0164 Threefold Cord

Threefold Cord

1 John 2:15-17; Gen.3:5-6; Mt.4:1-11; Mt.6:1-4, 5-15, 6-18

Eccl. 4:12 “Three fold cord is not easily broken”

Mt.13:23 “some 30, other 60 and 100”

Giving destroys Greed – lust of eye “pleasant to the eyes” “showed kingdoms”

Greed is connected with disaster (1 Tim.6:10)

Gehazi’s greed led him to sickness (2 Kings 5:20)

Judah’s greed led him to suicide (John 12:6)

Ahab’s greed led him to murder (1 Kings 21)

Greed is connected with lust (2 Sam.11)

Lust is taking while servanthood is giving

Giving & serving destroys the stronghold of lust

Greed is connected with idolatry (Mt.6:24)

Giving (offering/tithing) is a sign that greed has no control over your life

If you can’t release it, it owns you

If you can’t give to God, I find it hard to believe that you give to others

Giving is connected with God (John 3:16; Mt.20:28)

Give money, time, resources, forgiveness, smile, encouragement, joy and etc.

If you give what you don’t need it’s not giving

Greed is connected with poverty

Prayer destroys Pride – pride of life “you will be like God” “if you are the Son of God”

Pride is connected with prayerlessness

Pride is independence

Herod fell because of pride (didn’t give glory to God) (Acts 12:20-24)

Balshazzar fell because of pride (glorified everything except God) (Dan.5:1-30)

Nebuchadnezzar fell because of pride was restored because of thanksgiving (Dan.4:28-37)

Pride is connected with fall

Pride comes before destruction (Prov.16:18-19)

God resists the proud (1 Pet.5:5)

Pray, lest you fall into temptation (Mt.26:41)

My house is going to be called a house of prayer (Mt.21:13)

You will never arise above your prayer life

Jesus never though His disciples how to preach but how to pray

Fasting destroys Food - lust of flesh “good for food” “stone will become bread”

Lust for food is sin

Lust for food enthrones stomach as god (Phil.3:18-19)

People with lust for food as most likely lazy, adore media, sleep and nudity

Self-control is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22-23)

Lust for food is cause of fall

Eve and Adam ate themselves out of Eden (Gen.2-3)

Esau ate himself out of his birthright (Gen.25:34)

Israel had God as their cook but they lusted after food and died (Num.11:4-7)

Gluttony is a cause of poverty (Prov.23:31)

Fasting destroys lust

Satan didn’t offer to Jesus a naked woman but food

Food is for strength not for satisfaction

There is never a good time to fast

There are absolute, normal and partial fast

Fasting slows your aging process

Are you a real Christian?

Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of food, pride and greed (Ez.16:49-50)

What are you willing to do for $10,000,000? Two-thirds of Americans polled would agree to at least one, some to several of the following: Would abandon their entire family (25%) Would abandon their church (25%) Would become prostitutes for a week or more (23%) Would give up their American citizenships (16%) Would leave their spouses (16%) Would withhold testimony and let a murderer go free (10%) Would kill a stranger (7%) Would put their children up for adoption (3%)

The average church member contributes between 1.5% and 2.5% of his total income specifically to the Lord's work.