You're Missing One Thing | Herbert Cooper

- Jesus came, so lost people could be saved. This church is not a cruise ship. We'll be laid by the pool. This is a battleship. And for 23 years, we've been on mission for Jesus. For 23 years, we've been worshiping Jesus, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, reaching lost people, baptizing people, helping people know God and growing God. Discover purpose and make a difference. We've been on the mission of Jesus. (dramatic music) And for one reason, to see more changed lives. - Welcome to People's Church, everyone. Come on, we stand here for you. Let's worship the Lord together. Come on! (cheering) ♪ I have thanked the hands, the day the stars ♪ ♪ And reached out and rescued me ♪ ♪ I have known the love of the Father's heart ♪ ♪ A prophet come now and take it ♪ ♪ From where I was, to where I'm now ♪ ♪ It's overwhelming ♪ ♪ There are more and more, I see a move ♪ ♪ All around me ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but break you ♪ ♪ Raise you, Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but later ♪ ♪ Shout to joy ♪

♪ When I think of how good you've been ♪ ♪ The faith will now to the end ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but break ♪ ♪ Raise you, Lord ♪ ♪ For the love you stand to save my life ♪ ♪ The dead I cannot maintain ♪ ♪ For the cross you pour with open arms ♪ ♪ You salvation that caused me ♪ ♪ From where I was, to where I'm now ♪ ♪ It's overwhelming ♪ ♪ There are more and more, I see a move ♪ ♪ All around me ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but break you ♪ ♪ Raise you, Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but later ♪ ♪ Shout to joy ♪ ♪ When I think of how good you've been ♪ ♪ The faith will now to the end ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but break you ♪ ♪ Raise you, Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but dance 'cause I'm free ♪ ♪ Got no chains on me, I'm here every day ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but call the name ♪ ♪ That buried my shape, who opened my way ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but dance 'cause I'm free ♪ ♪ Got no chains on me, I'm here every day ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but call on the name ♪ ♪ That buried my shape, who opened my way ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but break you ♪ ♪ Raise you, Lord ♪

♪ Oh, I can't help but later ♪ ♪ Shout to joy ♪ ♪ When I think of how good you've been ♪ ♪ Faith pulled out to the edge ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but break you ♪ ♪ Raise you, Lord ♪ ♪ I can't help but break you ♪ ♪ Raise you, Lord ♪ ♪ Oh, I can't help but break you ♪ ♪ Raise you, Lord ♪ (audience cheering) ♪ Oh, I can't help but break you ♪ ♪ Raise you, Lord ♪ ♪ I can't help but lift up ♪ ♪ Shout to joy ♪ ♪ When I think of how good you've been ♪ ♪ I can't help but raise you ♪ ♪ Grace, oh ♪ - But today we are celebrating life changes. People go public through Jesus, through water, baptism. You can tell your attention to my left, you're right. Come on, let's celebrate more change lives. ♪ What are you doing now? ♪ ♪ You say, oh, I can't wash away ♪ ♪ My sin, say nothing but the blood of Jesus ♪ ♪ And what can make me hold again? ♪ ♪ Nothing but the blood of Jesus ♪ ♪ Come on, let's get up church, say what can wash away ♪ ♪ My sin, say nothing but the blood of Jesus ♪ ♪ What can make me hold again? ♪

♪ Nothing but the blood of Jesus ♪ ♪ What can wash away ♪ ♪ My sin, say nothing but the blood of Jesus ♪ ♪ And what can make me hold again? ♪ ♪ Nothing but the blood of Jesus ♪ ♪ What can make me hold again? ♪ ♪ Nothing but the blood of Jesus ♪ ♪ Nothing but the blood of Jesus ♪ ♪ Nothing but the blood of Jesus ♪ ♪ Nothing but the blood of Jesus ♪ ♪ Nothing but the blood of Jesus ♪ ♪ Nothing but the blood of Jesus ♪ ♪ What can make me hold again? ♪ ♪ Oh, we're taking free of today ♪ ♪ We're taking full of today ♪ ♪ We're taking full time ♪ ♪ We're hoping tomorrow ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ If it wasn't for your sacrifice, oh God ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ How will we be ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Come on church, say well, praise me ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ How will we be ♪ ♪ How will we be ♪ ♪ We know ♪ ♪ I think about the blood ♪ ♪ Of Jesus ♪ Come on, somebody give me a breath! ♪ Oh, we thank you, Jesus ♪ ♪ Oh, we thank you, God ♪ ♪ Oh, who thought I find you at the lowest place ♪ Yes! ♪ Oh, who thought you'd feel me in the crowd ♪ Yes! ♪ Oh, who knew you'd make it home ♪ ♪ My mistakes ♪ ♪ But nothing like I thought you were your best ♪ ♪ Oh, what a God was done ♪ ♪ Oh, we thank you, Jesus ♪

♪ Oh, what a God was done ♪ ♪ Oh, what a God was done ♪ ♪ Oh, what a God was done ♪ I thought you'd show a whole perfection, it's what kind of things are you, I thought you'd show a whole perfection. ♪ They say it's over for the spirit ♪ ♪ What would you say ♪ ♪ No, it's not, no, it's not ♪ ♪ You can say ♪ ♪ No, it's not, no, it's not ♪ ♪ What did God want to die ♪ ♪ What did God want to die ♪ ♪ What did God want to die ♪ ♪ What did God want to die ♪ ♪ Oh, you righteous man ♪ ♪ You're a wonderful guy ♪ ♪ You're a miracle where the man goes ♪ ♪ Oh, you love you ♪ ♪ Come on church, it's telling that you love me today ♪ ♪ Oh, I love you Jesus ♪ ♪ Just nobody like you God ♪ ♪ Oh, I love you ♪ ♪ If the highest place I reach is at your feet ♪ ♪ Then I'm turning home ♪ ♪ If the best thing that I've seen is your glory ♪ ♪ Then I'm seeing it all ♪ ♪ Your love has changed my life ♪ ♪ Forever sad is far more ♪ ♪ You are my everything ♪ ♪ If the highest place I reach is at your feet ♪ ♪ Then I'm turning home ♪

♪ If the best thing that I've seen is your glory ♪ ♪ Then I'm seeing it all ♪ ♪ Your love has changed my life ♪ ♪ Forever sad is my God ♪ ♪ You are my everything ♪ ♪ If one word is the only thing you speak ♪ ♪ Then I'm turning home ♪ ♪ If I feel your heart and never see your head ♪ ♪ I'm staring at it all ♪ ♪ No treasure of this night ♪ ♪ Could ever sad is my God ♪ ♪ You are my everything ♪ ♪ God, you are my everything ♪ ♪ If God, you are my everything ♪ ♪ When it comes to Christ ♪ ♪ When it comes to Christ ♪ ♪ When it comes to Christ ♪ ♪ When it comes to Christ ♪ ♪ If the highest place I reach is at your feet ♪ ♪ Then I'm turning home ♪ ♪ If the best thing that I've seen is your glory ♪ ♪ Then I'm seeing it all ♪ ♪ Your love has changed my life ♪ ♪ For ever sad is my God ♪ ♪ You are my everything ♪ ♪ Yes, there's one word ♪ ♪ If one word is the only thing you speak ♪ ♪ Then I'm turning home ♪ ♪ If I feel your heart and never see your head ♪ ♪ I'm staring at it all ♪

♪ No treasure of this night ♪ ♪ Could ever sad is my God ♪ ♪ You are my everything ♪ ♪ You are my everything ♪ ♪ You are my everything ♪ ♪ You are my everything ♪ ♪ Your everything ♪ ♪ Your everything ♪ - Praise the God, we love you Lord. We declare that there is no one like you God. We honor you, we give you all the praise, all the honor that is do your name. Move in this place, move in our hearts today. In Jesus' name we pray, amen, amen. Come on, give God praise one more time. (congregation cheering) Amen. Well, church family, before you're seated, let's take the next few moments. I want you to greet two or three people. Learn their name, shake a few hands. Let's connect church. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (upbeat music) - All right, well, good morning church. Welcome to People's Church, everybody. My name is Rob Champion. I'm the campus pastor here at the Oklahoma City campus.

Whether you're joining us online or in the house today, we are family. We're so glad to have you with us today. Well, People's Church family, I got an exciting update for you today. In September, we celebrated 10 years of ministering at our Mabel Bassett Women's Correctional Facility campus, bringing our Sunday services and experiences to them every single Sunday. And in September, Pastor Herbert and Pastor Tiffany, we're able to go to our Mabel Bassett campus to celebrate with the ladies and our Mabel Bassett Dream Team there. I want you to check out the incredible difference you're making with this short video. Check this out. Hey, what's up, People's Church family? We are here at Mabel Bassett, and we are celebrating our 10 year anniversary. Come on, let's go. Kate, talk to us about some of the things we get to do out here at Mabel Bassett. - We get to encourage, we get to pray, we get to hear their stories, we get to just be a part of their lives. It has been such an incredible blessing to be here for 10 years. - And just to give you an idea of some of the life change that is taking place here at Mabel Bassett, we've been able so far to baptize

over 65 ladies this year alone here at Mabel Bassett. And this year alone, we have seen 726 salvation here at Mabel Bassett is so exciting. And here behind us is a gym where we meet each and every Sunday, and the ladies come out. We have Sunday afternoon services, where they hear pastor preach the word, we worship together. And Kate, tell us what they do when pastor says, hello Mabel Bassett. - They go crazy, they lift their hands, they shout, and they hoot, it is so awesome to hear. They just love that personal shout out from pastor because they truly believe they're part of our People's Church family. - And just recently, we had someone actually come up to one of our pastors at our written role campus and say, hey, I used to be in Mabel Bassett, and I am here today at People's Church because of your ministry behind bars. Now I'm free, I'm serving Jesus, I'm I'm a dream team, so thank you for making a difference. - Yeah, wow, come on, wow, wow, wow, wow. It's such an honor and a privilege to be able to take God behind bars and to serve these ladies at Mabel Bassett and to see their lives changed by the power of God. Mabel Bassett, ladies, we just want you to know and we love you and we're so glad and excited for what God is doing in your lives and church family.

Thank you for faithfully giving to everyone who serves at Mabel Bassett. Thank you for serving and church family. Thank you for having a heart to minister and take Jesus to every single person that we can. Your giving makes a huge difference. Father, we thank you for all the work that you're doing at the ladies in their hearts at Mabel Bassett. We pray that you would continue to bless them abundantly, Father. I pray that they would grow in their faith. They would have a heart and a desire to continue to grow, to get you, get to know you more, Lord. Bless them, we pray. Bless our dream team who serves at Mabel Bassett and bless your people as they give now in Jesus name. Amen. (audience cheering) ♪ Touch all over, couldn't find nobody ♪ ♪ I looked high and low, still couldn't find nobody ♪ ♪ Nobody greater, nobody greater ♪ ♪ Nobody greater than you ♪ ♪ I searched all over, couldn't find nobody ♪ ♪ I looked high and low, still couldn't find nobody ♪ ♪ Nobody greater, nobody greater than you ♪ ♪ I searched all over, couldn't find nobody ♪ ♪ I looked high and low, still couldn't find nobody ♪ ♪ Nobody greater ♪ (upbeat music) (upbeat music)

(upbeat music) (upbeat music) ♪ Greater than you know ♪ ♪ Nobody greater ♪ ♪ Nobody greater ♪ ♪ Nobody greater than you ♪ ♪ So your name is above all names ♪ ♪ Your name is above all names ♪ ♪ The worthy of all our praise ♪ ♪ Mighty of the works of your hate ♪ ♪ Mighty of the works of your hate ♪ ♪ Mighty of the works of your hate ♪ ♪ Mighty of the works of your hate ♪ ♪ Your name is above all names ♪ ♪ The worthy of all our praise ♪ ♪ Mighty of the works of your hate ♪ ♪ Mighty of the works of your hate ♪ ♪ Mighty of the works of your hate ♪ ♪ Mighty of the works of your hate ♪ ♪ Your name is above all names ♪ ♪ Your name is above all names ♪ ♪ Your might, your might, your might ♪ ♪ Your might, your might, your might ♪ ♪ Your might, your might, your might ♪ ♪ Your might, your might, your might ♪ ♪ Your might, your might, your might ♪ ♪ Your might, your might, your might ♪ ♪ Your might, your might ♪ ♪ Your name is above all names ♪ ♪ Your name is above all names ♪

♪ Your name is above all names ♪ ♪ The worthy of all our praise ♪ ♪ Mighty of the works of your hate ♪ ♪ Mighty of the works of your hate ♪ ♪ Mighty of the works of your hate ♪ ♪ Mighty of the works of your hate ♪ ♪ Your might, your might, your might ♪ ♪ Your might, your might, your might ♪ ♪ Your might, your might, your might, your might ♪ ♪ Your might, your might, your might ♪ ♪ Your might, your might, your might ♪ ♪ Your might, your might, your might ♪ ♪ Your might, your might, your might ♪ ♪ Your might, your might ♪ ♪ No body gray, no body gray ♪ ♪ No body gray than you ♪ ♪ I wish nobody would testify today ♪ ♪ Come on and say it ♪ ♪ No body gray ♪ ♪ No body gray ♪ ♪ No body gray than you ♪ ♪ I'm gonna give the Lord praise today ♪ ♪ I love this song 'cause there's truly ♪ ♪ Nobody greater than our God, amen ♪ Come on, let's just take about five seconds every location and let's give God praise together. Come on, every location. Lord, we love you today. There's nobody like you. There's nobody that stands beside you.

You're God and you're God all by yourself. And we give you the praise today in Jesus' name. Come on and give the Lord a mighty hand-capped praise today. Hallelujah. Would you thank God for the people's church choir today? Thank you, choir, for blessing us today. Hallelujah. Well, welcome to all of our locations today. Welcome to church. Nothing like church. I love God's house and welcome Mid-West City and Northwest Oklahoma City and Indianapolis and our Edmund campus and the lovely ladies at Mabel Bassett Correctional Facility. All of you joining us online around the world. Welcome to church today. And thank you for your continued prayers for my family, my mother-in-law. She had to go back to the hospital, went to ICU. The latest I heard, I think she just got out of ICU. But if you would just continue to pray for my mother-in-law, Nadine, for my father-in-law, Tim, and their family, But if you would continue to pray for my family, I greatly, greatly appreciate it. I say, are you ready for the Word of God today? Amen, success starts on Sundays in God's house, lifting up the name of Jesus. Your week's gonna be better because you've started it off right in God's house. We're kicking off a brand new series today

called The Missing Peace. The Missing Peace. The blind spot in our spiritual growth. Understand, Church, when one thing is missing, it's a big deal. How many of you know that? Some of you are not sure. You're like, Pastor, I'm not sure. I'm telling you, if one thing is missing, it's a big deal. If you have one big toe missing, it's a big deal. Your nine other toes can be doing just fine, but that one big toe matters. Without your big toe, walking to the refrigerator becomes an Olympic event. One missing tire on your car is a big deal. You can have a brand new engine, a full tank of gas, leather seats, a great sound system, all the latest technology, and you can rev the engine. (imitates engine revving) As loud as you want. But if you're missing one tire, you're not going anywhere. One missing letter in a password is a big deal. You can get 17 out of the 18 characters right in that password. Use the correct capital letters, numbers, symbols, and still get denied access.

The computer doesn't say, well, you were close. You're just one off. Nope. Your own computer will lock you out like you are criminal. One missing puzzle piece is a big deal. You can have 999 pieces in place, and things are just not right if you're missing that one puzzle piece. And it's always that one piece in the middle of the puzzle that you're missing. One missing class can keep you from graduating college. You can attend class for four years. Pass every course, write papers, take exams, and rack up student loan debt. And then the school tells you that you're one class short of graduating. What are you talking about? I'm taking all these classes for four years. I don't want to take that one class. Well, if you don't, you're not graduating. Because one class can keep you from graduating. There's a story in the Bible where a man was missing one thing. The scripture says this in the book of Mark chapter number 10 and verse number 17 is Jesus started on his way. A man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him, good teacher. He asked, what must I do to inherit internal life? Why do you call me good Jesus answer? No one is good except God alone.

You know the commandments, you shall not murder, and you shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony. You shall not defraud, honor your father and mother. Teacher, he declared, all these things I have kept since I was a boy. Jesus looked at him and loved him. One thing you lack, he said, go sell everything you have and give to the poor. And you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me. At this, the man's face fell. He went away sad because he had great wealth. This man had a lot of good things going for him. But Jesus identified one area that was hindering this man from being able to truly follow Jesus. The rich young ruler did not realize that leaving out one important ingredient changed everything. And there are a lot of people who are lacking one thing. And they don't think, is that big of a deal? I mean, it's just one thing. But one thing can change everything. The one thing you're missing could be a consistent prayer life. Maybe you're missing fasting in prayer. Or maybe it's consistently reading your Bible. Maybe it's coming to church consistently. Perhaps you're missing being in a small group building Christian friendships with your church family. Maybe you're not serving on the dream team.

Your one thing could be you need to repent of the sin that's in your life. If you will do this, one thing. to grow in your faith. It will take your relationship with Jesus to a deeper level. And for some people, their one thing is the very thing the rich young ruler was unwilling to surrender to Jesus, his finances. This man walked away from the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords over one thing. One thing can keep us from fully following Jesus. And spiritual growth requires us to include every piece of the puzzle. Prayer matters. Reading God's word matters. Worshiping God matters. Church attendance matters. Being a part of a small group matters. Serving on the dream team matters. Fasting and prayer matters. And generosity matters. You can't leave out an important ingredient and expect to grow to spiritual maturity. Missing one thing is bigger than most people realize. Growing to spiritual maturity happens when we allow the Holy Spirit to work in all the vitally important areas of our spiritual development. Even the parts that make us uncomfortable.

Generosity made the rich young ruler uncomfortable. But he learned that day. If he wanted to get serious about following Jesus, he could not leave generosity off his list of spiritual growth. Generosity is one of the spiritual disciplines God uses to grow us, to mature us, to develop us. The heart of what I want to teach you today is how the Bible connects money to our maturity. We can't skip over the subject of generosity and expect to become spiritually mature. Learning to be generous is a part of our spiritual growth. But if we're honest, a lot of people don't like to hear sermons on generosity. And there are several reasons why. One is because of manipulating preachers. Unfortunately, there have been preachers. There have been pastors who have manipulated people into giving. There have been people who have been hurt behind manipulation and pressure. And I can tell you this. At People's Church, we will not manipulate you. We're never going to pressure you to give. My heart is to teach you what God's Word says so you don't lack one thing in your spiritual growth. Some don't want to hear sermons on generosity because some churches have lacked financial integrity. It's sad, and it's hurtful when churches don't have integrity. But I want to encourage all of us not to give up

supporting all churches just because there are some bad ones. Just like you don't give up on all restaurants because there are some bad ones. You don't give up on all teachers, on all doctors, on all electricians, on all plumbers, on all lawyers, because there are some bad ones. And at People's Church, we operate with a high level of integrity. We have a board of accountability and oversight. We have a clean audit that happens every year, and it's done by an outside auditing firm. We honor God with every dollar you give. Operating with integrity is very important to me as a pastor, my life, and this church, and this church that we pastor, People's Church, is very important. We operate with a high level of integrity. Some don't want to hear generosity sermons because of a lack of spiritual maturity. Maybe they're not generous because they dislike something about the church, and it kind of falls into this spiritual immaturity category. They think, well, if you're not going to do church the way that I want you to do it, I'm not going to give. Or the church does something that irritates me. And if you hang around a church long enough, this is going to do something that irritates you. Come on, somebody, the church is you and me. Come on, look at your neighbor. You get on my nerves sometimes.

Yes, you do, yes, yes. Been waiting to tell you that. You're standing around church. I've been here for 24 years. Some of y'all get on my nerves, praise the Lord. I'm still here. So here's what happens to people though. Understand this, I want to develop us. I want to grow us today. Spiritual maturity is not about feelings or preferences. It's about obedience to God and supporting the church of Jesus Christ that God established in the earth to accomplish His mission. Some people don't want to hear Sermons on generosity because of selfishness. Spiritual maturity doesn't make us less generous. You have to hear my heart today. I want to grow us. I grow to the year that people's churches grow. Spiritual maturity doesn't make us less generous. When we grow in faith, it makes us more generous. Proverbs, chapter 21, verse 26. Some people are always greedy for more. But the godly love to give. The godly love to give. One of the ways you can check out how you're growing and where you are in your faith is when you become more godly, you become more generous. The godly love to give. I realize today, generosity is not a fun subject

for some of you to hear biblical teaching on because of your past experiences. And as a pastor, I've been pastoring, as I said, for 24 years. I hate that some of you have been a part of churches that have manipulated you, that have lacked financial integrity. But I have a pastor's heart. And church family, we can't ignore this important area of our faith and grow to spiritual maturity. One thing can keep you from following Jesus. One thing can keep us from growing closer to the Lord. Paul said it like this in Second Corinthians, chapter number eight and verse number seven. He says, "But since you excel in everything in faith, "in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, "and in love, we have kindled in you, "see that you also excel in this grace of giving." Paul doesn't say excel in faith and knowledge and love and leave out generosity. No, he puts generosity on the list of spiritual growth, on things we should excel in because lacking one thing can keep us from growing to maturity. Generosity isn't about what happens. It's not just about what happens with your money. It's about what happens with your heart. Generosity doesn't just change what you do with your money. It changes who you become. It's a spiritual maturity issue. This one thing is about spiritual growth.

It's about growing closer to the Lord. It's about becoming more like Jesus. And I want to share some ways. Generosity helps us grow. And the first is this. Generosity grows our heart. In Mark chapter 10, verse 20, Jesus tells the rich young ruler to sell all that he has and to give to the poor. Then come follow me. This man learned that day, and we learned it as well, that we can't follow Jesus and follow money at the same time. If money has our heart, then Jesus does it. Matthew chapter 6, verse 21, Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." So what we do with what's in our hand affects what happens in our heart. Jesus did not say our treasure simply reveals our heart. He says it directs our heart. Jesus goes on to teach us at Matthew chapter 6, verse 21, to 24. No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other. Or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Generosity doesn't just change what happens through us. Understand, generosity changes what happens in us. It changes our heart. It changes what we're devoted to. It changes who we're devoted to.

It's a spiritual growth issue. Number two is this, generosity grows our gratitude. The rich young ruler, he approached Jesus with this sense of accomplishment. Look, look at all the things that I've done. Oh, give me the list, I've done all those things. Look at all of my religious accomplishments. But when Jesus told him, he lacked one thing. He walked away from Jesus. This man had received the blessings of God without developing a gratitude for God. A heart of gratitude says, "What I have is a gift from God." But a heart of entitlement says, "What I have is a gift from myself." Gratitude looks at what's in our hand and all of our blessings and says, "God, thank you for giving this to me. Thank you for being good to me. Thank you for the way you bless my life." But entitlement looks at what's in our hand. Entitlement looks at our blessings and says, "Self, thank you for providing this for yourself. You've been good to you." Generosity confronts our entitled mindset. Because if you're like me, we work hard. We put in the hours. We put in leadership. We develop, we grow. But generosity, it confronts our entitled mindset. David said some powerful words in 1 Chronicles 29 and verse 14. He says, "But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything." Listen to this mindset he had.

Everything comes from you, God. And we have given you only what comes from your hand. David's heart was full of gratitude towards God. He knew God was his provider. Yes, David could say, "I've worked hard. I fought battles. I killed the lion in the bear. I killed the lion. Yes, I developed my gifts. Yes, I'm the king of Israel. Yes, I've developed and grown. But David recognized this. Everything I have comes from God. Every blessing I have comes from God. This job I got comes from God. These talents I've got come from God. I'm only giving right now what comes from your hand. You see, generosity turns what we have into a reminder of what God has done for us. And grateful people don't just say thank you with their lips. They say thank you with their lives, with their time, with their talent, and with their treasure. Because everything I have comes from you. Number three is this. Generosity grows our character. The rich young ruler did not realize one thing was holding him back from growing in spiritual character. His heart was consumed with greed and selfishness. He did not even recognize it. But generosity breaks greed off of a heart.

Luke chapter 12, verse 15, Jesus said, watch out. Be on your guard against all kinds of greed. Life does not consist in abundance of possessions. Jesus went on to tell a parable about a rich man who had an abundant harvest. And he was only generous to himself. Scripture says he tore down his barns and built bigger ones so that he could store more of the harvest for himself. And listen to what God tells this man in Luke chapter 12, in verse 20 and 21, but God said to him, you fool. This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves, but is not rich toward God. This man was full of greed because he was only generous towards himself, being generous to God and to others breaks greed off our hearts and our lives. See, generosity destroys selfishness in our heart. The man in Luke chapter 12 was living a very selfish and self-centered life. I'm just going to store everything I have for myself. Tear down my barns and build bigger ones. He was like this rich young ruler. And what generosity does, generosity forces us to become God and others focused instead of just being self-focused. Generosity develops self-control in our hearts. Galatians chapter 5 and verse 22 and 23, it lists the fruit of the spirit. And one of the fruits of the spirit is self-control.

Spiritual maturity isn't just learning to say no to sin, it's learning to say no to self. Self-control is when I can tell myself no when my flesh is telling me yes. Self-control is not allowing your desires to make all your decisions. God's Word should be our guiding light and guiding our decisions. God's Word should be guiding our principles. Godly principles should be directing our decision. Self-control is when our desires become something we manage instead of something that manages us. And here's what generosity does. Generosity trains our heart to be self-control. You know what it does? It teaches us contentment. And the scripture says in 1 Timothy chapter 6 and verse 6, but godliness, don't miss this. But godliness with contentment is a great game. And our culture says get more, get more, get more, get more, get more, get more, get more, get more, get more, get more, get more, get more. Godliness with contentment is a great game. For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing we will be content with that. And biblical generosity and contentment go hand in hand. You see generosity develops our character. Generosity grows our trust. The rich young ruler walked away from Jesus because at the core he did not trust Jesus. He was religious, but he did not trust Jesus. I want to really think about this. I've been working on these messages for months.

I'm always ways out praying and processing and study and messages. And I always want to preach what I'm living and I live. I am a generous Tiffany and I are generous and tied and give offerings. We're generous. But I ask myself these questions. I want you to think about this. Think about this. Very sober in question. Do you really trust God? I really want you to think about it. I mean, really. I love what you're going to say. Do you really trust God? Do you really trust God to be your provider? I mean, really. Do you really trust the promises of God? Like when you opened the Bible, do you believe the Bible? Do you really trust his promises? And here's what generosity does. Generosity forces us to answer the question. I mean, we can look and say, do I really trust God in his promises? Or do I find myself trusting in myself, in my own work ethic, in my job, in my retirement, in my money? Who do I really trust? Does your heart trust God by giving to God's kingdom? Just evaluate your heart and your life. Matthew chapter 6 verse 19 and 20. Jesus says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth vermin destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven

where moth and vermin do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal." Question, are you trusting God by storing up treasure in heaven by giving to the kingdom of God? Come on, think about it. Do you really trust God? Does your heart trust God with the money test? Malachi chapter 3 verse 10, bring the whole tide to the storehouse that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty. And see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and prompt so much blessing that there will not be room enough to steward. Every time we tithe, every time we give to God, it's a trust test. Generosity is a test about who we trust. Are you going to keep everything that you have and trust yourself or are you going to tithe? Are you going to give and trust God? Generosity grows our trust. Number five, generosity grows our joy. This is probably my favorite point of the message. he went away sorrowful. He went away sad. He could not imagine having happiness and joy without holding on to everything that he had. I can't give that if I'm holding on to it. That's what my happiness comes from. But God's word teaches that there is a joy. There is a cheerfulness on the other side

of biblical generosity. As we grow and mature in our faith, we began to understand joy doesn't come in the keeping. It comes in the giving. Second Corinthians chapter nine verse seven says, "God loves a cheerful giffer." And I know as I read this verse, some of you this verse sounds ridiculous. What are you talking about, cheerful giffer? But here's what happens. As we grow in our spiritual maturity, there's a joy. There really is, there's a cheerfulness that gets unlocked in our heart from giving. We begin to realize Acts chapter 20 verse 35, it is more blessed to give than to receive. I just preached in Louisiana a few weeks ago, and there's a church in there. The pastor told me we're struggling a little bit. And I just said, here's what Herbert and Tiffany Cooper are going to do. We say we've been tired that I'm 51. We've been managing our money well, and I just told the church that they joined me, and we blessed that church, Tiffany, and I, with $10,000. I knew he was getting ready to have a miracle all for me at people's church, but I was so happy, the only thing I did wrong is I didn't ask Tiffany's permission first,

praise the Lord, but I talked to her afterwards and she said, it's okay, it's okay, Herbert. I was so happy to do that for that church. I was so happy, like, here's what I want you to get, 'cause some of you are like, you're a crazy pastor. Some Christians never grow to a place of spiritual maturity, so they never understand the scripture. They never, they never understand it. They live their entire Christian life complaining, murmuring, and disgruntled about tithing and giving. And here's my heart for you. It's my genuine heart. As your pastor, I want to see you grow to a place of spiritual maturity where you can experience the joy of giving, where you can actually be a cheerful giver, where you can actually enjoy giving to God. Somebody be like, yeah, pastor, pray for me, I'm not there yet, I am, I'm praying for you. You would grow in spiritual maturity. Number six is this, generosity grows our obedience. Jesus gave the rich young ruler a clear instruction. You want to follow me, he said, go sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and come follow me. And the rich young ruler, he understood Jesus perfectly. Jesus was not unclear, but because money had a grip on his heart, he didn't obey Jesus. It kind of blows me away. He walked away from the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Over one thing, and he justified why he couldn't give. Scripture goes on to say that he had a lot of wealth,

didn't want to give, won the whole one. And money can have such a grip on your heart that you find yourself constantly justified while you're not given to God's kingdom. Some say, well, I have too much, I got too much money, I can't give that. Some say, I don't have enough money, so I don't give. Some say, say, well, all the church won't just my money, so I don't give. Some say, I'll be generous when I make more money. Some say, well, I'll be generous when I get out of all this debt. Some say, I'll be generous once I buy that car. Some say, I'll be generous next year. And if you're not careful, you will find yourself like the rich and ruler finding good excuses to disobey Jesus. Another question for you, are you hindering your own spiritual growth because you're missing one thing? And I know Jesus speaks to all of our hearts about generosity, it's his will, it's the God they love to give. And I don't want you to respond like the rich and ruler, as God is speaking in the Holy Spirit's working I don't want you to be like the rich young ruler and to walk away. I want you to hear the voice of Jesus, to be obedient to his voice. And I really want you to live a life of generosity.

And here's what we're gonna do over the next few weeks. I want you to pray. I want you to ask God how you can live a life of generosity. As you pray, I want you to add to your prayer list, God, what would you want me to give in our annual end-of-the-year miracle offering? If you're new with us, you feel no pressure to participate if this is not your church home, but let me explain what we do every year at People's Church. We ask everyone who calls People's Church their church home to pray, to hear from God, and to give over and above their normal giving a generous miracle offering in December that will help us accelerate the visit of the church. So on December the 6th, we'll have our annual miracle offering. And this year's miracle offering is going to go to meet so many needs locally, nationally, and globally, like helping us to continue to take the gospel to Mabel Bassett Correctional Facility, God Behind Bars. It's going to help us support organizations like Hope Is Alive, seeing the attic, find freedom. Your giving in the miracle offering is going to help us send missionaries all around the world to continue to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. You can visit, come on, get ready to write this down, take a picture of it so you can go check it out. You can visit themiracleoffering.com, the miracleoffering.com, and you can see the projects your miracle offering will be funding. And let me say to my church family that some of you

are giving to the Moor Campaign to help us build our Edmund Campus, a building that we'll be moving into, we believe in the spring of this year, the late spring of next year. So I'm excited about that, to move in and see more lives change. (audience applauds) I just want to thank you for continuing to be faithful in your commitments to the Moor Campaign. Here's my heart, here's my heart. My heart is for our church, that we would hear the voice of Jesus, who would respond to his voice, and that none of us will stand before Jesus one day. And he would not say to us, one thing you were missing. My heart is that I would passion you well, that I would shepherd you well. And this year of growing as a disciple, growing as a follower of Jesus, I can't leave out this one area, 'cause it's a critical one. You can have a lot of areas right in your life, and missing, one thing and one thing is a big thing. One thing can keep you from fully following Jesus. What I love you today, it's a privilege to preach your word. It's a privilege to pass to your people. It's a privilege to teach your people the scriptures. Lord, I pray that your word will fall on good ground today. I know that I'm teaching, and I'm talking to people that have been hurt by church, have been manipulated, have been pressured.

I know that I'm talking to people that questioning my motives. All the church wants is my money. I know that as I teach your word, I'm working through lots of different things in people's minds and hearts. But holy spirit, I ask that you would do what I can't do. Now, you would speak to your people to live a generous life, that their life would be like Jesus. I pray that you would speak to us, Lord, today. Lord, that the Godly love to give. Would you grow us? Would you mature us? Would you develop us? Lord, I pray that our church would get so spiritually matured, that it be a joy and a gift. We'd be cheerful givers. We'd be excited every time we get paid to tie and to give offerings. But do that in our hearts. Make us a generous people to further your kingdom. And God, I give you praise for it in Jesus' name. As eyes are closed and heads are bowed around this place today, I'm talking to some people that, you're one thing that's missing is, you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Religion won't do it. Religion won't get you to heaven.

Being religious, coming to church, won't get you to heaven. Quoting a Bible verse won't make you right with God. It's only trusting Jesus with your life. Maybe you did that at one time, but you would be honest today and you would say, "I'm drifted away from God. I'm not serving God today. I'm not living for God. I'm living for myself. I'm living for money. I'm living for success. I'm living for power. I'm living for sex. I'm living for a thrill. I'm living for a drug. I'm living for alcohol. I'm living for Jesus. Today would be your day to rededicate your life to the Lord. And after you do that today, get water baptized and take that next step and obey the Lord. But you want to give your life to Jesus. You want to rededicate your life to the Lord. At every locations I count to three, would you shoot your hand high in the air? And I want to lead you in a prayer to say yes to God. One, two, three, just lift your hand high right now and say, "Pasha, that's me. That's me. See your hand there. Others today. That's it. Every location. Just lift it high. Midwest City. Northwest. Come on. Indianapolis. Edmund. Just lift it high. The ladies that may be about to see your hand there. See your hand there. See your hand there. Others today. Others today. See your hand there. Others today. Just lift it high. Just lift it high every location. I'm going to ask every hand that's raised even online right now. If you're giving your life to Jesus, would you click the raise your hand button or just write that's me in the chat? That's me. I'm going to ask for every hand raised to pray this prayer with me. Confess it with your mouth. Believe it in your heart. And God's going to wash you with your sins. Pray with me now. Heaven and Father. I turn them from my sin and I turn my life to Jesus Christ. I give Jesus my heart and my life. I confess today that Jesus Christ is my Lord and my Savior and I will live for Him the rest of my life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. And amen. Come on. Give God some praise today. Would you do that? Come on. Praise God for life change. Turn it over to all the locations today. Praise the Lord. We are definitely rejoicing with you. You know, Church family, the rich young ruler, he lacked one thing. And, you know, I found in my life that at times it's hard to trust God with everything. But here's what I've learned. Church, he's faithful. He will never fail us. He's a mighty God. He's a provider. He's all of these things that we need so we can fully trust Him today. Before we leave, can we just take a moment just to trust Him just to say, "God, you're a mighty God. What a God, a mighty God you are. I trust you with my life. Would you stand up all over this room? Come on, let's sing this out together. Let's trust Him, Church, with everything in our life. Let's sing it together." If the highest place I reach is at your feet, then I turn it over. If the best thing I see is your glory, then I see it all. Your life has changed my life forever, stand in my God. You are my everything. If one is the only thing you speak, then I'll hurt it all. If I feel your heart, I'll never see your head. I still have it all. No treasure of His life could understand His life. God, you are my everything. God, you are my everything. God, you are my everything. God, what a God, yeah. What a God, what a God, whoa. What a God, what a God. What a God, what a God. Are you glad He's a powerful God? Are you glad He's a mighty God? Are you glad He's a faithful God? That is who He is today. If you're a guest with us, maybe you're looking for a home church. I hope you don't need to look any further. You're among some of the kindest, most loving people in all of Oklahoma. Give us a year of your life. Get plugged in. Get connected and watch how God will transform your life. For family here at People's Church, come on with your shadow with me on three. One, two, three. We're family. God bless your church. Have a great day. Oh, what a God, what a God. You