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Dr. Tony Evans

Tony Evans - Unleashing Kingdom Generosity

December 28, 2025 | 27:29

Tony Evans - Unleashing Kingdom Generosity
Dr. Tony Evans is known as a relevant expositor and is a pastor of pastors and a father in the faith.
#KingdomofGod #Generosity #Giving #Stewardship #Blessing #Disobedience #TrustGod #Bible #Truth #TonyEvans

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Dr. Tony Evans | Tony Evans - Unleashing Kingdom Generosity | December 28, 2025
  • ...
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  • Tony evans: when you know what i know--that your god
  • 00:00:01.850 --> 00:00:04.119
  • Is able to do exceedingly abundantly
  • 00:00:04.253 --> 00:00:06.555
  • Above all that you can ask or think--
  • 00:00:06.688 --> 00:00:08.824
  • When you know what i know, then it shouldn't be a problem
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  • To be generous--
  • 00:00:12.728 --> 00:00:14.129
  • Generous with your prayer, generous with your praise,
  • 00:00:14.129 --> 00:00:17.466
  • Generous with your giving--
  • 00:00:17.466 --> 00:00:19.034
  • Because you know that the creator and the owner
  • 00:00:19.034 --> 00:00:23.105
  • Is your source.
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  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:00:24.440 --> 00:00:31.513
  • Tony: it's easy to call on god when you're in trouble.
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  • It's easy to appeal to him when life goes left,
  • 00:00:40.722 --> 00:00:47.729
  • To make him an escape valve or an emergency escape hatch
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  • And not recognize him for who he is,
  • 00:00:56.038 --> 00:01:00.676
  • To call on him when you need a bailout, to forget him
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  • When you've been bailed out.
  • 00:01:05.114 --> 00:01:08.717
  • David breaks forth with excitement, exuberance,
  • 00:01:08.717 --> 00:01:15.224
  • And joy at who god is.
  • 00:01:15.224 --> 00:01:20.696
  • It is the discovery of god
  • 00:01:20.696 --> 00:01:24.032
  • For who he declares himself to be,
  • 00:01:24.032 --> 00:01:25.968
  • Not who you want him to be,
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  • That will forever change not only your view of him
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  • But how you function in life.
  • 00:01:34.776 --> 00:01:38.380
  • God said in luke 12, "if you will make the king
  • 00:01:38.380 --> 00:01:41.884
  • And his kingdom your focus, then you will experience
  • 00:01:41.884 --> 00:01:45.487
  • Not only god as creator but god as daddy."
  • 00:01:45.487 --> 00:01:49.791
  • And nothing will make god more real to you
  • 00:01:49.791 --> 00:01:52.094
  • Than when he shows up as father,
  • 00:01:52.094 --> 00:01:54.530
  • So that he's not this distant being in never never land,
  • 00:01:54.530 --> 00:01:58.367
  • He's this personal father,
  • 00:01:58.367 --> 00:02:03.238
  • Up close in the needs and realities of life.
  • 00:02:03.238 --> 00:02:06.208
  • And if you've never experienced the fathering of god
  • 00:02:06.208 --> 00:02:10.145
  • And only settled for the knowledge about god,
  • 00:02:10.145 --> 00:02:13.849
  • Then you've never seen what it's like
  • 00:02:13.849 --> 00:02:15.450
  • When daddy comes through and meets you.
  • 00:02:15.450 --> 00:02:19.988
  • And one of the things that is a requirement is
  • 00:02:19.988 --> 00:02:25.460
  • That you will recognize his king and his kingship first.
  • 00:02:25.460 --> 00:02:31.433
  • As we said last week, certain things god can't do,
  • 00:02:31.433 --> 00:02:35.037
  • And one of the things he can't do is be second.
  • 00:02:35.037 --> 00:02:38.574
  • Whenever he is relegated to a secondary position,
  • 00:02:38.574 --> 00:02:43.612
  • Then what you have done is distanced yourself from him.
  • 00:02:43.612 --> 00:02:49.084
  • When david calls this celebration
  • 00:02:49.084 --> 00:02:53.722
  • At the dedication of the temple,
  • 00:02:53.722 --> 00:03:00.929
  • He cites god as creator, owner, and source
  • 00:03:00.929 --> 00:03:09.504
  • Of all things.
  • 00:03:09.504 --> 00:03:11.873
  • He says, "in heaven and in history,
  • 00:03:11.873 --> 00:03:16.545
  • In eternity and in time, in the invisible realm
  • 00:03:16.545 --> 00:03:24.419
  • And the visible realm, you are creator,
  • 00:03:24.419 --> 00:03:29.958
  • You are source, and you are owner."
  • 00:03:29.958 --> 00:03:38.233
  • If you don't get that,
  • 00:03:38.233 --> 00:03:42.771
  • Then your whole philosophy of life will be off.
  • 00:03:42.771 --> 00:03:47.643
  • It will be skewed.
  • 00:03:47.643 --> 00:03:51.179
  • Over and over and over and over and over and over
  • 00:03:51.179 --> 00:03:56.618
  • Throughout scripture, god affirms he is creator,
  • 00:03:56.618 --> 00:04:03.659
  • Owner, and source for all things.
  • 00:04:03.659 --> 00:04:09.965
  • To set the stage, i will just reference
  • 00:04:09.965 --> 00:04:14.169
  • A few of those passages.
  • 00:04:14.169 --> 00:04:17.606
  • For example, psalm 50, verse 10 says:
  • 00:04:17.606 --> 00:04:22.277
  • "for every beast of the forest is mine.
  • 00:04:22.277 --> 00:04:26.114
  • The cattle on a thousand hills.
  • 00:04:26.114 --> 00:04:27.983
  • I know every bird of the mountains,
  • 00:04:27.983 --> 00:04:30.485
  • And everything that moves in the field is mine.
  • 00:04:30.485 --> 00:04:34.923
  • If i were hungry, i would not tell you, for the world is mine
  • 00:04:34.923 --> 00:04:40.862
  • And all it contains."
  • 00:04:40.862 --> 00:04:44.633
  • He says in psalm 24 verse 1: "the earth is the lord's,
  • 00:04:44.633 --> 00:04:49.538
  • The fullness thereof, the world and all they that dwell in it
  • 00:04:49.538 --> 00:04:52.641
  • Is mine."
  • 00:04:52.641 --> 00:04:55.210
  • He says in revelation chapter 4, verse 11: "i created all of this
  • 00:04:55.210 --> 00:05:01.049
  • And i created it for me."
  • 00:05:01.049 --> 00:05:05.020
  • He says again in haggai chapter 2,
  • 00:05:05.020 --> 00:05:07.789
  • Verse 8: "all the gold and the silver is mine."
  • 00:05:07.789 --> 00:05:14.262
  • Over and over again, he says in psalm 104, verse 24,
  • 00:05:14.262 --> 00:05:18.800
  • He says: "the earth is full of your possessions."
  • 00:05:18.800 --> 00:05:23.538
  • So let's get something straight.
  • 00:05:23.538 --> 00:05:29.411
  • "i made it, i own it, and i'm the source of it.
  • 00:05:29.411 --> 00:05:36.651
  • You own nothing,
  • 00:05:36.651 --> 00:05:40.756
  • Because everything in creation is mine."
  • 00:05:40.756 --> 00:05:47.329
  • If you don't start there and you become ultimate creator or owner
  • 00:05:47.329 --> 00:05:55.771
  • Or source, you've placed yourself in front of god.
  • 00:05:55.771 --> 00:06:02.611
  • So now you're in conflict with the owner, because he says,
  • 00:06:02.611 --> 00:06:07.482
  • "there's only one owner, and that's me."
  • 00:06:07.482 --> 00:06:12.621
  • As owner, anything you do, get, have, or possess in life
  • 00:06:12.621 --> 00:06:21.296
  • Is yours to manage on loan.
  • 00:06:21.296 --> 00:06:27.536
  • You get to manage, you don't get to own.
  • 00:06:27.536 --> 00:06:33.141
  • And when you understand you are a manager of everything
  • 00:06:33.141 --> 00:06:37.412
  • Because you own nothing,
  • 00:06:37.412 --> 00:06:39.247
  • It changes how you look at everything.
  • 00:06:39.247 --> 00:06:42.350
  • And it changes how you relate to god
  • 00:06:42.350 --> 00:06:44.820
  • About everything you and i think we own.
  • 00:06:44.820 --> 00:06:49.724
  • He says, "i am owner."
  • 00:06:49.724 --> 00:06:52.627
  • Or as paul put it in 1 corinthians
  • 00:06:52.627 --> 00:06:54.696
  • Chapter 4, verse 7,
  • 00:06:54.696 --> 00:06:56.131
  • "what do you have that you have not received?
  • 00:06:56.131 --> 00:07:00.235
  • I am your source."
  • 00:07:00.235 --> 00:07:04.973
  • Now, we've gone over this many times,
  • 00:07:04.973 --> 00:07:06.808
  • But if you catch what i'm getting ready to say here,
  • 00:07:06.808 --> 00:07:10.846
  • Everything changes for your life.
  • 00:07:10.846 --> 00:07:15.750
  • You only have one source.
  • 00:07:15.750 --> 00:07:20.055
  • You have many resources but only one source--
  • 00:07:20.055 --> 00:07:24.926
  • That is, only one place from which things derive.
  • 00:07:24.926 --> 00:07:30.365
  • You have many mechanisms through which they flow,
  • 00:07:30.365 --> 00:07:34.970
  • But only one source from which they come.
  • 00:07:34.970 --> 00:07:39.040
  • God is the source of all things.
  • 00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:42.844
  • The vehicles through which you get it is merely a resource.
  • 00:07:42.844 --> 00:07:47.682
  • Now, the reason why you need to know that
  • 00:07:47.682 --> 00:07:50.986
  • Is because when a resource goes left on you,
  • 00:07:50.986 --> 00:07:55.090
  • You don't have to lose your mind
  • 00:07:55.090 --> 00:07:57.125
  • Because the resource wasn't the source.
  • 00:07:57.125 --> 00:08:00.061
  • The resource was merely the mechanism
  • 00:08:00.061 --> 00:08:04.366
  • That the source used to get you whatever you get.
  • 00:08:04.366 --> 00:08:07.802
  • When you go shopping, the grocery store
  • 00:08:07.802 --> 00:08:11.773
  • Is not your source.
  • 00:08:11.773 --> 00:08:13.975
  • The grocery store is a resource to distribute what you eat.
  • 00:08:13.975 --> 00:08:20.282
  • It is not your-- everything in the grocery store
  • 00:08:20.282 --> 00:08:23.785
  • Is dependent upon something god created.
  • 00:08:23.785 --> 00:08:27.255
  • There is no vegetable, there is no meat,
  • 00:08:27.255 --> 00:08:30.258
  • There is nothing in the grocery store
  • 00:08:30.258 --> 00:08:34.496
  • That isn't dependent upon something
  • 00:08:34.496 --> 00:08:36.398
  • That the source has provided,
  • 00:08:36.398 --> 00:08:39.134
  • Which is why if one grocery store runs out,
  • 00:08:39.134 --> 00:08:42.170
  • You go to another grocery store, all you did was shift resources.
  • 00:08:42.170 --> 00:08:47.042
  • You didn't change sources.
  • 00:08:47.042 --> 00:08:49.110
  • But the moment you make your job,
  • 00:08:49.110 --> 00:08:52.414
  • Your bank, your contacts, your stocks, your bonds,
  • 00:08:52.414 --> 00:08:56.851
  • Your talent, your gifts-- once you make that your source,
  • 00:08:56.851 --> 00:09:01.756
  • Then that means you got to depend on that to fix itself
  • 00:09:01.756 --> 00:09:06.661
  • When it breaks down because it wasn't a resource.
  • 00:09:06.661 --> 00:09:09.497
  • You made it a source so you can't appeal to god
  • 00:09:09.497 --> 00:09:12.834
  • Because you told him, "you're not the source.
  • 00:09:12.834 --> 00:09:15.003
  • I'm the source. it's not working.
  • 00:09:15.003 --> 00:09:17.005
  • I need to fix--" you got to fix you
  • 00:09:17.005 --> 00:09:19.307
  • Because you were your own source.
  • 00:09:19.307 --> 00:09:24.079
  • David says, "all we give you is what you gave us,
  • 00:09:24.079 --> 00:09:30.485
  • 'cause you were the source."
  • 00:09:30.485 --> 00:09:32.220
  • He says in verse 14, he says, "we giving you generously
  • 00:09:32.220 --> 00:09:37.659
  • Because all things come from you,
  • 00:09:37.659 --> 00:09:39.594
  • And from your hand, we have given you.
  • 00:09:39.594 --> 00:09:42.964
  • We gave you what you gave us."
  • 00:09:42.964 --> 00:09:44.933
  • Any ability you have to do anything has come from god.
  • 00:09:44.933 --> 00:09:51.006
  • He is the source. and you know what that means?
  • 00:09:51.006 --> 00:09:56.811
  • It means you're free.
  • 00:09:56.811 --> 00:09:58.680
  • Because that means nobody can own you now.
  • 00:09:58.680 --> 00:10:02.017
  • No structure can own you now.
  • 00:10:02.017 --> 00:10:05.153
  • If your job illegitimately fires you
  • 00:10:05.153 --> 00:10:08.490
  • Or because they won't come back on the workforce--no, no.
  • 00:10:08.490 --> 00:10:11.493
  • That company was never your source.
  • 00:10:11.493 --> 00:10:14.062
  • That was merely the mechanism god was using at that time
  • 00:10:14.062 --> 00:10:17.632
  • For your ability to earn money.
  • 00:10:17.632 --> 00:10:19.834
  • But since it was never your source,
  • 00:10:19.834 --> 00:10:22.037
  • It was only one resource
  • 00:10:22.037 --> 00:10:23.705
  • That god happened to be using now,
  • 00:10:23.705 --> 00:10:25.306
  • You can go back to your source, says, "god, that resource
  • 00:10:25.306 --> 00:10:27.909
  • Didn't work, so now that you're my source,
  • 00:10:27.909 --> 00:10:30.178
  • What's the new resource that you want me to take advantage of?"
  • 00:10:30.178 --> 00:10:34.015
  • Because now, you have gone to the source.
  • 00:10:34.015 --> 00:10:38.253
  • It changes your perspective.
  • 00:10:38.253 --> 00:10:39.621
  • It means you don't have to lose your mind
  • 00:10:39.621 --> 00:10:44.659
  • When the resources don't work out.
  • 00:10:44.659 --> 00:10:47.328
  • When that bank turns you down, well, that was one source.
  • 00:10:47.328 --> 00:10:52.434
  • But that was resource. that was just a resource.
  • 00:10:52.434 --> 00:10:55.970
  • God's got a bunch of other resources.
  • 00:10:55.970 --> 00:10:59.307
  • This is a kingdom issue.
  • 00:10:59.307 --> 00:11:02.210
  • Because he says, "you are the ruler
  • 00:11:02.210 --> 00:11:04.579
  • And you exercise dominion."
  • 00:11:04.579 --> 00:11:07.115
  • That's kingdom, the jurisdiction of divine rule.
  • 00:11:07.115 --> 00:11:12.687
  • It's all yours. you're the king of this realm.
  • 00:11:12.687 --> 00:11:16.491
  • So we're going to appeal to the realm
  • 00:11:16.491 --> 00:11:18.760
  • And the ruler of the realm, the king,
  • 00:11:18.760 --> 00:11:22.530
  • And you will be our point of reference.
  • 00:11:22.530 --> 00:11:25.800
  • And when you begin to understand that the creator is the owner,
  • 00:11:25.800 --> 00:11:28.670
  • Is the source, as david prays here,
  • 00:11:28.670 --> 00:11:32.474
  • It changes your whole perspective.
  • 00:11:32.474 --> 00:11:34.342
  • It changes your whole trajectory.
  • 00:11:34.342 --> 00:11:40.849
  • That must be the kingdom mindset of a kingdom citizen
  • 00:11:40.849 --> 00:11:46.821
  • Who understands that you operate from the realm of divine rule,
  • 00:11:46.821 --> 00:11:51.559
  • Which he calls the kingdom, and he says, "and you must seek
  • 00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:54.662
  • That first, because i cannot be second.
  • 00:11:54.662 --> 00:12:00.435
  • That is, your mindset, your mentality,
  • 00:12:00.435 --> 00:12:03.037
  • Your orientation, your decision-making
  • 00:12:03.037 --> 00:12:05.774
  • Must appeal to my perspective first.
  • 00:12:05.774 --> 00:12:08.910
  • I don't just want you coming to me after everything else,
  • 00:12:08.910 --> 00:12:13.214
  • After everyone else.
  • 00:12:13.214 --> 00:12:16.351
  • I want you to recognize who i am."
  • 00:12:16.351 --> 00:12:18.753
  • And so he uses all of these superlatives,
  • 00:12:18.753 --> 00:12:22.357
  • David does, to give recognition to god.
  • 00:12:22.357 --> 00:12:26.528
  • He says, "power, glory, victory, majesty, ruler, dominion."
  • 00:12:26.528 --> 00:12:33.001
  • All of these words, he says,
  • 00:12:33.001 --> 00:12:38.006
  • "you are everything, and we are beneficiaries of it."
  • 00:12:38.006 --> 00:12:48.049
  • The context of this passage is the temple.
  • 00:12:48.049 --> 00:12:57.325
  • A number of times, he refers to the temple.
  • 00:12:57.325 --> 00:13:02.263
  • So i want to take a brief moment since that's the context,
  • 00:13:02.263 --> 00:13:06.301
  • And it's the context of god's rule,
  • 00:13:06.301 --> 00:13:09.904
  • To kind of clarify the temple.
  • 00:13:09.904 --> 00:13:15.076
  • It started off as a tabernacle,
  • 00:13:15.076 --> 00:13:17.645
  • Which was a--it was a mobile temple,
  • 00:13:17.645 --> 00:13:21.716
  • Because they were wanderers through the wilderness,
  • 00:13:21.716 --> 00:13:24.319
  • So they pitched the tabernacle.
  • 00:13:24.319 --> 00:13:26.955
  • And the tabernacle sat in the middle of the 12 tribes.
  • 00:13:26.955 --> 00:13:30.758
  • So the 12 tribes circled the tabernacle.
  • 00:13:30.758 --> 00:13:34.596
  • When they got to a permanent location,
  • 00:13:34.596 --> 00:13:37.832
  • Then they built a permanent building,
  • 00:13:37.832 --> 00:13:40.101
  • And the permanent building was called the temple.
  • 00:13:40.101 --> 00:13:42.804
  • So it was the mobile tent tabernacle
  • 00:13:42.804 --> 00:13:45.640
  • Which became the permanent facility
  • 00:13:45.640 --> 00:13:48.309
  • Called the temple.
  • 00:13:48.309 --> 00:13:50.812
  • The temple was designed to do three things.
  • 00:13:50.812 --> 00:13:54.249
  • Number one, it was designed to provide spiritual guidance
  • 00:13:54.249 --> 00:13:59.921
  • For the nation of israel based on the statutes,
  • 00:13:59.921 --> 00:14:03.491
  • Commandments, and guidelines of god.
  • 00:14:03.491 --> 00:14:06.261
  • So the temple was the basis for spiritual instruction,
  • 00:14:06.261 --> 00:14:10.865
  • Spiritual knowledge, to apply heaven's principles
  • 00:14:10.865 --> 00:14:14.669
  • In earth's realities.
  • 00:14:14.669 --> 00:14:17.538
  • So that's what the temple did.
  • 00:14:17.538 --> 00:14:19.908
  • Secondly, the temple was designed to provide
  • 00:14:19.908 --> 00:14:24.012
  • An environment for care for the well-being
  • 00:14:24.012 --> 00:14:27.448
  • Of the people.
  • 00:14:27.448 --> 00:14:29.017
  • So the temple was designed so that the poor and the needy
  • 00:14:29.017 --> 00:14:33.855
  • And the hurting and the struggling,
  • 00:14:33.855 --> 00:14:36.190
  • It would be the centerpiece from which ministry would flow.
  • 00:14:36.190 --> 00:14:40.395
  • That's where the priests and the levites
  • 00:14:40.395 --> 00:14:42.330
  • And those who were to serve the people
  • 00:14:42.330 --> 00:14:44.465
  • Were to function from, based on the truth of the word
  • 00:14:44.465 --> 00:14:48.036
  • In order to infiltrate the needs of the people
  • 00:14:48.036 --> 00:14:51.940
  • Coming out of the centerpiece of the temple.
  • 00:14:51.940 --> 00:14:56.544
  • The third thing, the temple was designed to influence
  • 00:14:56.544 --> 00:15:01.316
  • The culture.
  • 00:15:01.316 --> 00:15:03.017
  • In fact, moses says that when the people see around us
  • 00:15:03.017 --> 00:15:09.057
  • How wise our god is with the way we operate
  • 00:15:09.057 --> 00:15:13.594
  • Based on the governance and guidelines of the temple,
  • 00:15:13.594 --> 00:15:16.831
  • They will say, "what kind of god is this that can raise up
  • 00:15:16.831 --> 00:15:20.668
  • A people like that who operate in this way?"
  • 00:15:20.668 --> 00:15:24.572
  • You are to be influential
  • 00:15:24.572 --> 00:15:26.841
  • From the temple into the culture.
  • 00:15:26.841 --> 00:15:30.278
  • In ezekiel 47, it talks about the life coming down the altar,
  • 00:15:30.278 --> 00:15:36.451
  • Coming down the aisles of the temple,
  • 00:15:36.451 --> 00:15:38.586
  • Flowing out the door of the temple,
  • 00:15:38.586 --> 00:15:40.588
  • Down through the streets and out to the world, why?
  • 00:15:40.588 --> 00:15:44.392
  • Because what was coming from the temple
  • 00:15:44.392 --> 00:15:46.394
  • Was influencing the environment.
  • 00:15:46.394 --> 00:15:49.297
  • So, spiritual instruction and guidance,
  • 00:15:49.297 --> 00:15:52.600
  • Ministry to the people, israel, and influence to the culture,
  • 00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:57.739
  • Not only their culture, but even the foreign lands
  • 00:15:57.739 --> 00:16:00.308
  • That surrounded them.
  • 00:16:00.308 --> 00:16:01.776
  • Those were the three goals of the temple.
  • 00:16:01.776 --> 00:16:06.247
  • In the new testament, the word "temple" is used again,
  • 00:16:06.247 --> 00:16:11.619
  • But it's used in the church.
  • 00:16:11.619 --> 00:16:13.721
  • Ephesians chapter 2 says the church is
  • 00:16:13.721 --> 00:16:16.524
  • The temple of the holy spirit.
  • 00:16:16.524 --> 00:16:20.028
  • Both testaments use the word "house."
  • 00:16:20.028 --> 00:16:24.532
  • He says it here in 1 chronicles 29:
  • 00:16:24.532 --> 00:16:27.568
  • God's house.
  • 00:16:27.568 --> 00:16:29.804
  • Now, there's no house that can hold god.
  • 00:16:29.804 --> 00:16:35.043
  • God exists in infinitude.
  • 00:16:35.043 --> 00:16:38.646
  • That is, he exists bigger than the universe he created.
  • 00:16:38.646 --> 00:16:45.420
  • But what the house did was it became
  • 00:16:45.420 --> 00:16:48.256
  • A localized representative of his presence in history.
  • 00:16:48.256 --> 00:16:52.026
  • And it's called the house, it's called the place
  • 00:16:52.026 --> 00:16:54.262
  • Where he hangs out, or the shekinah glory,
  • 00:16:54.262 --> 00:16:57.098
  • Which was the manifestation of his glory visibly,
  • 00:16:57.098 --> 00:17:00.435
  • So you could see him at work, coming out of the temple.
  • 00:17:00.435 --> 00:17:04.405
  • So the temple, tabernacle first, then temple, then church, okay?
  • 00:17:04.405 --> 00:17:09.911
  • The bible calls the church the house.
  • 00:17:09.911 --> 00:17:12.480
  • 1 timothy chapter 3, verse 15,
  • 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:14.482
  • It says the church is the household of faith,
  • 00:17:14.482 --> 00:17:17.585
  • Designed to do the same three things.
  • 00:17:17.585 --> 00:17:20.154
  • It's designed to produce, for god's people, the truth.
  • 00:17:20.154 --> 00:17:25.560
  • 1 timothy chapter 3, verse 15 says:
  • 00:17:25.560 --> 00:17:27.829
  • "which is the household of faith,
  • 00:17:27.829 --> 00:17:29.163
  • Which is the ground and pillar of the truth."
  • 00:17:29.163 --> 00:17:31.933
  • So let me start right there.
  • 00:17:31.933 --> 00:17:33.601
  • What you should be coming here for is the truth.
  • 00:17:33.601 --> 00:17:36.571
  • The truth is what he declares it to be,
  • 00:17:36.571 --> 00:17:38.973
  • Not what you prefer it to be, like it to be,
  • 00:17:38.973 --> 00:17:41.542
  • Need it to be, want it to be,
  • 00:17:41.542 --> 00:17:43.344
  • Because the truth is him.
  • 00:17:43.344 --> 00:17:45.913
  • God's view on any subject matter is the truth.
  • 00:17:45.913 --> 00:17:49.250
  • He says that "my temple, the church, my house,
  • 00:17:49.250 --> 00:17:52.253
  • Is the ground and pillar of the truth."
  • 00:17:52.253 --> 00:17:54.422
  • In other words, the truth should be the foundation
  • 00:17:54.422 --> 00:17:56.691
  • About everything that happens in this house, okay?
  • 00:17:56.691 --> 00:18:00.061
  • So it's to do that.
  • 00:18:00.061 --> 00:18:01.395
  • But then he talks about the church being the place
  • 00:18:01.395 --> 00:18:04.499
  • Where needs are met, where ministry is performed.
  • 00:18:04.499 --> 00:18:08.102
  • That's why all the "one another's"
  • 00:18:08.102 --> 00:18:09.604
  • Are in scripture.
  • 00:18:09.604 --> 00:18:10.938
  • There are all these dozens of them.
  • 00:18:10.938 --> 00:18:12.573
  • Love one another, care for one another,
  • 00:18:12.573 --> 00:18:13.908
  • Connect one another, serve one another.
  • 00:18:13.908 --> 00:18:15.343
  • All these "one another's" where believer is touching believer
  • 00:18:15.343 --> 00:18:19.480
  • To meet needs.
  • 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:20.882
  • That's why if you only come to church for you,
  • 00:18:20.882 --> 00:18:24.619
  • You come to "worship selfish," not worship service.
  • 00:18:24.619 --> 00:18:27.989
  • If god can't use you to serve somebody else,
  • 00:18:27.989 --> 00:18:32.059
  • Then you've missed the point.
  • 00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:33.528
  • The church exists for ministry.
  • 00:18:33.528 --> 00:18:37.899
  • The third thing, same thing-- tabernacle, temple, church--
  • 00:18:37.899 --> 00:18:42.803
  • Exists to influence the culture,
  • 00:18:42.803 --> 00:18:46.541
  • To bring god's perspective to the society
  • 00:18:46.541 --> 00:18:51.312
  • So that the society gets to see god's point of view at work
  • 00:18:51.312 --> 00:18:55.950
  • Through his people.
  • 00:18:55.950 --> 00:18:57.818
  • So let me tell you what else is called the temple.
  • 00:18:57.818 --> 00:19:00.588
  • The bible calls your body the temple.
  • 00:19:00.588 --> 00:19:01.989
  • It's 1 corinthians chapter 6.
  • 00:19:01.989 --> 00:19:03.925
  • It says your body is a house. it's a god hangout spot.
  • 00:19:03.925 --> 00:19:08.829
  • So how does god influence the culture?
  • 00:19:08.829 --> 00:19:12.133
  • Because when the benediction is given
  • 00:19:12.133 --> 00:19:14.735
  • And we leave this house, the church house,
  • 00:19:14.735 --> 00:19:18.539
  • But you still are a house because god dwells in you,
  • 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:21.642
  • And your body, if you're a christian,
  • 00:19:21.642 --> 00:19:23.611
  • Is a hangout of god,
  • 00:19:23.611 --> 00:19:25.346
  • When you go to work, they should be running
  • 00:19:25.346 --> 00:19:27.081
  • Into the church.
  • 00:19:27.081 --> 00:19:28.649
  • When you're in your neighborhood,
  • 00:19:28.649 --> 00:19:29.984
  • They should be running into the church.
  • 00:19:29.984 --> 00:19:31.919
  • When you are--you-- they should be always--
  • 00:19:31.919 --> 00:19:34.522
  • Everybody you run into ought to be running into the church
  • 00:19:34.522 --> 00:19:37.091
  • Because the bible says your body is a house of god,
  • 00:19:37.091 --> 00:19:40.127
  • Your body is a temple,
  • 00:19:40.127 --> 00:19:41.462
  • And the way you influence the culture
  • 00:19:41.462 --> 00:19:43.364
  • Is not leave the church at church,
  • 00:19:43.364 --> 00:19:45.199
  • But be the church when you leave church
  • 00:19:45.199 --> 00:19:47.168
  • So that everybody keeps running into the church.
  • 00:19:47.168 --> 00:19:52.473
  • Because you represent the presence of god
  • 00:19:52.473 --> 00:19:55.142
  • Wherever you go,
  • 00:19:55.142 --> 00:19:56.510
  • Because god hangs out in your house.
  • 00:19:56.510 --> 00:20:02.316
  • So it's a temple issue, it's a house issue,
  • 00:20:02.316 --> 00:20:07.388
  • For spiritual guidance based on his word,
  • 00:20:07.388 --> 00:20:09.724
  • For ministry to people, particularly his people,
  • 00:20:09.724 --> 00:20:12.627
  • And for influence in the culture.
  • 00:20:12.627 --> 00:20:16.931
  • One of the reasons we've lost our influence
  • 00:20:16.931 --> 00:20:18.666
  • Is that the church has decided it wants to be more cultural
  • 00:20:18.666 --> 00:20:22.770
  • Than christian.
  • 00:20:22.770 --> 00:20:25.439
  • It wants to please the society rather than please the lord.
  • 00:20:25.439 --> 00:20:30.478
  • It wants to operate on secular thinking
  • 00:20:30.478 --> 00:20:32.913
  • Rather than biblical thought.
  • 00:20:32.913 --> 00:20:35.483
  • It is more tied to the kingdoms of this world
  • 00:20:35.483 --> 00:20:37.885
  • Than the kingdoms of our god and his christ.
  • 00:20:37.885 --> 00:20:41.789
  • And so god steps back because he said,
  • 00:20:41.789 --> 00:20:44.792
  • "this is mine and you're making it yours.
  • 00:20:44.792 --> 00:20:48.229
  • We have issues."
  • 00:20:48.229 --> 00:20:51.632
  • And so the temple is this representative location
  • 00:20:51.632 --> 00:20:57.405
  • That god hangs out if god is comfortable.
  • 00:20:57.405 --> 00:21:00.474
  • If he's not comfortable, he says, "ichabod."
  • 00:21:00.474 --> 00:21:03.744
  • Ichabod means the glory of the lord has departed.
  • 00:21:03.744 --> 00:21:07.014
  • "i'm not hanging out with you anymore
  • 00:21:07.014 --> 00:21:08.949
  • And i'm not hanging out with the church anymore
  • 00:21:08.949 --> 00:21:10.985
  • Because y'all ain't hanging out with me.
  • 00:21:10.985 --> 00:21:12.453
  • Y'all got too much ownership going on here."
  • 00:21:12.453 --> 00:21:19.393
  • And so in this context,
  • 00:21:19.393 --> 00:21:25.132
  • David blesses the lord.
  • 00:21:25.132 --> 00:21:30.738
  • And boy, does he bless the lord.
  • 00:21:30.738 --> 00:21:34.775
  • When you read 3000 talents of gold,
  • 00:21:34.775 --> 00:21:36.877
  • 7000 talents of refined silver-- come down to verse 7--
  • 00:21:36.877 --> 00:21:41.148
  • 5000 talents and 10,000 darics of gold
  • 00:21:41.148 --> 00:21:44.352
  • And 10,000 talents of silver and 18,000 talents of brass
  • 00:21:44.352 --> 00:21:47.822
  • And 100,000 talents of iron, okay--
  • 00:21:47.822 --> 00:21:50.991
  • Let's put this in contemporary...english?
  • 00:21:50.991 --> 00:21:55.529
  • You're probably talking about $50 billion.
  • 00:21:55.529 --> 00:21:58.332
  • But if god is your source,
  • 00:21:58.332 --> 00:21:59.700
  • That's not a problem, because he is your supply.
  • 00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:06.707
  • If you've never seen god as your source,
  • 00:22:06.707 --> 00:22:11.879
  • Then you're not going to be excited to give back to him
  • 00:22:11.879 --> 00:22:14.382
  • Some of your time.
  • 00:22:14.382 --> 00:22:16.016
  • You're not going to be excited to give back to him
  • 00:22:16.016 --> 00:22:17.752
  • Some of your resources,
  • 00:22:17.752 --> 00:22:19.286
  • Because you think you are losing something.
  • 00:22:19.286 --> 00:22:22.223
  • It's not yours.
  • 00:22:22.223 --> 00:22:25.259
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:29.563
  • Tony: when god was talking about the tithe
  • 00:22:29.563 --> 00:22:30.898
  • In deuteronomy chapter 14, verse 23, he says,
  • 00:22:30.898 --> 00:22:33.467
  • "i want you to give me the first fruits of what you get.
  • 00:22:33.467 --> 00:22:36.036
  • It's got to be the first fruits.
  • 00:22:36.036 --> 00:22:37.371
  • Can't--don't give me no leftover greens,
  • 00:22:37.371 --> 00:22:39.173
  • Leftover potatoes, leftover watermelon--"
  • 00:22:39.173 --> 00:22:41.108
  • He says, "it's got to be the first fruits,"
  • 00:22:41.108 --> 00:22:42.943
  • And then he says, "so that you will learn to fear
  • 00:22:42.943 --> 00:22:46.046
  • The lord your god."
  • 00:22:46.046 --> 00:22:47.681
  • Listen to what he says in deuteronomy chapter 8.
  • 00:22:47.681 --> 00:22:52.753
  • He says in deuteronomy chapter 8,
  • 00:22:52.753 --> 00:22:54.155
  • Talking to the people and their ability to forget
  • 00:22:54.155 --> 00:22:57.491
  • Who their source is,
  • 00:22:57.491 --> 00:22:58.993
  • Verse 11, "beware that you do not forget the lord your god
  • 00:22:58.993 --> 00:23:03.230
  • By not keeping his commandments,
  • 00:23:03.230 --> 00:23:04.565
  • Ordinance, statutes, which i'm commanding you today.
  • 00:23:04.565 --> 00:23:07.535
  • Otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied and have built
  • 00:23:07.535 --> 00:23:11.439
  • Good houses and lived in them,
  • 00:23:11.439 --> 00:23:13.407
  • When your herds and flock multiply
  • 00:23:13.407 --> 00:23:15.943
  • And your silver and gold multiply
  • 00:23:15.943 --> 00:23:18.379
  • And all that you have multiplies,
  • 00:23:18.379 --> 00:23:20.314
  • Then your heart will become proud
  • 00:23:20.314 --> 00:23:22.349
  • And you will forget the lord your god
  • 00:23:22.349 --> 00:23:24.518
  • Who brought you out of the land of egypt,
  • 00:23:24.518 --> 00:23:26.520
  • Out of the house of slavery."
  • 00:23:26.520 --> 00:23:28.656
  • He then goes on to say,
  • 00:23:28.656 --> 00:23:30.224
  • "otherwise," verse 17, "you may say in your heart,
  • 00:23:30.224 --> 00:23:34.495
  • 'my power and strength of my hand has made me
  • 00:23:34.495 --> 00:23:38.999
  • This wealth,' but you shall remember the lord your god.
  • 00:23:38.999 --> 00:23:43.070
  • It is he who has given you the power to make wealth,
  • 00:23:43.070 --> 00:23:46.674
  • That he may confirm his covenant
  • 00:23:46.674 --> 00:23:48.776
  • Which he swore to your fathers."
  • 00:23:48.776 --> 00:23:50.811
  • He says, "don't you forget the lord your god.
  • 00:23:50.811 --> 00:23:53.714
  • I'm not against you multiplying," because he says,
  • 00:23:53.714 --> 00:23:56.116
  • "when you multiply."
  • 00:23:56.116 --> 00:23:57.451
  • "i'm not against you growing, you benefiting.
  • 00:23:57.451 --> 00:23:59.753
  • I'm not against any of that, except when you forget me.
  • 00:23:59.753 --> 00:24:03.657
  • When you forget if it wasn't for me,
  • 00:24:03.657 --> 00:24:05.659
  • Because i will give you the power to do it.
  • 00:24:05.659 --> 00:24:09.864
  • So, the fact that you did it is because you had
  • 00:24:09.864 --> 00:24:12.233
  • The ability to do it, and that came from me."
  • 00:24:12.233 --> 00:24:16.370
  • It says they responded generously,
  • 00:24:16.370 --> 00:24:19.106
  • But not only with money but with praise.
  • 00:24:19.106 --> 00:24:22.142
  • Says they broke out in praise.
  • 00:24:22.142 --> 00:24:27.715
  • When you read through the psalms,
  • 00:24:27.715 --> 00:24:29.917
  • You see praise after praise.
  • 00:24:29.917 --> 00:24:32.186
  • "i will bless the lord at all times,
  • 00:24:32.186 --> 00:24:34.688
  • And his praise will continually be in my mouth."
  • 00:24:34.688 --> 00:24:38.659
  • As you live your life every day doing the normal things of life,
  • 00:24:38.659 --> 00:24:45.065
  • And you recognize it's but the goodness of god,
  • 00:24:45.065 --> 00:24:49.003
  • God ought to get some pop-up praise.
  • 00:24:49.003 --> 00:24:52.806
  • "god, i thank you, i'm feeling okay today.
  • 00:24:52.806 --> 00:24:56.911
  • I thank you that i could eat today.
  • 00:24:56.911 --> 00:24:58.579
  • I just--just pop-up praise.
  • 00:24:58.579 --> 00:25:00.681
  • I just want to thank you that you've been faithful
  • 00:25:00.681 --> 00:25:03.884
  • To me today.
  • 00:25:03.884 --> 00:25:05.286
  • Pop up, i thank you i got a job to go to tomorrow.
  • 00:25:05.286 --> 00:25:08.722
  • Pop-up praise.
  • 00:25:08.722 --> 00:25:10.157
  • I just want to bless you because you've been good."
  • 00:25:10.157 --> 00:25:13.827
  • And then when he gets a pop-up praise,
  • 00:25:13.827 --> 00:25:15.930
  • "i just want to thank you because you, you.
  • 00:25:15.930 --> 00:25:18.265
  • I just want to pop up, because you're just you."
  • 00:25:18.265 --> 00:25:23.804
  • You give him pop-up praise.
  • 00:25:23.804 --> 00:25:26.540
  • That means you're praising him at all times,
  • 00:25:26.540 --> 00:25:29.877
  • Praising him when it's not a church service.
  • 00:25:29.877 --> 00:25:32.379
  • You're praising him when it's not a--
  • 00:25:32.379 --> 00:25:33.714
  • When you're not saying grace.
  • 00:25:33.714 --> 00:25:35.182
  • You're praising him when nothing special
  • 00:25:35.182 --> 00:25:37.318
  • Is going on.
  • 00:25:37.318 --> 00:25:38.652
  • You're just letting him know, "i know you my owner.
  • 00:25:38.652 --> 00:25:40.955
  • I know you my source. i know you're my supplier.
  • 00:25:40.955 --> 00:25:44.491
  • I know you're my sufficiency.
  • 00:25:44.491 --> 00:25:46.427
  • I know you, i just-- just want to know, i know you."
  • 00:25:46.427 --> 00:25:51.832
  • Give god some pop-up praise.
  • 00:25:51.832 --> 00:25:53.934
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:25:53.934 --> 00:25:57.738
  • Tony: so they broke out in generosity with their praise,
  • 00:25:57.738 --> 00:26:02.476
  • With their celebration, with their giving.
  • 00:26:02.476 --> 00:26:06.647
  • And it says they did it willingly and with joy.
  • 00:26:06.647 --> 00:26:10.451
  • They didn't think they were losing.
  • 00:26:10.451 --> 00:26:11.852
  • They thought--they were excited that "we have the privilege
  • 00:26:11.852 --> 00:26:15.522
  • Of letting god know how we feel about him,
  • 00:26:15.522 --> 00:26:18.792
  • Because we have a king, and he's our kingdom,
  • 00:26:18.792 --> 00:26:21.128
  • And we want to put that king and his kingdom first."
  • 00:26:21.128 --> 00:26:24.632
  • And i do it gladly, because i knew who my source is.
  • 00:26:24.632 --> 00:26:29.903
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:26:29.903 --> 00:26:36.343
  • Tony: they worshiped gladly.
  • 00:26:36.343 --> 00:26:37.911
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:37.911 --> 00:27:20.020
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:26:40.047 --> 00:27:20.020