Humble Yourself

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  James 4:6
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 5:3

1. How do these two verses go together?
2. How does God Oppose the proud?
3. What does it mean to be humble or poor is spirit?

Introduction:

We all want our children to be successful; we want them to be winners.  We don’t like the idea of surrendering because we think of it as the opposite of winning.  We think of Japan or Germany that surrendered, but when you surrender to God the opposite happens. You don’t lose; you win! You become strong.  When you give up and surrender to God you find your life instead of losing it.  This is the wonderful paradox of the spiritual world.  “and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all”  Mark 9:35.  If you want to be rich with life, love and power, you must become poor in spirit which is an attitude of humbleness, helpless, a beggar towards God.

Luke 9:22 -24   “Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. 23   And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24   For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” As Jesus took up the cross to die for us we must take our cross to die – daily. We must die daily to our selfish desires, it is the only way to find the fulfillment Jesus intends for us.

When we surrender to God, we give up trying to figure out the best and most fruitful ways of living our lives.  When we give up and admit that our own way has gotten us into a deep rut, addictions, misery, unhappiness, bitterness; when we go our own way we are fighting against God.  In other words this is a description of SIN.  Sin is doing your life your way and ignoring God’s ways.  So, when you surrender you stop fighting God; you realize that He is more powerful, His way is perfect. 

Teach your children (of any age) that humility is the secret to being filled by God; teach them that humility means being helpless and powerless before God.

Guard your heart:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  Matthew 5:3

Focus on each word in this verse.

1. Blessed. – Sacred, holy, supremely favored.  Think about this, if you are blessed you are highly favored by God. He values you above all of His material creation.  He wants me to enjoy, be fulfilled, happy and complete in HIM.

2. Poor in spirit. – Three basic meanings:

a. Being humble, a beggar, helpless or aware that you are like a newborn baby.  You say to God “I don’t have any power, character, or love like you have; I cry out to God and say please give me your grace, love, and power.
b. Put your self last; it means being concerned about others well-being before your own needs
c. Have an awareness that your spirit is dead; “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Finally focus on the thought of daily.

Daily is the key to success in staying humble.  You must chew on God’s word daily in order to embed them into your heart.  Oh how easy it is to allow the weeds of life, the cares, and the lack of watering and nurturing to choke out God’s word’s from our heart.  When this happens, the world’s beliefs and our flesh take over our lives quickly!

Remain humble by emptying yourself each morning before you jump out of bed.  Work with your children with this before you send them out for the day!

Your plan:

1. Make a list of all the ways that Pride and Humility are displayed in your home.
2. Mark them as dark or light beliefs
3. Identify what is the opposite belief.
4. Which ones are you going to change?  Focus on one every week.

One more verse to help you is “O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8

Practicing Humility:

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Matthew 6:12

• How does this verse relate to humility?
• Who do you need to forgive in your life?
• Who do you need to seek forgiveness from?

Forgiving and seeking forgiveness from our children and others is an important way to show humility.  Admitting when you have offended someone is always humbling.

When seeking forgiveness, you may want to keep three things in mind:

1. Your approach sets the tone of the conversation.  Your voice should be soft and receptive to the other person’s feelings and attitude; everything needs tenderness and sincerity in our voice.  Ask yourself “how receptive are you to hear what the other person may say?”  Too many times we want to blame others for the hurt that we cause!  Blaming does not work!

2. Ask specifically how you hurt the person; your assumptions may not be correct.  This is a major step in validating their feelings and their value to you.  This allows the other person to share their feelings.

3. Worry only about your own faults!  Don’t worry about what the other person did to you.  You are not in control of the other person and can’t make them seek your forgiveness!

Four actions to guard your child’s heart

1. Practice High Honor – Honor is a choice!  It is the simple decision to place high value, worth and importance on another person, to view them as a priceless gift: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21.  Love involves putting that decision into action; honor is a gift we give to others – whether the want it or not; whether the deserve it or not!

2. Keep anger low – Anger is an emotion that in and of itself is neutral.  Anger drives us to an action.  The problem we have is not letting the anger go once we have acted on the situation that gave us the anger.  It is unresolved anger that destroys relationships with your spouse and your children.  Going to the deepest level of anger it is rooted in unfulfilled expectations; it is frustration on not receiving what we had expected from other people or circumstances.

3. Seek forgiveness – Forgiveness starts with a pardon. Forgiveness also involves caring for the offending person; that person has something in their heart that needs healing.  When you forgive others they are released from your anger and you are healed by God!  Forgiveness helps the offended person as much as the one who offends.  Prolonged and unforgiven anger is a form of pride, and since God resists the proud, He will resist the unforgiving angry person because that angry person is really shaking his fists in God’s face and calling Him a liar!  You don’t believe that God can work something that has happened for your good.

4. Find ways to serve one another.

a. Your family needs to feel valued
b. Your family needs open communication
c. Your family needs your shoulder before your mouth – empathy and comfort
d. Your family needs to be held and touched
e. Your family needs verbal praise
f. Your family needs the basics: food, water, shelter, warmth, touch, validation by listening and understanding.

The Third Step to Making a Difference for God

Introduction: God is searching…
“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” Ezekiel 22:30

… for just one man or woman to “step out” and make a difference!

 Israel was far from God; wickedness and sin was thriving; God, through the prophet Ezekiel wrote “I sought for a man . . . and found none.” God throughout history has a plan that is carried out through ordinary people who assume that great things for God must be done by others; The qualifications are quite simple – He is looking for a man, a woman whose heart is fully His and when He finds a man or a woman whose heart is fully His, regardless of background, race, gender, stature, education of appearance, He will resource them to stand in the gap to build up the wall to make a difference. God is searching with His eye, going to and fro throughout the whole world for one who would forsake it all and step out and say “All I have is yours and I am willing to do what ever you want me to do, to stand in the gap to be your representative.

The Question:

Review - What does it take to make a difference for God? What kind of person?

1. The 1st prerequisite to make a difference is a Dislocated heart.
• Do you care?
2. The 2nd prerequisite to make a difference is a Broken spirit.
• Are you dependent? Do you have God centered prayers that says “God I can’t do this but I am asking you to do what only you can do”
The 3rd Prerequisite:
3. The 3rd prerequisite to make a difference is a Radical Faith
• Will you step out?

Our Model = Nehemiah

Nehemiah 1:11 “O LORD, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer”.

We pick this story up where Nehemiah finishes his God centered prayer. Here is his request, after four months of fasting and praying God has revealed to Nehemiah that it is not an accident that he has this position, this education, this circle of influence and place near the King; God wants Nehemiah to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall. God has given him a plan as he prayed; Nehemiah has gathered a group of people about him “. . . and to the prayer of thy servants. . .” as he prayed. He is about to walk into the Kings presence; he is putting his life on the line! Nehemiah was taking a radical step of faith; he was putting his life on the line; he will come out of his comfort zone and align himself with God’s agenda.

Nehemiah 1:12:1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. 2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,

The greatest things ever done by God’s people are done by people who are absolutely terrified and afraid of what they are about to do. But, they do not look at themselves; they don’t let the fear of finances, the fear of rejection, the fear of their physical life and they do what God shows them to do even though they are afraid.

"3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire? 4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it. 6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. “

He had a dislocated heart – he cared; this was not a knee-jerk reaction to bad news; he prayed individually, he gathered a group of people to pray with him for four months he had developed a broken spirit. And now he takes a radical step of faith.

Definition:

A radical faith is choosing to “step out” to fulfill God’s clearly defined will at great personal risk and sacrifice.

This is not just some wild thought that you get; this is God’s clearly defined will. He knew that it was God’s will that the wall be rebuilt. We know that it is God’s will that poor people receive love, lost people to get the gospel, we know that the gospel is to go into the whole world, we know that it is God’s will for fathers to love their family, We know that it is God’s will for mothers to take care of their children, we know that it is God’s will that single people to live pure lives and they are to be loved and encouraged. These are all the clearly defined will of God. You know that it is God’s will for His gospel to cross ethnic barriers.

When you look at churches where God is working and moving you will find people that have taken a radical step of faith. And these people oft times do it reluctantly; we get the idea that they are super-stars and they have super faith and they know so much more than we do. Remember Moses when God called him he said send someone else? And then there is Ester who said “not me please”. When God finds people that are willing to fearfully take a step in faith great things happen.

How Do We Develop a Radical Faith? There are four things to remember to develop a radical faith:

1. By remembering what faith is and is not. Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Faith has to do with things you can’t see. Faith is not based on logic or facts. Faith is not emotions.

Faith is nothing more or less than trusting in the character and the promises of God to the point where you act whether you feel like it or not.

Old Testament example is manna.  God provided enough manna for the day,  If more was gathered than was needed it spoiled; on the day before Sabbath gather enough for two days and it did not spoil.  God was teaching them to trust in Him!

New Testament example is Jesus talking about money; He talked about money more than heaven and hell combined. He says that there are only two gods; it’s either God of money and you can’t serve both!

2. By remembering how deeply God values our faith. Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Two things please God first that you know that He exists and secondly that He rewards those who seek Him. God is not impressed with your morality, He is not impressed with your knowledge, nor is He impressed with your success.

The number one agenda that God has for you is that you trust Him.

What would it take to trust Him? What would it take for you to trust God in your marriage, your job (or lack of having one), your relationships, your choice of a mate, your addiction, what would it look like to launch a project or ministry that He is leading you to do?

Where there is no risk there is no faith! The goal is not to be good but to trust Him!

3. By remembering what Jesus taught His followers about a radical faith.

The only time Jesus rebuked his disciples was for their lack of faith. In all four gospels someone asked “what is the work of God? What does it mean to be right with God? What does God really want?” His response in John 6:29 was 'This is the work of God that you believe'; believe what? Believe everything; believe that this book is God’s word, believe what it says about what’s coming and what happened in the past, believe and trust that you are made for eternity, believe that God can meet your needs, believe that God is sovereign, believe that God is good, believe that He is a rewarder, that He loves you, that He is for you.

Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the Word of God.(Romans 10:17) You will never be able to have faith in Him unless you are in the Word of God! It is “God I want to get to know you!” You will never be able to trust His character and know His promises unless the Bible is a part of your daily habit!

• Jesus called them to a radical faith.

Luke 9:23-27 “23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? 26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.”

You may say that you do not have enough faith to be the kind of person that makes a difference for God. But Jesus says that you don’t need much faith. He told his disciples that all they needed was faith the size of a mustard seed to say unto that mountain to be cast into the sea and it would be done.

• Jesus clarified the object of their faith. Luke 9:28-45 “ If you can ever see Jesus for who He is, how good, how kind, how powerful, how trustworthy, how loving, how much He wants for you. If you can ever see God for who He is you don’t really need a lot of faith!

Luke 9:28 – 45 “28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. 29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. 30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. 33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. 34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. 35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.”

Jesus was showing them who he was! He’s God. He’s all powerful. He will never let you down.

• Jesus warned of the dangers of having a radical faith.  Read Luke 9:46-56

1. Self; Missuse of power.

2 Exclusivity; Misuse of privilege: God will use many to accomplish his work

3 Zeal; misuse of talent: this produces a critical nature, one that criticizes other ministries or churches. It may be one that God does some things and you get carried away by the experience instead of the Lord.

• Jesus outlined the cost of having a radical faith. Read Luke 9:57-62

The first man: And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. Translation: You can’t hang onto stuff; to follow me you will have to travel light. Don’t trust in material substance but trust in Him.

The second man: And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. Translation: You can’t hang on to people; there can’t be any higher relationship other than your relationship with Jesus. It can’t be your spouse, your children, your friends, your sibling, your parents. You can’t say “I’ll do whatever you want within this box.

The third man: Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Translation: You can’t hang on to the past.

4. By remembering you can’t “walk on water if you don’t get out of the boat.

Read Luke 10:1-27 After this in Luke 10, Jesus sends out 70 people out two by two to do what He sends them to do and He gives them power to do it; he tells them to not take an extra bag, don’t take an extra purse – in fact he says to take nothing; why? He wants them to trust Him.

Read Luke 10:17-20

“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”

God through them did miraculous things.

Summary:

What does it take for you to take a radical step of faith? Is it becoming the man in the house spiritually? Is it giving God 20 to 30 minutes every day to get to know Him? Is it launching your personal ministry? Is it giving back to God what is due him? Is it giving up an addiction or un-godly relationship?

Ezekiel 22:30-31 " And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. 31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.

The Second Step to Making a Difference for God

A Broken Spirit:

Did you know that there is something that will block your relationship with God? It is a barrier that will keep God from hearing your prayers, it’s a barrier that will keep God from blessing your life, and it’s a barrier that He wants to remove so that He can bless you. What is this barrier?

Introduction: God is searching...
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

…for a select group of people.

The Question:

This is a principal throughout scripture that God is looking for a man or a woman whose heart is fully his. God is looking for regular ordinary people that are all His so that He can show Himself strong for them; to give them whatever they need – wisdom, faith, people, staff, finances, whatever they need to do His will, His purpose. Some He has a lot some a little, some not a all. What does it take to make a difference for God? What kind of person does He promise to strongly support?

The Answer:
There are 6 prerequisites The first is that when God looks your heart: Do you have a dislocated heart? Do you really care? Is your heart really beyond self needs and worldly possessions to really care for other people? Our model was Nehemiah.
• A Dislocated heart.

Nehemiah 1:1-4 "1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. 4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,”

When he heard these words he took them to heart. He was just a businessman, someone who had a fulltime job, yet his heart was going out to the needs of his people far away.
• What is a dislocated heart? It is a God-given concern for others that propels us out of our comfort zone. It is a passionate concern for God’s agenda that supersedes our own desires for personal peace and prosperity.
• Two other examples where Jesus and Paul

The second prerequisite is a Broken spirit.
• There are Two Timeless Axioms Concerning God’s Character:
1. There is something that God hates 100% of the time. When he sees it in a man, when he sees it in a woman when he sees it in a child or corporation, when he sees it in the old testament when he sees it in the new testament God moves against it; It’s not like he is unhappy about it, it is not like he is displeased, he’s against it, he comes against it! He brings consequences, He hates it! That one thing is Pride, God hates pride100% of the time. Pride can be strutting yourself rebellion, pride can be self sufficiency – I don’t need God, and doing your own thing as if God doesn’t exist.

“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” Proverbs 8:13 ;"

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” James 4:6

2. God responds to a Broken Spirit 100% of the time. After David committed adultery with Bathsheba, after he had murdered her husband David repented and the Lord revealed to him these words:

 “16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalm 51:16-17 ;

You see, we have this idea that after we have done something terrible that God will never use you; "I did this", or "I did that", "I’ll try to be a better person", "I’ll do better"; "I’ll be kinder to people"; we have this "works" mentality and it doesn’t work! When we are far from God, and you understand that you are spiritualy bankrupt the only way back is through a broken spirit, You must come to the point to say God, I messed up, I blew it, what I did was wrong, would you forgive me? Will you have mercy on me?

"For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” Isaiah 57:15

The Bible is full of great examples. Moses was a murderer, David was an adulterer and a murderer, Paul was a murderer; somehow we get the picture of these men who are the heroes of the faith but these men did horrendous things, they were very evil people at a certain time, they broke the heart of God – and then they repented! They recognized how they had violated a holy God, They didn’t try to cut a deal they just said “Oh God I was wrong, I don’t deserve it but please forgive me.” When they came to that point and sought forgiveness from a humble and contrite heart the floodgates of heaven opened to them! He restored him!
How Do We Develop A Broken Spirit?
You don’t develop a broken spirit by beating yourself up. Here are three parts for the development of a Broken Spirit.
Our Model = Nehemiah
• A broken spirit begins with a restored view of God – not beating yourself up!

“4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, 5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: 6a Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel” Nehemiah 1:4-6a

We tend to focus on the problem, focus on the problem, focus on the problem and then you start to view all life through the lens of the problem and begin to think that life stinks! So, you drink stuff you shouldn’t, take pills that don’t really help, Watch TV all the time, eat too much all in an attempt to push away or hide the problem as if it doesn’t exist.


Either you have very big problems and a small God or a very big God and very small problems in comparison. These are only two options. Nehemiah had God centered prayers! Do you have God centered prayers or do you just whine before the throne? “God what about this, God what about that. “ Sometimes we just worry out loud and call it prayer. We do not consider who it is that you are talking to!


Nehemiah was speaking to the Great I AM, the one who spoke and the galaxies came into existence, he was speaking to the One with all power and all resources, he was speaking to the One who keeps his covenants of loyal love: he had a high view of God! A view of majesty, power, love, wisdom, justice, and holiness.


The words of the Psalm 46:10 and the song “Be still, and know that I am God: . . .” means next to nothing for the majority of today’s Christians. Christianity today has had big external gains (bigger churches, padded pews, conditioned air) but we have, by and large, grown weaker in our walk with the Lord. Over the last fifty or seventy years the type of Christians that the church is producing is progressively less and less like Jesus; less holy, less loving, less faithful Today’s Christian are many times “It’s all about me” Christianity and when hard times come, they get mad at God for not answering their prayers like they wanted – and fall away.


The way to get a “high view” of God is to become a “worshiper”. You must worship God for who he is. That is when you get alone in a room and think about Him; that is where you adore Him, praise Him, honor Him and thank Him; this is where you are not trying to get something done; this is where you do not constantly look at your watch to see what time it is; you think on the beautiful things God has made and you cry out Holy, Holy, Holy is God almighty!


Application: Worship

Isaiah 6:1-6 “1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:”

• A broken spirit leads us to an accurate view of you.

Nehemiah 1:6b-7“6b and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned. 7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.”

Until you get a “high view” of God it is difficult to get to a place to realize your need of repentance; once you come to understand not only who God is but how you stand in His sight - your need of repentance and confession comes.


Application: Confession

James 4:7-10 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

• A broken spirit results in a renewed commitment to fulfill God’s agenda.

It was after three months of prayer:

Nehemiah 1:8-11: 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. 11 Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,”

Application: Intercession

James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.“

Summary Principles for Impact:


1. We must let God work deeply in us before He will work significantly through us!
2. Until we make prayer a priority progress and power will never be a reality
3. Difference Makers are not necessarily those with “a lot to give,” but those who make available all they have.

The First Step to Making a Difference for God

Introduction: God is searching. . . . . .for a select group of people.

2 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him"

God is seeking a people that He can empower and equip to do amazing things in them and through them, are you one of them? "For the Eyes of the LORD run to and fro . . ." this means that the eyes of God is going up and down the halls of your home, going up and down the street where you live, going up and down the rooms of the place you work or go to school, going up and down the fields and industrial places of this country. He is seeking for a man or woman whose heart is fully His, when he finds one He will equip, give whatever it takes, to allow that person to do His will. Are you that person?

The Context of 2 Chronicles 16:9

• Past “Success” 2 Chronicles 14-15:

• Asa in chapter 14 gets his heart right with God and honors God by removing the idols. God gives him about 10 years of rest; Asa is obedient to God and God continues to bless Asa.
• God brings a test.The Ethiopians brings an army of well over a million soldiers against Asa; Asa’s army was nothing in comparison. Asa goes to God and says that if the battle is to be won God would have to do it.Asa knew who he was and who God was and what each were capable of doing.
• After the victory wrought by God a prophet comes to Asa and says “if you will be for God, He will be for you, but if you turn away from Him he will turn away from you”. Asa leads the nation in repentance and God gives them 25 more years of peace and prosperity.

Great Door of Opportunity

2 Chronicles 16:1-6 “1 In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. 2 Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying, 3 There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me. 4 And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. 5 And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease. 6 Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.”

Asa’s greatest problem was really his greatest opportunity!

• Judah and Israel have been at odds with one another for generations. God was giving Asa an opportunity to deal with the nation Israel and Syria to demonstrate God's authority. One thing that happens with age and prosperity is that you begin trust in yourself more than you trust in God!
• Asa had matued, he has been king for thirty-five years, he was experienced and God had prospered him. Asa learns that Israel was planning an action against Asa and the nation of Judah. Asa, decided to go the king of Syria for help instead of the Lord.
• The king of Syria did the work and Asa was feeling good about the outcome; he had a problem, he had resources to get out of it, he got out of the problem and now everything is okay; but . . .

A Sad Commentary

2 Chronicles 16:7-12 “7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. 8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand. 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. 10 Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time. 11 And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. 12 And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.”

Asa started well, but finished poorly!

• A lot of people start well but finish poorly. What happens is that as you move along in life you get risk adverse; you start operating on the success of yesterday, you start to put your faith in yourself.
• You end up this nice moral person who has missed out on what God had prepared for your life.

I don’t know about you, but I want to make a difference, I want that holy ambition that God has planned for me; I don’t want to miss it!

The Question: Will we answer God’s call to make a significant impact?

Our great door of opportunity

We have such uncertainty today, (suicide bombers, economy, strife, false religions, etc.) that produces a fertile environment where people are seeking an answer and are willing to talk about Christ and receive Him as never before.

What will it mean for each of us?

• It means that we will have to model it; you cannot pass on what you do not have; you have to walk the talk!
• It will require focus.
• The key to impact is concentration; the key to concentration is elimination. Your have to simplify your life.You cannot do everything. Discover a few things that God wants you to do and do it with all your might.

Our Model: Nehemiah

Nehemiah 1:1-4 "1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, 2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire."

Nehemiah had a full time job; he had a life with responsibilities, he lived in a gated community, he had the finest of clothing, he had privilege, he drove the best chariot, just like you and me! He was just a business man! Notice his response to the news:

"4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,”

Nehemiah had developed a dislocated heart!

What is a dislocated heart?

A dislocated heart is a God-given concern for others that propels us out of our comfort zone. It is a passionate concern for God’s agenda that supersedes our own desires for personal peace and prosperity.

What does a dislocated heart look like?
Exhibit A = Jesus

Philippians 2:5-13 “5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

We need to have this same attitude of crossing a culture - whether its age culture, background culture, education culture, job culture, tatoo culture: to reach people who are different than us!You have to cross some barriers to get the message out that God loves them!Jesus was living in heaven in comfort, He was receiving the adoration of the hosts of heaven, Jesus saw the needs of mankind, He left His comfort zone and became a missionary to mankind.

Exhibit B = Paul

Romans 9:1-3 “1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:. . ."

What is a dislocated heart? It is “do you care?"   No, do you really care? Care enough to sorrow, to morn to sacrifice your time, talent and treasure?

How do you develop a dislocated heart?

• Honest evaluation, do you really care; not by your thoughts but by your actions?
• Genuine repentance, a change of mind and resulting change in behaviors.“God please forgive me, I really have not cared for people and their needs. I’m fairly consumed about me
  and my needs and desires. Please change me.
• Careful consideration. This does come with a cost be careful before moving forward.
• Ask God for a dislocated heart.I don’t want to be a fake or phony.

Paul was willing to give it all up if it would draw his Jewish family to the Christ. Asa was a good king at a bad time! The people where into idol worship, they had forgotten the Lord; they were doing evil things; this was the condition of the land when Asa became king. If you study back from Asa you will discover that Judah had kings that were not good. Occasionally there would be one that was ok, but not good.

Teach Them to Live Grace Filled Lives

Introduction: David – 2 Samuel 11

This is an accurate, historical story of a the most powerful man in the world. He has very very humble beginnings; he comes from a lower class family; he is the youngest child and he went from being a sheep herder to the most powerful king of the world. He had everything any man’s heart could desire; he had wealth, he had fame, he was an artist, he was a warrior, he had beautiful women; he had everything that God could give him so far as a man’s hearts desires. This is a story of a man who was passionate and loves God; a man who never planned to make a mistake in a weak moment destroyed major portions of his like. Read 2 Samuel 11:1. Every other year he would have gone to battle, but things were going great, he has had a lot of success. But then it happened, this was not planned!: 2 Samuel 11:2 – 5. This was God’s man in a weak moment! Read 2 Samuel 11:6 – 11; note the contrast; Uriah’s commitment, loyalty integrity, what’s fair, what’s right

Notice the phrases “it came to pass”, “he saw”, “he inquired”, “he sent”, “he lay”, and “she conceived”. And then begins the cover-up. Plan A – verse 12-13 get Uriah drunk and send him home; plan B – verse 14-15 get Uriah killed in battle.

Much of the Psalms were written by this man under the direction of God’s Holy Spirit, David was a man who was passionate for God. The path of his life changes because one night he could not sleep; he’s not where he is supposed to be, it’s not planned, it’s not malicious, he just can’t sleep!

– do not be deceived, your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:23

Some Observations:

• He was a good man at a weak moment. We tend to look at people that have been found out as being evil, bad, terrible but the reality is not so; David was a very good man. According to the bible, there is not a person in this room that given the right circumstances, and window of time when you are vulnerable that you couldn’t do the same or worse; and until you come to that conviction that it could happen to you, you are even more vulnerable!

• He was described as a mighty warrior, righteous king, and "man after God's own heart." Note this was said of him long after these events happened (book of Acts)

• Yet the words “murderer” and “adulterer” were later added to his biography of this amazing, godly man who is used by God in ways beyond anything we could imagine.

Here is the point I’m making: We all make "big mistakes" sometime in our life. Some of them get found out some of them do not, but we know it!

The question is: How do we recover?

Most of us have regrets over our past actions. It is the devils desire that we cover our mistakes, hide them from view resulting in our carrying guilt all of our days. This is one of the devil’s tools to keep us living a defeated life!

Transferable Concept: Teach them to live Grace Filled lives.

A Theology of Grace: What does it mean to receive grace? What is grace?

1. Grace is the unmerited and unconditional Love of God toward us.

· On your notes, underline the words unmerited and unconditional. Unmerited means that you cannot earn it: unconditional means you have it when you’re bad, you have it when you’re good, you have it when you’re up, you have it when you’re down, Grace is what the eternal God wants to give to you what you do not deserve on the basis of His character alone not on your performance!

2. • Grace is free to us, but COSTLY to God.

· It is absolutely free; not connected in any way with our performance, but is very costly to God!

3. • The CROSS is God’s greatest act of grace.

· The cross where He allowed His son, Jesus Christ, wholly God – wholly man, to die in your place to pay for (to atone for, to be the substitute for) all the things you have ever done, will ever do, ever thought, or ever will think that violates a HOLY GOD. You are responsible for every one of those, I am responsible for every one of mine: and God says that since neither you or I can live up to that cost He will allow His son (who is absolutely perfect) to die in your stead to take the judgment for sin that belongs to you – He allows His wrath for your sin to be poured upon His perfect, sinless son’s head to pay for all sin past and future. If you, in faith, asks for this gift of substitution of grace, He will give you the gift on the basis of your believing! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”

4. • SALVATION is a free gift from God.

This is not from your works!

5. • Grace must be received by RECEIVED BY FAITH.

· Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

· This is a concept that is so foreign to most of us; our beliefs are so imbedded in us that it is hard to shake. For most of us we have this concept of God has this huge chalkboard, one side is marked good deeds and the other side is marked bad deeds; every time you something good you get a tic mark, every time you do something bad you get a tic mark: when your life is over the marks are tallied – if the good outweighs the bad you go to heaven, if the bad deeds outweigh the good deeds then you go to hell. Nothing can be further from the truth! To get into heaven you would have to have a perfect score – zero bad deeds. It is by grace that you are saved – nothing else!

6. • Grace produces Gratitude toward God, and love toward others.

· When you experience grace it activates something. Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”” When you get saved God deposits his Holy Spirit in you; you are literally taken out of the kingdom of darkness and put into the kingdom of light; you are put into this supernatural thing called “the body of Christ”, and you receive your spiritual gifts to fulfill your purpose (Ephesians 2:10 ) Your mind begins to be renewed, your sealed with the Spirit so that no one can take you out of his hand. The Christian life is far from trying to be a “good” person but it is abiding with Christ to live out this new life to do His good works.

· The opposite of Grace is not effort (it takes a lot of effort to live the Christian life) but merit which is something earned; the opposite of Grace is a “performance” mentality! The opposite of grace is: when I read my Bible God loves me, when I don’t read my Bible God doesn’t love me; when I really give, when I really do good deeds, when I live morally God loves me when I don’t do these things God does not love me – this is a performance mentality!

· Many of us think this way and live this way that if you do bad that God will not love you. This is not grace but performance.

· Grace produces gratitude for God; for his forgiveness and payment for your sin. This gratitude produces a love towards others.

• Old Testament Roots

Genesis 3:21 “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”

After the sin God covers their sin by the shedding of blood and making a covering for them. Something had to die, blood had to be spilled and two people got covered; this is a good picture of what happens in salvation.

The other passage is Genesis 6:8 (“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”) Where there is this terrible violence in the world. In Noah’s day the people were preoccupied with violence; Look at today – the top 15 video games that our children play they kill things and blowing up people. Try this someday, just browse the TV guide and check off every program that has to do with death, and harming others. It got so bad in Noah’s day that God regretted creating man. But in the midst of this Noah found Grace in the eyes of the Lord!

• Biblical Profiles – David the adulterer / murderer and Peter the betrayer

We are so quick to point out the bad in both David and Peter yet each one of us could do worst!

David: found grace with God and went on to be mightily used for God’s purposes. And Peter became the foundation for the church. Failure is never final. The great thing about Grace is that God will give you another chance to do right; he is the God of the second chance, the seven times seventy chances! He is willing to withhold the judgment that each of us deserves; He is willing to forgive, cleanse, restore and renew.

• New Testament Command: –

John 3:16-18, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Most of us can quote verse 16 but look at 17 and 18! The unsaved will spend an eternity in hell not because God was unwilling to forgive but because they were unwilling to believe and accept His grace! Jesus’ message was not “everyone is messed up so get with the program already!” but His message was “I didn’t come to condemn you, I came so that you can come to grips with the failure in your life; all the lying cheating, stealing and gossiping; to know that all that has been forgiven; you can have a relationship with the father – He loves you! I’m going to pay the terrible price for your sin to accomplish this! I will be your covering.

The number one reason that people do not get saved is that they are unwilling to humble themselves, admit their need and realize that they cannot do this on their own; it takes huge humility to admit that you have a need – pride gets in the way.

Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

1 Peter 1:13 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

No one has ever been saved except through grace!

How do you pass this on in a “performance oriented” world?

Application: I, (your First Name Last name), choose to believe that with God, my Failure is never final!

Teaching Your Children That Failure Is Never Final

1. Encourage them to MEDITATE on the lives of David and Peter; a murderer, adulterer, and betrayer who are among God's most beloved and mightily used servants.

Moses – murdered, David – adulterer / murderer, Apostle Paul – murderer, Rahab – prostitute, James and John – anger management issues, The other Judas – he was a terrorist (plotting to overthrow the government), Matthew – a crook, an embezzler, liking people for their money; hey, this is God’s “dream team”! And, we have the audacity to say that “God could never forgive me”

Teach them to consider how through Grace God has restored and used many good people that have done wrong, teach them that God loves them regardless of their sin – I’m not saying here that we give license to sin, or that you don’t have to discipline for disobedience – there are consequences for sin! But God still loves you and died for you and wants to give you grace – you must reach out and take it!

Read to them and discuss the stories where you find a good man who in a weak moment failed and how God through Grace restored that, and used them!

2. Help them remove the power of the SECRET and condemnation by practicing repentance (James 4:7-10) and confession (James 5:16) with some mature believers you can trust.

The way the enemy works is like this: when you sin, when you blow it big time, when you make a mistake, we do exactly what David did – we start to cover it up, we’re embarrassed by it, we don’t want the consequences of it, it becomes a little secret. The enemy uses this against you. Every time you want to move forward he whispers in your ear “you don’t really think God will use you? Look at what you have hidden!” When sinful things are brought into the light they die!

James 4:7-10 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

What is in your past that is hidden - covered up? What load of guilt and defeat are you bearing? Here’s God plan to bring it into the light! I’m not saying that you need to do this publicly but you need to get it out of hiding so that your healing can start!

3. Teach them to REFUSE to continue living with a “performance-orientation” in your relationship with God; it is and always will be a grace-orientation.

Develop a set of "Desire Cards"; keep them in places that you must see every day - review these every day. Below are some examples that I use.

· I desire to please God and to find my worth and security in Him rather that trying to please people to get their affirmation.

· I desire to focus on my faithfulness to God rather than my success in my duties.

· I desire to enjoy my relationship with Jesus Christ each and every day. (Psalm 16:11 "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore").

· I desire to allow my children to have the freedom to fail; to allow home to be pressure free.

· I desire to have some good fun once or twice each and every week.

· I desire to worship God for who He is with praise and adoration.

Life Message: You were created to RECEIVE grace and to give grace!

Teach Them to Manage Their Wealth Wisely

Teach Them to Manage Their Wealth Wisely

Introduction: Money!

I’m going to ask five questions; answer first what you think the best answer would be and then what you think the five people that you are going to leave a legacy would answer. Are the answers the same? This is a little diagnostic tool.

• How much is enough? Write in a number – no soft answers here; how much is enough for you to live and do what God wants you to do? What do you think your son or daughter would say?

• How much is too much? Write down a dollar amount. If God gave you a million and this was enough but eleven million may send me over the edge.

• Can I be both godly and rich? Yes or no. How do you think the person that you want to pass this on, how would they answer that?

• If riches and material goods can "choke out" spiritual life (Mark chapter four, seed being sown in four different soils and the thorny soil the seed was choked out), is poverty God's calling for spiritual maturity? If not, what is? “I don’t know” is an acceptable answer.

• Why does Jesus warn against the "deceitfulness" of riches? Deceitful means that you are deceived; remember when you are deceived you are not aware of the deceit! Wealth has the ability to deceive you into thinking that you are living a pleasing life unto the lord, living a good life being in fellowship with God where in reality you are not doing what would please God. Money has the ability to appease us into thinking that we are doing right and well, when we really are not!

When do you view yourself as rich (or poor). Our tendency is to always place ourselves at middle class and the “Rich” are those people above you and the “Poor” are those below you. Your definition of wealth is constantly changing.

Some things are taught, some things are caught, and the rest you learn the hard way.

How you handle money is the clearest barometer of the condition of your relationship with God. That’s why Jesus talked more about money than heaven and hell combined. How you handle money reveals your values, your priorities, and where your heart is.

How do you pass on to others what wealth is –how do you transfer God’s concept of wealth to those you love?

Transferable Concept:

Teach them to manage their wealth wisely.

A Theology of Stewardship:

• God owns everything: Psalms 50:12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.”

• God has entrusted His things - time, talent, and, treasure- to us to manage for Him.

This is a key concept to pass on. It’s not yours, it’s not mine, and it’s His: you’re just the manager! You’re a Stewart. He has given to you just so much time, talents, and wealth into your hands; your job is to manage it wisely.

• God expects a positive return on His investment.

God is the best banker ever! He has deposited his time, talent and money into you; he expects to get a return on this investment.

• God will hold you accountable: 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

This not the judgment of the lost, but of the saved where you will gain crowns or experience loss of rewards.

• God wants you to share in His glory: 2 Corinthians 5:12 “For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.”

As you seek God to ask “how do you want me to use this ___ “as you obey, you will share in His glory. You will have a level of joy and intimacy with Him as you cooperate in His will.

• Old Testament roots – Genesis 1:26-29, Job 1:20-21

God says to Adam, I created it all, I’m giving it to you to manage, manage it well and be fruitful and multiply and have an increase! You are my Stewart.

Job declares that all that he had was not his, he then fell and worshiped God. How many of us would do that – consider the recent economic down turn. Do you get angry when God takes something from you? I worked hard for this stuff, how could you take it away from me? Did you think it was yours and not His?

• New Testament Command – Matthew 25:14-30

Jesus teaches the disciples about stewardship, how that a master was going away to a far country and left talents (money) with different Stewarts, and discusses the outcome of their stewardship upon his return. For those who had an increase they were told “well done you faithful servant, enter into your reward”.

The one who did not get and increase was chastised and what he had was taken away and given to another. He did not get a positive reward. He buried his money; he did not put it to the use that the master had desired.

Jesus teaches us that it is not about how much money but what you do with the things entrusted to you; He expects us to do something with what we are given.

Note that both the five talent guy and the two talent guy got the same reward; it wasn’t about how much they ended up with but all to do with “did they invest and use the talents according to the Masters desire of increase”.

• Biblical Profiles – Nehemiah in the Old Testament and Barnabas in the new.

Nehemiah’s story goes like this. He has become the king’s right hand man; he has a place of privilege, has all of the best things and is the confidant to the king. God blessed Nehemiah with this life for a purpose, for a window of opportunity for Nehemiah to do God’s work. God had send two others (pastors) before to rebuild the Temple but the work languished; then God sent Nehemiah, the businessman, to get things organized and the people motivated. Stewardship is not feeling guilty about having much, but realizing that the possessions are not yours but God’s to accomplish God’s will. To those that much is given much is required. If you are wealthy, six figure income, and you tithe God is not very impressed – how hard is it to tithe when you have that much income? The most generous people are the poor that give when they do not have much to work with! Nehemiah is the model of what it looks like to be godly, wealthy and generous.

Barnabas was a very wealthy man, owning much property. He was the key; we would not have heard of Paul if Barnabas had not been there to step in and introduce Paul to the others and vouch for him. Barnabas was the leader who went to Paul and said let’s partner on this and do a work for God. Barnabas was a wealthy man with leadership skills that God used to get the church going.

God has given to each of use skills and possessions to use to further His work.

Question: how are you managing your wealth today? If God was to give you a report card what would your grade be? You can not pass on what you do not have!

Application: I, (First Name) (Last Name), choose to become faithful in the little things Luke 16:10

"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”

How to Become Faithful in the "Little" (Material) Things:

1. Help them recognize the three purposes of money are giving, saving, and spending. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”

When I was teaching my daughter about this concept we had three jars labeled “Giving”, “Saving”, and “Spending”. When she earned money we divided it up between the jars; the lesson is that you need to distribute your God given money between these funds so that you will have it to spend when the need comes up.

2. Encourage them to commit to honor God with first fruits of every paycheck to remind them that it's God’s money, not theirs. Proverbs 3:9-10 “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”

Teach them not the rigidity of the tithe but that you give back to God because you love Him; give because your heart is in line with God. Teach them how to become a generous person. Did you know that the word miserable comes from the root word miser? You become less miserable when you are less miserly: learn and teach how to become generous.

Generous people live longer, generous people are happier, generous people have better relationships, generous people are liked by others, and generous people are emotionally healthy: the most generous person in the whole universe is God and His Son!

It’s not your check book, its God’s, so spend form it in a way to make God happy.

3. Encourage them to make time with God ) their #1 priority so they’ll know how to invest the time, talent, and treasure entrusted to them

The keys to life, the anchor that will hold you in the storms of life are in the word of God. This is your source of power; it is your weapon against the devil; it will teach you how to be a parent, how to be a good spouse, how to judge rightly, how to live!

Make dwelling in his word a habit, He will revel things to you, He will meet you and talk to you while you are dwelling in His word. The more you do the more you will thirst for His presence!

Mark 1:35 Records a very busy day in Jesus’ life, he was pressed, after all this “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed”

Sometimes we seek after some book or some other person for wisdom on how to solve a problem, but God wants to help you solve the problems His way. You can only do this if you will first turn to Him for help.

This is something to pass on to others; that your source of wisdom and help is in God Himself!

Life Message: Your Life is a sacred Stewardship!

Discussion Questions:

1. Which of the last two messages "hit home" the most with you? How will you share what you’ve learned with your children and grandchildren?

2. What midcourse changes do you need to make in your attitude toward work? Money? What are they? How about your children and grandchildren?

3. What specific action steps of faith do you sense God is leading you toward in response to His Word? How will you pass this on to your children and grandchildren?

4. What does it look like to obey God in your life? How will you pass this knowledge on to your heirs?