Freeway to Financial Freedom - Mar. 14th, 2021

Pre-Introduction:

At this time, we invite any children who desire to join my dear wife for a children’s service to follow her where you can hear a wonderful bible lesson and sing some uplifting songs about Jesus.

For those joining us online, you’re listening to the Services of the Broomfield Baptist Church. This is the Pastor bringing the Sunday Morning message entitled "Freeway to Financial Freedom.” We invite you to follow along with us in your Bible in the Paul’s First Letter to Timothy, chapter Six, and verse Eight.

Introduction:

1 Timothy 6:8 KJV 1900

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Illustration- I read a story about football Coach Bobby Bowden. He used to tell a story about his baseball days in college. He said that he never hit a home run, but he got very excited one day when he hit a line drive down the first base line and was able to run the bases easily. When he arrived at home plate, the whole team was giving him high fives. But then the opposing pitcher threw the ball to first base and the umpire called him, “Out.” You see Bobby Bowden had not stepped on first base. Coach Bowden used that story to illustrate to his players, “If you don’t take care of first base, it doesn’t matter what you do.” There is a lesson in stewardship to be learned from the coach’s advice. If we try to round the bases of life, without first honoring what God has said in His Word about the area of being a good steward, we are missing first base.

Principle: God promises freedom from financial pressure and worry, not riches.

Warning: These principles apply to the saved. They are designed as an aid to your spiritual growth and will only be effective if the attitude of your heart is one of surrender to the Lord. You will not find freedom by these principles unless you are willing to make Jesus Christ Lord of ALL of your life. We don’t come to God to make “deals” with Him.

I. Merge Onto God’s Promise for Provision (Matt. 6:24-34).

A. Material Provisions (Matt. 6:11, 25-32).

Matthew 6:11 KJV 1900

Give us this day our daily bread.

1. Food

Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

2. Clothing

B. Manifest Promises (Phil. 4:19; Ps. 37:25).

+ Clear Promises

Philippians 4:19 KJV 1900

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Psalm 37:25 KJV 1900

I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his seed begging bread.

C. Matter of Priorities (Matt. 6:33).

Matthew 6:33 KJV 1900

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

+ Which do you seek first?

+ God or Money?

II. Yield to God’s Way - Permit His Provision (1 Tim. 6:8)

1 Timothy 6:8 KJV 1900

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Note - We have a responsibility to allow God to bring about financial freedom.

Note - Financial freedom is not based on what’s in the Bank Account, but rather it is a state of mind of Banking on God’s Account.

A. Be Content.

1. The Principle- Matt. 6:30, 33-34.

Matthew 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

2. The Example- Phil. 4:11-12.

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

3. The Reason- Prov. 30:7-9.

Proverbs 30:7–9 KJV 1900

Two things have I required of thee; Deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, And say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor, and steal, And take the name of my God in vain.

B. Have a Work Ethic.

+ Romans 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

+ Ephesians 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. 9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

+ 1 Thessalonians 3:10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

+ Proverbs 13:11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: But he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

C. Exercise Godly Wisdom (James 1:5).

James 1:5 KJV 1900

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

1. In Borrowing.

Note - Watch for interest rates that are deceptive.

Note - Don’t borrow against depreciating items that will wear out before you finish paying for them.

Note - Don’t borrow for more than your available assets.

2. In Co-signing.

Note - Solomon’s Six Warnings for Co-Signers:

Proverbs 6:1 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, If thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, 2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, Thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

Proverbs 11:15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: And he that hateth suretiship is sure.

Proverbs 17:18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

Proverbs 20:16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: And take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

Proverbs 22:26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands, Or of them that are sureties for debts.

Proverbs 27:13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, And take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

3. In Resources.

Note - Look for the best buys (30 day principle).

Note - D. I. Y. (learn how to perform simple tasks yourself or to make or repair simple things yourself- e.g. Virtuous Woman of Prov. 31)

4. In Resistance (to sales).

Note - Learn to say, “No.”

5. In Patience.

Note - Learn to wait on God, to allow Him to supply a need in His own way before jumping in and supplying it in the power and strength of the flesh.

D. Watch for Guidance from God.

1. Guidance on withholding funds.

2. Guidance on supplying funds.

E. Follow God’s established principles of giving.

III. Take the Turnpike Into Participating in God’s Provision.

A. Absolute Surrender.

+ Completely surrender your financial life to God.

B. Profit from Scripture.

+ Purpose to make a personal Bible study of God’s financial principles and His plan of giving.

C. Pray with Fervor.

+ Purpose to pray about how to spend the money you receive.

+ Remember, One Hundred Percent is God’s, not just 10%.

Conclusion:

Remember, just as coach Bowden said, “If you don’t take care of first base, it doesn’t matter what you do.”

If you haven’t already, are you ready to Merge onto the everlasting arms, and trust His promise for provision?

Will you Move out of God’s way, and permit Him to provide?

Will you Cruise into and accept God’s invitation for your participation as He provides?

[Note - This message outline is adapted graciously from others for use, no claim of originality is made for these ideas, BUT THEY WORK!]