God First

God First – Part 3

The Power Of The Seed God’s plan for everything is multiplication. God’s plan for our lives is to multiply everything in our lives. That includes multiplying the seeds sown in our lives. Even our finances. Our finances are a seed. The world functions on a system of receiving and consuming. God’s system functions on a system of receiving and sowing.  While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Genesis 8:22 We need to understand that in order to function in God’s economy we need to know what it means to receive and sow.  Lack is rooted in a scarcity mindset. Scarcity mindset is the logic that “there is only so much to go around for everyone”. In God’s system there is no lack. There is plenty to go around Scarcity Cycle What we do after that is, we hold on. But, we need to break the cycle. If you constantly find yourself in the same place then it is not lack, it is a scarcity cycle. We cannot do the same thing and expect a different result. Breaking the scarcity cycle: We Give Generously We need to co-labour with God. We partner with His word and sow into that. 6 [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings. 7 Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving]. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 God Multiplies Giving should be delight. And when you give from a celebratory point of view, God gives you more so that you can give more. God expects our giving to be faith-based, voluntary, and cheerful—not legalistic, oppressive, or mandatory. 10 And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity]. 11 Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:10-11 (47:30) verse 11 (52:27) Cycle Of Supply Tithing breaks the cycle of scarcity and starts a cycle of fresh supply. 3 things the tithe does in our lives  Teaches Us To Put God 1st  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 there will not be room enough to store it. Malachi 3:10 Bring this tithe to eat before the Lord your God at the place he shall choose as his sanctuary; this applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the first born of your flocks and herds. The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.  Deuteronomy 14:23 Builds Our Faith …Test me in this…”  Malachi 3:10 The only time we can test God is with our tithes. God is saying give me your first and best and I’ll bless the rest Provides For The Work Of God’s House  Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Malachi 3:10 Are you growing? Are you fruitful? Are you being transformed? If yes, then grow what’s growing you. Build what’s building you. The best of all the firstfruits and of all your special gifts will belong to the priests. You are to give them the first portion of your ground meal so that a blessing may rest on your household. Ezekiel 44:30 Ask yourself, are you a part of the we or the me? Are you a consumer or a contributor? 

God First – Part 2

The power of the seed God’s plan for everything is multiplication. God’s plan for our lives is to multiply everything in our lives. That includes multiplying the seeds sown in our lives. Even our finances. Our finances are a seed. The world functions on a system of receiving and consuming. God’s system functions on a system of receiving and sowing.  Genesis 8:22 | While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. We need to understand that in order to function in God’s economy we need to know what it means to receive and sow.  Lack is rooted in a scarcity mindset. Scarcity mindset is the logic that “there is only so much to go around for everyone”. In God’s system there is no lack. There is plenty to go around Cycle Of Supply: What we do after that is, we hold on. But, we need to break the cycle. If you constantly find yourself in the same place then it is not lack, it is a scarcity cycle. We cannot do the same thing and expect a different result. Breaking the scarcity cycle: 1. We give generously We need to co-labour with God. We partner with His word and sow into that. 6 [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings. 7 Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving]. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 2. God multiplies Giving should be delight. And when you give from a celebratory point of view, God gives you more so that you can give more. God expects our giving to be faith-based, voluntary, and cheerful—not legalistic, oppressive, or mandatory. 10 And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity]. 11 Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:10-11 Tithing breaks the cycle of scarcity and starts a cycle of fresh supply. 3 Things The Tithe Does in our lives  Teaches us to put God 1st  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 there will not be room enough to store it. Malachi 3:10 Bring this tithe to eat before the Lord your God at the place he shall choose as his sanctuary; this applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the first born of your flocks and herds. The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.  Deuteronomy 14:23 Builds our faith “…Test me in this…”  Malachi 3:10 The only time we can test God is with our tithes. God is saying give me your first and best and I’ll bless the rest. Provides for the work of God’s house  10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Malachi 3:10 Are you growing? Are you fruitful? Are you being transformed? If yes, then grow what’s growing you. Build what’s building you. The best of all the firstfruits and of all your special gifts will belong to the priests. You are to give them the first portion of your ground meal so that a blessing may rest on your household. Ezekiel 44:30 Ask yourself, are you a part of the we or the me? Are you a consumer or a contributor?  Do you want to dig deeper into this week’s message? Are you looking for a small group of believers that you can talk to about this message and our other sermons? Email us on info@newseasonchurch.co.za so we can get you connected to a destiny group.

God First – Part 1

How do we handle our finances in Godly way? God has principles and foundations as to how we handle our money in a Godly way. Jesus spoke more about money and finances than He did about prayer and fasting. If Jesus spoke about this so frequently, it’s key that we take note of it. God regards the way we handle money as a heart issue. God equates the way we handle money with the amount of heavenly riches He can entrust to us. 10 He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest and unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not proved faithful in that which belongs to another [whether God or man], who will give you that which is your own [that is, the true riches]? 13 No servant is able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (riches, or anything in which you trust and on which you rely). Luke 16:10-13 If you can be trusted with the little, you will be trusted with more. To the degree we honour God with our finances, will determine the degree of fullness we experience of Him. God is concerned about your heart (what you value and prioritise). 9 Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income; 10 So shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10 Firstfruit refers to your tithe which 10% of your income. The principle of tithing was established by Abram. 16 And he brought back all the goods and also brought back his kinsman Lot and his possessions, the women also and the people. 17 After his [Abram’s] return from the defeat and slaying of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh, that is, the King’s Valley. 18 Melchizedek king of Salem [later called Jerusalem] brought out bread and wine [for their nourishment]; he was the priest of God Most High, 19 And he blessed him and said, Blessed (favored with blessings, made blissful, joyful) be Abram by God Most High, Possessor and Maker of heaven and earth, 20 And blessed, praised, and glorified be God Most High, Who has given your foes into your hand! And [Abram] gave him a tenth of all [he had taken]. [Heb. 7:1-10.] Genesis 14:15-20| Giving your tithe is a privilege. We don’t have to give to God, we get to give to Him. It’s a delight. The principle of tithing was established before the law was given. It is our response of worship to Him for what He has and is doing in our lives. But here’s the thing, God doesn’t just want 10%, He wants all of us. Its not about Rands and cents, it’s about our lives. Tithing is not a money issue it’s a heart issue. And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord. Leviticus 27:30 Not only is our tithe His, but it is also holy. It needs to be set apart and sacred. Holy things are not to be touched – they are to be revered. If we want to be blessed according to God’s way, then we need to handle our finances in a Godly way. God is really concerned with what you do with the first 10% of your income. 3 things the tithe does in our lives Teaches us to put God first Builds our faith Provides for the work of God’s house Bring this tithe to eat before the Lord your God at the place He shall choose as His sanctuary; this applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn of your flocks and herds. The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives. Deuteronomy 14:23 When you put God first, everything else falls in to place.