In this sermon, the speaker addresses the concept of financial freedom and challenges the idea that wealth and riches equate to godliness. He emphasizes that serving both God and money is not possible and provides examples from Scripture where individuals compromised their faith for material gain. The speaker highlights the story of Balaam, Lot, and Achan as cautionary tales of those who yielded to covetousness and suffered the consequences. The sermon encourages listeners to prioritize their relationship with God over the pursuit of wealth and to seek true spiritual abundance.

Hello, this is Brother Llewellyn. We greet you in the wonderful name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is for us a great privilege to bring unto you the Word of God. It is our desire that your life will be blessed and changed by this message. This message has no copyright, so it may not be bought or sold. You are however welcome to make copies for your family and friends. If you would like additional messages, please go to our website at www.his-ecclesia.com Again, www.his-ecclesia.com This material is available to all, without charge, by the freewill offerings of God's people. A special thank you to all who support this ministry. May God's Gospel go out freely and unhindered. Yes, the Lamb can receive the reward of His suffering. Good evening everybody, I'm blessed to be here and to have you here as well tonight with me again to go further with this course on what it means to be really financially free, what is real financial freedom. And tonight we're going to handle section 5 and 6 of the course. Section 5 is, the name of this portion is, Who are you serving, God or money? Who are you serving, God or money? Let's just close our eyes in prayer. Oh Father, thank you that we can again tonight come to you Lord and ask you to come and break open these words for us Lord. Come and feed us with your heavenly manna Lord, your word. Your word which is life and it will give us life in abundance. Yes Lord, come and show us in your word what you expect of us when we look at money and our fellowship and our way that we walk after you God. Open our eyes and our hearts tonight Lord so that we can hear clearly what you are saying to us. Hide me away Father and exalt yourself in our Lord Jesus Christ in our midst tonight. I ask it in his beautiful name and for his sake, Amen. Before I start with this section though, I just want to quickly touch on something which was laid on my heart. And to do that I want to take you to three scriptures quickly in the Bible. The first one being 1 Timothy 6 verse 5. Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness, from such withdraw thyself. There is a concept in this world under the prosperity gospel that is preached. That the more wealth and riches you have, the more godly you are. And I will bring it to you tonight that that's a lie. That's a lie from Satan. A person's godliness is not measured on what earthly possessions he has. But a person's godliness is measured on his way that he follows God. And how he handles what God has given him to be a servant of. The scripture clearly told us, tell us that the people that think that way, that gain is godliness, that we should withdraw from those people. Because they are the ones that will lead us into temptation and we will fall away from the faith when we run after their riches. The other scripture I want to read is in Proverbs 13 verse 7. Proverbs 13 verse 7. I think this also clearly explains to us that there is something that we should behold when we look at a godly man. The scripture here says, there is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing. There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches. I think through the course already we've seen that one of the things that God actually prompts us to do is to give. And that is a way how true Christians will make themselves poor by giving away to those who are in need and who have needs. And making themselves poor. Hoping for the blessing of God later, maybe when they die and are with him and they will receive their crown of glory in heaven. The last scripture in this connection that I would like to share with you is in James 2 verse 5. James 2 verse 5. And I want you to listen very carefully to this one because it says also very clearly to us what God is looking for and what he expects of us. How can my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? How can my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith? Financial riches is not a sign of God be with somebody. There is also a sign of somebody just following God in a godly manner and not necessarily have financial riches. What they will have is what they need. God promised that. So let's not fall for this false concept that if somebody has not got finances and riches he is not blessed by God. That's not true. Who are you serving tonight? God or money? That's a question each of us must ask ourselves. Matthew 6 verse 24 says very clearly. No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. He cannot serve God and money. You see, as we have touched already previously, there is a decision to be made. Each one of us sitting here tonight have to make a decision on who we are going to follow. It just doesn't happen. It's a decision that we must make. A very well known verse for us is Joshua 24 verse 15. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, lose you this day, choose you this day whom you will serve. Whether the gods which your father served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell. And here is the choice that Joshua made. That is for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. When are you going to make that choice? Have you made that choice? Because all the principles in this book will be worthless if you haven't made this choice in your heart. That the one that you will serve is God and not mammon. You need to make that choice in life. When we make that choice, our protection through God is secured. Only when we make that choice. In Joshua 10 verse 3 it says, And ye have seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto all these nations because of you. For the Lord your God is He that hath fought for you. When we come to Christ and make a decision to follow Him and not riches, He will fight for us. He will fight for us. Scripture gives us a few examples. And I am not going to go into depth in all of them. I am just going to give you the place where you can go and read about it. Where God gave witness about people in Scripture that tried to serve God and money. And it didn't work. There is a few different categories in which we can look at quickly. There is the one where they use religion for money. And one of them that God in Scripture uses to explain to us how He did it is Balaam in Numery 22 to 24. There is compromising with evil. Lot decided to go and stay in Sodom and Gomorrah. He lost everything afterwards. Stayed righteous with God. But he had to run away from where he were. In Genesis 12 to 14 and 19. Healing to covetousness. Echan. You can read about that in Joshua 6, verse 18 and Joshua 7. This man took when God told that they shouldn't take anything. And he hid it in his tent. And God smote Israel. His nation. Until He brought them to justice. God will not allow it. Covetousness. Not doing what God tells us. God will not allow it. Then we get commercializing religion. When we use our gain and trust of God and we start to commercialize it. And it said that Hidion, one of the judges, he actually is an example of that. And we can read in Judges 8, verse 24 to Judges 9, verse 6. How he after he fought a battle and won. Took off the riches and bought a gold breastplate. What happened afterwards. I would like you to go and read that. It's not pleasing in God's eyes. That we see a lot around us today in the church. Where they've got other idols that they start to serve. Then there was somebody who tried to worship Christ and money. At the same time. And that's the young rich ruler in Luke 18. He asked all the questions. He said he kept all the laws. And when Christ told him to sell everything and follow me. He couldn't do it. He was entangled in his riches. And then there's a portion of Christians that will use money to sell information. Inside information. And who do you think they know is that? Judas. Money drawn Judas to sell inside information. That's what money can do for us. We will sell out on Christ. And then there's people who will try and use money to get spiritual gain. That we read of in Acts 9. Simon the sorcerer. Who came and offered money to get God's spirit. And God is not pleased with that. So there's enough reasons and ways for us in the Bible. To show us that God is clearly showing us that we can't serve two masters. We need to get to a place where we need to accept that God will show His supernatural power. For that which we give to Him. That which we've laid on the altar. We read in Genesis 22 verse 12 and 16 to 17. And He said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him. For now I know that thou fearest God, seeing that thou hast not withheld thine only Son from Me. And then later He said, By Myself have I sworn, said the Lord. For because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thine only Son. That in blessing I will bless thee. And in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven. And as the sand upon which is upon the seashore. And thy seed shall possess the gate of these enemies. Abram gave everything up. He didn't own anything. He gave his rights up. To have a son and he trusted God. God has told him something and God will do it. Are we like that in our financial matters? Have we really given up everything? You see one of the things that Abram realized. That before he can do anything like that. The real sacrifice that must take place. Must take place in our heart. We must die emotionally for that. Whatever it is that you've got in your riches. Which you claim is yours. If you don't die for that in your heart emotionally. You will never be able to give it up. When God asks from you. To bless somebody else. Or just to get you to a point where you should be content. With what He has in place for you. Moses gave his rod to God. And God used it miraculously. To lead the people through the Red Sea. Out of bondage into the promised land. Did you give up your marriage? Have you given it to God? Have you given up your family? It's time to be taking stock in our lives. To see what we are still clinging to. What we are still holding on to. Have you given up your house and your possessions? Truly given it up. Have you given up your friendship? Are you still holding on to it? Have you given up your reputation? God will always lead you into the right position to protect His reputation. But He can only do it if you have given up yours. To come to the place where we decide to serve God and not money. Each of us really need to go and build an altar. In our hearts. We need to do that. There is no other way. We need to go and offer it. I remember a few weeks after I was saved. God woke me up one Saturday morning. Early morning. And He said to me, you didn't give everything to me. I said, Lord I did. He said, no. There is a lot of mistakes you made in your life. And you thought that it's still yours. To hang on to. And to cling to. And to use it as excuses for certain things that you want to do. Or not do. I said, Lord what is that? And He said, this house that you are sleeping in and staying in. And that car outside there. That's still your possessions. I got out of bed. I ran out of the house. And there outside. I stood there. And I gave it to God. I built my altar. And I gave it to God. A few months later. I realized. Why God that morning. Had me to give it to Him. My son made a mistake. And he rode my car off one night. And when he did. And he phoned me. The first things I'm asking is. Are you alright? Are you alright? And everybody that is with you in the car. And when I put the phone down. I couldn't understand. The peace that I had in me. I just couldn't understand it. Only later I realized. Because I knew. God could do with His possessions whatever He liked. I said to my son earlier. Later I said to him. You know what? We are serving a wonderful God. Because a few years earlier. He rode off one of my other cars. And I was unsaved. And I was about 750 kilometers away from home. And he could be very glad about that. Because if that day I could get a hold of Him. I would surely. In my unsaved state. Did something that I shouldn't have done. But God in His wisdom kept me away. That day. And the second time. Praise God. He saved my soul. And He made me one morning. To give up everything. That I had. That night I could just bless Him. And say Lord thank you. That you saved their lives. And that incident made a big impact. In our household. God used that to work through. Our lives. Work with us. And I praise God for that. And how do we serve God rather than money? You know what God will do most of the time? He will take away from you what you love most. Sometimes in ways we don't even understand. And we only realize how much we love it. When God takes it away. So what I want you to do is. Go tonight. Sit down. And make a list. Of those things. That you love. And lay before God on the altar. Don't delay. And those things that you struggle to put down. That's the ones you need to put down first. Because that's the one that's keeping you in bondage. Those are the things that are holding you away from God's blessings. And that peace that surpasses all understanding. Please do it. Go and make a list tonight. Of those things that you count dearly in your life. And give it over to God. Lay it on the altar. As Romans 12 says. Everything. In Genesis 2.22 verse 2 says. Now thy son. Thy only son Isaac. Whom thou lovest. And get thee into the land of Moriah. And offer him there for a burnt offering. Upon one of the mountains. Which I will tell of thee. That was God asking you as well tonight. Take that. Which you love. And go and put it on the altar. For God to use and do with it. Whatever He likes. If we give our most cherished objects to the Lord. We are saying. From now on this belongs to you. I give them to you. And I have no rights or claim to it. Are you ready to do that? Because you must know that is what you are actually saying to God. God. I've got no rights on it. No rights. Whatever happens. It's fine. I'm not going to claim it back again. And I'm not going to claim any rights on it. But I will become a servant. That's all I will be. Genesis 22 verse 10 says. And Abram stretched forth his hand. And took his knife to slay his son. Only if you've died in your human emotions. To this loved ones of yours. Of these things that you love. Only if you've died in human emotions. Then our dedication of that to God will be complete. Then God will be able to do with it. Whatever He likes. It also means. That when we do it. We thank God beforehand. For whatever. Happens. To the things that we give Him. Then we will also be able to. Thank Him in everything. Not just in some things. Not just thanking Him when it's going well with us. We'll be able to thank Him in everything. 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 18 says. In everything give thanks. For this is the will of God. In Christ Jesus. Concerning you. Dear brothers and sisters. Have you given up. Your loved ones. Have you purposed in your heart. Tonight that you will do that. Let's just close our eyes. And pray to God. Oh Father. God listen to the hearts. And to the voices going out to you now Lord. Oh yes Lord. As we build our altars. And lay on it the loved ones. The loved things that we have in our life. So that you God. Can take control over it. And that they will not control us anymore. Hear our cry Lord please. Lord and do what you need to do. To show us. That you are a faithful God. That if we have put it on to the altar. That you will test us. To see whether our hearts is upright with you. I pray this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And for His name sake.