Vision Must Be Funded
Your neighbor say don't sit still this year. Do something that you've always thought about doing that you've never done before amen. And so that's that's what we're going to hit on today. We've been we've been dealing with vision from a couple different standpoints lately. We've been talkin about a vision when it comes to your talent your time. And today we're going to talk about tithes a man so much that we going to have that money talk today. We're going to talk about money. And it's it's it's some Cindy has is difficult sometimes in these days to talk about money in the church because it gets criticized so much and so as that I was dealing with it this week. I just realized that I don't have the same pressures that other pastors have cuz we do what's right by the money here at our church a man and so I don't have that that same pressure of trying to get money out of you so I can live better. I thought y'all might say man. I mean I'm not here to take advantage of you. I'm not here to to make you give your last dollar so I can be better and you be worse.
I want our church to be at a point where if you need something in your life what able to financially help you.
But y'all don't know what a good church is. I understand scripture that talks about how you have to give to the prophet and and and and and you have to give to the pastor and I understand that's for the anniversary committee and all of y'all who want to do that, but when it comes to the mission and vision of our church, the Bible talks about the ties being in the storehouse.
Not the spending account. In the storehouse so that when the people are in need were able to go to the store house and pull out with that meat is and meet the need are y'all hear me today. So so we got it we got to deal with with this whole thing. Go back to Luke Chapter 14 verse 28 through 30. Yes. We're still in the same sex is so much meeting here. And and so we're going to tackle it today. Don't teach today man. I even brought my professor gear. Do I look like a professor the day and no hoodieszn and tennis shoes. Today. We're going to talk today. Alright, you can stay seated. It is the same verse that we've been using it is also on the screen Luke 14 28 to 30 suppose. One of you wants to build a tower won't you first sit down an estimate the cost to see if you have enough what?
Either y'all don't like the word money or y'all don't know how to say the word money or y'all can't read. Let's try it again. Here's the thing because you're saying does not mean you cannot have money.
Let me say that because you're saying doesn't mean you supposed to struggle.
I like you because you're saying doesn't mean that you're not supposed to be excited about the wealth of the wicked being stored up for the righteous. Which means that that watch this that money comes to you when God feels he can trust you with it.
We got this idea in church that we don't we don't want to say hallelujah. We don't want to say thank you when we talk about money not in this church right here. I want people to go from broke to being blessed. I want people to go from 4 to close to wrist and I'm not talking about just so you can have a nice house and fancy clocks. I want you to be blessed for that. You can be an instruments to bless somebody else and I'm here to tell you to stop doing things. You don't have money and you got to start acting like you want it. So when you hear what insurance does sartorially
Richard again stage one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough what? To complete it.
That sounded good to me. Cuz it sound like some folks who want some money.
Let's try it again suppose one of you wants to build a tower won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough what to complete it. So if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it everyone who sees it will really kill you verse 30 saying the person this person began to build and wasn't able to finish. Got to do what you do today? Cuz I don't know what to do. Unless I depend on you, especially when we talkin about money and Jesus name. Amen. Cancel. It requires Talent time and tithe. The Tide is something that we going to get you but I want you to attend to hear this as a foundation and write it down is your foundation. Time is your fruit. To live is your funding. hairiness Talent is your foundation. Time is your fruit. Your tithe is your funding. Do we get that? Is it on the screen? Okay, great. I so we got that. I want you to get this because we've been talkin about all three and all three have to work together in order for vision to work. Okay. So today I'm not going to focus so much on tithing. I'm going to hit with tithing means, but I'm really going to focus on giving Hey, man, I'm trying to let you off the hook. Can y'all say many here today? Because watch that's if you understand what you are giving to your understand why you are giving to it. Okay, this becomes a challenge of why many churches struggle with talking about money now is because they don't have any vision. so people don't give especially when they don't have it to give to something that they don't understand why they're giving it to Okay, especially this generation of that is coming up the Millennials the question becomes why do I need to tithe? But I can donate to other causes.
Man, we got to talkin here. Y'all today. We're going to have some real talk. And so and so I want you to understand somebody say what what you are giving to and that will help you understand why somebody said why why you were giving to it here? It is. It's just a simple definition of 10% Okay, 10% 10% Why does God in the Bible declare 10% It is a small portion of what He blesses you with that. He wants in return to have an impact on the kingdom of God. Okay, let me say it again. It is a small return that he asked for so that the kingdom of God can be impacted. Okay, giving 2% voluntarily or without expecting compensation that's giving that's the attitude of giving will even go as far as to donate to present as a gift or contribution to make a donation to a fund or a calls. Okay. Now what is Ty 10% giving us about an attitude of giving without something giving back in return donating. I'm believing in the Carl's but here's what I want you to get that this text is very very clear on is that won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it. Which simply means this y'all that all Vision? What do you want to talk about it or not must be funded.
Vision must be funded. So let's take it with our personal like before we get to the church in your personal life. There are things that you want to do. Starbucks you want to write nonprofits? You want to start businesses you want to start things that you want to invest in that is called Vision suppose a man wants to build a tower. We talked about this last week suppose you want to build something. You want to create something won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete. It simply means that I have you sat down. To calculate what I've given you. To put us aside something that's going to fund what I've given you.
The issue is this is not anyone else funding you this is you from being you.
I was going to go out in the deep end. I hope this is recording cuz it'll cause a lot of stir amongst the Illusions. I have believed watch this if you don't put 10% aside for yourself, you won't even do it for God.
Who will say that well, because most preacher say if you don't put 10 10% away for God, then you won't put it away for yourself. I do believe that too. But the reality is when you put yourself in front of God the church don't stand a chance. New Edition don't stand a chance.
When you don't have the attitude to invest in what God has put in you then it will never succeed. Let's all that money talk. Look at somebody say you need money. for your vision
you need money. So what you were going after to come to past if you want to go to college you need what money? Dummy, you don't need a student loan. You need money.
Cuz the money you own and control the loan you got to get back which means someone controls you.
Won't you sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money?
to make the dream come true here it is. What if it is that your dream has not come true. Not because people don't support you, but because you're not funding it.
What is God honors effort then? That means if I even start a little fund? Well put my dollars in a little jar. When I put my fives in a little jar. When I take 10% of what God has given me and put it to the side so that God can use it.
You got a fun your vision. I'm so so here. It is won't you sit down and count the cost an estimate to see if you have enough money to finish it. Which means that you don't necessarily need the money to start it.
So let me take that crutch away from you right now. I'm waiting on money. So that it no no. No. Where is your investment? I just released the it's not a moment. It's a movement hoodies and I was the first one Lamont to buy my own hoodie.
$50.25. I went and use my own car. I'm the creator of the only I can get it for free, but I said to myself if I don't put $50 into this account, but what should I expect anybody to buy a hoodie that has a powerful statement about God damn it?
I was the first with nobody on that beside me.
Who became the pastor of this church. I was the first to put my ties in that basket. Note to say no one else they did time. I was the first though. The first assignment that I asked was the put the offering in the baskets because if I don't get my 10% to the vision, how can I expect you to give your 10% to the vision?
I did not declare to all of our leaders that they had the time. You have to support Vision. I'm going to show you where in a second but I really need you to catch this because the first part is you're not investing in yourself.
You're not investing in yourself. How much resources have you put aside for your dream?
I don't got it cuz it's tight. Oh, no, you got it you at the happy hour.
We should have happened yourself in front of a computer and spent an hour. Oh, I'm at not talking to anybody in there.
I don't have it won't you brought the tennis shoes? I could do $150 been spent to start the nonprofit cuz it only cost 125 to become Incorporated.
I don't got it cuz I had to buy the kids some phones. Do they need the new iPhone? Do you have to lease to own?
Or do they just need to be able to pick up and say hey Mom. I'm where I'm supposed to be.
Do do you don't have it? But what will you bought them shoes? And they still sitting in the Box. Hey, you ain't even worn yet.
Sorry, I threw a curveball at my wife.
This is real interesting that we want people to invest in our vision. But we won't put a dime toward it ourselves.
Steve I was last year couple years ago when I was in Akron with my father and then I was transitioning back to Cleveland. There was something that I had to come back with because there was an investment made in me. Okay, and so I was determined you talkin about nonprofits what month I was determined to have my own nonprofit. So we turn it's not a moment. It's a movement into a non-profit right? Because we had the church right, but we needed another vehicle for people to invest in. Just in case they wanted to use the excuse why I don't get my money to the church. But we still got Ministry over here called. It's not a moment. It's a movement Incorporated and started by your boy going to make an investment.
This is what I'm saying to you that people want to support you. They want to help you but they want to see you help yourself. First last point. I will move on the partnership that we're doing with the hoodies as with Cleveland over everything which is a clothing brand here in the city. And so I asked him I said, why didn't you post a shirt yet? He said because I was waiting on you to see how many you was going to sell yourself.
But I felt in because why should I let you use me for my network?
But I can sell a thousand hoodies in a day. You can sell at least 12.
Which means that some people want to partner with you. They just ain't going to let you use them up.
Investment means that I get something in return. So, how does might I become something that I get in return? Let's go back to the text and it says won't you first sit down estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it and I want you to write this this verse down Matthew 23:23.
Justice for those who say and have preached God needs your money. I don't agree with that. I've heard it. I've heard it's a it's a way to convince you to get you to give that's not what we do here. I'm about to show you something that's going to blow your mind. It's on the screen Matthew 23:23 woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees. What is it called him you Hypocrites watch this you give a tenth of your spices men deal and coming what he saying is you give it to you give your tithes right? I just want to say tithing. But watch this but the greatest difference you have neglected the more important matters of the law. Justice mercy and faithfulness, you should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former. This is a revelation. I want you to catch that Vision must be funded because Vision must be impactful.
Okay, don't miss that now watch this and don't miss this that God is not moved by your income. What is moved by your impact?
That's what the text says. They were tithing. He doesn't even give them credit for tithing he saying you should have done the ladder. You should have worried about Justice and faithfulness. You should have worried about living right because just because you pay me money doesn't mean you buy your salvation. You can't give your way into heaven. You can't give you away into Kingdom. But why on Earth what you give has to be used in a manner that becomes impactful for Ministry? Which means that watch this that I'm typing because I'm investing in our impact. This is why I want you to tithe. This is why I want you to give offering is because I want you to invest in the impact that we're going to have for the kingdom of God. I know this is tough. I know it's not a lot of a men's here. I get it and it's tough. But watch this. and in our church is open for anybody who ever feels like, you know, I want to know where all the money goes don't see that man right there where you had wavy hair
brother Reggie is out there go see them. They will show you how we spend every single dollar penny and I promise you we're responsible. Because our investment is about impact. Not about buildings.
This is why we want to leave this building so that we can go have a greater and bigger impact in the community driving isn't about so we can have good church. It's about so we can have good impact.
Right driving is it about so that we can have fancy lights and say we got all of this and all of that knows it's about so that we can have impact brushless impact at Collinwood impact at the library impact at the fire station impact at the police station impact on 152nd impact on pepper and whatever street that coincides with our mission were able to go into the storehouse and meet the need when you give for the impact.
And so and so that's says I'm not moved by your income does the Pharisees and the teachers of the law are hypocrites. They have made it seem watch this that if you have more money, you're more blessed.
That's why we look at everyone else's pockets. And we think that success is built on what they drive and where they live and what they post and that has nothing to do with it because I can guarantee you that God can do more with little than what you can do with your much.
There are millionaires that are not having impact.
There are churches save with multimillion-dollar budgets or calling and asking me how we have impact. And I'm looking at all bank account. Saying if I wish I had your bank account. It'd be different cuz I don't want to listen the money you again you need money to fund your vision. Show me people say we should do this for the kids. Yeah, we do it but right now we take away from other things to make it happen.
But in this church, we going to make it happen Ministries on always come first. It's just that simple. So we going to make a way my point is that I don't know what church you been to and where you come from and what you've heard about the whole idea of tithing and giving but at this church, it is simply for the reason of having an impact for the kingdom of God. It is just that simple. It's so we can send some of our kids to college. It's so we can help some of our single mothers. It's so we can supply food to those who are living in poverty. It's so that we can help people get on the right economic economic Track by making sure they invest properly and be good stewards of their money A man cuz he this whole idea about money man. Listen, if if if you can't be a good Steward of it. Don't give it to me. Cuz you going to want it back.
Yeah. For the people call and they say, you know Pastor or a lot of times. It's my family that calls and ask me for money. Cuz what's up when I hear that. I already know what's going on and it's like it's the voice that's the way cuz what up. It's like it's too it's too soon that you give me the what up? Cuz what up so soon like if you decide what's up, cuz that would have been different. I mean we going somewhere or you need me to do something. But cuz what up, that's money talk money talk and and when they say write it down for it, which I owe you $20. So let me make sure I get a credit card.
Pictures of Orlando is anybody else thinking about anybody will owe you some money right now while we talking about money like the person talking about money. I might can pay my ties and they pay me back. Imma, get you your 20 right after church. What was I saying? Oh, so what do people ask to borrow money? They might say I need $20. I'll give them 25. Cuz really that asking for the bare minimum of what they need. Which means that when they say they're going to pay you back. They don't really have it to pay you back.
Don't make any sense to anybody. Like I know we need to help people out, but be careful about imma pay you back part. Does Kim this is giving what's the time being serious? But then it is, Coco's folks. Don't pay you back. Like in 2019 y'all need to pay some people back. Like don't pay him back. Y'all. I know it was 2016 when you got it, but just going to pay him back watch out a relationship change, but you don't really have the intention. purchase Leah paying back what they asked for cuz I don't really have it what they're really saying is can you give me Something that I need until I can get back on my feet. Right, and it's the same with us with God. Cuz we have no intention on paying him back to our tides.
Bankonnet, thank you Nate. Thank you late. Thank you. A man-made main only one back there like a man. Yes. Thank you. May we need that? I'm still here cuz as soon as you about to get paid. There are five other things on your list. Before you even think about giving God the $5 you going to drop in the basket? But he just blessed you with 5000.
It becomes interesting. So if you're not going to be a good store and take care of your checking account with God.
Billy you ain't going to do nothing, but help me get mine in the negative.
This becomes a matter of not the preacher beating you up because you give a don't give it becomes a matter of stewardship.
because if you honor God with your giving God will honor you and your living.
Yeah. Just flow so somebody how to write that down.
This is serious though. If you have no intention on paying back then why should I be intentional and increasing your income? I was I was even secular artists. believe in it
young Dolph said I gave 10% to the pastor.
Got in think I would have been all right.
And if you don't know don't even worry about a dish of those who are interested about. Cuz I started a Thursday on my truck on my trash out sewage. E216.
He said I give 10% to the pastor Oprah who does not believe in God.
Just 10% to charity.
I will tell you it's for the ministry of the work they're doing. She don't even know she giving a God's Ministry.
It's not that she has it. It's a principle she lives by. We can't preach you to give Ty we can't force you to do this has to be something that you want to do because you want to see the church that you are part of survive and do missions and do in pots of work. It's because you wanted to work so, you know why you're giving and what you're giving. Imma show you every dollar that we need to raise so that we can move and have a beautiful children's ministry and move and have a beautiful team Ministry, but it's going to require us to give right right unless you don't want to give then we'll just go to the library and 1/2 Church.
Look at my face.
No, but watch that mom Ministry has never grown with adults. What Ministry has always grown because I am just in the next generation and no kids go home and tell their parents about Pastor early and Minister early or college and then they want to come and see who is this man. That's being a blessing to my kids and my family and I've never met him. So I said I'd come to the City Mission spell come to a program that I'm doing because they want to meet demands and when they meet me out front reduce day to the man because I'm telling them the only reason I'm able to do something for somebody interested in me or not. I'm getting the impact. Google is 10% kept me out of jail. Somebody's 10% put a coat on my back with my mama went around somebody's 10% had the soup kitchen opens when me and my sister used to have to knock on the door to the kingdom of God.
Google Sudoku you don't even know my name.
is impact is impact and I'm going a little long but watch this don't have don't try to have impact and give with a negative attitude either.
Imma, just go and do this cuz cuz the church want to act like no keep it.
I take it to another church because telling me that cuz even the scripture about the share with you talks about those who have a attitude to give cheerfully.
I give God your 10% like you paying your electric bill.
Rihanna got me on fire in here. I was chilling. I was sitting down the whole time and he said I Won't Back Down.
2nd Corinthians 9:6 through 8. Remember this whoever Soul sparingly will also reap sparingly. Let me give it a revised version. Whoever saw a little bit. We only get a little bit whoever gives a lot will also get a lot. They'll reap a lot. The West verse seven each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give. This becomes the key because watch this and I don't want you to get offended but based upon your heart will determine how you give which will show me how much you care about the vision.
Who said again or let me say it this way will show me how much you care about your vision? Even when you so into yourself, you got to do it with the right attitude. man I'm not going to give dominion all my money and not put some aside for the project that I'm working on. You can cut my gas off in the winter anyway weight.
Oh you're acting like I don't pay bills on hold.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, I'm robbing Peter to pay Paul so I can put in my tire wear. You should have to live check to check. You can cut it off no way. Holler at me in the spring, baby.
I was just how much rain right now going to give you up.
Turn it up to high.
I'm joking pay your bills.
Plus I met Jesus Take the Wheel.
The one out, okay. Ma'am, each of you should give what you have decided to give from your heart not reluctantly or under compulsion for God loves a cheerful Giver. Here's the thing about tithing and giving that Sookie and starts in the heart. It starts in the heart. If I check your bank account, I will find out what you're in love with.
Yeah, if I check the timelines, I know what you like to do on Fridays.
first of the month I know what you like to do. Yeah, because it will tell a tale. Of where your passion Lies when it comes to your money. Listen to me never will I tell you take care of something else before you take care of your own? Okay. So here it is be a good Steward of taking care of your own.
Because watch this division need your resources in order to survive. Okay, so we're not even talking about the church Vision yet, cuz I ain't showed it to you which I'm about the vision for your life.
Do not tell me that you can't make it happen cuz you waiting on some money.
Yeah, start putting the money aside. So that you can complete what you have started.
Okay. Okay, so you can complete what you have started so. whatever you so if you want to hold on to You'll 10% in and give God a couple dollars. The Bible says it right here then do it. But don't expect the Harvest. To be much of anything. Okay, I'm giving what I can cuz of my bills and everything I get that that's giving that's not tithing. Tithing is between you and God. Giving is between you and your vision.
Yeah, try that is between you and got so if you are not going to obey God and your 10% then that's fine and give whatever. You want to get. We going to use it, right? But just know that it's limited and what we can do if you don't support the vision. I was talking to a businessman trying he said I would never want your job as a pastor. He's he's a multi multi-millionaire. I said what why you know, everybody got a pastor even the president got a pastor. He said because you have the only job where you render a service and people decide how much they want to pay for that service.
Humble me didn't know how to take that cuz I'm like what I'm doing God's work and you mean to tell me you serve a God that don't want you to walk in the fullness of prosperity. I'm about to talk about my God like like when
I forgot that I did I did but it was serious and I understood what he was saying. Because what he was saying was you as a pastor have to challenge people to give to something that they're apart of. They benefit from it they benefit from your preaching or teaching the ministry you do all but then if they're not giving to it, how can it survive so we went back and forth for a minute and then we were in our meeting and brother Reggie says something up that blew me away. He said pastor you have the faith, you know, he was they give me credit for Faith and walking and guys were but he said you got to challenge the people to give. to tithe
Now I said you right. You right God has been doing it. He's been working it. But now we've got to complete the work. So the next couple weeks going to be showing you what that vision is an itemized list of everything that we need. And all I want you to do is to commit to helping us with the cost of completing the vision. That's it. That's it. That's it now.
Let me say this and I don't want to come across cocky, but because I know the demand that's on my life. We going to do it anyway.
Thank you. Thank you.
Imma do it anyway, okay, but I need the core of us who consider ourselves to be members to do your part to Todd and to give to it. There's other means like right now we are applying for $5,000 Grant not for this church so we can do ministry at Collinwood. Why so that the tithes and offerings that come in here? We don't have to pull every single dollar to go and do something else. We got more resources coming in and I'm not stopping at the 5,000. I raised over 25,000 to run for State Rep. I'm sure I can do that and more for the kingdom of God.
But we got to do our part. I can't go to the bank and say hey help us. They don't want to know how are the people helping with the vision? I can't go and ask a friend of mine who I know what write a check but his biggest question is who's writing checks for you right now in the midst of where you are. I'm done money ain't hard to get. It's not. Money is circulating right now Adam money is circulating right now as a car drives down the street money is circulating. It's everywhere. Somebody's going to stop at that gas station get gas get cigarettes get candy money is circulating. We have to position ourselves to get our hands on it.
So churches are are considered nonprofits. Let me let me help you but because it's tax season most people didn't even notice Sydney that that when you give you can claim it on your taxes and get it back.
Look at the God. We serve give your tires are my total back.
That was a good guy. I don't know what it is.
And watch this cuz the God I got a plan either for those of us who live for this. Tax returns ain't the same no more. Will trump in office
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
That 3500 cuz short to about 2,000. So then you're going to be like all the government playing me know God saying you played yourself cuz the years you was getting six and didn't even a bus for
I got you 6 you can even get a chance to 600. So the lights could stay on. I'm done. I'm done. But it gives it and you can get it back.
What is system? Which means that God is not a man that he should lie detection Galatians says it you will we creep. What you saw?
Am I going to get it back? Just depends on how much you put in. So I'm done with this. They will accomplish their Vision on because they counted the cost for if you lay the foundation and not able to finish at everyone who sees it will ridicule you remember they're watching. To see if you finish what you started. the person That began to build wasn't able to finish and other words. They didn't accomplish their Vision because they didn't have enough money. They didn't accomplish their Vision because they wasted their money. They didn't accomplish their Vision because they didn't invest their money.
Proverbs 3 verse 9 and I'm done honor the Lord with your wealth. with the firstfruits of all your crops Bridgeton says then your barns will be filled to overflowing and your Vats will bring them over with new wine. As we get ready to close, let me let me share with you as a pastor and brand you can play some Keith softly for me. I struggled before I became a pastor with tithing myself. Okay, it is I understand we have financial responsibilities bills all kind of stuff. But when I first took on this assignment Minister Hayward I said to myself I'm never going to miss a tithe. No matter how much it was and I didn't I wasn't even working full-time when we first took this assignment here at the church, right? So I might have gotten $100. I tired $10 and I remember sharing with our church. I said listen that's going to open up some doors for me contracts are going to come things going to get better and that's exactly what happened Adam cuz I never stop tithing. I never stopped people. God was honoring it so much that I was still doing the community Ministry. I was doing coming out of my own pocket people would come to we did the sleep out against violence. We slept out there for 48 hours people were coming up to me and just handed me money here. This is just don't use this for this use this for you and the family. Because your financial blessing didn't always come to your job.
Your financial blessing does not always come through your job. Your job is nothing but your springboard into what God has called you to do so your job becomes investment money to take care of your bills with the put a little bit of side so I can fund. Division and completed in the end What is am I so you need money to do it? You need money to do it. You need money to do it. You need money to do it.