighbor and say, "It's not about you." >> And then look back at them and say this, "It's not about me either. >> It's always about him." Now, the Lord convicted me because he said, "You're robbing my people of principles that are in the scripture because you refuse to do it because you're uncomfortable." And that was truth. I don't talk about this a lot. Shame on me. Because I'm not helping you because the principle is true. that when you can settle the who's the boss question, who is lord of all of your life, not just the parts you're comfortable with, but also the parts you're not so comfortable with.

Usually that's finances. For most people, it's money. Later on, Ezra says this in Ezra chapter 1 verse number two. Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia, all the kings of the earth of the Lord God of heaven has given to me and has commanded me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judea, who is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judea, to build a house of the Lord God of Israel. He is God which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the free will offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.

Did you notice that last part of that verse right there? It said what? Put his four up there. Did you shake the T right there? What does it say? Besides >> the free will offering. He's asking for something besides what you're willing to give. The offering that we give at the church is an amount that you and I choose. Now, here's what happens, right? There'll be in need. Let's just let's just let's just be honest in the house of God. Can we be honest today? It's a great place to be honest in church. You should be honest everywhere. But if you really are ever going to be honest, here's a good place to be honest.

Most of us have this number. I don't know what your number is, but we have a number and we're good giving up to that number. And what happens is there'll be a special opportunity to give. We'll see something that's there. Pastor will get up in the pulpit and say, "There's a need." And then what we think about is we think about that number. We think, "Well, I've already given to this fund and that fund. So, if I'll adjust over here, then I can give to this special need." But if you notice up there, it said besides the frugal offering, because there's going to be situations that happen in life, there's going to be circumstances that pop up where there's going to be an opportunity for you to give.

And it's not for you to adjust the number that's there. It's for you to think, how else can I give? Because it's not sacrificial if it's the same number. You're just allocating in different ways. If you got a $100 that you give every year, you're going to $100 and you're up to you're up to $90. Someone says, "Hey, I got a $20 need." is like, "I got 10." Well, it didn't cost you anything. You were already going to give that 10 anyway. Don't act like you're special. You didn't go out of your way. Is this is this sinking in? >> See, this is our this is our this is our opportunity to prove that he is lord of our life as his spirit moves.

That's why it's not a set percentage because if it's a set number, here's what we do is we go ahead. This is how we are. We like what's the worst case scenario? Worst case is 100 bucks. Okay, then I'm just going to have my mind wrapped around that all I'm always going to have to give a hundred bucks. Well, then I get used to it. Then it's not a sacrifice because I just learned to be self-sufficient up to there. And then sometimes God says, "Well, there's also this." Now, some of you are very uncomfortable like, "Pastor, what does that mean? It's open-ended. Like, how am I ever going to know how?" Like, my wife loves to budget.

She has an app on her phone and it makes her so happy to budget and move stuff around. And I'm so thankful that she does that because she she keeps us running. But for you budget folks, you're like, "Well, that makes me uncomfortable that it's open-ended." Where's your trust? >> Why is it that we trust God in all these other categories when it comes to finances? We're saying to God, "God, I just don't know if you're able to take care of if I was to overspend." Let me ask a question. Do you think there's a circumstance that you're ever going to be in where you've given to God and God's going to be like, "Oh, you gave too much.

I wasn't expecting you to do that. Now I I I probably have to take care of you now." It's kind of laughable, isn't it? But but that's the mindset >> is we get nervous. We get nervous when we're like, "God, I I whatever you whatever you say to me, God, that's what I'll do." We we're hesitant. We we we may mumble those words, but inside we're like, we put an asterk sign beside it. I'll give whatever you want me to give until I think it's too much. So, let me ask you, when's the last time you said this to God? God, I need a blessing in my life.

Anybody ever done that before? Send a trick question. There's only three of us. Three of us in the whole place. Now, I'm looking at you to raise your hand. When's the last time you prayed, "God, I need a blessing in my life." Yeah, we have. When's the last time you said this, "Lord, I need $200,000." You're like, "Well, pastor, we're going to get specific. I got I got a list right here in my pocket." Let me just let me just mess with you a little bit. Let me just cause you to think. I believe in being a good steward. And I believe that God gives us talents and abilities and he's able to open doors that we can't pro we can't even process what he wants to do.

So let me let me challenge you. You you you men and women here of centerpoint. Now there we all have a number in our head of what it takes to be comfortable. What it's always interesting what that number is. Everybody has a number. Like I remember when I graduated college way back when Noah docked the boat. I remember saying to myself, Jason, I've talked about this before. I remember getting out and I thought if if we if we could if we had if I made $50,000 a year just I remember think I'd be on easy street. I mean 50k a year you couldn't tell me nothing.

CC's on me. Some of y'all know. Some of y'all know CC's on me. I got you. Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Thank God he didn't stick me at that number. So, let me ask you, what's your number? What's your number? I'm being serious right now. What's your number? Put it in your head. What's your number? What's your number that you need? And then that you got that number, then why don't you do this, God? If you'll give me X, every dime above X, I give back to you. Every dime, every dime, whatever your number is, every dime above that, every 100% of it, I'll give back to you.

Can you do that? Can you see that's that's settling some stuff in your mind. It's a different way of thinking. So, we we come into this and we don't want to control the narrative, don't we? I I'll just speak of me. I like controlling the narrative. I can be a bit of a control freak. That's why usually if you and I are going out to eat, I'm going to drive because I already know you're a bad driver. Yeah, I already know that. But God has this thing. He likes to be God and he's really good at it. And here's the thing. He doesn't really take suggestions on my end on what I think's right and wrong.

He kind of has it already made up in his mind what he wants to do. So here's the deal. I do believe it's possible for you to say, "God, if you'll let me have X, I can take care of my family. I can live comfortably. I'm going to give my tithe. I'm going to give my offering. But Lord, if you was to bless my business, if you was to bless my job, if you was to bless my whatever, bless my Etsy store, my Tik Tok page, whatever. And if it takes off and every dime above it, I will give back. 100% I'll give back to you." So, you already declared what you wanted.

Are you able to handle him being using you as a conduit? Because what if what if what if your number was $200,000? God, if you give me $200,000 a year, I I life is good. I can handle this. And all of a sudden, he gives you $500,000. Can you give the $300,000 away? Can you do it? Now, here's my question. He's already blessing you with something. Are you able to give any of that away? And if the answer is no, then how can he possibly trust you to give the extra? >> If your income is $20,000 a year and you can't give two, what makes you think God's going to have this understanding of I give you $200,000, you're going to give any of it away?

See, we we we again I made you tense. Everybody's tense right now. It's okay. I'm comfortable right now. I feel pretty good. >> It's changing your mind. I'm going to give you a truth. Whether you believe me or not, it's a truth. It's not yours anyway. >> It's not yours. You think it's yours, but it's not yours. You're meant to steward it. >> It belongs to him. and you will give an account. You and I, one day we're going to stand before him and we're got to give an account for what he entrusted to us. What is that account going to look like? Do you think that you got a leg to stand on before him and say, "Well, Lord, you know, I know I know what you you wanted me to do, but there was this there was this sale at Dillards, and Lord, it was it was a once in I mean, if I'd have missed it, I I would have I would have really regretted it." No.

No. So, here's what h I'm I'm gonna change gears. So, I want to talk about what happens when you become a giver. And I promise you, it'll change your life. We're living proof of this, my wife and I. If you if you open up and you become a giver, Matthew chapter 6, I got to set something up. Give me just a second. Okay, we ready? You guys ready? Everybody say, "Hang on." >> Matthew chapter 6. Therefore, when you do a terrible deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues. Assurely I say that they have their reward. But when you do a terrible deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

That charitable deed may be in secret, and your father who sees in secret will himself also reward you openly. Jesus was a funny guy in my mind. You can argue with me. I don't care. He was a funny guy. There's no way you read the parables and listen to what he was saying and you walk away with any other conclusion that he was funny because he said things that were so culturally controvers controversial that that you just had to laugh. You're like, man, like it's like when he would say and you're like, you can't say that, Jesus. You can't say that. That's offensive. Don't you know you hurt their feelings?

And I'm pretty sure he'd be like, "Yep, yep. Yep. I'm I'm aware. I'm I'm really aware Jesus gives this picture of of religious hypocrisy. Imagine going to church and during offering time, every time you go back to that back wall to give you back there, you're like, now some of you are like, I would like that, pastor. We want that, don't we? Don't act like you don't. There's a piece of you down inside. It's like, I'd like to have that trumpet bud. Jesus said they have their reward. See, sometimes we we we have this ability like we give and then we look for this opportunity during a conversation and when the right time pops up, you're like, "Oh, yeah.

Well, you know, they were kind of down their luck and my wife and I, we we we helped them out. We we were able to make sure that they had food on their table." You know what that's like? That's like this. Yeah, that's what we did. Got to be careful. Be careful because I'm talking about being a good giver, right? If you're just impressing somebody, then you got your reward. And here's what here's what I know. Here's what I know. Here's what I know. When that happens, it's addictive. The moment you start blowing that trumpet, you're going to keep blowing that trumpet. because you like the recognition and the pat on the back that you're someone who does these things, then you've got your reward.

God doesn't owe you anything because you got your reward. >> But do it in secret so that your father in heaven who sees in secret, then he can reward you openly. If there's going to be any trumpet blowing, let let him be the one >> blowing the trumpet. Now, I fig it's not, you know, we blow this trumpet because we like it. You know, I said this before. I like to do things at the house to make my wife happy. And then I would love to when I got done unloading the dishwasher. She just looked at Michael and said, "Take the trumpet away from him.

He doesn't control it. He says, "When you give, don't let your left hand know what your right hand's doing. Your right hand know what your left hand's doing." Now, I don't know about you, but I'm like, I don't even process that until I got to thinking about it one day. Now, if I was to ask you this question, this is a serious question. You're going to smile, but I'm bracing you. If I was to ask you right now, can you tell me how you tie your shoes? Some of you like, "Well, Pastor Kevin, I've reached that age that I have slip-ons." Guys, I'm not far behind.

They're looking more and more appealing all the time. But let me ask you this. How do you tie your shoes? You know, you're You would have to think, wouldn't you? You'd be like, "Well, I mean, think about what what does your right hand do and your left hand do when you're tying your shoe?" You don't know. It just You just do it right now. When you first learned to tie your shoe when you was a kid, you remember you had to think about it. And some of you have small kids that you're teaching to tie the shoe and you're watching them in the process and they're they're connecting the motions of their hands with instructions and they have to think about it.

But for most of us in the room, when's the last time you had to think about tying your shoe? Just don't. Now, I want you I want to challenge you today. I want you to go home and you think about the process of tying your shoe, but I want you to stop and whatever your right hand does, I want you to now make it your left hand. Your left hand's job is to do the right hand's part. and your right hand's part to do your left hand's part. Now, how many of you gonna be able to tie your shoe? You're like, "This is a wreck." Because they don't think about what they're doing.

Each one of them works independently, but they go they tie the shoe. What he's trying to say is let your giving be such that your right hand, your left hand, it's just a part of your nature. Just like tying your shoe, you can just tie your shoe. You don't have to think about it. It's just part of your nature. Jesus is saying when you give, it's just give it because it's the natural thing to do. You don't have to think about it. You don't have to open up like, "Well, all I got is a 20." like I can't you know you got change now I got you guys now because we don't pass the pan but I remember in the time in church we pass the pan you see people getting change they put their 20 in there and they got 30 out yeah we got you now it's on the wall locked on the box just just Give.

Just give. Here's what I know. There's never been one time I've given because God moved in my heart. Never one time that I've given and regretted it. >> It it there's been some times it hurt because what I felt like he wanted me to give was was was significant. But I've never regretted it. >> I've never regretted it. Just give. Just like let it be your nature to give. Let it be part of what you do that you're going to give. You're going to be a giver. Let your generosity be a habit is just like tying your shoes. You don't have to have a trumpet blow.

Here's what I know. If you know you note takers, I'm going to do my best to keep up. Have have a few points here. Point number one about living a generous life is is a blessed life to live. Luke pins these words in Luke and in Acts chap 20 verse number 35. I have shown you in every way by laboring like this that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus when he said is more blessed to give than receive. Now modern Christianity turns that into this religious cliche. But over the long haul, I promise you givers are happier than takers.

They are. I've gotten more blessings and meaning and gratitude and joy out of monies that I have given out and then monies that I have saved. So to me, the first thing that benefits you in your life is you're going to experience more of a blessing when you learn to become a giver in life. Is there anybody who's a witness to that in this room today? Just be a giver. God is good. Number two, there's a more of a relational connection that comes into your life. More of a relational connection that comes into your life. We live in a society that is increasingly financially rich, but relationally poor.

I'm going to say that again. >> We live in a society that is increasingly financially rich, but relationally poor. We don't have relationships. We don't. We may have a lot of friends on our social platforms, but we're as lonely as ever been. People who are generous with their time, generous with their money, end up entering into new relationships and connecting with people and care about people more than people that don't. If you're stingy with your time and your money, people know it. Don't be looking around pointing fingers. People know it. No one likes the Scrooge McDuck. No one does. If you're stingy, people know it.

If you're generous with your money and your time, people's hearts will go out to you. Number three, there's freedom when you give. When I focus on my little life and getting what I want, I become a slave to my desire. There's a real really interesting phrase that's used a couple of times in the Psalms. Psalms 22 and 20. Deliver me from the sword, my precious. From the power of the dog, save me from the lion's mouth and from the horns of the wild oxen. You have answered me. Did you catch that phrase there? My precious. That ring a bell? Maybe if I said it, my precious.

You're like, "My lord, Pastor Kevin is quoting Lord of the Rings from the pulpit today." Did you know that's talking about Gollum in Lord of the Rings, right? Did you know Gollum is actually a Hebrew word? Now, go look it up. Gollum. It's there in the Hebrew. It's in Psalms 139. It refers to an unformed body. That little word Gollum in Hebrew became a Middle Ages character or figure of Jewish folklore who lived as a grudge, resentful, and soulless slave. We must be careful not to desire and let our desires turn into obsession until they become an idol. Because when it becomes an idol, we become enslaved to it.

I don't care what it is, you become a slave to it. That's where I've asked the question many times. Are you possessed by your possessions? Have you valued your life only by the things that you have acquired or by the God you serve? How do you value your life? Right? American culture says that you're somebody if you live in this house and your kids attend this school or you drive this car or you're a part of this club. That's that's the value. And if you don't have those things, well then your life's just really nothing. Is that what you get when you read this? Is that is that what you think?

I'm not against these things. I'm just For thought, do you think Jesus would bring along to your country club? I don't know. Maybe he would. Do you think Jesus would drive a Bentley or Jesus would fly on a Gulf Stream? Now, there's some TV evangelists that say that. I have a hard time with that. I'm not knocking them. I'm just I I can't read that Bible and come away with that. >> That's not what I get. I don't think you have to be a pulper either, but I think it's being a good steward in every area of your life. Number four, you get joy. 1 Coronicles 29 and and nine, the people rejoiced over the offerings for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord.

And King David was filled with joy. I'll tell you how deeply God is wired for your generosity. Here's the deal. When you give, when you give with a willing heart, your body releases oxytocin, oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin. It's referred to oftentimes as the helper's high. But stingy people create cortisol, which is the stress hormone. I love it that even at the very emotional hormonal level of your body, God has already hardwired in how it affects when you give and when you don't. Think about that. Seems like there's a connection there we ought to buy into. Number five, it brings God's delight. Generosity experiences the delight of God.

Proverbs 19:17 NLT says, "If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord and he will repay you." People show up at the church a lot of times asking for help. It's it's just part of the church. It's what churches are known for. We talk to them. I I don't know how many times that I just gave money. Just gave money. You know, they they they told me they were going to get a sandwich. They may have got a beer. I don't know. Well, Pastor Kevin, did you mean you supported their alcoholism? I all I know is I had a 20 in my pocket and I gave it cuz I know the Bible says if I lend to the poor, it's like lending to the Lord and he's going to repay.

And I tell you what, I live a blessed life. I married two daughters this year. I'm broke right now, but I live a blessed life. So, where are you at? Where are you at in this? Number six, a blessing that goes to the next generation. Psalms 37:25. I was young and now I'm old. Yet, I've never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread. They're always generous and lend freely, and their children will be a blessing. See, selfish parents tend to raise selfish children, and generous parents tend to raise generous generations. Now, here's the deal. I was very blessed to have a mom and dad that were givers.

My wife's very blessed. Her mom and dad are right over here. And we we we watched we had a front row seat to see the blessings that happen in your life when you give. Now, I'm not saying this to to get brownie points with my mother-in-law and father-in-law. I'm the best son-in-law they have. Hands down. No arguments. Was the first. I got way more years invested than Wesley does. And he's not here to defend himself. Wesley's a good boy, too. They love us all. I'm not saying this because I need to earn favor with them. They love me. But I promise you, I've watched them and I've watched my mom and dad give tens of thousands of dollars over my lifetime.

I've watched it. They're not perfect people. My parents aren't perfect people, but they understood the process of being a generous person and living a generous life. And because of that, Chassity and I witnessed firsthand that we wanted to be generous givers, too, because it's the best life to live. So, I'm asking you that are raising kids now, do you talk about money with your kids? I don't know how many times we went on vacation, and I still have one, I still have two daughters in the congregation right now. They'll tell you that we talk about how God has blessed us, that we were able to go on vacation, that we're able to do this, that that God helped us with this, provide this car for us, that that we have these things because of God's provision.

And then we talk about when we would give how important it is to give and be givers and pay our tithe. Start them young. Why? Because I want them to have a blessed life, too. This isn't s this isn't sewing that seed. This is the principles that are in the word of God that I promise you will pass down to another generation if you will do it. Now, you can again, you can you can you can disagree with me, but I promise you, you will fight your whole life. You'll fight your whole life to scrap. There's many there's too many testimonies in this room that back up what I'm teaching today that it is better to give than to receive.

I I know I stand in in a room full of witnesses that say, "Hey, pastor, everything everything you're saying," and you know, it isn't always a financial gain. I'd love to It would be awesome if every time I gave $1,000 that that 2500 showed up in my bank in my bank account. That'd be awesome, right? >> It doesn't work that way. If you give to get, you've missed the point. >> You've missed the point. That's why that prosperity doctrine is a bunch of junk. >> You give from a willing heart. >> Seven, the multiplied impact. Ma Mark 12:41. Now Jesus said, "Opposite of the treasure." I'm gonna mess with you right now.

Okay, you guys. Okay, I'm one minute overdue. You guys all right? I only got 20 more minutes. Jesus said opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money in the treasury. Now I want you, this is a fascinating story on so many levels. And many who were there put the rich put in much. But the one poor widow came and threw in two mites which would make a however you say that word. So he called his disciples to himself and said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given into the treasury." Fascinating story.

who was watching. Now, I don't know about you, but Jesus pulls up, brother Hawkins. Jesus pulls up a chair right by the offering pan and he's like, you think, well, Pastor Kevin, what about this whole giving in secret thing? Letting the Lord bless. Hey, take it up with him. He's there watching the offering. Brother Freeman, that's that big sum. That's a big sum. And she comes in and she's got her little two mites to he says, "Hey, boys, come here." Now, think about this. This wasn't like he waited. He said, "Come here." You see that? She gave the most. It's kind of like this whole giving thing is important to him.

Now, you and I would be like, "Well, the guy who gave before him, he gave. He said they were rich and they gave much. Why is he making such a big deal?" Because it didn't hurt them to give much. It didn't hurt. They had it to give. She came in and gave. Now, there's not a mandate to give all. All right? There's not a scriptural mandate for you to give all. But I want you to know there was something about the way she gave it that showed I'm trusting God. The smallest offering ever given is the one that got recorded. It's been the inspiration for thousands of years.

Is the standard bar that was set to say, "Look, she come in trusting These other guys, they gave out their abundance. It didn't really cost them anything. As I wrap this up, last reward, musicians can come. Number eight, you get a financial partner. Jesus said this in Luke 6. Give and it will be given to you. Give and it will be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put in your bosom. for the same measure that you use, it'll be measured back to you. So if you give begrudgingly, then begrudgingly you get you give willfully and willfully you get.

There's a reality of God's economy. Now I I heard this church one time that did this. They they had a deal and a pastor who's so desperate for people to give, they just couldn't get. He said, "Look, the next one the next person who gives a $100 in offering gets to come up here and pick out their their own three hymns." So, this one old lady, she got up, she grabbed her $100. She went there, put an offer basket. She turned around to three good-looking guys and said, "I'll take him and him and him." That actually didn't happen. I just made that up. Now, I would be remissed in this moment if I preached the message on offering and didn't give an opportunity for you to give.

On August the 10th, there was a devastating earthquake that hit the col country of Columbia. Missionaries John and Vonda Gidry who are part of our church by marriage. They sent out a video. I'm going to play it in just one second to talk about the devastation in our country and the effect and the impact it's had on the churches that were there. I want you to listen to this. I want you to listen to their hearts. These are missionaries with boots on the ground. They can't even get to the area because the national road has been destroyed. I talked to him on the phone yesterday and told him what I was going to do today.

He's overwhelmed with this opportunity. So, I want you to listen to their words right now as they talk about what happened. God bless you to everyone, all of our friends, all of our partners, all of our churches and pastors. This is John Gidri and Vonda Gidri, missionaries in Colombia. And we're here today just to give you an update, a report on the earthquake in Colombia Monday, August 10th at 7:34 in the morning. It was terrible. There are at this moment the latest report in all of Colombia, 281 dead, 3,971 injured, 379 that are still missing, 44,936 families that have their homes destroyed or without homes, 140 buildings collapsed, over 16,000 homes damaged.

More homes are damaged than that. It's been terrible. The cities like Cali, Paraed, Armenia, Solento, Choco, Rodano, all of these cities have suffered severe and terrible destruction. But most important to our pastors and churches in Colombia, out of our churches, our people, 28 churches have been heavily damaged. Three churches at least are scheduled for demolition. Over 60 of our families are homeless. They have nowhere to go. Some of them have lost their jobs because the places they worked for are totally destroyed. So, we're making an appeal today that God would touch your heart. That you would give financially to Colombia. That you would give what you can.

There's no offering that's too small to give. You can buy a big construction block, high quality, for about $3 here in Colombia. So, there's no offering that's too small. But we hope that God will touch your hearts and that you will get the link on the Facebook or send a check to Global Missions for Colombia for earthquake relief. >> Uh good evening, good morning. Uh we appreciate you taking this time to listen to us. Um just trying to give you an update. Uh reports are still coming in. Uh but this is heartbreaking. Uh these people are our family. Uh we've been here 12 years working with these people and it's it's overwhelming uh scary.

Uh we're okay here in Bogota. Our house was shook. Uh my goodness, it shook us up very badly, but uh where the main destruction is is five and a half hours away. And uh we can't even get there right now. Our national president and talked to my husband yesterday. He can't even get there yet uh to see the damage, but we will be going eventually when we can, but we ask you to help us. Uh many are saying they're praying, but we need financial help and we don't ask for it a lot. Um our people are suffering and as somebody said, when one the body suffers, we all suffer and we're the body.

So, we're asking you to help us. God bless you today. >> Amen. God bless and thanks for your prayers and thanks for your kindness. Thanks for your concern and thanks for your financial help if you're able to give. God bless. Here's what I want to do. If you feel to give, it's a free will offering. You don't have to. There's not requirement. I'm not going to lock the back doors. I'm not going to do any of that. I just hope that after I talk today, you would think about money a little bit different. If you'd like to give, there's a QR code that's between the seats.

You can scan it. As soon as you scan it, there'll be a couple of options. One of those is offering for Columbia. 100% of what you give today goes strictly to Columbia. Goes through our organization UPCI. But because this is disaster relief funds, they don't take any fees out of it. 100% that's given is 100% is given back to that. So, if that's something that you'd like to do today, I would encourage you to let God lead you, lead you in this. Now, I can't let a Sunday go by without giving an opportunity for someone to take advantage of this altar time to get right with God because even though this was more of a teaching lesson today on a Sunday morning, I hope you understand the principles that are there behind this.

Here's what I know that even though we may be a little bit lower keyed right now at the altar time, God still moves. God's still able to fill somebody with the Holy Ghost. God's still able to heal bodies. God's still able to restore relationships. So, I want you to stand with me right now. I'm going to I'm going to say a a prayer and then this altar is open. We're going to spend a little time praying. If you if you have time to stay and pray with us, good. If you need to leave it so you can leave. But I'd ask you in this closing prayer to prayerfully consider how you can be and how you can become a giver.

I promise you it's the best life that you can live. Will you bow your heads with me? God, I delivered my heart today to your church, to your people, and I pray, Lord God, that you would work on us. You would help us, Lord Jesus, understand the importance of being the best steward that we can be of all that you entrust to us. All the resources you give us, both not only of our finances, but of our time, talent, and abilities as well. I pray today, Lord, that we could learn to trust you like never before in these last days. To be a conduit of love, be a participant, Lord Jesus, in the building of your kingdom for your glory.

I pray today, God, if there's someone in this place that doesn't know you, Lord, in their life, that you would draw them, draw them down to an altar where we can pray with them, Lord, and you can become that. Fill people with your spirit today, Lord Jesus. Let us trust you like never before. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. We're going to spend some time in prayer. Church is prayer time.