Partnership – 6

Partnership – 6

Subject – Passion for God’s House Leads to More Than Enough

By Rick Welborne

Exodus 36:1-7 (NKJV)
¹  "And Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whom the LORD has put wisdom and understanding, to know how to do all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, shall do according to all that the LORD has commanded."
²  Then Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, everyone whose heart was stirred, to come and do the work.
³  And they received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of making the sanctuary. So they continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning.
⁴  Then all the craftsmen who were doing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work he was doing,
⁵  and they spoke to Moses, saying, "The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the LORD commanded us to do."
⁶  So Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, "Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary." And the people were restrained from bringing,
⁷  for the material they had was sufficient for all the work to be done--indeed too much. 

--I truly believe this is one of those stories that every pastor dreams about doing. The dream of having a major project for God’s House and the giving is so great, the pastor has to say “stop!”

--What you are giving (remember God uses people) is so great that you have to be restrained from bringing any more offerings. You guys are giving indeed too much!

--But can I throw in here, what God has done through you guys this year has been absolutely miraculous!

--Last year our total of Faith Promises totaled for the whole year about $310,000 plus 10% of the General Fund. This year (less than half way thru the year) we are at $372,451 plus 10% of the GF.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT2) ³¹ So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

--The glory always belongs to God, always. But in this partnership, God uses people. Glory to God because of your generosity, we have increased (so far) by over $62,000. 

--In 34 years I have had a handful of people who have been critical of me preaching and propagating missions here at Life Church.

--Thanks for noticing that the Great Commission is an extreme passion of my heart. All we give goes to missions. I don’t take trips and charge them to the mission’s account.

--When God called me to make this a great mission’s church, He promised more people would be touched by the missionaries we support than if I went myself. Imagine 235 missionaries!

2 Corinthians 8:1 (NLT2) ¹ Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 

--God did it but He did it through the church (the people in the church) and we give Him all the glory. So why are you sharing this with us?

--I am sharing this because I believe this is going to be a year of the miraculous for Life Church and for those who are in partnership with God to care for His House.

--As I was preparing this sermon I got so excited about all the miracles God is doing in preparation for the transition of leadership next year with Pastor Mark and Christine Anne. 

--I want everything to be so much in place that all Pastor Mark has to do is to cast vision and to preach the Word of God. Follow him and love him like you have loved me.

--Meanwhile back to our text, let’s look at this partnership between God and the people for His House.

1. In This Partnership, the People’s Hearts Were Stirred for God’s House.

--When we were building this sanctuary and classrooms, you couldn’t really say that I had a gift for fundraising. Some even suggested we hire an outside group to come do a Capital Fund Raising. 

--I know other churches have done that, and if, that is what God led them to do, good for them. I just could not see taking ten to twenty percent of the money raised and giving it away. Outside group.

--Others said, pastor, you need to go and have lunch with the money people in our church and persuade them to give very generous gifts. Sorry, I can’t do that either. 

Exodus 36:2 (NKJV) ² Then Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, everyone whose heart was stirred, to come and do the work. 

--What I said to our people was very simple and very basic. If you have a willing heart to give, give. If not, don’t worry about it.

--Or, if your finances are such that you can only give (above your tithes) to missions or to the building project, then, give to missions. I refuse to pressure people to do the right thing.

2 Corinthians 9:5-8 (NLT2)
⁵  So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.
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.
⁷  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.”
⁸  And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 

--If you give toward God’s House, it must be a willing gift, a generous gift, a heartfelt gift, and a joyful gift. When you give like this you will always have everything you need and plenty left over. 

2. In This Partnership, the People Gave What They Could for God’s House.

--There are not too many things that get my blood boiling but when I see on “Christian TV” the preacher or evangelist manipulating people to give, I get very upset.

--I am always thinking, if a sinner just happens to flip on to this channel, what will he or she think. I can tell you what they think. They have told me on many occasions.

--What they do not think is “What must I do to be saved?” like they did in Acts after Peter’s sermon. What they do think is, those people are crazy and they just want money. (There are good TV preachers).

--I have watched as they encouraged people who could not afford to give to just put it on their credit card $2000 and watch how God will bless them for giving.

--If that is how it works, why don’t the preacher send everyone on their mailing list a big check. Turn it off.

--I could continue to rant but I will try to restrain myself. The people continued bringing freewill offerings for the House of the Lord. They did it freely not from manipulation.

2 Corinthians 8:1-4 (NLT2)
¹  Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.
²  They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
³  For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.
⁴  They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 

--People are already responding. We have the funds needed for the walk-in freezer which means we will have a freezer for Bailey Hall.

--There is something that happens in our spiritual being when we give willingly and cheerfully (God loves cheerful givers). I believe it is called multiplication. 

--The people from the churches were so blessed and so filled with joy by their generosity that they begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 

--Pastor Rick, Pastor Mark, please let us give more to missions and to Passion for God’s House. Please, don’t rob us of the joy and multiplication…they gave not only what they could afford, but far more.

--Unless it is supernatural and unless it is God’s multiplication, how can you give more than you could afford?

3. In This Partnership, God’s Presence Shows Up in His House.

Exodus 40:34-35&38 (NLT2)
³⁴  Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle.
³⁵  Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle.
³⁸  The cloud of the LORD hovered over the Tabernacle during the day, and at night fire glowed inside the cloud so the whole family of Israel could see it. This continued throughout all their journeys. 

--Two weeks ago when we preached about Passion for God’s House and we talked about giving, what happened? The joy of the Lord filled the House and God’s presence came strong.

--How do you know? When we gave the altar call and God’s people began to pray in this House of Prayer, hands were raised and the altars filled with people receiving Christ.

--When we honor God’s House by making it a House of Prayer, and when we honor God’s House by giving willingly, Holy Spirit shows up and changes lives like never before.

--Grown men came to Christ and surrendered their lives to Jesus. Even one of them said, I don’t want to go to hell. It’s a beautiful thing when God’s House is filled with Holy Spirit.

John 16:7-8 (NKJV) ⁷  Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
⁸  And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

--Souls being saved…isn’t that the bottom line for a true House of Prayer. Please have Passion for God’s House and honor it with your prayer and giving.