TRUE GENEROISTY

 

Intro:  We are looking at four truths contained in Psalm 112.  Psalm 112 is a companion psalm written by Ezra to the returnees from Persia and Babylon.  He was given the task of teaching them their language, religion, culture, and heritage.  He chose to use an acrostic psalm which is a letter of the Hebrew alphabet with a corresponding truth about God.  It is similar in pattern to Psalm 119 but in a shorter form.  Psalm 111 is a psalm about who God is and Psalm 112 is how we apply our knowledge of Him in practical ways.

 

 

1.      Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,  Ezra reveals  truth about sowing and reaping.  When you sow good and that is what will come back to you.  It is the law of the harvest.  Jesus spoke about this many times.  In fact, He talks more about generosity, giving, and charity than heaven or hell.

 

a.      Goodwill is an outgrowth or benefit of being generous.  Generosity is the quality of being kind and generous.  It is being liberal, abundant, and giving.  It is an attitude follow by action.  It is a thought demonstrated through activity.  It is putting others before ourselves.  It is a fruit of the Spirit.  Generosity is love in action.  It is sacrificial giving.  It is time, talents and resources releasedfor the glory of God. 

b.      The Bible teaches six ways to give secretly, generously. purposely. cheerfully, sacrificially and

               proportionately.

c.      You are to lend freely.  Giving without expecting anything in return and without interest. Your love for God motivates you.

 

2.      Who conduct their affairs with justice.  The word “justice” means “to make right.” Justice is, first and foremost, a relational term — people living in the right relationship with God, one another, and the natural creation.  As God is just and loving, so we are called to do justice and live in love.

 

a.      This means that you treat people how you want to be treated.  It is the golden rule.  The relationship with God compels, drives, convicts you to treat people with love.  Jesus says people will know we are His disciples by the way we love one another.  Ezra is reminding the people of his day that being a covenant people have certain responsibilities

b.      All aspects of our lives are done in love, spouses, family, church, work, and in the greater world.  It means walking in the fruit of the Spirit.  Practical faith is the clearest expression of our relationship with God.  Being in harmony and unity with God and man is the best way to live. 

 

3.      Surely the righteous will never be shaken.  When you serve and follow the Lord no matter what happens you will not be shaken.  You are guided by faith, not fear.  You know all things work together for good.  You trust the Lord and lean not to your understanding, you acknowledge Him and He directs your path.

 

a.      You have an anchor, rock, and refuge.  You are hidden in the palm of His hand.  You know the fourth man in the fire.  You are like Daniel in the lion’s den.  You are like David facing Goliath.  You know that giant is going down.  Every mountain becomes a plain like Zech 4:6.  Your hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.

b.      You know all the promises are yes and amen,  All things will be added when you seek the Lord and His righteousness.  The devil has to flee because you have submitted to Christ.  That greater who is you is greater than He that is in the world.  You know Jesus came to destroy the works of confidence is in God so we will not be shaken.

4.      They will be remembered forever.  Ezra once again talks about legacy.  Joshua did when he said, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.  (Josh 24:15), David said Ps 128:3, that our children should be like olive branches around our table. 

 

a.        Ezra hits this theme over and over.  He says you want to influence and be remembered for what has been shown in this psalm.  These are qualities of a godly person.  They are communicated attributes of God and will outlive you

b.      David is known as a man after God’s own heart.  Joseph and Daniel are known as men who were able to navigate an ungodly world through godliness.  Peter is known as the pastor of the church.  John as the beloved disciple.  Paul was the gentile apostle and writer of half the New Testament.  Jesus as the Savior of the world

c.      Your life does matter.  Only you can influence your world.  Your prayers, example, and lifestyle can touch so many. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUOTES FOR APRIL 17, 2026

 

TRULY GENEROUS

 

3 There was no food, however, in the whole region because the famine was severe; both Egypt and Canaan wasted away because of the famine. 14 Joseph collected all the money that was to be found in Egypt and Canaan in payment for the grain they were buying, and he brought it to Pharaoh’s palace. 15 When the money of the people of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all Egypt came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? Our money is all gone.”

 

Lesson One:  So there was no food in Egypt and Canaan because of the famine.  This was a severe time for that region.  The wonderful thing is God will take care of us in the times of famine and hardship.  He promises never to leave or forsake us.  He will supply all or needs according to his riches in glory.  When you seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness everything will be added to you.  God will supply either supernaturally or a Joseph personality for you.  When you feel like you are wasting away God will fill you.  They that hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled.

     Joseph collected all the money that was to found in Egypt and Canaan and brought it to Pharaoh’s palace.  Now in times of hardship the wise actually prosper.  Did you know that Isaac prospered 100 fold in a time of famine because he trusted God.  Gen 26:12  The Bible has five ways to prosper in famine conditions.  First be wise. Solomon asked for wisdom in 1 King 4:5-15 It was the wisdom of God that brought him such tremendous prosperity. It helped him in all the affairs of life. Next, in Proverbs 22:4. It says, “By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and life”.  Be humble. Thirdly,  Be generous to others.  Proverbs 22:9 says, “He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.” When you give it is given to you.  Fourthly, Labor to give to those in need.  Ephesians 4;28 says, “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let  labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.”  What we have should be available for others if they have need.  True generosity is releasing your resources for others.  Lastly.  Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.  Remember you are not of this world.  You are passing through.  You cannot take anything with you.

     The people of Egypt learned that when you are hungry and your money is gone you need someone to be generous.  Talk about the guy who was a welder out of work for nine months standing on the street with a sign looking for work and people offered him a job.  People can and will be generous if they know the need.  Whenever we do a radiothon I am always amazed at the generosity of God’s people.  You have to choose to be generous. 

 

16 “Then bring your livestock,” said Joseph. “I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock, since your money is gone.” 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, their sheep and goats, their cattle and donkeys. And he brought them through that year with food in exchange for all their livestock.

 

Lesson Two:  Now remember this famine was going to be for seven years.  So the people brought all their livestock and Joseph bought it all in exchange for food.  A lesson we learn is that sometimes hard times can be for a long time.  When you are in hard times for a long period you learn four things.  First, you learn who your real friends are.  You learn who really matters, you will be grateful for them.  I am grateful for Lois she has been with me through the good and bad times.  Next, it builds the strength of your character.  It builds character,” was my mom’s favorite response to any complaint I had growing up. As annoying as that line was, it is true. Nothing builds our strength like surviving difficulty. Nothing forces us to leverage what we have, dig deep and come up with every ounce of integrity, patience and strength like a hard time.  Thirdly, we see what matters most, we’ll be able to look a little more closely at those things, take a bit better care of them and love them even more for being unmovable.  God’s love, grace, mercy, favor, anointing and promises are what matters.  Lastly, Difficult times leave us with a lasting impression. They alter us and change the way we view our lives. We have learned who and what matters in our life and undoubtedly we have a greater appreciation for them. Surviving hardship gives us a broader perspective on what hardship really is. You will look back on the things you use to complain about and be thankful they are your only worries. After we have survived a difficult time, we are given a deep gratitude for our life. Difficult times will happen. To find the light, we have to go through the darkness.  God uses hard times to change us.  The people learned this.

 

When that year was over, they came to him the following year and said, “We cannot hide from our lord the fact that since our money is gone and our livestock belongs to you, there is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land. 19 Why should we perish before your eyes—we and our land as well? Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we with our land will be in bondage to Pharaoh. Give us seed so that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate.”

 

20 So Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. The Egyptians, one and all, sold their fields, because the famine was too severe for them. The land became Pharaoh’s, 21 and Joseph reduced the people to servitude, from one end of Egypt to the other. 22 However, he did not buy the land of the priests, because they received a regular allotment from Pharaoh and had food enough from the allotment Pharaoh gave them. That is why they did not sell their land.

 

Lesson Three:  So the people then the next year came and sold their land and themselves.  Joseph bought everything.  Now there were people who tried to hold out but eventually reality kicked in and they sold.  Now this is interesting.  They then asked Joseph for seed that they may live and not die and the land would not be desolate.  They had hope in the midst of famine.  Now hope can be built is built through good leadership.  The people saw Joseph as a good leader.  They knew he would be fair, just, good and generous.  Godly leadership does five things.  First, hope works with faith and love.  1 Cor 13:13, we must work with God or hope.  Our faith and hope in God inspires others to believe as well.  Next, hope build confidence in God, us and others.  The people saw that the one stable thing in Egypt and that was Joseph.  Joseph became a symbol of hope in a dark and famine time.  Hope brings clarity into life.  The people saw what really matter and they knew that they needed seed for the next year or the land would be desolate.  This is amazing they saw a future because of Joseph and the king.  Fourthly, hope inspired productivity and hard work ethic.  The people learned that only through hard work, productivity and clarity they would survive.  Lastly, Hope is a powerful force that brings people together.   It instills a sense of unity, collective pride and strengthens optimism when people work together as one.   This is why teambuilding is so powerful.  The people became workers together with Joseph.  I believe that Joseph said, “We are in this together and we will get through it together. ”  He knew that the famine would end and told them.  Hard times need good leadership.  This is not just for countries, province and municipalities but families.  Mon dad, your faith in God, each other will get you through the hardest times.  Remember we all have hard times but they do not last forever.  The only people who did not sell their lands were the priests of the land.  They got a regular allotment from the crown.  This gives a picture of the religious life of Egypt.  Here is a truth; a godly leader can influence a land of polytheistic belief.  Shine even in a dark place.  Joseph did.

 

23 Joseph said to the people, “Now that I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh, here is seed for you so you can plant the ground. 24 But when the crop comes in, give a fifth of it to Pharaoh. The other four-fifths you may keep as seed for the fields and as food for yourselves and your households and your children.  25 “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.”  26 So Joseph established it as a law concerning land in Egypt—still in force today—that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh. It was only the land of the priests that did not become Pharaoh’s.

 

This last lesson is so important.  Joseph did not take advantage of his position or circumstance.  He could have put the people into slavery he did not.  Never take advantage of someone when they are down and out.  Evil, selfishness, prejudice proud do that.  It happens all the time.  God hates it when people exploit others.  Employers, bosses, workers and families do it as well.  Joseph did not.  He made a law that only 20% of the harvest would go to pharaoh.  The rest was for them.  Now get this.  Joseph imposed a flat tax.  The people were to pay only 20% of what they earned to the government.  Now listen to this in the following countries income to government at all levels tax levels are.  In Austria and Denmark the tax rate for a family is 55%, Belgium is 50% and Germany is 45%, Canada is 48% and US is 26.5%.  Joseph imposed 20%, no wondered they said, “you have saved us.”  Egypt had the lowest form of taxation in the known world.  The answer to your question is does the government exploit us, yes.  Do we get value for government services, no?  Two things are for certain death and taxes.  True godly leadership looks for ways to lesson a burden not impose one.  The answer to your question does Canada have godly leadership No?  That is why we need to pray for those in authority so we can live quiet and peaceful lives.  Remember righteousness exalts a nation and sin is a reproach to a people.  So never, never, never exploit a situation, you are being selfish, vain, prejudice and evil.  True love, compassion, faith and generosity won’t. 

TRUE HONOR

 

     This is our last message in the summer of the Psalms which is fitting knowing that Tuesday is fall.  I hope you have enjoyed these messages as much as I have enjoyed giving them to you.  In summary, Psalm 111 and 112 are written by Ezra.  They are acrostic psalms which means, they are the Hebrew Alphabet with a truth about God.  Psalm 111, is about who God is, and 112 is our response to God in lifestyle.  Remember true religion is action based.  You show your faith by what you do or it is vain.  There are four things we are going to learn today from these last two verses of Psalm 112.

 

1.      They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor.  Jesus said in Matt 10:8, as you have been given freely give.  Paul said, “That I receive I give unto you.”  Generosity is a mark of the follower of God.  God loves a generous and cheerful giver.  In Jesus’ society there were three cardinal rules of faith.  Prayer, fasting and alms.  Alms were the practical outgrowth of prayer and fasting.  God told the Jewish nation that once they were established in Canaan they were to give generously because they have been slaves and poor one time. 

 

a.      Jesus says in Matt 25, that when we do it to the least of these we are doing it unto Him.  Ezra has you are sowing seeds.  It is the law of the harvest when you sow or give you will receive 30, 60, 100 fold in return.  Ezra was also reminding them they had been in captivity for 70 years.  Now was their chance to redeem and touch others.  It was the lesson of giving back, being grateful or paying forward.

b.      Ezra also didn’t want them to miss the blessing of giving to those who cannot give back to you.  It is also being the voice of those who cannot fight for themselves.  Writers in the New Testament remind us that it is the responsibility and duty of the Christian to give especially when it is in our power to do so.  Remember everything you have belongs to God and must be available for His use. 

 

2.      Their righteousness endures forever.  The quality of being morally right or justifiable.  Choosing to be good, virtuousness, upright, decent and walking in integrity.  This is a sign of being connected with God.  This is who God is and who we should be.  It is being like Daniel and Joseph walking with godliness in a godless society.  It is being like Moses and refusing the glory, riches and power of Egypt to identify with the Jews.  It is being a person who is looking for a city whose maker and build is God.

 

a.      This is a wonderful promise and again a reminder that we are building legacy.  Jesus said I go to prepare a place for us.  Where He is so we shall be.  Remember the world is not worthy of us.  We are pilgrims passing through.  We have but one life than judgment.  What we do counts for eternity.  It also affects those after us. 

b.      Noah saved the human race, Abraham was the Father of many nations, Joseph saved his world, Moses delivered Israel from Egypt, Joshua conquered Canaan, David gave us Jesus, Solomon built a temple, Daniel gave us a glimpse in the future, Isaiah showed us Jesus, John the Baptist was a forerunner, Jesus the Messiah and Savior and Paul gave us the New Testament.  What is your contribution only you can craft your legacy.  In the Lord all things are possible.  Remember He can do more than you can ask or imagine.  Talk about Daniel Nash

 

3.      Their horn will be lifted high in honor.  Ezra uses the imagery familiar to his audience.  In the bible horn means power, glory, strength, royal authority, enabling power, honor, dignity, and dominion.  This means that those who follow the Lord will have true honor.  It means you are respected and honor by the highest authority of course this is God.  It means you will distinct, one of a kind. You will be given privileges by God.  You will have the characteristic and nature of God.

a.      You will have the congratulations and kudos from God.  You get to reign and ruler with Him and the prestige that comes from that.  It also means in your personal life and dealing with others you will a person of integrity and you will be same person in public as you are in private.  You will be honest, truthful, ethical, and moral.

b.      Last message we talk about the crowns of rejoicing.  The rewards of the overcomers in Rev 2-3 are amazing.

 

1.      To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

2.      The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.

3.      To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

4.      To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—  that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery, just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star.

5.      The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.

6.      The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.

7.      To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.  Now that is honor.

 

4.      The wicked will see and be vexed, they will gnash their teeth and waste away and the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.  Ezra closes with what happens to those who chose wickedness.  We have ample proof of this every day.  Celebrities, politicians, family, friends and even preachers. 

 

a.      The greatest tragedy is they miss the amazing of heaven and choose hell.  They miss eternal and abundant life and get a life full of ashes and broken dreams.  Don’t be like Sinatra and do it your way.  Ezra hits on a theme of Solomon when he says the fool chooses the world, the flesh and the devil.

b.      Pride, pleasure and possessions will always leave you hollow.  The book of Ecclesiastes is a testimony to this.  Vanity all is vanity. As we close what a contrast.  Talk about the Matrix.  People prefer the illusion to the real.  They choose momentary pleasure instead of the eternal.  Let this not be you and let us pray that it is not what happens to those we love.

 

 

TRUE JOY

 

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

 

1.        In the same manner that Father has loved Jesus.  The same unity, purpose, plan, cohesion, character, nature and essence.  Beyond comprehension love.

2.        Jesus has loved us.  With the same patience, kindness, unselfishness, humility, honor, willing to serve, positive view of others, righteousness, peace, joy, graciousness and truthfulness.  His love protects us, trusts us, hopes and believes in us.  His love perseveres and endures with us.  Is love for us will never fail.

3.        Remain in Christ’s love. When Jesus tells us to remain in His love, He is telling us to rest in the knowledge of His love for us. As soon as we have placed faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit indwells us. His indwelling is permanent, and He never leaves us. The Holy Spirit can remind us of Jesus’ love and fill our hearts with the overflowing agape love of God.

 

10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

 

1.        Keeping his commands shows you re remaining in his love.  Did you know that there are 49 commands of Christ and seven statements he made?  I will highlight only seven briefly.

 

a.        Repent, Follow Me, Rejoice, Let Your Light Shine.

b.        Honor God's Law or Word, Love and Tell Others.

 

2.        Following Christ’s command shows that we have embraced, chosen, decided, and apply his love in our lives to ourselves and others. 

3.        Jesus is our example and role model.  His life and ministry showed and exhibited this.

4.        Jesus remained in the Father’s love. Jesus imitated and reflected Him.  He depended on His Father.  Jesus trusted and confided in the Father.  They worked together in unison, union and unity together.  There was no competition between them.  Jesus lived and did the will of His Father.  Jesus received His validation from the Father.

 

11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

 

1.        He has told us that His joy may be in complete as we do the will of our Father.  To glorify, honor and exhibit the qualities, essence, character and nature of the Father. Jesus’ joy is the joy that Jesus wants to place in you as a Christian. Biblical joy is choosing to respond to external circumstances with inner contentment and satisfaction, because we know that God will use these experiences to accomplish His work in and through our lives.  This knowledge brings peace and joy.

2.        Simply put doing the will of God will complete us. We were designed for God’s purpose and plan.  Nothing satisfies a person until they are doing the will of God in what ever manner for them takes.  It is up to us to find and then do it. 

 

TRUE JUSTICE

 

Dan will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel.  The name Dan actually means judge.  So here is Jacob telling Dan that he would have a descendant who would judge the people with justice.  Here we have Jacob looking into the future and seeing Dan’s most celebrated judge, Samson.  Who, we will talk in a moment.  Dan was the second largest of the tribes next to Judah.  It has two enclaves one that was situated in the north by modern day Haifa and Joppa right by Mount Carmel and another right next to Philistia.  They came with 26,500 men to make David king and they were experts in war.  Simon the Sorcerer of Acts fame claimed to be a Danite and Simon the Magician as well.  This is significant because Dan is left out of the list of tribes of Israel in Revelation because of it was one of the two locations for the golden calves the Jeroboam set up.  Dan was also known as an enclave later for occult practices.  Little lesson here, we need to pray for our children and their descendants because even the most godly families can start out good and end up shipwreck.  In fact the devil loves to destroy godly families.  The Ethiopian Jews claim to be from the tribe of San when they were dispersed during the time of the Assyrian captivity. 

 

Dan will be a snake by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse’s heel, so that its rider tumbles backward. 

 

This describes Samson to a tee.  So let’s look at a moment for a moment. 

 

Samson – Little Sun - Judges 13-16

 

-  Has a life of contrasts.  His birth was announced by The Angel of the Lord...  One of the rare     

    Supernatural encounters in judges.    The angel announces his birth, lifestyle, mission and

    Calling.  He interacts with Samson’s parents and touches their lives.  Jud 13:1-23

-  Samson is a Nazarite.  Not allowed to drink win or cut his hair.  Totally given to God. 

    His mission was to save Israel from Philistia. Jud 14:5

-  Samson loved Philistine women.  This would be the means to attack Philistia and his downfall.

    Jud 14:14-16

-  Killed a lion, told a riddle, and killed 30 Philistines to keep his promise.  Jud 14

-  Could not put up with women whining.  His wife, a prostitute and Delilah would destroy him. 

    Jud 14&16

-  Could not control his carnal appetites.  Jud 14 & 16

-  Was a man of vengeance and anger.  Killed 30 Philistines over a riddle, burned Philistines fields,

    Killed 1000 men with a jawbone of donkey,   Jud 14:20-15:17

-   Had great strength when the Spirit of the Lord was upon him.  Jud 14-16

-  Was a judged for 20 years.

-  A deceitful Philistine woman named Delilah would trick him into revealing his strength.  She

    Cut his hair, he lost his eyes and strength.  Jud 16:4-21

-  Learned painful lesson, allowed to end his life by destroying Philistine temple, himself and

    3000 Philistines.  Jud 16:23-31

-  As a life of contrasts, he was separated as a Nazarite.  Jud 13:5, 16:17

   Yet associated with evil people.  Jud 14:1-3      

-  Spiritual at times, Jud 13:35, 15:14

   Yet gave into his carnal lusts.  Jud 16:1-4

-  Childish in his plan.  Jud 15:4

    Yet courageous in battle.  Jud 15:11-14

-  Mighty in physical strength.  Jug 16:3, 9, 12, & 14

    Weak in resisting temptation.  Jud 16:15-17

-  His end was sad because of these contrasts.  Jud 16:30

 

Samson life reflects what happened to Dan.  His people were noble, godly, experts in warfare but then fell into idol worship, sorcery and eventually into oblivion.  Great many lessons to learn here for there is no guarantee.  That is why we must stay close to the Lord, read our bibles, pray, go to the house of the Lord, stay, accountable and transparent.  You make choices to be godly.  Make those choices every moment.

 

I look for your deliverance, Lord.

 

     Jacob then closes his prophecy or address to Dan by saying, Lord I look to you for deliverance.  He is praying for Dan.  Dan you will need deliverance.  God protect Dan, keep him, don’t let him fall.  So as I close I want to give you some things you can pray over your children. 

 

Pray for faith that they would serve the Lord.

Pray for health and healing in every area of life and

Pray for friendships who would be godly and a positive influence

Pray for a future they would live in the plan of God and find if God’s will a godly spouse.

Pray for character that they would be righteous, godly, honest, truthful, faithful, obedient to God, transparent, accountable and honorable.

Pray for safety.  We all know how children and adults love to talk chances.

Pray for joy and peace in their lives and how they would be peacemakers in the lives of others.

Pray for their desire for the things that matter.  They would make right choices and be people of integrity.

QUOTES FOR APRIL 16, 2026