New Day Community Church
February 24
  • 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)
  • All Of Creation
  • O Come To The Altar
  • Your Love O Lord
  • Waiting Here For You

      • 1 Corinthians 11:23–28MESSAGE

      • Exodus 32:26MESSAGE

      • Matthew 6:21MESSAGE

      • Leviticus 4:11–12MESSAGE

      • Romans 12:19MESSAGE

      • Malachi 2:4–7MESSAGE

      • John 4:21MESSAGE

      • John 4:23–24MESSAGE

      • 1 Peter 2:5MESSAGE

      • 1 Peter 1:13–16MESSAGE

      • Matthew 22:37MESSAGE

  • Introduction:
    ​
    Introduction:
    WE just had valentine’s day.
    One of those really important gift giving times
    DId anyone go out to eat or get some good treats
    I love chocolate, cookies,
    I hate spicy foods. I put the white in white boy.
    If a chili or a pepper touches my food
    Did you know that I greatly admire penguins but I hate anything with a wood stick that you eat.

    I hate Popsicle sticks.

    I hate anything with a wood stick that you eat. I hate Popsicle sticks. I love corndogs but always remove the sticks
    I love corndogs but always remove the sticks
    Anyway there are all kinds of things that people need to learn about people because
    In my first year at Baylor
    Valentine’s came and I was BROKE
    I had to give and receive a gift
    A gift is a sign of what you know about a person
    I unwrapped my presnet
    Red Hots and A Red haired troll doll
    I didn’t do much better I gave my favorite book, Pilgrim’s progress
    Still the worst Valentine’s Ever
    ​
    Perhaps some of you are trying to make up for a bad valentine’s but I hope not.
    There is a lot going on in our lives but most of it isn’t as important as giving that right gift to your love.
    For me this year, my wife and I give gifts to our kids
    Likely my last Valentine with Charlotte at home.
    The testimony you saw with Arianna is an hour long
    At one point I guided the conversation into a deep point and asked what would be important if she knew that she was going to die. Morbid for a 15 year old but vital for all of us to ask.

    Important things matter more.

    Ari quickly said school wasn’t important but she also said “boys” weren’t and relunctantly said her clothes.
    But finally and you heard it in her testimony, her relationship with Christ would be the most important if she was going to die so she realized it should be the most important now.
    We know that is the right answer but what do our lives actually show?
    Matthew 6:21 HCSB
    For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
    ​
    What is treasurer?

    Treasure is what you value.

    What do you think of Diamonds? If I said this morning that everybody gets to get a diamond that would be really something right.
    Diamonds aren’t that rare.
    Diamonds are the hardest material found on earth. They resist scratching better than anything else. Other than that, they hold no unique distinctions.
    DeBeers, a South African company monopolized the market, limited supply, and in the 1950s advertised hard in movies and print to get everyone to purchase diamond engagement rings. Its a false market.
    All gem-quality materials are rare. They compose just a tiny fraction of the Earth. However, diamonds actually number among the most common gems. Ask yourself this: “How many people do you know who own at least one diamond?” Now, ask this question about other gems, like rubies, sapphires, or emeralds. https://www.gemsociety.org/article/are-diamonds-really-rare/
    ​

    A treasure is what you value, what you determine has worth.

    Just like a good gift is valuable to the one who receives the gift.
    I hope you gave of your treasure to some who loves you and that you recieved from someone.
    I hope you gave them something you truly value.
    Speaking of love, Ariana demostrated for us this truth form Jesus
    John 3:16 HCSB
    “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
    ​
    Romans 10:13 HCSB
    For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
    ​
    This is a huge gift!!
    Ari said it was the most important gift she could except in her life, and she also stated it would be the most important for her family and friends.
    Our God is a generous and giving God.
    The whole act of creation upon completion was given to us.
    Genesis 1:28 HCSB
    God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.”
    ​
    Writing of Malachi on 11th century text.
    ​
    Genesis 1:28–29 NLT
    Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.
    ​
    But God is of course infinitely smarter than a 19 year old Bill and Lori and He gave to His chosen people exactly How he wanted to be given gifts, how he wanted to be worshipped.
    One of the hardest things to do is give a gift to a person who has everything,

    what can you give to God?

    Books 2 through 5 of the Bible tell a lot about when, where, how, and why to give treasure to God.
    It is so detailed that Jewish priests were dedicated their whole lives just to knowing how to take, process, and accept the gifts.
    ​
    Some of the important rules, as I summarize them
    Animals can have no defects, no problems with them
    Leviticus 23:12 The Message
    On the same day that you wave the sheaf, offer a year-old male lamb without defect for a Whole-Burnt-Offering to God
    “On the day you wave the sheaf, you are to offer a year-old male lamb without blemish as a burnt offering to the Lord.” (, HCSB)
    Plant offerings came from the first part of the harvest and also had to be good
    Money offerings could not have any other Gods depicted on the money
    The animals had to be slaughtered in a specific way, the plants presented in a specific way, if an earthly leader has rules to bring a gift to him how much more God who created this whole ordered universe.
    Doesn’t it work out that way in our life?
    Romantic gifts of rocks
    My wife gives me her love, her wealth, her intelligence, her body but she cannot die for me or give me an eternal purpose in life.

    Jesus gave me forgiveness by giving His life, He gave me purpose by giving me his ways, and He continues to bless me.

    He offers the same to you or for those who follow He has already given it to you.
    So what have you given Him?
    There came a time when the first people who worshipped God, His chosen people, the Jews, their priests stop caring about what the people gave God and the people also ignored what to give God.
    A prophet rose up, one who was called by God to give a message from God. In fact, we don’t even know his name as Malachi means my messenger.
    Malachi wrote sometime between 500-400 BC . Other events of his time Battle Of Marathon, life of Buddha, life of Confucius, Second Invasion Of Greece by Persia, Peloponnesian War, and the life of Hippocrates of the Hippocratic Oath.
    But in Israel the people returned from Exile. Just 30 years prior, about a generation or two. Parents and Grandparents could remember not having a Jewish homeland. But now that years have passed the kids just saw how hard it was to live. And they were ignoring who they were as God’s people.
    Malachi 1:6–10 The Message
    “Isn’t it true that a son honors his father and a worker his master? So if I’m your Father, where’s the honor? If I’m your Master, where’s the respect?” God-of-the-Angel-Armies is calling you on the carpet: “You priests despise me! “You say, ‘Not so! How do we despise you?’ “By your shoddy, sloppy, defiling worship. “You ask, ‘What do you mean, “defiling”? What’s defiling about it?’ “When you say, ‘The altar of God is not important anymore; worship of God is no longer a priority,’ that’s defiling. And when you offer worthless animals for sacrifices in worship, animals that you’re trying to get rid of—blind and sick and crippled animals—isn’t that defiling? Try a trick like that with your banker or your senator—how far do you think it will get you?” God-of-the-Angel-Armies asks you. “Get on your knees and pray that I will be gracious to you. You priests have gotten everyone in trouble. With this kind of conduct, do you think I’ll pay attention to you?” God-of-the-Angel-Armies asks you. “Why doesn’t one of you just shut the Temple doors and lock them? Then none of you can get in and play at religion with this silly, empty-headed worship. I am not pleased. The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is not pleased. And I don’t want any more of this so-called worship!
    Malachi 1:6 HCSB
    “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me? says Yahweh of Hosts to you priests, who despise My name.” Yet you ask: “How have we despised Your name?”
    The priests were the ones who would determine if the gift was appopriate, their were a lot of rules to remember
    Malachi 1:
    ​
    ​
    The people began bringing crappy animals, cheap, what was left over.
    The people began bringing crappy animals, cheap, what was left over
    ​
    Ever been in charge of receiving donations for a thrift store or to those needing help. Some people will bring useless stuff or stuff that should be trash. Others will donate 3 cans of beat up soup.
    God basically said you suck. Why you bringing me crappy gifts?
    If you a bring a crappy, thoughtless gift to a romantic partner they will be furious and if it is the beginning of the relationship it might be over. Bring this to someone you trying to honor and they will be dishonored.
    God knows the value of gifts is in the gift, the effort behind the gift, and intentions.
    Matthew 6:21 HCSB
    For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
    ​

    What does your giving show of how much you value God?

    Don’t get confused. My salary is set. Whether you give to the church is not about me. My wife and I are the second or third largest contributors to the church. I gave over $8000 last year. I give back to the church, over 30% of what it gives me and that doesn’t count that with my education, experience, and abilities could make 400% more than I make here. So please don’t ever think that when I talk about giving I’m telling you to do it because I need a new Bentley.
    Jesus shows us that He gave us life, He redeemed us when we screwed it up, He died for us, He gave us new life, He gives us forgiveness, He gives us purpose and He blesses our lives.
    So what do you give Him?
    Do you grab what’s in your pocket that you have left over?
    Do you give nothing because you say, well I’m not rich.
    Do you say, I give of my time and not any money? Or do you give of your money and not any time? Or do you count showing up on Sunday for worship 2 hours a week an adequate gift when God gives you 168 hours of life a week.

    Sunday worship is 1.2% percent of the time God gave you.

    And I rounded up!
    Too real?
    God will not be punked.
    He can gather his own worshippers, always Has, always will. Malachi told the people such, that God said,
    Malachi 1:11 The Message
    “I am honored all over the world. And there are people who know how to worship me all over the world, who honor me by bringing their best to me. They’re saying it everywhere: ‘God is greater, this God-of-the-Angel-Armies.’
    ​
    Since 500 BC, the process began, the last prophet to the Jews before John the Baptist and the birth of Jesus expanded the worship of God to all people. From then to the reality of now where the only world religion, the only faith that crosses all borders, is worshippers of Jesus.

    God has always and will always make his own worship. He doesn’t need crappy gifts.

    God doesn’t need you. He doesn’t need my money, my time, I am lower than God. He is the creator, He made Yosemite, Galaxies. I made myself eggs this morning but he made the chicken and the whole process by which they produce what I can eat.
    ​
    Jesus said, the kingdom of God is like a pearl of Great price
    ​
    He offers you the ability to come before Him and give back what your gave Him.
    As well as that the amount didn’t matter, it was the attitude
    The treasure is always a sign of the heart
    Do you value God? Prove it boldly
    W
    ​
    ​
    ​
    Diamonds are technically not that rare or valuable

    God offers me the ability to give to Him.

    This is the gift my daughter gave me a few years back.
    ​
    I don’t need this but I wanted it. Could have got something else for myself. All I received was the value that my daughter gives me.
    Are you honoring God with your money? Real money? God gives us the place to start with a tenth.
    How much would you give if answering your prayers was directly tied to the amount of money you give to the church?
    I get paid from the church $2,362.04, to figure out ten percent just slide the decimal over 1 spot so
    $2,362.04 my tithe is $236.20
    Do you honor God with your time?
    Do you honor God with your life?

    God is a God of generosity who gave you life, forgiveness, purpose, and eternity.

    God is not a punk. Eternity is not for everyone
    What does God want from you?
    Your life
    ​
    ​
    Nothing she answered could be purchased.
    ​
    Saving private Ryan - make it worth it.
    Matthew 13:44 HCSB
    “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.
    Matthew 13:45–46 HCSB
    “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had, and bought it.
    The Pearl of Great Price - Christ gave himself for us
    ​
    As Ariana said when she dies, what matters most is that she chose to follow Christ.
    God created the sacrificial system as a way to worship him
    What will you chose? To go after what everyone else is?
    or to do exactly what you were created to do
    ​
    ​
    ​
  • It Is Well With My Soul
  • Everlasting God

      • 1 John 3.16NRSV

New Day Community Church
newday@newdaystockton.com
2097306322
http://www.newdaystockton.com
9 members • 5 followers