Untitled Sermon (11)

THE POWER OF GIVING-Having a generous heart.

INTRODUCTION.

God wants us  to understand the significance of generosity and develop a heart like His which is a generous heart.

When we think of giving , we should always think of the cross of CHRIST, on which the price of glory hung on for us, He gave His life for us….

Giving to God out of our first fruits is crucial as it opens the heavens over our finances and releases the Holy Spirit to break iNTO OUR WORLD.

Our tithe unlocks God's protection over our wealth and our offerings, which is seeds sown, multiplies our wealth we see that in ( Mal 3:6-11) .

Living in righteousness allows God to pour out  the wealth of the wicked into our lives( Proverbs 13:2)

Jesus spoke more about money

than  heaven and hell combined.

There are over 2,000 verses in the Bible that talk about resources.

Why?

Because God knows that where our money goes, there goes our heart.

We often worry about acquiring money, losing money,we worry  about our future financial security.

Some daughters are told that you must look for a man that has lots of  money , so that he can look after you.

There is a little bit of truth in it, and He  does need to be a provider, however when he loses his job then what?

So it can't all be about money.

Some people think a lot about money either we have too little, too much or we worry about the economy we worry about losing it, storing it  etc. The list goes on….

But God wants to set us free in the realm of our finances.

We need to passionately and daily grow in our revelation of Jesus,

find freedom in our finances,

discover our gifts, use them, fan them into flame and develop them for the glory of Jesus.

and make a difference together as a big family on mission for the gospel..

However, when we have money problems, it becomes challenging to serve Jesus and make a significant impact for God and get people saved…. And make disciples…

Money problems are a heart problem.

God gives us the ability to obtain wealth, and while challenges like sickness and business closures can occur, that affects our ability .. Even when they do happen, they do not signify the end of the story.

We have God to help us.

Deuteronomy 8:17–18 (NIV)

17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”

18But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

God gives us the ability to produce wealth when we go through difficulties we need to take that promise to God and say God you have given me this ability….

Then when we are operating in a realm of financial freedom.. We need to remember this..

Deuteronomy 8:10–14 (NIV)

10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

11Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.

12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down,

1 3 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied,

1 4 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Let's look at 2 people in the bible both gave to God, but only one gave in a way that attracted the favour of God to Him.. God was well pleased with one, and wanted to help the other.

Able-Able heart being enabled by God.

Cain- heart trouble hiding.

Genesis 4:1–8 (NIV)

1Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.

She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.”

2Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.

3In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.

4And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.

The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,

5but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.

So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

6Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?

7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

8Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”

While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Hebrews 11:4 (NIV)

4By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

In Genesis 4,a man named Cain  decided to give something  to God that  He really didn't want to , give and it cost him dearly.

His brother on the other hand gave his best, which Abel  introduces us to the concept of first-fruit offerings.

First fruits’ refers to the first portion of the harvest which is given to God.

Most notably the firstfruits are: the first to come in on time;

Offering firstfruits means offering to God our very best without hesitation or regret.

This includes our finances, time, gifts, and whatever he asks from us. Firstfruits are about choosing him first.

The offerings of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4 are the first recorded offerings to God.

Cain brought God fruit from the ground while Abel brought him an offering from his flock

Giving God our best is a reflection of our relationship with him; if we don’t think much of him and what he has done, we are probably not going to give easily or generously to God.

We can’t serve Mammon and God. At the same time.

That is what Jesus said.

Giving our  tithe to God breaks the power of the money hold,

Some people say they are self -made millionaires. That is scary because you need to keep it up, would be greater to say i am a God made millionaire.

Some say it is mine all mine, the bible says God owns everything.

The bible even says we need stewards of our  money living in a way that we are accountable to Him.

POINT 1 WHAT IS SIN.

Genesis 4:6–7 (NIV)

6Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?

7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

We see Cain sining in this portion of scripture. , we can say Cain messed up big time all likened to His heart condition  on  giving the first fruit..to God.

1 Samuel 2:30 (NIV)

30“Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.

Proverbs 3:9–10 (NIV)

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;

10then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

HOW are we attacked by the enemy?

Deception

Lies

Doubt God's word.

We are made to walk with God, our sin causes a breakdown in relationship with God.

Which produces shame -We cover up our sin by producing dead works.

Then our sin produces guilt- We hide from God and other believers and church.

SO WHAT IS SIN.

Putting human judgment above GOD'S WORD, which results in disobedience to God.

We put our opinions above God's word.

I THINK THIS.

TO ME IT MEANS THIS.

I CAN DO THIS.

WE START TAKING BLACK AND WHITE AND MAKE IT GRAY

WE MAKE THE WATER MERKY- NO TRUTH.

STORY REBEKAH .

I Can't see it is mily murky,

Some of us are like that in the area of our finance. We can't see at all.

Because we have offered our heart as a living sacrifice to the world , our heart has all these strings attached to worldly things.

Money will reveal who you really are, and God knows that.

God wants our heart, and God wants our resources..

And How does God get our heart , when He gets our TITHE,

Let's Go back to sin.

The bible says the love of money is the root of all evil, not saying money is evil, but the love.

1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV)

1 0For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

How do we overcome it, By asking the Holy Spirit to change our heart and by Tithe and give offerings.

WHAT IS SIN, PUTTING HUMAN JUDGMENT ABOVE GOD'S WORD.

TEMPTATION + ACTION = SIN.

Consequence of sin ..

We lose the presence of God.

We lose the Land.

What triggered Cain's sin?

Was his heart attitude towards GOD, and giving God the first fruit.

Develop a clean heart towards money… and be generones.

We need the power of the Holy Spirit in our hearts to completely remove a poverty spirit, poverty thinking, poverty actions.

2 GOD WANTS OUR HEART MOTIVE RIGHT BEFORE HIM.

Hebrews 11:4 (NIV)

4By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

Genesis 4:3–5 (NIV)

3In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.

4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,

5but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Some people say this, shame God just looks at your heart He will understand give Him what you can , tip him.

Then we wonder why we don't get the full blessing from God, Abel gave his heart , and He gave the first fruit. God  was well pleased with Him and looked with favour on Him.

Cain wanted what Able had, but Cain was not willing to give what Abel gave,

Cain got jealous and sinned.

Cains sin was All linked to First fruit..

GOD wants our heart motives right and our money determines our heart motives.

Where our money goes there goes our heart.

And Your money will empower who you really are.

And God is very wise He knows what is inside of our heart.

Romans 12:1 (NIV)

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Matthew 6:24 (NIV)

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.

1 Timothy 6:6–10 (NIV)

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

1 0 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)

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.

19In 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.

Application..

God wants us to have an Able heart which is a generous heart to God…

We need to be rich on good deeds…..

In closing …

A biblical application to finance, please GOD,and it is  TITHE, WHICH IS 10 FROM THE TOP and giving offering which is after tithe and that is called sowing and then living a righteous life.

Can I encourage you this week to seek the Lord and ask Him to give you a heart like Able…..

Determine to honor the Lord with your wealth and He will honor you .

Ask the Holy Spirit to bless this and help us..