God's Got It: Pt 8 - Even Exchange

Pericope: Luke 18: 28-30

Sermon Text: Luke 18:30 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Sermon Title: God’s Got It: Pt 8 Even Exchange

Point 1:  Jesus only wants what wants you. Vs. 22 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Matthew 6:21 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Point 2:  There is no such thing as something for nothing. Vs. 28 28 And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.”

Point 3:  Jesus always give more than he gets. Vs. 30 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Matthew 6:33 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Life application

1.  What do you fear losing/giving?

2.  What is your replacement?

3.  Give God what has you.

God's Got It: Even Exchange

Pericope: 1 Kings 17:7-15

Sermon Text: 1 Kings 17:16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.

Sermon Title: God’s Got It Pt 7 Even Exchange

Introduction:  The return policy at retail stores has changed over the years.  They used to be very strict. You could only bring something back if it was within a few days of purchase. You most certainly had to have your receipt. There could be no damage to the item. You needed to have the original package and tags.

        Later things changed. Walmart change the game. Bring it back anytime, any condition with or without the receipt. Now things are leveling out with a more equitable return policy for the store and the customer since people were taking advantage of the policy. Now in some stores after a certain time it's an even exchange. No money back – but a gift card so you can buy/exchange for something else in the store for equal or lesser value.

In our text this morning we see a case of an even exchange.

Elijah, who was just fed by the raven beside the brook that dried up, was commanded to go to a widow woman who would supply his next meal.

Point 1:  Even exchange happens in the winter of life.  Vs. 7 Sometime later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.

When Elijah approached the widow it was winter in her life. It was winter in the entire region. Everyone was still living in famine. Elijah had prophesied. The land was dry and famine was abound. The widow had reached the end of hope and said winter had gotten the best of her and her son. She was simply going to fix her last meal for her and her son and she was going to die. But Elijah called for her to exchange what she had in the winter of her life.

One of the most difficult times in life is winter. When winter blows into your life, life itself is frozen in place. The flow of finances stops. The flow of relationships stops. The flow of creativity stops. The flow of making it through the day seems to get frozen in place.

Even in the natural you do not see winter as a time to plant. But winter is necessary. Winter is required to rejuvenate the earth. Winter is necessary and despite how we feel about winter, winter is a valuable time of life. AND WINTER IS WHEN YOU MUST MAKE AN EVEN EXCHANGE.  

Point 2:  Even exchange happens when you plant a seed. Vs. 13 - Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 

Who plants in the winter? Elijah was asking her to plant the seed in the middle of the winter of her life. Who asks that? Who does that? The person who asked was Elijah. He was not afraid to ask because he had just been fed by a raven. A dirty bird had just supplied. Now Elijah could ask the widow to plant a seed of her last bread because he had made it through the winter of his life. In fact it was not the widows last it was actually her first. Explain.

Who was the widow? Notice the text deliberately identifies her status in life and place in life. She is a widow meaning her main source of income, her husband is dead. Second, she has a son but he is not capable of providing or else she would not have declared this their final meal. The place is Zarephath of Sidon. The writer wants you to know this is outside the Israelite territory. This is Baal’s territory.  God is about to send a message through to unlikely characters – an unbelieving widow and her unbelieving son.

Point 3:  Even exchange happens when you obey. 15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.

Obedience to God's word and the man of God can grow faith in the most ardent unbeliever. When the woman obeyed God her blessings started. She exchanged her seed out of obedience. vs15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah. I believe she obeyed because of the available options. Don't obey die. Don't believe obey and that don't work…die. So why not. Sometimes God has to bring you to a similar situation/circumstance in your life. All options are gone… Touch the hem of his garment… moment in life and obedience will bring you out.

Point 4:  God will upset the natural order to give you an even exchange.

a)  Weather: Famine

b)  Place: Zeraphat

c)  Spiritual: God vs Baal

Life application

1.  Plant a seed when you don't feel like it

2.  Plant the seed when it makes no natural sense

3.  Plant a seed wrapped in faith in God

God's Got It Pt 7

Sermon Text: 1 Kings 17:16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.

10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar, so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”

12 “As surely as the LORD your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”

Vs. 13-16 - Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.14 For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the land.’”

15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So, there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.

Vs. 17-23 Sometime later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. 18 She said to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?”

19 “Give me your son,” Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. 20 Then he cried out to the LORD, “LORD my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” 21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the LORD, “LORD my God, let this boy’s life return to him!”

22 The LORD heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived. 23 Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, “Look, your son is alive!”

Point 1:  Even exchange happens in the winter of life.  Vs. 7 Sometime later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.

Point 2:  Even exchange happens when you plant a seed. Vs. 13 - Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 

Point 3:  Even exchange happens when you obey. 15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.

vs15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah. Point 4:  God will upset the natural order to give you an even exchange.

a)  Weather: Famine

b)  Place: Zeraphat

c)  Spiritual God vs Baal

Life application

1.  Plant a seed when you don't feel like it

2.  Plant the seed when it makes no natural sense

3.  Plant a seed wrapped in faith in God

God's God it Pt 6

Pericope: John 14:1-4

Sermon Text:  John 4:2 2 although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.

Sermon Title:  God’s God It: Pt 6

Point 1:  He prepares your place in the presence of your enemies Psalm 23:5 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

Point 2:  The prepared place Is the manifestation of his promises

Hebrews 10:23 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 6:13 13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,

Point 3:  The prepared place can only be seen by faith

Genesis 12:1 12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

Point 4: The prepared place requires faith for the journey

Genesis 12:1 12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 Corinthians 5:7 7 For we live by faith, not by sight.

Point 5: The prepared place requires obedience

Matthew 17:27 27 Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours

    a. God has to prepare your will

b. God has to prepare your spirit

c. God has to prepare your attitude

d. God has to prepare you or you will mess the prepared place up

Life Application

1.  Get prepared for the prepared place. Get in a life group. Text the word LifeGroupMe to 71441 to join a LifeGroup (we will followup with you)

2.  Get in a place of faith by trusting God with you: time talent and treasure. Text the word ICanHelp to 71441

Gods got it Part 5

Pericope: 1 Sam 1:3-8

Sermon Text:  1 Samuel 1:11  And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

Sermon Title:  God’s God It: Pt 5 How Do I Receive It?

BP:  Move the hearers to follow the biblical principles so they can get what God had for them.

Point 1:  Get rid of what’s holding on to you.  vs. 7-8 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

• 1 Corinthians 11:31 KJV For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

o The Message - If you give no thought (or worse, don’t care) about the broken body of the Master when you eat and drink, you’re running the risk of serious consequences. That’s why so many of you even now are listless and sick, and others have gone to an early grave. If we get this straight now, we won’t have to be straightened out later on. Better to be confronted by the Master now than to face a fiery confrontation later.

Point 2:  Get Empty so you can get Full – vs. 7-8 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

• Psalm 51:17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

• 2 Timothy 2:21  Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

Point 3:  Give so you can get. 1 Samuel 1:28  So now I give him to the LORD…

• Galatians 6:7, 9 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

• 2 Corinthians 9:6-8  Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Life Application

1. Give God your time – To connect to a LifeGroup, complete the connection card or text the word LifeGroupMe to 71441 to join a LifeGroup (we will followup with you)

2. Give God your talent – To serve complete the connection card or text the word ICanHelp to 71441

3. Give God your treasure – Brothers sign up for the retreat – text the word MenofValor (one word) to 71441

4. Receive what God has…

God’s God It: Pt 4 Follow The Rules

Pericope: James 4: 1-6

Sermon Text:  James 4:1-6 4 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Sermon Title:  God’s God It: Pt 4 Just Follow The Rules

Point 1:  Remember the Purpose James 4:2b 2 You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

Point 2:  Remember the Promises Gen 28:20 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear

 Point 3:  Remember Promises Will Produce Provision Hebrew 10:23 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

  

Life Application:

Just Follow the rules and watch God Bless you

1. Give your life to Christ…

2. Give God your talent…

3. Give God your time…

4. Give God your treasure…

God’s God It: Pt 3 Promises, Promises

Pericope: 1 Sam 1:10-11

Sermon Text:  1 Sam 1:11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

Sermon Title:  God’s God It: Pt 3 Promises, Promises

Point 1:  Promise Made – vs. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

Point 2:  Promise Kept – vs. 26-28 -  26 and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. 27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

Point 3:  Promise Provision – vs. 20-21 - 20 Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the Lord give you children by this woman to take the place of the one she prayed for and gave to the Lord.” Then they would go home. 21 And the Lord was gracious to Hannah; she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.

Point 4:  Promise you made - Ecclesiastes 5:5 - It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.

Point 5:  Promise God kept - Isaiah 55:11 - so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Hebrews 6:13 - For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,

Point 6:  Promised Provision Awaiting Release - Malachi 3:10 - Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.