Greeting: introduce series “Built to Last”

Our lives for His glory.

Our best interest. I can attest!

We must build our lives on what He says. He’s the King.

God’s Blueprint for Finances

Hook: “Break the Brass Ceiling”

Breaking out: poverty spirit, victim mentality

Settling, stuck, doubt, counted out (Lame man by pool)

God is calling us to so much greater. Get healthy and free first!

We can’t Bring Life to JP if we don’t have life from God to the full for ourselves.

Bible says you’re more than a conqueror, head not the tail, co-heir with Christ…

God is waiting...Let this word in

God glorified, free to worship Him more fully.

You’ll be blessed, You’ll be a blessing

I See a Church: Bringing life

Conduit, not a bucket.

Leading others to freedom

Master money

Wildest dreams

Remember, God is waiting to follow…

Having His Heart:

Look: 3 Aspects of God’s Blueprint for Finances and our part to play

Borrowing this: The plan, the vision, and the dream

1. The Plan - The Tithe (dime & dollar)

Tithe means 10%…level playing field

So simple a child can do it

Provides for God’s house

I’ve been tithing since 2006…

Malachi 3:8–10 NLT

“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

Bet on God! He wants you to

Take care of His house, and He will take care of yours!

He wants to bless you!

Adam & Eve:

They got the independence they wanted, but it resulted in their demise.

All God asked of them was that they not eat of a certain tree.

All God’s asking for is 10% (dime & dollar

My Heart in teaching on finances: Growing in living by faith

I know the difficulty of walking in faith with finances.

Holding my 2 year old...

My hopes is to teach, to encourage, and invite. Not to twist arms, etc.

Dependence on God takes actual faith.

It’s easy to talk, come to church, but faith is not easy - it’s easier when we die.

Matthew 16:24–25 NLT

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

The hard part is trying to hold on to your own life, your independence, while also trying to follow Jesus by faith.

Breakthroughs are connected to your stepping out in faith in finances.

Testimony of my recent breakthrough by giving!

God’s Nameplate:

Tithe is God’s nameplate on your budget.

Follow His blueprint...

I see a church that puts God first, breaking free of a brass ceiling!

2. The Vision - Cheerful Giving (Our giving is an act of worship)

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 NLT

Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

Collecting for believers in Jerusalem - generosity.

Giving to the poor, missions, guest speakers (P Keith - 2 weeks!), blessing others, etc.

I give to missions, BOB (every year more)

Above maintaining God’s house.

This is when we really start Bringing Life!

Giving as worship: We can sing, but can we give?

Our cheerful generosity pleases God and is an act of worship to Him!

This is freedom, joy!

Better to give…

How you spend your money shows where your heart is.

Where your treasure is there your heart will be also.

Money represents their time, part of life they traded for money.

Be invested in His kingdom.

The more treasure you invested there, the more your heart will be there.

I see a church that is generous and blessing others and having a blast doing it!

3. The Dream - Sacrificial giving (High risk, high reward)

We all have dreams that we will sacrifice for…

College education, expensive weddings, extravagant vacations, etc.

You paid what??

I’m believing God is giving us a house (our home will be paid for!)

Testimony about recent sacrificial gift.

The bigger your dreams with God, the more you’ll sacrifice for Him.

Some dreams cost people everything...

I know of people who gave everything

J. Nuzzo’s wife sold wedding ring for women’s outreach

Now their church gives millions to missions each year

Bible: people sold property

Real living is living for something worth dying for.

Leaving nothing to wonder - no regrets, no money left on the table.

This is when God starts to do some really big things in your life.

Takes more faith, but more faith = more of His power and glory!

2 Corinthians 9:6 NLT

Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.

Testimony: net vs gross

Mark 10:28–30 NLT

Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said. “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.

You can never out-give God…

Every dream needs a plan to steward the dream:

This may be your first sacrifice: Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

I see a church that is blessed beyond our wildest dreams as we walk by faith!!

I see a church that is breaking out, pushing the darkness back in JP, BRINGING LIFE!!

Took:

My heart:

We live everything I’m saying...

My hopes is to teach, to encourage, and invite. Not to twist arms, etc.

This church exists because others’ faith, believing it would be worth it.

It’s our turn...Break through the Brass Ceiling, Bring Life

God gives us a framework/blueprint to operate our finances out of.

If you operate outside of the framework, then God isn’t obligated to bless you.

Landing: B-line for the cross!

Matthew 16:24–25 NLT

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

Bro. Anthony said many people come to Christ with a wrong focus.

Just in it for them.

Don’t realize their coming into a Kingdom, with a King.

Independence from God leads to death.

Dependence and submission to Him, following Him, leads to life.

Closing: Bridge into invitation for salvation.

“In a moment, I’m going to give you an opportunity...

“You may be in here…you: Feel independent from God…

Alone, island, separated

God loves you so much...

Invitation: Drawing the net (BELIEVE they’re getting saved!!)

“If you want to receive…”

“I want you to raise your hand high right where you are!”

Response: Financial Breakthrough

Break brass ceiling

Some need to start building up, up, up...

Financial blessing/ provision

Kicker: if you won’t follow His blueprint, no point in praying for you...