Embracing God's Glory Through Generosity This Christmas
Summary
In this Christmas season, we gather to celebrate the glory of God and the transformative power of His presence in our lives. As we reflect on the essence of God's glory, we are reminded that it is not a luxury but a necessity. God's glory is His essence, His presence, and His power, and it is through His glory that our lives are changed. The absence of God's presence leads to spiritual darkness, anxiety, fear, confusion, and lack. Therefore, we must cultivate atmospheres, attitudes, and behaviors that welcome His glory into our lives.
Our church is actively involved in expanding God's kingdom through initiatives like the Prison Church Network, which now reaches 35 states and impacts thousands of inmates. This is made possible by the generosity of our congregation, who have embraced the vision of living with open hands and investing in the lives of those far from God. As we continue to build new ministry spaces and plant new campuses, we invite everyone to partner with us in this mission.
The story of the Magi visiting Jesus illustrates the response to God's glory. These wise men, despite being pagan astrologers, recognized the glory of God in Jesus and responded by offering their treasures. This act of worship was not premeditated but a spontaneous response to the revelation of Jesus. Similarly, when we encounter God's glory, it compels us to open the treasure chest of our lives and give generously.
Generosity is a reflection of God's glory, and it is through giving that we experience His blessings. The world of the generous gets larger, while the world of the stingy gets smaller. As we give, we are not only meeting the needs of others but also bringing glory to God. This Christmas, let us stretch our faith and live as first and best givers, trusting that God will provide and bless us abundantly.
Key Takeaways:
- God's glory is essential for our spiritual lives. Without His presence, we experience spiritual darkness, anxiety, and fear. Cultivating an atmosphere that welcomes His glory is crucial for experiencing His peace and love. [09:49]
- The story of the Magi teaches us that encountering God's glory compels us to give generously. Their spontaneous act of worship by offering their treasures is a model for how we should respond to God's presence in our lives. [18:15]
- Generosity is a reflection of God's glory and leads to His blessings. The world of the generous expands, while the world of the stingy contracts. As we give, we not only meet the needs of others but also bring glory to God. [29:06]
- Living with an open hand and a generous heart is a response to God's glory. It is not about God taking from us but about Him releasing His blessings through us. This mindset shift from scarcity to abundance is key to experiencing God's provision. [32:52]
- Our giving has eternal impact, as seen in the Prison Church Network. Lives are transformed, and families are brought to Christ through our generosity. This Christmas, let us invest in God's kingdom and be part of something far bigger than ourselves. [34:08]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[03:21] - Expanding the Prison Church Network
[06:25] - The Power of Generosity
[09:49] - The Necessity of God's Glory
[11:43] - Creating an Atmosphere for God's Presence
[14:30] - Attitudes that Attract God's Glory
[17:08] - The Journey of the Magi
[18:15] - Responding to God's Glory
[22:20] - The Significance of the Magi's Gifts
[25:22] - Overcoming Barriers to Generosity
[27:45] - Living in a River of Provision
[29:06] - The Blessings of Generosity
[32:52] - The Principle of Seed for the Sower
[34:08] - Eternal Impact of Our Giving
[37:40] - Stretching Your Faith in Giving
[41:46] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 2:1-12
2. Psalm 22:3
3. Proverbs 11:24-25
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the significance of the Magi's journey and their gifts to Jesus according to the sermon? [18:15]
2. How does the sermon describe the impact of God's glory on our lives? [09:49]
3. What are some of the initiatives mentioned in the sermon that the church is involved in to expand God's kingdom? [03:21]
4. According to the sermon, what are some attitudes and behaviors that attract or repel God's glory? [14:30]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of the Magi illustrate the concept of spontaneous worship and generosity in response to God's glory? [22:20]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's glory is a necessity rather than a luxury in our spiritual lives? [09:49]
3. How does the sermon connect the concept of generosity with experiencing God's blessings and expanding His kingdom? [29:06]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between living with an open hand and experiencing God's provision? [32:52]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt the absence of God's presence in your life. How did it affect you, and what steps can you take to cultivate an atmosphere that welcomes His glory? [09:49]
2. The Magi responded to God's glory by giving generously. How can you open the "treasure chest" of your life in response to God's presence this Christmas season? [18:15]
3. The sermon mentions that generosity leads to God's blessings. What is one specific way you can practice generosity this week, and how do you expect it to impact your life and others? [29:06]
4. Consider the attitudes and behaviors that attract God's glory, such as humility and gratitude. Which of these do you find most challenging, and how can you work on them this week? [14:30]
5. The sermon discusses the eternal impact of our giving, as seen in the Prison Church Network. How can you contribute to a cause that aligns with expanding God's kingdom, and what steps will you take to get involved? [34:08]
6. How can you shift from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset in your finances and resources, trusting in God's provision? [32:52]
7. The sermon encourages living as first and best givers. What practical steps can you take to prioritize giving in your financial planning for the upcoming year? [37:40]
Devotional
Day 1: The Necessity of God's Glory
In our spiritual journey, the presence of God's glory is not just an added benefit but a fundamental necessity. Without His presence, we find ourselves engulfed in spiritual darkness, anxiety, and fear. God's glory is His essence, His power, and His presence, and it is through this glory that our lives are transformed. To experience His peace and love, we must intentionally cultivate an atmosphere that welcomes His glory. This involves aligning our attitudes and behaviors to be receptive to His presence, creating a space where His transformative power can work within us. [09:49]
"And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." (Isaiah 40:5, ESV)
Reflection: What specific changes can you make in your daily routine to create an atmosphere that welcomes God's glory into your life?
Day 2: Generosity as a Response to God's Glory
The story of the Magi visiting Jesus is a profound illustration of how encountering God's glory compels us to give generously. These wise men, despite their pagan background, recognized the divine glory in Jesus and responded with spontaneous acts of worship by offering their treasures. This narrative teaches us that when we truly encounter God's presence, it naturally leads us to open the treasure chest of our lives and give generously. Our response to God's glory should be one of open-handedness, reflecting the same generosity that God has shown us. [18:15]
"Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh." (Matthew 2:11, ESV)
Reflection: What treasures in your life—be it time, resources, or talents—can you offer to God as a response to His glory today?
Day 3: The Expanding World of the Generous
Generosity is not just an act of giving; it is a reflection of God's glory and a pathway to experiencing His blessings. The world of the generous expands, while the world of the stingy contracts. As we give, we not only meet the needs of others but also bring glory to God. This principle of generosity is a divine invitation to live in abundance, trusting that God will provide and bless us abundantly as we give. By living with an open hand and a generous heart, we align ourselves with God's nature and experience the joy of being conduits of His blessings. [29:06]
"One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want." (Proverbs 11:24, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you practice generosity today, trusting that God will expand your world as you give?
Day 4: Living with an Open Hand
Living with an open hand and a generous heart is a response to God's glory. It is not about God taking from us but about Him releasing His blessings through us. This mindset shift from scarcity to abundance is key to experiencing God's provision. When we live with an open hand, we acknowledge that everything we have is from God and for His purposes. This Christmas, let us stretch our faith and live as first and best givers, trusting that God will provide and bless us abundantly. [32:52]
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)
Reflection: What mindset shift do you need to make to move from scarcity to abundance in your life, and how can you start living with an open hand today?
Day 5: The Eternal Impact of Our Giving
Our giving has an eternal impact, as seen in initiatives like the Prison Church Network, where lives are transformed, and families are brought to Christ through our generosity. This Christmas, let us invest in God's kingdom and be part of something far bigger than ourselves. By giving, we participate in God's redemptive work in the world, impacting lives for eternity. Our generosity is a testament to God's glory and a powerful witness to His love and grace. [34:08]
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." (Matthew 6:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: How can you invest in God's kingdom today in a way that has an eternal impact, and what steps can you take to make this a regular practice in your life?
Quotes
"Father's House is made up of generous kingdom-minded people who are not satisfied to live the status quo, but have embraced the vision and challenge to live for the bigger picture, investing their lives to reach people far from God. This coming year, we will extend the boundaries and influence of the Father's House once again, as we make room for those the Lord is adding to His church. We will be completing our new ministry space adding new campuses to the Prison Church Network and planting a new Father's House in Santa Barbara." [00:02:41] (32 seconds)
"Let me say it this way, God's presence and glory in your life is not a luxury. It's a necessity because your life, your spiritual life does not exist in a vacuum. It's not like if God's absent, then there's nothingness. No, it's like when there's an absence of light, what do you have? Darkness. And when there's an absence of the spiritual light of God, the work of the Holy Spirit, spiritual darkness comes in." [00:09:56] (24 seconds)
"There are atmospheres, attitudes, and behaviors that welcome in and host the presence and glory of God, as well as atmospheres, attitudes, and behaviors that repel His glory. Lean in and get that in your heart. These atmospheres, attitudes, behaviors. We can actually make a place for the glory of God, or we can carry attitudes and behaviors that repel His kindness and His goodness." [00:11:43] (25 seconds)
"Humility attracts the glory of God. God comes near the humble, but he opposes the proud. Gratitude and thanksgiving attract God's glory while complaining, whining, and grumbling brings resistance to the glory of God. Surrender and obedience attract God's glory while rebellion and self-serving are repellent. Brokenness, repentance, a contrite heart, he will not despise, Psalm 51." [00:14:12] (25 seconds)
"When you see Jesus in his glory, it will cause you to open up the treasure chest of your life. Suddenly, you want to give your all. You want to give your time. You want to serve. You want to open your hand and say, God, all that I have belongs to you. It is an accurate response. It is an accurate response to the glory of God." [00:23:17] (20 seconds)
"God is not trying to take something from us. He wants to get something through us that brings him glory and enhances your life, so keep the switch on in Jesus' name. So I have to ask myself, with all the promises in the word of God, we're so many about giving and being generous, how God's going to bless you, multiply you, rebuke the devourer, give you seed to sow, on and on they go." [00:25:37] (21 seconds)
"Here's how it works when we honor God with the first and the best he takes responsibility for our financial future and he makes a promise that I will overflow your life but so few people step over this line of faith in the area of finances I'm not here to beat you up or condemn you I'm here to challenge you to take that step in your life." [00:29:50] (24 seconds)
"For God is the one who provides seed for the sower. Would you read the bowl with me? Who provides seed for... Okay, even if you don't like this message, don't forget this. God does not provide seed for the hoarder. He does not provide seed for the sower. He does not provide seed for the seed-eater. He does not provide seed for the seed-waster." [00:32:40] (22 seconds)
"As a result of your ministry of giving, they will give glory to God. Glory to God. Glory to God in the highest. Honor to God and a reflection of his honor back on you through the ministry of giving. So what's going to happen today and this week and through the end of the year as we give toward Beyond and Prison Church Network, there will be inmates whose lives are changed for all eternity and they will give glory to God." [00:33:57] (27 seconds)
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