 Yeah, so this is an important topic in this sense. So this particular area creates so much confusion in the bulk of bias of the believers. So to have a right perspective of this particular topic, which is finances, money, is very important for us as believers, for us as people, who might be, you know, in the straight, full-time industry or even if you say you're called to be in the marketplace, in the space of business, like this is a very important aspect. So we're going to be looking at that for the semester. Okay, so let's look at one of the structures and then go forward. That's one of the eight problems, Matthew 6 and verse 33. Matthew 6 verse 33, very well known, right, verse, it says, see first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. So the Lord Jesus talks about what all these things are before that and then verse after verse 34, he says, therefore do not worry about tomorrow, but do not worry about its own things sufficient for the days, its own trouble, that's how it ends that particular teaching about this for the stopping the days at the same time. So say see first the kingdom of God, what should we see first, the kingdom of God, what is the kingdom of God, the rule and reign of the king. See first the rule and reign of the king and he says all these things should be added. Look at the verses before that, he talks about that these things are on the legitimate needs. What is he talking about? Eating, what do you need to eat? Talk about needs, needs about food, which is a need, like clothing, what does it need, like shelter, all these things are legitimate needs, in fact tells us, the father knows that you have need of these things. So he said, don't worry about it. So as those of you who were in church on Sunday, it's not against working towards it, it's not against planning towards it, but he's definitely addressing this saying, don't worry about it, because if you worry about it, you will not work towards it, you will not plan towards it, or you will do it in a way that is not allowing the kingdom of God to reign, or the king to reign. So do not worry about these things. So today as we pray, let's pray, let's pray a lot about it. I thank you that you have, you know that I know that I have these needs. I thank you that these are, in your eyes, legitimate needs, which means these are not misplaced, these are not things that I just randomly ask you, these are legitimate, these are things that every human being needs, and you think that these are legitimate. Thank you for that. But Lord, lead me to seek your rule and my first, seek me, lead me to, you know, to prioritize seeking your kingdom, your rule and my first. And I thank you that all these things can be added in my life. So let's pray. Let's take some time to pray then. Let's take some time to thank God. Thank you. Let's thank God. Thank you for all these things. All these things including clothing, all the other things God, are legitimate needs in your eyes. Lord, thank you for that. Thank you that you don't have to be ashamed of these things. You don't have to be ashamed of asking you these things, because Lord, these are legitimate ones. But Lord, we also thank you that you said, seek first the kingdom, and all these things should be added. So we thank you God that in your eyes, when we seek you first, when we put you first, you're going to be able to realize God, that all these things can be added. And Lord, we thank you for the instruction that you have explored, that is not to worry about these things. Lord, we thank you that you're not against planning these things, you're not against working towards these things God. And Lord, you've definitely got the instructions that we do not worry about. And Lord, so I pray for each one of us who are those in the whole life, those of us who are here, those of us who are watching this, we learn from God that we will not worry about these things. That we will only preoccupy the anxious and fearful about these things. What our Heavenly Father knows that we have to believe on these things. And Lord, we thank you that you've talked about it, that you will ensure that after we seek you Father, all these things will be added to you Father God. And Lord, we pray that you will believe on these things. That we will work our hands to be a blessing to people. Things that you've called us to do that you believe as to be a blessing that so God provides for all the things that you might have done. So we give you all the praise, we give you all the blessings. Jesus Christ has named you great. Amen. So all the instruments you can actually go to the classroom section and all those sources. This is not so uploadable so you can go to the classroom. So like we were saying that this particular topic is we are looking at it and actually we see that the Lord Jesus who I was going to say that the Lord Jesus talked about this more than anything else. Even more than faith. Before that we talked about money that are currently on the extreme learning of it like more than any other topic. So which means that either we have a fight for money or money can have a hold on us. Money can have a hold on us or we can have a fight handling problems which should be God or so we are going to look at different aspects of it. If you look at the notes we are looking at our attitude towards money. So there are attitudes of our mindset of perspective when it comes to money. There could be some right attitudes or some wrong attitude about money so we need to understand the right attitude. So the next step is what is prosperity so what is prosperity? Is prosperity a bad word? So we are hearing a lot of prosperity possible. So is prosperity itself a bad word? So we are going to look at that. We are going to look at God's guaranteed prosperity statement in that chapter and we are going to look at influences to God given in prosperity. So how do I handle money personally? What are some practical things that I can do when money comes into my hands? So we will start by looking at the right and wrong attitudes when it comes to finances. So we are going to look at the right and wrong attitudes when it comes to finances. So we are going to look at the right and wrong attitudes when it comes to finances. When it comes to finances. So our attitude about finances it is something that we have learnt over the years. So whether we maybe it was taught to us in some households it was spoken out I don't know how it was for you but in our we never spoke about money so we had a handle there and so it was never discussed handling of it but we were just told that hey we are not that rich so whenever I ask I will be in class and I will see one of my friends who is a nice new Maxi pencil box for a water bottle then I will go say I don't have this pencil box, I want something like that it was a pencil box where you squeeze it and then the top goes out I don't know if you have seen it you put all those things it's a rubber thing so you can play with it also so I was really like that I said I want something like that but I already had a pencil box so my mother said I already have one and we are not we are not that rich like them so these things have a younger interest in regard to it so it stays with you after all these years I still go with that so it stays with me and we let it affect us and our outwardly able life also so I grew up saying I am not that rich I can have some things I cannot have so I am not that rich so that was my thing all of a while and the thing is these are some good lessons it's okay to say that okay there are the needs so there are the needs and wants it's good to be good students basically spend money but also it affects our whole outlook especially when you come to know the problem so this is your perspective like doesn't want you to have money that could be one God wants me to be careful with my spending all of the money but we could have different understanding of money we could even have share this one spring which I have with my I think I have always shared it this was in church after service and we were on bachelor's and we were talking about work we were talking about appraisal we were talking about salary increase so then he suddenly said let's go outside let's not talk about all this let's go outside let's go outside let's just swing feet away let's go outside let's not talk about money we were talking about salary we were talking about salary increase let's go outside so the understanding is that money should not be spoken about money is somehow not so good let's not talk about it in church it's little bit unholy it's not spiritual talk about but at the same time we just finished putting our money in the offering like master said let's worship God with appraisal offerings we took money and we put it but here we are the native saying let's go outside so we might have different you know thoughts about so it's good to see what is the word about saying what is the word saying maybe you are brought to be maybe you are brought to be a businessman right no problem after Bible college but the thing is you are going to be having money you are going to be investing money you are going to be probably investing in stocks and shares and all that and when you are investing what are you expecting and you are going to invest something you are expecting something to turn and you are expecting your business to look profitable well nobody runs a business for loss you want to do well and you want to do better next year you want to do even better so what is the point if you are playing all that and feeling guilty right you invest you get a return and you are feeling guilty so much money I got it means bad it's on spiritual and then next year you will get some more you will become even more profitable even more successful and then you are thinking really so maybe here as an enforcement somebody says what's happening you are saying money is the root of all of it brother feeling guilty there is so much in the bank so what do we do so how to constitute towards money we see big picture what we see affects us our work our industry what we teach everything it gets affected so let's look at some right and wrong attitudes about finances so we are going to be looking at these questions why prosperity should a Christian disciple, dice follower desire prosperity and all these kind of questions okay the first we are going to look at some right attitudes and then we are going to look at some wrong attitudes right attitude is when it comes to money then put the use of it that God does not require okay now that's a right attitude that when I use it that God does not require okay let's look at a couple of verses Psalm 35 verse 27 Psalm 35 verse 27 this is the this is amazing guys it says let them show for joy and be glad who favor my righteous cause and let them say continually let the Lord be magnified who has pleasure in the prosperity of this servant okay they say let them show let them be glad and let them say continually let the Lord be magnified, let him be magnified, let him be glorified making big who has pleasure in what in the prosperity of this servant so who has pleasure which means something that he delights very likes who has pleasure in the prosperity of this servant okay then you try to make 8 verses 18 and you should remember the Lord your God for it is he who gives you power to get that he may establish his covenant which he swore to your father as it is this thing what is the Lord saying you should remember the Lord okay you can't forget you remember the Lord because he was the son of God let them be magnified so you remember the Lord it is he who gives you power to get them which means it is a God who gives you the ability whatever is required to get it could be skill, knowledge it could be favor, right it could be the empowering to do things to be who you have to be not to get those it is the Lord it says you should remember the Lord because he gives you power what does he do that he may establish his covenant which he swore to you and swore to your father what is he doing he is empowering he is giving you certain abilities so that you might do well so that he may establish his covenant even in this giving of to get to it he is establishing his covenant think of that think of God's perspective think of God's perspective that God may be magnified let him be magnified as pleasure in the prosperity of the service it is God who gives you well that his covenant may be established so when it comes to money, when it comes to finances you are right to have it you be glorified you be glorified you be glorified through the getting of it you be glorified through the spending of it how it is caused second one second one when you look at the scripture that God actually when it comes to money it is something that can be used for the extension of this kingdom for the work of kingdom because recently we have the leaders conference did we use money or not? so much we used it from the deep coffee to the lunch to the place to the light and sound things that we need to transportation for people to stay all those things each and everything but when we use it for the work of kingdom whether it is reaching out whether it is strengthening the work strengthening the work of kingdom and work of kingdom is not just preaching it is beyond that it could be education care of people all that so much more uplifting on the downtrodden justice and righteousness and breaking into people our lives setting free people about rest all that so when there is the use of wealth for those purposes that is a life life so let's look at a couple of scriptures Exodus 25 verses 1 to 9 this is the conversation that the Lord has with Moses what is it saying? saying to all the children of Israel that they bring me at offering so then it goes on to say how it should give just from everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take my offering in other words if they are not willing if they are doubtful, don't take it if they are hesitating don't force them to do it you shall take it they should bring me an offering if they are willing to give it you shall take my offering verse 3 this is the offering that you should take from them now when this God has this conversation with Moses to build the tabernacle when he will he is establishing something now which is going to be having repercussions centuries now it's a type of shadow what is there in the heavenly so he is giving it some very important instruction and he is saying take an offering from the people and he is saying this is the offering that you will take what is it? verse 3 this is the offering that you shall take from them what is it? body verse 8 let them make the first sanctuary that I made the first of them then according to all that I show you that this pattern of the devotee and the pattern of all worldly furnishings so you shall make it. It's a lot of saying let them bring me an offering that the tabernacle be built so that I can dwell among the people because he wants to impart the instruction and wisdom and he wants to meet with the people so fellowship and all that and he's saying this is how all those who are willing to give out of a willing heart you take and these are the mistakes and you look at these things these are the people who are actually in Egypt they fled gone to Bensi and all that and they are willing to this now these are the people who are actually living in Bens and Moses is going and saying God wants to take an offering and the thing is that you remember when they left Egypt it was as if the people who were there they actually gave they did it they gave you guys just leave and you have enough to leave take this and that also whatever they had they gave whatever they had they gave so that is also something that they are carrying so the one who is saying all these things these are these are gods and sabers precious stones these are things of high value they are all saying you bring a wonderful sanctuary so again the work of this kingdom pre-instructs if this is called something that needs to be done today it's time because we are not building a tabernacle or anything but it is the extension of this kingdom the extension of this kingdom defying on people in the kingdom like reaching out to these people who are not in the kingdom we got into the kingdom of all that work of this kingdom then Malachi chapter 3 was this 1912 you are close to the curse but you have brought me even this whole nation bring all the tribes into the stove house and they may be put in my house and try me down and this says if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that they will not be in the kingdom enough to deceive you and I will revue the tabernacle of all six so that you will not destroy the crown or shall the vine fail to bear proof for you that the field says the tabernacles and all nations will call you blessed for you should believe that the life of man says the tabernacle now we know that the scripture has been used misused, abused in the Holy Christ you give and all the rest we know that but the fact is you look at the word of what it is this is God's perspective I want to bless just God's heart I want to bless you try me in this he says that they will not be in the kingdom enough to open the windows of heaven so there is another section of tithes and offerings and ours we will look into it in detail so we might have questions it's a tabernacle that's being given this is old testament so we will address those questions then we come to them but the fact is this that all the work of a kingdom of this place that we will use it it says here it says bring the tithes into the storehouse obviously the storehouse it says it works like into the storehouse that they may be fully in my house and he is saying I will open up the windows and bless blessing is covering all areas blessing which is actually covering their work, employment, everything the fruit of the ground not sure if they are buying it but we will use it and all patients something that is visible then one more good attitude that we will be having but this is one of this Ephesians 4 and verse 28 says let him store still no longer but let him labor with his hands what is good that he may have something to give him that's neat and we will look at the second point that's neat also so what is the lot of saying here instructing let him store still no longer the person who is stealing is actually stealing because of some need he doesn't have he looks at the other person he says I am desperate I need it or whatever you might have but he wants that also so let him store still no longer but let him what is the good what is the main thing to work in the right way working with his hands what is good that he may have something to him that has to be rather than taking the things mostly to satisfy your need you work with your hands something that is good and you give to someone who has so that person has a need you fulfill that need by working so that you can see the benefits of what you want and you fulfill the needs of the one who does not have so in order to give to others who are in need that is a good good motive to use a good motivation money delicious extent of some of that as we have opportunity let us do good to all especially those on the house okay and Matthew 25 was moved on Jesus he says in as much as you did at least one of the least you did talk about and take care of so these are some good attitudes to have above above all that we need to understand that our God is our heavenly Father he is a heavenly Father earthly fathers are not perfect fathers earthly fathers have implications but he is our heavenly Father so when it comes to money when it comes to needs he wants to take care of our lives and earthly father with all limitations with all whatever knowledge whatever capacity he may have and he may not have tries to do something for the child sometimes in Africa sometimes downright don't take care of the need to talk not so hard he takes care of his children we need to understand that okay so let's look at some wrong attitudes that we might have wrong attitudes that we might have about money one is covetousness and greed what is covetousness what does it mean to covet to to steal or to keep it to yourself keep it to yourself keep it to yourself keep it to yourself so Nina says others what they have long for long for something to desire so the thing is an attitude we look at it hey I want what he has I want that that is correct follow through in action follow through in action and not in the right way desire it, covet it and you are saying to respect you how that person feels I want that that is covetousness what is greed wanting more you already have and you already have something but you want even more of yourself you are not satisfied you want more you want more of yourself you want more of yourself and it's not right one thing one place so without this assembly let's look at Luke chapter 12 verse 15 and he said to them take heed and beware of how it is take heed and beware of doctors for ones life does not consist in the abundance of things he possesses need to understand that one swipe is not in the abundance of things like when we don't have we might think okay I wish I had wish I had that or you might say okay I want that and then you have it and then you realize it's not so that big you know when I was growing up there are some things that I wanted I wanted one bicycle I wanted one corpse of God and I was telling my mother I said I want one bicycle I said I want that I said I want that and then my mother said yes that's all I wanted I wanted a cycle and then I grew up and I realized these things don't really matter I have the cycle and you have the cycle and it's like momentary so the law is saying one swipe does not consist of abundance of things that he possesses because these are things they might fulfill certain needs some are useful of course but these are useful things but they don't really satisfy the law and swipe is not just you might serve yourself the best of gadgets and still cementing and I think when we talk about people who have actually achieved and have mastered a lot they still say and I don't have seen a clip people are talking both are actually hospital for cancer treatment and the one so these are all so this thing is like one is very rich extremely rich so who is like asking you I think how much money do you have actually because everything seems to be like he's got a plane and he's got the same hotels and everything how much, how rich are you actually how much money do you have every guy answers in a sense that's all I have he's got everything he's got travels and travels and everything you know that's all I have and we go on this journey of doing many things to make a list of things and then we go on to so so I think it's a lot of stitching once life does not consist of decisions but there are some things that we have okay let's look at one more first first Timothy chapter 6 okay verse 9 okay but those who desire to be rich fall into temptation those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and the slack and into many foolish and half of us which drown men in destruction and fruition those who desire to be rich okay now that verse should not be taken out of context that verse should not be used you know as a we need to understand this right because we got to look at one more verse the same chapter verse 17 so the thing is this despite this I had some need to be rich ugly material things it is to the exclusion of things we need to understand that this so that I put my trust and my faith this is what I want I believe it and I have that kind of desire warning is that fall into temptation and all kinds of lusts and to leave you ultimately to destruction and fruition so we are going to look at okay which I am saying the point is not clear it is going check check how is it now is it okay now yeah it's fine okay okay sorry about that okay so was it was it audible you missed everything till now it was it was audible okay it's just that it wasn't yeah it wasn't clear okay fine sorry about that apologies I think I yeah okay fine thank you thank you for pointing it out okay okay so let's look at this verse again those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition it's like drowning you know something that is overwhelming drowning leads them to their destruction and perdition so that's what it does so if you thinking always about money and cowardice and greed then you know that it's you're on the wrong path it's on a path of destruction okay so the thing is it can come very subtly to a minister of God it comes very subtly to you know those who sincerely want to do the right thing but then they realize okay I have to have this to get this done and then it becomes a desire for material things right it may be that they sincerely they really want to do the right thing they want money for the project they want money for the ministry they want many for the you know building the church building whatever you know these are all good causes right but then if it becomes all about the money right it can very subtly become that right yeah I need this so that so my whole life becomes that I need to get money you know why you know there's a lot of reasons why I need to get money but then this is it and slowly it can become a desire for money and money alone right so in such a case we fall into temptation and snare and all kinds of lust and that leads to destruction okay one more warning Hebrews 13 and verse 5 let your conduct be without covetousness be content with such things as you have for he himself as said I will never leave you nor forsake you right let your conduct be without covetousness be content with such things as you have okay what is contentment satisfied okay being thankful okay thankful is contentment is being more like being satisfied okay I have I'm fine with this right being content with such things that you have okay so this contentment is a great virtue contentment is a great virtue and so so in Hebrews we see that 13 and verse 5 let your conduct be without covetousness don't be always coveting the other person's things or the other person's material things don't be always coveting don't be always comparing yourself coveting I wish I had that I want that I need that right and which is leading to even more greed be content the antidote or the solution for covetousness is a great sense of contentment right be content with what you have and the reason is amazing it's that for he himself said who the Lord Jesus says I will never leave you now for secure so you have the one who owns heavens and the earth literally right the the cattle on a thousand hills the Lord says am I in the gold is mine the silver is mine and all that so he said I will never leave you he said I will never for secure so why should I covet why should I have heart be always on those things which actually lead me to destruction so let your conduct let your behavior be without covetousness okay so wrong attitude covetousness and greed one more wrong attitude is yeah I just see your commands child being satisfied and being still right so one more thing is competition right the other person I want to be better at whatever that person has this therefore I should also have this and even more I want to be better one better than them one level better than them right this person has maybe it could be in material things and sometimes it could be in the spiritual things also right but we are talking about material things now competition like James 3 and verse 14 and 15 right if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your heart envy self-seeking envy other term put it jealousy I'm jealous that that person has this I'm envious of this right he or she always you know very nice things always has nice things I'm envious I'm jealous of it and I'm saying self-seeking I'm you know I want this for myself do not boast and lie against the truth this wisdom does not descend from above it is earthly it is sensual it is demonic okay okay let's look at one more okay the third one which is false spirituality now this is this is a very subtle one okay it has two sides to it and I think we need to be careful right James chapter 2 verses 1 to 5 okay let's read through my brethren do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory with partiality for if they should come into your assembly a man with gold rings in fine apparel and they should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him you sit here in a good place and say to the poor man you stand there or sit at my footstool have you not shown partiality among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts listen my beloved brethren has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to those who love him right so what is James instructing us here comparison and partiality if someone should come in and he's having a lot of good things he's wearing good clothes wearing all these ornaments and all that arrives in a good looking car and all that and you're treating that person with a lot more respect and giving preferential treatment than someone who is maybe looks simple doesn't have much saying you cannot have that kind of a attitude right and the other thing is this that you know has not got blessed them maybe that person is rich in faith right he's strong the Lord rich in faith so how can you make a comparison and how can you be partial based on their outward appearance or the kind of things that they have so that's a wrong attitude to have about money okay so the thing is this when it comes to you know sometimes what we might conclusion that we might come to is okay this person has really been blessed by God right he or she has all these things material things this person has been blessed by God right and so we come to the thing that that person also is very spiritually enriched or spiritually mature and so on that is one wrong conclusion right so our yardstick our scale or really measuring the measuring tape that we use is material blessings person has you know materially been blessed so definitely that person is you know spiritually also enriched okay but this could be maybe in the west or you know certain places this could be there you know that person is having all these things all the wealth therefore that person is blessed but you know our country what I've seen in our setting you know here is that I'm talking about India or Asia thing is when it comes to people who do not have anything for example right the person okay he's walking barefoot doesn't have this and is in church and praying so when we say okay this person must be spiritually full on so strong which is also wrong there what is your again again the tape that you're using is material things here you're saying okay that person doesn't have that person looks so pious that person you know therefore it's so humble looks so humble therefore must be doing something everything right relationship with God everything is fine both are wrong right and that mistake we make in you know our culture most often we make that culture and say this is great and the worst thing is you look at someone who's rich this man must be doing something wrong some bribe some political influence you know he will never say he's a hard working person you know maybe he's put in so much effort he will never say that he will just say you know something somewhere he's getting it by wrong means and if we see a pastor gone that man you know that ministry we come to all these conclusions right when we don't know the full story right we just immediately based on all our experiences life experiences our conversations and everything things that are happening in the world people who are falling left and right we just come to this conclusion this must be it both are wrong we can't use either for poverty or for great we can't use material things as a yard stick as a measurement for spirituality we can't say great spirituality is you know because all us the sadhus and everyone that's what it is right they leave everything and go to some mountain somewhere and then people say wow great spirituality great moral character noble man you and then we look at someone who has everything and then we say fully waste you know he's going in the way of the world both are wrong both are wrong right having a wholesome picture when it comes to that's why I said you know it's we've gone past the time okay so that's why it's very important to have the biblical perspective when it comes to finances this can actually really shape us our ministry the way we live our lives okay so we'll stop here and we'll look maybe next week we just have one week one class per week so we'll look at it next week okay right thank you see you guys online class we'll meet again next week