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Harvest
September 28, 2014
Pastor Greg
Sunday Morning
Matthew 6 / 2 Corinthians 9
Greg is talking about how he over packs in trips, because you never know what you will need.
Greg is saying how there was a man in the Bible who had so much stuff that he had to build storage buildings for all of his stuff.
Luke 12:20-21 NKJV
[20] But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' [21] "So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
15% of everything Jesus said relates to the topic of money and possessions.
That is more than teachings on Heaven and hell combined.
Scripture offers about 500 verses on prayer and fewer than 500 on faith, while there are more than 2,000 verses on money!
Luke 12:20-21 NKJV
[20] But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?' [21] "So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
15% of everything Jesus said relates to the topic of money and possessions.
That is more than teachings on Heaven and hell combined.
Scripture offers about 500 verses on prayer and fewer than 500 on faith, while there are more than 2,000 verses on money!
We all seem to think our stuff is our stuff, but it all is really a gift from God.
Scripture teaches that you belong to God.
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV
[19] Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? [20] For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.).
Scripture teaches that you belong to God.
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV
[19] Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? [20] For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.).
When the Pharisees try to trick Jesus Christ about what is Caesar's He shows them a coin with Caesars picture on it and says to give Caesars what is Caesars and to God what is God's. You and your body and mind is God's!
Haggai 2:8 NKJV
[8] 'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the LORD of hosts.
Proverbs 6:6 NKJV
[6] Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,
1 Timothy 5:8 NKJV
[8] But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Proverbs 10:22 NKJV
[22] The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.
Deuteronomy 8:18 NKJV
[18] "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
1 Timothy 6:17-18 NKJV
[17] Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. [18] Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
1. Don’t be arrogant nor put your ultimate hope in wealth.
Tell those who are rich not to be proud, soon they will be gone and their possessions won't matter.
2. Enjoy what God has given you.
God has no joy in anyone's poverty. It is ok to have things to comfort your life.
It’s not about what we have, but who we have.
Haggai 2:8 NKJV
[8] 'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the LORD of hosts.
Proverbs 6:6 NKJV
[6] Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,
1 Timothy 5:8 NKJV
[8] But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Proverbs 10:22 NKJV
[22] The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.
Deuteronomy 8:18 NKJV
[18] "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
1 Timothy 6:17-18 NKJV
[17] Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. [18] Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
1. Don’t be arrogant nor put your ultimate hope in wealth.
Tell those who are rich not to be proud, soon they will be gone and their possessions won't matter.
2. Enjoy what God has given you.
God has no joy in anyone's poverty. It is ok to have things to comfort your life.
It’s not about what we have, but who we have.
Death comes for everyone, it has no respect for persons.
Philippians 4:11-13 NKJV
[11] Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: [12] I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. [13] I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Money is not the root of evil, but the love of it is.
When you bend every effort to get money, that is evil. Money in and of itself has no moral ground.
Wealth is not the problem, it's how we get it, how we have it and what we do with it.
1 Timothy 6:10 NKJV
[10] For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
[10] For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Some says it hurts to give, Jesus Christ basically says it should hurt to stop giving.
3. Use money for good.
(1 Timothy 6:18 NKJV
[18] Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,)
Matthew 6:1-4 NKJV
[1] "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. [2] Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. [3] But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, [4] that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
Matthew 6:1 NKJV
[1] "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
You are not to give to impress others, you lose all reward from God. You got the reward you wanted from the people you were trying to impress.
Matthew 6:3 NKJV
[3] But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
Matthew 6:3 NKJV
[3] But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
If you do things for God, you don't have to tell anyone, because God knows all.
God is everywhere, watching everything.
(Proverbs 15:3 NKJV
[3] The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.)
If I give in such a way as to impress others, I already have my reward.
(Matthew 6:2 NKJV
[2] Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.)
God wants the right motive: don’t give out of mere duty.
(Matthew 6:3 NKJV
[3] But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,)
If we remember, God will forget; but if we forget, God will remember.
God is everywhere, watching everything.
(Proverbs 15:3 NKJV
[3] The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.)
If I give in such a way as to impress others, I already have my reward.
(Matthew 6:2 NKJV
[2] Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.)
God wants the right motive: don’t give out of mere duty.
(Matthew 6:3 NKJV
[3] But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,)
If we remember, God will forget; but if we forget, God will remember.
Leave the bookkeeping to God and he will keep you accountable.
All scripture is inspired by God. Jesus Christ quoted old scripture and that confirmed the truth of it.'
2 Corinthians 9:6-9 NKJV
[6] But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. [7] So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. [8] And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. [9] As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever."
2 Corinthians 9:6-9 NKJV
[6] But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. [7] So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. [8] And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. [9] As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever."
2 Corinthians 9:10-11 NKJV
[10] Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, [11] while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
1. God specifically says He loves cheerful giving.
(2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV
[7] So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.)
Christmas as an example is a time that we see this. Little kids seem to love the getting and the parents enjoy seeing the kids get it. As the kids grow and have children they slowly change to see the joy of giving.
2 Corinthians 8:2 NKJV
[2] that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
How is it possible to have all these things seen as bad things and still find joy? Because these people found the joy of giving.
2 Corinthians 8:5 NKJV
[5] And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
According to Martin Luther, three conversions necessary: Conversion of the heart, conversion of the mind and conversion of the purse.
2. It is a blessing and real joy to give.
3. As we give to God, God will give even more to us!
(2 Corinthians 9:8)
2 Corinthians 8:2 NKJV
[2] that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
How is it possible to have all these things seen as bad things and still find joy? Because these people found the joy of giving.
2 Corinthians 8:5 NKJV
[5] And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
According to Martin Luther, three conversions necessary: Conversion of the heart, conversion of the mind and conversion of the purse.
2. It is a blessing and real joy to give.
3. As we give to God, God will give even more to us!
(2 Corinthians 9:8)
A farmer knows this, the more you sow your seeds the larger the crops.
On the personal side, do you like to help a tight wad or help a giver? God is the same way.
We are not owners of anything we are only stewards of what God has put in our possession.
Proverbs 3:9-10 NKJV
[9] Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; [10] So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
If you are faithful with what He has given you, He will give you more.
“Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” (Proverbs 23:5 NKJV
[5] Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.)
Proverbs 3:9-10 NKJV
[9] Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; [10] So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
If you are faithful with what He has given you, He will give you more.
“Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” (Proverbs 23:5 NKJV
[5] Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.)
You can't take it with you, but you can send your treasures on ahead of you.
Time on earth is a before life, it comes and goes. The "afterlife" is forever. Store up your treasures there!
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