Garth Heckman

The David Alliance

[email protected] 

Matthew 17:27

Payment of the Temple Tax

24 On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?”

25 “Yes, he does,” Peter replied. Then he went into the house.

But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?”

26 “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied.

“Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free! 27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”

The little things:

But Jesus said ONE FISH is all you need! 

…one crumb is all you need. Matthew 15:21

2 Kings 4 “a little oil”

A few fish

A couple pieces of bread Jn. 6:9 

 A mustard seed Mtt. 17:20 

The widows mite

She gave out of total obedience and complete trust

Small things done in total obedience and trust ARE GREAT THINGS IN THE EYES OF GOD.

Its the little things - like the rock in your shoe! 

Hebrews 12:15 Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. 

   **Don’t miss the underlying application… Roots start with a seed. A small thing. 

The fruit in your life is bitterness… your family is raised on bitterness. 

We must be aware of the small things in life. 

We tend to look for the meaning in life in the  - - - -    - Grand Gestures

  - The Massive achievements

-  The Headline Moments

-    - Accomplishments due to great personal sacrifice 

THERE IS AN AURORA AROUND PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE IN BIG OBEDIENCE! 

BUT HOW DID THEY LEARN IT? 

Question?

Can you give .10 out of a dollar?

Can you give $100,000.00 out of a million? 

IM NOT TALKING ABOUT MONEY OR PROSPERITY!

Does God want you prosperous? -… I have a problem with that prosperity gospel. 

Ok, does God want you generous? 

How you gonna be generous with what you don’t have?

GOD WANTS YOU OBEDIENT

GOD WANTS YOU GENEROUS

GOD WANTS YOU!