Subject: How to be Financially Blessed
by Rick Welborne
--As we prepare our hearts for our Annual Missions Convention, I felt the need to challenge you to prepare your heart to be blessed especially in the area of finances.
--Even in our verse that is tied to our name as a church is an implication of financial blessing as well as other blessings:
John 10:10 (NKJV)
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
–God is opening doors for us corporately, as families, and as individuals. Many of you, I believe are asking God to open a great door in the area of your finances. Nothing wrong with asking God to help in that area.
–That may mean a new job, a raise, the sale of your home, favor on your present job, or something miraculous that helps you out of the despair you find yourself in financially. The Word of God is clear...God wants to bless us in this area.
1. To experience God’s blessings in our finances, we must be obedient.
–The enemy, the devourer wants to come and steal, kill, and destroy your finances. Spirit filled believers have a great weapon against Satan and his attacks on our finances. It is called obedience.
Malachi 3:10 (NKJV)
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
–What an awesome invitation from God about opening that great door for us. He goes on to say:
Malachi 3:18 (NIV)
18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.
18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.
–Here is the key: Be filled with His Spirit, be obedient, and watch Him open that effective door!
–We have to make a decision about our finances of whether we want to be blessed or do we want to be cursed ...do we want to go thru that great door financially or stay where we are?
Malachi 3:8-10 (NKJV)
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.
9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
Robert Morris: Being “blessed” means having supernatural power working for you. By contrast, being “cursed” means having supernatural power working against you. The days of the blessed person are filled with divine coincidences and heavenly meaning. A blessed man may or may not be wealthy by the world’s standard, but he enjoys a quality of life that most billionaires would envy.
–It is extremely important that you understand that Holy Spirit will lead us to truth:
John 14:17-18 (NLT)
17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.
18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.
–The Spirit will give you revelation about what I am telling you today and that it is God’s truth and He also promises that He will not leave you as an orphan...He will bless you!
–How many here today want to go thru that great door with your finances and you want Satan (the thief) to stop stealing, killing, and destroying the blessing God has?
2. To experience God’s blessings in our finances, God must be first.
–If you want supernatural power (God) working for you, you must put Him first!
Robert Morris: Jesus talked about money in 16 of His 38 parables. Clearly, from the Bible’s standpoint, we need to understand money and how to handle it. Why? Because money is actually a test from God. How you handle money reveals volumes about your priorities, loyalties, and affections. In fact, it directly dictates many of the blessings you will (or will not) experience in life.
–In the OT the people were commanded to put God first with what they had:
Exodus 13:1 2 (NKJV)
1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 "Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine."
Exodus 23:19 (NKJV)
19 The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.
Malachi 3:8 10 (NKJV)
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.
9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
–What is God saying...Put Me first...And bring to Me the first of the first...bring your tithe and your offerings to My house…remember, be obedient! He is a great God!
–Tithes are brought not given...offerings are given but tithes are brought to the House of God because the tithe already belongs to God. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse…that is where it belongs!
–Remember earlier you said you wanted to go thru that great door in the area of your finances...if that is true you must do it God’s way. It is not only 10% but it is the first of the first...you give to God first. Our checkbook
–Think about it...those you hear say they have been faithful in giving to God first, they say the same thing...we are so blessed! Those who are not faithful say the same thing...we seem to be cursed...they always struggle.
Robert Morris: It always requires faith to give the first. That’s why so few Christians experience the blessings of tithing. It means giving to God before you see if you are going to have enough. By tithing, it is as if you are saying to God, I recognize you first. I am putting you first in my life, and I trust you to take care of the rest of the things in my life. That’s why tithing is so important. It is the primary way we acknowledge that God is first.
–We have you, Pastor Rick, tithing is an OT principle: We are not under the law! We are under grace! Really! Grace is tougher than the law...let me prove it!
Matthew 5:20-22, 27-28,31-32,38-41,43-45,48 (NKJV)
20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.'
22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.
27 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.'
28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
31 "Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'
32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.'
22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.
27 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.'
28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
31 "Furthermore it has been said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'
32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
--It sounds like to me that Jesus’ expectations of us in the New Testament are so much higher than they were in the Old Testament so why would money be any different…oh yes, tithing in the New Testament.
Matthew 23:23 (NLT)
23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
Matthew 23:23 (NKJV)
23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
Matthew 23:23 (NCV)
23 “How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You give to God one-tenth of everything you earn—even your mint, dill, and cumin. But you don’t obey the really important teachings of the law—justice, mercy, and being loyal. These are the things you should do, as well as those other things.
23 “How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You give to God one-tenth of everything you earn—even your mint, dill, and cumin. But you don’t obey the really important teachings of the law—justice, mercy, and being loyal. These are the things you should do, as well as those other things.
–If you are set on being strictly NT go and sell everything you have and bring the money to the leadership here and we will distribute it the way we see is appropriate.
Acts 2:44-45 (NLT)
44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.
45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.
45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.
–Because there has been so much abuse of handling finances from many of those who are in the public eye (TV Ministries). Many churches have pulled back in their teaching on the subject of giving. Tragic for believers!
–I believe this has been a mistake on the churches part and an injustice for those who need to hear the truth about Living in Freedom Every day in the area of finances.
–You said you wanted to go thru that great and effective door in the area of your money...Then you must be willing to do it God’s way.
–Sometimes it is hard to see the concept of the tithe when we talk about money but let me show you and illustration using groceries instead...Bible...they brought their animals or their produce from their fields.
–Two tables...one with Our house and one with God’s House.
A. Put all ten boxes in your house...looks great! Remember it is cursed...devourer comes and steals, kills, and destroys...blessing lost...God’s house empty.
B. Take the ten to your house first and realize you can give a tithe...take one to God’s house...stay with me...it is cursed because God was not first...thief comes.
C. Imagine you give to God first and take the nine to your house...God’s house is blessed and you are blessed.
D. Think about this...You give to God First His tithe and bring offerings beside...Three brought to God’s house (tithe and missions) and seven are taken to your house. You see Pastor Rick, I will not have enough. Really?
Malachi 3:8 10 (NKJV) 8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings.
9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
E. Let suppose everyone does that...God’s house is overflowing and your house is overflowing with God’s blessings.
F. How many can testify that it works...As you are obedient to God with your tithes and offerings...God’s Kingdom (His House is blessed) and you are blessed.
G. You will go thru that great door with your finances and God will receive the glory and the thanksgiving.
2 Corinthians 9:12 13 (NIV)
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
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