The Blessing of Being Noticed | Senior Pastor Kenneth Carpenter

If you have your Bibles and would join me in the book of Mark, chapter 12, and verse number 41. What a song. Because he lives, I can face tomorrow. because he lives I have a hope. You see, a lot of people have a misunderstanding of eternal life. They believe that when they die, then when Jesus comes back for the church, the rapture, the dead in Christ rise first and we which are alive and remain. They think at that moment that they're going to have eternal life. But when you receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and I receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the Bible calls it the earnest, the earnest of our inheritance. That word there in the Greek, earnest means down payment. Down payment. The Bible said, "If we believe upon him, we shall not perish, but have everlasting life." I'm not going to have everlasting life one day. I have everlasting life right now. Now I live in a temporal body. I live in a body that is subject to death because of the curse. But one day God is going to sound a trumpet. >> And the dead in Christ are going to rise first. >> And we which are alive and remain shall be changed in a moment and in the twinkling of an eye because he lives. Because he lives. Oh, thank you for that song tonight, Brother Eric. Thank you so much for that song tonight. I do want to say to you in a in in a way that um Brother Shane Britt called several months ago and said his church was sending him he had been pastoring there for 16 years and the church was sending he and his wife on a 16-day cruise. And uh he said, "I've never been gone from my church 16 days." And he said, "I'm very nervous about being gone." And he said, 'I want you to come and would you be my friend and would you preach on Sunday that I'm I'm gone. And I said, 'I I certainly will. I won't even have to miss won't even have to miss Sunday night at Mville. they have a service there and and uh I can they had only have one service of the morning and and I didn't realize their morning is 11 o'clock and u I wasn't able to make it back Sunday evening because the preacher they had preached too long and u so I'm glad I'm glad to be back in the house of the Lord tonight. And I told Sister Carpenter, they got up and said, "We sent our pastor away. One day for every year he's been here." And I, she looked over at me. She said, "We've been there 41 years." I said, "Don't get any thoughts about that." Don't. But God is good, isn't he, church? Such a good church, isn't it? God's wonderful people. God's wonderful people. The book of Mark 12 and verse number 41. And Jesus set over against the treasury and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury. Many that were rich and many that were rich. That's interesting. And many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow. She threw in two mites which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than all they which have cast into the treasury. For all they did cast in of their abundance, but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. I want to minister tonight for a few moments with tithing and offerings in mind. But I want to minister tonight on this subject, the blessing of being noticed. the blessing of being noticed. We're going to go to God in prayer. Would you please remember Sister Franklin in prayer this evening that God would touch her body. She's here tonight. That God would touch her body. She uh has had um and I I use the word carefully, mild leukemia. Leukemia of any form is is is life-threatening. And uh let's lift up a prayer for Sister Franklin tonight that God would touch that God would touch her. Brother Perry had an accident on his job this week requiring several stitches. And let's pray that the Lord Let's pray that the Lord would touch Brother Perry's body. And please remember this evening to touch pray for um Mother Z that God would touch her. Is there any other request that you just make it known by the lifting of your hand right now? Don't we serve a prayer answering God tonight? Will he do it, church? >> Will he do it, church? >> Will he hear us if we pray right now? >> Will he love? Well, let's go ahead and pray. Father, we love you tonight. We thank you, Lord, for your word, God. I thank you, Lord, for the wonderful touch of your spirit that we felt here tonight. I thank you, Lord, for all of the breakout sessions that are going on right now with our children. Lord, I thank you, God, for every age group is being taught a lesson tonight. And Lord, I just pray that your hand would be in each classroom right now. Lord, I pray you'd be up on brother stood, God, and those precious people tonight. And Lord, be in this room with us, God, and move and minister to us. And Lord, I pray over all the names that I mentioned tonight, God, in the name of Jesus, would you heal? Would you heal Sister Franklin of that leukemia, God, Lord, that makes her feel so weak in body, in the name of Jesus, and by the stripes on your back, God, I am a believer, and I believe, God, that you can touch her right now where she's standing, Lord. And I believe you can move upon her, God. Touch Brother Perry and Mother Zender tonight, God. And the hands that were lifted, Father, you would touch this church. We'll give you the praise and the honor and the glory. And everybody said in Jesus name, you may be seated tonight. The blessing of being the blessing of being noticed. These uh four short verses tonight tell quite a story of Jesus sitting over against the temple wall of which on the side of the temple wall were the offering containers. Now don't think of the offering containers like we have these cloth bags or these small shallow plates that'll be passed around. But in that day in the temple there were these almost like and described as a the end of a tuba, a horn, a brass that was connected to the wall and went into a collection and you would bring your your your offering which which consisted of coinage. They didn't have necessarily the paper uh currency in that day. They had they had coins and uh they would come and as they would drop their coins into that brass container, it would make a noise. It would make a noise. The Bible said that as Jesus sat over against the temple wall and beheld how they people that would cast in money, the Bible says he looked, he saw them, he looked as they cast in money. And he even uses the words and many that were rich. Verse 41. And many and many that were rich. It must have been a prosperous time because there's many there that are rich. And the Bible said they cast in much. In other words, there was a lot of noise when they cast in their offering. There was a lot of sound when those coins as they heaved them over in that into that brass container. It made it made quite a noise there. And then Jesus u examined and Jesus noticed. Jesus noticed you. You see, if there's one you want to be noticed by, it's Jesus. >> And uh you you you you can't get him to notice you if you don't do something. All right? And uh he noticed a widow. I I left out a word, didn't I? I I mean that word widow is is pretty pitiful just to begin with, especially in that day. I left out a word. She was not only a widow, but Jesus said she was a somebody like to say the word that I left out. >> She was a poor widow. That's now it's bad enough that she is a widow. But add to that even among the class of widows, she's just not a widow. She is a poor widow. He said that she came and she cast in two mites. I've done a lot of examination on these two mites. It's the smallest coinage there is. It's it's like a a shaving of metal. It's it's it's like a it's like a shaving of metal. It's not you couldn't really consider it a coin. It's like more of a a slither. It's like a slither. And she comes and she brings these two slithers uh uh uh they call them mites. And and she she comes and she she she cast in her her two slithers, these two mites into the container. Uh you you would agree with me tonight. I don't think those two slithers of of of of coins made made any kind of a noise at all. It it probably no one turned their head. Probably when when the rich person heaved their coins and and all of a sudden you heard the coins hit the hit the brass plate and and and probably people would turn around to see who is that that was giving? Who who who just gave? Did you hear that sound? Somebody of great wealth gave. I guarantee you no one turned her head when that woman threw those two little slithers into the offering container. No one turned her head but the great God of heaven. The only one that you should be concerned about his views. >> He noticed her. >> He noticed her. And then he said, "It's about time to give you all a lesson, disciples." He said, "Gather around here." He said, "I want to tell you something that this poor widow has given more than all the rest." He said, "Combine every one of them that came by today." And what this poor widow woman gave is more than all of them. How do you figure that? Well, he said they gave out of their abundance. He said, 'Oh yeah, they had a handful, but they've got a big hill of coins at home. Oh yes, they gave handfuls, but you ought to see what they've got left at home. And then it says, and I'll just break it down as simple as I can because here is where giving begins. He said, "This woman gave from her heart." She gave from her heart. You see, God doesn't look at what's in our hand. He looks at what is in our heart. I want you to know tonight. I want you to know and I want you to be baptized with this. But God should be the only one that you concern yourself with with the phrase, "I wonder what he thinks." It should be tonight that it is God that answers that question in your mind. It's what God thinks. Because basically, follow me now. There are basically three views of giving as pertaining to the church. Number one, there is God's view. And can we all say a hearty amen? That's the view we want, right? >> We want to be like one of those football players or basketball players down on the court, you know, to the fans. Isn't it God? Isn't it God? of that. The only one you should be concerned about is God. There's God's view of giving. And then number two, there is man's view of giving. Man has a view of giving. And then number three, there is the view of false religion. There's the view of false religion. There's God's view, which is the right way. There is man who's seeing it the best he can. And there's the false religion of this world. Let's dive in. Here's man's view. And when I say man, I'm talking about the un unener unregenerated man. I'm talking about the man that doesn't know God. I'm talking about the man that's never had his eyes enlightened. I'm talking about the man that's never had conviction. He's never allowed God to change his life. He's just human. He's just human. 1 Corinthians chapter 2 verse number 12 will describe him. it. Paul says, "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." Now follow this now. Paul says, "We the church, we the church have not received the spirit of the world because the spirit of the world will lead you to the knowledge of the world." Because you got to understand when he the spirit of truth has come, he will lead you and guide you into all truth. So it's just not a spirit baptism and you go on your happy way. It is a spirit baptism that leads you into the more knowledge of God. But not only does God have a spirit, this world has a spirit. Verse number 13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man, here's his view, here's the view. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. He is just a natural man. He can't He can't understand. He's never had his eyes He's never had his eyes enlightened. He's never had his eyes enlightened. It's not that he hates the ways of God. He just doesn't know the ways of God. But the spiritual man, the spiritual man discerns things through the spirit. So here man's views of giving. Man's views of giving is is simply that of what he can come up with on his own. He he decides what he wants to give, where he wants to give, and he decides how he wants to give. That is man's view. of giving. He'll never understand. Listen to an unregenerated person, don't talk to him about giving to the work of God because they can't understand it. As a matter of fact, some of the deep things and if you if you would break this down with me, the Bible says, "Go into all the world and baptize them." All right? Go into all the world and baptize them. And then it says, "After you baptize them, teaching them all things, whatsoever I've commanded you," which simply means you don't need to teach them all things until you get them baptized. Because if you're trying to get somebody to see the deep things of God and they don't have spirit baptism, you're trying to describe something to a blind person, they can't see it. you're you're you're trying their best and they just keep s but if you can ever get them converted, get them allowing God's spirit to come into their life and allowing God's spirit to change them, all of a sudden the light comes on and they begin to see. They begin to see. So the natural man, you start talking to the natural man about giving. You start talking to the natural man about tithing, about giving offerings, and it's kind of like that's kind of really foolishness to me because he's it's it's a spiritually discerned subject. That's in just a brief. That's humanity's view. But now let's go to false religion. Oh yes, false religion has a view and a teaching of giving. Matter of fact, it goes by the heading the health, wealth, and prosperity doctrine. It's a health, wealth, and prosperity doctrine. And that is if you give $10, you'll get a $100. If you sow one, you'll get a hundred. That is, if you give, look for a material blessing to come back to you. Matter of fact, many of them teach that you don't have to be in poor health. Many of them teach that if you are in poverty, you're not serving God the way that you should serve God. That prosperity, it's a health, wealth, and prosperity doctrine. Of course, now there's a balance to that. I don't believe that I'm going to preach unhealthy poverty and drudge doctrine, but neither am I going to embrace something that is not biblical. Now, I'll show you this in scripture. First Timothy chapter six and verse number three, the health, wealth, and prosperity doctrine is nothing new. It was not years ago. There was a movement that swept our c our country called the latter reign. from the latter reign from the latter reign movement really morphed a lot of the health wealth and prosperity message that is being preached but it's not it's not 60 years old it's thousands of years old Paul encountered it in his day first Timothy chapter 6 verse number three if any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words these are healthy words you see God's word brings health to us body, soul, and spirit. God's word brings health to us. He said, "If anybody teaches otherwise and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, listen to Paul describe this person. He is proud knowing nothing but doubting about questions and stripes of words whereof cometh envy stripe railings and evil surmisings perverse disputing of men of corrupt minds. Paul's describing them they are destitute of the truth. Here's the here it is. Supposing that gain is what? From such withdraw thyself. This message that financial gain is connected to godliness is not the proper God-given view. Let me tell you what great gain is. The next verse will tell you and I what great gain is. But godliness with contentment >> is great gain. >> You really want to gain something great in this world? Get God in your life and get content that you got God in your life. Get God in your life and be so thankful that you once were in darkness, but now you're in light. You once were in bondage, but now you're free. You once didn't know the direction to go. You had no moral code. The world was your moral code. But now that you have seen the light, you've got a brand new life. You're able to have a good marriage. You're able to raise your children. You're able to raise your grandchildren. You're able to have a a community of fellow believers in the house of God. Folks, I'm telling you that is great gain. >> Then he says it in verse number seven, does he not? For we brought what? >> into this world. And it is certain that we can carry nothing out. You've heard me say this before. You could about quote me. I've never seen a UAL behind a hers. All right. A conversation was overheard at a multi-millionaire's funeral. How much did he leave? All of it. All of it. I could tell you another I could tell you another little joke about a funeral home. Said a man died and he requested to stuff his coffin full of $100 bills. Stuff it full of $100 bills. The funeral director obliged and they came and they stuffed it full of $100 bills. But as they shut it and was taking it out to the grave, the funeral director opened it, got all the money out and wrote a check for the amount of money and put the check in the casket. Shut shut the lid. Go ahead, Pharaoh. Build your pyramids. Build you build your tombs. Put golden chariots in there. Put all kind of gold and silver cuz you're traveling into the afterworld. But I got news for you. years, thousands of years later, they open up those tombs and that old golden chariot still sitting right where they put it because you brought nothing into this world and you're going to take nothing out of this world. But here we are tonight, apostolic people, godliness with contentment is great gain. Is great gain. Bible says here, here's verse number eight. And having food, here's the standard for contentment. and having food and raignment, let us be there with content. Well, look around here tonight. Everybody got clothes on in this place. I imagine all of us had supper today, lunch, all of us, unless we've been on a fast. All of us had something to eat. Right there, you just met the standard for contentment. It's not the car you drive. It's not the clothes you wear. It's not the restaurant that you eat at. You ought to be content that you got clothes on your back and you're able to eat. You got food. We live in a blessed country. And I I know this may sound like, oh yeah, you know, but it's really the truth. Some people can never be satisfied because they're never content, always want better, always want bigger, always want this, you know, trying to keep up with the Joneses. And they're trying to keep up with the Joneses only to understand the Joneses refinanced and went on. They're trying to keep up with somebody else. Why don't you just be content with what you got? As a matter of fact, I've got a philosophy. I've got a philosophy. Somebody ought to find me some scripture for my philosophy. I don't think God's going to give you any better until you're thankful with what you got. I I I don't think I I don't believe that God blesses complainers. I don't believe that God blesses people that are down in the mouth. I believe God blesses people that just say, "God, I'm thankful for the clothes I got on. Thankful for the house I'm going home to tonight. Thankful for the car that I drive. God, want you to give the Lord a hand of praise right now. Verse number nine. This is the false religions the false religions view. But they that will be rich. Now notice the way that's written, brother Ericson. But they that will be rich. Can I tell you that your motivation in life should not be to get rich. >> You shouldn't be driven to get rich. It it it shouldn't be, oh, I I I want to be I want to be a I I'm just driven. I want to have a lot of money in my life. Well, do you? Let's see what this leads to. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare. There's a trap to the wrong motivation. There's nothing wrong with wanting to make money if you've got the right motive for wanting to make money. There there's nothing there's nothing wrong. I hope that we raise up and we do have them here. We do have them here. We have business owners here that are thankful for the for increase in their business because that means they can give more to the work of God. They can give more. >> At least one person believed that 20 people believe it right now. Well, let me see. I got a lot of work to do. You got the wrong motivation. You fall into temptation and a snare, a trap, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and predition. That's lawlessness. Look at verse 10. For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have aired from the faith, pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, oh man of God, flee these things. Follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. Fight the good fight of faith. lay hold on eternal life where unto thou art also called and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. Can I tell you the love of money is the root. Now don't misquote it. It's not money is the root of all evil. It is the love of money is the root of all evil. When you begin to love money, when you begin to think money is going to satisfy you. Look at me tonight church. Only Jesus is going to satisfy you. >> Only the Holy Ghost is going to satisfy you. You hear me tonight? Only God is going to satisfy you. Don't be foolish to think of bigger truck and a bigger car and a bigger house and longer vacations and and 401ks and and retiring when you're 50. And boy, that's a depressing thought in my mind. But but all of that, all of that, that's not going to make you happy. Bling bling is not going to make you happy. If money would make people happy, why do you have wealthy people ending their life? Because it won't make you happy. >> Only God I I'm I'm not getting this through tonight. You hear me? Only God can make you happy. Only God can give you only God can give you full contentment. That's why you ought to reach out to him tonight and want to love him and want to worship him because only God can do that. For the love of money is the root of all evil. They've coveted after. They've aired from the faith. They've pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, oh man of God, he says, Timothy, Paul is writing to a young preacher. And he says, but you, oh man of God, flee from these things. Can I turn it a little bit? Not doing any harm to the word of God there in verse number 11. But thou, oh Maryville church, flee from these things. Oh thou, oh Maryville church, flee from these things and follow after righteousness. Follow after godliness, follow after faith, love, patience, follow after all of these things. Can I tell you something? God's ways are so higher than man's ways. God's ways fight the good fight of faith. that that doctrine, that false view was there in Paul's day. Well, that false view reared its ugly head in the book of Acts. Oh, yes it did. This false religion, this health, wealth, and prosperity. Acts chapter 8, verse number nine. I'm going to read real quickly to get to the point. But there was a certain man called Simon, which before in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one. To whom all they all gave heed from the least to the greatest, saying, This man Simon is the great power of God. To him they had regard, because that of a long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. But when they believed Philillip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God in the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women. Then Simon himself also Simon himself believed also. And when he was baptized, he continued with Philillip and wondered beholding the miracles and signs which Philillip were done. This man Simon, he's he's inquisitive. He's watching these miracles take place. And he he's he's looking. Now, when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, who when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. For as yet he was fallen upon none of them. Only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost. Now watch this. And when Simon now Simon had Simon had saw miracles. All right? He had seen miracles. But there ain't nothing like seeing the greatest miracle of all. And that's when somebody receives the gift of the Holy Ghost. He came down, laid their hands, and when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles hands, the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, "Give me also this power that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost." Let me just make a let me get a let me make a little point totally off the subject. But there's those that want to try to get around that tongues is the initial sign of receiving the Holy Ghost. And they'll point to this and they'll say, "Well, they got the Holy Ghost there and they didn't speak in tongues." Well, my rebuttal to that is simply this. When a car comes down the road and I see, let's say it's Brother Mayo, comes across the parking lot and I'll say, "There comes Brother Mayo in a car with wheels on it." I don't say that. It's a long established fact. Cars have wheels. But to say that they didn't speak in tongues because it doesn't say that there is a is a really a gross misinterpretation of the scripture because I want you to know something. He didn't offer them money for somebody bowing their head and saying a prayer. >> If you're going to offer money, offer it when that blind man got his sight. Offer it when that crippled man got up and started running. Offer it when that demon-possessed person when all the devils came out of him. offer for that. But you wouldn't offer it for somebody just bows their head and says a prayer, says, "I believe upon him. Therefore, I automatically receive the Holy Ghost. I believe on him." No, that's not what happened. You know that. You know that's not what happened. They received the Holy Ghost. They spoke in a heavenly language. They were filled with joy unspeakable and full of great glory. And then Simon says, "Give me this power. I'll give you some money if you'll give me this power on whomsoever I lay hands he may receive the Holy Ghost. Now you got to understand something. Simon's motive was wrong because Simon wanted to take a gift from God, turn it around and commercialize it and make a ton of money off it because he done went out of the business of being a sorcerer. Because when the gospel came, the gospel was greater than sorcery. And so he's done got out of the business. Nobody's lining up for for him to be a sorcerer to him anymore because Philillip's done come to town preaching a gospel that can break every chain. Preaching a gospel that can break every yoke. Can I tell you something? If we will be apostolic and preach apostolic and believe apostolic, if we'll be apostolic in our prayer, apostolic in our praise, apostolic in our worship, it'll be something that people will start saying, "Hey, that didn't work for me. AA didn't work for me. But I got down to the apostolic church and I got what I needed there at the apostolic church. He said, "I'll give you some money if you'll give me the power on whomsoever I lay my hands, they may receive the Holy Ghost." But listen to what Peter said to him. Peter said unto him, "Thy money, thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter. I am not associated with you. You don't you don't have anything to do with me and I don't have anything to do with you. For thine heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent thereof of this wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. You are still in the bondage of lawlessness. Then answered Simon and said, "Pray ye to the Lord for me that none of these things which you have spoken come upon me." And the story ends right there. Story ends right there. Pray for me. But here it is. The first sign of the health, wealth, and prosperity doctrine. But the book of Jude verse chapter number one, it only has one chapter. And I want you to look at this closely. The book of Jude 1 verse number 11 simply says this. Woe unto them that have gone in the way of Cain and ran greedily after the era of Balum for reward and perished in the gains of Kora. We have three things here. We have three men mentioned and we have three attitudes mentioned. And here is what it is. Cain is stubborn. God, you're going to accept what I give you. I give you fruit. I am stubborn. God, help us. Let's let the spirit of God soften us up. If God's word says it, God soften us up to believe it. Cain is stubborn. Cain is stubborn. They ran greedily after the error of Balum for reward. Balam is greedy. He is using his gift from God to get gain, to get money. Balam is greedy and Kora is rebellious. I'm going to tell you those are three words you ought to put in your prayer. You ought to put these words in your prayer. Oh God, don't let me be stubborn. Oh God, don't let me be stubborn. Three words you ought to put in your prayer. God, don't let me be stubborn. God, don't let me be greedy. And God, don't let me be rebellious. Those be three words maybe you add to it. God, if you see any stubbornness in me, take it out. God, if you see any stubbornness in me, reveal it to me, God, that I can repent of it and bring it to the surface. God, let your spirit go deep down inside of me and bring it to the surface so I can repent because I don't want to be stubborn and I don't want to be greedy and I don't want to be rebellious. That is man's view. That is false religion's view. But you came here tonight, did you not? I want to hear about God's view. You see the poor widow, they were giving out of the abundance of their material things, but she was giving out of the abundance of a heart that was right with God. Could we just take a moment right now as we transition into the view of God and of giving? Could we just take a moment just to call out to God and ask God to touch our hearts tonight? God, in the name of Jesus, Lord, I thank you for this congregation. Lord, I thank you for the open hearts and the open minds. I thank you for the people that are here tonight, Lord, believing that this is the word of God. Lord, I don't want man's view. God, I don't want anything to do with man's view. And God, I I sure don't want anything to do with false religion, God. Lord, when it comes to giving, when it comes to tithe and offerings, God, when it comes to giving, Lord, I want to have your view in my heart. I want to have it in my heart to give. I want to have it in my heart to praise. I want to have it in my heart to pray. I want to have it in my heart to come to church. I want to have it in my heart to live for you, God. I want to have it in my heart, God. And somebody say, "Amen." >> I want to have it in my heart. Genesis chapter, excuse me, Exodus chapter 25, verse number one is an interesting verse. There's two verses here. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, and we're going to talk about God's view now. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, "Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart. You shall take it. You shall take my offering." Now God says to Moses, isn't this amazing? Of course, we know the chapter 25 that God is God is asking for material, not for himself. But God is asking for material to build a tabernacle that he may dwell among God's people. But isn't it interesting? Before God ever told them, before God ever told them what the offering was to be, he commanded them or he told Moses, "You tell my people to bring me an offering." Then here God sets a standard. He says, "But it's got to be brought willingly with his heart." All right. God sets the standard. Willingly with his heart. The Bible said, "Blessed are the pure heart, for they shall what? They shall see God." If my heart is filled with man's view, I'll never be able to see God's way. But God says, "I want you to bring me this offering. I want you to bring me this offering. And I want you to I want I want it to come from a willing heart." Chapter 35 of the same book, verse 5 and verse 21. Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord. Whosoever is of a willing heart, let him let him bring it. an offering of the Lord, gold, silver, brass. Verse 21. And they came everyone whose heart stirred him up and everyone whose whom his spirit made willing. For they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation and for all of his service and for his holy garments. Here again once again the standard everybody say standard. The standard for giving is not the amount. The standard for giving is not the amount. The standard that God places on giving is from a willing heart. From a willing praising heart. Aren't you thankful that you are in the house of God tonight? Aren't you thankful that you have the knowledge of the truth tonight? You see, if if you're not thankful for either one of those, it's because it's not in your heart. But anything that's in your heart, you become thankful for you. You are thankful for that. I am I am I am thankful. I am not. I I'm not. You see, the the way the world looks at giving and the way that false religion looks at giving should be shoved and and covered up from us. But aren't you thankful that you can give God praise? And let me say this tonight. I'm only This is kind of like of a slither of a pie, Pastor Ericson. It's only a slither of the pie. There's so much more other areas in our life that we ought to give. We ought to give unto the Lord the glory due to his name, >> right? But it's more than just waving your hands and hollering. It's more than just it's more than just foot stomping and hand clapping and all that. It's got to come out of your heart. I was glad when they said unto me, "Let us go into the house of God." So, so you got to see praising God is a good thing. You got to see coming to the house of God is a good thing because you're giving you're giving to the Lord. And of course, we're just talking tonight about h about about finances. I'm telling you, I'm not going I'm not going to complain. I'm going I'm going to go to the house of God as long as I got strength in my legs. I'm going to be in the house of God. I love the house of God. I'm just telling you, I love everything about the house of God. I I love the ways of God. I love the songs of God. I love the spirit of God. I love the way that it I love the way that God does us. I love the way that God makes us feel. I love the way that God has brought us through. There has never been news to me that has caused me to ever doubt the existence of God and to doubt that God wouldn't bring us out. I love everything about God. Everything about him. I love his preached word. I love his taught word. I I I I I I love tonight. I I love Brother Sister Couch. Would you stand for just a moment? Would you stand? I love that tonight. I love number one. I love that this couple has been driving about 70 miles one way to church to come to the house of God and they told me last Wednesday night they said we're coming back next Wednesday night and we want you to baptize us in Jesus' name. I I I just love it all. I I I I oh I love what the house I I just love what the house of God does. You can hear the you can hear the saddest news out in the world. Hey, I've been with you. You may be seated. I've been with you. I have drugged myself into the house of God. I have had news bombard me and devils from hell bombard me all day long. But if I can just get to the house of God, everything is going to be all right. Everything going to be all right. Man, you know, the the the devil's the the devil's really not he's not all that smart. seem like he wants to attack us on church day. He either wants to attack us on Wednesday or Saturday evening. And if you could just get the revelation that the reason the spirit of being irritable has come in between you and her or you and him on Saturday evening is because the adversary would love to get you in a fight to where you would say, "Well, I ain't even going to church tomorrow. I ain't even going to church." And he would win. But what you got to look, you got to say, uh-uh. I'm going to the house of God. There is no greater remedy for a troubled marriage but like Oh, folks, I'm preaching tonight. I am flat out preaching tonight. There's no trouble there. There's no trouble. Every Wednesday. Every Wednesday. Every Wednesday. I went through a season of my life. It was like every Wednesday the de demonic tanks lined up. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom. I'll tell you something. Sometimes I walked into this place and I put a good front on. I I I really I really put a good front on because the priests in the Old Testament were told when they were grieving, the priests were told there were only people, they were only people that couldn't do this. The priests could not when they were grieving rent their clothes as a sign of anguish. God refused to let the priest show on the outside what was going on on the inside. So, friend, I'm going to tell you, I've walked to the I'm just telling you tonight, I've walked into this place with the booming, the banging of hell and the voices from hell and all of the thing going on in my life. But I put my suit on and I walked up and I put a little bounce in my step so y'all knew everything was going all right. But on the inside, I was saying, "Thank God for the house of God. Thank God. Thank God for his house. Thank God for his house." But I'll tell you this, there was one Wednesday, man. All hell had camped out. All hell was booming. I got to church and hell hit me just right before the church, right before right before church hell. And I came out and I I just kind of bowed my head here and they were singing the songs and I just bowed my head and I was thinking I was thinking these words, "How long, God? How long God is this going to go on? How long God is this going to go on?" And all of a sudden, somebody brushed me. Somebody brushed me going by. It was one of our sisters. And they were saying, "I got your praise tonight, pastor. I got your worship tonight, pastor." And it was another lady that come up and she said, "We going to go get our praise on." And when I saw them getting their praise on, it made me want to get my praise on. Let me tell you something. You can't get that by not serving God with other people. When you're down, somebody can pick you up. When you're down, they they can reach down. I love everything about God. I love his preach work. Come to the house of God sick. He's a healer. Come to the house of God. Let me tell you something. Come to the house of God sick and you'll either get a temporary healing or you'll get your permanent healing. But you will get your healing. Come to the house of God. You're going to hear something that's going to stir you up. I just I just love the house of God. I love everything about God's house. I love God's people. I don't know if this is right or not, but I even love the hypocrites, whoever you may be. The only one I don't love is the devil. I hate him and I think the feelings mutual. Listen to this verse. Am I doing all right tonight? Don't you love God's house? Don't you hope Do I have any Do I have any young mothers here tonight? Don't you hope that you raise your children to love this place? >> I got any young fathers here tonight? Don't you Don't you hope you raise your children? Your children that that that that wanted to come to church tonight. Your children that wanted to come to church tonight with they taking up the offering. They're going out to their classes and I thought, Lord, is everybody going to leave tonight? I I'm going to go over to the breakout session here. But you you you stay. Well, I sure hope that's your feelings. I love this house. I love everything. I love everything going on. Listen listen to this. I'm not alone. 1 Chronicles 29. It's going to be 1 Chronicles 29:3 5:9 verse 14:1 17. Moreover, this is David talking about the house of God. Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God. I set my affection to the house of my God. I have of my own proper good of gold and silver which I have given to the house of my God over and above that that I have prepared for the holy house. I'm going to tell you something. Don't you ever follow a preacher that's not willing to invest in buy in. David said, "I'm gonna build God a house." He didn't just go out there and say, "Folks, y'all going to give. Y'all want to give? Y'all want to give? No, sir. David said, I have of my own proper good I have bought into this my myself. Verse five, the gold for the things of gold, silver for the things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of the artificial. And who then is willing, he's talking to the congregation, and who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord? Verse nine. Then the people rejoiced for that they offered willingly because that with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord. And David the king also rejoice with great joy. But who am I? And what is my people that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? And said, who are we that we were able to give like this? For all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. I know also, my God, that thou test the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart, I have willingly offered all these things, and now I have seen with joy thy people which are present here to offer willingly unto thee. David said, "What we gave wasn't even ours to begin with. It was God's. It was God who worked you up this morning. It was God that kept you safe on the road today. It was God that gives you a piece of mind." So, David is even turning around saying, "God, it wasn't even mine. It It wasn't even mine to begin with. It wasn't even mine to begin with. Could we just one more time, could we just call out to God for our hearts to be right? Come on. Could we cry out to God? I >> Come on, cry out to God right now. It doesn't need to be my big booming voice with a microphone. It ought to be from a congregational heart. Just says, "Thank you, Jesus. >> Thank you, God. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, God. Thank you, God. Thank you, God. You see tonight there needs to be a mission statement, brother Nami, about money. We need to have a mission statement about money. I'm going to make a statement that I'm going to try to form. I'm going to try to form a mission statement about money. And somewhere in this, I've just been toying with this today. God doesn't want all your money. There's a lot of people that somehow they've got to believe if if I'm really going to please God, I I got to give him all my money. That that's that's not true. That's that's not true. God doesn't want all your money. But look up here at me tonight, please. God doesn't want all your money. He wants all your heart. He wants all your heart. He doesn't He doesn't want all your money. Why would God want all your money when he knows that you need money for housing, for food, for clothing? You need money to have a house for protection. You need money for nourishment to feed your children. You need money for clothing that would add dignity. God's not asking for all your money. God's not asking for all your money. But he is asking I do want I do want all all of your heart. That's that's what I do want. I I I do want all your money. But in that statement of wanting all your money, God says all your money is not all your money. For my word says that the tithe is the Lord's. The tithe is the Lord. Now you get paid this Friday, you you won't go out if you if you're a good manager of your money, you're a good manager, you get paid Friday, you won't go out and spend every dime of that. Why? You look down, you say, "Some of that's got to pay the mortgage. Some of that's got to pay the the rent. Some of this has got to buy food. Some of us has got to some of this." So So So So So you realize you're just going to go spend it all just like God wouldn't ask for it all. There's housing in here. There's utilities in here. There's there's um there's there there's food. There's clothing. There's groceries. There's all this in here. What you have to do, hear me now, church, you have to look at that and say, "Yes, and there is the Lord's money in this. There is the tithe. There is the tithe that's here in this." And so, when you can get a good mission, when when you can have a mission statement, what is your money? What is your money doing? And I close with this tonight and I'll stay on the subject. But I close with this tonight. I want to be found among the Acts 2:44-47. And all that believed were together and had all things common sold their possessions. He didn't say all the possessions. They sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men as every as every man had need. And they continued daily with one accord in the temple, breaking bread from house to house, and to eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Here is the beautiful giving of the church. There were those in the church that could not give as much as someone else. But as they would bind together, all of our needs were met. All the needs. I want to fall under this category here. Or I want to fall under Acts 5 and1 or excuse me, Acts 4 and 34. Neither was there any among them that lacked. For as many as were possessors of lands and houses sold them, and brought the price of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles feet, and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. and Jose's whom by the apostles were surnamed Barnabas which is being interpreted the son of consolation or the son of comfort a Levite of the country of Cyprus having land sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles feet. We've got a city that is in poverty, spiritual poverty. We've got a city that needs to hear the beautiful words spoken over every individual. I now indeed baptize you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. We've got a city that's in spiritual poverty here. O Israel, the Lord our God is one. We've got a city that needs to hear needs to hear the message in this place. >> There's no greater mission for your money than to invest it in the work in the work of God. I can't even start to tell you. I can't even start to tell you about the foreign countries that this church has made a difference in. I can't even begin to tell you. I wish I could take you. I wish I could take you to some of the places. Brother Namy wishes he could take you to some of the places. Some of the most povertystricken places in the world, but there are some of the happiest people in the world. Why? Not because you sent them money that lifted up their level of living. They're still living in the shack. They're still living in cardboard houses. They're still making a few dollars a day. But they've got an apostolic church to go to. They've got a place they can feel the presence and the power of God. >> There's where I want to be. God help me. I don't want to fall. I don't want to fall in this category here. Would you stand with me right now? Brother Ericson, would you lead, Brother and Sister Couch, and begin to get them ready for baptism? Would you just lift up your voices one more time with me? I I believe the Holy Ghost is hovering just a praise away right now. Oh, I believe God is hovering. Just a praise away right now. Just a praise away right now. Just a praise away right now. Just a praise away right now. Just a praise away. Oh God, I want my money to have a mission. I want my money to be on a mission. I want my money to build houses of worship. I want my money, God, to make a difference. I want it to make a difference. I don't want to fall here. I don't want to fall right here. Acts 5 verse number one. But a certain man named Ananas with Safara his wife, sold the possession, kept back part of the price. His wife also being privy to it, brought a certain part, and laid it at the feet at the apostles feet. But Peter said, "Ananas, why hast Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own after it was sold? Was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." And Ananas hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost. And great fear came on all them that heard these things. Now I'm going to tell you something right now. I'm battling it because there's a little spirit. He trying to put us on a guilt trip. Trying to put us on a guilt trip. It's not a guilt trip. It's a reality trip. It's it's it's reality. You have people either baptized in Jesus name, filled the Holy Ghost, knows there only one God. You get people with the wrong attitude about money and it's not long their influence is dead. They once set here and here and here and here and here and here. But they got the wrong They got the wrong mentality about money. They got the wrong You got to pray that you you don't let that don't let that man don't let that false religion or that man view come into your life because I mean it's it's deadly. You hear me, church? You hear your pastor tonight? It's a deadly thing to let come in somewhere. Ananas, his husband said, "You know what? I I don't know what his reason was. I could only surmise what the reason was, but somehow he wanted to be a part, but he didn't really want to go all the way in. So, they sowed a possession and then he kept back part of it. And he comes in and he lays it down like that's the full amount. And Peter, you just heard me read it. He said, "Satan hath filled your heart. You have lied to the Holy Ghost." And he immediately gave up the ghost. He died. And they came in, rolled him up, took him out and buried him. About three hours later, his wife came in and God had a little mercy on her. God had a little mercy on her because Peter didn't ask Ananas, "Did you get this much out of the property?" He held Ananas to a higher level because Ananas was the husband. But when Safh come in, he had a little mercy on her. And Peter just simply says, "Did you sell the property for X amount?" In other words, he's trying to give her a little bit of she said, "Yes, for that amount it was sold." He said, "How is it that you and your husband have agreed together to tempt the spirit of God?" said, "The feet of those that carried your husband out to the graveyard are here to carry you out." And there was great fear came upon the church. And there was a great revival that hit. I'm wondering tonight, church. I'm wondering tonight. I'm wondering tonight if that great fear wasn't that people got in their mind, we better keep our money on a mission to do something for God. We better keep our money on a mission to do something for God. I'm going to ask every person in this room tonight that wants to join me in this altar in a prayer of giving God our finances, giving God making making him the Lord of our finances. I want you to join me in the altar right now. The name of Jesus. The wonderful name of Jesus. The precious name of Jesus. God, it's all yours, God. God, it's all yours, God. It's all yours, God. Oh, God. It's all yours. It's all yours, God. It's all yours, God. Oh, God. I I don't I don't know, God, who tithes and who doesn't. God, I don't know who gives and who doesn't give in this church, God. God, I pray over the tithers tonight. I pray over the offering givers tonight. God, I pray, Lord Jesus, that you would continue to keep them in a frame of mind of giving to your work. Lord, I pray over those, God, that need to be delivered from a man view of giving. I pray over those tonight that need to be delivered from a from a human view, a carnal view, a view of giving that has nothing to do with scripture. I I pray over them right now, God. Come on, church. I pray over them right now in the name of Jesus. I I pray over them tonight in the name of Jesus. I pray over them tonight. Come on. Let's talk to God right now. Let's talk to God right now.