Positioned to Give
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Intro and Tension
Intro and Tension
When you hear the word “Giving” what immediately comes to mind? What about “Generous”
Maybe money, Maybe out of overflow?
We were created, in Christ Jesus to be Givers
Never feel in position to give | Not enough time | Wrong season | Tired
However, as Christ followers - Been given everything we need to be givers
You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
It’s not our position which is issue - It’s our perspective
one of our values;
We will lead the way in being ridiculously generous and wise in stewardship.
World sees it = Ridiculous. We see it = Obedient.
Title: Positioned to Give
Today = Unpack a characteristic of God | Unpack our position in Christ | See what God will do
*Pray*
Again - If stumbled in - Not tithing message.
In series called “Giver”
let’s go quick run from Garden Eden to Cross.
God created world it was good | Created Man | Gave a woman = Everything perfect | Tree of Knowledge said do not touch - we know what happened.
They touched it | We took from it | Enter the Fall
God gave a punishment | Got also gave promise of saviour.
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
All through OT there is this dance | God turning toward people | US turning against God.
God Gave Noah and family salvation | Gave isrealites Freedom from Egypt | Gave Law | Gave Mana | Gave Joshua Jericho | Isreal pleaded for a King Gave king until…We had run ourselves so far into the ground God stoped.
400 hours = Nothing.
Until God gave the ultimate | God gave Jesus
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Gave us the RIGHT to become Children of God - For all those recieved.
What are we learning;
God is THE Giver | Something Job understood;
The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
While we where dead, God decided to give us a way to LIFE.
When Jesus came down | had to strip things off
Become fully God, fully man, Forever | He came to do what the Law could not do = Save us by His GRACE.
And that is how we are saved;
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
When we had nothing - God gave everything.
1st thing to understand; God is THE Giver and Gives Everything.
2nd thing - God owns everything and asks us to manage everything we have
Story in 1 chronicles | End of Davids Life | David became richy rich | Wanted to build house of God | Gave everything - even from his stores | Estimated 200-800 billion dollars
What happened?
Leaders of isreal gave | Not just money - entire lives
Bible says they gave willingly and with a “perfect heart” - Example set a chain reaction of worhip and celebration.
Then one man stood up and prayed
“But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.
**Kids Allowance**
Why? Because David understood this great truth;
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.
Everything comes from God and is God’s and Where God guides, God Provides.
Let’s bring it into a New Testament Context.
Gives His Only Son | Provides Salvation | Chooses not to stop there.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
So He gives us everything we need to further His Kingdom;
For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
God Gives Everything and God Owns Everything
Even you - Something that Paul Understood.
Paul knew life was not His own - this is what happens at Salvation.
Quick story.
Paul travelling - at church of Ephesus | Knew it might be last time | Why? Ceaser is lord - These where his words to them;
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
Bought - With His Blood.
And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
He has set you apart, for His Good works and given you an inheritance.
what are the ONLY WORDS that PAUL tells them to remember of JESUS;
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
You are Saved | You GIVE your LIFE to JESUS + He Gives you Salvation - But so much more + HS to Further HIS Kingom.
You’ve been created in Christ Jesus to be a giver. That position does not change - so it’s our perspective that must change
If He gives everything, and He Owns everything, He will provide for where He GUIDES YOU.
Question is HOW do we change our perspective? believe.
Let’s pull it back to last week
by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
Given us GREAT PROMISES - That’s how we become partakers of divine nature - to share in God’s character of Giving.
You believe His Promises - not just on Giving.
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.
You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
Giving is not what we do, it’s who we are -
It’s part of His Divine Nature He has Given you.
God is THE GIVER
God OWNS EVERYTHING
We have been positioned to be a Giver.
When we are generous, to the world it’s going to look ridiculous, to us, it’s called…Obedience.
Story Old Testament | First Passover | Says, if son ever asks why you give first born you shall say “By a Strong Hand The Lord bought us out of slavery, so I gladly give”
When someone asks me or emma..why give so much? Time, resources energy?
Becausewas Lost- but by a STRONG HAND God bought us out of darkness and put us into light and GAVE US LIFE…so we GLADLY GIVE everything that HE has given us.
not about Law - It’s about what’s happened to our hearts | I know position I was, and the position I now am,
and I am positioned to be a Giver.
You are positioned to be a Giver.
Start Small | Where can you give this week | Ask The God of Revelation to give you sight
You have been called and equiped to be a giver and reflect Christ.