Open Hands, Open Heaven

Welcome

Thank you for worshipping with us today. We are so glad you are here. My name is Keith and my wife, Maegan, and I have the incredible privilege of serving as the pastors of this amazing church.

Series Recap

We have been on an amazing journey over the past 3 weeks. Our subject matter has been the ever elusive topic on calling. Getting clarity and reclaiming our calling. Our prevailing thought has been

“what we are called to do, flows from who we are called to be”.

Called means to be set apart, invited, activated and empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill your God given assignment.

Maegan

We have discovered that calling isn’t just about the destination, it is also the journey. We are all on a journey. It is filled with twists and turns and challenges and triumphs but somehow God uses all of it. He calls us to it because the journey develops who we are called to be and what we are called to do. He called you.

Keith

Context/Background

The Apostle Paul was called. God used him to do some amazing things. After his encounter with Christ, Paul had quite the journey. He preaches the Gospel, is beaten, has planted churches, discipled people and was crucial in establishing what it means to be a follower of Christ in the Jerusalem counsel in Acts 15. Now, he has a new assignment, bring support and relief to the Jerusalem church.

Though the Church was birthed there, it was a primary target and faced constant persecution. There was also a famine. Isn’t it interesting that the place that once was strong now finds itself in need?

What do you do when you have helped so many but now you are the one that needs help?

You acknowledge it and accept it. Paul was raising funds from the churches that he planted to bring relief to those that were hurting.

Scripture

2 Corinthians 9:1–12 NLT

1 I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem. 2 For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving. 3 But I am sending these brothers to be sure you really are ready, as I have been telling them, and that your money is all collected. I don’t want to be wrong in my boasting about you. 4 We would be embarrassed—not to mention your own embarrassment—if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren’t ready after all I had told them! 5 So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly. 6 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. 7 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.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” 10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.

Prayer

Today we want to talk to you about how what we are called to do is meant for others. Our title is Open Hands, Open Heaven.

Lord, we thank you for your kindness. Your generosity and the beautiful gift of grace. I pray that you speak to us, challenge us, encourage us, inspire us. Holy Spirit, give us open eyes, open ears and open hearts for what you want to do today. In the name of Jesus, Amen!

Illustration

Maegan

Have you ever experienced a random act of kindness? Just last week I had an opportunity to go to breakfast with friend from our church. As I was walking up to the restaurant, I noticed a man that appeared to be going through a difficult season. He was asking people for money as they walked by. I didn’t have any cash on me but I felt compelled to help.

I asked the man if he was hungry. I ordered him food, treated him with dignity and respect. I didn’t see that the entire restaurant was watching. I went on with my meal and my server came to me and said, someone noticed what you did and paid for your meal.

I did not do this to be seen. I did not do this to have my food paid for. I did it because The Holy Spirit prompted me to. I have come to understand that the Holy Spirit prompts us but doesn’t push us. He uses our “yes” to impact people. It amazes me at how a simple yes has multiplied impact but somehow it comes back to us.

Keith

There is a scripture in Luke 6:38 where Jesus shares...

Luke 6:38 NLT

38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

It is connected to Biblical and agricultural principal of sowing and reaping. It is literally used throughout the entire Bible. Images of planting, being fruitful, cause and effect. We must sow in order to reap.

We have a neighbor who is soooo passionate about lawn care. He is so passionate that he volunteered to do our yard for us. He pulled up the weeds, did the mulch, and planted some trees. It was a lot of work, but now we are seeing the results. The seed was planted and watered and now there is growth. It is hard to expect growth if you haven’t planted. It is hard to expect to reap if you haven’t sowed. It is a Kingdom principle.

Maegan

We have seen this in our lives, where people have randomly given to us at moments we needed it the most. Since then, we understood the importance of doing our best to look for opportunities to be generous.

Generosity

Generosity isn’t just about money.

It means showing readiness to give MORE of “something” then expected.

It means to go above and beyond. And the something varies. It could be generous with your time, talent, and treasures.

Keith

Paul uses this word and the Biblical definition gives us deeper insight. Biblical generosity is eulogia.

It means praise, blessing called down, abundant gift.

Praise. Blessing called down. Abundant Gift.

When Paul speaks about being generous, he is saying it is a form of praise to God, a blessing is called down, and we are able repeat the cycle and be a gift or blessing to others. Phrases I grew up hearing was

“when praises go up, blessing comes down”

“blessed to be a blessing”

When God called Abraham and told him he was blessed, it was so that he could be a blessing to others. God gives it to us for others.

Genesis 22:18 NLT

18 And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.”

Obedience leads to blessing. There is power, influence, blessing, impact in saying yes. God uses our yes to perform miracles. Blessing leads to generosity. Generosity leads to bigger blessings. Generosity has reciprocity.

Your generosity is an act of worship that commands a blessing on your life.

An open hand leads to an open heaven. When we say yes to being generous, God says yes to blessing us. Generosity has reciprocity.

Maegan

Points

Paul is encouraging the Corinthian church, which was tremendously blessed financially, that as you have benefited from the generosity of others, God wants them to say yes so that others can benefit from them.

We are Called to be:

Keith

Generous with our Time

Time is a very precious gift.  Most of us feel we don’t have enough time for all the things we want to do.  Everyone is given the same amount of time:  24 hours each day, 168 hours each week.  The question is:  How do we choose to use our time?  Henry David Thoreau once said: “It is not enough to be busy, so are ants. The question is what are we busy about?”

Maegan

Are we using our time in a way the benefits others? I am BIG on phone calls and FaceTime. Keith will often say, just text them but I feel it is important for people to know I am not juggling tasks when talking with them. I want people to know they are precious. Time is a gift and when we are generous in sharing it with others, it shows that we value them.

Generous with our Talents

God has given everyone one of us gifts, talents, calling, anointing. Sometimes we struggle to recognize it. Sometimes the enemy wants to convince us to hide it or even worse, we don’t have anything to offer. Scriptures paints a different story.

Keith

We have the parable of the talents where it states that everyone was given something and they had to make a choice on what they were going to do with it. 1 Corinthians 12 lists gifts that God give us.

Wisdom, discernment, preaching, encouragement, miracles, teachers, organizers, helpers.

That is right, being organized is a gift. Helping others is a gift. If you have every felt prompted to get things in order, help, encourage, those are given by God. You can take assessments to determine your strengths and personality. The key is to then ask, how are I using the way God has wired me for others? For the Kingdom? When God gives us something, it is never meant just for us.

Maegan

Generous with our Treasure

Paul says God gives the farmers seed. In other words, it is God that gives us the ability to get wealth. He has always invited His creation to participate in building His Kingdom. From Tabernacle, to Temple, to the Church, to missions trips…God has always invited us to partner with Him to advance His Kingdom.

Keith

He gives us what we need to give to Him. Financial generosity is understanding that we are owners of nothing, stewards of everything.

Financially partnering with God is the only quantifiable way we can measure trust.

WE ARE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING…will you say yes?

Summary

God has called us to be be generous. (Time, Talent, Treasure) He has called us to live open handed. An open hand leads to an open heaven.

One of the greatest signs of growth isn’t found in what we accumulate, but our ability to live open-handed. Give.

We are most like God when we are giving and forgiving.

Closing

24 years ago 7 people were prompted to plant a church in Jacksonville Florida. The heart of this church was to lead people to live a God First Life. That church was named Celebration Church was birthed. The name comes from Luke 15:23 where it says the lost son comes home and there was a celebration.

That church reached thousands of people. 7 years ago, that church planted a church in Orlando Florida. So many people have been reached. It hasn’t always been easy. It took people being generous with their time, talents, and treasures to create environments to reach people. Reached people, reach people through their time, talent and treasure.

We are called to reach the lost and equip the found. What we are called to do, flows from who we are called to be. We are called to

All about Jesus

Faith-filled and Spirit-led

Welcoming

Authentic

Participators

Others Focused

Intentional

Diverse. From day one, our church had a focus to do our best to reflect heaven.

Family

Generous. We are the owners of nothing, stewards of everything.

God has called us all to live open handed. Open hands lead to open heaven. Paul was asking a successful Gentile church to care about a Jewish church. This was unprecedented. It taught equality and concern for others that may not be able to do the same for you. That is Kingdom.

What is God leading you to say yes to? I ask that you pray and obey.