February 7 2016 Daring To Plant In Faith

DARING TO PLANT IN FAITH

Daring Faith: The Key To Miracles – Part 5

Genesis 8:22 (NIV) God: “As long as the earth endures, there will be seedtime and harvest. . .”

Galatians 6:7a (Mes)“Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. Whatever a person plants, he WILL harvest."

GOD’S LAWS OF PLANTING AND HARVESTING

1. EVERYTHING STARTS WITH A SEED

Genesis 1:11God said, “Let the land have seed-bearing plants and trees that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their varieties.”

A “SEED” IS ANYTHING VALUABLE that I give away

2. NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL UNTIL THE SEED IS PLANTED

John 12:24 Jesus said, “Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, it cannot reproduce. But if it dies, it will produce much fruit.”

Mark 4:26-27 (NCV) Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is like someone who plants seed in the ground. Night and day, whether the person is asleep or awake, the seed still grows, but the person does not know how it grows.”

3. WHEN I HAVE A NEED I SHOULD PLANT A SEED

Ecclesiastes 11:6 (TEV) “Do your planting in the morning and in the evening, too! You never know whether it will all grow well or whether one planting will do better than the other.” 

4. WHATEVER I PLANT IS WHAT I WILL REAP.

Galatians 6:7b (TEV) “You will reap exactly what you plant.”

Galatians 6:7b-8 (Mes)“The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others, and ignoring God, harvests a crop of weeds. That’s all he’ll have to show for his life! BUT the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life!”

5. I’M NOT THE ONLY SOWER.

John 4:38 “I sent you to reap where you didn’t plant; others had already done work before you, and you will gather the harvest.” 

6. I ALWAYS REAP IN A DIFFERENT SEASON THAN I SOW.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-5 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. . . A time to plant and a time to harvest. . . a time to scatter and a time to gather. . .” 

7. I MUST BE PATIENT AND NOT GIVE UP

Galatians 6:9 (LB) “Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we WILL reap a harvest of blessing IF we don’t get discouraged and give up.” 

8. I ALWAYS REAP MORE THAN I SOW.

Mark 4:8 Some seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, MULTIPLYING thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times.” 

9. I INCREASE MY HARVEST PLANTING MORE SEED.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will reap generously. Each one should give what he’s decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Proverb 11:24 (Mes) “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.” 

10. I PLANT BY FAITH, NOT FEELINGS

Psalm 126:5-6 (NLT) “Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, BUT they sing as they return with the harvest.” 

11. THE BEST TIME TO PLANT IS NOW

Ecclesiastes 11:4“Those who wait for perfect weather will never plant seeds; and those who look at every cloud will never reap a harvest.”

Septermber 9 2012 How To Be Wise With Your Wealth

HOW TO BE WISE WITH YOUR WEALTH
James 5:1-6

God is not opposed to wealth. Many of the greatest believers in the Bible were wealthy. But God is opposed to the misuse and abuse of wealth. James deals with “The Four Key Aspects of Wealth.”

I. The wrong uses of wealth -- avoid these!!!!

Issue # 1: The Accumulation of Wealth

Don’t hoard it.

Vs. 3 - You have hoarded wealth in the last days.

Results: (Vss 2-3)

Your wealth has rotted.

Moths have eaten your clothes.

Your gold and silver are corroded.

Whatever I accumulate will deteriorate.

Issue #2: The Appropriation of Wealth

Don’t steal it.

Vs. 4 - The wages you have failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you.


Issue #3: The Allocation of Wealth
Don’t waste your money.

Vs. 5 - You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence.

Issue #4: The Application of Wealth.

Don’t abuse it.

Vs. 6 - You have condemned and ruined innocent men, and they are powerless to stop you.

II. The Right Uses of Wealth

1. Right Accumulation: Save money faithfully.

Proverbs 21-20 - The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.

Keys to Saving:

• Learn to live on a margin.

• Learn contentment.

Valid reasons for saving:

1. Prevent impulse buying.

2. Allows us to help others.

3. It gets your money working for you.

2. Right Appropriation: Make money honestly.

Proverbs 13:11 - Wealth from gambling quickly disappears, wealth from hard work grows.

Proverbs 14-23 - Hard work brings a profit, mere talk leads to poverty.

How much money can I make? No set limit.

Qualification: As long as it doesn’t hurt:

Your health, My family, Other people, My spiritual life

3. Right Allocation: Spend money wisely.

Proverbs 21:5 - The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

The Key: A budget of planned spending.

4. Right Application: Give money generously.

Proverbs 11:24-25 - It is possible to give away and become richer! It is also possible to hold on too tightly and lose everything. Yes, the generous man shall be rich. By watering others, he waters himself.

Matthew 6:20 - Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.

1 Corinthians 16:2 - On every Sunday, put aside something from what you have earned during the week, and use it for the offering. The amount depends on how much the Lord has helped you to earn.

July 22 2012 How To Make Up Your Mind

How To Make Up Your Mind

James 1:5-11

Immediately after speaking about problems (vs. 2-4), James deals with the matter of decision-making.  The quality of your life will be determined by the wisdom or foolishness of your decisions.

1. The problem: Indecision.
Verse 8 - A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Double-minded: Two-souled

Indecision causes:

•  Unstable emotions.
•  Unstable relationships.
•  Unstable spiritual life.

2. The prescription: Get wisdom.

James suggests three practical steps:

Step One:  Admit your need.
Verse 5 - If any of you lack wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2 - When pride comes, the comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Step Two:  You need to ask.
Verse 5 - He should ask God.
Proverbs 2:6 - It is the Lord who gives wisdom, from Him comes knowledge and understanding.

Step Three:  You anticipate it.
Verse 6 - But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt.
Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

3. The Promise: God will give it.
Verse 5c - Ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

How God Gives:
•  Gives it continuously
•  Gives it generously
•  Gives it cheerfully

June 17 2012 God's Intentions For Fathers

*no audio*

GOD’S INTENTION FOR FATHERS - LEAVE A LEGACY

Proverbs 13:22 - A good life gets passed on to the grandchildren.
Psalm 112:6 - A righteous man will be remembered forever.

1. SPEAK with integrity.

Proverbs 17:7 - Respected people do not tell lies.

Proverbs 25:14 - People who promise things they never give are like clouds and wind that bring no rain.

Psalm 101:2 - I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need Your help, especially in my own home, where I long to act as I should.

2. SERVE with intensity.

Proverbs 14:22 - You will earn the trust and respect of others if you work for good.

Colossians 3:23 - Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

John 6:27 - Don’t work for food that spoils, instead,work for the food that lasts for eternal life.

Psalm 37:18 - Day by day the Lord observes the good deeds done by godly men, and gives them eternal rewards.

3. GIVE with generosity.

2 Corinthians. 9:9 - Godly people give generously. Their good deeds will never be forgotten.

Psalm 112:9 - He who gives generously to the needy and shows kindness will be powerful and respected.

Proverbs 11:25 - A generous man will prosper, he who refreshed others will himself be refreshed.

Proverbs 3:27-28 - Whenever you are able, do good to people who need help. Don’t say “Come back later. I’ll give it to you tomorrow.”


4. SUCCEED with humility.

Proverbs 29:23 - Arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.

Proverbs 27:21 - Praise is the test of character.

Proverbs 13:18 - Someone who will not learn will be poor and disgraced. Anyone who listens to correction is respected.

Proverbs 13:7 - A pretentious, showy life is an empty life, a plain and simple life is a full life.

Proverbs 15:33 - Humility and reverence for the Lord will make you both wise and honored.

January 30 2011 How To Live Generously

How To Live Generously

(Acts 20:35 - In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive.'")

Key Bible Words: Believe, Pray, Love, Give

Luke 6:38 - "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

I. How giving benefits your life

1. Giving makes us more like God

(John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.")

2. Giving draws me closer to God

(Matthew 6:21 - "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.")

3. Giving is a victory over materialism

(1 Timothy 6:17-19 - Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.")

(Deuteronomy 14:23 - Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always.)

4. Giving strengthens my faith

(Malachi 3:10 - "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.")

(Proverbs 3:5&9 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding - Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops)

5. Giving is an investment for eternity

(1 Timothy 6:18-19 - Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.)

6. Giving it blesses me in return

(Proverbs 22:9 - A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.)

(Psalm 112:5 - Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.)

7. Giving makes me happy

(1 Chronicles 29:9 - The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.)

II. How to get the most out of giving

1. Learn to give willingly

(2 Corinthians 9:12 - This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.)

2. Give generously

(2 Corinthians 8:3-4 - For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.)

3. Give joyfully

(2 Corinthians 9:7 - Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.)

4. Give thankfully

(1 Chronicles 29:13-14 - Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.")

5. Give expectantly

(2 Corinthians 9:6 - Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.)

(2 Corinthians 8:5 - And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.)