Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the series "The Blessed Life" with part 4 in this Sunday service.
The Blessed Life Part 4
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, October 31, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
Sermon Notes:
The Blessed Life…
Generosity—our ‘Affluenza’ shot…
Romans 3:21 (Message) “Since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.”
Matthew 6:24 (NKJV) “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
The Spirit of Mammon—Mammon as used in Matthew 6:24 is not properly translated when translated as “money”. Money is not evil—the love of money is. There is a spirit of mammon that seeks to control. It is a disease that is caught from thinking like unbelievers—Affluenza.
Symptoms of this disease are:
- Money becomes an answer rather than a tool which produces control issues and selfishness
- There is never enough money which produces worry and stress
- Money becomes our motivation rather than love which produces decreased influence, hurting relationships and broken hearts
- Success is measured by our bank account and our stuff rather than simply being in God’s will which produces bitterness, dissatisfaction, disillusionment and depression
- We become paranoid—thinking everyone is after our money producing cynicism and withdrawal
- Pride—the “self-made person” who needs nobody. “I started off with nothing and look what I have done.” Also (same coin different side) “I don’t need your charity.” This produces arrogance and a hard heart.
- Poverty—the “unworthy syndrome”—unable to graciously accept the blessing. “The only reason I have this car, house, shirt, watch, etc. is because I got such a good deal on it.” Also (same coin different side) “Just think about what good they could have done with that money.” This produces a false humility, coveting and a scarcity mindset.
Mammon seeks to make itself equal to God:
- “We either need a miracle from God or more money.”
- Mammon promises us those things only God can deliver: security, significance, identity, happiness, freedom, power and fulfillment.
- “If you had more money, you could help more people.” “If I can get rich, then I will give more to the church and God can help more people.” (God doesn’t need money to help people—he needs people to help people. If each Christian was just being faithful with what God has already given us the Church would have more than enough. In every city in our nation, the Church represents more influence and money than any other business or organization.)
The Antidote:
Mark 4:24 (Message) "Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way.
Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes."
Probable Side Effects: (head of a golden retriever)
Matthew 6:31-33—priorities find their rightful place when we ask God to change the way we think (Romans 12)
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Romans 14:17—righteousness, peace and joy becomes our standard of living and we make the necessary adjustments to our lifestyle to promote those. (TITHE=tenth, invest, today, household, entertainment)
(NKJV) “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Isaiah 32:8—stability unaffected by economic circumstances. The importance of a generous lifestyle—finding ways to give instead of focusing on ways to get. (NKJV) “But a generous man devises generous things, and by generosity he shall stand.”
Philippians 4:11-13 - Paul discovered the ultimate affluenza vaccine—pursuing the will of God, living in His presence, enjoying the friendship of the Holy Spirit—Living the Blessed Life. “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
10/27/10 - Grace - Mike Barker
Mike Barker teaches on "Grace" in this Wednesday service.
Grace
Mike Barker
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
Sermon Notes:
Grace
1. A a quality within something that’s beautiful or joyful. (Fragrance of a flower, the beauty of a lovely person)
2. Anything that has loveliness. (Thought, an act, a word, a person)
3. A gift or a favor that someone might extend to a friend.
4. Forgiveness that a friend gives you.
We all need Grace- Some of us need it in areas:
1. Relationships
2. Marriage
3. Children
4. Friendships
5. GOD
Testimony - Part 1:
There was a time in a particular man’s life when he treated a lot of the people who loved him like they were his enemy. The man grew up in a Christian home with parents that loved the lord. He went to church twice every Sunday and every Wednesday night. He grew up serving the lord.
As he got older he found a career that he loved and started a family. He loved his job. The man got to help and meet new people every day. He found himself spending more time at his job than at home with his family. A void began to grow inside him. He searched for things to fill the void like expensive and fast vehicles, motorcycles or anything that would give him a rush of adrenaline. He was his own worst enemy when it comes to finances. That’s another area that he needed grace. Often times he would get focused on the material things of the world and leave GOD out of his finances.
He would pray the same prayer that some of you may have: Lord if it is your will….. Just open the door for me to get this high interest loan on this new Ferrari, and if it is not your will… just close the door and I will take it as sign to second mortgage my house and buy the Corvette.
As time went on, the man kept drifting away from his family and the will of God. He felt alone in the world, even though he had people who loved and cared for him all around him. The Man never told his family what he was feeling; he just kept it to himself.
Eventually, he drifted so far apart from his family. He started living a separate life. A separate life that included another woman. After the excitement of the new relationship was over, he found his world crumbling around him.
Eventually, the affair came to the surface with my family. He needed to be forgiven, but first he needed to humble himself before God. As you might have guessed, he didn’t humble himself, instead he ran from God and his family when he left home. The man thought that the answer to problem was a divorce.
Now, not only was he acting like a jerk to everyone around him, he was fighting against what the Word teaches. He felt like he was an enemy to God.
Although we may feel like we are God’s enemy, God still has grace that extends to every horrible thing that we’ve ever done. He needed to be saved from the situation that he was in, and he needed to be saved from himself. He needed a lot of grace. God saves us from sin and he saves us from our self.
GOD:
• Eph 2:8-9
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
God’s grace is different than any other kind of grace that is available to you. God’s grace is defined by Webster’s as:
Grace: (charis) - unmerited divine assistance
God gives us help when you do not deserve it. And He wants to make sure that we understand that He is giving it to us and we did nothing to get it, all because we trust Him. He’s going to assist us when we don’t deserve it, when we don’t expect it, when we are at our lowest point in life.
There are many things that we could learn about God’s grace. It would be impossible to begin to understand all of it in an entire lifetime. But today we are going to look at 3 things we need to know about God’s grace.
3 things we need to know about God’s grace.
1. God's grace is not earned. (Eph2:8)
(It is something completely undeserved and unearned.)
Grace has been operating for you when you couldn’t see it or didn’t recognize it.
Ephesians 2:8b (NLT) And you can’t take credit for this;
It has nothing to do with us. We can’t take credit for it.
It’s like an unearned honorary degree from some University.
God’s Word says that grace is something that we can’t take credit for. Grace doesn’t bring about pain, shame, rejection, hurt or marriage trouble. These are things we do on our own.
These are things that we can take credit for. Now understand that the things I just described don’t apply for those who have been the victim of a horrible situation. That is not what I am referring to here.
- There may be things in our marriage that have earned us trouble, like arguing or silence and rejection.
- Tere may be things that we have done in our family that have earned us disrespect, anger, or distance in relationships.
- There may be things in our friendships that have brought about hurt.
All these things happen apart from grace. Those are things we earn.
UNEARNED ASSISTANCE: But God’s grace can come in and give us what we can’t take credit for . He can give us what we have not earned. He can give us what we do not deserve! He can give us hope for the future. When we have grace, that unearned assistance from God, we have the things that God is capable of doing. God showed the world grace when He sent His Son to do the impossible in our lives.
God wants us to be unable to do it our self so that we can have His grace. He wants us to realize we can’t do it on your own. We can’t earn it. We HAVE to have Him. His grace will give us the power to do things we thought were impossible.
First, God’s grace is not earned. And second…
2. God's grace is a free gift. (Eph 2:8)
Ephesians 2:8c (NLT) ; it is a gift from God.
Just like a child that is born into a rich family, who didn’t do anything to deserve the inheritance his father has for them. When we have grace, we are given a free gift that we do not deserve.
Testimony - Part 2:
Sitting in his aloneness… with a can of beanie-weenies, and they have several flavor. He realized that he was getting nowhere with the things he had earned on his own! He needed to accept what was freely given to him. It was time to stop running away from God and apply the things of His Word to his life through the free gift of His Son. It came to a point of surrender.
To have God’s free gift of grace, you have to come to a point of surrender.
Don’t do what you can do; do what God empowers you to do through His free gift.
When you do that, you have all the good things that God can do in your life…
First, God’s grace is not earned. Second, it is a free gift. Finally…
3. Salvation is only possible through God's grace. (Eph 2:9)
Ephesians 2:9 (NLT)
9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
It’s not about what we have done. It is about what God has done. If it were about what you could do, then you could boast about it. But it is nothing good that you can do or ever do to earn God’s grace. Salvation is only possible through God and what HE has done.
Some of us today think we are fine. We don’t think that we have to apply grace. We don’t think that we have to trust God.
Being a good person will not save you. Comparing yourself to someone else will not save you. You can’t have God’s favor or blessing by being a good person! You have to believe and trust in God.
- If you have a marriage that needs to be saved, it is only possible through God’s grace.
- If you have a family relationship that needs to be restored, it is only going to be possible through God’s grace.
- If there are unresolved issues between you and someone else, it is only going to be fixed through the grace and forgiveness that God gives you and works through you to someone else.
YOU:
- Things that help us apply the free gift in our life:
1. Praying
2. Reading His Word
3. Live like changed person
4. Allow God’s grace to flow in restoration with:
- Marriage
- Family
- Friends
WE:
Testimony Final Part:
You know that man I was telling you about sure could use some grace. Without his knowledge, his family was praying for him. Even though he had given up on them, they never gave up on him. Grace was working in his life when he didn’t know it.
After what seemed like years to his family, they began to start communicating. Communicating led to spending more time together. Spending more time together led to him stopping the divorce proceedings and moving back home.
He was so ashamed of what he had done and become. The man started asking for God’s forgiveness. God showed me more grace than he ever thought possible. God started changing his life. God revealed the plan that he had for him. And finally he quit running and surrendered everything to God. And his life has not been the same since.
That man is here. As a matter of fact, he is standing up right now.
Here I stand… with a call to plant a church and be a Pastor. God has me on a track that I never, ever thought was possible.
Grace has been operating for you when maybe you couldn’t see it or didn’t recognize it. Christ died for you 2,000 years ago. Grace has been operating for you for 2,000 years.
God has you here today for a reason. It’s grace that brought you here today. And grace will continue to be with you for the rest of your life as you accept Jesus and trust Him to be your Lord and your guide.
Romans 5:8-10 (NLT)
8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.
Grace
Mike Barker
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
Sermon Notes:
Grace
1. A a quality within something that’s beautiful or joyful. (Fragrance of a flower, the beauty of a lovely person)
2. Anything that has loveliness. (Thought, an act, a word, a person)
3. A gift or a favor that someone might extend to a friend.
4. Forgiveness that a friend gives you.
We all need Grace- Some of us need it in areas:
1. Relationships
2. Marriage
3. Children
4. Friendships
5. GOD
Testimony - Part 1:
There was a time in a particular man’s life when he treated a lot of the people who loved him like they were his enemy. The man grew up in a Christian home with parents that loved the lord. He went to church twice every Sunday and every Wednesday night. He grew up serving the lord.
As he got older he found a career that he loved and started a family. He loved his job. The man got to help and meet new people every day. He found himself spending more time at his job than at home with his family. A void began to grow inside him. He searched for things to fill the void like expensive and fast vehicles, motorcycles or anything that would give him a rush of adrenaline. He was his own worst enemy when it comes to finances. That’s another area that he needed grace. Often times he would get focused on the material things of the world and leave GOD out of his finances.
He would pray the same prayer that some of you may have: Lord if it is your will….. Just open the door for me to get this high interest loan on this new Ferrari, and if it is not your will… just close the door and I will take it as sign to second mortgage my house and buy the Corvette.
As time went on, the man kept drifting away from his family and the will of God. He felt alone in the world, even though he had people who loved and cared for him all around him. The Man never told his family what he was feeling; he just kept it to himself.
Eventually, he drifted so far apart from his family. He started living a separate life. A separate life that included another woman. After the excitement of the new relationship was over, he found his world crumbling around him.
Eventually, the affair came to the surface with my family. He needed to be forgiven, but first he needed to humble himself before God. As you might have guessed, he didn’t humble himself, instead he ran from God and his family when he left home. The man thought that the answer to problem was a divorce.
Now, not only was he acting like a jerk to everyone around him, he was fighting against what the Word teaches. He felt like he was an enemy to God.
Although we may feel like we are God’s enemy, God still has grace that extends to every horrible thing that we’ve ever done. He needed to be saved from the situation that he was in, and he needed to be saved from himself. He needed a lot of grace. God saves us from sin and he saves us from our self.
GOD:
• Eph 2:8-9
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
God’s grace is different than any other kind of grace that is available to you. God’s grace is defined by Webster’s as:
Grace: (charis) - unmerited divine assistance
God gives us help when you do not deserve it. And He wants to make sure that we understand that He is giving it to us and we did nothing to get it, all because we trust Him. He’s going to assist us when we don’t deserve it, when we don’t expect it, when we are at our lowest point in life.
There are many things that we could learn about God’s grace. It would be impossible to begin to understand all of it in an entire lifetime. But today we are going to look at 3 things we need to know about God’s grace.
3 things we need to know about God’s grace.
1. God's grace is not earned. (Eph2:8)
(It is something completely undeserved and unearned.)
Grace has been operating for you when you couldn’t see it or didn’t recognize it.
Ephesians 2:8b (NLT) And you can’t take credit for this;
It has nothing to do with us. We can’t take credit for it.
It’s like an unearned honorary degree from some University.
God’s Word says that grace is something that we can’t take credit for. Grace doesn’t bring about pain, shame, rejection, hurt or marriage trouble. These are things we do on our own.
These are things that we can take credit for. Now understand that the things I just described don’t apply for those who have been the victim of a horrible situation. That is not what I am referring to here.
- There may be things in our marriage that have earned us trouble, like arguing or silence and rejection.
- Tere may be things that we have done in our family that have earned us disrespect, anger, or distance in relationships.
- There may be things in our friendships that have brought about hurt.
All these things happen apart from grace. Those are things we earn.
UNEARNED ASSISTANCE: But God’s grace can come in and give us what we can’t take credit for . He can give us what we have not earned. He can give us what we do not deserve! He can give us hope for the future. When we have grace, that unearned assistance from God, we have the things that God is capable of doing. God showed the world grace when He sent His Son to do the impossible in our lives.
God wants us to be unable to do it our self so that we can have His grace. He wants us to realize we can’t do it on your own. We can’t earn it. We HAVE to have Him. His grace will give us the power to do things we thought were impossible.
First, God’s grace is not earned. And second…
2. God's grace is a free gift. (Eph 2:8)
Ephesians 2:8c (NLT) ; it is a gift from God.
Just like a child that is born into a rich family, who didn’t do anything to deserve the inheritance his father has for them. When we have grace, we are given a free gift that we do not deserve.
Testimony - Part 2:
Sitting in his aloneness… with a can of beanie-weenies, and they have several flavor. He realized that he was getting nowhere with the things he had earned on his own! He needed to accept what was freely given to him. It was time to stop running away from God and apply the things of His Word to his life through the free gift of His Son. It came to a point of surrender.
To have God’s free gift of grace, you have to come to a point of surrender.
Don’t do what you can do; do what God empowers you to do through His free gift.
When you do that, you have all the good things that God can do in your life…
First, God’s grace is not earned. Second, it is a free gift. Finally…
3. Salvation is only possible through God's grace. (Eph 2:9)
Ephesians 2:9 (NLT)
9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
It’s not about what we have done. It is about what God has done. If it were about what you could do, then you could boast about it. But it is nothing good that you can do or ever do to earn God’s grace. Salvation is only possible through God and what HE has done.
Some of us today think we are fine. We don’t think that we have to apply grace. We don’t think that we have to trust God.
Being a good person will not save you. Comparing yourself to someone else will not save you. You can’t have God’s favor or blessing by being a good person! You have to believe and trust in God.
- If you have a marriage that needs to be saved, it is only possible through God’s grace.
- If you have a family relationship that needs to be restored, it is only going to be possible through God’s grace.
- If there are unresolved issues between you and someone else, it is only going to be fixed through the grace and forgiveness that God gives you and works through you to someone else.
YOU:
- Things that help us apply the free gift in our life:
1. Praying
2. Reading His Word
3. Live like changed person
4. Allow God’s grace to flow in restoration with:
- Marriage
- Family
- Friends
WE:
Testimony Final Part:
You know that man I was telling you about sure could use some grace. Without his knowledge, his family was praying for him. Even though he had given up on them, they never gave up on him. Grace was working in his life when he didn’t know it.
After what seemed like years to his family, they began to start communicating. Communicating led to spending more time together. Spending more time together led to him stopping the divorce proceedings and moving back home.
He was so ashamed of what he had done and become. The man started asking for God’s forgiveness. God showed me more grace than he ever thought possible. God started changing his life. God revealed the plan that he had for him. And finally he quit running and surrendered everything to God. And his life has not been the same since.
That man is here. As a matter of fact, he is standing up right now.
Here I stand… with a call to plant a church and be a Pastor. God has me on a track that I never, ever thought was possible.
Grace has been operating for you when maybe you couldn’t see it or didn’t recognize it. Christ died for you 2,000 years ago. Grace has been operating for you for 2,000 years.
God has you here today for a reason. It’s grace that brought you here today. And grace will continue to be with you for the rest of your life as you accept Jesus and trust Him to be your Lord and your guide.
Romans 5:8-10 (NLT)
8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.
Monday, October 25, 2010
10/24/10 - The Blessed Life PT3 - Pastor Tony Ashmore
Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the series "The Blessed Life" with part 3 in this Sunday service.
The Blessed Life Part 3
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, October 24, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
Sermon Notes:
The Blessed Life…
Catching the Vision of Giving
Galatians 3:13-15 “But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.”
Deuteronomy 30:19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!”
Generosity: extravagant giving with no strings attached and no return expected
Abraham gave Isaac with nothing but a promise of more sons. His generosity opened the door for God to do something extraordinary…
God gave Jesus with no promise of a return.
Those focused on getting will give up during seasons of “not getting.” (example of reading the Word simply to experience Him instead of “getting something”)
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (AMP) 7Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, "prompt to do it") giver [whose heart is in his giving].” Practically everyone is a cheerful getter. God is looking for cheerful givers.
Acts 20:35 “You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” How many ‘words in red’ are in the book of Acts (the acts of the 1st church) after the ascension of Jesus?
Luke 6:30-35 “…But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High…”
2 heart responses to an act of giving portrayed in Luke 6—Mary and Judas. Generosity and selfishness. Giver and Getter. In the Kingdom for the Kingdom, in the Kingdom for what he could get out of the Kingdom (note the result when he realized the getting was about to be over—betrayal)
Generosity starts with a grateful heart.
Mary gave out of a grateful heart—this same Jesus had raised her brother from the dead. This same Jesus has raised each of us from the dead. Colossians 2:13 “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.”
How we handle our time, talent and resources reveals our heart.
The tithe is a test—one of the meanings of the number 10 is “test”: Laban changed Jacob’s wages 10 times, 10 plagues in Egypt, 10 commandments, 10 victories in the promised land, Daniel tested 10 times in the 1st chapter of Daniel, 10 virgins in the parable of the wedding in Matthew 25, 10 days of testing in Revelation 2:10…
3 Tests reveal whether I am a Giver or a Getter:
1. Need Test: trusting God to take care of us
2. Greed Test: using abundance wisely and in obedience to God’s promptings
3. See Test: sowing bountifully
The Reward of a Lifestyle of Giving:
- The Blessed Life: Acts 20:35 (more blessed).
- A life filled with His presence, consumed with His passion, driven by His presence (Givers are presence driven first, then purpose driven as a result. Their reward is His presence not the purpose. David—One thing will I seek…Psalm 119: 14, 72, 111, 127, 162—His presence is the treasure. Getters are purpose driven first, then presence driven as a result)
- A satisfied life: Psalm 63:1-4
- An abundant life: Luke 6:38
The Blessed Life Part 3
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, October 24, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
Sermon Notes:
The Blessed Life…
Catching the Vision of Giving
Galatians 3:13-15 “But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.”
Deuteronomy 30:19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!”
Generosity: extravagant giving with no strings attached and no return expected
Abraham gave Isaac with nothing but a promise of more sons. His generosity opened the door for God to do something extraordinary…
God gave Jesus with no promise of a return.
Those focused on getting will give up during seasons of “not getting.” (example of reading the Word simply to experience Him instead of “getting something”)
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (AMP) 7Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, "prompt to do it") giver [whose heart is in his giving].” Practically everyone is a cheerful getter. God is looking for cheerful givers.
Acts 20:35 “You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” How many ‘words in red’ are in the book of Acts (the acts of the 1st church) after the ascension of Jesus?
Luke 6:30-35 “…But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High…”
2 heart responses to an act of giving portrayed in Luke 6—Mary and Judas. Generosity and selfishness. Giver and Getter. In the Kingdom for the Kingdom, in the Kingdom for what he could get out of the Kingdom (note the result when he realized the getting was about to be over—betrayal)
Generosity starts with a grateful heart.
Mary gave out of a grateful heart—this same Jesus had raised her brother from the dead. This same Jesus has raised each of us from the dead. Colossians 2:13 “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.”
How we handle our time, talent and resources reveals our heart.
The tithe is a test—one of the meanings of the number 10 is “test”: Laban changed Jacob’s wages 10 times, 10 plagues in Egypt, 10 commandments, 10 victories in the promised land, Daniel tested 10 times in the 1st chapter of Daniel, 10 virgins in the parable of the wedding in Matthew 25, 10 days of testing in Revelation 2:10…
3 Tests reveal whether I am a Giver or a Getter:
1. Need Test: trusting God to take care of us
2. Greed Test: using abundance wisely and in obedience to God’s promptings
3. See Test: sowing bountifully
The Reward of a Lifestyle of Giving:
- The Blessed Life: Acts 20:35 (more blessed).
- A life filled with His presence, consumed with His passion, driven by His presence (Givers are presence driven first, then purpose driven as a result. Their reward is His presence not the purpose. David—One thing will I seek…Psalm 119: 14, 72, 111, 127, 162—His presence is the treasure. Getters are purpose driven first, then presence driven as a result)
- A satisfied life: Psalm 63:1-4
- An abundant life: Luke 6:38
10/20/10 - What's A Party Without Gifts PT11 - Pastor Tony Ashmore
Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the series "What's A Party Without Gifts?" with part 11 in this Wednesday service.
What's A Party Without Gifts? Part 11
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
Note:
Visit www.gifttest.org to take the motivational gift survey
What's A Party Without Gifts? Part 11
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
Note:
Visit www.gifttest.org to take the motivational gift survey
Sunday, October 17, 2010
10/17/10 - The Blessed Life PT2 - Pastor Tony Ashmore
Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the series "The Blessed Life" with part 2 in this Sunday service.
The Blessed Life Part 2
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, October 17, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
Sermon Notes:
The Blessed Life…
It’s a Heart Thing
Galatians 3:13-15 “But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.”
Deuteronomy 30:19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!”
Do we bring our time, talent and resources to the Lord as an offering or are our gifts done out of duty or legalism?
There are those who do not participate in bringing the tithe because they claim it is part of the law and they are free from the law. Murder is part of the law, adultery is part of the law, stealing is part of the law. Is it ok to abandon the teachings of the law in those instances? Of course not. (Galatians 3:24-25—the law was like a tutor for a child. Once the principles become part of the child the tutor is no longer needed. Maturity=A Heart Issue. A principle becomes part of our “worldview”—only then does it change our world.)
Tithing is an issue of the heart, not a law thing. Its power to bless flows from the condition of the heart. If it is done merely as an act of duty, or in response to law, then its power is minimalized. There are tithers who are not living the Blessed Life because they have heart issues.
When tithing becomes “life” to you, instead of “law”, then you enter the Blessed Life.
Abraham and Melchisidek: Genesis 14; Hebrews 5 & 7. Before the law—an issue of the heart.
Hebrews 7:8 “Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.” If the tithe is just a duty, just a response to obligation, then it is received by men. If it is a heart response it is received by Jesus in Heaven—Heaven invades earth = The Blessed Life!
Cain and Abel. The “Head Attack”--
Genesis 4:3-5 “When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the LORD. Abel also brought a gift—the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.”
Cain: obligation, duty—I produced this. My hard work. I am responsible. My gift. I’m giving God something. I am in control.
Abel: I am nothing without you. It is yours to begin with. You are my source. I am blessed because of you. I bring you what belongs to you anyway. I bring it to honor and thank you.
Note Cain’s response to the tithe: A Head Attack—jealousy, envy, strife, murder!
Jesus tells us to never separate the Heart Issues from the tithe. (Matthew 23:23—“the weightier matters”). Make it a duty and we rob this principle of its power!
1. Deal with a Selfish Heart
Deut 15:9 “Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, 'The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,' and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the LORD against you, and it become sin among you.”
Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.”
God calls selfish thoughts wicked thoughts! He says beware or guard your heart from wicked thoughts!
• Selfishness tells us we won’t have enough or God won’t or can’t be faithful. Selfishness is based on a scarcity worldview—there is not enough.
• Selfishness tries to manipulate and make deals with God to protect the return!
2. Deal with a Grieving Heart
Deut 15:10 You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand.
James 1:6-8 “a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”
Selfish heart says we can’t give. The grieving heart says we shouldn’t have given!
• Selfishness attacks us before we give, and then grief attacks us after we give.
• You have to guard your heart before and after you give!
3. Practice a Generous Heart
Deut 15:14 “you shall supply him liberally from your flock, from your threshing floor, and from your winepress. From what the LORD has blessed you with, you shall give to him.”
Philemon 1:6 “And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.”
I was born selfish! I was born again generous. Now it’s a matter of renewing my mind!
§ Be generous: with your time, your talent, your resources. Be generous with your praise and your love.
4. Practice a Grateful Heart
Deut 15:15 “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this thing today.”
Colossians 2:7 “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
• Never forget we were a slave and everything we have is by His grace, it will help us to be grateful and generous.
• We were lost and hell bound. He didn’t have to save us. We didn’t deserve it, but at our worst, He saved us.
• He never stops loving me, no matter how I behave. He never gives up. The grateful heart wants to bring Him praise in our time, our talent and our resources.
The Blessed Life awaits you. The principle of the tithe is a foundational principle of that life. Shaky foundation will equal shaky life. Inconsistent foundation will equal an inconsistent life. Uneven, sinking foundation will equal an unequal, sinking life. Solid, level, consistent foundation will equal a solid, level, consistent life.
2 Chronicles 31:9-10 “Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. And Azariah the chief priest, from the house of Zadok, answered him and said, “Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and have plenty left, for the LORD has blessed His people; and what is left is this great abundance.”
Hezekiah was concerned about the people because of the amount they were giving. The response: since they started bringing their tithes and offerings as a Heart Thing, they have entered the Blessed Life and abundance has become their way of life.
The Blessed Life Part 2
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, October 17, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
Sermon Notes:
The Blessed Life…
It’s a Heart Thing
Galatians 3:13-15 “But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.”
Deuteronomy 30:19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!”
Do we bring our time, talent and resources to the Lord as an offering or are our gifts done out of duty or legalism?
There are those who do not participate in bringing the tithe because they claim it is part of the law and they are free from the law. Murder is part of the law, adultery is part of the law, stealing is part of the law. Is it ok to abandon the teachings of the law in those instances? Of course not. (Galatians 3:24-25—the law was like a tutor for a child. Once the principles become part of the child the tutor is no longer needed. Maturity=A Heart Issue. A principle becomes part of our “worldview”—only then does it change our world.)
Tithing is an issue of the heart, not a law thing. Its power to bless flows from the condition of the heart. If it is done merely as an act of duty, or in response to law, then its power is minimalized. There are tithers who are not living the Blessed Life because they have heart issues.
When tithing becomes “life” to you, instead of “law”, then you enter the Blessed Life.
Abraham and Melchisidek: Genesis 14; Hebrews 5 & 7. Before the law—an issue of the heart.
Hebrews 7:8 “Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.” If the tithe is just a duty, just a response to obligation, then it is received by men. If it is a heart response it is received by Jesus in Heaven—Heaven invades earth = The Blessed Life!
Cain and Abel. The “Head Attack”--
Genesis 4:3-5 “When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the LORD. Abel also brought a gift—the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The LORD accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.”
Cain: obligation, duty—I produced this. My hard work. I am responsible. My gift. I’m giving God something. I am in control.
Abel: I am nothing without you. It is yours to begin with. You are my source. I am blessed because of you. I bring you what belongs to you anyway. I bring it to honor and thank you.
Note Cain’s response to the tithe: A Head Attack—jealousy, envy, strife, murder!
Jesus tells us to never separate the Heart Issues from the tithe. (Matthew 23:23—“the weightier matters”). Make it a duty and we rob this principle of its power!
1. Deal with a Selfish Heart
Deut 15:9 “Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, 'The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,' and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the LORD against you, and it become sin among you.”
Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.”
God calls selfish thoughts wicked thoughts! He says beware or guard your heart from wicked thoughts!
• Selfishness tells us we won’t have enough or God won’t or can’t be faithful. Selfishness is based on a scarcity worldview—there is not enough.
• Selfishness tries to manipulate and make deals with God to protect the return!
2. Deal with a Grieving Heart
Deut 15:10 You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand.
James 1:6-8 “a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”
Selfish heart says we can’t give. The grieving heart says we shouldn’t have given!
• Selfishness attacks us before we give, and then grief attacks us after we give.
• You have to guard your heart before and after you give!
3. Practice a Generous Heart
Deut 15:14 “you shall supply him liberally from your flock, from your threshing floor, and from your winepress. From what the LORD has blessed you with, you shall give to him.”
Philemon 1:6 “And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.”
I was born selfish! I was born again generous. Now it’s a matter of renewing my mind!
§ Be generous: with your time, your talent, your resources. Be generous with your praise and your love.
4. Practice a Grateful Heart
Deut 15:15 “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this thing today.”
Colossians 2:7 “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
• Never forget we were a slave and everything we have is by His grace, it will help us to be grateful and generous.
• We were lost and hell bound. He didn’t have to save us. We didn’t deserve it, but at our worst, He saved us.
• He never stops loving me, no matter how I behave. He never gives up. The grateful heart wants to bring Him praise in our time, our talent and our resources.
The Blessed Life awaits you. The principle of the tithe is a foundational principle of that life. Shaky foundation will equal shaky life. Inconsistent foundation will equal an inconsistent life. Uneven, sinking foundation will equal an unequal, sinking life. Solid, level, consistent foundation will equal a solid, level, consistent life.
2 Chronicles 31:9-10 “Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. And Azariah the chief priest, from the house of Zadok, answered him and said, “Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and have plenty left, for the LORD has blessed His people; and what is left is this great abundance.”
Hezekiah was concerned about the people because of the amount they were giving. The response: since they started bringing their tithes and offerings as a Heart Thing, they have entered the Blessed Life and abundance has become their way of life.
10/13/10 - What's A Party Without Gifts PT10 - Pastor Tony Ashmore
Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the series "What's A Party Without Gifts?" with part 10 in this Wednesday service.
What's A Party Without Gifts? Part 10
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
What's A Party Without Gifts? Part 10
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
Monday, October 11, 2010
10/10/10 - The Blessed Life PT1 - Pastor Tony Ashmore
Pastor Tony Ashmore begins a new series entitled "The Blessed Life" with part 1 in this Sunday service.
The Blessed Life Part 1
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, October 10, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
Sermon Notes:
The Blessed Life…
1st Things 1st—God must be 1st
We want to put God first in every area including our Finances! Finances relate to every area of your life. How we handle our finances tells God “Who’s first in our lives!”
Matthew 6:21 “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
You will never have a complete relationship with God until you understand and practice His principles of handling money. (Matthew 6:24—cannot be loyal to both)
There are 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 on faith, but over 2000 on money and possessions. Jesus talked about money in 16 out of 38 parables.
2 examples of Blessed Life and Cursed Life: My dad and me.
3 Principles that must be understood if we are going to Live the Blessed Life:
1. The Firstborn must be sacrificed or redeemed.
2. The Firstfruits must be offered.
3. The Tithe must be 1st.
1. The Firstborn Must Be Sacrificed or Redeemed
Ex 13:1-2 “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Dedicate to me every firstborn among the Israelites. The first offspring to be born, of both humans and animals, belongs to me.”
Ex 13:12-13 “you must present all firstborn sons and firstborn male animals to the LORD, for they belong to him. 13 A firstborn donkey may be bought back from the LORD by presenting a lamb or young goat in its place. But if you do not buy it back, you must break its neck. However, you must buy back every firstborn son.”
Every time one of your animals delivered its firstborn, you had to sacrifice it, or if it was unclean, you had to redeem it with a lamb.
• The firstborn clean had to be sacrificed
• The firstborn unclean had to be redeemed.
Do you realize what this is a picture of?
• Jesus, the Lamb, God’s firstborn Son, is clean.
• We are unclean and therefore the clean was sacrificed for the unclean, and we were redeemed. (Purchased back)
The tithe is not legalism or religious duty. It’s about putting 1st things 1st! Jesus was God’s tithe! God gave Jesus first in faith even when we were sinners. God didn’t wait to see if we would change or repent or get worthy. The tithe is about putting God first! It’s about our heart!
• Any first thing given is never lost. Any first thing not given is always lost. The First belongs to God!
Romans 11:16 (NCV) “If the first piece of bread is offered to God, then the whole loaf is made holy.”
• The first portion given redeemed the rest.
• All the rest after the first was given was redeemed.
• The first portion is the redemptive portion.
• Would you rather try to make it through life with 100% and all of it cursed, or with 90% and all of it redeemed and blessed?
Coming to Church is giving the first to the Lord.
• Some people’s week begins on Monday to make deals.
• Some people’s week begins on Friday to party.
• For believers, our week begins on Sunday! The New Testament Church met on Sunday because of the principle of firstfruits.
2. The Firstfruits Must Be Offered: We don’t give them, we bring them!
Ex 23:19 “The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God.”
Proverbs 3:9-10 “Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.”
The first portion belongs to God! Why did God say that all of the Silver and the Gold from Jericho had to be given to the Lord’s house?
• Because it was the first city in the Promised Land, firstfruits.
• You can have all of the rest, but give the first to me.
• God didn’t say, “After you’ve conquered the Promised Land, then give me 10%.” (Or 10% of Jericho)
• He said, “Give me all of the silver and gold from the first city” and that took faith!
Abraham offered Isaac, his first.
• God didn’t go to Abraham when he only had Isaac and say,
• “After you have 4 or 5 more sons,
• I’m going to come to you and ask you for one of them.”
• God asked for the first when he had one and only the promise of more.
God’s portion is devoted or consecrated to the temple, which means that it has a blessing. But if it’s not given to God, it’s cursed because it’s stolen.
Genesis 4:3-5 “And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering.”
Why did God accept Abel offering, but not Cain’s?
• Cain’s was brought “in the process of time.”
• It wasn’t first fruits but Abel’s was the firstborn!
3. The Tithe Must Be First
Leviticus 27:30 “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the LORD.”
Is it possible to give 10% and not be tithing?
The Firstborn belongs to God. The Firstfruits belong to God. And the tithe belongs to God also but it must be first!
It’s the same principle!
If I gave you 10 1-dollar bills, (1) How much is the tithe? (2) Which one is the tithe?
Let’s say that you get paid on Thursday.
• You pay all of your bills and then buy groceries. Then write the tithe check before you come to Church.
Is it really faith to give 10% after we’ve paid all of the bills first? Aren’t we establishing our priorities when we willingly pay everybody else first and then see if there’s enough leftover to give God His Portion?
The First Portion is the redemptive portion!
• There are so many blessings that go along with tithing
• But it’s the principle of putting God first
• And the principle of faith that initiates the blessings!
The first portion is the portion that redeems the rest.
• The first portion carries the blessing.
• You don’t want to give the first portion to the electric company! We fear the IRS, and GMAC, the mortgage company and the phone company more than we fear the Lord. Another way to say that is we respect them more or we put them first rather than the Lord.
Tithing says, “I’ve got a stack of bills here but I’m going to give to you first just like you gave Jesus first.”
I’m not talking about being legalistic and getting angry with your wife if she writes a check to the grocery store before you write the tithe check. I’m talking about your heart and so is God!
It’s entirely possible that you’ve been giving 10% but not tithing because the tithe must be first! It’s the principle of firstfruits and the firstborn. The bottom line is, “Is God first in your life?”
Matthew 6:31-33 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Put God 1st and everything else just finds its place. Our priorities stay where they should be.
The Blessed Life Part 1
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, October 10, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
Sermon Notes:
The Blessed Life…
1st Things 1st—God must be 1st
We want to put God first in every area including our Finances! Finances relate to every area of your life. How we handle our finances tells God “Who’s first in our lives!”
Matthew 6:21 “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
You will never have a complete relationship with God until you understand and practice His principles of handling money. (Matthew 6:24—cannot be loyal to both)
There are 500 verses on prayer, less than 500 on faith, but over 2000 on money and possessions. Jesus talked about money in 16 out of 38 parables.
2 examples of Blessed Life and Cursed Life: My dad and me.
3 Principles that must be understood if we are going to Live the Blessed Life:
1. The Firstborn must be sacrificed or redeemed.
2. The Firstfruits must be offered.
3. The Tithe must be 1st.
1. The Firstborn Must Be Sacrificed or Redeemed
Ex 13:1-2 “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Dedicate to me every firstborn among the Israelites. The first offspring to be born, of both humans and animals, belongs to me.”
Ex 13:12-13 “you must present all firstborn sons and firstborn male animals to the LORD, for they belong to him. 13 A firstborn donkey may be bought back from the LORD by presenting a lamb or young goat in its place. But if you do not buy it back, you must break its neck. However, you must buy back every firstborn son.”
Every time one of your animals delivered its firstborn, you had to sacrifice it, or if it was unclean, you had to redeem it with a lamb.
• The firstborn clean had to be sacrificed
• The firstborn unclean had to be redeemed.
Do you realize what this is a picture of?
• Jesus, the Lamb, God’s firstborn Son, is clean.
• We are unclean and therefore the clean was sacrificed for the unclean, and we were redeemed. (Purchased back)
The tithe is not legalism or religious duty. It’s about putting 1st things 1st! Jesus was God’s tithe! God gave Jesus first in faith even when we were sinners. God didn’t wait to see if we would change or repent or get worthy. The tithe is about putting God first! It’s about our heart!
• Any first thing given is never lost. Any first thing not given is always lost. The First belongs to God!
Romans 11:16 (NCV) “If the first piece of bread is offered to God, then the whole loaf is made holy.”
• The first portion given redeemed the rest.
• All the rest after the first was given was redeemed.
• The first portion is the redemptive portion.
• Would you rather try to make it through life with 100% and all of it cursed, or with 90% and all of it redeemed and blessed?
Coming to Church is giving the first to the Lord.
• Some people’s week begins on Monday to make deals.
• Some people’s week begins on Friday to party.
• For believers, our week begins on Sunday! The New Testament Church met on Sunday because of the principle of firstfruits.
2. The Firstfruits Must Be Offered: We don’t give them, we bring them!
Ex 23:19 “The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God.”
Proverbs 3:9-10 “Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.”
The first portion belongs to God! Why did God say that all of the Silver and the Gold from Jericho had to be given to the Lord’s house?
• Because it was the first city in the Promised Land, firstfruits.
• You can have all of the rest, but give the first to me.
• God didn’t say, “After you’ve conquered the Promised Land, then give me 10%.” (Or 10% of Jericho)
• He said, “Give me all of the silver and gold from the first city” and that took faith!
Abraham offered Isaac, his first.
• God didn’t go to Abraham when he only had Isaac and say,
• “After you have 4 or 5 more sons,
• I’m going to come to you and ask you for one of them.”
• God asked for the first when he had one and only the promise of more.
God’s portion is devoted or consecrated to the temple, which means that it has a blessing. But if it’s not given to God, it’s cursed because it’s stolen.
Genesis 4:3-5 “And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering.”
Why did God accept Abel offering, but not Cain’s?
• Cain’s was brought “in the process of time.”
• It wasn’t first fruits but Abel’s was the firstborn!
3. The Tithe Must Be First
Leviticus 27:30 “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the LORD.”
Is it possible to give 10% and not be tithing?
The Firstborn belongs to God. The Firstfruits belong to God. And the tithe belongs to God also but it must be first!
It’s the same principle!
If I gave you 10 1-dollar bills, (1) How much is the tithe? (2) Which one is the tithe?
Let’s say that you get paid on Thursday.
• You pay all of your bills and then buy groceries. Then write the tithe check before you come to Church.
Is it really faith to give 10% after we’ve paid all of the bills first? Aren’t we establishing our priorities when we willingly pay everybody else first and then see if there’s enough leftover to give God His Portion?
The First Portion is the redemptive portion!
• There are so many blessings that go along with tithing
• But it’s the principle of putting God first
• And the principle of faith that initiates the blessings!
The first portion is the portion that redeems the rest.
• The first portion carries the blessing.
• You don’t want to give the first portion to the electric company! We fear the IRS, and GMAC, the mortgage company and the phone company more than we fear the Lord. Another way to say that is we respect them more or we put them first rather than the Lord.
Tithing says, “I’ve got a stack of bills here but I’m going to give to you first just like you gave Jesus first.”
I’m not talking about being legalistic and getting angry with your wife if she writes a check to the grocery store before you write the tithe check. I’m talking about your heart and so is God!
It’s entirely possible that you’ve been giving 10% but not tithing because the tithe must be first! It’s the principle of firstfruits and the firstborn. The bottom line is, “Is God first in your life?”
Matthew 6:31-33 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Put God 1st and everything else just finds its place. Our priorities stay where they should be.
10/06/10 - What's A Party Without Gifts PT9 - Pastor Tony Ashmore
Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the series "What's A Party Without Gifts?" with part 9 in this Wednesday service.
What's A Party Without Gifts? Part 9
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
What's A Party Without Gifts? Part 9
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
10/03/10 - Vision Sunday - Pastor Michael Adams
Pastor Michael Adams recasts the vision of LifeGate Church in this Vision Sunday service.
Vision Sunday
Pastor Michael Adams
Sunday, October 3, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
Vision Sunday
Pastor Michael Adams
Sunday, October 3, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
09/29/10 - What's A Party Without Gifts PT8 - Pastor Tony Ashmore
Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the series "What's A Party Without Gifts?" with part 8 in this Wednesday service.
What's A Party Without Gifts? Part 8
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, September 29, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
What's A Party Without Gifts? Part 8
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, September 29, 2010
www.mylifegatechurch.com
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