Experience TRUTH - #28

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This is the Truth Network, the one with the smallest gift had the greatest chart and it was the greatest gift in the eyes of God. Who was this widow and what was your my dime Stu Epperson and welcome to experience truth were in Luke chapter 21 and read a passage were to wrap up our study on the widow's mite you're here for powerful truths that come out of this account and also you can hear the reaction from everybody. And most importantly was Jesus reaction to this widow's gift as she gave it all sacrificially to God. Here we go ready.

Luke 21, 126 and he looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury and he saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites, so he said truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had. Then, as some of us.

Some spoke of the temple. How was adorned with beautiful stones and donations. He said verse six. These things which you see the days will come, in which not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down. This is the word of our God. So the widows might be questions we asked last time or how do we see the beware of the scribes and Pharisees and the devouring widows warnings on display here as Christ is just come at those guys big time. The scribes and Pharisees are heredity's verities in a a a Jesus is it lawful to pay our taxes to Caesar or me about the Roman leader amuses okay to do Camaro Christ said he said hand me a coin. What you see on this coin render to Caesar the things are Caesar even just a masterful answer all these questions one after another on divorce and remarriage on the resurrection, and all these things on his authority because he did turn the tables over he cost them a lot. Speaking of money and gifts in the treasury Jesus cost them a lot of money by trainer tables over in that rough scene. We have you know back in chapter 19 of Luke.

So here he is sitting with his disciples. He looks up and he sees all these people putting their gifts in the treasury talk about the receptacles a 13 trumpet shape receptacles and as it were, the rich though religious guys were trumpeting their gifts for everyone to hear drop of those coins in, and this sweet little certain poor widow put in two mites, which we learned last time. This is 1/8 of a penny. This is very very little little bit of money maybe these two mites could have purchased 1/2 a piece of bread that would've been her could potentially her last meal in here she gives it all to God's order to pick up in the middle with this question. Why is God more concerned with the heart. Then, with the amount of the gift. How cool is that question is another question for you. Does God need anything, the money we give God the check you just wrote to missionary or to God or the church is he really need that because really you are giving to hit fundamental you're giving to him. Does he need it. Well you know the is that God is all sufficient. God owns everything the cat on a thousand hills. But he loves the heart. Here are four important truths to come out of this story God values things differently than we do. That's the first truth. It's all his anyway is not just 10% is is all his number two, giving sacrificially reflects the heart of God.

Jesus is the greatest giver sacrifice of it all.

Of all in every time we give Gus were doing reporting to him is reflection of what his sacrifice was he's the first true sacrifice for us. John 316 for God so loved the world he gave what did God do in Christ.

God gave us his best God industries his love toward us while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us is the gift of God not of works, is anyone supposed God and give us his leftovers is they want to see how much money sitting in my month and I'm in a minute, give that to these guys. It's a good thing. God didn't give you half of salvation or 1/3 of the salvation when you receive Christ.

You got all things all things related to to life and godliness to the knowledge of him. Second Peter chapter 1 so we are blessed beyond measure. We are cheerleaders because of Jesus because of his infinite gift to us. Thank God for his wonderful gift. Paul says of prescriptions so that's the second point first thing God values things a lot different we do. Secondly, giving sacrificially reflects our God.

Thirdly, it's not the amount given with the motive of the giver. That's important. Fourthly, it's not what's given but once held back that so often indicates what's in the heart as well. Sinners, he waited with Warren where's he says he says God sees more than the portion he sees the proportion men see what is given, but God sees what is left in by that he measures the gifts and the conditions of our hearts level. Winston Churchill said is a famous quote we make a living by what we get.

We make a life by what we give this woman was a serious giver, Jesus said for all of these, the wealthy are giving out of their abundance, but they but this woman out of her poverty. She put in all the livelihood that she had. So here's another question.

How does the poor widow sacrifice contrast with the opulence of the temple which is really interesting in this text there's a bridge in these verses that really will take us into the next portion of Luke 21 which of excited jump into next week. But verse five then, as he says, some spoke of the temple. How was adorned with beautiful stones and donations. He sitting there was disciples. He observes this amazing sacrificial gracious gift of this sweet widow but then they're all looking and talking of this amazing ornately beautiful temple house donate, you know how it's it's just full of of stones and and just lovely.

Look at Jesus said these things would you see the days will come, in which not one stone shall be left upon another and that shall not be thrown down.

So the widow's artificial gift shows a great contrast with the opulence of the temple because she didn't have that opulence. She didn't have the wealth in the in the bling bling and all the gold and the silver or she did have the heart that said, you know, I may only have two mites and I may be broke his dirt and I may have no husband to win me anything else in that this may be my last gift to God that I want to go die.

She walked into that temple.

She put her offering in the treasury as a sacrifice, not to the priest, not to the corrupt Sadducees or the corrupt Sanhedrin or the corrupt system that was using that money for immoral purposes.

Use that money to set up improper exchange rates to hose people that came from all the world to worship God, though she wasn't giving to that she was giving to Almighty God and Almighty God was there one that made her Jesus Christ the Lord Jesus Christ observed very closely. Her gift and used as a way to teach us in this woman will forever go down in history will always be remembered. We don't know is other guys gifts we remember her gift because remember her heart and the nature giving final questions as we wrap up and I tell you what. When you travel Europe you see the great cathedrals, but interesting.

One pastor observed that he notice it. Every time he travels all these cathedrals are always under construction.

Religion raises a lot of money, friends in the name of buildings, but how are we giving and how are we excited about giving to build souls for the kingdom, not the buildings are bad, but what's the endgame worse at all going and so you have this poor big no money is widow with nothing in this all inspiring temple which would be destroyed by the way, man.

30 or 40 years hence, by the, Roman Concord Titus, but that temple would be gone, but this gift would ring out for eternity is just to powerful picture of head of sacrificial giving.

While so this is really wrapping up the final question what is Jesus observe about my heart and giving house your heart and giving what is God see what he sees your heart when you give remember you're not giving to that pastor you're giving to the Lord. How did Jesus give everything for me. What about his sacrificial gift. How has the power of the gospel changed my life to be a life of giving away rather than a life of hoarding boy.

There's TV shows about hoarding were all hoarders. We like the take take take take take. Gimme gimme gimme. We like to tuck it away. Socking away we got crevices that would even know we had stuff in. We tend to be like the Luke chapter 12 wealthy man in the parable, who kept building more barns more bars more bars in one day.

It says literally, his soul was required of him. So how are we. How are we giving house God giving to us in order to give through us. What a beautiful thing.

She gave out of her poverty and she put in all this is verse four.

Literally she put in all the livelihood that she had not. How would Jesus know that casinos all and he knew and it's in the Scripture right here for those you like whoa one of the wasn't well. It was all she had was a very very large amount herds everything she had. She gave it to God.

We sing the song I surrender all, all to Jesus I surrender all to him I freely give. Is that true, does he have does he own everything in your life. Does he own you and your resources, who really is in control of what you have is it yours defines a famous mine is mine is mine, or is it all on the altar.

Take my silver and my gold not I might will I withhold is that your heart can you say that with the him just what a deal. Thank God for his gift to us and now think God that we can give to others.

We can give the gospel.

We can give of our time are talent in our treasure house God wanted you to give you giver and watch God bless you why, because you will be doing exactly what God made you do shining his light pouring out his grace and love everywhere you go.

It could be material. Quit being so selfish with your money.

Support ministries that are on this place your listing to write out the station review hearing me speak right now give them support them.

Support businesses that sponsor your support. Support missionaries.

There are people that need your help to get the gospel you can go all the way over there maybe to the Middle East, but you can give a check to someone and send them be a part of that and just watch what God does a result we had today on the what is white. Next week we pick up in verse seven of Luke chapter 21.

Getting closer and closer to the cross in our journey through the book of Luke, study the word read the word meditate on it, memorize it and share the word of God with your family everywhere you go and watch what God does through his powerful word and be in a church where the pastor preaches not just about the word preaches the word verse by verse, because that's exactly what our soul is hungry for. And that's exactly what we need to feed on. So then we can leave that place be built up in the faith and go out and share the word, the living word with our lost world. This is the Truth Network