Welcome to Delight in Grace. The Teaching Ministry of Rich Powell. pastor of Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem. Have you ever wondered why the Mosaic law had so much to say about what was clean and unclean? As Pastor Rich unpacks our text, Deuteronomy 14, we have We see the gracious heart of God in the laws that He gave the people of Israel.
His heart is for human flourishing. And in light of Jesus, who touched the unclean without becoming unclean, Who made all things new? we can see the hope and joy our God has for his people. From the Old Testament to the new. Let's listen to this message titled A People Holy to the Lord.
This is part four of a message first preached on August 4th, 2024, at Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem. To hear the whole sermon or other messages in this series, you can visit www. Be a steward before me, rejoicing before me, recognizing that everything you have is entrusted to you by me. Therefore, use it, manage it, employ it for your good and my glory. That's tithing.
That's the biblical principle, and that's definitely carried over into the New Testament. It all belongs to God. When he says here that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always, it is an acknowledgement of God as our sustainer. When we give to the Lord In his work, sacrificially, it's an acknowledgement that he is our sustainer. This is what he said back in Deuteronomy chapter 8, verse 3.
Remember, the Lord said to his people, I led you through the wilderness. In fact, he said, I let you get hungry. Why?
So that you may know that man does not live by bread alone. But you live by what? Every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. The Lord is my sustainer. My sustenance is not up to me alone.
I am a steward of what God has entrusted to me. And as we exercise this, this is fascinating. He says, listen, when you're in the land, And you've got a bunch of crops, which represents 10%. You've got crops, you've got grain, you've got. Walk.
and you're bringing them to the temple, what are you going to do with it?
Well, it's for provision. You're going to eat it and you're going to give to others. That's what this giving is for. And I know some of you are going to be coming from distances, and you're going to have a lot. Because why?
Because God's going to bless you in the land. And you're going to have a lot.
So if it's too much for you to carry, sell it, turn it into money, go to the place that God bears, where God's name dwells, and buy what you want with it, and eat it before me with joy. Isn't that awesome? God's not a killjoy. Eat it before me with joy. God is good and He wants our good.
Let's never forget that. And because God is good. The distinguishing marks of his people are, first of all, gratitude. Number three, I should say, not first of all, granted. First one is hopeful.
Second one is they're helpful. That is, you know, pursue. human flourishing. And the third one is gratitude, but under this here, you know, manifested that when we acknowledge God as our sustainer, it's manifested in the fact that in our gratitude. My gratitude acknowledges that God is my sustainer.
Life isn't up to me. Gods. God is in that business. Verse 26, You shall eat there before the Lord your God. and rejoice.
Take your tenth to the presence of the Lord. And you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and rejoice. Gratitude. And then Next is generosity. Because in verse 27, he talks about supplying for those who cannot provide for themselves.
Why can't they provide for themselves? Because they don't have land. Who are the Who are the people that don't have land?
Well, first of all, the Levites. People who were the worship leaders of the day. God says the tribe of Levi don't get any land. You're going to provide for them. Because there are ones who are administrating all that's involved in worship.
and God's people living before God with gratitude and joy.
So supply for those who cannot provide for themselves. Those who have no land to farm. includes the Levites, the visiting foreigner, Hospitality. It includes the fatherless. And the widows, they don't have land.
So provide for them. Do you see the goodness of God in this? God rescues us from thinking that when we pay our tithes, God just wants my money. God is good. He is so good.
And he cares for us and he cares for his people. And he does so through us. Which is why we are called to be a caring people. And this is reflected very well in 1 Timothy chapter 6. Why is it that we give?
We give And why is it that we earn money? We earn money to supply our family and to supply those in need. And we do so graciously, generously. and with gratitude.
So, just to wrap up today, the things that we've covered in Deuteronomy chapter 14, because of who God is. Because of who God is, His people are called to be number one, hopeful. How do we perceive life and death? Are we hopeful people? Are we anchoring our lives in the promises that God has given us?
Or do we weep without hope? Are we hopeful? Secondly, a distinguishing mark of God's people is we pursue human flourishing. Or you can just write helpful in line number two there. hopeful and helpful to your fellow man.
because we promote human flourishing. Number three. distinguishing mark of God's people, grateful. Listen, there is a colossal lack of gratitude in today's world. Let's not participate in that.
Let's be different. Let's bear this distinguishing mark of God's people that we are grateful. Why?
Because we know the one who sustains us. We are hopeful people. We are helpful people. We are grateful people. And because of those three things and because of who God is, number four, we are generous people.
We're generous. We're generous to those around us. We're generous to those in need. We're generous to each other. with our time, with our resources.
with our words. generous with our words. Encouraging. These are the marks of God's special ownership. of his people.
These, I believe, are the principles that the Lord is teaching us. from Deuteronomy chapter 14. I want us to pray on this matter. I've asked two people from the congregation that they will come up this morning and lead us. In prayer as a congregation, and I want you to listen to their prayer and pray with them that we, by God's grace, will bear these distinguishing marks of God's people.
And if you do not belong to the Lord Jesus Christ this morning, If you have not surrendered yourself in faith to Jesus, I invite you to speak with me afterwards. Be glad to take you to the round table and introduce you to the Messiah, the one who loves you, who redeemed you. You need to know him. Let's pray together with these that will lead us in prayer that we would bear the marks of God's. people.
Dear precious Heavenly Father. Lord of all the people that you created on this earth, We should be the most hopeful. We have every reason. Because of your Son, Jesus Christ. God, I pray that we would not despair.
in the face of difficulty. But that we would turn our eyes. Upon Jesus. and would be full of hope. And I pray that that hopefully.
Hope would be A light to those who do not have it. And in extending that hope It would truly be helpful. As your children Give us the grace to help those. Yeah. Better without hope.
Help us to remember. that the help they need May be tangible, but their greatest need is you. Lord, give us eyes to see. The way you see. Help us to see people the way you see people.
May we be marked. I mean people notice. The hope of our life. And maybe extend that. Truly.
to be the help that they need. Human.
Well, Father God. Whenever we speak about money and possessions and things in church, We get nervous. And yet in the reality of things. Mm. You're so generous to us.
We would pray that as it's a heart issue. Lord, work in our hearts. to see generosity as a characteristic. that you can give us. Open our hearts.
It will never respond. Father God, every day is a gift, every breath. Every task. Every opportunity. Every paycheck.
every opportunity to go to work. And to take the very little things we have. Callance. abilities Insights. Crafts.
The ability to help others. God's some of the most generous people on the face of the earth.
So nothing. But they give. And so I thank you. That you, through the heart issue of us, myself included. Hope us to be Grateful.
And in our gratefulness, They pour out into generosity. I thank you. Dear at work here today. Speak the still small voice. Each of us.
May respond in faith and trust in you. Pray in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen. Thanks for joining us here at Delight in Grace. You've been listening to Rich Powell, the lead pastor at Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem.
The Delight in Grace mission. Is to help you know that God designed you to realize your highest good. and your deepest satisfaction in Him. the one who is infinitely good. We hope you'll join us again on weekdays at 10 a.m.
