The Kingdom - Part 8

Introduction: The Economy of the Kingdom

(Mat 6:9-10 NIV) "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, {10} your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

The kingdom of God is the RULERSHIP OF GOD

• Deliverance is God ruling over principalities and powers
• Healing is God ruling over sickness and infirmity
• Salvation is God ruling over the curse of the law

Wherever God rules – The Kingdom of God has come

• God’s rule and reign must be seen in every sphere of life
• Including our economy

God’s Kingdom COMES when God’s people GIVE

The Kingdom of God comes whenever financial prosperity is released in a biblical way

Devil wants to destroy Australia’s economy

• The devil wants to discredit the church (when it comes to giving)
• “All they want is your money” – so they don’t go
• Yet they go to Foodland – what do you think they want…friendship???
• Result: many don’t talk about money (people might leave)

Truth is money affects every one of us – therefore it must be spoken on

• Even if it makes you feel uncomfortable
• God is far more concerned about financial maturity than financial comfort

Jesus spoke more about giving than any other subject.

• Giving is the expression of Faith, Hope and Love

“You can give and not love, but you can’t love and not give.”

I know the “Prosperity Gospel” has abused many

Remember: The answer to abuse is not ‘No Use’ but ‘Correct Use’

Example:
Power tools and electrical appliances come with warning labels
Doesn’t mean you should not have them – It means you must use them properly

(Mat 23:1-3 NIV) Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: {2} "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. {3} So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

We have ALL been conditioned by others to think about money a certain way

Poverty mentality

• Distorts the word of God
• Robs you of your blessing
• Limits the purpose of God for your life

If your thoughts are contrary to the word of God – you will hinder the work of God in your life

Our believing effects our receiving

• Wrong beliefs lead to wrong actions

Need to change our frame of reference about money and prosperity

• To go forward – you have to undo the past
• Deal with the ‘STINKING THINKING’
  (Mat 19:3-6 NIV) Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?" {4} "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' {5} and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? {6} So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

People often ask – “Do you have to give in your church?”

• Question: Do you have to breathe – ‘NO’ but there’s a consequence
• If you choose to give there is a consequence
• If you choose not to give there is also a consequence

Biblical look at what happens when we give

1. We prove our priorities

(Mat 6:33 NIV) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

• It is one thing to Say “God is first” (talk is cheap)
• It is another to prove it with our finances
  (Mat 6:21 NIV) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
• The bible is clear – give to God first

2. We free ourselves from the love of money

• Money is not evil only the love of it
  (1 Tim 6:10 NIV) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s.
• Having money is not a problem – it is when money has us
• Good giving habits free us from the ‘grip’ of money
  (Psa 24:4-5 NIV) He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. {5} He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Saviour.

3. We communicate our trust in God

• Giving says “God is my provider”
  (Phil 4:19 NIV) And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
• When people are unsure that God will provide they are reluctant to give

4. We receive protection

(Mal 3:11 NIV) I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty.

• Giving stays the hand of the evil one
• This far and no further – (Job 1:9-10) You have put a hedge around him

5. We position ourselves for increase

• You can’t out give God
  (Luke 6:38 NIV) 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."

Note: YOU may not prosper straight away – But you will begin to experience Godly authority immediately

6. We conquer containment

(Acts 20:35 NIV) 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.'"

• A poverty mentality puts a lid on our lives – It sets limits in our lives
  • Ceiling limits my potential to through a ball higher
  • Plants in small pot verses plants in a big one (pot bound)
• Giving breaks through those ceilings and removes the limitations
• Moves us from the natural to the super natural

7. We facilitate the growth of God’s Kingdom

• God so loved the world he Gave (Jn.3:16)
• His Kingdom has been extending ever since

• The devil must relinquish his hold

8. We obey God

• God doesn’t want our help, but our obedience
• Too many will do anything but OBEY
• Burning out – doing things their own way in their own strength
  (1 Sam 15:22 NIV) But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
  (Rom 5:19 NIV) For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
• Nothing demonstrates ongoing obedience than consistent giving

9. We imitate God

(John 3:16 NIV) "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.

• God is El-Shaddai (God of more than enough) – Not ’El-Stingy’
• A lot of talk about becoming more Godly or more Christ like
• Never more like God than when we give

“The expression of Christian character is not doing good – but God likeness”

• I don’t give to be good – I give to be God-like
• Generosity is a product of the Kingdom – giving is a by-product
• Song: “When I leap and I shout, it’s the joy coming out”
• When I give it is generosity coming out

Conclusion

God’s Kingdom COMES when God’s people GIVE

• God’s way is giving
• Giving must be God’s way – next week