icon__search

The Reward Factor

April 7, 2019 • Ps. Mark Edwards

RETURNING TO GOD THE FIRST

March 31, 2019 • Ps. Mark Edwards

Can I Trust God?

March 24, 2019 • Ps. Mark Edwards

TO GIVE SOMETHING AWAY YOU HAVE TO CONQUER THE FEAR OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH YOURSELF AFTER WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN AWAY Generosity and trust in God go hand in hand LETS EXPLORE TRUST & GENEROSITY AT THE HEART OF THIS CONCEPT WAS THAT YOU TRUSTED GOD TO SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS FROM WHAT YOU HARVESTED EXCLUDING THE CORNERS OF THE FIELD Luke 6:38&39 … “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.” IF YOU ARE GENEROUS – God will not just fill your basket – He will press down he will shake it and then pour a blessing out on you until it runs over and you will be capable of blessing others UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLE WITH GOD – YOU ALWAYS RECEIVE BACK MORE THEN YOU GIVE Proverbs 16:2 – “People may be pure in their own eyes but the LORD examines their motives.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 – “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. 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. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” YOU GIVE TO GIVE NOT GIVE TO GET Generosity is always about trusting God IT IS THE ABILITY TO TRUST GOD THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO PICK UP THE GRAIN THAT RUNS OVER THE BASKET. YOU TRUST GOD THAT THE AMOUNT OF THE GRAIN IN THE BASKET IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOUR NEEDS AND MORE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF FINANCIAL GIVING FIRST PRINCIPLE – PRINCIPLE OF CHEERFULNESS HOW DO YOU BECOME A CHEERFUL GIVER? God has to do a work in your heart SECOND PRINCIPLE – PRINCIPLE OF SUFFICIENCY Paul speaks of – “you will always have everything you need” Another version says – “always having all sufficiency in all things” Money is never your provider – God is HOW MUCH DO YOU TRUST GOD? THIRD PRINCIPLE – THE PRINCIPLE OF THE SEED There is a ladder of giving  Tithes  Offerings  Sowing of seeds The highest usage of finance is SEED 2 Corinthians 9:6 – “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.” V 10 – “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.” GOD WANTS US TO TAKE SOME OF THE SEED HE GIVES US AND USE IT FOR OURSELVES (NEEDS) BUT THEN HE WANTS US TO SOW SOME OF THE REST Note V10 again - “God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat.” V10 again – “(God) will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.” HERE’S SOME THINGS I’VE NOTICED ABOUT SOWING THE SEED (A) LIKE BEGETS LIKE Established since the beginning of time Genesis 1:11 – “These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” (B) YOU REAP AFTER YOU SOW Genesis 8:22 (NKJV) - “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night shall not cease.” (C) YOU REAP MORE THAN YOU SOW Psalm 126:5&6 (NKJV) – “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” THE QUESTION YOU HAVE TO DETERMINE TODAY IS NOT HOW GENEROUS YOU ARE BUT HOW MUCH DO YOU TRUST GOD