The Elephant In My Wallet

Jesus has a PR problem Enslave?

Jesus has a PR problem Enslave? Or Set Free?

Are you free? What determines Your freedom? Are you free? What determines Your freedom?

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” - John 8:31-32

Jesus= completely free Free to care when hated Free to speak difficult truth Free to hide without ego

Are you free? What determines Your freedom? Are you free? What determines Your freedom?

Freedom has a cost Jesus' Blood= Cross Our obedience to his Word Paradox: Involves Surrender

The things we hold tightest Enslaves us most

Identity, Ego, Image “But this is who I am…” “If I’m not…then who am I?” “What will it do to How people perceive me?”

Relationship “I have to have her in my life…” “I can fix it” “I’m ruined because of it”

Even our beliefs about How things should be Based on what we’ve heard Or been taught by our culture Can enslave us

"If I follow Jesus Things will get easier and easier"

The things we hold tightest Enslaves us most

Jesus may be gentle But he’s relentless In fighting for your joy And your freedom in Him

Shift: Ownership of everything

Biblical view of money And the church HUGE Elephant

"They just want my money" "If you give, you'll get rich"

"God wants us to prosper financially, to have plenty of money, to fulfill the destiny he has laid out for us" - False Teacher

"There's just something about $1,000 that releases God's power to work in your life" - False Teacher

"I have suffered the loss of all things. And count them as excrement. That I may gain Christ" - Paul, Philippians 3

God wants you rich, so…give! Other side… We don't expect- or believe- God would be involved In issues of money

God would never use My willingness to Release my hold and follow Him As a path to meeting my needs

Assumption: All of us struggle with holding Tightly to money - Have it or don’t have it - Tithe or “from the heart”

Upset? Why? - No special offering - No pledge statements - No appeals for your money - The appeal is for your heart

The things we hold tightest Enslaves us most And it did back then, too

"Go and sell, give to the poor. Come, follow me and you'll have treasure in heaven" - Jesus

Sad, downcast, depressed Why, if he has all that money? Because it has him. He's enslaved to the very thing he thinks makes him free

Jesus is relentless In fighting for your joy And you freedom in Him

Christ's words to you And to me

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal

…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal

"Make your treasure Something that will last"

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

Strange "eye" moment…

You cannot serve God and money

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious Jesus wants you free

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on…

If you stopped worrying about money-related issues today How much more free Would you be?

What did Jesus just say? Therefore I tell you, Don't be anxious

The things we hold tightest Enslaves us most

Jesus is relentless In fighting for your joy And freedom in Him

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you

You cannot serve God and money…(so) seek first…Kingdom When we really seek God's Kingdom, money becomes A stewardship, not a goal

Set free!

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble - Matt. 6

Lay up treasures You can't serve God and money Instead, seek first his Kingdom You do not have to worry

What does Jesus promise?

What does Jesus promise? Freedom from financial worry

Anyone here Experience that 24/7? Why?

The things we hold tightest Enslaves us most

Same Context Parallel Passage - Luke 12

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me”

But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions”

Very different from: "God wants us to prosper financially, to have plenty of money, to fulfill the destiny He has laid out for us"

So God says, "Let go of that excrement. And pursue me instead. And quit worrying about it"

But is that it? Is faith not tied to giving? Does God not lead? Does God not flex and bless As we follow?

"I am so THANKFUL right now! After Michael's surgery (to the tune of $20,000) and paying $2,000 out of pocket already, we were left with a $3,000 bill (after both insurances)

I filled out a charity care application and wrote an accompanying letter, hoping to get a portion knocked off

I received a bill this weekend stating we were past due and further lateness would result in collections

I called this morning to set up a payment plan and they couldn't find the bill! I called the other numbers…

…and finally the last lady I spoke to informed me the bill had been covered 100% as of Friday

The most awesome part of this is that Friday I was debating whether to write our tithe check for this week or hold the money for a payment towards this debt

I opted to write the check and prayed over the money and I certainly got confirmation about it today I opted to write the check and prayed over the money and I certainly got confirmation about it today

…Now that is seeing your God show up y'all" - Danielle

Faithfulness came Before blessing And outside of a promise Of specific blessing

Anecdotal… Does this follow scripture?

Context= offering for the poor …whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully

Just because it's misused By false teachers and charlatans Doesn't mean it's not true When God leads

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver Giving is worship

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work

…You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God - 2 Cor. 9

Danielle trusted God When it made no sense And it welled up into praise On her behalf and a witness On her Facebook wall

Philippians- contentment Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit…

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus - Philippians 4 Context: Spirit-led Giving

…your partnership in the gospel… he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ - Philippians 1 Context: Spirit-led Giving

What does God promise? God will supply as I give So that I can continue to serve I will grow and produce fruit And he will be glorified

I will not "release my faith" And "claim my harvest" But I'll follow by faith And see him set me free To trust him more

How do I feel right now?

That which we hold tightest Enslaves us most

Pray - Am I holding tightly to money? - Am I trusting it as my security? - What do You want me to do? - How do I step out in faith, God?

As a church We will make a difference Around the world And in our Valley for Jesus By giving away what Belongs to Jesus

Because Jesus wants us free

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Leadership Sept. 28

How Many Services? How Soon? How Many Services? How Soon?

Charlotte Bike Trip Saturday, Sept. 20

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