Exploring the Depths of God's Mercy and Grace

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.420 When your back's against the wall and you come to the Lord, remind him of his mercy. 00:00:06.420 --> 00:00:08.300 Sing of his mercy. 00:00:08.300 --> 00:00:13.740 Satan may be naming your name to Jesus right now saying, "Mmm." 00:00:13.740 --> 00:00:16.640 And Jesus saying, "I pray for you that your faith fail not. 00:00:16.640 --> 00:00:17.740 Believe in me. 00:00:17.740 --> 00:00:19.580 Believe in the power of my blood. 00:00:19.580 --> 00:00:22.780 Your mistakes and your sin, you think they're so powerful, 00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:26.180 they're not more powerful than my blood." 00:00:26.180 --> 00:00:28.660 Welcome to the City Light Church podcast. 00:00:28.660 --> 00:00:34.100 Thanks for joining us today as we look into God's Word and discover the hope and truth 00:00:34.100 --> 00:00:35.860 that He has for us. 00:00:35.860 --> 00:00:41.700 If you want to connect with City Light Church, feel free to visit us at CityLightNYC.com. 00:00:41.700 --> 00:00:44.900 That's CityLightNYC.com. 00:00:44.900 --> 00:00:50.540 Pastor Boyan Jancic and his team believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is already working 00:00:50.540 --> 00:00:52.780 in our hearts and minds. 00:00:52.780 --> 00:00:57.740 As you listen to today's teaching, remember that you are deeply loved by God, that you 00:00:57.740 --> 00:01:02.540 are surrounded by his grace and that he has a real hope and a future for you. 00:01:02.540 --> 00:01:09.740 I haven't preached in three Sundays. I'm a little unhinged this morning 00:01:09.740 --> 00:01:18.460 and I want to minister to you on the mercy of God, the mercy of God. 00:01:18.460 --> 00:01:26.620 The mercy of God is a subject that's often misunderstood and the word mercy is often 00:01:26.620 --> 00:01:33.660 conflated with grace. People use the terms interchangeably, but they're not the same 00:01:33.660 --> 00:01:41.660 thing. They often are listed together because they flow from the same ever-loving God, but 00:01:41.660 --> 00:01:46.980 there's different benefits to grace and mercy. Now, grace we should be well acquainted with. 00:01:46.980 --> 00:01:55.200 We are a new covenant church. We're a gospel church. We realize we haven't been born B.C., 00:01:55.200 --> 00:01:57.720 But after Jesus' death, burial and resurrection, 00:01:57.720 --> 00:02:01.240 so we're under the dispensation, the canopy of grace. 00:02:01.240 --> 00:02:02.840 And so what is grace? 00:02:02.840 --> 00:02:10.800 Grace is his undeserved, unmerited favor. 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:13.940 Grace is the means by which we are saved. 00:02:13.940 --> 00:02:16.920 The Bible says we're saved by grace through faith. 00:02:16.920 --> 00:02:19.680 And we receive our justification. 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:21.760 That means we're pronounced not guilty, 00:02:21.760 --> 00:02:24.240 not based on what we do, 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:33.760 based on what he has already done. That is grace. So what's mercy? Well, if grace is you receiving 00:02:33.760 --> 00:02:42.400 that thing that you didn't deserve, total forgiveness, healing in your body, prosperity 00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:47.600 in your finances, intimacy with the Lord, these are all things that in and of ourselves, 00:02:47.600 --> 00:02:56.000 in the natural we don't deserve. By grace we get those things. Mercy is us not getting the things 00:02:56.000 --> 00:03:06.960 that in the natural we do deserve. Judgment, the lightning bolt, the hammer. Mercy is the active 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:17.280 pity of God. And I don't know about you, but I know that I need both. And it's not one or the other. 00:03:17.280 --> 00:03:23.560 And I want to know how I can posture myself to actively receive the active 00:03:23.560 --> 00:03:29.800 pity of God, to actively receive the mercy of God. Mercy is me not getting the 00:03:29.800 --> 00:03:36.320 thing that in the natural I deserve, the consequences of my decisions. Now 00:03:36.320 --> 00:03:41.440 probably not you, but I'll be the transparent pastor this morning. Please 00:03:41.440 --> 00:03:43.480 Please try to relate with me. 00:03:43.480 --> 00:03:45.840 Sometimes I blow it. 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:48.320 Sometimes I make mistakes. 00:03:48.320 --> 00:03:51.320 Sometimes I make really, really stupid mistakes. 00:03:51.320 --> 00:03:54.680 I'm not even talking necessarily about sin, but yes, sin. 00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:58.380 But sometimes I just make financial mistakes. 00:03:58.380 --> 00:04:01.080 Sometimes I can make a mistake at work. 00:04:01.080 --> 00:04:04.880 Sometimes I'm looking down the road and I'm going, "I did a stupid thing that's gonna 00:04:04.880 --> 00:04:07.880 hurt, that's gonna have consequences. 00:04:07.880 --> 00:04:08.880 What do I need? 00:04:08.880 --> 00:04:09.880 Mercy. 00:04:09.880 --> 00:04:12.080 I need the active pity of God. 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:18.280 I need God to come and intervene and that thing that I deserve rightfully so. 00:04:18.280 --> 00:04:20.280 The consequences of my actions. 00:04:20.280 --> 00:04:22.780 I need God to step in with his mercy. 00:04:22.780 --> 00:04:24.780 Amen. 00:04:24.780 --> 00:04:31.980 There is a fascinating exchange between Jesus and Peter that actually I've never ever heard preached on. 00:04:31.980 --> 00:04:38.680 I probably have only preached on it or mentioned it several times in all of silly lights history, 00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:41.680 But it's right before Jesus's crucifixion. 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:49.680 Jesus turns to Peter and says, Peter, Peter, Satan has desired you. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:51.680 He's got his eye on you. 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:55.680 Jesus says Satan has desired you to sift you like wheat. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:05:02.680 But I have prayed for you that your faith fail not. 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:12.680 So there is this picture of Satan who is after the believer and he is the accuser of the brethren. 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:18.680 He's the one constantly going to God and accusing you to God and pointing out all your shortcomings. 00:05:18.680 --> 00:05:21.680 We see a similar picture in the book of Job. 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:28.680 And just know that Jesus didn't say, "Peter, Peter, Satan has desire to sift you like wheat, 00:05:28.680 --> 00:05:31.680 but don't worry about it because I've gained the ultimate victory." 00:05:31.680 --> 00:05:35.080 Because it doesn't matter that Jesus gained the ultimate victory unless you 00:05:35.080 --> 00:05:36.880 have faith to receive that victory. 00:05:36.880 --> 00:05:38.880 Are you catching this? 00:05:38.880 --> 00:05:42.580 So Jesus says Peter, Satan, he's after you. 00:05:42.580 --> 00:05:47.980 Wants to cut you down like a Reaper going through blades of wheat. 00:05:47.980 --> 00:05:53.080 But I've prayed for you that your faith will not and that you have faith 00:05:53.080 --> 00:05:58.280 in me and who I am and that I'll see you through and that my mercy will 00:05:58.280 --> 00:06:04.280 come and it's new every morning and that it'll endure that even because of some of your stupidity 00:06:04.280 --> 00:06:11.240 I'll come in and I will avert judgment that you in the natural do deserve I will avert it 00:06:11.240 --> 00:06:17.960 and mercy is the very nature of God. I want to just take you through a few verses on the mercy 00:06:17.960 --> 00:06:24.440 of God and then we're going to look at how we can posture ourselves. Hebrews 4 16 it says let us 00:06:24.440 --> 00:06:33.880 therefore come boldly and that's the key word there boldly I got several desires 00:06:33.880 --> 00:06:41.120 for our church one day I'll write them out top ten like who we are our identity 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:46.220 when we have our values and on the website and all that but one of my 00:06:46.220 --> 00:06:54.660 desires that we don't have a man be pam be Mickey Mouse Church that you know 00:06:54.660 --> 00:07:02.100 Lord you know maybe but that when you know who you are and how you've been 00:07:02.100 --> 00:07:06.140 forgiven and you know the power of the blood of Jesus it's not an arrogance 00:07:06.140 --> 00:07:14.100 it's a Holy Ghost confidence you're not a braggart you're not proud you just 00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:16.940 There's no in whom you have believed. 00:07:16.940 --> 00:07:19.020 And so there is a boldness. 00:07:19.020 --> 00:07:20.740 You come boldly. 00:07:20.740 --> 00:07:24.020 You don't come crawling up like some worm up a rock. 00:07:24.020 --> 00:07:25.620 You come boldly. 00:07:25.620 --> 00:07:28.660 You're coming in the name of Jesus. 00:07:28.660 --> 00:07:30.060 What does that mean? 00:07:30.060 --> 00:07:33.380 People just say, they pray, formulaeically, "Father, in the name of Jesus." 00:07:33.380 --> 00:07:37.340 No, when you say, "In the name of Jesus," you're saying so much. 00:07:37.340 --> 00:07:40.980 You're saying, "I am approaching the holy place. 00:07:40.980 --> 00:07:44.060 I am now in the very abode of God. 00:07:44.060 --> 00:07:47.940 But I'm not sashaying in with my own righteousness. 00:07:47.940 --> 00:07:51.460 I'm coming in the name of Jesus. 00:07:51.460 --> 00:07:57.180 And Father, you're receiving me just as you would Jesus. 00:07:57.180 --> 00:08:03.340 I'm coming in based on everything he has done for me, washed in his blood with the same 00:08:03.340 --> 00:08:07.020 righteousness he has so I can come boldly. 00:08:07.020 --> 00:08:13.020 You say even when I've messed up, especially when you've messed up. 00:08:13.020 --> 00:08:15.340 That's when it actually takes faith. 00:08:15.340 --> 00:08:16.340 Amen. 00:08:16.340 --> 00:08:23.340 When you don't feel like it, you can come boldly to a throne. 00:08:23.340 --> 00:08:29.380 You know, John in Revelation, he said, "I saw the one sitting on the throne." 00:08:29.380 --> 00:08:34.340 I saw the one. 00:08:34.340 --> 00:08:40.580 It was Jesus, and it's a throne of mercy and grace. 00:08:40.580 --> 00:08:50.160 And by the way, the mercy seat under the old covenant, it was always covered with the blood. 00:08:50.160 --> 00:08:55.260 This mercy that we're going to be talking about today, it does not come cheaply. 00:08:55.260 --> 00:09:00.260 When mistakes are made, there has to be a death. 00:09:00.260 --> 00:09:02.100 But thankfully it doesn't have to be your death. 00:09:02.100 --> 00:09:04.380 It doesn't have to be your financial death. 00:09:04.380 --> 00:09:06.180 It doesn't have to be your social death. 00:09:06.180 --> 00:09:08.140 It doesn't have to be your spiritual death. 00:09:08.140 --> 00:09:13.500 Jesus who already gave his life for you. His blood is on that mercy seat. And so you can 00:09:13.500 --> 00:09:21.500 come boldly to the throne of grace that you would obtain mercy, the aversion of judgment, 00:09:21.500 --> 00:09:30.180 the aversion of divine wrath, God's active pity and find grace to help in time of need. 00:09:30.180 --> 00:09:34.520 Amen. Micah 7 18. 00:09:34.520 --> 00:09:38.800 One of my responsibilities here is to recognize that I'm preaching to some of you. 00:09:38.800 --> 00:09:46.700 You've been coming for years and some of you, this is your first Sunday and we're in Queens. 00:09:46.700 --> 00:09:48.440 What does that mean? 00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:51.200 That means not everyone has the same mindset. 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:54.720 You go to some small town down South, everybody thinks the same, walks the same, talks the 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:55.720 same. 00:09:55.720 --> 00:10:00.600 We have 161 nations here that actively come through our door. 00:10:00.600 --> 00:10:03.280 So people have different mindsets, different mentalities. 00:10:03.280 --> 00:10:05.340 People have different notions of God. 00:10:05.340 --> 00:10:09.460 There's people who've come in and the message that we preach, the emphasis on Jesus, his 00:10:09.460 --> 00:10:15.760 person, his power, his blood, grace, it blows their religious mind. 00:10:15.760 --> 00:10:17.960 They delight in judgment. 00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:21.760 You talk about the judgment of God, they go, "Oh, ooh." 00:10:21.760 --> 00:10:26.240 They see him as a God with, like Zeus, two thunderbolts in each hand, just rated a, he's 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:32.000 like, "He's looking, mwahahahaha, ooh, I can't wait to punish." 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:35.840 That's their view of God. 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:41.240 Here's what Micah, prophet Micah, how he spoke of the nature and character of God. 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:47.240 Who is a God like you pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant 00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:49.160 of his heritage? 00:10:49.160 --> 00:11:00.160 He does not retain his anger forever because he Yahweh God, Lord God, he delights in mercy. 00:11:00.160 --> 00:11:08.620 So if you need mercy, like I know I do, you can take confidence that you serve a God who 00:11:08.620 --> 00:11:10.420 actually delights in mercy. 00:11:10.420 --> 00:11:13.700 That means it does him good to be merciful to you. 00:11:13.700 --> 00:11:18.980 It pushes his buttons to show his tender mercies toward you. 00:11:18.980 --> 00:11:20.440 Hallelujah. 00:11:20.440 --> 00:11:25.060 And one of the first acts, you see it, I'm just trying to show you the nature of God, 00:11:25.060 --> 00:11:26.060 the character of God. 00:11:26.060 --> 00:11:29.900 It's not like he was a big meaning in the Old Testament. 00:11:29.900 --> 00:11:34.540 And then God got born again in the New and now he's different. 00:11:34.540 --> 00:11:36.900 He's the same God. 00:11:36.900 --> 00:11:38.060 His nature didn't change. 00:11:38.060 --> 00:11:40.960 His character didn't change. 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:42.940 Just the setup changed. 00:11:42.940 --> 00:11:43.940 God didn't change. 00:11:43.940 --> 00:11:47.340 Just the way he deals with man changed because, you know, something kind of happened in between 00:11:47.340 --> 00:11:50.500 the Old and New Testaments, something pretty significant. 00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:53.260 They changed the course of world history. 00:11:53.260 --> 00:11:55.060 I was just reading. 00:11:55.060 --> 00:11:56.060 Can I take an aside? 00:11:56.060 --> 00:11:57.060 You're the second service. 00:11:57.060 --> 00:11:58.060 We have no end time. 00:11:58.060 --> 00:11:59.060 I'm going to take aside. 00:11:59.060 --> 00:12:01.860 Somebody remember where I was. 00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:05.900 Do you know how few Jewish people there are on the planet? 00:12:05.900 --> 00:12:10.500 Do you know how few Jewish people there were 2000 years ago? 00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:15.180 Do you know how few people understood about the God of Israel? 00:12:15.180 --> 00:12:21.140 99% of the planet was heathen and paganistic and polytheistic. 00:12:21.140 --> 00:12:29.780 did the God of Israel become famous? A man who preached for three, three and a half years, 00:12:29.780 --> 00:12:39.780 changed the course of global history so that today everyone has heard of Elohim. Everyone has heard 00:12:39.780 --> 00:12:46.420 of Genesis and the creation story and the God of Israel. That is powerful. That's who Jesus is. 00:12:48.100 --> 00:12:55.620 Hallelujah. Now, where was I? Please, somebody help me out. Myka. Where are we in Myka? 00:12:55.620 --> 00:13:05.220 I think we finished that. Let's go to Genesis 3 21. Oh, we're talking about God just showing 00:13:05.220 --> 00:13:12.820 his nature, who he is. And this is why Myka prophesied and said what he said, because none 00:13:12.820 --> 00:13:19.120 None of the other heathen religions believed in any of their false gods having a characteristic 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:20.120 of mercy. 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:21.120 None of them. 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:25.360 They were all with swords and hammers and lightning bolts, ready to fry you at the first 00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:27.620 wrong thing you did. 00:13:27.620 --> 00:13:32.880 But God showed his nature and his character right from the beginning. 00:13:32.880 --> 00:13:35.360 Adam and Eve fell. 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:40.020 Please let's just understand that God did not owe them anything. 00:13:40.020 --> 00:13:42.760 God does not owe us anything. 00:13:42.760 --> 00:13:46.060 we can have this picture like we're owed something like what he did. 00:13:46.060 --> 00:13:49.060 He had to do he didn't have to do anything. 00:13:49.060 --> 00:13:50.460 He created them. 00:13:50.460 --> 00:13:55.060 He created them perfect in his likeness, put them in a garden where 00:13:55.060 --> 00:13:59.560 they had everything they could possibly need or want and still 00:13:59.560 --> 00:14:04.860 they willingly rebelled against him and then they were excommunicated 00:14:04.860 --> 00:14:05.460 out of the garden. 00:14:05.460 --> 00:14:06.460 He could have left them alone. 00:14:06.460 --> 00:14:12.260 But right as early as Genesis 3 21 you see also for Adam and 00:14:12.260 --> 00:14:17.420 his wife because they were naked and they were cold and they were being pushed out of 00:14:17.420 --> 00:14:19.540 the garden. 00:14:19.540 --> 00:14:23.180 The Lord God made tunics of skin and clothed them. 00:14:23.180 --> 00:14:29.220 One that was an act of mercy, an act of his compassion to cover them, to clothe them. 00:14:29.220 --> 00:14:37.060 Two it was one of the earliest, if not the earliest pointings to Jesus because the underside 00:14:37.060 --> 00:14:40.900 of the tunics, I mean, he basically made nice fur coats for them. 00:14:40.900 --> 00:14:44.980 God is a God of style and class. 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:48.980 And the underside would have been wet with the blood of that animal, freshly killed. 00:14:48.980 --> 00:14:54.180 And it was pointing to the blood of Jesus that would cover. 00:14:54.180 --> 00:14:57.260 Hallelujah. 00:14:57.260 --> 00:15:04.260 Let's go to Hosea six, six, which is a verse that Jesus paraphrased. 00:15:04.260 --> 00:15:08.340 He paraphrased that in John eight, when the woman who was caught in adultery was brought 00:15:08.340 --> 00:15:09.340 before him. 00:15:09.340 --> 00:15:14.580 know the story to those of you. I'll give you the quick Cliff Notes version. A bunch 00:15:14.580 --> 00:15:20.820 of Pharisees, religious leaders find a woman who is caught in adultery and they say she 00:15:20.820 --> 00:15:25.980 was caught in the very act and they throw her before Jesus and Jesus actually ignores 00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:29.620 them and is just writing in the sand. We don't know what he was writing in the sand, but 00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:36.340 he's just writing in the sand. I like to think that he was writing something like, hey, Moishe, 00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:39.700 How did you know she was in the very act? 00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:47.700 And why were you watching you, Pharisaical peeping Tom you. 00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:50.880 But then he gets up and says, you were without sin. 00:15:50.880 --> 00:15:53.500 You cast the first stone. 00:15:53.500 --> 00:16:01.260 And then he paraphrases, Jose six, six, where God says for I desire mercy and that sacrifice 00:16:01.260 --> 00:16:06.060 and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. 00:16:06.060 --> 00:16:10.540 God is a God who desires mercy and not sacrifice. 00:16:10.540 --> 00:16:15.020 Everything that we read under the old covenant, please know there's a dual application. 00:16:15.020 --> 00:16:18.800 There's how they understood it under the old covenant, which is God saying, rather than 00:16:18.800 --> 00:16:23.720 bring me all these animals as burnt sacrifices, I desire you to receive my mercy and consequently 00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:25.960 be merciful to each other. 00:16:25.960 --> 00:16:32.160 Under the new covenant, what he's saying is, I am a God of mercy and I would much rather 00:16:32.160 --> 00:16:38.760 that you receive truckloads, mega doses of my mercy, then sacrifice. 00:16:38.760 --> 00:16:45.100 What do you sacrifice when you miss it, when you blow up your life, when you make a mistake? 00:16:45.100 --> 00:16:47.020 What does a typical person do? 00:16:47.020 --> 00:16:52.420 They fall under guilt, shame, condemnation, and they sacrifice their personal joy. 00:16:52.420 --> 00:16:54.880 They sacrifice their confidence before the Lord. 00:16:54.880 --> 00:16:56.980 They sacrifice their hope of success. 00:16:56.980 --> 00:17:00.080 They actually anticipate judgment. 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:07.540 And God is saying, "No, better to receive my mercy than sacrifice." 00:17:07.540 --> 00:17:09.060 Sacrifice your peace. 00:17:09.060 --> 00:17:10.660 Sacrifice your happiness. 00:17:10.660 --> 00:17:14.640 Sacrifice that spring in your step, thinking around, walking around all guiltily, "Oh, 00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:16.980 I deserve whatever's coming, and I know it's coming. 00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:18.980 I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop." 00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:22.500 No, he's a God who delights in mercy. 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:26.380 Am I preaching to a bunch of perfect people here this morning with someone who needs the 00:17:26.380 --> 00:17:27.380 mercy? 00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:28.380 I know I need it. 00:17:28.380 --> 00:17:32.380 Lord, if there's ever anyone who doesn't need it, let me get their portion, please. 00:17:32.380 --> 00:17:34.820 Lord, I'll take it. 00:17:34.820 --> 00:17:39.920 I need extra. 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:42.700 My wife and kids were in the first service. 00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:44.220 We got in at 1 a.m. last night. 00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:46.660 You don't want to know where we were. 00:17:46.660 --> 00:17:52.980 Finally, when we were supposed to come back, they changed a flight around and sent us to 00:17:52.980 --> 00:18:00.100 to Turkey, to Istanbul, which why are they sending us two hours east when we need to 00:18:00.100 --> 00:18:04.180 go to Frankfurt, Germany to catch the connecting? But they do. We're like, whatever. But then 00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:09.300 we missed our connecting flight. But then when we got out of it and we always pray when we 00:18:09.300 --> 00:18:14.060 vacation, Lord, sprinkle the day. Just ask God, can you sprinkle the day? That's where 00:18:14.060 --> 00:18:19.380 God just, and always every day they were like these divine surprises. So we're dead tired. 00:18:19.380 --> 00:18:21.380 We don't want to be in Istanbul. 00:18:21.380 --> 00:18:23.380 We asked the Lord to sprinkle the day. 00:18:23.380 --> 00:18:29.380 And so we get 24 hours paid for in Istanbul. 00:18:29.380 --> 00:18:36.380 So now we can go and we see all of the sites of Istanbul 00:18:36.380 --> 00:18:38.380 and see the Blue Mosque. 00:18:38.380 --> 00:18:40.380 And we're looking at thousand year old pillars 00:18:40.380 --> 00:18:44.380 and really, you can feel the energy of objects. 00:18:44.380 --> 00:18:46.380 I'm not trying to be like new age or anything, 00:18:46.380 --> 00:18:49.080 It's just a fact that stuff has an energy. 00:18:49.080 --> 00:18:53.080 You ever grab an old DVD? 00:18:53.080 --> 00:18:58.880 Pastor James has. 00:18:58.880 --> 00:18:59.780 I went to his house. 00:18:59.780 --> 00:19:03.480 He likes to collect some of the old stuff and old record album 00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:07.280 and all the memories flood in and you remember like you were 00:19:07.280 --> 00:19:07.480 listening. 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:10.780 I was listening to this with my dad and now everything is digital. 00:19:10.780 --> 00:19:14.380 You can't but when you touch things, this is really a rabbit 00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:14.980 trail, isn't it? 00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:15.780 Here was my point. 00:19:15.780 --> 00:19:18.280 Anybody tuning in? 00:19:18.280 --> 00:19:19.980 You're like, what kind of a church is this? 00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:20.380 Hang on. 00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:27.380 I had the vacation of a lifetime and a major part of the reason was 00:19:27.380 --> 00:19:31.680 Pastor James and Pastor Mo and the staff that kept all the stresses 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:33.480 of day-to-day church life away from me. 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:36.880 They protected me and you guys showed up and showed out and it really 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:40.180 gave me three weeks of, of bliss. 00:19:42.380 --> 00:19:50.300 While I was on vacation, often as my kids would come and we would laugh and hug and I looked at 00:19:50.300 --> 00:19:57.020 my wife's face glowing, I would remember what it was like being divorced as a preacher. That's like 00:19:57.020 --> 00:20:04.220 the scarlet letter. I remember feeling like, will I ever see the sunshine on my life again? 00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:09.500 Will I even have kids? Will I ever find true love? Will I ever, you feel the weight of that 00:20:09.500 --> 00:20:14.300 and the fear of that. And then I see what the Lord has done and I just break down and go, 00:20:14.300 --> 00:20:21.100 "God, thank you for your mercy." And I'm here talking about this this morning, because I want 00:20:21.100 --> 00:20:29.020 you to taste of his mercy. I'm hunting for that person who's written himself off, that person who's 00:20:29.020 --> 00:20:33.820 written herself off. I say, "Oh, you know, Lord, I'll just settle for the crumbs that fall from 00:20:33.820 --> 00:20:46.060 from your table. No! His mercy is big. His mercy is great. Hallelujah. Let's look at 00:20:46.060 --> 00:20:54.320 five ways that we can position and posture ourselves to receive the mercy of God. Amen? 00:20:54.320 --> 00:21:01.800 This is not a transaction. This is not if you do A, God will do B. Everything has already 00:21:01.800 --> 00:21:08.280 been bought and paid for with the blood of Jesus. But yes, there are things that empowered 00:21:08.280 --> 00:21:15.340 by the Holy Spirit. When we do them, we position ourselves, we posture ourselves to be under 00:21:15.340 --> 00:21:22.340 the spout from which the mercy flows out. Amen. So here's five things to receive truckloads, 00:21:22.340 --> 00:21:25.260 second doses of the mercy of God. 00:21:25.260 --> 00:21:26.100 You ready? 00:21:26.100 --> 00:21:28.260 Number one, 00:21:28.260 --> 00:21:32.060 be merciful. 00:21:32.060 --> 00:21:33.260 Hey, how about that? 00:21:33.260 --> 00:21:41.340 Number one, be merciful found in Luke six and verse 35, 00:21:41.340 --> 00:21:47.940 every preacher's favorite offering passage. 00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:51.420 Yet we'll see now in context, 00:21:51.420 --> 00:21:54.420 that Jesus isn't talking about money. 00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:57.420 He's talking about a principle of sowing and reaping. 00:21:57.420 --> 00:21:59.420 Yes, it can apply to money. 00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:01.420 It can apply to a lot of things. 00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:04.420 Have I used it in an offering message? Yes. 00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:07.420 But if you want to get technical, 00:22:07.420 --> 00:22:09.420 it's not about money. 00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:12.420 Jesus is talking specifically about mercy. 00:22:12.420 --> 00:22:15.420 That when you're merciful to people, 00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:18.420 then you can expect to receive the mercy of God. 00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:27.420 But love your enemies, do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return, and your reward will be great. 00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:33.420 And you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 00:22:33.420 --> 00:22:41.420 Therefore, being merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. 00:22:41.420 --> 00:22:45.420 Let's pause right there. What does it mean to be merciful? 00:22:45.420 --> 00:22:56.140 because that can easily be conflated and confused with this new religion of woke 00:22:56.140 --> 00:23:00.700 ism and their first commandment which is thou shalt not judge the greatest sin 00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:06.300 under woke ism is don't judge what's the difference well number one Jesus said 00:23:06.300 --> 00:23:10.820 judge with righteous judgment that means if his word says it's wrong it's wrong I 00:23:10.820 --> 00:23:12.620 I won't partake of it. 00:23:12.620 --> 00:23:15.220 I won't put my seal of approval on it. 00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:20.220 If you want to get all into pronouns and believe that you're the great arbiter of what is truth, 00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:25.220 when the Bible clearly says he made the male and female, I'm not going to get into that. 00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:28.420 But I can be merciful. 00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:31.220 I can be merciful as I take a stand on truth. 00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:33.620 That means I'm not looking at you with disgust. 00:23:33.620 --> 00:23:36.820 That means I'm not looking at you like I think I'm better than you. 00:23:36.820 --> 00:23:41.820 That means I'm not looking at you like that could never happen to me. 00:23:41.820 --> 00:23:48.820 One thing that we all have to agree on is that any sin we see anybody else committing, that could be you. 00:23:48.820 --> 00:23:54.820 It was all murder that could never be me. You just think that because the ingredients around you weren't right. 00:23:54.820 --> 00:23:58.820 I could never commit a murder. Really? 00:23:58.820 --> 00:24:05.820 Maybe you're on a cruise, something hits the cruise, you become a castaway, you're on an island, there's only six of you. 00:24:05.820 --> 00:24:08.720 Six of you resources are limited. 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:12.000 One weekend we find you and it's Lord of the Flies. 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:18.220 You're swinging from a tree with a bone acting like ahhhh. 00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:21.640 There are 18 works of the flesh. 00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:22.640 They're in you. 00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:26.460 I mean, as a Christian, your flesh has been done away with it, has been crucified. 00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:28.300 And so you live out of your spirit. 00:24:28.300 --> 00:24:32.780 But if you forget that and your flesh comes alive, you're capable of anything. 00:24:32.780 --> 00:24:34.180 You look at a sexual program. 00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:35.780 Oh, no, that's so I could never. 00:24:35.780 --> 00:24:36.780 Yes, you could. 00:24:36.780 --> 00:24:42.280 Hey, I've pastored people who came that whole trope, you know, 00:24:42.280 --> 00:24:45.780 the Greyhound bus and she's going to be an actress and going to be 00:24:45.780 --> 00:24:46.280 a star. 00:24:46.280 --> 00:24:47.680 You don't make it in the big city. 00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:51.480 I've lived out a million times pastoring in the East Village and 00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:54.680 then 10 years later, I can't believe what I got myself into. 00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:55.680 I never thought it could. 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:56.280 Yeah. 00:24:56.280 --> 00:24:59.980 Back in Kansas, the ingredients weren't right. 00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:01.880 Now you're in New York City and. 00:25:01.880 --> 00:25:11.800 So we should be merciful. Amen. And when we're merciful, then we receive mercy. Let's keep 00:25:11.800 --> 00:25:17.600 reading judge not and you shall not be judged, condemned not, and you shall not be condemned, 00:25:17.600 --> 00:25:26.080 forgive and you will be forgiven. So what's Jesus talking about mercy. And then he says Luke 6 38, 00:25:26.080 --> 00:25:34.520 which is the most quoted or one of top three in every pastor's arsenal when it's offering time 00:25:34.520 --> 00:25:44.920 give and it will be given to you right but what's Jesus talking about mercy give mercy and it will 00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:52.560 be given to you good measure press down shaken together and running over will be put into your 00:25:52.560 --> 00:26:00.240 bosom for with the same measure that you use that you give out mercy it will be measured back to you. 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:07.840 Amen. So in today's world have you ever noticed how culture tries to get you to think in only 00:26:07.840 --> 00:26:14.720 one of two ways? I look at arguments on social media and it's like do you not know how to walk 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:20.320 and chew gum at the same time? It's either I'm going to tolerate everything or I'm an absolute 00:26:20.320 --> 00:26:22.560 bigot and nothing in between. 00:26:22.560 --> 00:26:26.160 That's the trick. 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:30.880 That's why so many well-meaning people have been duped in tolerating everything. 00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:35.280 Like if you tolerate everything, then what is sexual perversion? 00:26:35.280 --> 00:26:38.320 Then there is no such a thing as sexual perversion. 00:26:38.320 --> 00:26:39.520 Where do we draw the line? 00:26:39.520 --> 00:26:45.440 At what point does it become hurtful and harmful to people, to society, to the family union, 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:47.360 which is the cell of the body of a nation? 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:53.040 So let's erase that line. But then if you raise that line, now you're an intolerant bigot who 00:26:53.040 --> 00:27:01.280 hates everyone. No, actually I can love you. Actually, I can be merciful and I think that 00:27:01.280 --> 00:27:06.000 I'm better than you. But at the same time, I can, as Jesus said, judge with righteous judgment and 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:10.400 say, according to the word of God, this is wrong. And I will not align my life with that. 00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:16.080 So we can walk and chew gum at the same time. Amen. And don't fall for that trick where you're 00:27:16.080 --> 00:27:39.720 one or the other. Hallelujah. Psalm 18 25. Every time. Let me just, I'm just, I'm just, 00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:43.680 because there's a difference between people pondering a truth and resistance. 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:49.360 and I actually feel waves of both. 00:27:49.360 --> 00:27:58.880 But when you come against the prevailing spirit of the age, oh, it'll meet your back. 00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:06.920 And the prevailing spirit of today is this sex religion of Wokism, because it includes 00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:10.520 so many tentacles has wrapped around so many minds. 00:28:10.520 --> 00:28:20.120 Psalm 1825 with the merciful, you will show yourself merciful. 00:28:20.120 --> 00:28:26.520 So how to posture and position yourself to receive the mercy of God. 00:28:26.520 --> 00:28:28.820 You'd be merciful to others with a blameless man. 00:28:28.820 --> 00:28:30.420 You will show yourself blameless. 00:28:30.420 --> 00:28:30.920 Amen. 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:36.800 Number two on how to receive the mercy of God. Faith. 00:28:36.800 --> 00:28:42.640 Like everything you've ever gotten from God, you do it by faith. 00:28:42.640 --> 00:28:50.640 Again, even in the first service, whenever I say faith several times in a row, I hear George Michael 00:28:50.640 --> 00:28:56.000 faith, the faith, the faith. And isn't this true in Montenegro? All they play is 80s music. 00:28:56.560 --> 00:28:58.160 It's like an 80s music heaven. 00:28:58.160 --> 00:29:02.880 Or, you know, folk, you know, really loud accordions. 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:04.880 But where I was, it was mainly 80. 00:29:04.880 --> 00:29:08.400 In fact, this morning, because the refrigerator was empty, 00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:10.240 we showed up at 1am last night. 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:13.440 Wife and kids were here and then they just, not my wife, 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:14.480 but the kids conked out. 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:17.600 They got like three hours of sleep and were artificially full of energy 00:29:17.600 --> 00:29:19.360 because of the time change towards the end. 00:29:19.360 --> 00:29:20.880 The children's church just conked out. 00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:24.880 But we had breakfast just down the road. 00:29:24.880 --> 00:29:29.880 and for the first time in over 20 days, I heard autotune. 00:29:29.880 --> 00:29:31.880 (audience laughing) 00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:34.080 'Cause it was only 80s music. 00:29:34.080 --> 00:29:35.880 And I heard autotune. 00:29:35.880 --> 00:29:38.080 And I realized what was missing from my life 00:29:38.080 --> 00:29:39.080 and it was wonderful. 00:29:39.080 --> 00:29:42.080 (audience laughing) 00:29:42.080 --> 00:29:46.680 It's not just 80s music, but that autotune. 00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:47.880 It's been too long. 00:29:47.880 --> 00:29:49.880 (audience laughing) 00:29:49.880 --> 00:29:51.880 I wanna hear people's voices. 00:29:53.080 --> 00:29:56.520 It was 2009, Jay-Z rapped about death of auto-tune. He lied. 00:29:56.520 --> 00:30:01.800 He was a false prophet. They kept on going. They never listened. Why didn't they listen? 00:30:01.800 --> 00:30:13.240 It takes faith. Psalm 86.5, mercy like everything is appropriated by faith. 00:30:16.040 --> 00:30:23.800 For you, Lord, are good and ready to forgive and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon you. 00:30:23.800 --> 00:30:32.360 Now, you look at the Old Testament, you will see the people of God, the children of Israel, 00:30:32.360 --> 00:30:38.680 and you know what you're going to see? They're messing up frequently, oftentimes very, 00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:45.720 very stupidly and at the time very, very intentionally. And so, what comes? Consequences. 00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:51.040 judgment and then there is this one thing that you see repeated throughout 00:30:51.040 --> 00:30:56.880 the Old Testament is this one phrase and they cried out to the Lord their God and 00:30:56.880 --> 00:31:04.080 they cried out to the Lord their God and then God would come and be merciful 00:31:04.080 --> 00:31:10.520 some people you got to get your cry back you got to get your cry on if you've 00:31:10.520 --> 00:31:14.720 messed up if you're expecting judgment if you expect when I say messed up it 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:23.760 could be something in your business, at your place of work, in investments, whatever social 00:31:23.760 --> 00:31:31.760 interactions. And you did wrong. Cry out to God. When you mess up, every time you mess up, 00:31:31.760 --> 00:31:38.560 you're going to stand at a fork in the road. On the one side, you can take this road to the left, 00:31:38.560 --> 00:31:46.540 my left, your right. This road is where you feel ashamed so you cower. You avoid 00:31:46.540 --> 00:31:52.440 prayer, you avoid God, you hide under a rock, you stick yourself in a bush until 00:31:52.440 --> 00:31:56.980 that feeling of unease just kind of goes away. Probably the next time you're in 00:31:56.980 --> 00:32:06.320 church and you feel it. On the other side is you in faith despite what you feel 00:32:06.320 --> 00:32:15.760 like crying out to God. God, I believe even in spite my stupidity, despite my stupidity, 00:32:15.760 --> 00:32:22.240 my mistakes, I believe you are God of mercy. That means that that thing that I deserve, 00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:26.720 that bad thing that I deserve, you're going to withhold from me and you're going to change it 00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:33.680 around. Some of you at work, you don't even know there's a hammer coming down on you. You feel it, 00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:42.320 cry out to God and you won't just survive, you'll thrive. Hallelujah. 00:32:42.320 --> 00:32:50.880 You know when you find out that a preacher fell and you hear the first wave of reports 00:32:50.880 --> 00:32:55.200 and soul over the media, TMZ, you find out a preacher fell because he did XYZ. 00:32:58.000 --> 00:33:05.120 And over some time you find out, oh, it wasn't that he did XYZ once and got busted. 00:33:05.120 --> 00:33:12.320 He was doing XYZ for years. All right. The first service really resonated with this. Are you all 00:33:12.320 --> 00:33:19.440 first city light church, right? Did you know sometimes preachers fall? Just wave your hand, 00:33:19.440 --> 00:33:23.600 you know, have you ever wondered? I know I have when I first got in the biz, 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:29.920 You start hearing about preachers falling and you go, but he was so anointed. He was so great. He was so 00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:35.280 how did that happen? And by the way, if they fall, it doesn't discount that they were anointed. 00:33:35.280 --> 00:33:40.640 It doesn't discount that God used them. Don't ever, ever, don't ever condemn someone you haven't 00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:45.680 walked in their shoes for five minutes. But you can have the question in the back of your mind, 00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:50.160 hey, why weren't they obliterated back in the day when they began this bad walk? 00:33:50.880 --> 00:33:54.640 Haven't you had that question? Is it just me? Am I the only curious person who wonders? 00:33:54.640 --> 00:33:57.440 You have, right? Yeah, you have. 00:33:57.440 --> 00:34:04.080 Like they go off the path, shouldn't God zap them right away? Just blow their life up just to 00:34:04.080 --> 00:34:12.320 teach them and protect the other. No, they have learned how to... pastors, preachers, ministers 00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:18.400 have learned how to tap into the mercy of God by faith. 00:34:20.560 --> 00:34:26.560 So they get a much lighter sentence until they've now pressed and pressed and pressed. 00:34:26.560 --> 00:34:32.240 And now God, because he's so merciful and because he so loves them and he would rather their flesh 00:34:32.240 --> 00:34:37.360 be destroyed and their spirit saved in the day of Jesus Christ, then he finally comes and says, 00:34:37.360 --> 00:34:41.440 look, it's over for you. You're going to take a 10 year hiatus until you learn how to just love 00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:48.400 me for me and serve me apart from ministry and all that stuff. Why am I bringing that up? 00:34:49.520 --> 00:34:51.120 Because this isn't just in the negative. 00:34:51.120 --> 00:34:56.240 I wish sometimes it wasn't just ministers who were in the biz, 00:34:56.240 --> 00:35:02.080 but that laity believers learned how to tap into the mercy of God using their faith. 00:35:02.080 --> 00:35:06.880 Hezekiah, he got a judgment on him. You're gonna die. 00:35:06.880 --> 00:35:12.080 Lights out. Say bye-bye. Time to wrap things up, Hezekiah. 00:35:12.080 --> 00:35:15.360 You know what he did? He cried out. 00:35:15.360 --> 00:35:21.200 God, read the prayer. He just appeals to God emotionally and appeals to his mercy. 00:35:21.200 --> 00:35:29.600 God, just give me like 15 more years." And God's like, "Okay. I've got 15 more years. 00:35:29.600 --> 00:35:33.280 You changed my mind." Why? Because you cried out in faith. 00:35:33.280 --> 00:35:42.640 This is so important. Some of you need to cry. What am I saying? I'm saying, 00:35:42.640 --> 00:35:46.960 You got to open your mouth and be a little foolish. You can do it in the privacy of your own home. 00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:51.920 You can do it on the subway. Everyone's insane anyway these days. Do it in the subway. 00:35:51.920 --> 00:36:01.840 Lose your dignity. Lose your coolness. Open up your mouth and just say, "Lord, I am trusting you 00:36:01.840 --> 00:36:11.200 for mercy. You're a God who delights in mercy. Now in the natural, I deserve terrible consequences, 00:36:11.200 --> 00:36:17.680 But you're a God. The Bible says that you delight in mercy, that your mercies are new every morning, 00:36:17.680 --> 00:36:22.800 that I can come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain this beautiful thing called mercy. 00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:28.160 And it is the aversion of divine wrath. It is your active pity. And I believe in Jesus' name, 00:36:28.160 --> 00:36:36.400 that it's mine now. Hallelujah. And trust me, when you've encountered the mercy of God, yes, 00:36:37.200 --> 00:36:40.400 Yes, you can abuse the mercy of God. 00:36:40.400 --> 00:36:43.360 People go, "See, no, I don't like this message. 00:36:43.360 --> 00:36:45.040 You can abuse the mercy of God." 00:36:45.040 --> 00:36:49.040 Did you know you can abuse all of God's gifts? 00:36:49.040 --> 00:36:51.920 Did you know everything God gives you, you can abuse. 00:36:51.920 --> 00:36:52.960 It doesn't mean you should. 00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:56.320 It doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. 00:36:56.320 --> 00:36:59.520 But when God gives, he doesn't give with strings attached. 00:36:59.520 --> 00:37:01.040 When God gives, he gives freely. 00:37:01.040 --> 00:37:04.960 And any system like that lends itself to abuse. 00:37:04.960 --> 00:37:13.180 So we trust in the outworking of the Holy Spirit within us that we're not abusing the mercy of God, 00:37:13.180 --> 00:37:18.320 but should you need it, it's there. And I highly recommend that you take it. Amen. 00:37:18.320 --> 00:37:27.000 Number three. Number one is be merciful. Number two is you receive his mercy by faith. 00:37:27.000 --> 00:37:29.000 Number three is humility. 00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:33.320 Humility is so important. 00:37:33.320 --> 00:37:38.680 Humility is defined as can somebody shout it out who wasn't in the first service? 00:37:38.680 --> 00:37:42.480 What? 00:37:42.480 --> 00:37:48.720 No, Chris Power you always call out and you always get it right and now I mean everyone except Chris Power. 00:37:48.720 --> 00:37:55.840 He's done that to me the last five times. 00:37:55.840 --> 00:38:01.840 He even corrected me on the wood that's used in the ark. 00:38:01.840 --> 00:38:07.840 So, in the back. 00:38:07.840 --> 00:38:09.840 Say it again, Chris. 00:38:09.840 --> 00:38:13.840 Your dependence on God. 00:38:13.840 --> 00:38:14.840 This is important. 00:38:14.840 --> 00:38:17.840 There's too many people don't know what humility is. 00:38:17.840 --> 00:38:20.840 They think that it's how you behave. 00:38:20.840 --> 00:38:23.840 Like, how loud you are, or how you dress, 00:38:23.840 --> 00:38:30.160 or how much money you have. It's none of those things. It is your dependence, your neediness on God. 00:38:30.160 --> 00:38:36.040 So you can be all be dazzled out, have 36 pieces of flair. 00:38:36.040 --> 00:38:41.960 You can have money. You can have some bass in your voice, and it doesn't mean you're not humble. 00:38:41.960 --> 00:38:48.680 This is important. You don't know how many times I've heard, "Oh, you know, I don't want the prosperity of God. 00:38:48.680 --> 00:38:53.440 I'd rather be humble." What? What does one have to do with the other? 00:38:53.440 --> 00:38:58.440 That is, that is always comes along with poverty thinking. 00:38:58.440 --> 00:39:00.440 It's all I'd rather be humble. 00:39:00.440 --> 00:39:03.440 Most of the poor people I know are so proud. 00:39:03.440 --> 00:39:06.440 That's why they're poor. 00:39:06.440 --> 00:39:08.440 You see that a Montenegro. 00:39:08.440 --> 00:39:13.440 I still want to know where a 25 year old Montenegro gets his confidence from. 00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:17.440 Doesn't have a job, never built anything, never accomplished anything. 00:39:17.440 --> 00:39:20.440 Takes up three seats in a cafe. 00:39:20.440 --> 00:39:21.700 (audience laughing) 00:39:21.700 --> 00:39:22.700 Spread out! 00:39:22.700 --> 00:39:25.700 (audience laughing) 00:39:25.700 --> 00:39:34.620 And they're dirt poor. 00:39:34.620 --> 00:39:36.660 And there's people I know that are so poor, 00:39:36.660 --> 00:39:38.820 but when you try to help them out, 00:39:38.820 --> 00:39:40.620 oh no, they know everything. 00:39:40.620 --> 00:39:41.620 They don't want any help. 00:39:41.620 --> 00:39:43.660 They, 'cause of all that pride. 00:39:43.660 --> 00:39:46.520 And you know, most of the wealthy people that I know, 00:39:46.520 --> 00:39:48.320 they're always looking to learn. 00:39:48.320 --> 00:39:50.100 They ask lots of questions. 00:39:50.100 --> 00:39:51.400 There's a neediness. 00:39:51.400 --> 00:39:53.300 They're not afraid to be wrong. 00:39:53.300 --> 00:39:55.500 They're not afraid to admit when they've been wrong. 00:39:55.500 --> 00:40:03.500 So there's nothing to do being well-dressed or being loud or your financial 00:40:03.500 --> 00:40:07.200 status. Your humility is one thing and one thing only. 00:40:07.200 --> 00:40:10.900 Your dependence on God, your neediness. 00:40:10.900 --> 00:40:15.600 Jesus talked about in Revelation when he rebuked the people. 00:40:15.600 --> 00:40:18.500 He said you have need of nothing. 00:40:19.200 --> 00:40:21.640 You're well-dressed and you have need of nothing. 00:40:21.640 --> 00:40:25.920 You don't realize you're naked and poor and destitute. 00:40:25.920 --> 00:40:27.640 The problem was they felt in their heart 00:40:27.640 --> 00:40:28.480 they had need of nothing. 00:40:28.480 --> 00:40:30.160 No, I wanna be needy. 00:40:30.160 --> 00:40:31.560 I wanna be like Solomon who says, 00:40:31.560 --> 00:40:33.120 I don't know how to come in or grow out, Lord, 00:40:33.120 --> 00:40:35.720 unless you take me by the hand and guide me. 00:40:35.720 --> 00:40:39.360 So let's look at this in the context of mercy 00:40:39.360 --> 00:40:42.440 in Luke chapter 18, which I love the way it begins 00:40:42.440 --> 00:40:46.660 because it sounds like Jesus is telling a joke. 00:40:46.660 --> 00:40:50.760 Also, he spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves. 00:40:50.760 --> 00:40:52.060 See, that was the problem. 00:40:52.060 --> 00:40:53.260 They weren't needy. 00:40:53.260 --> 00:40:57.860 They trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others. 00:40:57.860 --> 00:41:00.960 And this is the part that kind of begins like a joke, right? 00:41:00.960 --> 00:41:03.360 Two men went up to the temple to pray. 00:41:03.360 --> 00:41:04.260 Hey, listen to this one. 00:41:04.260 --> 00:41:06.760 Two men went up to the temple to pray. 00:41:06.760 --> 00:41:10.760 One a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 00:41:10.760 --> 00:41:15.160 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself. 00:41:15.560 --> 00:41:20.540 God, I thank you that I'm not like other men, extortioners, unjust, 00:41:20.540 --> 00:41:23.660 adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 00:41:23.660 --> 00:41:25.040 Awkward. 00:41:25.040 --> 00:41:27.860 Could you imagine that prayer meeting? 00:41:27.860 --> 00:41:36.700 And then of course, when you're proud, you always get into the resume. 00:41:36.700 --> 00:41:39.860 You always got to list all your accomplishments. 00:41:39.860 --> 00:41:42.380 Four one one. 00:41:42.380 --> 00:41:43.700 He's not impressed. 00:41:43.700 --> 00:41:45.500 He's not impressed. 00:41:45.500 --> 00:41:47.500 with your accomplishments, with your resume. 00:41:47.500 --> 00:41:49.500 And this is a theme throughout the New Testament. 00:41:49.500 --> 00:41:51.500 The rich young ruler. 00:41:51.500 --> 00:41:53.500 Lord Jesus, tell me what I must do. 00:41:53.500 --> 00:41:55.500 See, he doesn't even know grace. 00:41:55.500 --> 00:41:57.500 What do I do? What do I have to do, do, do? 00:41:57.500 --> 00:41:59.500 Covered with do, do. 00:41:59.500 --> 00:42:01.500 Trying to do, do. 00:42:01.500 --> 00:42:03.500 What do I have to do to 00:42:03.500 --> 00:42:05.500 inherit eternal life? And then he goes into the resume. 00:42:05.500 --> 00:42:07.500 The rich young ruler. Same thing with this guy. 00:42:07.500 --> 00:42:09.500 The resume. 00:42:13.500 --> 00:42:16.000 I fast twice a week. 00:42:16.000 --> 00:42:22.600 I give tides of all that I possess and the tax collector standing 00:42:22.600 --> 00:42:27.100 afar off would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven but beat 00:42:27.100 --> 00:42:34.200 his breath saying God be merciful to me a sinner and Jesus 00:42:34.200 --> 00:42:37.600 says I tell you this man went down to his house justified. 00:42:37.600 --> 00:42:39.500 He received mercy. 00:42:39.500 --> 00:42:39.700 Why? 00:42:39.700 --> 00:42:41.300 He was needy. 00:42:41.300 --> 00:42:43.300 He was humble. 00:42:43.300 --> 00:42:47.300 And so my prayer is as the Lord takes you up. 00:42:47.300 --> 00:42:52.300 And as he takes you from glory to glory and gives you breakthrough after breakthrough. 00:42:52.300 --> 00:42:57.300 My prayer is the same for me or church that we go lower. 00:42:57.300 --> 00:43:02.300 And that the more success we gain, the more it's Lord, this isn't me. 00:43:02.300 --> 00:43:03.300 This is you, Lord. 00:43:03.300 --> 00:43:05.300 I don't take credit. 00:43:05.300 --> 00:43:06.300 This is you doing it. 00:43:06.300 --> 00:43:07.300 I'm still so desperate. 00:43:07.300 --> 00:43:09.300 I'm like a little child. 00:43:09.300 --> 00:43:10.300 I need you, Lord. 00:43:10.300 --> 00:43:16.140 Lord, I need you. Guide me. Teach me. Speak to me, Lord. I'm nothing without you. That 00:43:16.140 --> 00:43:22.020 humility of the heart. I'm telling you when you're that way, an angel comes and paints 00:43:22.020 --> 00:43:28.540 a giant bullseye on your head. And it's a direct target for the blessing, the favor 00:43:28.540 --> 00:43:35.740 and the tender mercies of the Lord. Amen. I've seen it over and over again. I tell you 00:43:35.740 --> 00:43:41.660 this man went down to his house justified rather than the other for everyone who exalts 00:43:41.660 --> 00:43:50.780 himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Amen. Number four, 00:43:50.780 --> 00:43:57.340 imposturing yourself to receive the mercy of God is praise and worship. 00:43:58.700 --> 00:44:02.060 Second Chronicles 20 verses 19 through 22 00:44:02.060 --> 00:44:12.340 Here's the bottom line you're all up with me, okay, I'm wondering if I should just kick it into fifth 00:44:12.340 --> 00:44:19.620 Then the Levites of the children of 00:44:19.620 --> 00:44:26.560 The coethites and the children of the coretite stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel of voices loud and high 00:44:26.560 --> 00:44:33.280 What's happening here? The children of Israel messed up again. And so judgment was coming upon them 00:44:33.280 --> 00:44:38.560 again. And the judgment took the form of an army that was bigger than them, 00:44:38.560 --> 00:44:43.600 stronger than them, and was going to take them out. 00:44:43.600 --> 00:44:48.320 Maybe I'm preaching to a lot of people. You're just in the right place right now. 00:44:48.320 --> 00:44:54.000 You're not in a valley or you're in a season of mountaintop. Happy for you. 00:44:55.920 --> 00:45:03.360 Me too right now actually it's awesome. But I know how life goes. It's not doubting unbelief 00:45:03.360 --> 00:45:07.760 to just realize that when you go from one mountain top to another mountain top that's even higher. 00:45:07.760 --> 00:45:13.040 Oh what's in between is a valley and you want to know this when you're in a valley. 00:45:13.040 --> 00:45:17.600 There's two kinds of people in a church. Those that praise and worship only when the praise 00:45:17.600 --> 00:45:22.240 and worship team is leading them and there are those who do it outside of church. 00:45:23.920 --> 00:45:25.920 And it makes all the difference. 00:45:25.920 --> 00:45:32.320 When you're somebody who will have that time, even if it's for 30 seconds, 00:45:32.320 --> 00:45:33.920 I'm not raising the bar low. 00:45:33.920 --> 00:45:36.960 I'm trying to get some of you who on the outskirts who've never ever thought in 00:45:36.960 --> 00:45:39.520 your minds that you could actually praise them. 00:45:39.520 --> 00:45:41.360 There's you might be shocked. 00:45:41.360 --> 00:45:42.360 There's people like that. 00:45:42.360 --> 00:45:43.520 It never occurred to them. 00:45:43.520 --> 00:45:48.040 Oh, I can actually do that thing we do in church on Sundays in my house. 00:45:48.040 --> 00:45:50.040 I can shut myself in a room. 00:45:50.040 --> 00:45:51.000 Oh, you have roommates. 00:45:51.000 --> 00:45:53.040 I'll wait for them to be gone. 00:45:53.240 --> 00:46:00.600 I'll take a walk in the park. I will open my mouth and I will sing to him. And it will 00:46:00.600 --> 00:46:06.600 put you smack dab in the overflow of the mercy of God. 00:46:06.600 --> 00:46:11.000 Let's read the next verse, please. 00:46:11.000 --> 00:46:18.760 I kind of went through what was happening here. Verse 21, please. 00:46:21.240 --> 00:46:26.280 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord. 00:46:26.280 --> 00:46:29.320 So the supposing army, the judgment of God is coming. 00:46:29.320 --> 00:46:34.520 And who should praise the beauty of holiness as they went out before the army and were saying, 00:46:34.520 --> 00:46:39.880 praise the Lord. What was the song they were singing? What was the subject matter? 00:46:39.880 --> 00:46:41.560 It was the mercy of God. 00:46:45.240 --> 00:46:51.360 So Sean is going to sing a song on the mercy of God after service. 00:46:51.360 --> 00:46:51.960 Sing that one. 00:46:51.960 --> 00:46:58.800 When you finish singing that one, Google another one, or here's an idea. 00:46:58.800 --> 00:46:59.880 You just make one up. 00:46:59.880 --> 00:47:01.880 Lord loves that stuff. 00:47:01.880 --> 00:47:04.320 Satan won't tell you you're being silly and goofy. 00:47:04.320 --> 00:47:05.240 The Lord loves it. 00:47:05.240 --> 00:47:07.360 Pick up a song, freestyle. 00:47:07.360 --> 00:47:08.640 It could be like anything. 00:47:08.640 --> 00:47:12.480 Lord, here I am coming to you again. 00:47:12.480 --> 00:47:14.520 I did some stupid things. 00:47:14.960 --> 00:47:23.920 I'm so sorry, but I heard it said in your word, you're merciful, even though I'm absurd. 00:47:23.920 --> 00:47:30.640 So Lord, I receive that which I don't deserve and just sing it. 00:47:30.640 --> 00:47:32.880 Let it just come out of your spirit. 00:47:32.880 --> 00:47:33.880 Amen. 00:47:33.880 --> 00:47:37.080 That was really by accident. 00:47:37.080 --> 00:47:40.200 Amen. 00:47:40.200 --> 00:47:43.640 For his mercies endure forever. 00:47:43.640 --> 00:47:48.900 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord said, "Ambushes against the people 00:47:48.900 --> 00:47:55.840 of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated." 00:47:55.840 --> 00:48:02.400 When your back's against the wall and you come to the Lord in light of His mercy, talk 00:48:02.400 --> 00:48:04.980 to Him about His mercy. 00:48:04.980 --> 00:48:06.720 Remind Him of His mercy. 00:48:06.720 --> 00:48:08.920 Sing of His mercy. 00:48:08.920 --> 00:48:11.720 There might be consequences, 00:48:11.720 --> 00:48:14.720 there might be judgment coming your way. 00:48:14.720 --> 00:48:18.880 In Jesus' name, the Lord will set ambushes for those things. 00:48:18.880 --> 00:48:24.520 Satan may be naming your name to Jesus right now, 00:48:24.520 --> 00:48:27.860 saying, "Mmm, I want that one." 00:48:27.860 --> 00:48:28.860 And the Lord's saying, "Why?" 00:48:28.860 --> 00:48:30.420 Well, they've done this, and they've done that, 00:48:30.420 --> 00:48:31.260 and they've thought this, 00:48:31.260 --> 00:48:33.460 and they really aren't who they claim to be. 00:48:33.460 --> 00:48:37.420 And Satan wants to sift you, like through wheat. 00:48:37.420 --> 00:48:42.700 Jesus saying, "I pray for you that your faith fail not. Believe in me. Believe what I've done for you. 00:48:42.700 --> 00:48:47.820 Believe in the power of my blood." Your mistakes and your sin, you think they're so powerful, 00:48:47.820 --> 00:48:57.100 they're not more powerful than my blood. Hallelujah. So receive mercy. Amen. 00:48:59.180 --> 00:49:10.220 And now number five. Whom remembers what number one is? Be merciful. Number two, by faith. Number 00:49:10.220 --> 00:49:22.700 three, humility. Number four, praise and worship. Number five, this always instigates the demon of 00:49:22.700 --> 00:49:32.180 cheapskateism. But you'll see it in the scriptures. You cannot doubt it. That 00:49:32.180 --> 00:49:38.080 generosity and being a giver, again this isn't a transaction. You don't buy the 00:49:38.080 --> 00:49:45.380 mercy of God. But there is something about the heart of a giver that just 00:49:45.380 --> 00:49:51.740 causes you to stand out. No, God doesn't love you more. No, you don't get to heaven 00:49:51.740 --> 00:49:56.020 before, the stingy-mingy, tightwad Christian. 00:49:56.020 --> 00:49:58.620 But you do live a vastly different life while on Earth. 00:49:58.620 --> 00:50:06.140 Let's look at Malachi chapter 3. 00:50:06.140 --> 00:50:15.180 When I was growing up in the Lord, every Sunday, 00:50:15.180 --> 00:50:16.300 we'd hear Malachi 3. 00:50:20.140 --> 00:50:22.140 I think I bring it up once or twice a year. 00:50:22.140 --> 00:50:25.140 So I'm going to take my time. 00:50:25.140 --> 00:50:29.140 Cause you haven't gotten it enough. 00:50:29.140 --> 00:50:34.340 Let's enjoy Malachi 3. 00:50:34.340 --> 00:50:39.840 I'm too happy right now for Malachi 3. 00:50:39.840 --> 00:50:41.340 Let me get a little more serious. 00:50:41.340 --> 00:50:43.940 Let me get my Malachi 3 on. 00:50:43.940 --> 00:50:47.140 I got to be angry. 00:50:47.140 --> 00:50:49.340 We're behind budget. 00:50:49.340 --> 00:50:52.780 (audience laughing) 00:50:52.780 --> 00:50:54.300 Staff hasn't been paid. 00:50:54.300 --> 00:50:58.800 Building fun, not where it should be. 00:50:58.800 --> 00:51:03.380 (audience laughing) 00:51:03.380 --> 00:51:07.800 All right, because of the jokes, 00:51:07.800 --> 00:51:10.300 let me just, let me say this part first. 00:51:10.300 --> 00:51:14.320 No, you know what, we'll take it one verse at a time. 00:51:14.320 --> 00:51:17.260 Will a man rob God? 00:51:18.300 --> 00:51:25.220 Yet you have robbed me, but you say in what way have we robbed you in tithes and offerings? 00:51:25.220 --> 00:51:26.220 What is a tithe? 00:51:26.220 --> 00:51:28.580 It's the first tenth of our income. 00:51:28.580 --> 00:51:29.660 What is an offering? 00:51:29.660 --> 00:51:32.220 It's something that's in addition to the tithe. 00:51:32.220 --> 00:51:33.220 Where does the tithe belong? 00:51:33.220 --> 00:51:36.380 Well, it belongs in the storehouse. 00:51:36.380 --> 00:51:40.060 That is a type of the local church today. 00:51:40.060 --> 00:51:44.980 You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this whole nation. 00:51:44.980 --> 00:51:47.860 I pause right now. 00:51:47.860 --> 00:51:51.320 This is under the old covenant. 00:51:51.320 --> 00:51:56.100 You are cursed with a curse that was on them under the new covenant. 00:51:56.100 --> 00:52:00.660 You you cannot be both cursed and blessed at the same time. 00:52:00.660 --> 00:52:02.160 Do you get that? 00:52:02.160 --> 00:52:08.180 So nine out of 10 preachers, even more really, they have used this scripture, not in light 00:52:08.180 --> 00:52:12.380 of the new covenant, but under the old covenant saying you're cursed. 00:52:12.380 --> 00:52:14.140 I've heard preachers say, I don't even hear you. 00:52:14.140 --> 00:52:15.820 I won't even meet with you for counseling. 00:52:15.820 --> 00:52:16.980 If you don't tie, what's the point? 00:52:16.980 --> 00:52:21.440 already cursed. Come on. You've never heard you have to have heard something 00:52:21.440 --> 00:52:27.840 like that. Some variation of that. Now under the new covenant, you are blessed. 00:52:27.840 --> 00:52:37.320 You are blessed. You, you're person. Jesus has blessed you. Jesus has redeemed you. 00:52:37.320 --> 00:52:44.820 But it doesn't mean your finances are blessed. I tithe. I tithe since I was 16 00:52:44.820 --> 00:52:48.660 years old, the people who call City Light Church their home, 00:52:48.660 --> 00:52:53.940 tie not to avoid a curse, but to show their love for God and 00:52:53.940 --> 00:52:57.740 they give a tie and then they believe their finances are blessed. 00:52:57.740 --> 00:52:58.900 Do you see the difference? 00:52:58.900 --> 00:53:02.660 Now, this has been the message. 00:53:02.660 --> 00:53:03.940 We were just talking about this earlier. 00:53:03.940 --> 00:53:05.700 This has been the message for City Light. 00:53:05.700 --> 00:53:10.700 So I don't come and try to manipulate people and say you need to tie the 00:53:10.700 --> 00:53:17.500 Otherwise the God father, I mean, father, God is going to smite you and destroy you and break your kneecaps. 00:53:17.500 --> 00:53:19.500 I've always presented it this way. 00:53:19.500 --> 00:53:21.200 And do you know what our giving looks like? 00:53:21.200 --> 00:53:26.100 Our giving is three times the amount of it for church our size. 00:53:26.100 --> 00:53:36.700 Even the fact that it's a rainy, nasty day and the place is full and I never stand here and go, you know, you have to come in every Sunday. 00:53:36.700 --> 00:53:37.900 It's your duty. 00:53:37.900 --> 00:53:38.600 It's your job. 00:53:38.700 --> 00:53:41.580 I've never guilted and manipulated people, 00:53:41.580 --> 00:53:43.180 and yet people come. 00:53:43.180 --> 00:53:45.380 And I don't guilt and manipulate people into tithing, 00:53:45.380 --> 00:53:46.220 yet people tithe. 00:53:46.220 --> 00:53:48.660 Isn't it amazing how the gospel is set up? 00:53:48.660 --> 00:53:50.380 You think what Jesus said was true. 00:53:50.380 --> 00:53:53.740 (audience laughing) 00:53:53.740 --> 00:53:55.260 Amen. 00:53:55.260 --> 00:53:57.540 And yet I know right now there's some people, 00:53:57.540 --> 00:54:00.700 they're not tithers and they have every reason, 00:54:00.700 --> 00:54:03.020 and you need to just grow up, 00:54:03.020 --> 00:54:06.260 come into that place of faith and maturity. 00:54:06.260 --> 00:54:08.460 I just, I say that with love, 00:54:08.460 --> 00:54:12.020 But I don't know how else to say it, grow up. 00:54:12.020 --> 00:54:16.060 How do you trust God with your eternal soul 00:54:16.060 --> 00:54:18.280 and then can't trust them with your finances? 00:54:18.280 --> 00:54:22.140 Oh, I trust that he's gonna save me on that day, 00:54:22.140 --> 00:54:24.780 but that thing about tithing and him actually giving me 00:54:24.780 --> 00:54:28.980 more back than what I gave, oh, that's just preacher magic. 00:54:28.980 --> 00:54:33.800 But here's, none of that had to do with point number five, 00:54:33.800 --> 00:54:36.280 I just wanted to share. 00:54:36.280 --> 00:54:38.480 'Cause we don't get enough Malachi three. 00:54:38.480 --> 00:54:40.560 Hallelujah. 00:54:40.560 --> 00:54:43.560 Hallelujah. 00:54:43.560 --> 00:54:48.600 You are cursed with a curse 00:54:48.600 --> 00:54:50.800 for you have robbed me even this whole nation. 00:54:50.800 --> 00:54:54.440 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse 00:54:54.440 --> 00:54:56.680 that they may be food in my house. 00:54:56.680 --> 00:55:00.480 That means your tithe can't go to Aunt Susie. 00:55:00.480 --> 00:55:03.520 Your tithe can't go to somebody else. 00:55:03.520 --> 00:55:06.240 The tithe belongs in the local church, amen. 00:55:06.240 --> 00:55:09.920 that there may be food in my house and try me now in this, 00:55:09.920 --> 00:55:12.560 as the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you 00:55:12.560 --> 00:55:15.840 the windows of heaven and pour out for you such a blessing 00:55:15.840 --> 00:55:18.240 that there will not be room enough to receive it 00:55:18.240 --> 00:55:19.760 and I'll rebuke the devour." 00:55:19.760 --> 00:55:21.360 You know what the devour is originally there 00:55:21.360 --> 00:55:24.000 in the Hebrew is seed eater, the locust. 00:55:24.000 --> 00:55:29.280 People who don't tithe, it goes away anyway. 00:55:29.280 --> 00:55:31.960 Your car will break down, your refrigerator will break down, 00:55:31.960 --> 00:55:33.200 something will happen. 00:55:34.120 --> 00:55:39.800 arrest will audit you. All these things happen and you take it and put it in a bag with holes in it. 00:55:39.800 --> 00:55:46.760 So many people like me just 10 minutes ago, Pastor Mo. And now, that's all right. 00:55:46.760 --> 00:55:48.920 I say this because I love you. 00:55:48.920 --> 00:55:57.240 "The seed eater, the devourer will be rebuked so that he will not destroy the fruit of your 00:55:57.240 --> 00:56:02.600 ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the fields, as the Lord of hosts and all 00:56:02.600 --> 00:56:06.940 nations will call you blessed for you will be a delightful land says the Lord 00:56:06.940 --> 00:56:11.480 of hosts okay this is the standard passage on tithing I want to show you 00:56:11.480 --> 00:56:16.400 how giving is connected to mercy let's go to verse 17 there is something about 00:56:16.400 --> 00:56:26.280 giving the Lord does not ignore in the book of Acts chapter 10 God shows 00:56:26.280 --> 00:56:31.440 Cornelius Cornelius was like why the angel said you're praying and you're 00:56:31.440 --> 00:56:40.620 giving has come up as a memorial before God. 00:56:40.620 --> 00:56:44.120 I'm free in this. 00:56:44.120 --> 00:56:46.080 I know where my money comes from. 00:56:46.080 --> 00:56:48.680 I know what my motives are. 00:56:48.680 --> 00:56:51.560 I know how many millions this church has given away. 00:56:51.560 --> 00:56:53.960 I know what I've personally given away. 00:56:53.960 --> 00:56:57.400 So I'm free. 00:56:57.400 --> 00:56:59.400 I can look you in the eye. 00:56:59.400 --> 00:57:01.880 And by the way, I don't know who ties. 00:57:01.880 --> 00:57:03.800 I don't know when I say I can look you in the eye. 00:57:03.800 --> 00:57:06.320 People would, no, I don't know. 00:57:06.320 --> 00:57:09.440 I treat when I come across you, I'm looking at you 00:57:09.440 --> 00:57:12.400 like you're the top giver in the church. 00:57:12.400 --> 00:57:13.600 Let me just clarify that. 00:57:13.600 --> 00:57:16.040 Sometimes I do know who gives, 'cause they highlight 00:57:16.040 --> 00:57:18.600 when they send me the financials report. 00:57:18.600 --> 00:57:19.920 If anyone, I don't wanna say what they, 00:57:19.920 --> 00:57:22.160 if anybody gives big, they'll let me know. 00:57:22.160 --> 00:57:23.320 It's like, okay, cool. 00:57:23.320 --> 00:57:26.540 But I treat everybody the same. 00:57:26.540 --> 00:57:29.280 I'm just saying, when I minister this message, 00:57:29.280 --> 00:57:30.560 I know that it works. 00:57:30.560 --> 00:57:32.400 I know that it's true. 00:57:32.400 --> 00:57:34.280 And if you don't want to give, 00:57:34.280 --> 00:57:36.120 that's between you and God, don't give. 00:57:36.120 --> 00:57:36.960 That's fine. 00:57:36.960 --> 00:57:39.400 I mean, it's not fine, but you know what I mean. 00:57:39.400 --> 00:57:42.320 No one's gonna hear, twist your arm or anything, 00:57:42.320 --> 00:57:45.320 but just know you're the one who's missing out. 00:57:45.320 --> 00:57:50.160 We don't need another giver. 00:57:50.160 --> 00:57:51.440 We have a big vision. 00:57:51.440 --> 00:57:53.400 We want to see New York City shaken, 00:57:53.400 --> 00:57:55.000 but we're not here going, ah. 00:57:55.000 --> 00:57:58.320 The Lord has always provided for us. 00:57:58.320 --> 00:58:03.140 I'm not here saying, you know, Montenegro is just a developing nation, but the money 00:58:03.140 --> 00:58:04.140 goes quick. 00:58:04.140 --> 00:58:10.120 And I had a vacation there and Victor's feet, they grow so big, you know, he needs new shoes 00:58:10.120 --> 00:58:11.720 every several months. 00:58:11.720 --> 00:58:16.160 If you could please just give me a Pentecostal handshake on your way out of the church. 00:58:16.160 --> 00:58:20.440 You sure would help me. 00:58:20.440 --> 00:58:25.480 Here's what the Lord says for tithers, givers, generous people. 00:58:25.480 --> 00:58:32.580 The Bible says the liberal, the generous soul, liberal means generous in the Hebrew. 00:58:32.580 --> 00:58:35.040 Don't confuse the two. 00:58:35.040 --> 00:58:43.040 The generous soul shall be made fat. 00:58:43.040 --> 00:58:45.440 The generous soul shall be made fat. 00:58:45.440 --> 00:58:46.480 That means prosperous. 00:58:46.480 --> 00:58:50.360 Don't confuse my with that word. 00:58:50.360 --> 00:58:54.560 And he who waters shall also be watered himself. 00:58:54.560 --> 00:58:59.160 He says, "They shall be mine," says the Lord of hosts, "on the day that I make them my 00:58:59.160 --> 00:59:02.440 jewels, and I will spare them." 00:59:02.440 --> 00:59:04.440 You look in the Hebrew there. 00:59:04.440 --> 00:59:11.760 It means I will spoil them as a man spoils his own son who serves him. 00:59:11.760 --> 00:59:17.880 When you're a giver, when your heart is open, when you hold material things loosely, when 00:59:17.880 --> 00:59:23.000 you see yourself as a vessel that God will bring me, all these things to get them through 00:59:23.000 --> 00:59:32.760 me and I get to enjoy them and enjoy this ride also. He will spoil you. And I have sometimes 00:59:32.760 --> 00:59:38.360 and I always, I don't want you, I don't want to, I don't want to, I feel bad for some people who 00:59:38.360 --> 00:59:44.600 are in a Valley right now. I feel bad in the sense that you might misread what I'm about to say. 00:59:44.600 --> 00:59:49.320 I feel good that I know that he's your God. I've been in the Valley, but he's going to get you out. 00:59:49.960 --> 00:59:54.920 But right now I'm not in the valley. I've been in the valley. Right now I feel spoiled like an only son. 00:59:54.920 --> 01:00:02.920 I feel spoiled. I mean, even financially, it's just it's hitting from every way. 01:00:02.920 --> 01:00:09.480 He'll bring different avenues of revenue. It's hitting. I feel the increase of God, 01:00:09.480 --> 01:00:16.520 the blessing of God. When I was gone on vacation, my home at a condo flooded again. 01:00:17.240 --> 01:00:22.680 Pastor James Pastor Mo, thank you. They came in and made sure that we didn't return to a swamp 01:00:22.680 --> 01:00:29.960 But while I'm there wondering what what else is being destroyed I'm thinking we're about to close 01:00:29.960 --> 01:00:35.960 on a brand new home in Long Island. The Lord did that. Amen. The Lord I feel 01:00:35.960 --> 01:00:40.680 and he will do that to you. 01:00:43.480 --> 01:00:51.040 You get what the script spoil you spare you make you stick out show so much mercy that you almost get embarrassed 01:00:51.040 --> 01:00:55.080 Keyword almost 01:00:55.080 --> 01:00:58.280 Let's look at his final verse in second Corinthians 01:00:58.280 --> 01:01:02.360 I'm glad I'm taking my time with this because some of you you don't even know you've been bound up 01:01:02.360 --> 01:01:10.680 By a nasty lack mentality that's afflicted you since your mom said no more for you. We have to have some for tomorrow 01:01:10.680 --> 01:01:17.400 That was a joke, but you received it seriously. 01:01:17.400 --> 01:01:21.480 If the shoe fits. 01:01:21.480 --> 01:01:26.680 That's when these poverty spirits and lack mentalities, that's when they take root. 01:01:26.680 --> 01:01:30.600 I'm teaching my kids to have an abundance mentality. 01:01:30.600 --> 01:01:36.780 And it's a challenge to teach them hard work, personal responsibility, but daddy doesn't 01:01:36.780 --> 01:01:38.460 just make it rain abundance on you. 01:01:38.460 --> 01:01:43.060 You have to do your part and be responsible and get A's and do well and do right. 01:01:43.060 --> 01:01:47.100 And at the same time, don't have limitations. 01:01:47.100 --> 01:01:48.460 God is a big God. 01:01:48.460 --> 01:01:49.820 God is an abundant God. 01:01:49.820 --> 01:01:54.780 Don't expect to scrape through life, but expect an overflowing cup. 01:01:54.780 --> 01:01:56.420 Amen. 01:01:56.420 --> 01:02:02.700 Second Corinthians 9-7 in the Amplified, "Let each one give as he has made up his own mind 01:02:02.700 --> 01:02:09.820 and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God 01:02:09.820 --> 01:02:10.820 loves." 01:02:10.820 --> 01:02:16.420 Now the amplified opens up and unpacks what that word loves there means. 01:02:16.420 --> 01:02:24.900 He takes pleasure in the giver, the generous person, prizes above other things and is unwilling 01:02:24.900 --> 01:02:34.580 to abandon or to do without a cheerful, joyous, prom to do it giver whose heart is in his giving. 01:02:34.580 --> 01:02:43.540 One more time. God is unwilling to abandon or to do without a cheerful, joyous, prom to do it giver 01:02:43.540 --> 01:02:51.060 whose heart is in his giving. I want to be that guy. I want to be that guy. I know there's many 01:02:51.060 --> 01:02:57.500 many of you here, you want to be that person. I wanted this church to be that church. There 01:02:57.500 --> 01:03:02.340 were times when I say I want to be that guy pause. I want to, I want, I want to be that 01:03:02.340 --> 01:03:08.820 guy that when God's eyes scan there, if he goes, that guy, my son, they're going to keep 01:03:08.820 --> 01:03:13.340 them around because everything I get to him, he gives away whenever I tell him to give 01:03:13.340 --> 01:03:17.820 it away. I can entrust him. I didn't have to tell him twice. I don't got to have my Holy 01:03:17.820 --> 01:03:21.580 spirit, ride him for nights and nights and give him dreams and confirmations. 01:03:21.580 --> 01:03:28.540 And I just, I just breathe, give, and he gives it away. I want to be that guy. Because God, 01:03:28.540 --> 01:03:33.420 God wants to keep that guy around. And one of the things in the early years of city light, 01:03:33.420 --> 01:03:39.100 when it looked like we were going to get wiped out every week was a miracle that we were still 01:03:39.100 --> 01:03:46.060 around. In case you don't know, New York city is the hardest ground in America. They say California, 01:03:47.100 --> 01:03:51.340 California still got tons of Christians and it's tough in some areas, but 01:03:51.340 --> 01:03:55.140 New York City is the only place known as the preacher's graveyard. 01:03:55.140 --> 01:03:59.060 And where you see major churches come in with millions of dollars and still 01:03:59.060 --> 01:04:00.580 pack it out after 18 months. 01:04:00.580 --> 01:04:05.980 And we did it with no denominational support, no anything. 01:04:05.980 --> 01:04:11.940 One of the tricks that I used was I quickly got into missions and I said, 01:04:11.940 --> 01:04:14.660 we need an orphanage in Ethiopia. 01:04:15.540 --> 01:04:19.740 And then we need to help out in Guatemala since 2009, the orphanage in Guatemala. 01:04:19.740 --> 01:04:21.340 Let's build a church a year. 01:04:21.340 --> 01:04:23.540 It ended up sometimes being five, six churches a year. 01:04:23.540 --> 01:04:25.240 Let's get into Liberia. 01:04:25.240 --> 01:04:26.540 Let's help in Montenegro. 01:04:26.540 --> 01:04:27.040 Why? 01:04:27.040 --> 01:04:31.540 Because I want to be indispensable to God. 01:04:31.540 --> 01:04:35.840 Now you've heard sometimes maybe saying, Oh God doesn't need you. 01:04:35.840 --> 01:04:36.640 I get it. 01:04:36.640 --> 01:04:37.340 He doesn't need you. 01:04:37.340 --> 01:04:38.040 He doesn't need me. 01:04:38.040 --> 01:04:39.340 He can make a thousand of me like this. 01:04:39.340 --> 01:04:39.940 I get it. 01:04:39.940 --> 01:04:41.640 But at the same time, 01:04:43.840 --> 01:04:49.040 He's unwilling to abandon or to do without a church in New York City 01:04:49.040 --> 01:04:52.400 that is the primary sponsor of an orphanage in Ethiopia. 01:04:52.400 --> 01:04:55.760 He's unwilling to abandon or do without a church in New York City 01:04:55.760 --> 01:04:59.120 that's built over 40 churches/community centers in Guatemala. 01:04:59.120 --> 01:05:00.720 Are you catching what I'm saying here? 01:05:00.720 --> 01:05:04.320 So very early on, I set us up this way, and there were times when it seemed like 01:05:04.320 --> 01:05:08.640 we weren't going to make it, and I'd say, "Lord, you know, just so you know, 01:05:08.640 --> 01:05:11.680 if we get taken out, then we can't support all these other places." 01:05:13.440 --> 01:05:17.520 I would. I get calls from the office saying, "We don't know where the money is going to come from. 01:05:17.520 --> 01:05:22.320 Do we send our support this month?" Do you know, since day one, we have never, ever not sent support 01:05:22.320 --> 01:05:27.120 ever, no matter how tight it got. Because I knew if we can keep sending the support, we're going to 01:05:27.120 --> 01:05:36.720 make it. Thankfully, those years are over. Thankfully, now there's an overflow. Amen. 01:05:36.720 --> 01:05:41.520 And on that note, you know, we needed to raise $15,000 for Montenegro. 01:05:41.520 --> 01:05:46.800 That goal was met without again, without us pushing or pressing. We met that goal. I say 01:05:46.800 --> 01:05:51.920 for Montenegro, because that's where Pastor Jovitz is, but he's starting a church in Novi Sad, Serbia. 01:05:51.920 --> 01:05:58.480 And within three months, just from the overflow, you guys met that. And join me in applause for 01:05:58.480 --> 01:06:05.360 yourselves and your generous hearts. Amen. Thank you. Worship team, come on up. 01:06:05.360 --> 01:06:16.480 If you would lift your hands, say this out loud, Lord Jesus, you are God. 01:06:16.480 --> 01:06:19.480 You delight in mercy. 01:06:19.480 --> 01:06:21.600 I have made mistakes. 01:06:21.600 --> 01:06:23.640 I've committed sins. 01:06:23.640 --> 01:06:30.420 There's some consequences that may be coming my way, but I trust you, Lord. 01:06:30.420 --> 01:06:39.320 Number one, for your grace, because of your grace, I'm forgiven because of your grace. 01:06:39.320 --> 01:06:49.560 I receive undeserved favor, but also thank you for your mercy. 01:06:49.560 --> 01:06:57.760 Because of your mercy, I don't receive deserved judgment. 01:06:57.760 --> 01:07:00.400 So thank you, Lord Jesus. 01:07:00.400 --> 01:07:02.840 Shout a big hallelujah. 01:07:02.840 --> 01:07:03.840 Amen. 01:07:03.840 --> 01:07:09.280 This is the City Light Church Podcast. 01:07:09.280 --> 01:07:13.200 If you've missed any part of today's message, or if you would like to find out more about 01:07:13.200 --> 01:07:19.040 Pastor Boyan Jancic in City Light Church, visit us at CityLightNYC.com. 01:07:19.040 --> 01:07:22.160 That's CityLightNYC.com. 01:07:22.160 --> 01:07:25.580 Feel free to visit us online or in person any time. 01:07:25.580 --> 01:07:28.060 We would love to connect with you. 01:07:28.060 --> 01:07:32.660 We pray that you have been encouraged today, that you have been reminded how much God loves 01:07:32.660 --> 01:07:36.380 you and that you are surrounded by grace. 01:07:36.380 --> 01:07:37.920 Thank you for listening. 01:07:37.920 --> 01:07:41.860 Make sure that you subscribe to City Light Church Podcast wherever you find your favorite 01:07:41.860 --> 01:07:43.340 podcasts worldwide. 01:07:43.340 --> 01:07:45.920 (upbeat music) 01:07:45.920 --> 01:07:55.920 [MUSIC]