POWER MOVES PART 1

Control Vs. Trust

INTRODUCTION:

Before we really dive into the meat of today’s message I want to make sure that we are all starting this journey off at the same point and having the same understanding of where we ultimately want to go.

How Many Of You Have Felt The Tension Of Walking With Jesus?

-feeling spiritually high on some days and low on the others. days when you question whether you’re even a christian and days when you so in tune with God, it’s like you can’t miss him.

The Christian Walk Is Navigating The Tension We All Experience: Living For The Kingdom Of God While Still Living In The World.

Common for all believers in every area like our identity, sexuality, the way we live, to how we talk.

John’s introduction of Jesus (his purpose) was revealing that Jesus was coming to establish HIS kingdom on earth.

Matthew 3:2 “and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.””

1 Thessalonians 2:11–12 “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

The Gift Of Salvation

When we accept Jesus as our Lord:

We are saved

We are adopted into sonship

We are the righteousness of God

We are citizens of Heaven

We are carries of the Kingdom

We are set apart

We are all that, in Christ, all the while still living in a broken world in a fleshly body.

In other words, you are no longer a slave to sin, instead, now a slave to Christ… all the while still:

Feeling the tug of your flesh pulling you back into a life of sin.

Hearing the lies of the accuser wanting to entangle you into sinful disobedience

Experiencing the influence of the world weighing you down.

This doesn’t make you any less spiritual or saved. But rather this tension reveals. It reveals the heart.

Remember, everyone faces the tension but they experience it in different areas.

One Area That Is Common For All Believers To Experience The Tension, Is In The Area Of Our Finances.

Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

-Where our treasure is, is where we find our heart

1.) What We Treasure, Effects The Condition Of Our Heart.

So let me ask you:

How Is Your Heart?

How Has What You’ve Been Treasuring Been Effecting Your Heart?

-have your finances caused issues in your marriage, stress in your mind, worry in your heart or maybe you’re good.

But what i want us to see is for most of us, we don’t even care to think about that because along as the bills are paid, food is on the table, and I can get what I want here and there… Then I’m doing just fine.

Here is where i want you to realize.

GOD CARES SO MUCH ABOUT THE CONDITION OF YOUR HEART (the system of the world could care less)

So if what you treasure has been damaging your heart, then we have to start questioning what we treasure.

What you treasure didn’t happen by accident. Why you treasure what you treasure didn’t just come about.

In other words you didn’t start handling or spending money the way you do, on your own, it’s an acquired taste so that means some one had to be holding the spoon.

2.) What We Treasure Reveals Who We Have Been Following.

Who we follow is who we are Disciples of and becoming like. Discipleship is the process of becoming.

-The question is not a matter of “IF” we are being discipled but rather “WHO” we are being discipled by. (SYSTEM OF WORLD or PRACTICES OF JESUS)

-How the WORLD disciples and trains us into what we should treasure is completely different than the way of the KINGDOM.

This is why title of this series is POWER MOVES.

Normally in the context of the world when we hear this term, it’s defined by influencers, podcasters, CEO’s and entrepreneurs. And it’s normally spoken in the way of, “getting ahead, next big move, strategy, taking risk.”

And that’s great and awesome but my prayer over this entire series is:

We Begin The Process Of Detaching From The Results That Power Moves In The World Produces, And Start Desiring To Move In Power As We Faithfully Follow The Ways Of The Kingdom Of God.

So during this series as we are going to let MONEY be the magnifying glass to show us:

1.) The condition of our hearts

2.) Who we are really following, being discipled by

3.) Where we are being led to

It’s a different take on a Financial Series only because, what would it matter if we read you every scripture on Giving but you left only to follow the system and ways of the world. The seed would be swept up.

So for today, week 1, I want to look at 1 of the 4 directions our lives are lead to by the discipleship of the World or Kingdom when it comes to the area of our money.

MESSAGE: THE PROMISE OF CONTROL VS. THE FREEDOM IN GIVING

Matthew 6:24 ““No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

What’s easier for you, being in control of your life or trusting God with your life?

If we are honest, we would say “trusting God” because we’re in church but really, we like control.

But where did this desire for control come from?

Lies from the accuser, desire of the flesh, influence from a broken world (what we are in constant tension with)

THE WORLD WILL ALWAYS DISCIPLE YOU TO BE IN CONTROL

THE POWER MOVES TAUGHT BY THE WORLD COMES WITH THE PROMISE OF CONTROL.

There is a common language throughout the ads flooding our screens and that is: “to take back control”

This is why money has such a massive control on us as it does.

Because money is the illusion in which we can finally obtain the control the world has been promising us.

Keeping us in this perpetual chasing our tails kind of life where the American Dream is defined as getting more money so we can spend more money.

That’s why we’ll spend money we don’t have on things and stuff we don’t need because the feeling we get is, “when my life is spinning out of control, for those 2 hours of shopping and getting that new pair of shoes that i have been wanting, I felt like the ball was in my court because I met one of my needs.”

i’m not saying you can’t buy yourself something. I’m just saying, when you don’t stop to question what you treasure you’ll start finding your self falling in love with playing God.

PROBLEM:

The problem with all this (promise of control) is that it it’s feeding the bigger issue and that is our selfishness.

CONTROL IS ROOTED IN SELFISHNESS

SELFISHNESS PRODUCES THE NEED FOR CONTROL

And this seed of selfishness has been planted in our hearts since the day we were born

Example:

Every babies first verbal expression can translated into “Meet My Needs!”

Every child’s favorite word growing up is “Mine!”

We like to think we outgrow selfishness but sadly it grows right along side us.

Don’t believe me… Ladies the next time your man ask if you want something tell him, “No baby, I don’t want anything, i’ll just have some of yours”

You’re going to see that little seed of selfishness bloom real quick!

Now those are cute, subtle examples we have all displayed in our lives, not thinking much of it. WHY?

-because selfishness is easy for us to justify in our eyes

But for many of us we have been on the receiving side of toxic and unhealthy selfishness and the result was detrimental.

For some you’ve been cheated on, stolen from, lied to… the list goes on and on.

Selfishness Screams I Love Me

Selfishness Screams My Needs Matter More

Selfishness Screams What I Want Is Best

And that’s the seed planted in us all…

Galatians 5:19–21 “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

-How could we inherit (take possession), when there is no room for the kingdom in our lives because it’s filled with self.

James 3:13–16 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”

Why is there disorder where there is selfishness?

Because Selfishness Puts Self At The Center Of Reality, With No Regard To The Needs Of Others And God.

TRANSITION:

The Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee

The Sea of Galilee is filled with life. The Dead Sea is lifeless and still.

What’s weird is both bodies of water are connected to the same source (Jordan River)

Then is one filled with life and the other dead?

Because only the Sea of Galilee has a source bring water in and an outlet for the water to flow.

Pastor Joe, What are you trying to say?

A Selfish Heart Is A Death Sentence.

Living Under The Leading Of The World Is A Life Long Chase For The Illusion Of Control But Only Ever Staying Stagnate And Lifeless.

So what do we do?

SOLUTION:

Jesus’ primary war in the gospels that he teaches most about (30%) is the war against money.

And God destroys this sin of selfishness by:

1.) GIVING HIS SON AS A SACRIFICE FOR US

2.) CALLING THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM TO PRACTICE THE ACT OF GIVING

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

Giving More Than Any Other Practice We Can Do As A Believer Works Selfishness Out Of Our Lives.

-Selfishness isn’t something we age out of, but rather work out through the practice of giving

Remember that tension we talked about earlier that we feel… I bet you’re feeling it now :)

That’s because generosity goes against the grain of our fallen (world/flesh) nature, but it’s perfectly consistent with the new nature we have received when we gave our lives to Jesus.

Remembering God’s Gift Keeps Christ At The Center Of Reality

Deuteronomy 15:14–15 “Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to them as the Lord your God has blessed you. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.”

When Pastor Robert Morris’ wife was asked why he was so generous. She responded, “Because he’s never gotten over getting saved.”

CLOSING:

Giving Liturgy

“Holy Father there is nothing I have that you have not given me.

All I have and am, belong to you, bought by the blood of Jesus.

To spend everything on myself and to give without sacrifice is the way of the world that you cannot abide.

But generosity is the way of those who call Christ their Lord, who love him with free hearts and serve him with renewed minds.

Who withstand the delusions of riches that chokes the word.

Whose hearts are in your kingdom and not in the systems of the world.

I am determined to increase in generosity until it can be said that there is no needy person among us.

I am determined to be trust worthy with such a little thing as money that you may trust me with true riches.

Above all, I am determined to be generous because you father are generous.

It is the delight of your daughters and sons to share your traits, and show what you are like to all the world.

Amen.”