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November 1-2, 2003 THE PROMI$E! Luke 6:38, Selected “RE-GIFTING” GOD’S WAY! *** Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." [New International Version]
· The proportion of households that tithe their income to their church has dropped by 62% in the past year! · Nearly one-quarter (23%) of all born again Christians gave no money to a church!
JESUS TEACHES:
1. GIVING INVITES GOD’S BLESSING! *** Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." [NIV] *** Proverbs 3:9-10 “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything your land produces. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with the finest wine.” [New Living Translation] *** Malachi 3:10 “Bring the entire ten percent into the storehouse, so there will be food in my house. Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing.” [Contemporary English Version] *** 2 Cor. 9:6 “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” [NIV]
! SOMETIMES THE BLESSINGS FROM OUR GIVING IS: A. MONETARY! - 2 Cor. 9:8 “God can give you more blessings than you need. Then you will always have plenty of everything—enough to give to every good work.” [New Century Version]
B. ENDURANCE! - Deut. 29:5 “I led you through the desert for forty years, and during that time neither your clothes nor sandals wore out.” [NCV]
C. CONTENTMENT! - Phil. 4:11 “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” [NIV]
D. SPIRITUAL DEPTH! - 2 Cor. 9:10 “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” [NCV] E. SATISFACTION! - 1 Tim. 6:17 “Command those who are rich with things of this world not to be proud. Tell them to hope in God, not in their uncertain riches. God richly gives us everything to enjoy.” [NCV]
F. JOY! - Acts 14:17 “Yet he proved he is real by showing kindness, by giving you rain from heaven and crops at the right times, by giving you food and filling your hearts with joy." [NCV]
2. GIVING EMPOWERS OUR FAITH! *** Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." [NIV] *** Luke 16:10-12 "Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won't be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won't be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people's money, why should you be trusted with money of your own?” [NLT]
! GOD USES MONEY AS A FAITH TEST!
! GIVING ISN’T A FINANCIAL ISSUE; IT’S A FAITH ISSUE!
! FAITH ISN’T LEARNED ACADEMICALLY, IT’S LEARNED EXPERIENTIALLY! -- Dr. Kregg Hood
*** 2 Cor. 8:7 “But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” [NIV]
3. GIVING MAKE US MORE LIKE JESUS! *** Phil. 2:5-8 “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!” [NIV]
! THERE IS NOTHING MORE CHRIST-LIKE THAN GIVING! |