It is God's plan for you to live a flourishing life! God wants to awaken the things of the spirit in your life! He is a God who awakens things within us to change the world around us.
Giving is not as much of an action as it is an attitude that comes from within. As we have been talking about loving, serving and giving we have gone deeper to explore what is going on within. God’s always trying to deal with what’s going on in our hearts because that’s the key to dealing with what is going on in our lives.
We have evaluated the progression of Isa 54 in this season and learned that God is at work deep within our hearts. He is establishing us as a people who are moved by God more than we are moved by anything else!
Isa 54:1-4 “Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor…2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, don’t hold bk; lengthn your cords, strengthen ur stakes…4 “Do not be afraid… NIV
Isa 54:13-14 "All your sons will be taught of the LORD; And the well-being of your sons will be great. 14 "In righteousness you will be established; You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; And from terror, for it will not come near you… NAS
FAITH WILL BE REQUIRED FOR YOU TO EXPERIENCE THE LIFE GOD HAS PLANNED FOR YOU TO EXPERIENCE. He wants to do something inside you to unlock supernatural abilities to release his Kingdom in the earth!
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. NAS
Giving does not diminish our lives. It actually prospers our lives as it awakens another dimension of faith and activates a greater priority of honoring what God says above what our circumstances may be.
Deut 14:23 The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your lives (TLB)
This teaches us to always put God first and helps us know where our hearts are every step of the way in our journey of knowing him and making him known. Patterns of your life reveal the priorities of your life. Patterns don’t lie.
God knows that practicing generosity as a regular expression of worship will activate something incredibly healthy in your life! Psychiatrist Dr. Karl Menninger said, “Generous people are rarely mentally ill!”
Shortly after World War II American soldiers spoke of the great sadness coming from the orphaned children starving in the streets of the war-torn cities in Europe.
One soldier shared how he saw a little boy with his nose pressed to the window of a pastry shop. The cook was preparing doughnuts. The hungry boy stared in silence, watching every move. The soldier’s heart went out to the orphan. “Son . . . would you like some of those?”
The boy was startled. “Oh, yes, would I!” The American stepped into the shop, bought a dozen donuts, came out and gave them to the boy. As the soldier turned to walk away, he felt a tug on his coat. He looked back and heard the child ask quietly:
“Mister . . . are you God?”
We are never more like God than when we give.
GP4RL: Prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do over the next year in regard to worshipful giving of tithes and offerings before Him.
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
OPENING DISCUSSION:
1. What are some ways you can describe the idea of generosity or a generous lifestyle?
God is a generous God who sets the example for us to see that to love is to give.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his son…
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
2. Share some ways you have made sacrifices in your life as a result of someone or something you love?
2 Cor 9:11-12 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. NIV
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
3. What stands out to you from 2 Cor 9:11-12?
God’s plan is for us to be loved by him so we are empowered to love others. God’s plan is for us to be blessed by him so we are empowered bless others.
It is very natural to be focused on ourselves. It takes maturity to focus on others.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
4. Psychiatrist Dr. Karl Menninger said, “Generous people are rarely mentally ill!”
What are some reasons you believe that this would be true?
God introduced an expression of worship, which has always involved giving tithes and offerings every time we receive income. God knows that practicing generosity, as a regular expression of worship in tithes and offerings will activate something incredibly healthy in our lives!
Deut 14:23 The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your lives (TLB)
This teaches us to always put God first and helps us know where our hearts are every step of the way in our journey of knowing him and making him known.
It is honoring to God, healthy for us and helpful to others when we give to our church as an expression of worship.
Sunday, Nov 5th is Pledge Sunday. It helps our pastoral team make responsible decisions based on legitimate projections when our church family expresses their intentions to give in the coming year.
2 Cor 9:5 “So I thought it necessary to urge…you to arrange your beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift…”
Take some time this week to pray about this important principle for your family in the coming year. Remember giving does not diminish our lives. It actually prospers our lives awakening another dimension of faith within our hearts.