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I heard pastor Michael two weeks ago he
said it again today that I’m white that
I’m older and then my sense of humor is
dry
well you’re black you’re younger and
your sense of humor is weird
[Applause]
no I want to say something in all
seriousness you know this you probably
know I travel all over the world I just
in the last few church a few weeks
because I take the month of February and
off to travel and speak in other
churches I’ve been in the largest
churches in America in just the last few
weeks if I speak at conferences I’m a
leader in the body of Christ God uses me
that way but I want to tell you
something that’s one of the leaders in
the body of Christ you already know it
but I want you to know something you are
extremely blessed to have pastor Michael
Todd as your pastor you are blessed you
are blessed very very blessed very wise
and I am honored honored to be here I
wanted to show you my wife is here she
doesn’t like to stand up so I just have
a picture of our family so let me see if
I can show a picture of our family is
everyone got even we got a picture of
our family there we are there you go
so so we have three grown and married
children my oldest son is preaching this
week at table Church in Austin the
church II started a year ago my
son-in-law and daughter started the
church five weeks ago in Houston and
right now you might notice that my
son-in-law looks different than the rest
of us he’s taller
[Applause]
but my daughter is preaching today at
Gateway Church in Houston and then my
son on the far right is preaching today
in the church in Longview Texas so all
of our kids are preaching somewhere
today and my wife and I this year
celebrate 40 years of marriage and it
has actually been 40 years since I’ve
preached in tennis shoes Michael gave
these to me before the service and told
me he would double my offering if I
would wear them so though hey what the
heck you know I mean so well so I’m
really glad to be here as I said we have
nine grandchildren if I didn’t say that
we do I know when you see Debbie and me
you think man they must have gotten
married really young it’s true it was
the biggest event of the fifth grade and
but we have nine grandchildren and some
of you have grandchildren
many of you don’t but let me just let
you know something so you can look
forward to it grandchildren are better
than children listen to all the
grandparents the late let me just tell
you something theologically if you don’t
know this grandchildren are God’s reward
for not killing your children
so the next time you feel like just
behold Oh cuz there’s a better one
coming along and just let me know
something let me let you know something
you can do this is really fun for it
when you begin to be a grandparent have
them over feed them a lot of sugar and
then send them home and caffeine and
then send them home to get revenge on
your kids they’ll keep them up all night
yes it’s a real blessing so it’s
wonderful so and and then the other
thing that’s funny is when your children
are having trouble with their children
your Grinch that is hilarious to us the
other day our daughter that you saw she
was talking to her oldest daughter Addie
and she said Addie you’re not listening
to mommy and you’re having difficulty
listening today and I want you to listen
I want you to focus on listening to
mommy and her daughter went like this
and my daughter went what are you doing
and she said mommy you’re complaining me
and she told my wife on the phone she
said I didn’t know what to say to that
so my wife had the greatest comeback to
the world she said so how do you like
raising yourself so I’m really really
really really honored to be here I’m a
pet I’m grateful to pastor Michael let
me be a part of secured the bag and he
explained about steward the bag and so
we are stewards we are not owners let me
just give you one little illustration
because either you are there or you were
a teenager yourself I said it’s called
what I that stewardship problem is
actually the teenager problem so either
you have had this thought or you will
have this thought when you have a
Stewart when you have a teenager you’ll
have this thought this is not your house
and then you’ll say something that your
parents said to you as long as you’re
living in my house you’re going to live
by my rules is that right so I’m
wondering if God has a teenager problem
people who are living in his house that
don’t think it’s his house they think
it’s their house and that they can live
by whatever rules they want to live by
so I’m gonna share with you the most
important message that I could share
with you if you’re a believer in Jesus
Christ if you’re not a believer
obviously the most important message is
that Christ died on the cross for your
sins but if you’re a believer this is
the most important message I could share
I’m not saying the most important
message anyone share most important I
share here’s what I call it I call it
the principle of first and it is a
principle that runs all through
Scripture I can show it to you in
Genesis I can show it to you in
Revelation I can show you this principle
in every book of the Bible all 66 the
principle of first so let me read you a
couple of scriptures here you can just
follow along I know they’ll be up there
for you and so I’m in Exodus which is
gonna sound a little Old Testament II
but just stay with me okay
Exodus 13 verse 1 then the Lord spoke to
Moses saying consecrate that’s just a
big word that means set apart set apart
to me all the firstborn whatever opens
the womb among the children of Israel
both a man and beast watch these three
words it is mine I wish that I could
explain adequately to you the emphasis
of that in the Hebrew language which is
the Old Testament originally written in
Hebrew it is mine it means it is my
property my names only
it belongs to me the first belongs to
God if you don’t catch anything else you
got to remember that the first belongs
to God whether its firstborn or
firstfruits it belongs to God then he
goes down to verse twelve and says you
shall set apart that’s what I told you
Lord consecrate means the same things
weren’t holy set apart to the Lord all
that opened the wound that is every
firstborn that comes from an animal
which you have the males shall be the
lords now this next verse just please
just stay with me it sounds very old old
old testament Lee but it represents
something but every firstborn of a
donkey you shall redeem with the lamb
and if you will not redeem it
then you shall break its neck now let me
just let you in on a little secret the
firstborn represents the tithe and if
you don’t give it to God you’re still
gonna lose it it’s gone out of your
account whether you give it or whether
you lose it because it does not belong
to you and it does not belong in your
account so if you won’t redeem it you’re
gonna break its neck and all the
firstborn of man among your son’s you
shall redeem all right so here’s point
number one the firstborn must be
sacrificed or redeemed that’s what we
just read okay now please please hear me
why is this important and why I’m even
reading in Exodus you know okay the
reason is because 1st Corinthians 2 UN a
New Testament scripture says everything
that happened to them happened as an
example for us and it’s written as
instruction for us so yes you’re correct
that we are not under the law but
there’s a principle here that we want to
figure out see that when the Bible says
don’t commit adultery there’s a
principle there of loving someone above
everyone else and being faithful for
that person when the Bible says don’t
lie yes that was the law
we’re not in law but there’s a principle
there of being an honest truthful person
when the Bible says don’t murder jesus
says you’ve heard it said not to murder
but grace says to you in other words I
say to you don’t even be angry at your
brother there’s a principle there that
we should love one another and not be
angry are you follow me so there’s a
principle behind every Old Testament law
what is the principle behind this okay
so here let me say to you a firstborn
animal must be sacrificed or redeemed
but how do you know which one to do how
do you know when you sacrifice it or
redeem it well God gives to animals here
that are exemplary of classifications of
animals he gives a donkey and lamb a
donkey is considered an unclean animal
and a lamb is considered a clean animal
what he says this if you if you’re if
you’re clean animal has a firstborn you
have to sacrifice it to God if you’re
unclean animal has a firstborn you have
to redeem it redeem means to purchase
back because God owns that you don’t own
it you have to buy it back from God with
the sacrifice of a clean animal now I
want to say that again because again we
get in such a habit of saying all as
long time ago that doesn’t mean anything
does play if you please again if you
don’t hear anything I say here this
God’s Word is eternal it never passes
away not one jot not one tittle will
ever pass the way Jesus said that heaven
and earth will pass away God’s Word will
never pass away so there’s something in
Exodus that we need so if your firstborn
animal firstborn lamb because that’s a
clean animal has your firstborn clean
has to be sacrifice the firstborn
unclean has to be redeemed with the
sacrifice of a clay now I know what
you’re thinking what does this mean to
me
I’m gonna tell you and when I tell you I
want you to go oh you want to practice
okay that’s that’s halfway there but you
can you can do better in a moment I
here’s the point what is what in the
world is Amin so if your animal is clean
you have to sacrifice it if it’s unclean
it has to be redeemed with the sacrifice
of clean so now let’s think about people
were you born when you were born into
this world spiritually speaking your
spiritual condition were you born clean
or unclean unclean because we were all
born with a sin nature which means we
were born with a bent toward sin I can
prove it by asking the experts in the
room the parents did you have to teach
your children to be bad or did it come
naturally for them it comes naturally
because they’re born with a sin nature
so they’re born ugly so we were all born
unclean was Jesus born unclean or clean
okay listen listen you’re gonna like
this the clean had to be sacrificed so
that the unclean could be relieved
that’s what we just read that’s why it’s
important to read Exodus because it’s
God’s Word and it represents something
to us today and you’re also going to
find out million firstborn and
firstfruits actually represent the time
but I’m going to tell you something
about the tithe maybe you’ve never
thought of you see you have to give the
tithe first it’s the first 10% see God
didn’t say wait until your sheep has 10
lambs and then give me one of them and
you can give me the one that you don’t
like that’s getting in your garden every
day he said give me the first one before
you have any more because he takes faith
to give the first one see if you think
about it when they went into the
Promised Land God did not say give me
10% of Jericho he said give me all three
all of the silver and gold from Jericho
into the house of the Lord you’re gone
why would he say that it’s simple
because Jericho was the first city
he said you bring me the first one it’ll
take care of all the rest
the first one is has the redemptive
portion on it it has the redemptive
blessing when you give the first one the
other nine or bless when you don’t give
the first one the other nine are curse
and that Scripture so why is this so
important because it breaks my heart
that people speak negatively about the
tithe please don’t do that because you
are speaking about something you don’t
know anything about because that the
tithe is called the firstborn and
firstfruits would you like me to tell
you someone else who is called the
firstborn of many brethren and the first
fruits of the harvest a same is Jesus
if you’ve never thought about this
listen to me carefully
Jesus is God’s tides because God didn’t
wait wait to see if you would straighten
up to give Jesus God gave Jesus when we
were mocking him and spitting on him and
nailed him to a cross that’s when God
gave Jesus while we were yet sinners
Christ died for us and this is how God
demonstrates his love toward us and he
and Romans says it this way
God gave Christ in hope that we would
believe you know what that word hope
there actually means in faith he gave
God he gave Jesus in faith that we would
believe that’s the same way we give the
time see we don’t we don’t pay all our
bills and see if we have enough left
over to tie that doesn’t take faith
it only takes faith when you have the
first timber city that takes faith when
Ethan and lane were dating let me show
you I think I have a picture of just
Ethan Lane again to remind you of Ethan
and Lane maybe maybe we have a picture
of their family and maybe we don’t and
maybe we do Lord just like Michael
prayed and I just appeared oh and I just
needed Michael to pass the dry for a
degree with me okay so this is Ethan
Elaine and their four beautiful children
but let me let me tell you what happened
Elaine was a cheerleader and she was
selfish and she was into herself and she
was dating guys that she could control
now she didn’t get saved until she was
19 she walked down the aisle she was
young but you walk down an aisle a
hundred times you don’t get saved though
– you give your will to Jesus Christ
that’s what we need get safe and she
didn’t give her will to Christ until
she’s 19 by the way one month after she
gave her will to Jesus and truly got
saved is what she met the man of her
dreams and this year they celebrate
their 10th wedding anniversary and they
and as you can see they have four
children because they apparently they
either don’t know what causes it or
they’re not willing to stop but my
understanding that they closed the barn
door so hopefully you know so anyway
it’s personal and I’m gonna hear from my
daughter about that one all right
so I was trading that eat they delayed
when meet a godly man and when she we
were at a church social function thing
and she introduced Ethan to me and
here’s the very first thought what I
shook his hand this thought coming mama
came to my mind now why can’t my
daughter be interested in a man like
this because I sensed his character I
sensed the strength of his conviction I
found out later she was introducing me
because she was interested in a man like
even you know so worked out great but
they’re standing around talking after
they started dating
and by the way Ethan had to date me
before he dated her
I met I met with Ethan when he asked the
dater I met with him and I did normal
stuff I asked him about his hopes his
career his you know his relationship
with Christ I showed him my gun
collection normal normal stuff that a
father would do and so anyway he got he
did everything right that’s why he got
the price by the way he got that he did
everything right
so he’s they started dating so they we
had a young adult service Ethan Lane
were standing down here close to the
platform was seven or eight young adults
after the service and they had begun
dating and one of one of the guys said
start they started joking with him and
they said what’s it like to date the
pastor’s daughter and then one of the
guys said to Elaine my daughter you know
your dad is so strong on tithing
I’ll bet he even checks the tithing
records of the guys that wanna date you
and my daughter said he does and I did
and I know this is strong but I’m gonna
say something why would I give my
daughter to a thief
[Applause]
if the man would steal from God then
he’ll also cheat
he’s a dishonest man and so there were
several that I said no you know because
they didn’t I
but Ethan tied I went on and looked at
his tithing record it’d be like the
seventh the 14th the 21st the 28th the
5th it was 7 to have exactly he was
perfect in his tithing record
so I’ll save another way why would I
give my daughter to a man they can’t
even handle money okay listen if he
can’t handle money he definitely can’t
handle my daughter because she is a
handful so the firstborn must be
sacrificed for D here’s number two the
firstfruits must be offered the
firstfruits must be remitted iddin say
should be I’m talking about the Bible
reading the Bible down they must be
offered proverbs 3 9 and 10 honor the
Lord with your possessions did you see
that that’s the Bible by the way this
isn’t the law this is called wisdom this
is the book of wisdom let me say it
another way this is the book that stupid
people don’t read only wise people do
the book of wisdom this is not the law
this is not the law
this was 1500 years after the law on
earth
don’t pardon me 2,000 years after all
honor the Lord with your possessions
pardon weed 58 put this was after the
law you honor the Lord with your
possessions and with the first fruits of
all your income we could say so your
barns will be filled with plenty and
your vats will overflow with new wine
why wouldn’t we obey that verse it sure
seems like it would work out probably
Exodus 23 verse 19 the first of the
firstfruits of your land you shall bring
I want you notice word bring into the
house of the Lord your God two things I
want you to note the tithe comes to the
house of God does it go to a university
and I’m the under Chancellor every
university does he go to university does
it go to a missionary doesn’t even go to
to help the poor and we should help the
poor but the tithe belongs to God and it
is to be brought to the house of God
second thing is I want you to notice the
word bring bring the tie to the
storehouse listen to me God never uses
the word give when he’s talking about
tithing
the reason is you can’t give what does
it belong to you you have two choices
with the tie do your own study
I’ve been studying on I’ve only been
studying in 40 years you have two
choices with the ties you can bring it
or you can steal it those are the only
two choices the Bible gives you when I
was in Bible College one of the students
asked the professor why did God accept
Abel’s offering and he didn’t accept
Cain’s
and the professor said I really don’t
know I’ve never gotten revelation on
that passage and it was a great answer
because he didn’t try to just make up
something and sound smart and I love
transparency if you don’t know just so
you don’t know you know but years later
when the Lord showed me the firstborn
and firstfruits it’s easy to see why God
did not accept Katie’s offering and he
did accept Abel’s let me read it to you
and everyone and you’ll see it you’ll
all see it
Genesis 4 vs. 3 3
five and in the process of time remember
those words in the process of time it
came to pass it just sort of happened
that Cain brought an offering of the
fruit of the ground to the Lord
Abel also brought of the firstborn of
his flock and of their fat notice it did
not say Cain brought firstfruits he just
brought an offering in the process of
time
it just came to pass that he did but
Abel brought firstborn and the Lord
respective that word means received Abel
and his offering but he did not respect
Cain and his offering did you see it
simples that could be Cain was a rancher
I mean a farmer and he did not bring
firstfruits a bought was a rancher he
brought firstborn God accepted the
firstborn he didn’t accept the offering
that was brought in the process of time
that just came to pass that was in the
old amount let me say it another way
Cain brought what he wanted when he
wanted this guy said to me one time I
feel I give as I feel led I said do you
love your wife as you feel led because
there are specific scriptures on how
you’re the lead how your love your life
and there are specific scriptures on how
your to give let me take you a little
deeper here theologically it is not just
that God would not accept Cain’s
offering God could not accept his
offering now some of you might think
well God is God God can do anything no
no no it’s not true God cannot act
outside of himself he cannot act against
his nature in other words God can’t lie
because he is the truth I’ll give you
some good good good things here they’re
kind of funny
one is called the doctrine is called the
immutability of God when something
changes it mutates so immutable would be
that it can’t change okay so God is
immutable God can’t change the reason
God can’t change is because if he could
change he could get better and he can’t
get better because he’s best he’s best
so God can’t change now here’s one
that’s really funny to think about God
can’t think the way we think he cannot
think the way we think let me tell you
why the omniscience of God God knows
everything God knows everything at the
same time if you think about that little
this week you’ll trip a breaker God
knows everything so the reason I say God
can’t think the way we think is because
we think to try to figure things out
God’s not trying to figure anything else
let me say it another way nothing has
ever occurred to God
God has never said you know what I just
thought of can’t believe never thought
about this before I just never thought
about this before never said it because
he knows everything y’all follow me so
there are some things God can do let me
tell you one other thing God can’t do it
this is how it relates to Cain and Abel
God can never be second never this is
the preeminence of God it means he’s
first of all higher than all above all
and before all he’s preeminent now we as
pastors will say put God first in your
life and that’s a good analogy
it’s just theologically correct because
whether you have God first in your life
or not he’s still first you did not
change the cosmic order of the universe
God first
so when Abel brought the first born God
being preeminent could accept the first
offering when Cain brought an offering
that wasn’t first God’s them so I can’t
receive that I can’t receive that
so the firstborn must be sacrificed or
the firstborn must be offered the third
point is and have 27 non kidding I have
three so it’s the last point the firt
that third point is the tie must be
first
it must be here’s here’s the reason
almost a ship should it belongs to God
and God always says first God can’t kept
cannot accept secondly let me read you
the scripture Leviticus chapter 27 verse
4 to 30 and all the tithes the land by
the way do you know what the all means
in Hebrew oh yeah okay
and all the Thai of the layout weather
of the seed of the land or of the fruit
of the tree watch these three words is
the Lord’s now I know here’s here’s what
some of them say well it all belongs to
God here’s what I say to people that say
okay give it all in all right just give
it all then if you want to go by that
give it all yes it all belongs to God
but he has set apart remember we talked
about it we read it three times he has
set apart the tie the first for himself
so that’s what this is referring to it
all it is in the tithe is the Lord’s and
watch the confirmation it is holy
commemorative word holy means set apart
it is set apart to the Lord
okay so I’m gonna give you a math
illustration of how this works out
so 50% of you can take a nap right now I
understand that I that’s that’s those
are the facts I’m strong in math and
grammar and 50% of people love math 50%
hate math that’s there’s not a in
between with math people love it or hate
it I love it by the way my wife hates it
and does not she does not get it at all
they don’t at all mic night I came by
and honestly my father is a mathematical
genius that’s not a made up statement
he’s certified by the University of
Texas as a mathematical genius some at
his mathematical genius I have a son
who’s the mathematical genius my son was
was the top 1% of the top 1% in advanced
college algebra in America and he and my
father used to do advanced algebraic
expressions over the phone
so my father is a genius my son’s a
genius
apparently it skips a generation but
math comes very easy to me numbers add
up in my mind without me trying to get
them to you they just happens I don’t
even try Debbie now reminds something in
a store it was $7.99 and the lady said
to me I’m gonna have to figure the tax
on the calculator because the cash
registers are broken and I said it’s 66
cents that that quickly it’s 66 cents
and so she went
it’s 66 cents and so I said okay paid it
we got out in the car and Debbie said to
me how do you do that now I thought that
she was actually asking me how I did it
so I explained it to her I said well
sugar $7.99 is close to eight out of tax
rate he’s 8.25 eight times eight is
sixty-four quarter of eight is two sixty
four plus two is 66 and then I said
something I should not have said I said
that should happen in less than a second
in your mind
I know I was young and stupid now I’m
old and white
[Applause]
but I said to her that should happen in
less than a second in your mind this is
what she said it doesn’t and then she
said but I know what 25% off means
[Applause]
because I so stupid and young I thought
she’s still talking math so I said okay
if you’re buying something for $100 I
mean I know that’s gonna be easy math
you just round off you know so you’re
buying stuff $400 and it’s 25% off what
does that mean she said it means it’s a
good deal and then she said and it’s 50%
off it’s free
[Applause]
what
and then she goes like this like I don’t
understand math and she said Robert
everybody knows if it’s 50% off it’s the
same thing as buy one get one free so if
it’s 50% off it’s free and then she said
this and it’s 75% off you’re making
money which explains some difficulties
we’ve had with our checkbook over the
years but so I’m gonna give you a math
illustration and you might be like me
and you might love it and you might be
like my wife and you might hate it and
it’s okay because all of us have streaks
of different areas but it’s an easy math
illustration and it won’t take long okay
please they wasn’t there right let’s say
you own a landscape company because
we’re trying to figure out what to tie
this and how you pay that give or
breathe the tie first okay so let’s say
you own in that landscape illustration
and you come to my home and you say I
say we want this many plants and there’s
meat trees there’s many flowers and you
say okay pastor are my materials will
cost this much my labor will cost this
much and my profit will be a thousand
dollars is that agreeable to you that
the entire price and I say yes now the
reason I broke this down is because you
do not tithe on your labor and your
materials you only tithe on your
increase your income okay so so your
incomes gonna be a thousand dollars so
at the end of the the job I pay for your
materials I pay for your labor and then
I give you one I’ll give you a thousand
dollars ten one hundred dollar bills in
your hand okay so I want to ask you two
questions right you have a thousand
dollars that was your profit you have
ten one hundred dollar bills all right
so here’s the math question half of you
can answer
half of you can look like for a moment
okay the word tithe means one out of ten
that’s what it simply means and
according the Bible it’s the first one
okay so so you got ten $100 bills
how
much is the type hundred dollars right
okay I know some of you are carry the
zero okay that’s okay that’s okay you’re
much better than I am in other areas
okay but so it’s one out here but here’s
some second question you got ten of them
which one is the tithe the first one but
listen how do you know which one is the
first one listen to me it’s the first
one that leaves your hand it’s the first
one that leaves your hand because if you
go home and you say let me set aside
something for the mortgage some for
groceries some for cars some for clothes
oh there’s not enough left over for God
now I don’t mean this wrong but please
hear me
he wouldn’t receive it anyway he he says
it very clearly in Malachi he says you
bring me lame and blind and maimed sheep
I do not accept it I do not accept them
you bring the first one that’s the only
one I’ll accept and by the way think
about this yeah you if you set aside
some for the mortgage company the first
one is the redemptive portion you gave
the one with the blessing on it to the
mortgage company and the mortgage
company does not have the power to bless
your finances
[Music]
only God does here’s what faith says
they says I have a stack of bills here
but God hear your part first and 90%
with God’s blessing on it we’ll go
farther than a hundred percent without
God’s blessing on it and this is the way
it works for me okay
I get paid twice a month and it it’s a
direct deposit so it magically appears
in my in my account so I got paid on
Friday because Saturday was actually the
last day of the month just two days ago
so when it’s Friday we go ahead and pay
our employees you know the the day
before so they’ll have to wait till
Monday
so on Friday morning morning before I
did anything I had my quite time and I
go in and I sit in on the computer now
and for Debbie and I I told God years
ago God told me I want you to say this
and you might think I’m bragging I’m not
bragging I’m saying this because some of
you are called to this since 1985 it’s a
double tide since 1985 Debbie and I give
20% to the local church and we give over
and above that to other kosis but it’s a
double tithe and some of God might be
calling some of you that but he might
not be calling any of you to that okay
but he does he did call us too okay so
that’s what I do now but what happens if
I forget that it was the 15th or the end
of the month and I even don’t have my
quite tun that day sometimes pastors or
people too and I have an early morning
meeting and I have to catch a plane and
then that night I get the hotel room and
I think oh this was the 15th they got
paid today so I go online to pay it and
I and I look and I realized Debbie went
to the grocery store that day and I see
it on the debit card you know I don’t
call her up and say that’s great sugar
or cursed
for for two more weeks now we’re cursed
because you gave the tides approvers I
don’t do that because you have to hear
me God is not a legalistic God it’s
exactly what pastor Michael said it’s
all about the heart here’s what I’m
really asking you in your heart is God
first is God first in your heart and I
can check and see if God’s first in your
heart if you let me see your check
register because Nordstrom’s might be
first our visa might be first or BassPro
might be first but wherever the first
check goes that’s who’s first in your
heart so one more thing let me tell you
we stopped a moment ago at verse 13 let
me read verses 14 and 15 and then I’m
finished verse 14 says so it shall be
when your son asks you in time to come
say what is this this is talking about
giving the first more than sacrificing
the firstborn so all the way back to
where we started that you shall say to
him by strength of hand the Lord brought
us out of Egypt out of the house of
bondage and it came to pass when Pharaoh
was stubborn about letting us know that
the Lord killed all the firstborn in the
land of Egypt both the first were in a
man and the firstborn of beasts there
for or this is the reason I sacrifice to
the Lord all males that open the wound
but all the firstborn of my sons are
ready okay here’s what God said in his
wisdom he said one day your son is going
to ask you why are you doing this why
are you doing this
why do you kill why are you killing
these animals and God said here’s what
you tell it you say to him son I need to
explain to you something that you don’t
know about our family we were not always
Ranchers
we didn’t know many animals we didn’t
own any land son we didn’t own anything
we were slaves in Egypt but God with a
mighty hand redeemed us and gave us
everything that we have now
therefore we gladly gift the first back
to God now this is written hundreds of
years ago and it happened to me it used
to be years ago when I was I I would pay
the bills I would write that this before
we had online payment I would write the
tithe check first and I would set it
over to the side and then I would write
the rest of the bills and my son who has
this math mind came in and he saw the
tight check and he saw the amount and
that looks like a lot of money to a
little kid and I remember him saying to
me dad why are you giving so much money
to the church and I remembered X is 13
one day your son’s gonna ask you about
this and I picked my son up on my lap
and I said son there’s something about
Daddy that you don’t know
I said son
daddy wasn’t always a Christian and your
daddy used to be a very very bad man and
I couldn’t stop being bad
but God
but God with a mighty hand set your
daddy free and now I gladly give to God
the first of all of my increase I gladly
give it to God don’t you just stand just
if you’re not standing just remain
standing or just stand up just close
your eyes just for a moment I want you
to do something don’t get your purse or
your jacket or you think don’t get ready
to go yet that’s the most important part
of the service when pastor Michael
finishes preaching the word this is the
most important part you might not even
come the altar for prayer or anything
like that but this is most important in
part because God wants to speak to every
person so just close your eyes for a
minute so you can have privacy and in
your heart you don’t have to say it out
loud but just in your heart will you
just breathe this prayer silently will
you say it in your heart God will hear
it just say Lord what are you saying to
me through this message and please hear
me if you’ve struggled with tithing
please please please hear me you are not
a bad person I struggle with things that
you might not even struggle with but if
you strafe you struggle tithing you’re
not a bad person you’re not a bad person
you’ve just struggled this area and some
of you have never heard this before some
of you’ve never heard that it’s that
it’s about putting God first she thought
he was like a an Old Testament tax that
were not under the Old Testament anymore
and you realize this is this is New
Testament Jesus actually Jesus actually
told us I didn’t get to cover scripture
in Matthew 23:23 that we oughta tithe
well if the one who saved me said it
that’s enough for me
and so if God’s telling you to put him
first I just want to encourage you make
that decision right now I want to pray
for you
but you commit to the Holy Spirit
whatever he’s telling you lord I pray
for my precious brothers and sisters and
I ask you in Jesus name that you will
bless us that you will allow us that you
will prompt us to put you first in every
area of our lives and you will bless us
so that we could be a blessing and so we
can steward the bag
in Jesus name Amen I love you guys I’m
so glad I got
[Applause]
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transformation church can we give it up
for pastor Robert Morris
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we love you sir what what you may not
understand is that is a father and a
general in the faith that just came and
gave us truth that will never fade and I
know there are some people in here even
right now before everybody exits I need
you to know that the Holy Spirit my
favorite scripture talks about God
giving you the desire and the power to
do what pleases him so if you just
prayed that Pater and you believe that
God’s not saying all right go out and do
it God and try it he said I will walk
with you in every step and if you’re in
this room and you’ve been living your
life by yourself and you want God to be
in control of your life all you have to
do is ask God to come into your life
right now there are thousands of people
in this room and thousands more watching
online and the whole reason this church
exists is to make people that are far
from God let them understand that Jesus
loves them that the tithe of Jesus was
for us and today if you’re struggling in
any area of your life and you want Jesus
to come in right now on the count of
three I just want you to raise your hand
and I want you to know that this is what
we all do because I was a bad man to lie
you’re a manipulator addicted to
pornography jacked up in every way but
God with the mighty hand came in and
it’s changed my life I’m not a perfect
man but I’m a progressing man and if
you’re in this room today is the day of
salvation on the count of three we’re
about to pray if that’s you and you want
to be added to that prayer you saying
pastor that’s me I want to be a part of
that or you want to you want to say I
want to rededicate my life I want you to
ask God to come into your life one
you’re making the greatest decision of
your life – God is proud of you and so
are we three hands lifted all over this
place I see you right there I see you
right there
come on transformation church there’s
hands lifted all over this room
and there’s so many more online and
listen at transformation church we don’t
pray alone let’s pray this prayer all
together will everybody just say God
thank you for sending Jesus for me today
I believe you lived and you died and you
rose again from my sin change me renew
me and transform me I’m yours in Jesus
name Amen
can we celebrate all y’all come up can
we celebrate with all of those
hallelujah heaven is turning up right
now what are you doing right now
thank you so much for watching
transformation churches YouTube and I
just want you to take another step if
this is feeding you join transformation
nation that’s everybody that doesn’t
live here in Tulsa watching live with us
on Sunday mornings gather your family
let’s make this thing an every week
situation and please share share if it
has impacted your life there is somebody
that is waiting for you to share this
with them and transformation is only a
click away and there’s one more thing I
would ask you to do pray about giving if
you want to help us take this message
all around the world and represent God
to lost-and-found people for one reason
transformation in Christ you can do that
right now by clicking the Giblin I
cannot wait to see you the next time
we’re here live a transform life
you
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