Commitment Sunday 2009
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 28th November 2009
Passage: 1 Chronicles 29:1-30
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Let's pray.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:11 Gracious God, we ask for you to pour out your spirit amongst us now as we look at your word again,
00:00:11 --> 00:00:18 and particularly a passage which just displays your greatness.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 Who are we, O Lord, that we could give so generously?
00:00:24 --> 00:00:28 Father, I pray that you would search our hearts that we might give with honest intent,
00:00:28 --> 00:00:34 that we might desire your glory, that we might see all things come from you.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:38 And who are we to do this? And we ask it for your sake. Amen.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:45 Since the St. Paul's Vision 2020 was launched a few weeks ago, I've had time to go over the plans.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:52 You've had time to discuss them amongst yourselves or with the leaders and to pray about them and to consider your commitment to them.
00:00:52 --> 00:00:59 And, of course, what we launched a few weeks ago is not the final word on what's going to happen here.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:02 Obviously, in the next 11 years, there's an awful lot of work to be done,
00:01:02 --> 00:01:08 and it's certainly impossible to sit this side of 11 years and to work out all the details,
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 particularly all the fine operational details of every ministry for the next 11 years.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:14 Those things will happen.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:19 That will be discussed as we go along and work out what we need to do and is where God's leading us.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:21 But for now, we have the big picture.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 We have the big picture.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:27 We have the key elements of why we exist, what we value as a church,
00:01:27 --> 00:01:32 what we hope to achieve under God, him giving us the strength and the mercy to do it.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:37 What we hope is that it will pull us together as a church to work in a common goal,
00:01:37 --> 00:01:40 to head in a common direction for God's glory.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:45 And the question which is before us, the one that I left you with on Vision Sunday,
00:01:45 --> 00:01:51 is will you commit yourself to what the Lord has laid before us as his people?
00:01:53 --> 00:01:59 More importantly than the question of will you commit yourself to Vision 2020,
00:01:59 --> 00:02:03 is will you commit yourself fully to the Lord in this place?
00:02:05 --> 00:02:08 Will you commit yourself fully to the Lord in this place?
00:02:08 --> 00:02:13 On Vision Sunday, we looked at the parable of the shrewd manager in Luke,
00:02:13 --> 00:02:17 and the call of Jesus there was for us to make decisions now in view of eternity.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 And in particular, the call was for us to build up treasures in heaven
00:02:21 --> 00:02:25 and to use our money now and to put it behind ministry.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:30 It is the one thing that you will buy which will actually be an internal investment.
00:02:31 --> 00:02:33 I've also mentioned a number of points that for Christians,
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 money is not purely a financial issue.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:38 It is a spiritual issue.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 And so what we are doing here today on Commitment Sunday
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 is not fundraising, it is faith-raising.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:46 That's the deal.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:47 That's what we're working with here.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 It's fundraising, not fundraising.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:51 Faith-raising, not fundraising.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:53 It's been a long day.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:58 1 Chronicles is primarily about David,
00:02:59 --> 00:03:00 primarily about his reign.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:07 It's about David's reign as king and the building up to the construction of the temple.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:11 And you see David, even though he made a bunch of mistakes in 1 Chronicles,
00:03:11 --> 00:03:15 you see him come to the fore at the end of this book.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 The temple is crucial for the people of God.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:22 It is the permanent structure where God will permanently dwell with his people.
00:03:22 --> 00:03:26 It is a recapturing, if you like, of the Garden of Eden
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28 where people and God walked together
00:03:28 --> 00:03:32 and were in peace and harmony and rest with each other.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:36 And so it would be the place where God would rule the world.
00:03:36 --> 00:03:37 It would be the centre of the world.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:44 It was the symbol of God's unending state of rest and peace with his people.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:48 A permanent dwelling where God would permanently dwell amongst his people.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:52 It was crucial for the nation of Israel for this to happen.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57 David had already been told that he wasn't to build the temple
00:03:57 --> 00:04:00 and so what he does in his retirement years
00:04:00 --> 00:04:04 is he gets ready for his successor and his son Solomon.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:08 Verses 1-9 describe the facts for us on a human level.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 There is an incredible generosity in Israel
00:04:11 --> 00:04:15 for the collection to pay for the building of the temple in Jerusalem.
00:04:15 --> 00:04:20 David led the way by giving of the official treasury,
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 the stuff that he had the checkbook for,
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 the official treasury of Israel.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 He gave significantly out of that
00:04:27 --> 00:04:31 but he also gave significantly out of his personal resources.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:36 And these personal resources were highly valued
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 or in actual fact these resources in the original language
00:04:39 --> 00:04:42 they were the treasures of the king.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 It's what the king treasured.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 They were highly valued by the king.
00:04:48 --> 00:04:49 They were treasured by the king
00:04:49 --> 00:04:53 because they were kept in reserve for the king
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 as an insurance policy
00:04:55 --> 00:04:59 against any unforeseen political misfortunes
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 or natural calamities.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:03 So if he needed to buy an army
00:05:03 --> 00:05:06 to beat up someone who was against him,
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 he's got his own money to put into it
00:05:08 --> 00:05:11 as his own personal security.
00:05:11 --> 00:05:15 So what happens here is that David leads the people
00:05:15 --> 00:05:16 by giving of the goods
00:05:16 --> 00:05:20 that were stored up for his own personal security.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 The amounts are there.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:26 100 tons of gold, 240 tons of silver
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 but the amounts actually don't matter.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:30 The amounts don't actually matter.
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 What matters is he led the people
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 in giving up of his personal security.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:40 And the Bible leads me consistently to conclude
00:05:40 --> 00:05:44 that the extent to which we are prepared
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 to risk our material well-being
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 is a measure of the seriousness
00:05:49 --> 00:05:52 in which we take our discipleship.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54 That is why, friends,
00:05:54 --> 00:05:58 this is a faith-raising issue for St Paul's.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:01 That's why David challenges the people,
00:06:02 --> 00:06:02 now,
00:06:03 --> 00:06:06 who is willing to consecrate himself today
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 to the Lord?
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 This whole thing in raising money for the temple
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 is purely about that.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:17 David calls the whole assembly together
00:06:17 --> 00:06:18 and says to them,
00:06:18 --> 00:06:22 will you freely offer yourselves to God?
00:06:22 --> 00:06:29 The issue is not the amassing of glittering jewels
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 or precious metals
00:06:30 --> 00:06:34 but the pouring of themselves as God's people
00:06:34 --> 00:06:38 into the building of the temple
00:06:38 --> 00:06:42 as a symbol of the wholehearted worship
00:06:42 --> 00:06:45 that will soon take place in that temple.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 What David is calling for here
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 is very similar to what Paul says
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 to the Macedonian churches in 2 Corinthians.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56 Again, in the context of giving,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 he says,
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 they did not do as we expected
00:06:59 --> 00:07:03 but they gave themselves first to the Lord.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:07 They consecrated themselves to the Lord
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 and then to us
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 in keeping with his will.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 That's just what David says
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 a thousand years earlier or more.
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 Give yourselves to the Lord.
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 It's what I've been looking at
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 as we've been travelling with Jesus
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 on this road to Jerusalem.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 What does it mean for Jesus to be our king?
00:07:26 --> 00:07:26 And he says,
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 give yourselves to the Lord.
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 Give yourselves to this king
00:07:29 --> 00:07:33 who will consecrate themselves this day to Jesus.
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 And the response was overwhelming.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38 The fathers, the princes, the commanders,
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 the overseers gave gold and silver
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 and brass and iron.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:43 Everyone who had precious stones
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 gave them to Jehiel,
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 the Wendy J of David's court.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 Those are the facts on the human level.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 There was an enormous generosity.
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 The money came in.
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 There was enough to build the temple.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:03 How do you account for that?
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 Was David a charismatic leader?
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 Were they just fearful of David?
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 How do you account for this?
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 David, at one level,
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 David is not the least afraid of saying
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 that the people did the giving.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 He stresses their wills
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 were profoundly involved in the giving.
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 Verse 9,
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 The people rejoiced at the willing response
00:08:24 --> 00:08:24 of their leaders
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 for they had given freely
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 and wholeheartedly to the Lord.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 They were not coerced.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:33 They made choices.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 This is what anyone can see
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 on a human level.
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 But what matters on this day
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 is not what the eye can see.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 What matters is the great,
00:08:44 --> 00:08:46 invisible reality of God
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 on this day.
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 And to help us to see that,
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 what the writer of Chronicles does
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 is he sort of pulls apart the curtains
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 on David's prayer.
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 David prays in such a way
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 that he pulls apart the curtains
00:09:01 --> 00:09:04 to see what is really happening
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 when the people of God
00:09:05 --> 00:09:08 give so generously.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 Back then
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 and here today.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 What really happened
00:09:14 --> 00:09:18 was that God revealed himself
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 to his people.
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 So get this.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 The giving of money
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 for the house of God
00:09:26 --> 00:09:30 was the work of God
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 to reveal God
00:09:32 --> 00:09:35 so that the people of God
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37 would stand in awe of God.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 That's what's going on.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 I'll say it again
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 given the confused, glazed looks
00:09:44 --> 00:09:44 that you all have.
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 The giving of money
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 for the house of God
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 was the work of God
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 to reveal God
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55 so that the people of God
00:09:55 --> 00:09:58 would stand in awe of God.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 That is what's revealed
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 in David's prayer.
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 That is what David sees
00:10:07 --> 00:10:10 and this is what he says
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 he sees is happening
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 on this day.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 Of course this is invisible.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 No camera could pick up God.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 No reporter could stick a microphone
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 and ask him what's going on
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 on this day.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 Technically there are no signs
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 and wonders.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 There are no miracles
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 but David says
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 what has happened here today
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 is all of God.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 And he mentions at least
00:10:32 --> 00:10:35 11 things about God.
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 11 attributes of God
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 which are being revealed
00:10:38 --> 00:10:40 in this enormous generosity
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 in 1 Chronicles 29.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 Number one
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 yours oh Lord
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 is the greatness.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 That is God is great.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 He is expansive.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52 He is larger than any reality
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 in this universe.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 Number two
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 yours oh Lord
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 is the greatness
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 and the power.
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 God is powerful.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 All power belongs to God.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 He is not only big
00:11:03 --> 00:11:03 and expansive.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 He is also strong.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 He is stronger
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 than any atomic power
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 any hydrogen bomb
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 any natural forces
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 like hurricanes
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 or ocean tides
00:11:13 --> 00:11:15 or an exploding stars.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 He is not only great
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 in size
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 but he can move
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 that greatness
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 to accomplish
00:11:22 --> 00:11:24 everything that he
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 wills to accomplish.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 He is very powerful.
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 Number three
00:11:29 --> 00:11:29 yours oh Lord
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 is the greatness
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 and the power
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 and the glory
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 and the splendor.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 God is glorious.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 In other words
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 his greatness
00:11:37 --> 00:11:39 and his power
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 come together
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 to beauty.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 Not ugliness.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 It's beauty
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 when God's greatness
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 and power
00:11:48 --> 00:11:48 come together.
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 When we see God
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 for who he is
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 our hearts
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 our souls
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 respond
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 with a tremendous
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 satisfaction
00:11:56 --> 00:11:58 because we were made
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 to behold glory
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 and splendor.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 We were made
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 to exalt
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 in infinite beauty.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 God is the source
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 and the essence
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 of all great
00:12:12 --> 00:12:14 and powerful beauty
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 all glory
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 and splendor.
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 Number four
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 yours oh Lord
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 is the greatness
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 and the power
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 and the glory
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 and the splendor
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 and the majesty.
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 He is majestic.
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 This means that
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28 he has all the marks
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 of royalty
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 or kingliness.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 When he rides by
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 you take off
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 your hat
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 and you salute.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 You don't slouch.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 You don't swagger.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 You don't joke.
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 You don't jest.
00:12:39 --> 00:12:41 You stand in awe
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 and you tremble
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 with joy
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 before this God.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 You tremble
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 with joy
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 that you have been
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 granted to see him
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 and not die.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 He is majestic.
00:12:54 --> 00:12:54 Yours oh Lord
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 is the greatness
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 and the power
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 and the glory
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 and the majesty
00:12:58 --> 00:12:58 and the splendor
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 for everything
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 in heaven
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 and on earth
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 is yours.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 God owns the world
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 and he owns
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 everything in it.
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 He owns your home.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 He owns your car.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 He owns your television.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 He owns your blender.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 He owns your mind.
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 He owns your emotions.
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 He owns your will.
00:13:15 --> 00:13:17 He owns your very life.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 Everything
00:13:19 --> 00:13:22 is his.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 He owns your life.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 He owns your life.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 He owns your life.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 He owns your life.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 He gave it freely
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 as a trust
00:13:26 --> 00:13:29 and he may take it
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 whenever he chooses
00:13:30 --> 00:13:32 all of it
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 or any of it
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 and he would have done you
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 no wrong.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 We are only trustees
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 of life
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 and thought
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 and possessions.
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 possessions.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 We are only trustees
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 of life
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 and thought
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 and possessions.
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 Just dwell on that
00:13:55 --> 00:13:55 for a little while
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 and that will blow your mind
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 inside out
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 and upside down.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 We need to ponder that
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 more than we do.
00:14:04 --> 00:14:04 Number six,
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 yours,
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 oh Lord,
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 is the kingdom.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 In other words,
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 he not only has
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 the splendor of royalty,
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 he has the authority
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 of royalty.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 He actually rules
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 as king over the world.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 He has dominion,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 ruling authority
00:14:16 --> 00:14:18 as king over all.
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 His kingly decrees
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 hold sway
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 over all.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 Number seven,
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 yours,
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 oh Lord,
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 is the kingdom.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 You are exalted
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 as head over all.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 God is the head
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 over all things.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 That is,
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 he is the leader
00:14:30 --> 00:14:32 and he is the final authority
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 over all things.
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 God is not incidental
00:14:36 --> 00:14:38 or accidental
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 over all.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 He chooses
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 to be head
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 over all.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 He exalts himself
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 as head
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 over all.
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 His position
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 in the universe
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 is a position
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 he chooses
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 to keep.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 His reputation
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 as head
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 over all
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 is something
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 that he wills
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 and desires
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 to be known
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 to the ends
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 of the earth.
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 Number eight,
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 wealth and honour
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 come from you.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 Not only does God
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 own all things,
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 rule all things,
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 exalt himself
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 as head
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 over all things,
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 he also is
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 the source
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 of all things,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 the source
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 of all riches
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 and honour
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 that come
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 to any man,
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 woman or child.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 On a merely
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 human standpoint,
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 we look
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 and we go,
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 my riches
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 and honour
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 come because
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 of my inheritance,
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 because of some
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 good willing
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 and dealing
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 on the stock market,
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 some shrewd
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 real estate dealings,
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 I've saved
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 some money,
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 I've worked
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 really hard,
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 I've lived
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 an honourable
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 life,
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 but David
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 says riches
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41 come from God,
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 all honour,
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 any title
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 that you have,
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 any possessions
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 that you have,
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 all comes
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 from God.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 That is the
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 invisible work
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 of God
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 in and under
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 and behind
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 all of our
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 daily work.
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 Number nine,
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 and linked with this,
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 in your hands
00:16:03 --> 00:16:03 are strength
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 and power
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 to exalt
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 and give
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 strength to all.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 The new thing
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 here is that
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 all human
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 greatness
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 and all
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 human strength
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 are the work
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 of God's
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 invisible hand.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 It's all
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 of God.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 The ability
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 that I had
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 to even comprehend
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 what 1 Chronicles
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 29
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 was doing
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 and to put it
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 into some
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 form of a sermon
00:16:28 --> 00:16:30 was the work
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 of God
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 in my brain
00:16:31 --> 00:16:33 and in my heart.
00:16:33 --> 00:16:37 God's point
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 in all of this,
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 in this great
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 generosity in Israel
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 is to show
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 that it is
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 his hand
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 that lies
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 behind it
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 and makes it
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 great.
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 Number ten,
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 after pausing
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 in verse 13
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 to burst
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 with thanks
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 and praise
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 for all of
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 this stuff,
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 David goes
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 on with more
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 about this
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 great God
00:17:00 --> 00:17:03 who has
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 been at work
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 in his whole
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 affair of giving
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 and he says
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 this about
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 this great
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 God,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 he is
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11 merciful.
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 God helps
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 us to do
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 what we do
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 not deserve
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 help to do.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 Verse 14,
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 but who am I
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 and who are my
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 people that we
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 should be able
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 to give
00:17:22 --> 00:17:24 as generously
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 as this?
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 everything
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 comes from
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 you
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 and we
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 have given
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 you only
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 what comes
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 from your
00:17:30 --> 00:17:30 hand.
00:17:31 --> 00:17:31 In other
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 words,
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 God has
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 enabled us
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36 to give
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 like this
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 is what
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 David is
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 saying.
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 Even though
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 we don't
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 deserve the
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 help that
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 God has
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 given to
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 give like
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 this.
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 Who are
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 we to be
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 helped to
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 give like
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 this?
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 St. Paul's
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 Chatswood
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 is a
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 fellowship
00:17:48 --> 00:17:48 of
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 graciously
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 saved
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 sinners.
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 As
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 verse 15,
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 the second
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 answer
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 verse 15
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 says,
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 there is
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 no hope
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 for people
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 like us
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 outside of
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 God's
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 mercy to
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 us in
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 the Lord
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 Jesus.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 No hope
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 whatsoever.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 Nevertheless,
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 God acts
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 for us in
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 mercy and
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 behold we
00:18:06 --> 00:18:08 give because
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 he has acted
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 towards us
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 in mercy.
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 And so
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 the 11th
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 tribute to
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 God in
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 this matter
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 of giving
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 is that
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 God is
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 sovereignly
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 merciful and
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 he helps
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 us give
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 even though
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 we don't
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 deserve
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 that help.
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 And so
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 just over
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 10 days
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 ago,
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 I told
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 you last
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 week,
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 staff and
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 parish council
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 got together
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 and they
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 pledged
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 $5 a
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 week for
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 2010.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 And
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 following on
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 from the
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 words of
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 David,
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 who are
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 the staff
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 of St.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 Paul's
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 Chatswood?
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 Who are
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 the parish
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 council of
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 St.
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 Paul's
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 Chatswood
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 that they
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 could give
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 $5 a
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 week for
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 next year?
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 We are
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 utterly
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 undeserving.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 Yet from
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 his hand
00:18:56 --> 00:18:58 we have
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 given to
00:18:58 --> 00:19:00 him only
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 what came
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 from him
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 because he
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 is a
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 merciful God.
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 Number
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 11,
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 finally,
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 jumping down
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 to verse
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 18,
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 we see that
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 God's
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 enabling in
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 this matter
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 is not
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 simply that
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 he gives
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 the funds
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 but that
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 he gives
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 the willingness
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 to give.
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 This
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 takes us
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 back to
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 where we
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 started.
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 Remember
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 what we
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 said about
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 the people,
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 the people
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 did the
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 giving.
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 David even
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 stresses the
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 significant
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 aspect of
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 their will
00:19:28 --> 00:19:30 in that
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 they were
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 profoundly
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 involved in
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 the giving.
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 Verse 9
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 it says,
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 the people
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 rejoiced
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 the willing
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 response of
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 their leaders
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 for they
00:19:36 --> 00:19:39 had given
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 freely and
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 wholeheartedly
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 to the
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 Lord.
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 That is,
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 the people
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 of Israel
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 made choices.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 Human
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 choices,
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 real
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 choices,
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 joyful
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 choices.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 That is
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 what you
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 can see.
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 That is
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 what all
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 the people
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 can see.
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 It is
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 obvious for
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 us to
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 see that
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 but that
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 is not
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 all that
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 David saw.
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 What David
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 saw and he
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 makes known
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 to us in
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 the petition
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 in verses
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 18 to
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 19,
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 O Lord,
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 God of
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 our fathers
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 Abraham,
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 Isaac and
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 Israel,
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 keep this
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 desire in
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 their hearts
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 of your
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 people forever
00:20:13 --> 00:20:15 and keep
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 their hearts
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 loyal to
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 you.
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 And give
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 my son
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 Solomon the
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 wholehearted
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 devotion to
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 keep your
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 commands,
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 requirements and
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 decrees and
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 to do
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 everything to
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 build this
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 palatial structure
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 for which I
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 have provided.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 See what he's
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 saying there?
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 Where is
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 Solomon going
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 to get a
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 heart to
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 keep the
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 commands of
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 God?
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 From God.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:40 David
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 prayed in
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 verse 19,
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 give my
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 son Solomon
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 the
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 wholehearted
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 devotion to
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 keep your
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 commands and
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 requirements and
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 decrees.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 Friends,
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 we ought to
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 be praying for
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 that.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 We ought to
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 be praying
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 that prayer.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 Give it to
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 us,
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 Lord,
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 the wholehearted
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 devotion to
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 keep your
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 commands,
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 your
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 requirements and
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 decrees that
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 we might
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 generously give.
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 And so that's
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 what he says.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 What about
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 these people
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 here?
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 What about
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 those who
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 had already
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05 given so
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 generously?
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 Those who
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 says he,
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 verse 9,
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 had given
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 freely and
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 wholeheartedly.
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 What does
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 David pray for
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 them?
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 Verse 18,
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 O Lord,
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 keep this
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 desire in
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 their hearts
00:21:16 --> 00:21:18 of your
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 people forever
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 and keep
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 their hearts
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 loyal to
00:21:21 --> 00:21:21 you.
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 This is not
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 the end of
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 the matter.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 We ought to
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 be growing
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 more and
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 more in
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 this matter.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 When a
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 sinner directs
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 his heart
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 towards God,
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 God has
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 done that.
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 Apart from
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 God, our
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 hearts will
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 go in every
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 direction.
00:21:36 --> 00:21:38 But God,
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 apart from
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 God, our
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 hearts will
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 go after
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 everything
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 apart from
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 God.
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 We will
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 treasure
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 anything else
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 in this
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 world apart
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 from God.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 That is
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 what is so
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 crucial for
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 us as a
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 church to
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 have treasure
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 Jesus at
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 the centre
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 of our
00:21:55 --> 00:21:55 mission
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 statement.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 We ought
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 to be
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 treasuring
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 him more
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 than
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 anything
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 else.
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 And may
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 God give
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 us the
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 hearts to
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 pursue
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 treasuring
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 Jesus more
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 than anything
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 else.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 Apart from
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 God, we
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 do not
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 give
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 willingly and
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 joyfully to
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 the cause
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 of God.
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 That is
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 why David
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 prays.
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 A prayer
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 that is
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 asking God
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 to do
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 what man
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 cannot do.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 We cannot
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 direct our
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 hearts to
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 God or
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 give
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 willingly to
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 God unless
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 God directs
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 our hearts
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 to himself
00:22:28 --> 00:22:30 and causes
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 us to
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 give
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 willingly.
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 I'm
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 kind of
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 hoping by
00:22:35 --> 00:22:35 now that
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 you've
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 picked that
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 up from
00:22:36 --> 00:22:38 me in
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 my
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 preaching.
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 As we've
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 looked
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 particularly
00:22:41 --> 00:22:43 at Luke's
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 gospel and
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 the travel
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 narrative of
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 what it means
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 to walk
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 with Jesus
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 on this
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 road to
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 Jerusalem,
00:22:50 --> 00:22:52 I've been
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 asking you
00:22:52 --> 00:22:54 give it up
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 for the
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 king.
00:22:55 --> 00:22:57 we live
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 to treasure
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 Jesus.
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 And so
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 now on
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 Commitment
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 Sunday,
00:23:03 --> 00:23:05 now is
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 the time
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 for you to
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 consecrate
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 yourself to
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 the Lord.
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 If you
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 haven't already
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 do it,
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 to consecrate
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 yourself to
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 the Lord.
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 I do hope
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 that you
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 have considered
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 and prayed
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 and come
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 prepared with
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 your pledge
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 cards.
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 I do hope
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 that you've
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 done that,
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 you've worked
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 hard on that.
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 I believe
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 that your
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 leaders have
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 done that.
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 When parish
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 council and
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 staff met
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 together about
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 10 days ago,
00:23:31 --> 00:23:31 we went
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 through this
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 process.
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 We looked
00:23:34 --> 00:23:34 at this
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 passage.
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 And I
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 believe that
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 this passage
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 is calling
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 me as the
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 point leader
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 of this
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 church to
00:23:42 --> 00:23:42 lead as
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 King David
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 did.
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 And so
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 at parish
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 council meeting
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 with the
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 staff and
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 parish council
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 there about
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 10 days ago,
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 I publicly
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 declared to
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 them what
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 the contribution
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 of Natalie
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 and I
00:23:53 --> 00:23:53 would be,
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 what our
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 contribution
00:23:55 --> 00:23:55 would be in
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 2010.
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 I will be
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 the only
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 one publicly
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 to do so
00:23:59 --> 00:24:01 and the
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 moment I
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 enjoy doing
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 it, I
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 will stop
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 doing it.
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 Up until
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 recently, we
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 have been
00:24:07 --> 00:24:09 giving $500 a
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 month.
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 But as we've
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 walked with
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 Jesus to
00:24:12 --> 00:24:14 Jerusalem, we
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 have been
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 rethinking our
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 contribution.
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 And so I
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 said to parish
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 council that we
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 would be
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 contributing $600
00:24:20 --> 00:24:22 a month in
00:24:22 --> 00:24:24 2010, but I
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 asked them to
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 pray for us
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 that we might
00:24:26 --> 00:24:28 reach $700 by
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 the end of
00:24:28 --> 00:24:28 the year.
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 We have
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 since revised
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 that and it's
00:24:33 --> 00:24:35 now $650 a
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 month.
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 We're starting
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 that right now,
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 $650 a month.
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 And so I'm
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 praying that, I'm
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 asking you to
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 pray for us that
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 we might reach
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 $750 by the
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 end of the
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 year, given
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 that my target
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 was so short.
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 And that is
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 specifically to
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 the ministry of
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 St Paul's
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 Chatswood.
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 That is to
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 our weekly
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 offertory here
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 for the
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 ministry of
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 St Paul's
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 Chatswood.
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 Our mission
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 giving and
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 our giving to
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 the poor will
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 be over and
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 above that.
00:24:59 --> 00:24:59 And like the
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 target that I
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 want to set for
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 everyone here,
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 we are aiming
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 for dollar for
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 dollar.
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 I then called
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 the staff and
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 the parish
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 council to
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 follow suit.
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 And they
00:25:10 --> 00:25:10 did.
00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 $5 a
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 week was
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 pledged for
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 2010.
00:25:15 --> 00:25:17 $2 was
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 raised for the
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 external project
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 and over
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 6 for
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 the internal
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 project.
00:25:21 --> 00:25:21 They have
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 significantly
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 knocked those
00:25:22 --> 00:25:24 figures off
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 already.
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 Your leaders
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 have led.
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 It was a
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 wonderful response
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 and I
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 rejoiced
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 greatly.
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 And I
00:25:34 --> 00:25:34 now call
00:25:34 --> 00:25:36 St Paul's
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 Chatswood
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 today to
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 follow your
00:25:37 --> 00:25:37 leaders.
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 In a
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 moment we
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 are taking
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 up a
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 collection.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 I'm hoping
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 that you've
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 come prepared
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 with your
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 pledge cards
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 if you
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 haven't.
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 I believe
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 Geoff's got
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 some.
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 There's
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 some at
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 the back.
00:25:50 --> 00:25:50 But the
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 big question
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 I want to
00:25:51 --> 00:25:51 leave you
00:25:51 --> 00:25:53 with is
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 who here
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 today will
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 consecrate
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 themselves to
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 the Lord
00:25:56 --> 00:25:58 in this
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 place in
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 Paul's
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 Chatswood.
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 Let's
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 pray.
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 Let's
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 pray.
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 Gracious
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 God,
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 merciful God,
00:26:12 --> 00:26:15 all power
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 and authority
00:26:15 --> 00:26:17 and glory
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19 are yours.
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 You rule
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 over all
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 that is.
00:26:23 --> 00:26:23 You own
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 everything in
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 this world.
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 You own
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 our lives,
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 our possessions.
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 Oh Lord,
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 we don't
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 recognise that
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 enough.
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 We thank you
00:26:31 --> 00:26:31 for the life
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 that we have.
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 We thank you
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 for the strength
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 and the honour
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 that you have
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 given us to be
00:26:37 --> 00:26:39 able to gather,
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 to work,
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 to save,
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 to earn.
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 Lord,
00:26:44 --> 00:26:46 we sit here
00:26:46 --> 00:26:46 today,
00:26:47 --> 00:26:47 we reflect
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 even on what
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 the leaders
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 of this church
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 have done,
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 the staff,
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 the parish
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 council.
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 And as
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 David said
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 before Israel,
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 who is
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 Steve
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 Jeffrey?
00:27:00 --> 00:27:00 Who are
00:27:00 --> 00:27:02 the staff
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 of St.
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 Paul's
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 Chatswood?
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 Who are
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 the parish
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 council of
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 St.
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 Paul's
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 Chatswood?
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 Who are
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 the people
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 of St.
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 Paul's
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 Chatswood
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 that we
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 should
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 give so
00:27:11 --> 00:27:11 generously
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 as this?
00:27:13 --> 00:27:13 We only
00:27:13 --> 00:27:15 give what
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 you have
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 already
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 given to
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 us.
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 And so
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 Lord,
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 rescue us
00:27:19 --> 00:27:21 from hypocrisy.
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 Rescue us
00:27:23 --> 00:27:23 Lord,
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 from anything
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 that would
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 want to
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 turn it
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 back on
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 ourselves.
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 May we
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 rejoice in
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 you and
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 your goodness
00:27:29 --> 00:27:31 to us.
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 May we
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 do it
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 with honest
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 intent.
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 And we
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 ask it
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 for your
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 glory.
00:27:36 --> 00:27:36 Amen.