“Fulfill Your God-Given Destiny”

Part 5

Building Good Habits: Giving

·         Each of us is on the pathway called life… God has a perfect plan for you… must be on the right path…

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Review:

Seven Keys… (2Tim 2:1-26)

Guarding your Heart…

Building Good Habits… God’s Word… Prayer… Giving

2 Corinthians 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.

·         Giving is mentioned over 1500 times in the Bible… nearly twice as much as love (695 times)

·         Giving is seen from Genesis to Revelation… God’s people are seen giving in building projects…

·         In tithes and offerings, in love gifts… money, crops, animals, skills, supplies… giving as unto the Lord

·         We see throughout scripture, where God leads He provides… we’re seeing it with our new building

·         How does giving fulfill my God-Given destiny?  …we spoke of the connection, heart & treasure 

·         Does God need my money / expertise / help? Why should I invest in God’s work here on earth? 

Turn to Malachi 3:7-12 (Pew Bible page 676)

Investing in God’s Work...

1.  Perpetuates His Kingdom on Earth!

Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Matthew 16:18 “... I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it.

·         Furthering God’s kingdom requires finances from God’s people… called tithes & offerings

·         The tithe is 10% of your gross (not take home) and an offering is anything ABOVE & Beyond the tithe

·         The whole tithe was brought to the storehouse (held grain/money) … food/supplies in MY HOUSE

·         Today Jesus is building HIS CHURCH, He calls His children to fund it in order to reach our world

·         “Test me” in this grace of tithing/giving… are you ready when God opens the floodgates?

·         SO MUCH blessing you could not contain it… Many blessings… long life, health, strong families, job…

·         If you have been robbing God of what belongs to Him… you need to return to Him & lift the curse…

2.  Accomplishes His Divine Purposes!

Luke 16:9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

·         God is telling us to use your money to win people to Christ… the very best strategy & use of money

·         God’s perfect plan today is for all men to be saved… for Cross Creek to take the Gospel to the world

·         Because you were faithful in giving your tithe… there WILL be people who’ll greet you in heaven

·         So many individuals saved here at Cross Creek… Say WOW… now say it backwards!  WOW!

2 Corinthians 9:7-8 ⁷ Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

·         The New Testament doesn’t teach us the 10% tithe found in the O.T…

·         “Give what he decided in his heart to give” – Who lives in your heart?  Jesus… spirit led/flesh led?

·         “God loves a cheerful giver”… if you don’t want to give – don’t… give it to Home Depot or…

·         That is why we cheer & clap each time we announce we’re ready to receive your tithes & offering!

·         When you give cheerfully GOD will make ALL GRACE abound to you! Accomplishes Divine Purposes!

3.  Promotes Spiritual Growth!

Acts 20:35b “...remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

·         When you give to the Lord it really encourages your own spiritual growth as a believer.

·         Giving is actually a barometer of your spiritual condition… a window into your heart

·         Many of you have shared how you never tithed before coming to Cross Creek… now you do - blessed

Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

·         Your heart follows your giving… as you begin to tithes/give your heart begins to follow along…

·         Then you begin to spiritually grow/mature… giving is like going to the gym for a workout… muscles

·         Money is like a magnet, wherever you put it, it tends to draw our hearts…

·         Give money to the Lord and MY HEART is drawn closer to Him… don’t horde but invest your wealth

4.  Piles-up Treasures in Heaven!

Matthew 6:19-20 ¹⁹ "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

·         You can’t take it with you, BUT you can send it on ahead… into God’s storehouse.  Building treasures!

·         You build treasures in heaven by investing where you SEE GOD WORKING… where lives are being saved

·         Tithing, giving, is the safest and surest investment known… no thieves, stock market crashes…

·         Corporate greed, lax regulatory policies, corrupt politicians, amoral secular mindset, extravagant wall street moguls, Roller-coaster stock market, weak leadership, passive/permissive society, big government welfare programs, real estate bubble, on and on and on… Invest in heaven’s bank!

·         You have literally seen your lifelong savings investments plunged 40% or more in recent months…

·         Say you had $50,000 in the money market… now its around $30,000… here today / gone tomorrow…

·         Can you imagine IF you invested it in tithes & offerings?  Cross Creek would reach more & more.

·         Investing in God’s Work... Piles up treasures in heaven… where God Himself is your broker!

When I Invest in God’s Work... It builds treasures in heaven!

A woman proudly told her friend, "I'm responsible for making my husband a millionaire." "Well what was he before he married you?" the friend asked. "A billionaire."

A tour guide was showing a tourist around Washington, D. C. The guide pointed out the place where George Washington supposedly threw a dollar across the Potomac River. "That's impossible," said the tourist. "No one could throw a coin that far!" "You have to remember," answered the guide. "A dollar went a lot farther in those days."

5. Persuades us that God Owns it All!

Haggai 2:8 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty.

1 Chronicles 29:14 "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

·         God owns everything you have anyway... all the silver & all the gold... everything comes from God.

·         We live in a culture that says – “It’s all mine”... “He who has the most toys, wins” (wrong they still die)

·         Giving back to His work teaches me – it’s about Him not me... it helps me to get my priorities right.

·         Your attitude is far more important than what you give... (the widows mite)

·         God owns the cattle on a thousand hills...  God says to test me in this area – I will bless you in return.

·         “God judges what we give by what we keep”. ~ G. Mueller

Tithing, and Didn't Know It

The day the church treasurer resigned the church asked the local grain elevator manager to take over the position he held. He agreed under two conditions. #1 That no treasurer's report would be given for the first year. #2 That no questions be asked about finances during that first year. The people were surprised but finally agreed since most of them did business with him and he was a trusted man. At the end of the year he gave his report: The church indebtedness of $228,000 has been paid. The pastor’s salary had been increased by 8%. The Cooperative Program gifts has been paid 200%. There were no outstanding bills. There was a cash balance of $11,252!

Immediately the shocked congregation asked, "How did you do it? Where did the money come from?" He quietly answered: "Most of you bring your grain to my elevator. Throughout the year I simply withheld ten percent on your behalf and gave it to the church in your name. You didn't even miss it!" "Do you see what we could do for the Lord if we were all willing to give at least the tithe to God, who really owns it?" So the new treasurer had made his point.    --James Carter

6.  Pays Eternal Dividends!

1 Timothy 6:17-19 ¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

·         What’s the value of a soul?  Priceless!  Is all the time, talent & treasures we invest worth one soul?

·         Is all the hard work going into our new facility worth it – you bet it is… God pays Hugh Interest Rates!

·         When I invest to God’s work... its pays big eternal dividends!

·         Wouldn’t it be great to see someone write a check for $500,000!  What huge eternal dividends someday! 

·         Laying up treasures as a firm foundation for the coming age... life that is truly LIFE.

Jim Elliot a Christian missionary killed in Ecuador wrote in his journal...

~ “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose”

·         How long is forever?  That is how long your dividends will be given back to you! Pays eternal dividends!

7.  Promises God’s Abundant Blessings!

Proverbs 3:9-10 ⁹ Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; ¹⁰ then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

·         When you honor God with your wealth… your barns are filled and vats overflowing… Promised Blessings

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."

·         Law of sowing & reaping… sow much = reap much… sow little = reap little

·         Because you gave… God will give back promised blessings… Good measure, pressed, shaken, overflowing, poured out to you…

·         God says, TEST ME IN THIS… I alone can open the floodgates of heaven! TEST ME IN THIS.

Deuteronomy 15:10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

·         God’s promised abundant blessings can come in various ways… career, health, good relationships, steady income, maybe more money, safety, wisdom, beautiful family, friends, people in heaven…

·         Because you trusted God, took this area of stewardship seriously… Learned the disciplined habit of giving

·         This my friend, is the supreme use of your money…

·         Nothing greater than investing in God’s Work here on earth

Let’s Pray