God! Do You Really Need My Possessions?

Acts 20:35 NKJV

35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Confession of Faith

I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe. I believe the WORD of God! The victory is mine! I have it now! I can see it through the eyes of my faith! In Jesus Name!

Introduction:

Last week we talked about not being ordinary - Not being average, usual or inferior

So I have a question and I want you to hear my heart on this subject!

Have you every stopped - to ask God if he really needs your money, your time and your talent - your possession?

You might think what you have, how small or insignificant it is - that God is not interested - it’s ordinary -

Some people think God is not interested in their possession, time, talent and money, because other people can give and do so much more

but your ordinary in God’s hands becomes Extra-ordinary!

God ! Do you really need my Possessions?

Paul’s Extraordinary

Look at what The Apostle Paul focus and motive was - he became extraordinary

Acts 20:21 NLT

21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.

Paul’s focus was on

The Kingdom of God and His righteousness. - extraordinary

Paul’s focus was on meeting the desperate needs of the world. - extraordinary

Paul’s focus was on delivering people from the bondage of sin - extraordinary

Paul’s focus was on sharing the gospel of life -extraordinary

Today our focus must totally be committed to sharing the gospel. -extraordinary

Extraordinary commitment involves not only verbal preaching and teaching, but the spread of the gospel through extraordinary support ,

Using your God given talents, time, and money to increase the kingdom of God

I believe people are craving the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and

The Kingdom of God needs you!

I believe God is interested in how we handle the “possessions ” He gives us.

I believe God is interested in How we handle the money he gives us, I believe God is interested in how we handle the talents he gives and I believe God is interested in how we handle the time he gives us!

So In everything we do–everything–we must always check our motives. We must examine our attitude–our heart and determine if we are using the possessions God gave to us to make an extraordinary impact in increasing the kingdom of God!

You have to become transparent - Are you using the talent, time, and money for selfish pleasure or for the betterment of others.

man, In no other area in our life are we prone to wrong motives than in the area of giving.

Usually we are motivated to give out:

1. Guilt – “I have to give.”

2. Responsibility – “I ought to give – it is my duty.”

3. Need – “I want to give because I see the need before me.”

4. Thanksgiving – “He has done so much for me why not give.”

5. Worship – “I will honor God and bring Him glory by giving.

C.S. Lewis the famous Christian author said, Giving is not a matter of saying, “I will give from what is leftover!” Giving is about trusting God and taking Him at His word. Giving is an act of faith – it is an act of worship!

2 Corinthians 8:7 NLT

7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.

Romans 15:1 The Message

1 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status.

When you are strong, when you have the money, when you have a gift and when you have time - give to help those who are not strong, give to help those who are struggling, give to help those who are in need!

Jesus wants us to excel in faith - extraordinary, to excel in knowledge - extraordinary, to excel speech- extraordinary , and He also wants us to excel in GIVING. - Extraordinary

God is only asking us to share with him what He has already given to us.

I read this article about a father who tells the story of the time he took his kids to eat at a local fast-food establishment. As he and his kids sat down to eat, The father smelled the fries in front of one of his sons and reached over to get one. To his surprise, the young boy grabbed his dad’s hand, pushed it back and said, “Dad, Dad, don’t take my fries!”

The dad was stunned. He sat in front of his son in silence and wondered, “What happened?”

Then the meaning of this moment became clear to him. He thought, “My son doesn’t know where those fry's came from. He doesn’t realize that about five minutes ago, I went to the counter, put my hand in my pocket, pulled out the money and bought those fries for him.

I am the source of those fry’s . My son doesn’t understand that if I wanted to, I could go over to the counter and by a dozen orders of french fry’s and cover him with them.

He doesn’t know that I don’t even need his fry’s.

If I wanted to I could go over to the counter and buy my own.

What I really wanted from my son was his willingness to SHARE with me what I had already given Him!”

When we are unwilling to share what we have already been given it’s like we are slapping God in the hand and saying,

“Don’t ask me to share my money! - that you gave me

Don’t ask me to share my time - that you gave me

Don’t ask me share my talents - that you gave me

by the way:

More importantly the scripture declares that when we fail to give our tithe we are ROBBING God!

When was the last time you were blessed by giving to God your time, your money, or your talents ?

The real question is – Do we really believe Jesus when He says, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.”

Are we taking Jesus at His word?

Here’s what the bible says:

Joshua 1:8 NLT

8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

Malachi 3:8–10 NKJV

8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

We are robbing God when we fail to give our tithe (a tenth of our income) each and every time we get paid.

We are robbing God when we fail to use our gifts and time to increase the kingdom of God

I want you to notice one phrase in this passage of scripture:

1. TRY ME (verse 10)! a. This simple means “to examine, to prove.” The Lord is saying to us – go ahead and give your tithe and offering and see if I won’t pour out a blessing you won’t have room enough to receive.

Go ahead “put God to the test” and see if He is not faithful. - extraordinary!

When it comes to money - you will try every other way to keep it, and it only seems to slip through your hands so why not try honoring God with your possessions – your money, honor God with your talent, Honor God with your time!

Are we taking God at His word?

Proverbs 3:9 GW

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first and best part of all your income.

The word HONOR means to “be heavy.”

Are we weighing God down with our tithe and offering?

But there is an important question you have to ask yourself –

Am I giving God my leftovers or the first fruits?

In other words, do you trust God enough that you are willing to HONOR Him before you HONOR anyone else?

Luke 6:38 NKJV

38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Luke 6:38 GW

38 Give, and you will receive. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over will be put into your pocket. The standards you use for others will be applied to you.”

HOW MUCH OF A BLESSING DO YOU WANT IN YOUR LIFE?

That Sounds like a crazy question – because we all want God’s biggest and best blessing to be on our lives.

Well, maybe we should ask another question – if I am only giving God the left over does that mean my blessing will be based on the left over?

The answer – YES! Whatever measure you give – that same measure will come back too you.

So if you are generous with your measure – then generous blessings will come back too you!

If all of these verse we have read are true - then why don’t we as Christians give more of our time, talent and money?

And why don’t more Christians give?

One reason is this – we don’t trust that God will keep His word!

We’re not sure that He will bless us when we give! Again, we have to always check our motivation

I don’t give just to GET.

I give to be a blessing to the Kingdom and in return the Kingdom blesses me in ways I can’t always predict.

God wants to work THROUGH us in our giving, but first we have to trust that He is our provider!

When do you trust God?

Here’s an example:

Acts 2:44 NCV

44 All the believers were together and shared everything.

Acts 2:45 NCV

45 They would sell their land and the things they owned and then divide the money and give it to anyone who needed it.

People were so changed by the power of God that the things of this world no longer mattered and they were willing to do whatever it took to be a blessing to others in the Kingdom.

Those of us today, who know that Jesus has been a difference in our lives you must consider that God wants you to share the blessings that he has given to you

The easiest way to do this is by committing to give your time, give your talent, give your tithe regularly and faithfully.

Giving should be our starting place and it certainly should not be our stopping place.

In other words giving is the minimum requirement. Even people who don’t believe in God understand the practice of giving.

Giving shows an attitude of gratitude for the Lord. When you give your talents, your time and your money to the work of the Lord, to the building of the kingdom of God

you are actually confessing that God is the owner of everything you have and that He is in control.

When you give you demonstrate your faith in God to be in control of your possessions .

When you give of your first fruits – not your leftovers – you show gratitude to God for giving you your blessings.

2 Chronicles 31:5 GW

5 As soon as the word spread, the Israelites brought plenty of offerings from the first of their produce: grain, new wine, fresh olive oil, honey, and every crop from the fields. They brought large quantities, a tenth of everything.

Proverbs 3:9 NKJV

9 Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

It’s an Investment

Bringing our possessions to God proved that we are confident that God would provide for all their needs.

Giving will strengthen our commitment to the things of God – why?

Because we are investing!

I do not know anyone who puts money into an investment who is not concerned about the growth of that investment.

When you give your money, your time and your talent to the work of the Lord - the kingdom of God you are investing in His kingdom and you are helping the kingdom grow and prosper.

Then as the kingdom grows and our influence spreads then more people come to know Jesus Christ!

Matthew 6:21 NKJV

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

One man said it like this – “Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure; where your treasure is, there is your heart; and where your heart is, there is your happiness.”

Several times through the years I have been asked, “Where should I give my money, my time and my talent?” The answer is simple – wherever you are fed!

What Can I Really Expect As I Give God My Possession?

I can say this will all confidence and boldness – when you give to the Lord - he will pour out blessing upon your life.

God not only promises financial blessings but he also promise physical blessing in abundance.

Jesus told us that if we would seek Him first that our physical needs would be cared for!

We have to trust the Word of God – more importantly –

Do we trust the God of the Word?

Imagine what would happen if everyone gave their possessions into the work of the Lord - into the building of the kingdom.

I’ll tell you what would happen – the church would thrive!

It’s A Clear Choice!

The promises of God are clear regarding giving and specifically tithing

it is more blessed to give than receive.

When we give our possessions, we will be abundantly blessed.

When we give to God He will open the windows of heaven and bless us in unimaginable ways. Even in this modern time – giving is still God’s plan for supporting the ministry and funding the mission of the church.

Giving is the beginning of blessing the kingdom of God.

As we seek to please him with our offerings, and thank Him for His guidance in our life, we should begin our gifts giving with time, talent and money!

God has purposed and planned for all us to share in the building of the kingdom of God and the work of the Lord.

Sure we don’t all give the same but we should all be giving at minimum the same percentage.

So what do you have that God wants – God wants you to give of your possessions.

God do you really want my time, my talent and my money - the answer is yes!

Next Steps:

Read Old Testament :

Songs Of Solomon & Isaiah

New Testament :

1 John, 2 John, 3rd John