February 19 & 26 2017 God's Plan For Financial Blessing

GOD'S PLAN FOR FINANCIAL BLESSING

TWO IMPORTANT TRUTHS ABOUT MONEY

Luke 12:15 (NIV)"Jesus said, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds ofgreed; a man's lift does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. "

Luke 16:9-13 (NIV)"I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain eternal Mends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So ifyou have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And ifyou have not been trustworthy with someone else property, who will give you properly ofyour own? No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and Money."'

1. MONEY IS A TOOL AND A TEST.
2. MANAGING MONEY IS A SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE.

EIGHT HABITS FOR FINANCIAL BLESSING

1. I must trust God as my source and supply.

Rom. 11:36 (NLT)"Everything comes from God; everything exists by his power; and everything is intended for his glory."

Deut. 8:18 (NIV)"Always remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability TO PRODUCE WEALTH."

Pr. 16:3 (NLT)"Commit your work to the Lord, and then your plans will succeed."

2. I must do my work as an act of worship.

Col. 3:23 (NIV) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Pr. 21:5 (NLT)"Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty."

Pr. 10:4 (NIV)"Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth."

Pr. 16:11 (NLT)"The Lord demands fairness in every business deal; he sets the standard."

Pr. 12:11 (NIV) "Hard work brings prosperity; only fools waste time chasing fantasies."

Pr. 13:11 (NLT)"Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; but wealth from hard work grows."

3. Keep good records.

Pr. 27:23-24 (LB)"Riches can disappear fast... so watch your business interests closely. Know the state of your flocks and herds."

1 Cor. 16:2 (LB)"On the first day of every week put aside some of what you have earned during the week, and use it for the offering The amount depends on how much the Lord has helped you earn."

http://saddleback.com/watch/webcast/financial-seminar-2010

4. GIVE THE FIRST TEN PERCENT BACK TO GOD

Pr. 3:9-10 (LB)"Honor the Lord by giving Him the first part of all your income, and He will fill your barns to overflow!"

Deut. 14:23 (LB)"The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives."

Mal. 3:10 (NCV)"Bring to My Storehouse a full tenth of what you earn...Test me in this, 'says the Lord. 'I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out all the blessings you need.

5. I must save and invest for the future.

Pr. 21:20 (LB)"The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets."

Pr. 13:11 (NCV) "Money that comes easily disappears quickly, but money that is gathered little by little will grow."

Pr. 24:27 (NLT)"Develop your business first before building your house."

6. You setup a repayment plan to get yourself out of debt.

Pr. 3:27 (LB)"Don't withhold repayment of your debts."

Rom. 13:8 (NIV)"Let no debt remain outstanding."

7. Budget your spending.

Pr. 21:5 (TEV)"Plan carefully and you will have plenty; if you act too quickly, you will never have enough."

Pr. 10:16 (NLT)"The earnings of the godly enhance their lives, but evil people squander their money on sin."

Memory Verse: Pr. 21:20b (TEV)"... stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it."

8. I must enjoy what I have.

Eccl. 6:9 (TEV)"It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to always be wanting something else."

1 Tim. 6:18 (NLT)"Tell them to use their money to do good They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them."

WHAT MOST PEOPLE DO: THE ORDER GOD BLESSES:

1. Spend it - 1. Dedicate it to God

2. Worry about it - 2. Tithe it

3. Repay it  - 3. Save & Invest

4. Save it - 4. Repay it

5. Give it,  -  5. Enjoy it

Mt. 6:31-33 (LB) "Don't worry... Your heavenly Father already knows what you need, and He will give it to you IF you give him first place in your life AND live as he wants you to."

February 5 2017 Getting A Grip On Peace Of Mind

GETTING A GRIP ON PEACE OF MIND

Four principles to develop peace of mind.

I. You need to settle the identity problem.

Verse 24 – By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

Joshua 24:15 – Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.

II. You must accept personal responsibility.

Verse 25 – He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.

Principle: You can always replace a negative with a positive.

Verse 24 – When he had grown up.

No one can ruin your life but you.

Romans 8:31-39 – If God is for us, who can be against us, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Trouble or hardship or persecution…..NO!

III. You must accept the issue of priorities.

Verse 25 – He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.

Verse 26 – He regarded this sacrifice for the sake of Christ as of greater value that the treasures of Egypt.

Luke 12:15 - A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of things he possesses.

IV. You must have endurance.

Verse 27 – For he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

The fact of life: No gain without pain.

John 1:12 – All who received Him, He gave the right to become children of God.

October 30 2016 God's Plan For Financial Blessing

GOD’S PLAN FOR FINANCIAL BLESSING

TWO STATEMENTS FROM JESUS

Luke 12:15 – Jesus said, “Watch out!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Luke 16:9-13 – “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain eternal friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.  So, if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?  And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?  No one can serve two masters.  You cannot serve both God and money.

Money is a tool and a test.

Managing money is a spiritual discipline.

SEVEN HABITS FOR FINANCIAL BLESSING

1. I must trust God as my source and supply.

Romans 11:36 – Everything comes from God; everything exists by His power; and everything is intended for His glory.

Deuteronomy 8:18 – Always remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth.

Proverbs 16:3 – Commit your work to the Lord, and then your plans will succeed.

2. I must do my work as an act of Worship.

Proverbs 21:5 – Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.

Proverbs 10:4 – Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.

Proverbs 16:11 – The Lord demands fairness in every business deal; He sets the standard.

Proverbs 12:11 – Hard work brings prosperity; only fools waste time chasing fantasies.

Proverbs 13:11 – Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; but wealth from hard work grows.

3. I must keep good records.

Proverbs 27:23-24 – Be sure you know the conditions of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds.  For riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. 

Proverbs 23:23 – Get the facts at any price.

Proverbs 24:3-4 – Any enterprise becomes strong, through common sense and profits by keeping abreast of the facts.

Three Things To Know: Know what you own; Know what you earn: Know where it goes.

4. Plan your spending.

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

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

Three things in a good budget: Mutual decision; Matter of prayer; Goals

5. Enjoy what you have.

Proverbs 15:16-17 – Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.  Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.

1 Timothy 6:6-8-But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and be content with that.

Hebrews 13:5 – Be content with what you have.

6. Share with others in need.

Proverbs 11:24-25 – One man gives freely, yet gains even more, another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.  A generous man will prosper, he who refreshed others will himself be refreshed.

Proverbs 19:17 – He who is kind to the poor leads to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has one.

Proverbs 22:19 – A generous man will himself be blessed.

Proverbs 28:27 – He who gives to the poor will lack nothing.

7. It’s called tithing.

Proverbs 3:9 – Honor the Lord with your wealth, and with the first fruits of all your crops.

Three Reasons To Tithe: It shows Our Gratitude; It’s a Reminder for the Present; It’s a Step of Faith for the Future.

Deuteronomy 14:23

Malachi 3:8-11

Matthew 6:33 – Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

September 25 2016 Learning To Be Content

LEARNING TO BE CONTENT

Memory Verse: Exodus 20:17 "You shall not covet...anything that belongs to your neighbor."

"COVET": the uncontrolleddesire to acquire

I. What Happens When I Always Want More

1. Fatigue

Proverbs 23:4" Do not wear yourself out to be rich; have the wisdom to show restraint."

2. Debt

Ecclesiastes 5:11 (LB) "The more money you have, the more money you spend..."

3. Worry

Ecclesiastes 5:12 (GN)"A working man ... can get a good night's sleep. But the rich man has so much that he stays awake worrying."

4. Conflict

James 4:1"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from the desires that battle with you?"

5. Dissatisfaction

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (GN)"You will never be satisfied if you long to be rich. You will never get all you want."

Philippians 4:12(Paul) "I have learned the secret of being content... whether living in plenty or in want."

II. How To Learn To Be Content

1. RESIST COMPARING MYSELF TO OTHERS.

2 Corinthians 10:12 "We do not dare classify or compare ourselves ... it is not wise."

I Timothy 6:9 (JB) "When we long to be rich, we are a prey to temptation; We get trapped into all sorts of foolish and dangerous ambitions which eventually plunge us into ruin."

2. REJOICE IN WHAT I DO HAVE.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 (GN)"If God gives a man wealth and property .. he should be grateful and enjoy what he has...it is a gift from God."

Ecclesiastes 6:9 (GN)"It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to be always wanting something else."

3. RELEASE WHAT I HAVE TO HELP OTHERS.

I Timothy 6:17-19 (LB)"Tell those who are rich, not to be proud and not to trust in their money which will soon be gone. Tell them to use their money to do good ... to give happily to those in need, always with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven -- it is the only safe investment for eternity!"

Acts 20:35 (GN)"There is more happiness in giving than in receiving."

4. REFOCUS ON WHAT'S GOING TO LAST.

2 Corinthians 4:18 "We fix our attention, not on the things that are seen, but on things that are unseen. What can be seen lasts only for a time, but what cannot be seen lasts forever."

Luke 12:15 "A man's true life is not made up of the things he owns, no matter how rich he may be."

June 5 2016 Releasing The Passion Of Love

RELEASING THE PASSION OF LOVE

John 13:34 – A new commandment I give you, Love One Another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another.

John 13:15 – I have given you an example to follow, do as I have done to you.

1. Accept others like Jesus accepts me (acceptance.)

John 6:37 – All that the Father gives me will come to me and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

Psalm 27:10 – Even if my Mother and Father forsake me, the Lord will receive me.

Romans 15:7 – Accept one another then, just as Christ accepted you.

Romans 12:2 – We must bear the burden of being considerate of the doubts and fears of others.

ACTION STEP: This week I will show acceptance to ??????????.

2. Value others like Jesus values me.

Luke 12:6-7 – Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.

Value depends on who made it.

1 Timothy 4:4 – Everything God created is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Value depends on what people will pay for something.

1 Peter 1:19 – He paid for you with the precious life blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless lamb of God.

Isaiah 49:15-16 – Can a Mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you.  See I have engraved you on the palms of my hand.
    
1 Peter 2:17 – Treat everyone you meet with dignity.

Mark 10:21 – Jesus looked at him and loved him.

Action Step: This week I will affirm the value of ??????????.

3. Forgive others like Jesus forgives me.

Isaiah 43:25 – I am the God who forgive your sins and I do this because of who I am.  I will not hold your sins against you.
    
Romans 8:1 – There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 2:7 – You ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed with excessive sorrow.

Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgives.

ACTION STEP: This week I will offer forgiveness to ??????????.

4. Believe in others like Jesus believes in me.

Mark 9:23 – Everything is possible for him who believes.

1 Corinthians 13:7 – If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost.  You will always believe in him, l always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.

Romans 1:12 – I want us to help each other with the Faith we have.

Hebrews 10:24 – Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds.

ACTION STEP: This week I will demonstrate trust in ???????????.
    
Ephesians 3:18 – May you have the power to understand as all God's people should.  How wide, how long, how deep His love really is.