Glorifying Jesus In Tough Times

Intro

Malachi 3:6–9 ESV

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.

On October 24, 1929, the stock market crashed. When that happened, some business men jumped out of their offices, because they were hopeless. Well the message I felt the Lord gave me today, was do not not lose hope when the storm comes. Look to the Lord!

Anyone been to the grocery store lately? Pricy huh?

It can be scary when looking at your shrinking bank account. Some say the answer is to get a better job, but the problem is that even higher paying jobs do not pay enough to cover inflation. So I ask you what is the Average person to do? Well if you are a non believer then your only option is to turn to a politician. Good luck with that. The government's help comes at a price. They always require more from you than you get.

These moments are terrifying. Why? Because money is spiritual.

Matthew 6:21 ESV

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The problem is that we place our heart in our bank account, on our mortgage, in our career all too easily.

Then when these things inevitably fail, we are crushed.

When we see no other option we get scared and we start looking for solutions.

We may look to the government, credit cards, payday loans. Just help me get by. Some will even turn to horoscopes, tarot cards, and psychics to find hope for a better day.

We need to understand that as believers, there is another way. Jesus’s way!

You and I don’t need someone to read the stars for us. We can call upon the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth for Guidance.

So this morning what are some practical steps you and I can take to prepare for tough times and to help us thrive in them.

Let Wisdom and the Peace of God Rule your Heart

Colossians 3:15

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

In the midst of the coming storm, seek God and allow his peace to guide you.

If you economic life blows up tomorrow, before you do anything.

Get alone with Jesus, and let Him remind you that He still reigns. That He still provides. That He still Looks after the birds.

Don’t be a Slave

Proverbs 22:7 ESV

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

Our entire economy is based on debt. It has been this way for a long time. That is not the Lord's way. You see, the Lord hates debt! Why? because it makes you and I a slave to a bank. If the bank managers are good then things are fine, but if they go bad then the bank can make your life very hard.

We serve Jehovah Jireh. He never intended any of us to be beat down in debt.

So what are some steps that you and I can take to prepare for tough times.

Live Modestly, you and I don’t need the fanciest cars, best clothes, or greatest vacations. We don’t need to eat out all the time.

Be content in the season God has placed you in.

Hebrews 13:5

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Only buy what you can afford. If you do not have cash for it, don't buy it.

This will protect you from getting in over your head in tough times.

Overcome economic trials through obedience and generosity

Malachi 3:10 ESV

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Step 1-Be Obedient in the Tithe!

You want Gods blessing? Then you don’t steal from Him!

But pastor you don’t know my circumstances. No, I don’t! but I know Gods Word is True. I know Gods Word reigns above your circumstance.

But I know a guy who doesn’t tithe, and God blesses him. Well. He is giving them grace there, for the moment. they are still sinning. that will be answered for one day.

I’m here today, to tell you how to walk in the blessing of the almighty. Not parse out individual lives. Only the holy Spirit can do that accurately.

I am merely telling you that as we walk into very tough times, we want to walk in doing everything we can to be right with Jesus in everyday possible.

Proverbs 19:17 ESV

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

When you and I take on a heart of generosity Gods blessing flows. Both financially and spiritually.

If you set out in your life to serve others and help them in every way. Giving to the poor. loving them for Jesus. The reality is that God may leave you “impoverished” here, because it may be that it is in that state that He is driving His character deep within your heart.

Closing

In my prayer life I really feel and economic storm is coming and that we need to prepare our lives spiritually.

Now I am not saying, go buy silver or emergency food, generators. you talk to Jesus about those purchases. What I am saying this morning is that we need to make sure our hearts are aligned with His Word.

So my first question for you this morning is are you following Jesus?

Are you tithing to the church? What is a tithe pastor Joe?

10% of whatever income you have, goes to the Lord.

10% of retirement, SSI, Disability. Whatever income you have. 10% is Jesus’s.

Are you walking in a life of Generosity?

This can be financial, it could be your time, your efforts, your energy. Generosity can take various forms.

When we give offerings above and beyond our tithe, that is generosity.

This morning we are going to Worship God.

The ushers are going to take up tithes and offering this morning during worship.

Then Pastor Gary is going to Close us out after worship.