Embracing Generosity: Unlocking Financial Breakthroughs Through Faith
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the themes of windfall and generosity, exploring how God can bring financial breakthroughs even in challenging times. We began by discussing the importance of being free with our finances and trusting God to provide. Generosity is not just an act but a spirit of freely and frequently giving to others and to God. Throughout the sermon, we made seven powerful declarations, each one reinforcing our faith in God's ability to restore, bless, and multiply what has been taken from us.
I shared personal stories and testimonies, including my own journey from financial struggle to breakthrough, emphasizing that God’s favor can turn around even the most dire situations. We also discussed the importance of prayer, both private and public, as a foundation for financial anointing. Private prayer is the first step, where we seek God’s guidance and blessings in solitude. Public prayer, on the other hand, involves coming together as a community to pray for collective needs and breakthroughs.
We introduced a plan for financial windfall, encouraging everyone to commit to giving 30% of any unexpected financial blessings over their normal income to support the church’s vision. This is not about regular tithing but about trusting God to bring unexpected blessings and then giving a portion of those blessings back to Him. We also called for a commitment to regular prayer and devotion, emphasizing that a praying church is a powerful church.
In conclusion, we shared testimonies of how God has already begun to move in miraculous ways in our congregation, reinforcing the message that when we test God in our finances, He will exceed our expectations. The call to action is clear: commit to prayer, trust God with your finances, and watch as He brings windfall blessings into your life.
### Key Takeaways
1. Generosity as a Lifestyle: Generosity is more than just giving; it’s a spirit and action of freely and frequently giving to others and to God. This spirit of generosity opens the door for God’s blessings to flow into our lives, restoring what the enemy has stolen and multiplying our resources. [00:49]
2. The Power of Declarations: Making faith-filled declarations can shift our mindset and circumstances. By declaring God’s promises over our lives, we align ourselves with His will and invite His power to work in our situations. For example, declaring that the thief must restore sevenfold what he has stolen activates God’s justice in our favor. [07:33]
3. Private Prayer as a Foundation: Private prayer is essential for financial anointing. It’s in the secret place that we seek God’s guidance, ask for His blessings, and build a personal relationship with Him. This foundation of private devotion is crucial for experiencing God’s favor in every area of our lives. [09:08]
4. Public Prayer and Corporate Unity: Public prayer brings the community together to seek God’s intervention collectively. When we unite in prayer, we create an atmosphere of faith and expectation, making room for God to perform miracles. Corporate prayer meetings are vital for the church’s vision and for individual breakthroughs. [15:58]
5. Testing God in Finances: God invites us to test Him in the area of finances, promising to open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings. By committing to give a portion of unexpected financial windfalls, we demonstrate our trust in God’s provision and activate His promise of abundant blessings. [21:09]
### YouTube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [00:49] - Introduction to Windfall and Generosity
3. [01:53] - First Declaration: Restoration of What the Enemy Stole
4. [02:49] - Personal Story: The Profitable Prophet
5. [03:40] - Financial Struggles and Breakthroughs
6. [04:42] - The Plan for Financial Recovery
7. [05:44] - Testimony of Financial Turnaround
8. [06:52] - Second Declaration: Expecting Great Victories
9. [07:33] - The Thief Must Restore Sevenfold
10. [08:19] - Identifying What Has Been Stolen
11. [09:08] - Step One: Private Prayer
12. [10:06] - Third Declaration: Total Restoration
13. [11:10] - Healing and Immediate Restoration
14. [11:47] - Commitment to Daily Devotion
15. [12:51] - The Story of Daniel’s Devotion
16. [14:13] - The Reward of Private Prayer
17. [15:06] - Step Two: Public Prayer
18. [15:58] - Fourth Declaration: Head and Not the Tail
19. [16:47] - The Enemy Cannot Prosper
20. [17:51] - The Power of Corporate Prayer
21. [19:24] - Commitment to Corporate Prayer
22. [20:05] - Step Three: Participating in Windfall
23. [21:09] - Explanation of Windfall Giving
24. [22:06] - Personal Testimony of Financial Blessings
25. [23:22] - Pastoral Commitment to Pray for Congregation
26. [25:30] - Testimony: Military Family’s Financial Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 10:10 (NIV) - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
2. Proverbs 6:31 (NIV) - "Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house."
3. Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV) - "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does John 10:10 say about the purpose of the thief and the purpose of Jesus? How does this relate to the sermon’s theme of restoration and abundance? [07:33]
2. According to Proverbs 6:31, what is required of a thief when he is caught? How was this principle applied in the sermon? [07:33]
3. In Matthew 7:7-8, what are the three actions Jesus instructs us to take, and what are the corresponding promises? How does this passage support the sermon’s emphasis on prayer? [09:08]
4. What personal story did the pastor share about his financial struggles and breakthroughs? How did this story illustrate the sermon’s message? [03:40]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of the thief in John 10:10 apply to the financial struggles and breakthroughs discussed in the sermon? What does it mean to have life "to the full"? [07:33]
2. Proverbs 6:31 mentions a sevenfold restoration. How can this principle be applied to our lives today, especially in the context of financial recovery and blessings? [07:33]
3. How does private prayer, as described in Matthew 7:7-8, lay the foundation for experiencing God’s favor in our finances and other areas of life? [09:08]
4. The pastor emphasized the importance of both private and public prayer. How do these two forms of prayer complement each other in seeking God’s intervention and blessings? [15:06]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current financial situation. How can you practice generosity as a lifestyle, even if you are facing financial challenges? What steps can you take to trust God more with your finances? [00:49]
2. The sermon mentioned making faith-filled declarations. What specific declarations can you make over your life to align with God’s promises? How can you incorporate these declarations into your daily routine? [07:33]
3. Private prayer was highlighted as essential for financial anointing. How can you improve your private prayer life? What specific time and place can you dedicate to seeking God’s guidance and blessings? [09:08]
4. Public prayer and corporate unity were emphasized in the sermon. How can you participate more actively in your church’s prayer meetings? What benefits do you expect to see from engaging in corporate prayer? [15:58]
5. The pastor shared a plan for financial windfall, encouraging giving 30% of unexpected blessings. How do you feel about this challenge? What steps can you take to prepare for and commit to this form of giving? [21:09]
6. The sermon called for a commitment to regular prayer and devotion. How can you incorporate a consistent prayer and devotion schedule into your daily life? What obstacles might you face, and how can you overcome them? [11:47]
7. Reflect on a time when you experienced a financial or personal breakthrough after a period of struggle. How did prayer and faith play a role in that breakthrough? How can you use that experience to encourage others in your small group? [03:40]
Devotional
### Day 1: Generosity as a Lifestyle
Generosity is more than just giving; it’s a spirit and action of freely and frequently giving to others and to God. This spirit of generosity opens the door for God’s blessings to flow into our lives, restoring what the enemy has stolen and multiplying our resources. Generosity is not just about the act of giving but about cultivating a heart that is always ready to bless others. When we live generously, we reflect God's character and create an atmosphere where His blessings can manifest abundantly.
Generosity also involves trusting God with our resources, believing that He will provide for our needs as we give to others. It’s a step of faith that acknowledges God as our ultimate provider. By living generously, we position ourselves to receive God’s favor and experience His miraculous provision in our lives. [00:49]
Proverbs 11:24-25 (ESV): "One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered."
Reflection: Think of a recent opportunity you had to be generous. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? How can you cultivate a spirit of generosity in your daily life?
### Day 2: The Power of Declarations
Making faith-filled declarations can shift our mindset and circumstances. By declaring God’s promises over our lives, we align ourselves with His will and invite His power to work in our situations. Declarations are not just positive affirmations; they are powerful statements of faith that activate God's promises. For example, declaring that the thief must restore sevenfold what he has stolen activates God’s justice in our favor.
Declarations help us to focus on God's truth rather than our circumstances. They remind us of His promises and build our faith to believe for the impossible. When we speak God's Word over our lives, we release His power to bring about change and breakthrough. [07:33]
Job 22:28 (ESV): "You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to see God's intervention? Write a declaration based on God's promises and speak it over your life daily.
### Day 3: Private Prayer as a Foundation
Private prayer is essential for financial anointing. It’s in the secret place that we seek God’s guidance, ask for His blessings, and build a personal relationship with Him. This foundation of private devotion is crucial for experiencing God’s favor in every area of our lives. Private prayer allows us to pour out our hearts to God, seek His wisdom, and receive His direction.
In the quiet moments of private prayer, we can hear God's voice more clearly and align our hearts with His will. It is a time of intimacy with God where we can be honest about our struggles and receive His comfort and strength. Private prayer is the bedrock of a strong spiritual life and the key to unlocking God's blessings. [09:08]
Matthew 6:6 (ESV): "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
Reflection: Set aside a specific time each day for private prayer. What steps can you take to make this time a priority and deepen your relationship with God?
### Day 4: Public Prayer and Corporate Unity
Public prayer brings the community together to seek God’s intervention collectively. When we unite in prayer, we create an atmosphere of faith and expectation, making room for God to perform miracles. Corporate prayer meetings are vital for the church’s vision and for individual breakthroughs. Public prayer fosters a sense of unity and strengthens the bonds within the church community.
When we pray together, we support one another and build each other's faith. Corporate prayer is a powerful tool for spiritual warfare and for seeing God's kingdom advance. It is an opportunity to stand in agreement with others and to see God's power manifested in our midst. [15:58]
Acts 4:31 (ESV): "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness."
Reflection: How can you participate more actively in your church's corporate prayer meetings? What specific prayer needs can you bring before the community?
### Day 5: Testing God in Finances
God invites us to test Him in the area of finances, promising to open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings. By committing to give a portion of unexpected financial windfalls, we demonstrate our trust in God’s provision and activate His promise of abundant blessings. This act of faith shows that we believe in God's ability to provide and that we are willing to partner with Him in His work.
Testing God in finances is not about manipulating Him but about stepping out in faith and trusting His promises. It is an opportunity to see God's faithfulness and to experience His supernatural provision. When we give generously, we position ourselves to receive God's blessings in ways we could never imagine. [21:09]
Malachi 3:10 (ESV): "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced an unexpected financial blessing. How did you respond? How can you commit to giving a portion of future windfalls to support God's work?
Quotes
1. "Generosity is the spirit and action of freely and frequently giving to others. We give to God, we give to others. We are generous in spirit. And we're going to have seven declarations regarding what God is doing in your life. And so when a declaration comes up, let's go ahead and put that up. I want you to stand and place your right hand, your hand of authority on your heart. So let's stand, and we're going to declare this declaration. We have seven of them this morning throughout this sermon, and I believe as we go, they're going to get louder and stronger because they're going to hit you of what we're actually saying." [01:23] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The favor of God in my life restores everything the enemy has stolen from me. You believe that? Let's say it again. The favor of God in my life restores everything the enemy has stolen from me. High five, somebody. As you're seated this morning in 2016, my prophetic mentor, Doctor Marilyn Hickey. We were sitting across the table, and I think I've shared this story here, but it goes along with where we're at today. She said, john, I'm going to call you the profitable prophet. I said, oh, I don't like that. My only disagreement I've ever had with her. She goes, what do you mean you don't like that? I was like that. That feels weird, Marilyn, I don't think people are going to like it. She goes, I think you have a problem with it. I said, I do have a problem with it. I just told you I don't like it." [01:53] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When you're comfortable, everybody else will be comfortable. You are the profitable prophet. It's over. I said, okay. Last year I went to California. Bill Johnson, Cindy Jacobs, Lou Engle and Cheyenne laid hands and commissioned me to be a prophetic apostle. And they declared, also, finances is going to be strong in your ministry. So I get it now and I don't shy away from money. It doesn't make me nervous. It did not make Jesus nervous, and it should not make you nervous, especially in church. Let that sink in. Especially here. You're safe. This is what we call God's house. Although you are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we come together and the things of God make us feel safe. So I want you to feel very safe today." [03:10] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Declaration two. Let's stand up. We're going to declare another. Your right hand on your heart, and let's say it with authority. I am expecting great victories in the face of great impossibility. Say a big amen to that. You may be seated. John 1010. The thief comes only he's there for one reason, to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. That's offering worthy right there. Get your offerings ready. This doesn't go to me. This is a seed offering into this house today to jump start windfall. That is happening at CT church." [06:52] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So there's a pattern. Step one, private prayer. Oh, you didn't know I was gonna talk about prayer? The anointing of God is not on your finances. If you're not a praying person, I mean, worldly people can give to stuff, but if you truly want the anointing of God on your finances, you will be a person of prayer. Private prayer is first. Matthew seven seven eight. Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be open to you. It goes on. Let's look at that next verse. For everyone who asks receives. The one who seeks, finds. And to the one who knocks, the door will be open. A lot of christians get to situations where God's ready to do breakthrough in their life and they just stand there. They don't do anything. They're waiting for holy spirit to do something, and God's waiting for us to ask. Seek, knock." [09:08] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Here's what I'm gonna ask you to do. Here's what your pastors have agreed is proper for you. Five out of seven days to be in devotion. That is the bare minimum for a child of God. You say, oh, five out of seven days, and at least 15 minutes that you spend in the word, spend time with God. I know you're busy, but you know what you're busy doing? You're busy working. You're busy doing. You're eating, you're shopping. You're watching Netflix. You're doing a lot of things. God has to be first. So this has been a praying church for as long as I know. And I'm calling you to prayer, and we're gonna have a commitment for him this morning. And I want you to be serious. From now to Easter, we're calling a prayer revival in this house that five out of seven days, I don't care what days that you pray, but five out of seven days, you will have done devotion with God. Does that sound good to you?" [11:47] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "As things get weirder in our world, we have to be more dedicated to prayer than we've ever been before. Let me say it again. As things get weirder, as they spiral, we have to focus in our private time with God on a day to day basis. Matthew six six. When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your father, who is in secret, and your father, who sees in secret. I love this part. Will reward you. Reward. We just think, oh, we just pray. We do our thing. No, there's a connection here. You spend time, you start spending five out of seven days in prayer, you unite with what this house is saying. We're going to do this together from the leadership all the way down. Here's what a reward is. It's a noun, reward, a thing given in recognition of one's service, effort, or achievement. Not only is God saying, thank you for your prayer, but I am going to reward you in things that you cannot even understand, or you can't comprehend yet." [14:13] (65 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Step two, public prayer. Oh, I thought you said it was private. There's more than one kind of prayer. We start step one, private, then we move to public. Matthew 1819 says, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my father in heaven, where two or three are gathered in my name. There I am among them. Isn't that great? That moves into the public prayer arena. Let's stand for declaration five. This is a good one. I am the head and not the tail. Above and not beneath. I expect blessings to chase me down and overtake me. Every tongue that rises against me will be shown to be in the wrong. No weapon formed against me, my finances, my health, my family, or my ministry will ever prosper." [15:06] (63 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Prayer changes things. God wants so much more to happen in his world. You know who's holding it back? Christians. Not praying. If we prayed the way God wants us to pray, it would activate the hand of God. So much more would be accomplished. And with the vision, I know with your pastors, it has to be backed up with prayer. And who's going to pray for you? You are. Who's going to pray for the vision? It's your vision. You're going to pray it through and you're going to be part of the reward when it happens. And here's step three. Participate in windfall. Now don't let this knock you out of the tree like it does the fruit. Here's what's happening at our church right now. We started it in June and it goes to the end of the year for CT church. It starts today till Easter. I'm asking and believing, and our ushers are going to go ahead and start passing these cards out for God to bless my finances. And I'm committing to give 30% of the windfall amount over my normal income to strengthen the vision of the house so that none of you will be confused. I want to make this crystal clear for you of what we're asking." [20:05] (77 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "When you test God in finances, he won't make a b or a c. He will make an a plus. He's an excellent student. He knows what he's doing. He doesn't get nervous at tests. I had test anxiety in elementary school. Anybody else have test anxiety? I didn't like it. God does not have test anxiety. He says, bring it on. Test me and watch what I do." [25:30] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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