The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure – 7

 The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure – 7

Subject – What Excellent Giving Looks Like

By Rick Welborne

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
¹⁹  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
²¹  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV)
⁷  But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 

--Suppose you have something very important you want to get to someone who really needs it. You wrap it up and hand it over to the UPS guy. What would you think if instead of delivering it, he took it home and kept it?

--You would be upset and rightly so. You would say, “The package doesn’t belong to him! He’s just the middle man. His job is to get the package from me and get it to the person it was intended for!”

1. Money in Our Hands

--Just because God puts money in our hands, it doesn’t mean He intends for it to stay there. Listen to what Paul told the Corinthians, encouraging them to give to the needy in Jerusalem:

2 Corinthians 8:14-15 (NIV)
¹⁴  At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality,
¹⁵  as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."

--A good question…Why does God give some of His children more than they need and others less than they need? So that He can use His children to help one another. He does not want us to have too much or too little.

Proverbs 30:8-9 (NIV)
⁸  Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
⁹  Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. 

--When those who have too much give to those with too little, two problems are solved. When they don’t, two problems are perpetuated. 

--I am sure we have all wondered about this, God distributes unevenly not because He loves some of His children more than others, but so His children can distribute it to their brothers and sisters on His behalf.

Alcorn – Paul said that the God Who supplies seed to the sower will increase our store of seed. Why? So we can stockpile seed or eat it? No, so we can spread it out that it might bear fruit. Abundance isn’t God’s provision for me to live in luxury. It’s His provision for me to help others live. God entrusts me with this money not to build my kingdom on earth but to build His Kingdom in Heaven. 

--Are you eager to plant God’s money (remember all of it is His) in the field of the world that needs Christ? Missions. Does the thought of giving to what will count for eternity make your heart leap?

--If we understood the out-of-this-world rewards, we would join with the Macedonians and beg for the privilege of giving. Many of us, with no thought, continue to take the blessings and spend it on ourselves. It is wrong!

--Before I move on to the next point I want to emphasize something that hopefully will help us all. We need to be satisfied with God wherever we are in our journey. Having little or a lot.

Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)
¹¹  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
¹²  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
¹³  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

2. Five Minutes After I Die. 

--Alfred Nobel dropped the newspaper and put his head in his hands. It was 1888. Nobel was a Swedish chemist who made his fortune inventing and producing dynamite. His brother Ludvig had died in France. 

--Alfred’s grief was compounded by dismay. He had just read, not his brother’s obituary in a French newspaper, but his. The editor had confused the two brothers. 

--The headline read, “The Merchant of Death is Dead.” The obituary described a man who had gotten rich by helping people kill one another. Obviously, he was shaken by the appraisal of his life.

--He resolved to change his legacy with the wealth he had obtained. When he died 8 years later, he had left more than nine million dollars to fund awards for people whose work benefited humanity. The Nobel Prizes.

--Alfred had a rare opportunity to assess his life’s story and to make changes. Before he died, his life made a difference and something of lasting value. 

--We often talk about how sinners will not have the opportunity to go back and make changes in their lives that would change everything, but hear me today, neither will Christians. We have only one lifetime to live.

John Wesley – I judge all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity.

Missionary C.T. Studd – Only one life, twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last. 

--Five minutes after we die we will know exactly how we should have lived. But God has given us His Word so that we don’t have to wait to die to find out. He has also given us His Spirit to live that way now.

--Ask yourself, five minutes after I die, what will I wish I would have given away while I still had the chance? When you come up with your answer, why not start giving it away now. Close the gap of what you wished…

--If Nobel could change his legacy in this world, what about you changing your legacy while you still have time to do it? Do you want to be known as someone who just accumulated what he couldn’t keep or gave it away?

--Don’t feel regret for what you haven’t done up to this point but repent and do what you should have been doing all along. Lest you thinking I am only talking about church, you are mistaken.

--When was the last time your generosity was such that it made a waitress cry for joy because you blessed her so much. It met a need just in time for her or at least let her know someone cared. 

--Christians, hear your pastor, your witnessing in restaurants will only be as effective as your generosity. How can you care for their souls when you don’t care that they make a good living?

--My daughter was appalled one time when she went through a drive through with another family and they did not give the person at the window something extra. Our kids are watching us.

3. Giving is a Spiritual Gift.

Romans 12:6-8 (NIV)
⁶  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
⁷  If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
⁸  if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

--Sadly, in our Western culture, probably the gift that is thought about the least is the gift of giving. We are all called to serve, to show mercy, and to give even if we do not think we have those particular gifts. 

Alcorn – Suppose God wanted to fulfill His plan of world evangelism and help an unprecedented number of suffering people. What gift would you expect Him to distribute widely? Why not the gift of giving? And what might you expect Him to provide for those to whom He’s given that gift? Perhaps unprecedented wealth to meet those needs and further His Kingdom. Look around. Isn’t that exactly what He has done? The question is, what are we doing with the wealth He’s entrusted to us?

--Many churches establish accountability groups where tough questions are asked about Bible study, sexual purity, witnessing, but never about our giving. We have adopted don’t ask, don’t tell when it comes to giving.

--When we are teaching young people about how to grow in their faith, how to pray, or even how to be a leader, what do we do to teach them about giving? I hope Missions has been that opportunity here at Life Church.

--What I have been trying to do with this series is to motivate you to a lifestyle of generosity. It’s my job and my mission. I have tested it for years and it has become one of the joys of my life. Giving? Yes, giving!

Hebrews 10:23-24 (NLT2)
²³  Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
²⁴  Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

--I want to conclude this sermon by showing you a clip from Schindler’s list. This man saved so many Jews from being slaughtered.

--Listen to his heart as he expresses how he wished he would have done more.

Schindler’s List

Book of James – Chapter One - 6

 Book of James – Chapter One - 6

‘The Preparations Necessary to Withstand Trials and Temptations’

by Bob Yothers

James 1:19-27

   James 1¹⁹ Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. ²⁰ Human anger^[g] does not produce the righteousness God desires. ²¹ So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. ²² But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. ²³ For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. ²⁴ You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. ²⁵ But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. ²⁶ If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. ²⁷ Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. NLT.

   To overcome temptation, we must be quick to hear God’s Word, be a doer of the Word not a hearer only, control our tongue, visit the needy and keep ourselves from being polluted by the world.

   Preparation one—be quick to hear the Word of God - VV19-21. 

     We must be quick to listen. 

     We must be slow to speak. 

     We must not become angry and act against others. 

     We must put aside all filthiness. 

     We must put aside all that remains of wickedness, and evil. 

     We must receive the Word of God with meekness. 

   Preparation two—do the Word of God; do not be a hearer only - VV22-25.

     If we only hear and know the Word, we deceive ourselves. 

     If we only hear and know the Word, we will soon forget what we have heard. 

     If we hear and do the Word of God, we are blessed. 

   Preparation three—keep a tight reign on our tongues - V26.

     ‘Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.’ Proverbs 21:23 NLT.

    Preparation four—practice pure religion, look after orphans and widows in their distress and keep ourselves from being polluted by the world - V27.

     We must visit the orphans and widows in their distress. 

     We must keep ourselves from being polluted by the world. 

   To overcome temptation, we must be quick to hear God’s Word, be a doer of the Word not a hearer only, control our tongue, visit the needy and keep ourselves from being polluted by the world.

The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure – 6

The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure – 6

Subject – What Excellent Giving Looks Like

By Rick Welborne

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
¹⁹  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
²¹  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV)
⁷  But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 

--By all means study God’s Word every day so that your faith is growing. Work on being a better public speaker whether it is preaching or teaching. Study diligently so your knowledge will increase. 

--Paul says something that is so amazing…see that you also excel in this grace of giving. If practicing will make you a better piano or tennis player, please know we can learn to be great givers.

--We can learn to give better, we can learn to give more, we can learn to give more often. As we study God’s Word about giving we can excel in this grace of giving. Example of the Macedonian believers:

2 Corinthians 8:3 (NIV) ³ For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. 

--Pastor Rick, what does it mean to give beyond your ability? It means pushing our giving past the point where figures add up. Sometimes giving will seem like it doesn’t make sense, but when we do it, God provides. 

1. Giving Now or Giving Later

--People ask, “Should I give now, or should I hang on to it, hoping my investments will do well and I’ll have more to give in a year?”

--We respond with two questions: “How soon do you want to experience God’s blessing?” Do you want to make sure the money goes to God’s Kingdom, or are you willing to risk it won’t?”

--When we were building this beautiful sanctuary the largest donor to the building met me for breakfast and told me what he wanted to give. He wanted to give it but he wanted us to turn around and invest it in his company.

--I told him I was not comfortable with that even though he guaranteed me his business was a good investment. Fortunately, he gave the money anyway. Over the next year his company almost went bankrupt.

--When we stand before God I do not believe He will say, “You really blew it when you gave Me all that money before the stock market peaked.” It is simply good to give faithfully and consistently every week.

--That’s why I don’t ever believe it’s ever wrong to give to God now instead of later. God can produce far greater returns on money invested in Heaven today than Wall Street or real estate ever can. Risk of not giving:

--The economy could change any moment and we would have less to give. God tells us we don’t know what tomorrow holds for us. Our new leadership may tax us more than we can imagine.

James 4:13-14 (NIV) ¹³ Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."
¹⁴  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 

--Another reason to give now, our hearts may change and we may not follow through with our giving. I had a man tell me a couple of years ago he was giving a large amount. He put it off and it did not happen. Kids.

--The longer we put off giving, the same heart that prompted you to give can change and convince you investments here on earth should increase. Heaven’s interest will decrease.

--We do not know when our lives could end suddenly and our good intentions may not get carried out. Zacchaeus is a good example for us to know what to do:

Luke 19:8 (NIV)
⁸  But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." 

--I have you now, Pastor, I will just put the church in my will. Yes, please do that and give a bunch to the church and missions but what kind of conviction does it take to part with your money once you die? No choice.

--Alcorn says death isn’t your best opportunity to give; it’s the end of your opportunity to give. God rewards acts of faith done while we are living. 

John Wesley – Money never stays with me. It would burn me if it did. I throw it out of my hands as soon as possible, lest it should find its way into my heart. 

--Serious question…when the Lord returns, what will happen to all the money sitting in bank accounts, retirement programs, estates, and foundations? It will burn like wood, hay, and straw. Could have been gold…

1 Corinthians 3:11-13 (NLT2)                                                                                                                               ¹¹  For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
¹²  Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.
¹³  But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 

--Money that could have been used to feed the hungry and to fulfill the Great Commission will go up in smoke.

2. Our Kid’s Inheritance.

Alcorn – “What about our children?” you may ask. “Aren’t we supposed to leave them all our money?” The answer is no. We will leave to our daughters and their families enough to be of modest help, but not enough to change their lifestyles or undercut their need to pray with and depend upon their husbands.

--Before you completely stop listening, hear his reasons why. He says we have communicated with our family that most of our estate will go to God’s Kingdom. We will leave personal items and help with kid’s education.

--Many times kids do not need more money and it is not necessarily good to leave something to them that they do not need. Being generous to family is a core value but leaving too much may not be in their best interest.

--Many people who have inherited significant wealth or won large amounts of money find themselves less happy and many times tempted to do things they normally would not do. 

Alcorn – Leaving more to God’s Kingdom and less to financially independent children is not just an act of love toward God, but toward them. 

--But, Pastor Rick, the Old Testament talks about leaving an inheritance to children and why that was so important. Children then could not afford their own land and could end up sold into slavery. 

--Many times inheritances today are just money given to children who don’t really need it, and in some cases, could not responsibly handle it. My argument with an attorney about giving to irresponsible children. 

--If we really want to leave our children a great inheritance, why don’t we work on leaving them a spiritual legacy of serving God and being generous with the poor and the Great Commission?

--Some argue; our kids are so responsible that they would give the money to God anyway. If that is the case, why not you just give it to God yourselves and not put your kids in a place of temptation?  

3. We Have Been Entrusted with so Much

Luke 6:38 (NIV)
³⁸  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." 

--The more you give, the more comes back to you, because God is the greatest giver in the universe, and He will not let you out give Him. Don’t believe me. Try it and see! I could testify all day!

--R.G. LeTourneau invented earth moving machines. He gave 90% of his money back to God but money came in faster than he could give it. 

LeTourneau – I shovel it out and God shovels it back---but God has a bigger shovel. 

--So why does God entrust so much to us? Listen to Paul:

2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (NIV)
¹⁰  Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
¹¹  You will be made rich in every way so that… 

--So that what? Prosperity teaching would tell you it is so the world will see how we can live in wealth showing the world how much God blesses those who love Him. 

--But that is not how Paul finishes the statement. 

2 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV) You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Alcorn – God prospers me not to raise my standard of living but to raise my standard of giving. God comes right and tells us why He gives us more money than we need. It’s not so we can find more ways to spend it. It’s not so we can indulge ourselves and spoil our children. It’s so we can give---generously.

--Think about this…when God provides more money for us, we often think, this is a blessing. It would be just as biblical to think; this is a test. A test of our faithfulness as stewards or as God’s managers.

 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (NKJV)
¹  Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
²  Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. 

The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure – 5

 The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure – 5

Subject – How to Start the Journey of Generous Giving

By Rick Welborne

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
¹⁹  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
²¹  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

--Pastor Rick, I want to start this journey of generous giving but I am not sure how to get started. As always, let’s go to God’s Word and see what He says.

Leviticus 27:30 (NIV)
³⁰  "'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.

--I love the story about the interesting soldier and politician Sam Houston. He came to Christ and after his baptism he wanted to pay for half of the local pastor’s salary. Someone asked him why?

Houston – My pocketbook was baptized too.

--The meaning of the word “tithe” is “a tenth part.” Ten percent was to be given (brought to) the Lord. There were to be freewill offerings but the tithe belonged to God and was mandatory. 

--Some argue this was just for the farmers but in 2 Chron. 31:5 it says the people of Israel brought a tithe of everything. We are to give to God first, not last.

Proverbs 3:9 (NIV) ⁹ Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 

--When God’s children were not giving as they had been instructed listen to what God said to them:

Malachi 3:8-10 (NIV)
⁸  "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings.
⁹  You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me.
¹⁰  Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 

--But, Pastor Rick, everything you have read has been Old Testament. Let’s see what Jesus said about tithing:

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.

--There is much debate about whether tithing is for us today or not. Even websites dedicated to speaking against it. All examples of life in the New Testament actually went beyond the Old Testament. NT is harder. Example.

Matthew 5:21-22 (NLT2)
²¹  “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’
²²  But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! 

1. Giving in the Church

--Maybe you are one of those people who believe that each of us should only give what we feel in our hearts we should give. You may feel the early church fathers were wrong when they said the tithe was the minimal. 

Alcorn’s Prayer – “God, do you really expect less of me---who has your Holy Spirit within and lives in the wealthiest society in human history---than you expected of the poorest Israelite?”

--The truth is, the majority of Christians do not believe in or practice tithing, but instead, embrace “grace giving,” whether or not they use that term, let’s consider what that looks like for real.

--Most of the studies done over the last several decades indicate that American Christians give an average of 2 or 3% of their income to the church. One out of 4 protestants give no money at all, not even a token offering.

--What is troubling to me is that in such a wealthy society like ours, that our giving amounts only to a fraction of the First Covenant Standard (a tenth) and the Word of God.

--Sounds like to me if you want to call your giving “grace giving” that many do not have an appreciation for the amazing grace of God that has been poured out on us. How can we not be givers when God gave His Son Jesus?

--Could it be that what we have been teaching about giving (tithing and offerings) is either not true or the message is not getting through to a generation who says they depend so much on God’s grace?

--Tithing is God’s biblical and historical means of getting His people on the path of generous giving. It is only the gateway. It’s unhealthy to think tithing is a place to stop but instead, a place to start.

--Tithing is not the ceiling; it is only the floor of giving. It’s not the finish line, it’s the starting blocks. Tithing can launch us into a beautiful mindset and habit of generous giving.

--Nothing I read indicates that God has changed His mind about our giving. In Malachi 3:8 it indicates the Israelites were robbing God not only with the mandatory tithe but with freewill offerings too.

--The Apostle Paul talked about volunteer giving but he also indicated it was to be done in obedience. God still has expectations of us even when the offerings are viewed as voluntary. 

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.

--Don’t ever worry that you do not give the same amount as someone else but He wants us to give in proportion to how He has blessed us. I have always said, not equal giving but equal sacrifice.

Deuteronomy 16:10 (NIV) ¹⁰ Then celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the LORD your God has given you.

--I have heard preachers tell people and I have heard people say I will start with 5%. Remember robbing God? It is like saying I used to rob six banks a week but now I will only rob three. It is still stealing.

--The point is not to rob God less; it is to not rob Him at all. People would be giving more by the 5% and the church could benefit from it. Don’t forget God doesn’t look at just what you give, He looks at what you keep. 

--If you would talk to as many people as I have talked to who have found the joy of living a generous life style, you would catch the heart of giving. It’s fun to bless God and people.

2. Don’t Throw Out Tithing.

--Tithing is often the means God uses to help people see how much they could truly be blessed. Because of how blessed our family has been from generous giving, it is hard to understood the animosity toward it.

--Yes, tithing has been abused but don’t throw out the baby of tithing with the bathwater of a few who abuse it. People abuse cars by driving reckless and speeding but I have no desire to walk or ride horses. God said…

Malachi 3:10 (NIV)
¹⁰  Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

--It is ironic, many people say and suppose they can’t afford to give precisely because they are not giving and experiencing God’s blessings. What did God say to people when they failed to give.

Haggai 1:5-6 (NIV)
⁵  Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways.
⁶  You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.

--God didn’t allow their money to go far because they were stingy and disobedient to His commands of giving.

 Haggai 1:9 (NIV) ⁹ "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house.

3. Obedient Faith Can Bring Breakthrough. 

--When we put God first (bringing the firstfruits – tithes and missions first), we invite the blessings of God to help us with our own finances and debts we owe. 

--How much of our harvest (our money) is blown away because we don’t make giving to God, to missions, and to others a priority? No wonder we don’t have enough. It’s a vicious cycle, it takes obedient faith to break out.

--If you say you cannot afford to tithe, think about this…If all of a sudden your income was cut by ten percent, would you die? It is possible with our new leadership. If your answer is no, you admitted you can afford to tithe.

--I say this to people quite often, is it better to live on 90% of your income with God’s blessings or on 100% of your income without God’s blessings. Truly, it all belongs to Him so why not have obedient faith. 

Leviticus 27:30-31 (NIV)
³⁰  "'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.
³¹  If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it.

--Tithing is like a toddler’s first steps: they aren’t his last or best steps, but they are a good start. Pastor Rick, I am a New Testament giver! I am no longer under the law. Ok, let’s look at NT giving.

Acts 4:32& 34-35 (NIV)
³²  All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
³⁴  There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales
³⁵  and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. 

Book of James – Chapter One - 4

 Book of James – Chapter One - 4

The Way to Conquer Trials & Temptations - 2

By Bob Yothers

James 1:5-12 

   To overcome and conquer trials and temptations we must ask God for wisdom, rejoice in our position, and remember the reward for persevering is a crown of life.

   ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.⁹ Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰ and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. ¹¹ For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.¹² Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. ESV.

   To overcome and conquer trials and temptations we must rejoice in our position: VV9-11.

   

   Revelation 3²¹ The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. ESV.

   

   Romans 8¹¹ If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. ESV.

 

   Matthew 19³⁰ But many who are first will be last, and the last first. NLT.

   To overcome & conquer we must ask God for wisdom, rejoice in our position and remember the reward for enduring is a crown of life - V12. 

   

   D.L. Moody described heaven this way: The paradise of Eden was as nothing compared with [heaven]. … Think of a place where temptation cannot come. Think of a place where we will be free from sin; where pollution cannot enter, and where the righteous shall reign forever. Think of a city … without griefs or graves, without sins or sorrows.³ 

   The Fellowship of the Unashamed

   "I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals. 

   "I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer and labor by power. 

   "My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. 

   I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. 

   "I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. 

   "And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear for "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..." Romans 1:16.⁴

   We can overcome and conquer as we ask God for wisdom, rejoicing in our position, remembering the reward for enduring is a crown of life.

The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure – 4

 The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure – 4

Subject – We Should not Live for the Dot but Live for the Line

By Rick Welborne

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
¹⁹  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
²¹  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

Luke 12:15 (NIV)
¹⁵  Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 

--Why is it that so many people have roadblocks to giving? We know Christ commands us to give and we know He promises great rewards for giving. Maybe we even believe that giving brings happiness.

--So why is it so hard to give? The roadblocks can be unbelief, insecurity, pride, idolatry, and a lack of trust in God. Our culture and even some of our churches make it normal to keep more than we give. It’s my money!

--It appears that the greatest deterrent to giving is the illusion that this earth is our home. We must understand that Heaven and the future New Earth, not this earth, is our home.

--Think about it…the Bibles says we are pilgrims, strangers, aliens on Earth. We are just ambassadors here.

Hebrews 11:13 (NIV)
¹³  All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV) ²⁰ We are therefore Christ's ambassadors…

Philippians 3:20 (NIV) ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Hebrews 11:16 (NIV) ¹⁶ Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. 

--Where we choose to store our treasures depends largely on where we think our home is. Let’s say America is your home but you are in Spain doing work and staying in a hotel for three months. 

--You are told you cannot bring anything back with you on the airline but you can make money and send it back home by making deposits. Would you buy expensive furniture for your hotel room?

--Of course not, you would only spend what you needed in your temporary residence, sending your money (treasures) ahead so they would be there waiting on you when you got home in America.

--The Bridegroom is getting ready for us by building us a place in Heaven. Everything we do for Him, everything we send on ahead, will be waiting for us there. Treasures in Heaven. 

--Jesus was a builder by trade. Can you even imagine what kind of place He has been preparing for us for the last 2000 years? We need to stop trying to furnish our temporary hotel room and send more to our eternal home.

1. We Should not Live for the Dot but for the Line.

--Think about this…everything that we put so much emphasis on will all be burned with fire. It will disappear.

2 Peter 3:10 (NKJV)
¹⁰  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

--Consider this…Our houses, cars, boats, motorcycles, phones, computers, furniture, private jets, everything will burn and be gone. We have heard, he who dies with the most toys wins. This is more accurate:

Alcorn – He who dies with the most toys still dies—and leaves his toys behind. When we die after devoting our lives to acquiring things, we don’t win—we lose. We move into eternity, but our stuff stays behind, filling junkyards.

--Think about your lives in terms of the dot (0) and the line. Our lives have two phases: one a dot, the other a line. Our present life on earth is the dot. It begins. It ends. It’s brief.

0------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ETERNITY

James 4:14 (NIV) ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

--From the dot extends a line that goes on forever. That line is eternity, which Christians will spend in Heaven.

--Right now we are living in the dot but what are we living for? The shortsighted person lives only for the dot. The person with the right perspective lives for the line…eternity. Which are you living for?

2. Giving is Living for the Line.

Matthew 6:20 (NIV) ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…

--All of us will part with our money. The only question is when. We have no choice but to part with it later. But we do have a choice whether to part with it now. Say what?

--We can keep our earthy treasures for the moment and we may be getting some temporary enjoyment from them. But if we give them away, we’ll enjoy eternal treasures that will never be taken from us. 

Missionary Jim Elliot – He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.

--If you hear those words and think Elliot was just one of those super spiritual types who did not think about gain, you missed the point. Re-read. 

--Gain was exactly what he was talking about. He just wanted the gain he could not lose. He wanted his treasure in Heaven not here on earth. He was living for the line not for the dot. 

--People get caught up in living for the dot. Moms and dads spend about six times more time shopping than they do playing with their kids. More people in America file bankruptcy than graduate from college. 

--Listen to people whose treasures were in the dot and their responses, very sobering:

W.H. Vanderbilt – The care of $200 million is enough to kill a person. There is no pleasure in it.

John D. Rockefeller – I have made millions, but they have brought me no happiness. 

Andrew Carnegie – Millionaires seldom smile. 

John Jacob Astor – I am the most miserable man on Earth.

Henry Ford – I was happier doing a mechanic’s job.

--There have been shows on TV telling us about the misery of lottery winners a few years after they won. 

--We think we own our possessions, but too often they own us. Nothing makes a journey more difficult than a heavy backpack filled with nice but unnecessary things. Pilgrims travel light. Please know, money is not evil.

A.W. Tozer – As base a thing as money is, it yet can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor; it can keep a missionary actively winning lost men to the gospel and thus transmute itself into heavenly values. Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality. 

--If America being blessed with so much wealth is the disease, what’s the cure? If materialism is the poison, what’s the antidote? Paul answers:

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV)
¹⁷  Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
¹⁸  Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
¹⁹  In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

--Paul brings us back to what we have been trying to share about laying up treasure in Heaven. The giving of our resources here on this earth is laying a solid foundation in Heaven for us. A great retirement plan!

--Paul says that being “generous” and “rich in good deeds” allows us to “take hold of the life that is truly life.” This is the abundant life Jesus promised, in contrast to the superficial, money centered life that leaves us empty.

3. Giving is the Cure for Materialism.

--The very act of giving is a vivid reminder that life is all about God, not about us. It’s declaring that I am not the point, He is the point. He does not exist for me. I exist for Him.

--God’s money has a higher purpose than my material comfort. Giving is a joyful surrender to a greater Person (God) and to His greater agenda. Giving takes me off the throne and exalts Christ. It breaks the money god.

--As long as I have something in my possession, I’m tempted to believe I own it. But when I give it away, I relinquish control. Remember:

 Psalm 24:1 (NLT2) ¹ The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. 

--When we give what we have away we recognize God as owner, ourselves as servants, and others as those He wants us to bless. I shift having my treasure here on earth to storing up treasure in Heaven. 

--I understand money is not all we can give. Time, wisdom, and meeting felt needs are all wonderful too. When we give these things out of love, these things will no doubt result in treasures in Heaven.

--Giving is the cure for materialism. Again, listen to Paul speaking to all of us who have been blessed:

1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NKJV)
¹⁸  Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
¹⁹  storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Missionary Jim Elliot – He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.

The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure – 3

 The Joy of Discovering Hidden Treasure – 3

Subject – My Heart Always Goes Where I Put God’s Money

By Rick Welborne

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
¹⁹  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
²¹  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

--If you were to go to Cairo, Egypt, and find your way down one of their allies you would find an overgrown graveyard for American missionaries. You would find a name…William Borden 1887-1913.

--Borden was a Yale graduate and heir to great wealth. He rejected a life of ease in order to take the gospel to Muslims. He even refused to buy himself a car and gave away hundreds of thousands of dollars to missions.

--After only four months on the mission’s field in Egypt he contracted meningitis and died at the age of 25. As you dust off the epitaph, after talking about his love and sacrifice for the Muslim people the inscription said:

Epitaph for William Borden – Apart from faith in Christ, there is no explanation for such a life. 

--If you leave the graveyard you can drive to an Egyptian Museum where King Tut was buried. He died at the age of 17. He was buried with solid gold chariots and thousands of golden artifacts. 

--His gold coffin was buried within gold tombs within gold tombs. Ancient Egyptians believed that you could take your earthly treasures with you into the afterlife. 

--But all the treasures that were intended for King Tuts enjoyment in the afterlife stayed right there where they were buried for more than 3000 years until Howard Carter discovered them in 1922. 

--What a contrast of two graves. Borden’s grave was obscure, dusty, and hidden off a back street littered with garbage. Tut’s grave glittered with unimaginable wealth. Yet, where are these two men now?

--One who lived in opulence (luxury) and called himself a king now lives in eternity without Christ. The other lived modestly in service to the true King of kings, is enjoying his everlasting reward in Jesus’ presence.

--Tut’s life was tragic because he discovered too late that you can’t take it with you. Borden’s life was one of triumph because instead of leaving his treasures, he sent them on ahead. 

1. Our Eternal Rewards 

--If you think Heaven is just a place where you sit on a cloud and strum a harp for eternity, you will probably dread going there. Maybe laying on the cloud and sleeping for about a hundred years would be good. So tired.

--But on the other hand, if you read the Word and believe it, Heaven will be an exciting place of worship, of relief from pain and sorrow, of receiving rewards for our faithfulness, and most of all, seeing Jesus. Wow!

--Think about this; Jesus notices everything we do in His Name. God keeps very good records of all we do.

Matthew 10:42 (NIV)
⁴²  And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."

Malachi 3:16 (NIV)
¹⁶ …A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored His name. 

--Try to imagine this…someone in Heaven has the responsibility to record the things you do here on earth to be a blessing. That bike you gave, the extra money you gave a waitress, money to missionaries, all recorded.

Luke 16:9-10 (NLT2)
⁹  Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home.
¹⁰  “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. 

--This blows my mind…the people I help on this earth through random acts of kindness or through my mission’s giving will welcome me into their homes in Heaven. They will be my friends for eternity. Wow!

--Yes, we will celebrate and worship Jesus as our eternal reward but we will also have fellowship with those we have blessed financially and those we have led to the Lord. Heaven will be so exciting.

2. Store Up for Yourselves Treasures in Heaven.

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
¹⁹  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
²¹  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

--You cannot understand what Jesus is trying to say in this passage as long as you think it is wrong to value treasure in Heaven. You must believe it is right to do what Jesus tells you to do…Store up for yourselves…

--People often say that they believe it is wrong or ungodly for us to want rewards even if it is in Heaven. The Word is filled with promises about rewards for those who are faithful to God. 

Alcorn – If it were wrong to want rewards, Christ wouldn’t offer rewards as motivation. Rewards are God’s idea, not ours. Love for God, love for people, and compassion for the poor are all vitally important. But these motives for giving are in no way contrary to the fact that God calls us to be motivated by rewards. 

--Sometimes we want to give to people who can give us something back. If we give to those who can’t reward us, Christ guarantees He will personally reward us with treasures waiting on us in Heaven. Verses please!

Luke 14:12-14 (NLT2)
¹²  Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward.
¹³  Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
¹⁴  Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”

--I believe this includes helping those who are poor but also those who are poor spiritually, giving to missions.

3. Our Hearts in the Right Place.

--God promises us wonderful rewards in Heaven and on the New Earth free from the curse…no more tears, sorrow, pain, or even death. We will be with the One Who gave Himself for us!

--Even though this is absolutely true, many Christians dread the thought of leaving this world. Why? We have stored up so many treasures here on this earth. Each day brings us closer to death and closer to losing our…

--I remember my father-in-law sitting on our porch out in the country and saying something, in light of this sermon, that was powerful and sobering. “Why would you want to ever leave this and go to Heaven?”

--How tightly are we hanging on to the things, the treasures, of this world? How many treasures are we laying up in Heaven by our extreme generosity? Why is that important? It shows us where our hearts are.

Matthew 6:21 (NIV) ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

Alcorn – My heart always goes where I put God’s money.

--Yes, Pastor Rick, my heart goes toward the 10% (tithe) I give and the amount I give to missions. Please, let me remind you a couple of verses from last week. All your money is God’s money.

Psalm 24:1 (NLT2) ¹ The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. 

Haggai 2:8 (NIV) ⁸ 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty.

--What we do with our money doesn’t simply indicate where our hearts are, according to Jesus, it determines where our hearts go. Our hearts follow our treasure…show me your financial records and I can show you where your heart is. 

--Imagine you invest in or buy shares in GMC or Ford, what happens? You suddenly develop an interest in what happens with those companies. If you hear their names on the news, you perk up.

--On the other hand, let’s say you are investing in Impact Africa or Missionary Ann Steward through your mission’s giving, and you hear about those countries you pay attention. Where your treasure is your heart goes...

--As surely as the compass needle follows north, your heart follows your treasure. This is such a remarkable truth. If I want my heart somewhere, all I need to do is put my money there. 

--People say they want more of a heart for missions and seeing the lost come to Christ. Jesus says the easy solution is to put your money (your treasure) into missions and your heart will follow.

--If you want your heart to gravitate toward eternal things, then, reallocate some of your money, a bunch of it, from temporal things to eternal things and your heart will follow your investment. Souls are eternal investments.

Matthew 13:44 (NIV)
⁴⁴  "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 

--In his joy he got rid of all his worldly wealth and treasures to gain a better eternal treasure. God is looking for disciples who for the sake of eternal treasures are investing their money, time, and prayers where they matter…

Hebrews 11:24-26 (NIV)
²⁴  By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.
²⁵  He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.
²⁶  He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

--If we believe each places us closer to the time we leave all our treasures behind, we will be miserable. If we believe each day we live moves us closer to our eternal reward and treasure, we will have joy.

Alcorn – My heart always goes where I put God’s money.