<TITLE>04. Par 29-35</TITLE>L-29   Therefore I never did permit, or don't think the Holy Spirit would want me to have great big things, where it'd have great big... Now, that's alright for those who to do that. I don't condemn them. That's fine. But to have like telecasts that takes the whole nation in, have to beg people for money; and to do that, they have to do it, 'cause they have to pay for it. Radio broadcasts, that's--that's alright, that's fine, but that wasn't for me. I just like... Why, I would worry myself to death, over that. And I couldn't do that. I couldn't.

L-30   I started to take up an offering, one time in my life. I guess you heard about it. I--I started to take an offering. We just got in such a fix, till I almost had to have. I--I had some debts, and I was working. I took my hat and poured out my paycheck, and we just couldn't make it. And I never did take an offering at the Tabernacle. I pastored seventeen years, without a penny. And I said to the wife, I said, "We, we've just got to. I'm going over and take an offering."

L-31 She said, "I'm going to watch you, see." See? She goes over and sits down.

L-32 And that night, after... They're lovely people. Bless their hearts. I said, "I--I kind of hate to say this." I said, "I've been with you a long time. I never did ask you for anything," I said, "but I--I got some bills I got to meet. I need about six dollars." And I said, "I--I just haven't got it. I just haven't got it, and it's due," and I said, "Saturday. And I--I just haven't got it to pay." And I said, "If you all, any of you that have about a dime," I said, "if you would help a little on, I'd appreciate it." And--and everybody started to cry. There was an old woman sitting down there... And the deacon got up, and we didn't even have a collection plate, and I--I said, "You can get my hat." And went and got my hat.

L-33 And I looked down there. And a little old sister is always praying for me, she had a... One of these old-fashion southern mother that had one of these little... the little pocketbooks that snaps at the top. She unsnapped that, and, oh, my! I looked at that. I couldn't a spent that for nothing. I said, "I--I was just teasing. I wanted to see what you was going to say. I didn't really mean that." I couldn't do it. That's the closest I ever come to taking an offering. See?

L-34   There was on old man used to come down at my house. He--he, I think he belonged to the House of David, or something. He had a long beard and hair. He gave me an old bicycle, that it was backslid; but not backslid, just wore out. It--it had probably served its duty alright, but it was... So I--I went down to the ten-cent store and got me two cans of paint, for twenty cents, and I painted it and sold it for six dollars. So I didn't have to take up an offering, see. So that's the closest I come. I--I... See?

L-35 What if I'd be here with all that great obligation, and the Holy Spirit called me out somewhere to a little church, where maybe I'd have to have hundreds of dollars a day, to take care of that? They couldn't do it. But, you see, I don't need nothing but just more of God. See? I--I don't. So if He calls me anywhere, no matter where it's at, if there is ten people or... And I've preached to five hundred thousand, at one time. So, well, whenever it comes to that time, somebody just put... God puts it on their heart, and they come around and say, "You know, the Lord said you were going somewhere, and here is a check for it." That's it, by faith, you see, for He knows what we have need of. See? And so I just like to live like that.


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