Under the Water Bucket Believing

Review God wants to give good gifts to his children How I handle my relationships with the people in my life determines my experience with God- and the blessings he wants to give

In what way am I exercising real faith right now?

Paradoxical Faith

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen- Hebrews 11:1

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? - Romans 8:24 Faith is not sight

And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him- Hebrews 11:6 God wants to bless his children

Faith is taking God at his Word and trusting him for the results

Survivor

God wants to bless us. We experience those blessings as we take him at his Word and act in faith − Common Grace- That which all people receive from God − Provisional Grace- God's blessings outside of and in addition to Common Grace

…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. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways - James 1:5-8

God is ready to give, but he's not interested in being one of many options

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead- James 2:15-17

Genuine faith is connected to the action of giving to help people in need *Least of these…

…a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I will be made well."

Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well- Matt. 9:20-22 What if she had touched him but hadn't really believed anything would happen?

…a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly." And he said to him, "I will come and heal him"

But the centurion replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." But the centurion replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith… And to the centurion Jesus said, "Go; let it be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed at that very moment - Luke 7:5-13

"…if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes…" "I believe; help my unbelief!" - Mark 9:22-24 "I believe; help my unbelief!" - Mark 9:22-24

Faith always say, “I know you can. I pray that you will”

And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief- Matthew 13:58 A whole town missed the blessings of God because they didn't believe

"Test drive a new God today!"

“Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’

“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings” God ties relationship to giving

God ties relationship with giving Why?

Why? Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also- Matthew 6:21

God ties relationship with giving Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” - Hebrews 13:5

You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 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. “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.

“I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty - Malachi 3:7-11 The test: Give to God and God will give back both in kind and in other blessings

You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes - Haggai 1:5-6

The problem: That's Old Testament

…you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. …you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 2 Cor. 8= extreme poverty

Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.

I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus- Philippians 4:15-19 God's supply is inextricably linked to our willingness to give in faith

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. I cannot give in faith without also receiving from God

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…You cannot serve God and money… …do not be anxious about your life… But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you - Matthew 6

God wants to give to his children But…God is more interested in our relationships with people and with him than he is in giving gifts

God continually ties faith- and specifically giving in faith- with serving and loving him

Blessings: − Seek first= rest from anxiety- I don't own it and it's God's responsibility − Fruitfulness − Blessing others − Power to stop overspending − Teaching kids real value

So you want me to start tithing? − NO! − Seek God − Understand ownership − Give as he leads- faithfully and regularly − Spend as he leads…sparingly and joyfully

Takeaways: − How do I feel right now? Why? What does that tell me about how I view money? − Does God own and have control of all my life- including money? − Have I prayed about what he wants me to do with his money?