Give Thanks In All Circumstances

 Friday, November 29. 2024

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. Luke 22:19

  

Give Thanks In All Circumstances

In Luke 22:19 Jesus shows us the way to give thanks.  He is about to be crucified and He knows it – not the circumstances most would feel thankful for - yet He was thankful for the grace and glory that was to result form the cross.  And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  The Greek word for “thanks” in this verse is eucharisteo.  

Ann Voskamp explains this word beautifully:

The root word of eucharisteo is charis, meaning “grace.” Jesus took the bread and saw it as grace and gave thanks. He took the bread and knew it to be gift and gave thanks. Eucharisteo, thanksgiving, envelopes the Greek word for grace, charis. But it also holds its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning “joy.” Charis. Grace. Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving. Chara. Joy.

 

When we give God thanks for the gifts He gives, He gives another gift back to us – joy. When we can be grateful and joyful in every circumstance, we see things differently. Our perspective changes. Thanksgiving is not just a day, it is a way of life. That means that we don’t have to wait for things to change or get better or search endlessly for some elusive fairy tale called joy.  It is here and now, in every circumstance, when we can give thanksgiving to God.   

 

A heart of gratitude will be a content heart.  Pain, gratitude, and contentment can actually co-exist even though it may not be our favorite trio of feelings.  Being thankful in all things certainly doesn’t mean we are thankful for the circumstances we are in. It means that – in spite of the circumstances we are thankful because we know and understand who God is.  Ann Voskamp also said Thanksgiving is the one thing God asks to be done in everything and always…He knows what precedes the miracle.  In every circumstance God is at work for some purpose.  It may simply be for us to learn to be thankful in everything.  Or it may be that this circumstance you are in right now is a tiny piece of the miracle He has ahead in your life.  Until we can be thankful in each circumstance – or piece of the miracle - we cannot see the next piece. Every little piece makes the whole and its all important. 

 

Help your children to understand this life-giving principle.  All we have, we have because of Him and we need to model gratitude to God for everything, and in every circumstance.  We are our children’s first perception of God.  We need to show our kids an attitude of gratitude in good times and bad. 

 

Now more than ever we need to remember to be thankful in spite of the circumstances we might find ourselves in, because we know and understand who God is. At times like this, one of two things happen. We either feel thankfulness greatly, or we fail to see what we can be thankful for in the midst of the rubble around us. Sometimes the deeper we have to reach to find thankfulness, the greater the lesson we learn and the stronger the joy we feel.  

This week I urge you to remember these three words, grace, thanksgiving, and joy.  Eucharisteo. Jesus is the only way we are able to give thanksgiving at all times and in all circumstances. Thanksgiving to Him will bring us the joy we so desperately need.  

 

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this 
is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Happy Thanksgiving Day

 

Have You Forgotten The Lord?

 Wednesday, November 27, 2024

When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that he would give you—a land with large and beautiful cities that you did not build, houses full of every good thing that you did not fill them with, cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant—and when you eat and are satisfied, be careful not to forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. Deuteronomy 6:10-12

God led the Children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. The next generation would actually claim the promised land that God had promised their ancestors – a land with large and beautiful cities that you did not build, houses full of every good thing that you did not fill them with, cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.  God gave them this beautiful and abundant land. In this blessing God had for Israel, there was also the danger that they would forget the LORD who brought them out of the land of Egypt.

…and when you eat and are satisfied, be careful not to forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. 

Like the Israelites we too have been delivered from so much, including slavery – slavery to our sins. Some of us have been delivered from more, such as drug or alcohol addiction, abuse, financial devastation, illness, and much more. We often run to God when we are in a crisis. We cling to Him, seek Him, pray a lot, tithe, and study His word looking for comfort and answers. But when the trials are past and times are good, we tend to forget the Lord who delivered us and brought us out from the place of slavery. God wanted to remind the Israelites not to forget the Lord that brought them out of Egypt. When they entered the land flowing with milk and honey things would be good. The same is true for us. 

When there are no adverse circumstances compelling the remembrance of God, 
“We are no sooner grown rich, but we are apt to utter that ugly word, 
This I may thank myself for.” (Trapp)

Oddly enough, trials can also cause us to forget the goodness of God and all He has done for us in our lives. In the midst of adversity, we are blinded to the goodness of God because we only look at what is happening in the moment that is causing us pain. When we are walking through a trial or hard times, we have to make ourselves get out of bed, eat, go to work, do all the normal things we need to do but are so hard to do at the time. The same is true with our obedience to God. In our trials we need to remember God’s provision and protection in our lives instead of only focusing on the trial. We need to be obedient to Him in every way, in every area of our lives, in good times and in hard times. 

Our blessings come from sources that are beyond our own industry and skill; they are the fruits of the holy inventiveness of God, and the splendor and fullness of his thoughtfulness towards his poor children. Let us not forget him,  since evidently, he never forgets us. (Spurgeon)

In the midst of God’s provision and protection in your life, have you forgotten the Lord? If so, will you return to Him and commit every area of your life, including your finances, for His glory and work in the world? Pray and ask Him what He is calling you to do regarding your giving so that you might be more faithful in your relationship with Him.

When you have been successful have you forgotten the Lord? Have you been faithful with finances and tithing for His glory? Have you enjoyed the promised land, flowing with milk and honey, and did you remember how you got there? Don’t forget how you truly need the Lord and to be obedient in every season. He is faithful to us in every season. He never forsakes us and He never changes. We need to be faithful – and obedient - in every season as well.  

On Forgiving Others (When You Don't Want To)

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Then Peter came to him and asked, ‘Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?’ ‘No, not seven times,’ Jesus replied, ‘but seventy times seven!’” Matthew 18:21-22 

On Forgiving Others (When You Don't Want To)

It the Holiday season and for most of us that means family. This time of year can be filled with painful memories or feelings of anxiousness about being in the same room with someone who has wronged you. Maybe you want to be able to forgive and move on but you just can't seem to get there and it is going to put a big wet blanket on the holidays for you. Forgiving is love’s toughest work and love’s biggest risk. It can be especially tricky when we are not ready to forgive, or someone has hurt us so badly we cannot do it.  Not forgiving someone who has wronged us or hurt us can lead to a life of agony and bitterness, not for them, but for us.  Dealing with the hurt and anger you may feel deep inside is necessary in order for true forgiveness to happen.  

When others hurt us in some way, either intentionally or accidentally, we can become bitter which makes it ever harder to forgive.  When you have someone close to you, like a family member, that continually hurts you over and over, it seems impossible.  Peter asked Jesus, How many times do I have to forgive someone?  It is really hard to forgive those who have betrayed us more than once, but that is what Jesus said to do.  Jesus’ response to Peter was 70x7.  That is 490 times to be exact – that’s a lot of forgiveness!  There were two things Jesus wanted Peter to think about in response to his question:

·     How many times would you want grace?  How many times would you want forgiveness?  I know I don’t ever want to find myself out of the grace of God.  Thankfully, His grace never runs out.  His grace and forgiveness are never ending and no matter how many times we fail Him, He always welcomes us back with open arms. He expects us to have that same forgiveness with others, even the hardest people in our lives.  You may be the only picture of grace and forgiveness they have ever seen.  

·     Unforgiveness turns to bitterness and resentfulness, and bitterness and resentfulness steal the joy and peace from our lives. Although someone may have hurt us, it is our own bitterness that causes the ongoing pain.  Forgiveness brings healing.  Chances are you are the only one suffering, or at least you are suffering way more.  Unforgiveness bears a weight that crushes and imprisons us.  

Not forgiving someone and harboring bitterness is not worth the negative impact it has on us.  We are not hurting the other person near as much as we are hurting ourselves, if at all. Forgiveness frees the other person, but it also frees us from being held prisoner of bitterness, hardness, and even hate.  It frees us to feel grace on this side.  It frees us to have the joy in life that Christ intended us to have.  It frees us to allow Christ to be Christ.  He is Lord.  He is over all – including all wrongs that have been done to us.  Let them go and give them to Him where they belong and release yourself by forgiving them.  Find freedom and joy again.  

Therefore, judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart.
At that time each will receive their praise from God. 
1 Corinthians 4:5

The Blessing of Obedience

 Monday, November 25, 2024

The Blessing of Obedience

Test me in this way, says the Lord of Armies. See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not ruin the produce of your land and your vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit, says the Lord of Armies. Then all the nations will consider you fortunate, for you will be a delightful land, says the Lord of Armies. Malachi 3:10b-12

Last week we learned about how the Israelites were in a spiritual drought, not hearing from God which was due to their sinful behavior. In our passage today, God has given them three promises they will receive if they follow Him. 

Yesterday Pastor Jim gave us three promises that God gave the Israelites if they would bring the full tithe.

God will bless those who give. God told the Israelites that He would bless them. That promise holds true for us today. But remember - blessed in God’s terms may look different than what you think blessed looks like. - See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. V 10b

God will protect those who give. God promised protection over the Israelites. He goes before us behind us and beside us. He surrounds us with His love and protection.  -I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not ruin the produce of your land and your vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit, says the Lord of Armies. V 11

God will exalt those who give. As a result of obedience, God will exalt us , Then all the nations will consider you fortunate, for you will be a delightful land, says the Lord of Armies v 12

What are the benefits or the rewards of faithful obedience to God through generous giving? We know God promises blessings, protection, and to exalt us but what does that mean? 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

God is faithful whether we are or not, but when we walk in obedience to His commands, we see His faithfulness manifest in our lives. If we walk the Jesus way, in a transformed life, stepping where the Spirit steps, we will see His blessings in our lives. That doesn’t mean all will always be perfect and we will have no trials and hardships. It also does not mean that we should do what the Bible says so we can have blessings, and God will make us rich. Then we are doing it for ourselves. Obedience is always for our good and for His glory. The true blessing of obedience reaches far wider and deeper than any storehouse that God fill up or material possessions we can accumulate. 

The greatest benefit and reward of faithful obedience to God in anything is the joy that comes from being obedient to Him and knowing that you are doing what He commands us to do. Nothing brings more true joy to our lives than living fully surrendered and obedient to Him. But God promises us other benefits of our obedience in tithing as He has commanded us to do. 

Giveology “Give to Grow”

 

Giveology
“Give to Grow” 
Malachi 3:10b-12 (CSB)

Key Truth: “Giving is a part of growing because stewardship is a part of discipleship.”

Main Question: What are the benefits or the rewards of faithful obedience to God through generous giving? 

1.    God will bless those who give. (Malachi 3:10b)

 

2. . God will protect those who give. (Malachi 3:11)

 

3.  God will exalt those who give. 
(Malachi 3:12)

After the Message:
Read Deuteronomy 6:10-12. In the midst of God’s provision and protection in your life, have you forgotten the Lord? If so, will you return to Him and commit every area of your life, including your finances, for His glory and work in the world? Pray and ask Him what He is calling you to do regarding your giving so that you might be more faithful in your relationship with Him.

 

In Every Season

Friday, November 22, 2024 
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10 ESV

Every day is a good day to start something new and good for you.  If we want good things in our lives, we have to put forth the effort, and then it still takes time to see the fruits of our efforts. Nothing happens instantly. Time is really a part of every single aspect of life.  There is not a part of life that is not affected by time. Take raising kids for example - although there are days that literally drag by, it really does happen so fast. It feels like forever when they are 100% dependent on us, but the next thing you know they are graduating from High School. Time and waiting on God’s timing for our lives is something we have to learn to accept - and rest in - or it will steal the joy from our lives. Part of the waiting and trusting in His timing is recognizing that there are seasons in our lives and circumstances in our lives, and we cannot control either one.  We can embrace them and trust in His perfect plan. 

Seasons of Life
God created the earth and our lives to operate in seasons. A season in our life is a time frame that has been allotted for something to happen...which affects the future.  There is a lot of change in life, but nothing in our lives happens by accident.  Every single thing, good and bad, is appointed by God and we should give thanks for every season, even the hard ones. We experience all these things in life because God, in His complete sovereignty has ordained all of them for our lives...the bad, the difficult and the painful as well as the pleasant, the comfortable and the delightful. It all comes from the hand of God, even when none of it makes sense to us.

Circumstances of Life
Letting our experiences dictate our happiness and peace is not God's plan. We have no control over many of the circumstances in our lives.  But we do have control over our reactions and what we do with ourselves in the midst of difficult circumstances.  Circumstances without purpose can wear us out. Just going through the motions in life can will cause us to be apathetic, bored, and empty. If our heart is not involved, we will have no initiative or ownership in anything we do.  God's design and desire is to control our lives to produce the purpose and fulfillment He has planned for our lives. Being responsible to God with time in life can bring us the peace, joy, and fulfillment we have been trying to produce on our own. When we discover God's purpose then we can also discover His power and peace.  We all should ask ourselves “How much of my daily life is under God's control?" 

Four things we can remember in the seasons of life:

• Choose Faith Over Frustration - Trust God and His wisdom that He will use every season of our lives to accomplish His purpose for our lives. 
• Choose Gratitude over Grumbling - Complaining doesn’t change anything, so instead look for God in the circumstances and see what gift of the season you can find.
• Choose Good over Gain - All the things in the world will not satisfy your aching soul the way doing something kind for someone else will. 
• Choose to Reverence God rather than Fear Life - Living in fear of what can happen in life will steal your life.  We don’t have the perspective that God does.  We can only see a short distance, but we make ourselves miserable imagining things that will never happen.  

 

Live Open Handed

 Thursday, November 21, 2024

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10

Live Open Handed

We have spoken this week about how everything we have belongs to God. Our money, possessions, our children, our family, our talents and gifts, and our time. All these parts of our lives belong to Him and if we are to be good stewards with all He has given, we need to honor and glorify Him in every way. That means living open handed and giving it all back to Him.

It is hard to open our hands and let go. We hold tightly trying to orchestrate the moments and events of life to fit into the ideal we have of what our lives, and those of our loved ones should look like.  It’s not that we have ideals that would not honor God. It is that God’s ideal for us is that we loosen the grip, open our hands, and turn it all over to Him. He has good plans for us. He loves us and our children and families, and He already has the very best plans for all of us. 

Have you ever stopped to talk to someone and the minute it happens you are kicking yourself because you know they are going to talk forever? That happened to me recently and I almost instantly thought, “I don’t have time for this.”  As fast as I thought it, I heard God say plainly, “It’s not your time, it’s mine.”  Time is one of the things that we need to be sure we are giving back to God. We live hurried and packed lives, always running from one place to the next. We sign our kids up for dance and baseball and track and basketball. We commit to serve (yes – a good thing if that is what God is telling you to do), to bake, to teach, and  to carpool. We are over-committed and tired, thinking we are doing all the best things for our family. We leave no margin for God encounters or leading of the Spirit to help someone who needs us or just to talk to someone who rarely gets to have a conversation with another person. 

God does want us to do all the good things for our families but most of all He wants us to be in communion with Him, listening and following His lead and living life open handed. We have spiritual gifts and talents to use for His glory. We know already that we are to be good stewards with our money and give the first tenth to Him. Sometimes if God is asking us to be open handed because He wants to take something out of our hands we don’t like it. But we can trust Him.

We should be good stewards with our talents and gifts. God gave them to us and He will empower and equip us to use them according to His plan. We just need to be open handed – surrendered and willing. When we try to find our significance and worth in what we can do, we find only emptiness. We only find lasting significance and worth in our Heavenly Father. Those gifts and talents came from Him to be used to glorify Him. It is the same for other things in our lives as well. If we try to find significance in our possessions or having lots of money we will only find emptiness there as well. Everything from Him, flowing back to Him, for Him, is the pattern of our lives when we live for Him.

If we would be completely surrendered and open handed with our whole lives we would be so amazed and blessed by what God does out of our lives. We miss blessings and opportunities from Him because we are closed fisted. We hold tight thinking we have some control. 

What are holding onto? What are you not surrendering to Him? Time? Resources? Possessions? It is all His. Live open handed and walk into the abundant life of a yielded bondservant to the King you have entrusted with everything. 

I Want Off…

 Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Proverbs 28:13

I Want Off…

 

How much is too much…

How far is too far…

How low is too low…

How exhausted is too exhausted…

 

What will it take to bring you to the point of wanting to change your behavior to have a different life? We want a different life but often we do not want to change our behavior.  For a Christian, repentance only comes when we get to that place where we know we do not want to go on living the same way anymore. 

 

When we become Christians, we admit that we are sinners and repent – turning away from sin and towards God. We believe Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins. We repent and turn to God, accepting the gift of salvation that Jesus’ blood bought for us and the gift of eternal life. As we walk the path of a disciple of Christ, we still wrestle with our flesh and sometimes fail. Other times we keep doing some “small” sins that are “not that bad.” We know we should quit but we don’t want to.  We may wrestle with some strongholds that we try to overcome but just continue to fail because maybe we are not trying hard enough. We know better but we can allow ourselves to do it anyway. This is not true repentance. True repentance is always followed by true obedience. True repentance results in a marked change in our behavior

 

Repentance is turning away from all sin -- sins of thought, word, and deed, secret sins and known sins. When we truly repent, we turn from all sin - even the ones we don’t want to let go of. We understand the word repentance as confessing our sin and changing our ways.  In our minds repentance is all about changing behavior.  Repentance is not just regret. Repentance is more than feeling sorry. It means following through on that conviction and turning around — changing your mind and your heart so that you are no longer walking in sin.

 

True repentance is about modifying behavior, but the kind of repentance that works changes more than just behavior. It is a radical change in one's  attitude toward sin and God. It implies a conscious, moral separation, and a personal decision to forsake sin and to enter into fellowship with God.  Real repentance is more than changing my behavior out of fear of hurting others or fear of being caught.  It is changing my behavior because now I see things differently. It is ceasing to think like the world and beginning to see things with our new mind in Christ.  It is where truth meets sin.

 

Sunday Pastor Jim spoke about the hamster wheel we are on when we are sinning, asking for forgiveness, sinning, asking for forgiveness, again sinning and then asking for forgiveness. There is no true repentance because there is no radically turning away from sin and towards God. When we stay on the hamster wheel, we exhaust ourselves. We continue to chase and pursue in a never-ending cycle. All we are chasing and pursuing will never fill the void. So we run again and again and again because we still are not fulfilled. All the things we chase and pursue that are not God will disappoint us over and over. God is the only thing thing that will ever fill the void in our hearts. When we do repent of a sin we have been struggling with, we must replace it with something and God is that something. If we don't replace those habits with something else we will eventually pursue them again. It is a good idea to have a mentor or to be discipled by a more mature Christian. Pray for God's guidance and provision in times of temptation and stay away from anything or anyone that you know could be a trigger for you. 

There is nothing on this earth that can give us what we need. Only God can do that and it is not a one-time experience. Unlike the earthly idols we chase that quickly leave us emptier than before, He continues to give us everything we need into eternity. When we are in relationship with God, being transformed, with the Spirit living in us, we step where the Spirit steps. When we finally get off the hamster wheel for good and we step where the Spirit steps, we are on a different path, going in a different direction towards life and away from death. It is only His power in us that gets us off of the hamster wheel and into abundant life in Him. 

 

How about you? Do you want off the hamster wheel? We have to get to that one place – where we no longer want to pursue the wrong thing, where we longer want to chase the wrong thing. How low and exhausted are you? Are you at that place yet? Are you ready to truly repent and turn towards God? 

 

Meeting Jesus at the Well

 Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Jesus answered and said to her, Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.  John 4:13-14

 Meeting Jesus at the Well

This past Sunday we heard the story of a woman who met Jesus at a well.  She was a “colorful” member of society and with her reputation she felt much shame, and perhaps even ridicule from others.  For this reason, she went to the well when no one else would be there – the hottest part of the day.  She didn’t expect to meet a King, and she certainly didn’t expect Him to ask her for a drink and engage her in conversation, and then offer her living water.

Jesus knew this woman would be there at that exact time, which is why He was there.  He was there for her – one of the lowest regarded women in the town. She had already had five husbands and was currently living with a man that was not her husband.  Why would the King of Kings go out of His way, risk His reputation, and meet her at this well during the hottest part of the day?

Why did Jesus do this?  Why did He meet you and me at the well?  Because that is where Jesus changes lives.  The well is where we go looking for something to save us, sustain us, fill us.  If Jesus is not at the well we go to, then we will not get the living water He gives that changes lives and satisfies for eternity.  If we go to a different well trying to find satisfaction, we will only find sand, again and again.  


He goes there to find us… 

In our sin…

In our shame…


He risks everything to get to us because He can bridge the gap between us and God.  He bridged the cultural and communication gap with this woman, and He didn’t care what the pious religionists of the day thought.  Her salvation, and the others that would be reached through her testimony were more important to Him. Are you willing to risk your reputation to see people’s lives changed?  

This woman and her lifestyle represent all of us. We are all sinners and until we know the freedom of salvation we live in guilt and shame, coming to the well in the hottest part of the day so no one sees us.  We are looking for the same thing she was looking for.  We are thirsty and going from one empty cistern to another, filling our souls with nothing, and dissatisfied we run even faster to the next empty cistern.
  

Like the woman in this story, when we finally drink from the right well, we will get the living water that will satisfy forever.  And we need to run with abandonment to others, offering them this living water that will never leave them thirsty again.  It is time to stop running from dry well to dry well, seeking something that is only found in Christ.  He is the living water that gives eternal satisfaction and life to all who drink. 

Are You Robbing God?

 Monday, November 18, 2024

Because I, the Lord, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed. Since the days of your ancestors, you have turned from my statutes; you have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Armies. Yet you ask, “How can we return?” “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me!” “How do we rob you?” you ask. “By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions. You are suffering under a curse, yetyou—the whole nation—are still robbing me. Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house.  Malachi 3:6-10

Are You Robbing God?

The prophet Malachi was speaking to a spiritually dry Israel. They had been delivered from exile and had rebuilt the temple but were apathetic in their relationship with God.  They gave begrudgingly and spoke dishonorably of God. God was silent and they wondered if He would ever return. They had stepped away from God, but He had not left them. They had turned from God’s statutes over and over, and yet God did not turn His back on them and destroy them.  He allowed them to turn back to Him just as He does us. He is a faithful God. He was faithful then and He is faithful now. 

We are blessed to be loved by God. He is God – He doesn’t have to choose any of us. He didn’t have to have mercy on us and offer us salvation and eternal life. But He did, and He will never go back on His word. He never changes. Because of His promise to us we know that His love for us, and His choice for us will never change, even though we still turn away from Him and sin in our weakness. He promises that if we repent and turn back to Him, He will return to us. This is true repentance – radically turning away from sin and turning back to God. True repentance is always followed by true obedience.

The Israelites asked how they could return, and God said they were robbing Him. They did not understand. Then God told them the whole nation was suffering under a curse and still robbing Him. Then God tells them how they can return to Him - Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. 

What was God talking about? He was talking about giving. The Israelites were robbing God by withholding their tithes and offerings. Everything we have belongs to God. He is the only reason we have what we have, and it all belongs to Him. He gives it to us to be good stewards with what He has given. Not tithing on what He has given is robbing Him. Powerful words. How awful to rob God, who has given us all things including life, breath, salvation, and eternal life. No one ever has, or ever will give us more than He has. Because Israel had not obeyed God’s command to tithe, God did not bless them materially or spiritually the way He would have if they had chosen to obey. Their actions showed that their hearts were far from God. 

What can we learn about giving which might help us grow to become better stewards of the resources God has given us? 

Having financial problems carries unspeakable weight. But sometimes we compound these problems by not being obedient in our relationship with God. Things are tight.  We are living paycheck to paycheck. We make debt for ourselves, out of both necessity and desire, that is impossible to overcome. The kids need shoes and clothes. The kids need food and to go to the doctor. We have medical bills. And we don't know how the electric bill will get paid this month. Unfortunately debt only creates more debt. We are afraid to tithe because we have no extra money at all. We don’t have faith to step into the darkness in obedience to a God who always has been and always will be faithful to us as He has promised.

Obedience starts in the heart. Even if we have not been good stewards in the past, we can start now. If our heart is right with God and we are walking in a relationship with Him, we will want to obey. Tithing is about our devotion to God in obedience - out of honor and glory to Him. When we have a transformative relationship with God we are changed as we grow in Him. This is the path of discipleship.  Obedience is part of that path, and giving is part of obedience. We are to faithfully obey if we want to grow as a disciple of Jesus. Give what you can give but give something. Start now.

Are you robbing God by not giving anything back to Him?  Do you have the faith required to truly step out in obedience? 

Giveology - “Grow to Give”

 

Giveology
“Grow to Give” 
Malachi 3:6-10a (CSB)

Key Truth: “Giving is a part of growing because stewardship is a part of discipleship.”

Main Question: What can we learn about giving which might help us grow to become better stewards of the resources God has given us? 

1.    God has not changed, but is faithful. (Malachi 3:6-7a)

 

2. We are a selfish people. (Malachi 3:7b-9)

a.    A Christ-follower is to give “according to their means” or “out of what they have.”  (2 Cor. 8:12) 

b.    Giving is also to be a priority and in proportion to earnings. (1 Cor. 16:2)

 

 

3.  We are to grow to be generous in our giving. 
(Malachi 3:10a)

After the Message:
Read Malachi 3:6-10a. Pray and ask God to reveal what you might be “robbing” from Him. Is it your “tithes and offerings”, your time, your service, or maybe even your trust in His provision? Ask Him to show you some practical ways to live out your obedience to Him this week through giving.

To Him Who Is Able…When I Am Not

 Friday, November 15, 2024

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25

To Him Who Is Able…When I Am Not

As human beings, we understand our weakness. We know how hard it is to have self-control, to stay on a diet, to not buy things we don’t really need, to save money, etc… When it comes to our sinful desires, it is a struggle we can never win in our own power. Thankfully, we have a Heavenly Father who knows our weakness, and has perfect strength where we are weak. He is able when we are not.

Paul knew this struggle well -  I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. Romans 7:15-17 There is no way we can be perfect and we struggle with this our whole lives. Like Paul, we do what we don’t want to do, and don’t do what we want to do at times.  But the verse from Jude above says that God has the power to keep us from stumbling. This use of stumbling however, does not mean that He keeps us from giving into flesh at times, which He does Himself and through the Holy Spirit. It means that He is faithful and  will keep us from falling away forever. Once we are His, we can never be snatched from His hand and though we fall at times, we never fall completely away. Jude refers to a God that knows that we will fail at times, but He keeps us from falling forever away -  and stands us up blameless in His glory.  

Our God is holy and He requires those who stand before Him to be blameless, which is impossible for us to do in our own power. We are not able, but our God is able for us! Jude says that He is able to keep us from stumbling and to present us blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy. Blameless means without fault but the bible says in Romans 3:23 that All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. God’s glory and holiness require a blameless soul of those in His presence. In Psalm 24:3-4 the Bible tells us that the only one who has clean hands, a pure heart, and who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear may ascend the hill of the Lord. We will only be able to stand in the glory of His presence when we are covered by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and His righteousness. Only Christ was blameless, and all who are in Him will be blameless before God. He makes us righteous. He gives us righteousness, and with great joy!  

 

May God arise, may his enemies be scattered may his foes flee before him. May you blow them away like smoke — as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.
But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they 
be happy and joyful.
Psalms 119:117

 

Godly Virtues & Ethics - Titus 2

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Godly Virtues & Ethics - Titus 2 Submitted by Kay Crumley

I have been blessed by The 9 sermon series. I knew about the fruit of the spirit, but this series gave me a deeper understanding. The nine listed in Galatians 5:22-23; love, joy, peace – man to God, patience, kindness, goodness – man to man, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control – man to self. If you’ve been participating in this series, you know that, as a church, the one that is challenging for most of us, is self-control. Most of us struggle with restraint and moderation in our thoughts, words, actions, and desires. While that may not be all the time, we have faced challenges in some situations. As Pastor Jim was ending this sermon, he referenced some verses from Titus 2. That was especially relevant to me as our Rooted Bible study for this fall includes Titus and this Sunday, we will be discussing chapter 2. I love how God pulls this together!  

In Chapter 1 of Titus, Paul had given Titus his instructions for correcting the issues that existed on the Island of Crete in the new Christian churches. After reading about the disagreeable groups of people he had to work with I would hate to be put in Titus’s place. He is looking for church elders who have strong faith and lived by the truth of Paul’s teachings. In Chapter 2 he is speaking more generally to the people to encourage them to live godly lives. He addresses five groups. 

Verse 1 is for Titus who will teach consistently the foundation of the gospel. Then he lists how the older men should live in verse 2.   

But you are to proclaim things consistent with sound teaching. 2 Older men are to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. 

Next, he turns his attention to both older and younger women.  

3 In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. They are to teach what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children,  

5 to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submission to their husbands, so that God’s word will not be slandered. 

Verses 6-7 addresses how he is to teach young men and the characteristics they are to have. Titus is to set himself as an example to these young men by having good works, integrity, and dignity. Those are also qualities the young men are to have.  

6 In the same way, encourage the young men to be self-controlled 7 in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching.  

Finally in verses 9-10 he turns his attention to the slaves, or in our world today, the employees. Follow orders, do your job well, no back talking, or stealing, instead demonstrate trustworthiness.  

9 Slaves are to submit to their masters in everything, and to be well-pleasing, not talking back 10 or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior in everything. 

I have underlined the characteristics that each is to demonstrate as they live godly lives. I hope you see the similarities. The first three sets of scripture include self-control. While that is not in, the list for slaves, note that submission to someone else does require self-control. What does that mean to you? How do we practice self-control? We must think of what we are saying before it is out of our mouths. Then we can filter not only the words but the manner they are delivered. The same applies to what we do, consider our actions first. Are those words or behaviors following the teaching we have learned in the Word of God? Paul listed old men and women, young men and women, and those who work for a boss/master. We are all included in this set of instructions.  

Why are we to live this way? That is answered in verses 11-13. Because of the mercy of God, we must focus on His promises now, in this world because He is returning for us, and we must live to honor Him. In some versions the word sensible in verse is translated self-control.  

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

The final fruit in The Nine is self-control. Let’s begin practicing living with restraint and moderation in our thoughts, words, actions, and desires so that we are known as His by the fruit we produce. The other eight are equally important but may be easier to exemplify. Older saints must mentor or disciple younger saints to grow each generation in faithfulness and godliness.