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Time to Upgrade

The Resolution Revolution

The heart of this series is that we would take our personal goals and turn them over to God to assure that they are God honoring and Christ centered.

2013 Based

  • Matthew 7:24-27 – 24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practiceis like a wise man who built his house on the rock.25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

2013 Built

  • Colossians 2:6-8 – 6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,continue to live in him,7rootedand built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,and overflowing with thankfulness.

8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy,which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this worldrather than on Christ.

FINANCES

Let’s honor God this year by bringing our finances into alignment with Him.

It is ALL His

1 Chronicles 29:11-12 –

11Yours, OLord,is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, OLord,is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
12Wealth and honorcome from you;
you are the rulerof all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.

He gave us the ability

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 – 17You may say to yourself,“My power and the strength of my handshave produced this wealth for me.”18But remember theLordyour God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth,and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

The odds are that YOU ARE RICH

  • 3 Billion people live on less than $2 per day
  • Almost 1 Billion people struggle with hunger
  • Over 100 Million people in the world are homeless
  • 780 Million people lack access to clean water
  • 21,000 children under 5 years old die EVERY DAY from preventable diseases (7,665,000 per year)

Reality Check

We have homes for our cars, pay other people to serve us food at restaurants, eat more than we need and have closets full of clothes with “nothing to wear.”

1 Timothy 6:17-19 – 17Command those who are richin this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God,who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds,and to be generous and willing to share.19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselvesas a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold ofthe life that is truly life.

What do I do with what He’s blessed me with?

LIVE

  • Live within your means
  • “We buy things that we don’t need, with money that we don’t have, to impress people we don’t like.”
  • Don’t be a slave to debt
  • Proverbs 22:7 – The rich rule over the poor,and the borrower is servant to the lender.
  • Pay who you owe
  • Romans 13:7 – Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes;if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
  • Learn to be content
  • 1 Timothy 6:6-8 – 6But godliness with contentmentis great gain.7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

GIVE

Why do we give?

  • For God
  • Honor
  • Proverbs 3:9 -9Honor the LORD with your wealth
    and with the best part of everything you produce.
  • Love
  • Matthew 6:21 -21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
  • Worship
  • Matthew 6:24 -24“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
  • Obedience
  • Malachi 3:10a -10Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.
  • Thanks
  • 2 Corinthians 9:12 – 12This service that you perform is not only supplying the needsof God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
  • For People
  • People
  • Acts 4:34-35 -34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales35and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
  • Property
  • Rent / Future Building / Equipment / Trailer
  • Programs
  • Nursery / Children / Youth
  • Pastors
  • 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 -13Don’t you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?14In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
  • For You
  • Promotion
  • Matthew 25:23 -23“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
  • Provision / Blessing
  • Proverbs 11:25 -25A generous man will prosper;
    he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
  • Luke 6:38 -38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
  • Malachi 3:10 -10Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
  • Proverbs 3:9-10 –9Honor theLordwith your wealth,
    with the firstfruitsof all your crops;
    10then your barns will be filledto overflowing,
    and your vats will brim over with new wine.
  • 2 Corinthians 9:10 –10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for foodwill also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

What do we give?

  • Tithe – a tenth
  • Malachi 3:10a - 10Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house
  • Offering
  • 2 Corinthians 9:7 -7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
  • Gift
  • Where and when the need arises.

How do I give?

  • Generously / Cheerfully / Sacrificially / Regularly