“BLESSED”
BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING: Listen to the Sermon Here 119741661
How much do Americans need to be happy? The answer across the spectrum by all income groups was…A Little Bit More…
All of us feel that we don’t have enough……..
We all have way more than enough………………………
How many of you have food for today and also for tomorrow? More than enough….
How many have more than 1 bedroom in your house? More than enough….
How many of you have more than 3 outfits to wear? More than enough…
God is my provider, I have more than enough…
“When the demands of life seem unfair to you, when you are exhausted and have to pull yourself out of bed yet another time to do some act of service, do it gladly, without counting the cost and without self-pity, for if you persevere in serving others, in giving yourself to the poor, if you persevere to the point of completely spending yourself, perhaps someday the poor will find it in their hearts to forgive you. For it is more blessed to give than to receive, and it is also a lot easier!” Saint Vincent de Paul
What is worse than being too busy? Having nothing to do.
What is more painful than having to give away something we own? Having nothing to give away.
What is harder than being dragged out of bed to minister to someone in need? Being the person who is in bed and who needs someone to help him or her.
It is more blessed to be able to give than to receive, and it is easier.
YOU ARE BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING.
It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35
People’s lives are changed when we give.
2 Corinthians 9:13 NIV
Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God… for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
BIG BLESSING MISTAKES
1) SOME IGNORE GOD’S BLESSINGS. (Whine & Complain All The Time) (got a place to live but its not good enough, got a car but not good enough, closet full of clothes but not good enough, have money but not good enough, have a job but not good enough)
2) SOME APOLOGIZE FOR GOD’S BLESSINGS. (You have a really nice home…you feel you have to explain it…Oh we got such a great deal)
3) SOME HOARD GOD’S BLESSINGS. (Studies continually show that those who have the most give the least and those who have the least give the most.)
TITHING IS NOT GIVING.
A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. Leviticus 27:30 NIV
“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’“In tithes and offerings. Malachi 3:8 NIV
Some people will say, “that is an Old Testament” thing, tithing BUT Jesus clearly affirms tithing in the New Testament.
Tithing is Giving for Beginners – This is where you start.
Tithers – Now you can begin to give…….
3 Ways we are BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING
1) WE ARE BLESSED TO GIVE JOYFULLY.
Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man (or woman) should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Greek word Cheerful = Hilarious
2) WE ARE BLESSED TO GIVE EXTRAVGANTLY.
…a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” Mark 14:3-5
Every once in a while you just give and people say, “That was just stupid generous” “That was just crazy” “Nobody does that”
Extravagant = Exceeding Reasonable Bounds – Reckless
3) WE ARE BLESSED TO GIVE SACRIFICIALLY.
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, … this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything–all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44
This is where you are giving something that cost you something. You give something that you needed.
We tend to give in such a way we won’t feel it!
God is our PROVIDER, We have MORE than ENOUGH!
Challenge: I want you to think about how you love to give and then go and give in exactly the opposite.
May you become a church full of Christ followers who give so generously that people Praise God because of your giving.
May you give gifts this week to the point that you feel it!
God so loved you that He gave His Child, His Son, so that we could be part of the family.
God is not asking you to give one of your children but He is calling us to give. What will you give?
Pastor Ronnie