Stay Positive...Stay Generous!

(S1) — SERIES

...the unwavering expectation that our loving God is working in every situation for our good!

Optimistic—Negative outlook never leads to a positive life— Starve our fears and feed our faith

Grateful—Gratitude is the gateway to a healthy life!

Confident—trusting God over self—Confidence that Jesus is in every situation

Encouraged —“You have know idea what God might set into motion through one word of encouragement

Enthusiastic— You can have it! You can loose it—Labor enthusiastically for the Lord

Stay positive...stay GENEROUS...even in times of scarcity

I am amazed how when the need arises, people always respond with generosity...

Hurricane Response/Local Church (1st to respond)

…people are good and most often generous (witness). Even so, more often than not, we tend to live our lives from a place of scarcity not generosity

Psychologists—Signs

Always feeling behind; distress over not having enough—Fear of not having enough time/not enough hours in the day: causing over-scheduling—Focusing on what we don’t have instead of what we have

Scarcity—The feeling that THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH

(S2)

COVID/TP—Fear of not having enough

As we close out stay positive series, consider this...our impact on the world…is tied whether we believe we are about to run out or if there is more than enough.

How do we move from this place of sacristy to a LIFE of Generosity?

(S3) — The GENEROSITY of God

God who PROVIDES

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19)

2. God who GIVES...when we ask

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives GENEROUSLY to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5)

3. God who BLESSES...our generosity.

“The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” (Prov. 22:9)

5. God who GAVE...his only son

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

6. God who SAVES...

“He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he POURED out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,” (Titus 3:5-6)

7. God who STILL gives...

“Give, and it will be GIVEN to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be POURED into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)

God who poured and pours himself out…provides-gives-blesses-gave-saves-still gives...

(S4)

…a woman who finds herself in a time of scarcity, seeks out a man of God’, and through her faith is saved by God’s generosity.

5 She left him (Elisha) and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the (empty) jars to her and she kept POURING.

From a place of scarcity…she trusts that God’s generosity is more than enough

Do you tend to live your life as if your about to run out...there is never enough? How much anxiety do you have around money, time, having enough?

The problem, we live in a culture of consumption. How can you tell?

UPS, Fedex, postal service workers…

The Bible mentions the topic of money and possession over 2000 times because God knows that having more of money and things are the #1 competition for your heart.

(S5)

The root of the tension: A culture of consumption verses God’s economy

You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” (Haggai 1:6)

The scarcity mindset starts in the mind, not the wallet.

(S6) — Scarcity Cycle/God Supplies

God Supplies...

James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above...

We Consume—We lack—We Fear—We Consume...I am guilty!!!

Scarcity says...THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH — ABUNDANCE says THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us. Ephesians 3:20 NASB

Everything about God is excessive, extravagant, more than enough

Sending his only son was excessive—Giving his life up for us was extravagant—Jesus is God’s more than enough

If you view life through the lens of scarcity, you will always be fearful and anxious. Jesus has a much different plan for his followers

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10 NASB

Everything about God is excessive, extravagant, more than enough

How do we inoculate ourselves against thinking there is never enough? End the Scarcity Cycle?

— Move to a mindset of generosity—that Jesus is God’s MORE than enough!

(S7)

Today we look at the story of the desperate woman and the miracle (s) of Elisha

1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”

Context….

Current King of Israel led the nation to turn from God and worship false idols.

Widowed one of the few in Israel still honoring the Lord—Wives club

Husband was prophet—Served under Elisha

Left her with deep amount of debt—creditors coming

Mosaic law (Deut.) allowed to enslave others to settle the debt (7 years)

About to loose her sons—Her desperation—her poverty—the threat is real, and so is her fear

(S8)—

FEAR can keep us in the scarcity cycle

Finance planning/couple/retirement/2million/chronic illness? Not enough!

Generosity has little to do with our bank accounts and everything to do with trusting the God we serve. Fear can keep us in the scarcity cycle

—Why Jesus says I am more than enough— “do not fear” (365/103/alot)

Instead of letting fear keep her in scarcity, the desperate widow desires to solve her critical problem from the only person she knew she could…Elisha

How do we end the Scarcity Cycle? Move to a mindset of generosity?

(S9) — 4 PRINCIPLES OF PROVISION

I. Seek GODLY counsel

The lesson, for these times—be careful who you get advice from

Jesus didn’t drive a brand new…wear the latest fashion…have the most new and updated iphone...

Jesus sent out the 12 (Mark 6:8-9)…take nothing with you…

Landscape Trucks/faith journey

As pastors, representative of God, we give counsel…sign on my door — “I don’t have all the answers, but I know someone who does”

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us… (Ephesians 3:20, NASB)

In times of scarcity, the widow reminds us to seek Godly counsel

(S10)

Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”” (2 Kings 4:2)

Two questions…the first shows the prophets concern for her…

We see the same compasion in Jesus who cared for the widow

— defending them (Mark 12:40)

—healing a widows son (Luke 7:11)

— His teachings and examples were emphasized by the Apostles in the church (Acts 6)

The church today is called to step into the circumstances of the afflicted, especially the widows among us

The second question…I believe is to appeal to her faith…what do you have? Sometimes we can believe that what we have is nothing

— Jesus disputes this thinking by praising a widows generosity (Mark 12:43)

For her, even a little seems like nothing

(S11) — 2nd Principle of provision…

II. Don’t diminish what you HAVE

…BECAUSE WHAT YOU HAVE AIN’T NOTHING!

Her focus—what she doesn’t have rather than what she has….only a Small jar of oil

SCARCITY IS FIXED ON WHAT I LACK. ABUNDANCE ASKS, WHAT DO I HAVE?

The farmer would never harvest a crop if he always diminished the tiny insignificance of the seed….He doesn’t see it for what it is….but for what it will produce when planted

What you have ain’t nothing....in the hands of God nothing is something…If someone has planted seeds of faith in you…then you have Jesus, who is more than enough

God is about to do a MIRACLE out of something that seems like nothing...

(S12)

3 “Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.

Notice he instructs her to do something—he appeals to her faith—A seed sown in faith becomes more when we plant so God can do the exponential

“ I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:6)

The prophet knows what God can do, and he is about to do something extravagant

4 “go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”

(S13) — 3rd Principle of Provision…

III. God often does the EXTRAVAGANT through what seems insignificant.

shut the door…three times in Elisha’s miracles…Jesus (Luke 13:25)

privacy… avoid disturbance—not a public miracle (wedding at Cana)

No one else can get the credit only God who often does the extravagant through what seems insignificant.

It takes faith to trust God in times of scarcity— Faith that can move mountains

Matthew 17:20 “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Principle of the tithe (tenth) and what it can do…

(S14)

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”( Malachi 3:10 )

Why a percentage and not an amount? So everyone could experience the miracle of God’s provision. Even a 10-yr-old can give 10% of his allowance.

Your “nothing” is God’s “Something.” God doesn't need your money…streets are already paved with gold. he desires your devotion…faith..

Do you give God the credit when he does something extravagant with what seems insignificant?

(S15)

6 “When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”

But God I need more…pouring an almost empty jar took faith

Parable of the talents…We aren’t trusted with more, until we’ve been faithful with a little.

We had little…five boys…mom (hospital)…step-dad working always tithed!

We teach our kids give .10 of that dollar....but when a dollar 1000 (paycheck) we find it hard to give 100.

Story...

(S16) — 4th Principle of Provision

IV. GOD’S ABUNDANCE OFTEN FOLLOWS FAITH.

Most every time I’ve gotten spiritually stuck was because I STOPPED POURING and started STORING. I started to find my happiness in the things of this world.

Some of you may be spiritually stuck….focused ion what you don’t have rather than what you do have and what God could do with it...

Do you have the faith to pour? Do you trust in the God of more?

We have seen the faith to pour here at Revive...

Cost to exit the UMC—an act of faith—Sanctuary updates—Give where there is need...Serve where needed

We need all these things…but what we need to trust the God of more even is what we give or do seems insignificant. Jesus is the MORE of God...

(S17)

God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Cor 9:8, 11 NIV

How do we get out of the scarcity cycle and stay GENEROUS?

Seek GODLY Counsel—Don’t DIMINISH what you have—Trust in God who does the EXTRAVAGANT through what seems insignificant—Stay faithful because God’s abundance often FOLLOWS Faith.

(S18)

I’VE GOT THE FAITH TO POUR BECAUSE I BELONG TO THE GOD OF “MORE.”

Stay generous...KEEP POURING…That’s what a generous God did

Acts 2:17  ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Want to stay positive…? Stay Generous? Keep pouring...even when what you have seems insignificant.

God’s abundance always follows faith!