Gateway Church Live | “A Generous Spirit” by Pastor Daniel Floyd | November 8–9

Welcome to the weekend service. I want to welcome everybody online. If you're in our prison ((music playing)) campuses, you are part of who we are in our gatherings. So, thank you for being here. Who is ready to worship the King of ((music playing)) Kings today? Amen. Father, we thank you for today, Lord.

We give you praise. We give you honor. And Lord, may ((music playing)) your presence be with us today, Lord. We exalt you in your throne, Father. In Jesus' name. And the church says, "Amen. Amen. Let's worship." >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [music and singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Amen. Oh, you're worthy. We lift >> ((music playing)) >> your name. Jesus. Oh. >> [music and singing] >> Lord, you're >> ((music playing)) >> You are one.

Creation obeys when you speak. >> ((music playing)) >> Darkness to light. Death comes to life. Jesus, ((music playing)) when you reign. You You are the one [music and singing] calming the winds and the waves. >> ((music playing)) >> You'll make a way. A promise you keep. God, ((music playing)) you'll never change. Cuz you were, >> ((music playing)) >> you are, you always will be God seated [music and singing] on the throne.

King of all majesty. You reign in >> [music and singing] >> victory. You were, you are, >> [music and singing] >> you always will be God alone seated [music and singing] on the throne. Jesus, be glorified. Forever lifted high. >> ((music playing)) >> We exalt you. You are the one, >> ((music playing)) >> the lion who rose from the grave.

The stone rolled away. You overcame. >> ((music playing)) >> You're worthy of all praise. You are >> [singing] >> You ((music playing)) were, you are, you always will be God >> ((music playing)) >> seated on the throne. King of >> ((music playing)) >> all majesty. You reign in victory. >> ((music playing)) >> You were, you are, you always will be God alone >> ((music playing)) >> seated [singing] on the throne.

Jesus, be glorified. ((music playing)) Forever lifted >> ((music playing)) >> high. His name is higher. So mighty. So awesome. >> ((music playing)) >> Yes, Jesus. Oh, we love you. >> ((music playing)) >> All the glory is yours. All ((music playing)) the glory is yours. Now and [music and singing] forevermore, all the glory is yours. All the glory >> ((music playing)) [singing] >> is yours.

All the glory >> ((music playing)) >> is yours. All the glory is yours. >> ((music playing)) >> Now and forevermore, all the >> ((music playing)) >> All the glory. All the glory. [singing] All the >> ((music playing)) >> is yours. All the glory is yours. ((music playing)) Now and forevermore, all the glory is yours. ((music playing)) You were, you were, you are, you always will be >> ((music playing)) >> God seated on >> ((music playing)) >> the throne.

Jesus. >> ((music playing)) >> You reign in victory. You were, you are >> ((music playing)) >> You always will be seated on >> ((music playing)) >> the throne. Jesus, be glorified. >> ((music playing)) >> Forever lifted high. All the glory ((music playing)) is yours. All the glory >> ((music playing)) >> is yours. Now and forevermore, all the >> ((music playing)) >> It's yours.

Jesus. >> ((music playing)) >> Hallelujah. Hallelujah. >> ((music playing)) >> Hallelujah. Hallelujah. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [singing] ((music playing)) [singing] [music and singing] [singing] [music and singing] [singing] ((music playing)) >> It belongs to you, Jesus. It ((music playing)) belongs to you, Jesus. All glory [music and singing] >> ((music playing)) >> All praise to you, Jesus. Come on, in ((music playing)) this room, let's just begin to enthrone him on our praise. Sing ((music playing)) of his worthiness. Sing of his faithfulness. >> [music and singing] >> Oh, you're faithful.

You're a faithful father. >> ((music playing)) >> You're a faithful father. All [music and singing] glory, all honor All praise ((music playing)) to you, Lord. All the praise belongs ((music playing)) to you, Jesus. How we love the name ((music playing)) of Jesus. There's nothing like [music and singing] the name of Jesus. Yes, Lord, in you ((music playing)) we find hope. We find peace.

Nothing like the name ((music playing)) of Jesus. How we love you, Jesus. We love you, Jesus. >> ((music playing)) >> All ((music playing)) glory, all honor to you, ((music playing)) Jesus. To you, Jesus. ((music playing)) Cuz I love you, Lord. And I lift ((music playing)) my voice to worship you. Oh, my soul >> ((music playing)) >> rejoice. Take joy, my king, in what you hear.

((music playing)) Let [music and singing] it be a sweet, sweet in [singing] your ear. Come on, let's sing that again. We say, "I love >> [singing and music] >> you, Lord. And I lift [singing and music] my voice to you, Jesus. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [singing] ((music playing)) >> It's all for you, Jesus. Take joy, my king, in ((music playing)) what [singing] you hear. Oh, let it be >> ((music playing)) >> Let >> [singing] >> it be a >> [music and singing] >> Let it be >> ((music playing)) >> a sweet, Let [singing] it be a sweet, >> ((music playing)) [singing] ((applause)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> God of creation, there at the start, before the beginning ((music playing)) of time.

With no point ((music playing)) of reference, you spoke to the dark, fleshed out the wonder of life. >> ((music playing)) >> And as you [singing] speak, a hundred million galaxies ((music playing)) are born. >> [singing] >> In the vapor ((music playing)) of your breath, the planets >> ((music playing)) >> If the stars were made to worship, ((music playing)) so will I.

I can see your heart [music and singing] in everything you made. Every burning ((music playing)) star, a signal fire of grace. If creation sings ((music playing)) your praises, so will I. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Kind of your promise, >> ((music playing)) >> you don't speak in vain. No single word will empty or void. For once ((music playing)) you have spoken, all nature and science follow the ((music playing)) sound of your voice.

And as ((music playing)) you speak, a hundred million creatures catch your breath. Evolving ((music playing)) in pursuit of what you say. If ((music playing)) it all reveals your nature, so will >> ((music playing)) >> I can see your heart in everything you say. >> ((music playing)) >> Every painted sky, the ((music playing)) canvas of your grace. If creation still obeys ((music playing)) you, so will I. >> ((music playing)) >> So will I. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> If the stars were made to ((music playing)) worship, so will I.

If ((music playing)) the mountains bow in reverence, [singing] so will I. If the oceans roar your praise, >> ((music playing)) >> so will I. >> [singing] >> And if everything ((music playing)) exists to lift you high, >> [singing] >> so will I. If the wind ((music playing)) goes wasting, so will I. If the >> ((music playing)) >> rocks cry out in silence, so >> [singing] >> will I.

If the sound ((music playing)) of all our praise still falls short, >> ((music playing)) >> We will sing again a hundred billion times. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> God of ((music playing)) salvation, you chased down my heart through all of my [music and singing] failure and On a hill you ((music playing)) created, [singing] the light of the world abandoned in darkness to die. >> ((music playing)) >> And as you speak, >> ((music playing)) >> a hundred billion failures disappear. >> ((music playing)) >> When you lost your life so I can find it. >> ((music playing)) >> If you left the grave behind you, so will I.

I can see you on ((music playing)) every thing I do. Every >> ((music playing)) >> heart is a work of art for you. If you gladly >> ((music playing)) >> chose surrender, so will I. >> ((music playing)) >> I can see you on a billion different ways. Every precious one, >> ((music playing)) >> the child you died to see. >> ((music playing)) >> If you gave your life to love them, so will I.

Like ((music playing)) you would again a hundred billion times. But what >> ((music playing)) >> measure could amount to your deep side? >> ((music playing)) >> You're the one who never leaves the one behind. >> ((music playing)) >> You're the one who never [singing] leaves the one behind. You're the one who never >> ((music playing)) >> leaves the one behind.

You're the one >> [music and singing] >> who never leaves the one behind. >> ((music playing)) >> Cuz you're faithful. Oh, you're [singing] good Lord. You're faithful Father. Faithful Father. ((music playing)) [singing] If the stars [music and singing] were made to worship, so will I. >> ((music playing)) >> If the mountains bowed down and worshiped, ((music playing)) so will I. If the [singing] oceans roar with greatness, so will I.

For if ((music playing)) everything exists [singing] to lift you high, so will I. >> ((music playing)) >> So [singing] will I. >> ((music playing)) >> We lift you high. >> [singing] >> We lift the name above all names. We lift you high. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Worthy is your name, Jesus. >> ((music playing)) >> You deserve [singing] the praise. Worthy >> ((music playing)) >> is your name.

Worthy is your name, Jesus. >> ((music playing)) >> You deserve the [singing] praise. Worthy ((music playing)) is Come on, we lift it up. Worthy is your name, Jesus. >> ((music playing)) >> You deserve the praise. Worthy is Worthy ((music playing)) is your name. Worthy is your Jesus. >> ((music playing)) >> You deserve the praise. Worthy is your ((music playing)) name.

Exalted To be exalted now in the heavens >> ((music playing)) >> as your glory fills this place. You alone >> ((music playing)) >> deserve our praise. You're the name above all Be exalted >> ((music playing)) >> now in the heavens as your glory fills this place. You alone deserve our praise. >> ((music playing)) >> You're the name To be exalted >> ((music playing)) >> now in the heavens as your glory fills this place. >> ((music playing)) >> You alone deserve our praise.

You're the name >> ((music playing)) >> above So worthy is your name. Jesus. >> ((music playing)) >> You deserve the praise. Worthy is your >> ((music playing)) >> Worthy is your name. >> ((music playing)) >> Jesus. You deserve the praise. >> ((music playing)) >> Worthy is your name. Worthy is your ((music playing)) name. Jesus. You deserve the praise. Worthy is Worthy is your name. >> ((music playing)) >> So worthy is your name.

Jesus. >> ((music playing)) >> You deserve the praise. Worthy is your name. Worthy is your name. ((music playing)) Jesus. You deserve the >> ((music playing)) >> praise. Come on, sing it. Worthy is your name. Worthy is ((music playing)) your name. Come on, if you're comfortable, lift your hands to heaven. All over the room. You deserve ((music playing)) the praise.

Worthy is your name. So this week I was thinking about something that You ever had something really grab your attention? And it's not the most positive thing. It's It's something you're worried about. I could just feel my heart rate rising, rising, rising. I didn't even have to look at my aura ring that tracks my sleep and I just could feel it going.

And it reminded me of this principle I learned a long time ago is that whatever you focus on, you magnify. And whatever you magnify, you focus on. And there's so many things in our life that want us to focus on them so they become magnified and I would add often over magnified.

Have you ever found that whatever you're worrying about isn't always as bad as how you originally worried about it? And so we carry these weights because of this, we begin to magnify the problem instead of the God who is over the problem. >> ((music playing)) >> And so when we sing a song like worthy is your name, it isn't just so that we can over and over again say these lyrics, worthy is your name, you deserve the praise.

You're What it's doing is what the scripture says, I lift my eyes to the hills ((music playing)) from where my strength comes from. It comes from the maker of heaven and an earth. So if you want strength, you don't focus on the problem cuz that'll zap you of your strength.

If you need strength in the house today and I don't know what you carried in this place. And maybe you're thinking I don't even have have it in me to worship. If I could just encourage you, if you could find a little bit of strength, as you begin to worship, your eyes begin to get up to the God who is greater than what you're dealing with.

Oh, come on, why don't you lift your hands to heaven and just say worthy is your name. Come on, lead us, Austin. Oh, come on, begin to get your eyes fixed ((music playing)) on Jesus. He's the author and the perfecter of your faith. Worthy are ((music playing)) you, God. >> ((music playing)) >> You deserve the praise. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [singing] >> Oh, All our eyes fixed on you, ((music playing)) Lord. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Just your voice. >> ((music playing)) >> Unto you, Lord.

All the honor and all the glory. Father, that's our prayer today. We lift our eyes to you. It's where our strength comes from, where hope comes from. It's where burdens are lifted. It's where anxiousness is put at bay. It's where the peace that passes understanding will fill our hearts and our minds.

So, we fix our eyes on Jesus. Confident that you who began the good work in us will complete it. Nothing that all of hell can throw at us will stop that promise. So, I pray for anyone today that came in and they're overwhelmed and hurting, confused, anxious. Had a week they wish they could forget about.

For anyone that walked in today and they're giving God one more shot. I pray in this moment in your presence. Would the peace of God flood into hearts and minds. We thank you that burdens are lifted in your presence. Thank you that healing is found in your presence.

I pray for the person that even in this ((music playing)) time of worship wondered, do you see me, God? Do you even know I'm here? ((music playing)) I pray that right now in this moment they would know the God of the universe sees them, loves them, crazy about them. Would you strengthen the weary, God?

Would you give grace to those who are battling shame and ((music playing)) the voice of the enemy telling them they're unworthy. We thank you that you are the God that is well able. Well able. To do exceedingly, abundantly, and above anything we can ask, think, or ((music playing)) imagine according to your power that is at work within us.

So, we honor you today. We say we love you. God, we declare all this is for you and all because of you. So, unto you be the glory and the honor and the ((music playing)) praise. In Jesus' name. Come on, everybody said amen. Oh, come on, give Jesus the very best that you've got. >> ((cheering)) >> You're worthy, God.

Oh, he's worthy. Oh, come on, 5 more seconds. Worthy are you, ((music playing)) God. Great day to be in church. ((music playing)) What a great time to be together. Hey, why don't you take a moment before you have your seat and we get into the word of God and greet somebody around you, tell them you're glad to see them in church today, learn a new name, make a new friend. >> ((music playing)) ((music playing)) >> Well, we're glad you're in church today.

It is Veterans Day weekend, everybody. And >> ((applause)) >> a special weekend. I'm the son of a veteran and my father-in-law is a veteran and I have so much of that in my family and for 20 years in Virginia served very close to um a whole lot of bases and veterans.

And so, we want to take a moment and recognize everybody that's in the building today that you have served our country. So, if you served, which happy birthday to the Army, Navy, and Marines, by the ((music playing)) way, coming up, if you don't know that. >> ((applause)) >> But if you served in the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Coast Guard, the Space Force, or the Marine Corps, would you please stand and allow us to honor you for your sacrifice and your service. >> ((applause)) ((music playing)) ((applause)) >> Oh, come on, let them know how grateful you are.

What a gift to our nation. >> [applause and music] ((music playing)) >> As the church, we want to say thank you for your selfless service. And that today we preach the gospel unashamedly. We don't worry about anybody busting through the doors and carrying us out because freedom has a price. And you paid it and we're grateful.

One more time, come on, can we thank God for them? >> ((music playing)) >> Well, we're going to jump into week number two of uh How Not to Ruin Your Life in Proverbs. Before we do, I want you to turn your attention to the screen and check out all the wonderful things coming up in the life of Gateway Church.

So, check this out. Hey, Gateway family. Thank you so much for joining us today. At Gateway, we're all about people because we know God is all about people. If you're a guest today, please know that we would love to get to ((music playing)) know you. You can meet us in the lobby at Connect Central after service or text connect to 71010.

We have so many ways for you to get connected to God and to others. No matter what stage of life you're in, we believe there is something for you. Check out a few things happening soon. Giving is at the core of who God is and we believe we're called to reflect his heart by being givers ourselves.

If you'd like to give today, you can give through our website, the mobile app, or in an envelope at any of our campuses. Remember to follow us on social media or join your campus Facebook group to stay ((music playing)) up to date with everything that's going on. Thanks again for joining us. >> ((music playing)) >> Hey, welcome to church, everybody.

We want to welcome all of our locations, our prison campuses. You're not a project to us, you are family. And all of our Gateway gatherings. And I want to say a special welcome to everyone that is visiting for the first time or maybe the first time in a long time.

Can we put our hands together at every location? Let's welcome all that are with us today. >> ((music playing)) ((applause)) >> It's a great weekend to be in church. We are um bringing in canned goods as we shared last week and uh already throughout the week I saw some of the campuses, people were already dropping them off during the week.

And if you missed that last week cuz for some reason you weren't in church and I'm guessing you were sick. I mean, that's the only reason you'd miss church >> ((music playing)) >> on a weekend. Um but if you missed that, then hey, run to the grocery store real quick after service and then run back over and uh we'll take that and uh we're going to help distribute that to those that are in need.

I don't know if I shared last week that we learned from some of our partners around that demand is up and supply is low. And so, we're helping bridge the gap and we're going to make a big difference um together this weekend. So, I'm excited about that. And uh last weekend uh we shared in this beginning of the series on the book of Proverbs that you could jump in on the Bible reading plan.

Want to let you know that again. If you're a week behind, don't worry about it, just jump in where we're at together. And you can text 71010 the word Proverbs to 71010, and that'll get sent to you every week, ((music playing)) and um it's connected to our website. I want to let you know, this is pretty amazing.

More than 31,000 views of the Bible reading plan last week alone. So, that's a whole lot of people reading the Bible, everybody. >> ((applause)) ((music playing)) >> Now, I don't know if you know this, but God is moving in a significant way in the nation as it comes to Bible reading.

Bible sales are up dramatically. Gen Z is driving those sales, which is wonderful. So, people are hungry for the word of God. Um and I don't know if you know this, but in next week the YouVersion app is celebrating 1 billion downloads. 1 billion downloads. How many of you know it's a good thing that the word of God is getting into the hearts of people?

We believe that the word of God is powerful, sharp as a double-edged sword. And uh it can change and transform someone's life. So, God's doing so many wonderful things around the nation, and revival's in the air, everybody. These are signs of awakening, and so it's a great season to be a part of the church, and it's a great season to be a part of Gateway Church.

Can I get a good amen in the house of God? God's moving in great ways. >> ((music playing)) >> We've been working uh from this foundational verse, and I'll read this, and then we'll pray. Says this, "Wisdom is supreme." In other words, it's highly valued. Therefore, get wisdom. And then it says this, "Though it cost all you have, get understanding."

((music playing)) Meaning that no matter the price that you've got to pay for wisdom, pay that price because it's worth having. Last week we began talking about the beginning of wisdom, and the scripture tells us the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. And that may not be exactly what you've grown up thinking, and so I want to encourage you, go back and check that out if you missed it.

((music playing)) And I'm excited to jump into today. So, let's pray together. Father, our hearts and minds are open to your word. So, speak to us, and we believe we'll never be the same because of it. In Jesus' name, everybody said a big amen. Amen. So, we were driving down the road the other day, and the two little ones, Jonas and Abigail, which he turns seven today, everybody.

Little man turns seven. He was very excited this morning. And uh so, they were in the back of the car. He had his iPad, which really my kids don't have iPads, they're Kindles, but they call them iPads, and I'm going to let them think it. Um and so, he had his iPad, and he was playing Minecraft.

I don't know if you have any kids, grandkids that are playing Minecraft, but he was playing Minecraft and was all about it. And so, Abigail wanted to play with him, and then ensued an argument uh where she wanted the iPad, he wouldn't give her the iPad, and I'm sure this situation is exclusive to the Floyd household.

I'm sure within your own household it's lots of praying together and sharing, sharing is caring, and right, parents? Okay. I know it was just my heathen children. Um Sanctification is a process, everybody. It's a step at a time. Come on. All right, are you with me? So, anyways, they were they were going after it, and of course, you know, we get out of the car, and I'm having this conversation because Jonas didn't want to share it.

And so, I I I have a conversation that goes something like this, and it's a repeated conversation, and it's something to the effect of, "Hey, bud, why why weren't you sharing with Abigail? Why wouldn't you let her use your iPad?" And the response was, "I don't know." Any other parents get that res- Okay, they have no idea why they're And I feel bad for him.

He's got five parents. He's got me, Tammy, Owen, his older brother, Faith, and Abigail. I mean, the guy's the youngest, right? And everybody's trying to parent him. And so, but I have this conversation it goes something like this. "Hey, bud, why weren't you?" "I don't know." And then I'll ask, "What was in your heart?" "What was in your heart when you were doing that?"

Because I don't want behavior modification. I want heart transformation in him. How many of you know you can get a kid to act right for so long, but if it isn't in the heart, then it doesn't really matter. Can I tell you something else? You can get an adult to behave right for so long, but if it isn't in the heart, it doesn't really matter.

Because it's out of the heart that everything flows. And so, it doesn't matter how much I tell Jonas to be generous, if I don't get his heart connected to a generous spirit, then I can get behavior for a moment, I can get behavior for a season, but the heart never grabbed it.

And I would propose for some of you, maybe you had a season where you walked away from church, and you were like, "I did all the church things." And that's the problem. Is you did all the third church things. But if you ever let Jesus get a hold of your heart, heart transformation will begin to turn into behavior modification, and it'll last a whole lot longer.

Can I get a better amen? >> ((applause)) >> And so, I want to talk to you around this thought today, and it's this, is a generous spirit. A generous spirit. Now, I know for some of you, you're thinking, "87 days on the job, and you're tackling this topic? You're going after generosity, and you've only been here less than 90 days?"

Well, let me say, Proverbs talks a lot about it, and so, I'm not going to avoid it. And then number two, if you'll come with me on the journey in this message, I think you'll find yourself at a dis- different place than maybe you expected. Are y'all with me?

Because I want us to get to the heart of the matter. Because the Bible says where your treasure is, that's where your your heart is. And so, at the end of the day, a spirit of generosity isn't a resource issue, it's a heart issue. As a matter of fact, whenever Solomon writes in Proverbs about this idea of generous of living a generous life, he often doesn't do talk about it with what is how it's affecting the person the receiving end.

He's talking about it from what is in us as we do it. As a matter of fact, in Proverbs chapter uh this one. 11. I forgot it for a moment. It says, "The world of the generous gets what? It gets larger and larger, but the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller."

So, the the the approach of a spirit of generosity, I'm really hoping that you'll come on this journey cuz I want you to I want you in some way to kind of detach the act of generosity from what I'm wanting you to get today, which is a spirit of generosity.

Because you can have an act of generosity and not be a generous spirit. Are y'all tracking with me? Anybody can write a check, but some of us are willing to write a check to a need, but we're greedy with our business. So, there's not a spirit of generosity.

Are you following me? We're we're we're good to drop something in the Salvation Army bell when it comes around Christmas time, but we won't give people an extra 30 minutes of our time. Are y'all tracking with me? Cuz there's a difference between the act of it and having the spirit of it.

When I have the spirit of generosity, I don't mind to let someone merge in. I'll let that one sit for a minute. When I have a generous spirit, it's no problem to cover the check. Are y'all following me? It's a difference between the act and the spirit of it.

And I want you to get the spirit of it cuz if you get the heart of it, then it'll bleed into every area of your life. And this is what Solomon is trying to get us to get in this wisdom book. So, I want to show you three characteristics of the spirit of generosity.

And I'm going to give you three points of application. Maybe four, we'll see. Depends on how much you amen me, honestly. Okay, I'm kidding. I'm joking. Number one, if you're in the note-taking top, write this down. If not, go and write it down anyways. Number one is this, a generous spirit is selfless.

A generous spirit A generous spirited person uh a big-hearted a larger and larger, not smaller and smaller is a person that is selfless. Proverbs chapter 11 says this, "A generous person will prosper. Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." You may have heard this verse before. The word prosper here, I want you to look at for a moment, is not the idea that if I give God something that then he's a a supersizer machine, and he'll give back to me something.

Are y'all tracking with me? If I give him a dollar, he'll give me a Mercedes. That's not the scripture. Are y'all tracking? Yeah, is this okay? It's always amazing to me with churches, whenever you hit a generous topic, it's like the amens go out of the building. Like, what is happening?

It's the Bible. You amen the Bible last week, amen the Bible this week. Okay. Can I get an amen? All right, there we go. The word prosper is this idea, This was one of the best explanations I've heard to give you a mental picture of it is this.

Is in our human capacity, we have limitations. We can only go so far. Meaning, I can only go so far in my intellect. I can only go so far in my relational capacity. I can only go so far in my emotional capacity that there is a limit that I have in and of my own abilities and my own strength and my own knowledge and my own experience.

And are y'all try Are y'all getting it? Like I have a limit. The prosperity comes in is this idea. It's when God puts his hand in your back and pushes you beyond you. And this is what the Bible says is that a generous person will prosper meaning that God will push you beyond what you can do.

It's a divine blessing. You may call it the favor of God on your life where you go, I didn't deserve this. This isn't within my capacity. I couldn't generate this on my own. I couldn't create this. No, it's like God pushed me beyond me. How many of you would say in your life you've experienced that from God?

That you look around at your life and go, I did not create this. This is what that scripture's talking about and it says this. This is the result. This is the action. Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. In other words, the refresher of people become the prospering people.

Are y'all following that? You're getting the result and then you're getting the the idea of what got you to the result. In other words, the person that doesn't wake up in the day and think me first is the kind of person that prospers. The person that lives the crucified life.

The the one that goes, no, I'm not living for me. I've been crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live. The life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who died and gave himself up for me. So, whatever is in my hand God that you can use to be a blessing, whatever is in my talent God, whatever in my network, whatever in my relational capacity, I have died to me.

In other words, I died to my wants. I died to my greed. I died to my preferences. I die I am crucified with Christ. Have you ever been to a funeral and a dead man be like, why'd you say that? You can't offend a dead man. You can't upset a dead person.

You can take the flowers off the coffin. They would not care. Paul says that's how we're supposed to live. Matter of fact, he says that I'm supposed to live so selfless that if someone asked me to go to mile, that I should give them another mile. He said I'm supposed to live so selfless that if they ask for clothes, I should take my own jacket off and give it to them.

One of the greatest examples I have in my life of this was my dad. Been in heaven 10 years ago last month. One of the most selfless, generous spirited men I ever been around. He wasn't He didn't amass a lot of resources. But I want you to see a generous spirit isn't about what you have or don't have.

It's about the heart you live with. I don't know how many times I've shared this story throughout my life, but it's so seared in my little high school mind. We were living in North Carolina. One day I'll tell you the story of how he was sick for 7 years and God healed him and it was a miracle and it was a horrible 7 years though.

We were living in North Carolina and my dad comes in one night and it was cold and I just see him walk in the door and he goes to the closet and he takes out his best winter coat. And I said, "Dad, where are you going?" He goes, "I saw a young man hitchhiking and it's going to be a cold night and I've got to go find him."

Because a generous spirit is selfless. It's not about what you have or don't have. It's about the heart you live with. Because when you have a selfless spirit, you see others, not just you. You see what's happening around you, not just what you've got to get to and the thing that you've got to go do.

A generous spirit is selfless. The Bible says, "Whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." It says, "All day long he craves for more." This is talking about the unrighteous, but the righteous, they give without sparing. They're not even thinking about themselves. They're selfless. Number two. Someone with a generous spirit is others focused.

And you may be thinking, "Didn't you just say that before?" No, two different things. Selfless begins with me not being a selfless person. Others focused is the next step to go, "I'm no longer thinking about me. I'm going to think about you." Are y'all tracking with me? I'm going to see how I can be a blessing to you.

Proverbs tells us this. "The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern." In other words, you know what the righteous do? They fill a lobby with food of cans and dry goods. I'm I'm wanting you to see the scriptures aren't just something you get in your mind, but they should be something you live out in your life.

Like it should heart transformation should lead to community transformation. Is that not If If our lives are radically changed by the gospel and we actually believe the book that we share and preach and read, then it should lead to some action. I mean, even the commission that Jesus gave us, the most important words, the last thing he said begins with the word go.

So, this is what this verse looks like in flesh. This is what it looks like in living color. It's what it looks like whenever we are are living it out before us is that we fill the lobbies of our campuses with dry goods and with canned goods. Why?

Because the righteous Because we're righteous, we care about justice for the poor. We care about the people that can't buy the food. Well, they should have got a job and Really? That's where we go? They should take care of themselves. There aren't enough opportunities. Aren't you glad that the good Samaritan didn't look at the person in the ditch and go, "Well, how'd you get there?

And did you finish school? Did you not get a good education? Are y'all tracking with me? It doesn't matter why he's in the ditch. The righteous get him out of the ditch. We can help HIM ON THE OTHER SIDE. HELLO, SOMEBODY. >> ((applause)) >> YES, we should help them not get back in the ditch.

But let's get them out of the ditch. IT'S HARD TO LISTEN IN YOUR class whenever your stomach is growling cuz you've had nothing to eat as a child. Is this too much? We think about others. We think about the people that can't go to the grocery store. And our little act of kindness of being righteous of thinking others first creates a pathway for the gospel.

Creates a pathway for lives to be changed. All because we determine I'm just going to think about others over me. I'm going to do what Paul said in the New Testament, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility think of others." And man, in the culture we live in, they want us thinking about us, right?

What makes me comfortable? What makes life easy for me? How do I get what I want when I want it? But not the righteous according to Proverbs. They're looking out for people that can't look out for themselves. I love the way that Mother Teresa said it. She said, "A life not lived for others is not a life."

How true is that? Because here's the deal. If life is all about me, I'm living a very small life. But when I can get my eyes on others and give myself away, my world gets larger and larger and larger and larger. Are you getting this, church? Number three.

A generous spirit is rewarded. This isn't the motivation, but it is an outcome. Look what the scripture says. It says, "He who gives to the poor will lack nothing. But he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses." Let me show you one more verse and this is a shocking one to me.

It says, "Whoever is kind to the poor" Look at these next four words. Lends to the Lord. I don't know if you've ever seen this verse. And he will reward them for what they've done. Think about this for a moment. I mean, wrap your mind around that. Whoever's generous to the poor is loaning to God.

Which makes God indebted to you. It's what the text says. It's not heresy. That's what the text says. And then he will reward them for what they have done. So, God's on the hook to reward you when you're generous to the poor. How amazing is that? How would it change the spirit we lived in if we really believed that verse?

How would it change how we have eyes to see the needs of people around us if we really lived and believed that that verse was true? I think about a a businessman that lived late 1800s, early 1900s. His last name was, I think I'm saying this right, LeTourneau.

He was known for creating earth It's like 200 patents on earth-moving equipment. He was extremely extremely successful. And I love this quote that he says. He goes, "The more I shovel to God, the more he shovels back to me, and his shovel's a whole lot bigger." Is that not the truth?

I heard it said like this one time, "I can't outgive God." Because God is a rewarder. That's not the motivation. I'm not getting to give, I get to give. I don't have to. I don't give so God will give something back to me. I've been more blessed than I ever imagined, but I get to live with a generous spirit.

I get to see the young couple behind me in the drive-thru line and just say, "I'll take care of that." Not for anything, not for any benefit, just to live with a generous spirit. Are you all with me? Say, "Amen." Luke 12:15 says this, and it should keep ringing in our mind.

He said, "Beware or guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own." It's not measured by how much you own. It's actually I think heaven's going to measure it by what you did with what God gave to you. Matter of fact, God's not only going to reward you, I believe, in this earth, but the Bible says that he'll reward you in heaven because there's two judgments.

There's the the judgment seat of Christ, and there's the great white throne judgment. In the great white throne, they'll deal with sin, but the judgment seat of Christ, he's going to deal with what you did with what he gave you. And the Bible says he'll gives crowns. Some translations says he'll gives rewards.

So, there's coming a moment where God's going to reward you for what he did what you did with what he put into your hands. I don't know about you, but I don't want to get to that day and be like, "I had some great cars, God." "If you'd have seen my shoe collection, Lord, even you would have been impressed."

I'm being tongue-in-cheek, but you get what I'm saying. I want him to go, "Great is your reward. You did a lot with what I gave you." Because life isn't about what I own. And what I'm wanting to stir in you is this, is that you live your life for something that's bigger than you.

That you stir your life that that that stir something in your heart that goes, "I'm living for something that's bigger than me and greater than me and doesn't even benefit me." Cuz everything in our life, in some way, it ends up benefiting us. I think God wants us to live I think it's the example of Jesus.

Like, I'm going to give my life for you. And this cross does nothing for me. But I'm going to live my life for something that's bigger than me and greater than me and doesn't even benefit me that makes a difference in the world around me. I like to say it like this, I hope you're living for a legacy.

I hope you're living for something that will outlast you and live for eternity. That you don't get caught in the rat race, everybody. I'm just If I could, I'm just wanting to go, "Hey, hey, wake up! Don't get caught in the rat race. Don't get caught in the 9:00 to 5:00.

Don't get caught into this thing to that thing to the better contract to the this school." And all that is wonderful. And and and do it. JUST DON'T LET THAT BE THE THING. Don't that let that be the pursuit. DON'T LET THAT BE THE HEART. Live for something that that will outlast you.

That when you're gone, your influence will go on because you invested in something that was eternal. Are you all with me? It's what Psalm says. Psalm 112, look at this. It says, "They share freely and they give generously to those in need. Their good deeds," watch this, "will be remembered forever."

This is the life I want for you. That you would live such a generous spirit others-focused life that you would be remembered forever, that you'll have influence and honor because of how you lived your life. What you did with what God gave you. That someone when you're not even on the earth anymore, would be like, "Their life is why I'm here.

Their generous spirit is why I know Jesus." That that would be the story of your life. Second Corinthians says this, "You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and your generosity will result in what? In thanksgiving to God." This is what happens when you live with a generous life and a generous spirit.

Is that your flow of generosity touches the lives of other people, and it results in God getting thanks. In your everyday, everybody. I think we think generosity within the walls of a church. I'm wanting you to break out of that. I'm wanting you to break out of generosity "It must be my tithe."

No, no, no. I'm wanting you to break out. I'm wanting There's a generous spirit. How do you treat the server that brings you your meal? How do you treat the barista that makes your coffee? How do you treat the the person that does the front of your car before you go into the car wash?

You know that kid? Are you all tracking with me? Like, how is your Do you live a generous spirit, a big-spirited I'm going to give my life away kind of life? That is the life that I believe Jesus wants us to live. And does it involve resources? And does it Yeah, it does all that.

But it's bigger than all that. Don't make it so small that it's a check. It isn't what he had in mind. It says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only son." Giving to him was a lifestyle. It was an everything. It was an all in.

It was all of me, God. It was a I'm dead. I'm crucified with Christ. And if you want something off my coffin, take it off my coffin, and I won't be offended. And if you need something out of my hand, take it. If you speak to me, I'll do it.

I'll give the prayer. I'll give the encouraging word. I'm living with a generous spirit. It's bigger than that. Let me give you a few points of application, okay? Of how you can live this. Number one, be generous with your time. It's free. I know some of you are thinking, "No, your time is your most precious commodity."

I agree. But what does it really cost to give somebody an extra 5 minutes? What does it cost to lean in like you're engaged and you actually care about what they're saying? To not be looking over their shoulder to see if someone better's coming along to talk to.

But just to relax for a minute. Give them a little bit more of your time. What would it really cost to join a serve project at your campus? Hand out some food, love on some people. And be generous with your time. Number two, you can be generous with your gifts.

You learned last series you have spiritual gifts. And God wants you to use them to advance the gospel and build up the body of Christ. And so, some of you are sitting on them right now. You're not using them. Need to be generous with your gifts. Number three, generous with your actions.

I'm wanting to get this with flesh on it. You can be generous with a smile. You don't know who who hasn't been smiled at. And I know you're like, "This isn't very deep theologically deep." No, but maybe it would change somebody's life around you. What good is knowledge puffed up if we don't actually apply it and live it in our lives?

You can be generous with your words. You would be surprised how many people never hear I really appreciate you. You're doing a great job. I just want you to know I think the way you served my table, you're crushing it. You're a gift. Just spreading your generosity. You can be generous with your prayers.

Someone tells you something, let me pray with you right now. They may freak out. 99.999% of the time someone's going to go, "Will you, please?" I would love to be prayed with. Doesn't take a whole lot, church, to live with a generous spirit. One last thought is that we would be generous with our treasure.

The Bible says this, that we're to give and God will give back to you a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, remember that, it will be measured back to you. You want a big world?

Have a big generous spirit. You want a small world? God says up to you. It's your choice. And so I'm going to give you an opportunity to put this into action. All right? And we're going to do it around the Christmas season. And I'm telling you now because God likes a cheerful giver, not somebody that gives reluctantly or under compulsion.

In other words, I don't think the Lord wants me to put a sappy video up on the screen and your heart get turned and then you give. I think God wants you to be a pre-decider. You predetermine, you pray, you seek the Lord, you ask God what to do, and then you do what God tells you to do.

Are you with me? And so we're going to take a year-end offering as a church. On December the 6th and December the 7th, and I know what I said for all the young people in the room. The 6th and the 7th. I got it. And we're calling it this, the Love My City Offering.

And here's what I want you to know. 100% of every dollar that comes in the Love My City Offering is not going to benefit you and it's not going to benefit Gateway Church. It's 100% going to community partners and local churches in our area that are in need. >> ((applause)) >> Because generosity isn't about me.

It's not even about our church. It's about what God wants to do through us so that people will give thanks to God. And so our team has been vetting more than 40 organizations and churches in the DFW and in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. And we've been we've been need hunting, everybody.

We've been hunting for needs that we can meet. We found out about a small church in Keller that hasn't been able to replace their carpet for 22 years. How many of you think they need new carpet? And we're going to give them new carpet. >> ((music playing)) ((applause)) >> Found out about a organization in town that helps young ladies that find themselves pregnant choose life.

And they're trying to add a wing on to their building and we're going to help invest in that because we want people to choose life. >> [applause and music] >> And so we've been need hunting. And we're going to go meet needs. And so here all I'm asking you to do, you ask God what he'd have you do and then you do it.

I'm not going to twist your arm. Not going to play you some emotional thing. Just going to challenge you. Ask God. And then when God speaks, you obey. And then on that weekend, we're going to come together and we're going to take one offering and it's the Love My City Offering.

And then I have the team already ready on Monday, we're going to start handing out checks. And then we're going to report to you >> ((music playing)) ((applause)) >> and then we're going to follow some of those checks with some cameras and we're going to report back to you exactly how it went and the impact that you made because we are called to have a generous ((music playing)) spirit.

Do you receive the word of God today? >> ((music playing)) ((applause)) >> And I know some of you are thinking, "Well, Pastor, haven't you seen the headlines? Do you think this is the time to do this?" Well, if we live according to the kingdom of this world, the answer would be no.

But we live according to the kingdom of our God who says, "Give and it will be given back to you, pressed down." Come on, give him praise today. >> ((applause)) ((music playing)) >> Will you pray with me? Every head bowed, every eye closed. Maybe you're here this weekend at one of our locations and you've never received the greatest gift of generosity that's ever been given and that is Jesus.

For God so loved you. You could fill your name in that spot. That he gave his only son cuz he saw you. He loved you. He knew the mistakes and the challenges and the pain and the sins that you would commit and in spite of it he came looking for you.

And he says if you'll believe in him, all that simply means if you believe he rose from the dead, that's the resurrection, and you'll make him the Lord of your life. In other words, I'm done calling the shots of my life. I don't want to be the director of the story of my life anymore.

God, I want you to be in charge. He says if you'll do that, you'll be saved, that you'll your sins will be forgiven. Today you'll have a brand new start in Jesus. And if that's your desire, in just a moment we're going to pray together and there's nothing magical in the prayer or special about how I say it.

It's just me helping you communicate that desire to God. But before we do, I just want to know who I'm praying with and no one's looking around except myself or your pastor at your campus. No one's going to point you out. But if you say, "Pastor, that's me.

I know in my heart that I'm far from God." Maybe you're here today and you need to return to the Lord. Maybe it's been a while. Maybe you strayed away from your faith, but today is the day I need to come back to God. I need to receive the grace of God, the love of the Father, and the forgiveness of Jesus.

If that's you, before we pray, I just want to know I'm praying with. All over the room, when I count to three, I'm just going to ask you to shoot your hand up high long enough for myself or your pastor to see and then we're going to pray together.

So if that's you, God's speaking to you, you shoot your hand up on three. 1 2 3. You just shoot it up high. God bless you. God bless you. I see you all over the room. I see you in the very, very back. God bless every one of you.

God sees you, more importantly. Will you pray this out loud together, church, for those who just lifted up their hand? Just say, "Jesus, I need you. I ask you to forgive me of all my sin. I believe you died for me. I believe God raised you from the dead.

Today I make you my Lord and Savior. Thank you for a brand new beginning. In Jesus' name." Everyone said, "Amen." Can we celebrate those who made that decision? Incredible. >> [applause and music] >> Amen. What a word. I'm going to ask us to stay seated and we're going to do something today ((music playing)) that we do every weekend, which is to engage in prayer with each other.

But one of the things that I am reminded of is when we have a need for prayer, there's many times I sit right where you guys are sitting and think, "Should I go to the front? >> ((music playing)) >> Everybody would know and everybody would see me." And I would love to ask you a question.

I want us all to raise our hands, those that have ever had a need for somebody to pray for them. Can I see the hands? That's beautiful because all of us have been in a place at sometimes ((music playing)) in our lives where we need prayer. And some of you that raised your hands today to accept Jesus need to engage with another believer.

And what we do at the end of service is to come forward and connect with another believer that can encourage us, that can give ((music playing)) us a Bible if we just received Christ, that can pray with us in the times of need. Amen. So what we're going to do is at the end, we're going to just stand up, we're going to pray together, we're going to worship.

If you are not coming forward, ((music playing)) then you can always just go back into worship and giving thanks and just concentrate on giving him the glory and giving thanks for that word today that he will make ((music playing)) us of a generous spirit. Amen. Amen. Would you stand with me then and would our prayer team come forward ((music playing)) and if you are coming forward for prayer, we're going to be here as long as needed, but if not, I want us to go back into ((music playing)) worship and thank him for what he's doing in our lives and for giving us the place to be generous.

Amen. Amen. Let's worship. >> [singing] ((music playing)) [music and singing] ((music playing)) [singing and music] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [singing] [music and singing] ((music playing)) [singing] ((music playing)) ((music playing)) [music and singing] ((music playing)) >> Yes, Lord. Father, we pray that you Father, give ((music playing)) us the heart of generosity to just be around our community, talk to people, engage with people. Lord, today we pray that this week Father, you will speak to us and that we would know what we need to do coming on that weekend, Father, ((music playing)) to bless our communities.

In Jesus' name I pray and everybody says Amen. Amen. Two things before you leave, okay? One is Operation Christmas Child. Bring your boxes next weekend is the last weekend. ((music playing)) And if you did not bring your canned goods today, you can stop by the campus tomorrow during service. We'll be here receiving them, okay?

Okay, have a great rest of your weekend. We'll ((music playing)) see you soon. >> ((music playing))