Serving the God of Increase

Whenever you're tired you're saying I believe in you Lord and I believe you are above me and I'm subject to you And I'm submitted to you and I gladly give that which is already yours. Here's your 10th back to you And why a 10th anyway? Why 10% when I five when I 50 you could have picked any percent because a 10 is indicative of the whole If you can count to 10 you can count to any number so when you give the 10th it's like you're giving it all Welcome to the CityLight Church podcast. Thanks for joining us today as we look into God's word and discover the hope and truth that he has for us If you want to connect with CityLight Church feel free to visit us at citylightnyc.com That's CityLight NYC.com Pastor Boyan Janskik and his team believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is already working in our hearts and minds As you listen to today's teaching remember that you are deeply loved by God that you are surrounded by his grace and that he has a real hope and a future for you How many of you this is your first time in what we affectionately called a little house on the prairie church Yeah, first time okay several of you Because at the Normal location where we meet every Sunday. There's an event And so occasionally a few times a year we have to meet here and It's bitter sweet to me It's sweet because it just reminds me of the plan of God and how he works Because we were just in Manhattan only back in 2009 Have in the time of our lives growing No need to complicate things and then I Sends the Lord just keep coming to me saying start a church in Queens You know and you first thought in the natural is I don't need that I got my hands full here It will start start another one because we only had a Sunday evening service And I landed on a story and I drove around for months trying to get a location couldn't find one Found this when I first walked into this it was all statues And I don't mean like a church that's religious that has a few statues. I mean it was all statues like this this was their Repository for statues like you know, they weren't gonna get one of the storage bins over in Long Island City So for all the other Anglican churches that are either gotten out or maybe was an old statue they didn't need they stored them in here So it was shoulder to shoulder statues and icons and just like church furniture Covered in dust didn't look nice at all And we had these small beginnings we started with services once a month And then I would have never believed that this would have then become our main location and Then our only location I got my Queens because we were in Brooklyn. We had two locations in Manhattan one in Brooklyn Yet here and then we consolidated in 2021 And I think about the goodness of God. That's the sweet part When I said it's bitter sweet the bitter part is just me Remembering waiting on the line to get to use the one bathroom So if if that thought crosses your mind while I'm preaching I got to use the restroom just do it If the thoughts comes out do it after service don't Don't wait for after service. There'll be 20 other people back there But it really is to me it's supernatural when I think because there's no air can that you know what it's like in the summer in here It's not pleasant and we installed The the fans there was no ceiling fans for the first five six seven years So it would just be hot swamp air And yet the church kept growing which to me that's miraculous Like we joke about being missionaries in Guatemala You know we talk about some of the second world conditions there But really here we are in the capital of the world New York City and we've had second world conditions No air conditioning one toilet It's only one toilet So if you go back there and you wonder why is there six different air fresheners and aerosol cans? That's why Because there's only one And we all have to share So share nicely Hallelujah and if you can't share nicely just like in the second world. There's a bucket outside for you On that note Baptisms are next Saturday And so if you haven't made a decision yet you're on the fence I just urge you to do what Jesus said to do and he said if you believe in me Get baptized. It's really that simple There's just two prerequisites for baptism not a long list two things believe and repent Believe on Jesus and turn away From trying to please God on your own terms with your own good works turn away from your past life Turn away from being your own God and doing what you want to do and submit to him You say well, I'm not perfect. I still need work to do. That's what most people say. I still need work Will join the club I still need work Everyone here needs works to accept my wife. She's She's fine All right, but I hear that I've when I get a little when I get a little better What they mean is when I clean up my life more I'll get baptized That's like saying when I when I heal I'll go to the hospital When I lose weight I'll go to the gym No come messy come with issues God loves you He loves you just the way you are he will transform you as you yield to him But begin the process before you think you have every t cross than every I dotted Amen, I want to open up with proverbs Excuse me Psalm 35 27 I like this verse so much So one of the first verses I memorized I liked it so much. I had it printed on all the offering envelopes 15 years ago And it shows you God's attitude towards finances and God's thoughts about abundance and prosperity There's a hundred verses like this. I just like the way this one lands Normally when I minister on finances I read these statistics about the average American and what they have saved and how much they have in debt and And I'm not going to do that today because it would be too depressing I'm already a little down because of the one bathroom situation And you think I'm kidding but really I came all happy and then I walked in and I was like reminded of the one but and PTSD hit me And thank God for inner healing and the anointing that goes deep into our souls the bomb of Gilead But the stats aren't good In the natural In the natural the stats aren't good and they're not that great for this up and coming generation Do you know what somebody would have to make now to have to have the same purchasing power someone who made minimum wage in the 1970s 66 dollars an hour To have the same purchasing power somebody in the 70s don't make me even talk about the 50s The 50s was when you can be a factory worker go off into the factory and still have a house and two cars and your wife stayed at home and you raise four kids And it's another story how we got that way which is the real story of the problems we face as a nation It really is all the other problems we think we have our direct result of the monetary policy and money delusion But in the natural it's not so good, but the good thing is we don't have to live according to the natural We can live according to the supernatural We don't have to live subject to this world system and this world's economy We can live under God system the kingdom of God the kings domain And his ways better and our citizenship is in heaven and we can live under that rule But we have to we have to follow certain principles. Amen And so if you're a guest by the way Because you landed on me teaching on finances. I have to teach on finances Why because a church needs money? No Because you need money Yeah I have to teach on finances because that's where all you think about is is money. No, I don't yes you do That's all you think about Everyone of your decisions goes through the filter of money 99% of your time is you have to think about money or trying to get more of it And then people want to pretend like oh money should matter And I met some of them when I was pastoring in the East Village These these these bright eyed bushy tail faces and who cares about money You know they were talking in New York City people are so obsessed with money And look at his Wall Street guy just going what also money money You know, and I've been my 20s too, so I'm like listening and learning like oh wow, you know, I think maybe they're right But then I got to notice the face you're making you know, I'm going with this I started notices when we're in the East Village We had we had a lot now if you're if you're in the arts bless you if you're an actor or model But when we were only in the East Village We had like over 50 60% of the church that was either an actress actor or a model And they were the ones saying it to me But only a certain subset then I realized as I listened to their stories They all came from wealthy suburb and parents who were funding their life in New York City So they get to say oh, it's all about money. Who cares about money Because my dad are giving you the money But one day you'll also be concerned about the money Hey, man So it's what people work towards what they think about and Then want to pretend like it isn't important. It is important. That's why the Bible has so much to say about it That's why Jesus had so much to say about it. Jesus is a positive preacher But he preached as positive as he is he gave warnings and he preached twice as much about hell as he did about heaven But concerning finances stewardship Well-giving lands he preached more about those topics than heaven and hell combined Oh, why is it about money? It's because it affects you and that's why Jesus talked about it Hallelujah also how about this He doesn't want you to be a slave Proverbs 227 The rich rules over the poor and the borrower is servant to the lender The rich rules over the poor It was true back then It was true a thousand years ago 500 years ago. It's true today I don't know about you. I don't want to be ruled over by anyone or anything other than the Lord I And deep down in my heart. This is what I see happening. I hope I'm wrong I hope Jesus comes back and says all right. You all had enough. Phew I would like that, but right now the direction things are going in is that the robots with AI brains are coming they're coming and Elon Musk As iron man like and goofy as he can be He doesn't say Things that don't matter He doesn't he sets them out landish stuff like we're going to go to Mars and then he puts stuff on the Mars And he's been tweeting nonstop About universal basic income what's gonna happen when the robots with AI brains come well universal basic income UBI people will just need you know You'll just sit at home and you'll collect money from the government if that excites you because that is being a slave Slaves on every continent through any century. They also had free medical care Food a roof over their heads. Yeah, they were slaves There was subject to someone else universal basic income is nothing, but the rich ruling over you You think everybody's gonna be on you. I know There's gonna be elites and it'll be an even smaller subset than today We might be governed by a technocracy I want to say we I mean in general. I'm not believing that for me or my wife or my kids Don't believe that for yourself God provides escape hatches Hallelujah, listen If you think I'm too extreme this is what I started to realize in 2019 See I came I'm gonna I'm gonna go a little slower than the first service because we have more time I'll share as both the back doors I grew up every summer going to Yugoslavia America did not know what inflation was Now you maybe know of it back when I was talking inflation people didn't even know what it was unless they took an economics class in college or high school But I would go back throughout the 80s every summer to Yugoslavia and I would see new money Like they would have to they couldn't fit the zeros anymore on on on the bills they had to keep Inventing new money fiat paper currency and so my little candy bar that I would buy as an annual that was 10 dinars The next summer was a thousand dinars then thousand then 10 thousand and I that did something to me Because I would ask grandpa. Why what we don't have this in America. Why is this happening? Oh inflation what's inflation? Well the government just keeps making money they keep printing it out of thin air yeah When you have too much of something and devalues what you have that had an impact on me so in 2020 During COVID you know that the government just invented Invented created four trillion dollars out of thin air. That's a lot by the way It's a lot as far as how many dollars we have in circulation It hit me I talked to other people are like yeah, what do you mean? Yeah, that's really gonna affect your life So I went all in on another asset That is finite That has programmed digital scarcity that can be printed ad nauseam Bitcoin I'm not gonna preach about Bitcoin But here's what I'm trying to have you realize that it meant so much to me. I saw what was on the horizon That I had a huge wake. I talked to my wife. She was on board and it financially transformed our lives It financially transformed this church's life I want you to know that This This is in your hands you get to decide how the next 10 years play out And if that makes you nervous like oh, I only see three options you get to decide not to see three options You get to decide God you're the one who makes an escape hatch You're the one even though I'm silly at times. You're the one even though I've made mistakes in the past You're the one even though it looks like it's not gonna be right. You're gonna make it all right because I believe That you're gonna make for me. You got to appropriate it for yourself. God. You're gonna do a miracle in my life You're gonna speak to me. I will obey you will talk to me You will see me as the head and not the tail above and not beneath You will see me lending and not borrowing and you don't want me to be a slave You don't want me to be ruled over by someone else lord I'm gonna do the ruling and I'll be a loving compassionate merciful just ruler Hallelujah So Proverbs 11 24 is also another great principle There is one who scatters one who so seed One who's generous one who gives and yet somehow he's not I'm the negative side He hasn't yeah, he's not the one out of loss He's increasing more. He's got a net gain yet. He scatters And there is one who withholds more than is right, but that leads to poverty Well, what is more than it's right more than is right You don't get to make up what's more than is you ever hang around stingy people It's terrible It's terrible they'll they'll give a nickel to a homeless person an act like they're opening up their you know Whole savings account here you go Don't spend it all in one place, you know for them. That's more. That's what is right No, it really is So what's what is right? Well, I'm so glad you asked What is right? It will God instituted with Abraham Something called the tithe a tenth Aren't you glad that God works with percentages and not numbers? And here's what it says about the tithe Leviticus 2730 And all the tithe of the land whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree is the Lord's It is holy to the Lord so the tithe is holy That's another reason why I preach on this and I haven't preached on the tithe and I don't remember It's been over 16 months It was last February And actually feel like I was agree like it's I don't want to preach on the tithe in the natural and myself. I don't want to after the R knots Especially here you're already uncomfortable One bathroom that I mentioned that But it's holy And holy doesn't mean clean we think holiness means cleanliness holiness means separation The tithe is separate onto the Lord what God is saying is it doesn't even belong to you. It's mine And when you give the tithe you really not giving that's why Jesus said you pay your tithe you're just giving back what's already mine And it is a holy subject giving the tithe should be a time of worship between you and the Lord You're coming to the altar with a gift The altar is no joke whether it's Old Testament or New Testament the altars were a sacrifice takes place And the tithe always has the spirit of sacrifice introduced into it And God sees it as holy and he receives it as something that's holy So I want to just talk to you about principles of tithing Some people don't get the full benefit because they they never really got the word on the subject I didn't until I did my own studies when I got saved the churches that I went to they all had the same tithing message It was an angry preacher screaming Malachi three at you Well a man robbed God Yeah, you have robbed him you are cursed with the index finger you You Every church was like that. There was no like word teaching like let me understand it was just basically it felt like an extortion racket So let me keep you the word on the subject and you can decide for yourselves and if you rejected at least you know what you're rejecting The tithe here's some principles number one it shows faith in God's word and his provisional care It shows faith when you tithe whenever you tithe you're saying lord I believe your word because tithing makes no sense in the natural It doesn't Nobody wakes up and thinks you know how can I how can I give my money away And God is asking for a tenth But he's asking for it as a test To see if you can be entrusted with more And there's a leap of faith That's why some people are at that place of faith and maturity where they do tithe and others They still give way to fear they give way to rationalizations excuses But at the end of the day it comes down to one thing do you trust God and take him at his word Do you believe his word do you believe that when he said when you tithe when you're the one who actually scatters You will actually increase more Before financial breakthrough We weren't living high on the hog at all. We had an any given point $1,500 in our bank account. That's nothing like to brag about one hot water heater blow out boom But we had no debt and somehow still even when the lord had us in that testing and waiting period Did you lack anything? I didn't lack anything I actually think back. I'm like we went to Montenegro so many times. How did we pay for that? How did we But the lord because we were tithers the lord always made it so that We came out on top. Amen never once did we think oh we shouldn't have tithe We'd have more money for ourselves because I know it's not true. We'd have less money something else would happen And drain that away The tithe is a way to acknowledge Jesus's lordship in every area of your life That's what Abraham did when he met Melchizedek the first tithe And he recognized that a greater than he And he gave a tenth of all his spoils Whenever you tithe you're saying I believe in you lord and I believe you are above me And I'm subject to you and I'm submitted to you and I gladly give that which is already yours Here's your tenth back to you and why a tenth anyway why 10% When I five when I 50 he could have picked any percent because a 10 is indicative of the whole If you can count to 10 you can count to any number So when you give the tenth it's like you're giving it all the tenth represents the whole All right quiet down now. I got a preach Showed him me down ah The tithe thank you We'll challenge our flesh our carnal nature What is the flesh our carnal nature that's not subject to the lord the flesh is nasty the flesh wants to do what it wants to do the flesh is selfish flesh is a consumerist And when you tithe you're putting your flesh under you're dying to the flesh You're saying no this belongs to the lord he is my head It's a way to show proper headship whenever you give the tithe to the lord A lot of people want to have Jesus as their savior but not as their lord But he's lord and savior and if he's not lord of all he's not lord at all And it seems to be the last thing that's converted or given up is the wallet the purse the bank account I'll live you By the way I just because there's so many different faces. I don't know who's thinking what whatever and I'm just I'm just free The church is doing fine financially. It's not in danger And I guess I have to say that because also whenever the preacher will get angry shouting on the tithe the men Uh-oh the church is doing bad financially It the church is doing great And Tithing transform my life So much so that my wife and I last year were able to tithe 2.1 million dollars to the lord Amen We practice what we preach he blessed us he over blessed us So God doesn't have to receive anything But people must give He's not trying to take something from you trying to get something to you, but it's activated with giving Hallelujah Hallelujah Why is he got to talk about money because that's all you think about Hallelujah Proverbs well, let's look at this next principle tithing Exhibits godly stewardship and financial discipline The tithe the tenth is a way to consistently exhibit. What does godly stewardship mean financial discipline Proverbs 27 23 I found this in talking to people when they want to talk about their finances I'll ask how much debt do you have and they don't know I said well eight months ago. It was like 25,000 What do you mean like 25,000 and what do you mean eight months ago? What was it yesterday? I don't know why don't you know and it's they never say this way But what they're really saying is I don't know because I can't bear to look I don't know what's coming in. I don't know what's going out If I look I'll get depressed so I put you know stick my head in the sand And if I don't see my debt my debt won't see me That's what the emu bird thinks It sticks its head in the hole and the things if I can't see the coyote the coyote won't see me But he does and the debt sees you they're coming for you Thank god you serve the god of supernatural debt elimination amen Be diligent to know the state of your flocks and attend to your herds You ask a shepherd how many sheep do you have 87 two more on the way? How many goats do you have 32 how many cattle 55 they know the state of their flocks And yet people die don't know the state of their finances They don't know what they have in a savings account and checking account is my wife and I we have to meet every single week It's like the highlight of our week right babe You're so sweet, but we never look forward to that we got lots of other things to do right It's not fun But we take 15 20 minutes apart. No, it's like the last thing you want to do Be forced yourself 15 20 minutes. Let's go over all the amics bills. Let's go through checking Let's go through how much taxes are due let's bring 15 20 minutes and we get an idea. We know what's up Tiving helps you know what's up because it's actually forcing you to consider your finances see tiving shouldn't be willy nilly and I kind of like When I back in the day before everything got digital tiving was a holy time you thought about it You separated God's portion you worshiped with it It took longer now. It takes like two minutes point your phone set up automatic and all that's fine and Danny, but make sure in your heart You're worshiping the Lord and you're recognizing what's happening there. You're seeing him as your head You're showing that you can be trusted with increase You're putting your flesh under And It's forcing you to do the math Some people just to have never even done the math of carrying the decimal place over two points And considering their flock and tithing causes you to consider your your flock know the state of your flock If you're alive just say amen. Okay If you're if you're alive just shoot a quick text to your face and notify it That you're alive It's hard for me to tell sometimes The principle of tiving positions ourselves for financial increase This is God's ordained way to financially increase us And he already takes pleasure in our prosperity Now if you're not experiencing prosperity, guess what you need to do business with God Do you know you can do business with God? You can actually talk to him and if you're serious you really talk to him See I pray all the time But when it's a 9-1 situation 9-1-1 I notice I don't pray I pray And I've noticed something that God is actually moved by our passion He actually is you think oh gods and I'm like yeah, he is in James. It says the fiery fervent Passionate prayer avails much has the kind of got a death sentence. He cried. I didn't go Maybe you give me a few more years He cried a lord give me more yeah And guys like 15 more years. I like your passion. I like your sincerity You know who's wedding I did last night? Matt Dirlack oh fastest fastest wedding I've ever done but also fastest courtship I've ever five six months and and And I only did it that fast because the hand of the Lord was on And they went through primital counseling at all, but as I'm doing the wedding I begin to leap I hope if ever do your wedding I'm more composed. I'm like weeping they're then weeping or like the anointing's there And I remember They said they would be watching but they're not watching they just got married and I was like yeah if you're watching Yeah, sure you're watching What's what's the over under on whether they're watching right now? Here's what I remember we have you know 21 days of prayer and fasting at the start of every new year And we all gather the whole church gathers and praise on zoom And Matt and we all by the way we pray for New York City, right? We pray for people to get saved the church. We don't pray for ourselves Matt was the only one every year. He's praying for his future wife. Oh lord, you know, I just I was so annoyed And I'm like all right. It's just next year. He's doing it again I'm like this guy. It's the only one But you know what he was passionate Sirius he just decided you know what I'm tired of being single I'm gonna get hitched and I'm gonna grab a hold of God and be serious about it I found that works for everything. I got a whole sermon. I preached on brief prayers I pray all the time talk a lot to God, but that's not I'm not asking for stuff I'm just sharing my heart, but when it comes for something you need let it be quick. Jesus said don't let Don't don't don't think that you will be heard for your much speaking. Oh You need something Tell God what you need and do it with gusto do with passion put your heart in his hand. It actually does move him Hallelujah I Don't know how I got on that, but someone needed to hear it. I mean it looked back there. I thought maybe it was one of the principles, but it's not Let's read the book of Milachi chapter three The book of Milachi Chapter three because the tithe positions you for financial increase The tithe is gods ordained way for us to get blessed and increase Is it a coincidence that the most tithing nation? I don't know today, but definitely 30 years ago was the United States And then we became the world's economic superpower responsible for 94% of all global missionaries That So that even secular people like Robert Kiyosaki I don't know where he is in his Christianity, but you look at his books. There's a lot of those Finance gurus real estate gurus. They all say tithing Giving very very important I don't even know they don't talk about the Lord and other areas, but they've tapped into a principle And it's a biblical principle and it works like gravity whether you believe it or not. It's gonna work for you That's how giving is Will a man rob God now here he's rebuking them. You know why? Because there is stiff-necked rebellious people Withholding from God. So he's angry and and and he's rebuking them This isn't how I believe a pastor should address a Sunday morning congregation Because you're not a stiff-necked rebellious people you love the Lord You worship him you give your tithe Will a man rob God yet you have robbed me But you say in what way have we robbed you Entides and offerings You are cursed with a curse for you have robbed me even this whole nation Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in my house and try me now in this Says the Lord of hosts if I will not open For you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such a blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it So we actually says test me in this. This is my way for you to increase And when you put together all that Jesus said and you put together the financial themes of the Bible It seems that God has set it up to where You prove to him that you can handle money You you know why we gave 2.1 million dollars. Do you want to know why? Thank you Because I wanted more I could give you a lot of holy reasons yes to submit to the Lord to follow the word but all behind that was I wanted more money Now I couldn't ask him for more if I didn't do what was right So now and you think oh you gave 2.1 so it's that's never easy to do It's actually gets harder to do it's never easy But I'm showing the Lord and you every time you tie if you're showing the Lord I can be trusted with more because money isn't ruling over me And I I stand on your were oh tithing isn't working make it work I remember years where I thought will come tithing isn't working so you know what I just doubled out I don't care It's like when you're sick and you you believe you're healed But you're not getting better. What are you going to do? Oh, it doesn't work. No get stubborn double down Believe more I just I just made a covenant with the Lord a decision Lord, I don't care if I'm my last can of beans. I'm going to tithe to you and your word is your word I don't care what's happening around me I don't care how much it hurts right now your power will come in and will change my environment around But I'm not budging from obedience to your word some of you that's what he's waiting for Last week the art not we're joking and they were saying you know what happens It was about the prophetic and the prophetic word and I was laughing to myself because When you get a prophetic word usually not out of ten times the exact opposite happens God's gonna use you you're gonna increase you should go to work tomorrow you got fired You're getting kicked out You know your passport expired you don't even have a year and where are you going to go now That's how it's been with every prophetic word The word will test you you have to actually believe it when it's very difficult to believe That is the test That's something I have to recognize every time is I'm actually trying to encourage you in the words that the Lord has spoken to you A lot of Sunday services are staying on track and being encouraged to persevere until that word is fully manifested hallelujah hallelujah The tithe the principle of the tenth demonstrates to God that we can be trusted with money The principle of the tithe Helps you to honor worship the Lord and that's scriptural. I'm not giving to an organization I'm not giving To a person I'm worshipping the Lord proverbs three nine through ten And the big the big switch happens when you realize you're giving to God I've never I never give to man My gift is always aimed at Jesus. I'm on earth So it has to be something physical that I can see but in actuality. I'm giving it to the Lord Don't ever give under compulsion. Don't ever give under guilt Real biblical giving should be filled with joy and free hallelujah honor the Lord see that word honor Honor the Lord you know the wise men came to the small child Jesus And it says opening their treasure bags they worship them opening their treasure bags. They worship them There is a connection between giving to the Lord and worshipping him honor the Lord with your possessions worship the Lord with your possessions And with the first fruits of your increase and please note that note that there is never A benefit not attached to the sacrifice He always attaches the benefit because Because we need that encouragement and we do we need to know why we do the things we do What happens when I honor the Lord with my tithe my barns will be filled with plenty and my vats will overflow with new wine And if my barns aren't filled with plenty then I'm applying faith pressure to the word. I'm saying Lord straighten me out What am I doing wrong? You know you can be a titheur you never read a book you never take any risks you're just scrolling all day God is limited to how much those windows are gonna open up and he's gonna bless you that's a fact I have to say that that's where I think a lot of preachers get it wrong because it and really what I hear then is you don't really care about me You just want me to tie but you don't really care because I'm gonna be a broke dumb titheur But you challenge me to look for another job look how to increase dress better be smarter read a book a week You can do it stop scrolling six hours a day go take some risk you can't he'll bless the work of your hands Not to see to your pants to go on a then mix that with tithing things are gonna shake rattle and roll amen Hallelujah go learn something develop yourself some people are like they're they're stuck in fear and in their shyness Well, you need to you're network is your net worth go meet some people I think that's been telling me to go meet some people he's been telling you to go to a life group for three years now and you're still in a corner somewhere Who's for about again And this you know this message is always funny because Jesus called money manman What is a manman a Latin word for money? No manman was the money god And when you talk about money you're touching people's gods you're missing with people's gods That's why there's a funny funny air whenever you talk about money even though Jesus had no problem talking about money Talked about it all all the time go through the gospels and just pay attention to when Jesus talks about giving stewardship money the offering lands talents Quite often and he uses it quite often in his parables The principle of tithing activates the first fruit principle And that's if the first fruits be holy the lump is holy and that's found in Romans 11 16 Hallelujah You Hallelujah Hallelujah If the tie the 10th That oh can you go to Romans 11 16 is what I meant Because Because that's where the first fruits principle is for if the first fruits is holy the lump is also holy Here what the scripture saying it's saying when I give the first 10th That's giving of the first tank sanctifies the lump or the remaining 90 percent If If the root is holy so the branches so in other words I gladly give the tithe because then the remaining 90 percent is blessed And I would rather have a blessed 90 percent than a curse at 100 percent So there is this principle throughout the scriptures And Evil men have tapped into this principle good men have tapped into this principle Study the titans of industry from the Vanderbilt to Rockefeller to they all talked about tithing Napoleon Hill think and grow they all talked about tithing They understood that it was a biblical principle you cannot be a miserly small minded stingy minji dead sea with no outlet And then say oh god won't you increase me no you have no outlet But I found that he will get all sorts of things to you if he knows that he can get them through you All sorts of wild things my pastor gave me this brightling watch it was rose gold Did I show it to you? Oh you were there that day I forgot I was gonna tell I'm telling a story you were there that I love that thing And And then John not what John R. Not was over last year When he was minutes not like hanging out for cut when he was ministering here he came at a few people over for breakfast And this was by far the most expensive watch I owned I almost very even award And I fell and I didn't want to give it away for sentimental reasons because my pastor gave it to me And I felt give it to John R. Not That's all I need to hear Waited about 30 seconds just for confirmation But when it feels like a mountain of fire is resting on you You're like I better not I don't need much more confirmation So I gave it gave it glad and you know he took it and he's like Well, he actually he's so honest and he's so sweet and transparent like I'm preaching in Mexico all the time on the street. What am I gonna do with this? I'm like I don't know what you're gonna do with it because I looked at his watch It was like a $12 timings I'm like I don't know what you're gonna do with it, but I know you need to have it And then I know and I was done. I don't really want to collect watches or whatever Collecting always sounds a little weird, you know, it sounds like a golem Wow my precious collecting and like it's all gonna burn and go to dust and rust anyway But but then in the next year and this really hit me and you know I got watches and Why they they were like coming to me No, I pay for them, but they were coming to me One old friend called me up and he said because I gave away my Submariner He said I have a Submariner the waiting list is three years on him. You can buy it from me for retail. I was like I think I will Uh, they were and the money to buy them with the Lord just made it so now I gave one away that I really like But I have a whole bunch more than just they're there. Oh Hallelujah Work the principle of see time and harvest showing and reaping Concerning pulse at giving and receiving There's a giving there is a receiving When Paul was taking a three chapter long offering messages when he introduced this agrarian principle of sewing and reaping My grandfather, you know, he fought in World War II killed a lot of Nazis But also had wild stories like one day found a Nazi in the forest and he just looked at him with compassion and gave him half a loaf of bread He would all he was a kind of old school. He also didn't didn't give his life to Christ But he was at old school Montenegro and peasant like guy who would give if you needed something you were never gonna go hungry or you know You know all of you have a family member would give you the shirt off his back. You know what I mean the salt of the earth Giving He never ever lacked anything He was always contented with his belly full. He never Because he tapped into a principle without even realizing it There's a sewing and there's a re now think about some of the most miserable people you know And I guarantee you they have something in common. They're not givers They're usually some of the most miserly stingy they have skinny, scrawny hearts And so that's what they're reaping consistently scrawniness leanness You see somebody does anybody wonder see I don't know by the way. I don't know who tides I really do not know I treat everybody like they're the number one giver in the church If you're wondering you know from locking eyes with you when I'm preaching. Oh, he's that I have no idea But look at Mauricio right now. Do you wonder I wonder if he tides or not I never wonder about that Because there's joy you will never see Joy on the face of somebody who's My precious Aren't you so glad you came today Hallelujah I believe with all my heart That what happened to my wife and I financially in 24 and 25 was a setup For what's still gonna happen I believe with all my heart that there's gonna be a huge shaking and a huge financial transfer I believe the world as we know it is gonna be turned upside down the economy is gonna be turned upside down We're at an inflection point on the technology curve Where things are gonna change very quickly and rapidly Some people are gonna become modern-day slaves to the elite technocrats But there's gonna be a lot of money moving shaking. There's gonna and whenever there's a lot of shaking and a lot of movement There's also great opportunity And I believe the gods people who are submitted to him Or searching after him Who God knows I can trust you you don't do what you want to do you do what I want you to do you do what my words To do they're the ones who are qualified and then the ones who are gonna experience a rapid rapid increase Hallelujah The principle of tiving it blesses God with your obedience and that's what he's after it's not the money that blesses him It's the obedience worship team come on up the obedience is an expression of love Hallelujah Thank you, Jesus In just a little bit we're gonna worship and honor the Lord with our tides and offerings If you're a guest Wow, you came on a funny Sunday Because this is I get it. This is what most non-churchgoing people think churches talk about all the time So if you're a guest and you're like I knew it We actually talk about Jesus his person his miracle working power how to live the victorious Christian life That's 99% of what comes forth from this pulpit But I cannot leave a subject that God himself calls holy that Jesus himself addressed I Cannot leave that out it would be very very cowardly of me and I'm a whole lot of things But a coward I'm not It would be cowardly of me and then I would have to give an account to God why I didn't share principles that work for me Why didn't share them with you biblical principles to bless you to promote you to increase you Why was I such a coward because people might think oh he's one of those money preacher guys Oh Hallelujah did you put that last one up that last principle did you have it? I just wanted to see it The very last one about obedience Yeah Because really truly God doesn't need the money, but what he does requires our obedience and every time we tie We're saying Lord where we're obedient to your word Now here's the beautiful thing Nobody knows whether you tie they're not There's no accounting team going through and go you know there's that guy in the fourth row If we have no idea and so that makes it actually beautiful and pure And by the way, you're not going to get a call from me ever go wow you're a number one tether Thank you You know there's and it's a me there's people here they they they they're huge gifters They've never ever gotten a data boy from me, you know, I really appreciate you I'm so glad you know, I don't you I don't we don't know So that requires even more faith on your part Because you're not doing it for the recognition of man you're definitely not doing it to get a better seat You know tithers in the front No No, guess what this is where it gets raw it's you and God Just like your salvation is between you and him Your destiny is you partnering with him as he walks you to fulfill it and this tithing thing is between you and God And for the record I look at everybody like they're the number one giver in the church So You approached the Lord you and him And you you allow him to search your heart And basically comes down to you deciding whether you want to live a skinny life or fat life I'm all about that fat life Why because I'm exhorted to in the Bible it says eat the fat and drink the sweet The call in the Bible has come up here come up and I come down I want to it is not humble or sweet to say oh, I don't want much That's not how are you going to help people if you don't want much How are you are you going to build a church since you don't want much and people always parade that around like they're being holy Oh, you know, I just need Yourselfish is what you are because you're thinking about all that you need a great you can survive on a can of beans And that's all you need what about there's people who can I Can't survive on a can of beans baby. You know that I need steak Carnivores healing me from the inside out. I got to have and I'm believing for wagoo level Next Lord not prime ribs not cutting it anymore baby. I need it flown in from Japan I Want to know whatever pastor Brian's eating He looks like a superhero I want to know what Did we receive the tides and offerings yet? Let's do that Hallelujah You Thank you Lord Give with a glad heart give and faith We're going to have the ministry team come up to the front you might be Really facing something and I preach the message that's important. That's right. That's necessary to preach But maybe this isn't the number one message you needed to hear we have a ministry team to lay hands on you and pray with you We want to see you come up. We want to see you do better So the altar will be open in about 60 seconds. Don't care about who sees you. Don't care about what will people Then just come up there and say pray for me. That's all you got to do Even better if you can come up with that once one main thing you need prayer for so they can zone in and be specific with you So ministry team want you to come on up to the front You Hallelujah Matt if you're really watching the service I Will send you a $250 seamless card so you don't have to leave your house for the next few days Who breeds seamless of your choice if you text me in the next 60 seconds If you're really watching Babe can you get my phone out can you let me see if you Anything yet nothing How long is the streaming delay four minute streaming you got five minutes There's a four minute streaming delay that's how much of a delay you need for me to manage me At the Oscars. It's like 12 seconds in case the celebrities curse you got four minutes on me in case I just flip out, huh Let's all stand Heavenly father move on your people We trust you as we move into the future We're the head and not the tail say it out loud. I'm the head Not the tail. I'm above Not beneath I do the lending Not the borrowing In Jesus name Amen go and be blessed This is the city light church podcast if you've missed any part of today's message Or if you would like to find out more about pastor boy on janskick and city light church Visit us at city light NYC dot com that's city light NYC dot com Feel free to visit us online or in person anytime we would love to connect with you We pray that you have been encouraged today that you have been reminded how much god loves you And that you are surrounded by grace Thank you for listening make sure that you subscribe to city light church podcast wherever you find your favorite podcasts worldwide You