Cityhope Church: Recent Episodes
Cityhope Church
Recorded live at our weekend services, these messages feature Pastor Mark Edwards and other speakers from the Cityhope team. For any more information visit us at cityhope.com.au
TO GIVE SOMETHING AWAY YOU HAVE TO CONQUER THE FEAR OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH YOURSELF AFTER WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN AWAY
Generosity and trust in God go hand in hand
LETS EXPLORE TRUST & GENEROSITY
AT THE HEART OF THIS CONCEPT WAS THAT YOU TRUSTED GOD TO SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS FROM WHAT YOU HARVESTED EXCLUDING THE CORNERS OF THE FIELD
Luke 6:38&39 … “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”
IF YOU ARE GENEROUS – God will not just fill your basket – He will press down he will shake it and then pour a blessing out on you until it runs over and you will be capable of blessing others
UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLE WITH GOD – YOU ALWAYS RECEIVE BACK MORE THEN YOU GIVE
Proverbs 16:2 – “People may be pure in their own eyes but the LORD examines their motives.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 – “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. 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. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”
YOU GIVE TO GIVE NOT GIVE TO GET
Generosity is always about trusting God
IT IS THE ABILITY TO TRUST GOD THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO PICK UP THE GRAIN THAT RUNS OVER THE BASKET. YOU TRUST GOD THAT THE AMOUNT OF THE GRAIN IN THE BASKET IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOUR NEEDS AND MORE
FOUR PRINCIPLES OF FINANCIAL GIVING FIRST PRINCIPLE – PRINCIPLE OF CHEERFULNESS
HOW DO YOU BECOME A CHEERFUL GIVER? God has to do a work in your heart
SECOND PRINCIPLE – PRINCIPLE OF SUFFICIENCY Paul speaks of – “you will always have everything you need” Another version says – “always having all sufficiency in all things”
Money is never your provider – God is
HOW MUCH DO YOU TRUST GOD?
THIRD PRINCIPLE – THE PRINCIPLE OF THE SEED There is a ladder of giving Tithes Offerings Sowing of seeds The highest usage of finance is SEED 2 Corinthians 9:6 – “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.”
V 10 – “God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.” GOD WANTS US TO TAKE SOME OF THE SEED HE GIVES US AND USE IT FOR OURSELVES (NEEDS) BUT THEN HE WANTS US TO SOW SOME OF THE REST
Note V10 again - “God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat.”
V10 again – “(God) will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.”
HERE’S SOME THINGS I’VE NOTICED ABOUT SOWING THE SEED (A) LIKE BEGETS LIKE Established since the beginning of time Genesis 1:11 – “These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” (B) YOU REAP AFTER YOU SOW Genesis 8:22 (NKJV) - “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night shall not cease.” (C) YOU REAP MORE THAN YOU SOW Psalm 126:5&6 (NKJV) – “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” THE QUESTION YOU HAVE TO DETERMINE TODAY IS NOT HOW GENEROUS YOU ARE BUT HOW MUCH DO YOU TRUST GOD
KINDNESS IS ASTONISHING KINDNESS TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY KINDNESS IS SURPRISING KINDNESS IS DISQUIETING
KINDNESS TAKES BRAVERY
KINDNESS IS THE HEART OF GOD IN ACTION
Ephesians 4:31&32 (NLT) – “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behaviour. Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 5:1-“Imitate God, therefore...”
Proverbs 3:3 (NLT) – “Never let … kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.”
THREE STORIES THAT SHOW HOW KINDNESS WORKS
FIRST STORY When Hagar runs away from Abraham and Sarah Genesis 16:13 (NLT) – “Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, ‘You are the God who sees me.’”
THE WORD ‘SEES’ IDENTIFIES TWO ASPECTS OF KINDNESS
Seeing – God who SEES Action – the root meaning of kindness “an act of grace”
SECOND STORY Found in 2 Samuel 9 – David & the descendants of Saul
2 Samuel 9:1 (NLT) - “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
Kindness is never dependant on whether someone deserves it – Why? – IT IS AN ACT OF GRACE
THIRD STORY - The Good Samaritan – Luke 10
Luke 10:33-35 (NLT) - “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him... the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’”
Acts of kindness happen in everyday situations
Matthew 6:1-4 (Message) – “Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theatre, but the God who made you won't be applauding. When you do something for someone else, don't call attention to yourself. You've seen them in action, I'm sure—'play actors' I call them— treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that's all they get. When you help someone out, don't think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.”
Is Cityhope a church that is saturated by acts of kindness?
A community that is so influenced by us that the community is saturated by acts of kindness?