24-1208a Transcript

(0:41) I open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it is overflowed. (0:50) Rebuke the devourers for you. (0:54) Not destroy the roots of the ground, for where you bind in the fields cast is grapes, says the Lord of hosts.

(1:04) Nations will call you blessed, for you shall be in a delightful land. (1:11) The Lord of hosts. (1:13) This concludes this reading. (1:14)

Preacher: Tom Freed

(1:19) Good to see everybody. (1:22) Today, the ultimate gift giver. (1:26) I’m not doing another sermon with a song title, I could have, but (1:29) Today I have kind of a Christmas theme.

(1:33) This is right around the corner, so I’m doing the Christmas theme today. (1:38) I remember Christmas morning as a kid. (1:41) Trying to wake up.

(1:43) You know, we stay up all night in anticipation of the gifts we could get in the morning. (1:47) No better day as a kid than Christmas. (1:51) You know, we can’t wait to get those gifts.

(1:54) It feels better than unwrapping a gift than getting exactly what you wanted. (1:59) You’re lucky enough to get more than you even anticipated. (2:05) I love video games, and I remember one Christmas, I asked for one game I really liked.

(2:11) Three or four instead of just one. (2:15) It’s great to get more than you asked for. (2:19) Being filled with joy and grateful because (2:23) I received.

(2:25) This is exactly the God. (2:29) Because he gives in abundance. (2:32) He’s a big God and we can ask for big things.

(2:34) He was able to give us more than we could ever anticipate. (2:39) Ephesians 3.20 (2:41) He was able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. (2:47) To the power that works in us.

(2:51) Ask or think about something a lot of times (2:55) far greater than we can ever imagine. (3:00) He’s done this with many of you in your lives. (3:02) He’s done this with me.

(3:05) With the place I live. (3:09) Car purchases. (3:10) It’s not just about material things.

(3:12) Although it is nice to have material things. (3:16) In all areas of life. (3:19) Times greater than we expect.

(3:25) But we have to do our part as well to receive the full portion from God. (3:32) The equation a lot of us are missing is that (3:36) do what God has asked us and we expect him to give in return. (3:43) He calls up in the air and just gives and gives and gives and expects.

(3:47) A lot of times he does but he also expects something from us. (3:53) Just keep asking and not do anything for him. (3:58) Receive great blessings from God.

(4:00) You need to give first. (4:03) Take care of us all in a general sense. (4:07) 5.45 (4:08) Be sons of your father in heaven.

(4:13) This is the sun to rise on the evil and the good. (4:18) Be sons of the righteous and the unrighteous. (4:22) Take care of everyone even if they’re evil.

(4:28) You want to unlock God’s full giving potential. (4:32) Say his word. (4:35) So stingy all the time.

(4:39) Do a sermon to get your money because I don’t make money from preaching. (4:45) I don’t think I do. (4:46) I mean if we do make any money it’s barely anything.

(4:51) Most of us are out of this. (4:56) The preacher is trying to get in your pocketbook. (5:02) I do preach just because I’ve experienced it.

(5:06) It’s God blessing me. (5:07) Especially the more I give I feel like the more I’m blessed. (5:13) The more freely you give you’ll be blessed.

(5:18) But the more you withhold the poorer you become. (5:22) Proverbs 11 24-25 (5:27) Man gives freely yet gains even more. (5:31) Withholds unduly.

(5:33) Poverty. (5:34) A generous man will prosper. (5:38) A precious other will also be refreshed.

(5:43) The more you give the more you gain. (5:45) If you withhold poverty. (5:48) So if you wonder why you’re not being prospered maybe you’re withholding from the Lord.

(5:55) Use a financial advisor. (5:59) Steps to gaining wealth. (6:00) And the last one is giving.

(6:03) Become a financial advisor. (6:07) It’s common sense. (6:11) Simple minds.

(6:13) The more I give the poorer I’m going to become. (6:18) Just basic math. (6:20) If you subtract out of your bank account you’re going to be…​ (6:24) Let’s see.

(6:27) How it works with God. (6:31) I barely have enough to pay my bills this month. (6:33) If I give I’m going to be broke.

(6:36) Too much to give. (6:39) Nowadays everything is more expensive. (6:40) We’ve got inflation.

(6:43) It’s harder and harder to give. (6:47) You need to be like the widow who gave all she had and trusted the Lord would provide. (6:51) Mark 12 43-44 (6:56) Disciples of him, Jesus said, I tell you the truth.

(7:01) The widow was put more into the treasury than all others. (7:05) Out of their wealth. (7:06) But she, out of her poverty.

(7:09) Things she had to live on. (7:12) She only gave a few pennies in her…​ (7:18) I think it was a few pennies, a few mites. (7:21) It would be in comparison.

(7:24) More because she gave out of her poverty. (7:28) She didn’t have that much to give. (7:30) She gave almost all she had.

(7:33) So much to give. (7:34) Myself included. (7:35) I give out what I’ve been over…​ (7:40) After I pay my bills and everything.

(7:45) Find a way to take care of us. (7:48) Luke 7 25 (7:51) Now I’m old. (7:52) Yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread.

(8:00) People…​ (8:02) Begging for money. (8:05) You know, so they could eat. (8:09) Any of you out there, I haven’t seen…​ (8:13) I know.

(8:14) On the street corner begging. (8:17) Honey. (8:20) What giving is, we may not always see the way God blesses us.

(8:25) Way ahead in the long run. (8:28) It’s always blatantly obvious. (8:30) It’s not like you give and all of a sudden he just gives you dollars back.

(8:38) These are more hidden. (8:38) We’ve got to look deeper, beyond the surface. (8:41) We might get a great deal on a house and pay lower monthly payments.

(8:45) Find a better job or get a promotion. (8:49) Get a dependable car instead of one that gives us a ton of problems. (8:56) God blesses us that aren’t always obvious.

(9:00) Our house. (9:03) That’s very costly. (9:07) Inheritance.

(9:08) We can find great deals, you know, shopping or buying things. (9:13) A lady at work years ago who received a check for like $10,000 from an old job she had. (9:24) With some kind of investment fund.

(9:26) You know, she didn’t even know about it. (9:29) That’s just that way. (9:31) All of a sudden, he comes in.

(9:36) He blesses us in so many different ways. (9:41) He’s not just going to immediately give us ten times back under our pillow the next morning. (9:47) The tooth fairy.

(9:50) The case. (9:52) That would be the greatest investment ever. (9:55) A person could just give to God and receive back ten times what they’ve given.

(10:02) That’s what some preachers want you to believe. (10:05) That’s not how it works. (10:06) He blesses us in other ways a lot of times.

(10:09) He’s direct. (10:13) Over time, we’ll greatly prosper. (10:21) It’s completely different from our logic.

(10:24) Like I said, we just believe, hey, I give more, I’m going to be poor. (10:31) His ways are higher than our ways. (10:33) God doesn’t see it that way.

(10:35) Isaiah 55, 9. (10:36) The heavens are higher than the earth. (10:39) He’s higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (10:45) Without giving, we subtract all the money from our account.

(10:50) God isn’t into the equation. (10:52) The math changes. (10:54) The more you will be blessed.

(10:57) It doesn’t exist that way. (11:02) He can do everything, all things. (11:06) It doesn’t work as a Christian.

(11:11) Better than giving to the Lord and helping others. (11:14) Isaiah 35, in everything I did, by this kind of hard work, we must help the weak. (11:22) The words of the Lord himself.

(11:25) He himself said, it’s better to give than to receive. (11:31) I don’t have a mind for giving, but it’s best if we do. (11:40) Remember, it’s not only about giving to receive back as much as possible.

(11:47) It’s a mindset to have. (11:50) God owns everything and has just loaned it to us for a period of time. (11:56) 10 through 12.

(11:58) All in the forest is mine. (12:01) And the cattle on a thousand hills. (12:03) I know every bird in the mountains.

(12:07) The fields are mine. (12:09) I would not tell you. (12:12) Mine and all that is in it.

(12:15) Everything is owned by God. (12:17) He created everything. (12:18) Everything we have is from him.

(12:23) We need our money. (12:25) If I was hungry, I wouldn’t tell you. (12:27) God’s never needed help or anything.

(12:29) He’s God. (12:32) He’s created everything. (12:34) He’s all powerful.

(12:36) He wants money, but he wants to see where our heart is. (12:41) So he can give back to us. (12:46) Everything is because he created and controls the world.

(12:51) So we should feel grateful that we have and be happy to give back to him. (12:58) Be thankful for what we have. (13:00) We live in the greatest, most prosperous nation that ever existed.

(13:03) We all have TVs, houses, cell phones. (13:08) Even the poor people have cell phones. (13:12) Don’t complain and cry.

(13:15) Go to third world countries, come back here and kiss the ground. (13:20) We’re spoiled or rotten and we don’t even just give back to get. (13:28) But it’s a great perk to receive when we do it with good intentions.

(13:36) I’m preaching this sermon because I’ve experienced it personally. (13:40) Many of you have. (13:44) Give back to God a portion that he has blessed you with.

(13:47) You’re robbing him. (13:48) When you do give back, he’ll open the floodgates of heaven and bless you. (13:55) Bless him and find out how much he’ll cross for you.

(14:00) Use this in prayer. (14:03) It’s a great Bible verse. (14:07) 3, 8 through 12.

(14:11) God, help me. (14:14) God, help you. (14:18) Offerings.

(14:20) First, the whole nation of you, because you are robbing me. (14:24) Tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. (14:29) It says the Lord Almighty.

(14:33) Not to open the floodgates of heaven. (14:36) So much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. (14:40) To pass from devouring your crops.

(14:42) The vines in your field will not cast their fruit, says the Lord Almighty. (14:48) Nations will call you blessed. (14:50) For yours will be the delight of the land, says the Lord.

(14:55) If you withhold from him what you should give, you’re robbing him. (15:02) He’ll open the floodgates of heaven and bless you. (15:07) He blesses and curses nations that give or don’t give.

(15:12) This nation is blessed because we give. (15:14) We’re one of the leading nations in giving. (15:16) I think third in the world.

(15:21) Nations are blessed or cursed from giving. (15:25) We’re not tithed today, but we’re still told in the Bible (15:28) to set aside a portion that we have to give out each week. (15:36) But somebody said one time, (15:39) a model will go off of 10% or more.

(15:49) 16 too. (15:51) On the first day of the week, let each of you lay aside something. (15:55) You may prosper.

(15:58) When I come, give what we decided in our heart. (16:04) 2 Corinthians 9, 7. (16:08) Give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or out of necessity. (16:14) A cheerful giver is key.

(16:21) Give cheerfully. (16:23) It’s painful for many of us to give back to God. (16:30) It really hurts us to go in our purse or wallet and pull that money out.

(16:34) We’re like, oh, man, I’m never coming back here. (16:42) A lot of times, I think we do a great job here, (16:44) so I’m not picking on anybody here, but sometimes we give. (16:50) We need to have a better attitude.

(16:52) We need to give back. (16:56) It’s a great job. (16:57) We have fewer and fewer people, but we usually take out whatever is left.

(17:08) We’re supposed to prepare it, set it aside. (17:12) Give. (17:15) Be careful when you hold back a portion that you have promised to God, (17:19) robbing him of what you owe him.

(17:22) Give the ultimate price. (17:25) In the story of Ananias and Sapphira, or I don’t know how to pronounce her name, (17:30) but they pretended to deliver up the entire amount which they had received for land they sold. (17:39) They wanted praise for giving all while he had only given part, (17:45) pointing to deception.

(17:48) It’s like he was given everything, but he held back. (17:53) He was pledged to God. (17:56) An example of him taking both their lives for this lie, (18:02) the Holy Spirit, and paid the ultimate price.

(18:08) The thing that touched the Holy Spirit. (18:12) That’s a fool on us. (18:15) He does make an example of people.

(18:22) Their example to make sure we never try to deceive the Lord (18:26) and give less than we pledged. (18:29) He was giving us everything, even the air we breathe. (18:33) We don’t want to deceive him.

(18:37) We adore God after all he’s done for us. (18:43) He gives back to you until it’s overflowing into your lap. (18:50) Be given to you.

(18:54) You’re pressed down, shaken together, and running over. (18:58) To your lap. (19:00) With what measure you use, it’s done to you.

(19:06) To him, he doesn’t just give back the same amount. (19:12) Before he gives it back, he fills the cup. (19:16) He presses it down.

(19:20) Put more inside it. (19:23) Presses it down again. (19:26) Then it makes it overflowing into your lap.

(19:32) As much as possible. (19:41) Good gifts to your children. (19:43) How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him? (19:48) Matthew 7-11.

(19:51) How to give good gifts. (19:55) How much more does God know how to give to us? (20:02) If we receive it from God. (20:03) James 1-17.

(20:06) Every good and perfect gift is from God. (20:11) From the Father of life. (20:14) There’s no variation or shadow of turning.

(20:18) If we get it from God. (20:23) Show us the money. (20:25) It’s not always about that.

(20:28) Not just material gifts, but also spiritual ones. (20:32) 12, 6-8. (20:34) Having gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us.

(20:40) If prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith. (20:46) Or ministry, let us use it in our ministering. (20:51) In teaching.

(20:54) In exhortation. (20:55) He who gives with liberality. (20:57) He who leads with diligence.

(21:00) He who gives with cheerfulness. (21:02) All of the spiritual gifts as well. (21:09) All material things.

(21:11) Although they aren’t nice. (21:13) Spiritual things are even better. (21:16) Spirit.

(21:17) Forgiveness of sins. (21:21) Pray to him. (21:23) Worship.

(21:23) We have Jesus. (21:26) The list goes on and on. (21:30) A good spouse is from the Lord.

(21:34) 19, 14. (21:36) 12. (21:39) From parents.

(21:40) But a prudent wife is from the Lord. (21:44) Begging wife comes from Proverbs 21, 19. (21:51) Desert, that was a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.

(21:55) I know none of you are that. (21:56) I know we have a lot of great husbands here. (22:00) So, if you have a good spouse, it’s from the Lord.

(22:08) The perfect wife. (22:10) He blesses many of us with the same thing. (22:15) During Joyce’s funeral.

(22:19) Blessing from the Lord. (22:21) Psalm 127, 3-5. (22:25) Our heritage from the Lord.

(22:28) Womb is a reward. (22:31) Hand of a warrior. (22:33) So are the children of one’s youth.

(22:36) The quiver full of them. (22:40) Shame, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate. (22:45) Also a great blessing.

(22:49) Grateful she had many children. (22:53) Even great-grandchildren. (22:57) Dear thing to her in her life.

(22:59) And so it is of many of us. (23:04) Life and man in his own image. (23:06) Genesis 1-27.

(23:10) Man in his own image. (23:12) And the image of God he created him. (23:14) Male and female.

(23:18) He gave his life in his image. (23:25) He doesn’t just give us life on our own. (23:30) He strengthens and helps us through our journey.

(23:38) Taking care of us in the hard times. (23:43) With Joyce and all of us. (23:45) Isaiah 41-10.

(23:48) I am with you. (23:49) Be not dismayed for I am your God. (23:51) I will strengthen you.

(23:53) Yes, I will help you. (23:55) Hold you with my righteous hand. (24:00) The Lord will hold your right hand.

(24:04) Saying to you, fear not, I will help you. (24:06) Isaiah 41-13. (24:12) He makes sure that everything that happens in your life, (24:16) things work out for your good.

(24:19) All things work together for the good of those who love God. (24:23) All according to his purpose. (24:25) Romans 8-28.

(24:30) Some God who abundance and asks for little in return. (24:38) To give back a lot. (24:39) What he gives.

(24:42) He gives us the ultimate gift. (24:48) So that we might have. (24:54) His own son.

(24:58) Not for us all. (25:01) Not with him also freely give all things. (25:05) How will he not so freely give us all things? (25:12) Anything from giving to us.

(25:16) God gives. (25:19) Some of us are ungrateful to him. (25:23) Giving up your own child to die the most horrific death.

(25:31) Spit upon, treated like a worthless criminal. (25:36) He was unrecognizable and hung on the cross to die in shame. (25:42) He separated from him when he was on the cross.

(25:45) He did not look at sin. (25:50) Not to save righteous people, but sinners like you and me. (25:54) Romans 5-8.

(25:56) He demonstrates his own love toward us. (26:00) We are still sinners. (26:02) Christ died for us.

(26:06) Us. (26:08) Our children that die for this world. (26:11) I doubt anybody would.

(26:14) He gave the ultimate price so that we might be with him for eternity. (26:19) Romans 5-10. (26:21) He died for us.

(26:24) Whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. (26:31) The ultimate gift giver is Santa. (26:37) Even Santa is here.

(26:40) Romans 38-42. (26:43) The Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, (26:48) We want to see a miraculous sign from you. (26:52) The wicked and adulterous generation asked for miracles, a miraculous sign.

(26:59) He was given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. (27:05) He was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish. (27:10) He will be three days and nights in the heart of the earth.

(27:13) The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it. (27:19) Look at the preaching of Jonah. (27:22) What’s greater than Jonah is here.

(27:26) Solomon will rise in judgment against this generation and condemn it. (27:31) For she came to the ends of the earth. (27:35) Solomon’s wisdom and knowledge greater than Solomon is here.

(27:40) That jolly man from the south pole will rise up in judgment against this generation and condemn it. (27:47) Santa was the greatest gift giver that has ever lived. (27:51) Greater than Santa is here.

(27:55) I added that in. (27:58) It’s supposed to be funny. (27:59) I don’t know what I mean.

(28:03) Creative. (28:05) Hopefully God doesn’t condemn me for adding to his word. (28:08) But we all know it’s a joke.

(28:09) But we do have a greater gift giver than Santa. (28:16) Like Christmas. (28:20) With Amazon nowadays, it’s like you have packages at your front door.

(28:28) In so many ways, we don’t even realize it. (28:31) And we need to be thankful and appreciate him. (28:37) He’s given us life to live on, material and spiritual blessings.

(28:45) Children, grandchildren. (28:48) And we’ll receive in the future. (28:52) His own son.

(28:55) Stop there. (28:58) One last gift so great we cannot even comprehend it. (29:03) It’s free.

(29:05) Romans. (29:07) Free. (29:08) For the wages of sin is death.

(29:12) God’s eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (29:18) All this and more. (29:22) Accept Jesus and do what he has commanded us to be saved.

(29:27) It needs to be done. (29:29) We need to hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized. (29:34) And we shall receive a crown of life.

(29:39) Having someone greater than Santa blessing you every day of your life. (29:45) Turn that down. (29:46) A fool who is rich towards God.

(29:52) Luke 12. (29:56) You fool. (29:59) Your life will be demanded of you.

(30:03) Who will get what you have prepared for yourself? (30:08) With anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich towards God. (30:13) Foolish to just gain this world. (30:19) Build yourself riches towards him.

(30:23) Or foolish to believe God doesn’t exist. (30:28) The fool says in his heart there is no God. (30:34) Point to a God, the God of the Bible.

(30:39) Tell me my evidence if you do the research. (30:45) One thing, we’re all going to stand before God in judgment. (30:50) Back or when we die.

(30:52) 2 Corinthians 5.10. (30:56) Appear before the judgment seat of Christ. (30:59) That each one may receive what is due to him. (31:02) The things in the body whether good or bad.

(31:08) We’re going to stand before God and answer how we live. (31:13) Prepare for that day. (31:15) If we don’t, we’re going to suffer eternally for it.

(31:21) This is how it will be at the end of the age. (31:31) We only have one chance to do it right. (31:43) You will be shut off in the presence of God.

(31:47) Everlasting destruction. (31:50) 2 Corinthians 1.8-9. (31:53) Those who do not know God. (31:56) Say the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

(32:01) Everlasting destruction. (32:04) In the presence of the Lord. (32:06) From the majesty of his power.

(32:09) What we want is to be in eternal darkness away from God. (32:14) Salvation from God for eternity. (32:18) Don’t miss the opportunity to be saved.

(32:22) Experience such an awesome, all-powerful, loving, merciful God in this life and the next. (32:32) Accept that gift. (32:37) If you’re a Christian, but if you’re not saved, this may be your only chance.

(32:43) Ever come. (32:46) Salvation. 2 Corinthians 6.2. (32:50) Time of my favor I have heard you.

(32:53) And the day of salvation I have helped you. (32:57) Now is the time of God’s favor. (33:00) Salvation.

(33:05) And the heavy lifting has been done. (33:10) Trust and obey. (33:11) If you’re a Christian or a congregation or even if you want to come forward and tell us something great that’s happened to you.

(33:20) Now is the time.