Sunday 1st Service | Kingdom Giving #2 | Pastor Robert Montgomery

Devotional

Day 1: God multiplies what we surrender to Him.

When faced with scarcity, the miracle begins the moment what is in your hand is brought to Jesus; surrender, not calculation, starts multiplication. The disciples only had five loaves and two fish, and when they gave them to Jesus he blessed, broke, and distributed them until thousands were fed and twelve baskets of fragments remained — a reminder that God asks for what you already possess, not what you lack, and that you cannot hold tightly and receive at the same time. [08:43]

Matthew 14:14-22 (KJV)
And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. 15 And when it was evening, his disciples came unto him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. 17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 18 He said, Bring them hither to me. 19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. 22 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

Reflection: What is the “five loaves and two fish” in your hands today that you have been protecting? Write it down and decide one concrete step to bring it to Jesus this week (a conversation, a prayer, a gift, a release).

Day 2: Seek God's kingdom first; everything aligns.

When vision shifts and God becomes first, the heart follows and provision aligns; making God number one reorders priorities so spouse, children, job, and social media fall into their proper places under his lordship, and daily struggles are met with his faithful presence as one who walks with you through valleys rather than camping there. [06:56]

Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Reflection: Identify one area (work, phone use, a relationship) where you consistently put something before God; today schedule a 15-minute daily moment of seeking God for that area for the next seven days and note any changes you see.

Day 3: Generosity produces spiritual and practical abundance.

Giving opens space for God to work in joy, relationships, and purpose; when people give beyond their ability — not from overflow but from obedience — peace replaces pressure, community deepens, and witness grows, just as Paul observed in the Macedonians whose generosity multiplied their joy and testimony. [18:26]

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 (KJV)
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.) 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

Reflection: Choose one sacrificial, cheerful gift (time, money, or service) to give this week beyond your normal comfort; name the person or cause, the amount of time or money, and the exact day you will do it.

Day 4: God replenishes and blesses faithful generosity.

Trusting God with what is in your hand invites his supernatural replenishment; he even challenges his people to “test” him in giving so he can open the windows of heaven, rebuke the devourer, and provide daily sufficiency — not always a barn full at once, but enough for each day as seen in the widow and the manna for Israel. [23:50]

Malachi 3:10 (KJV)
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Reflection: Commit to one daily act of trust for seven days (a tithe, a deliberate act of generosity, or a prayer of surrender); record each day one example of provision, peace, or a door God opens to review at the end of the week.

Day 5: Freely received gifts are meant to be given.

Spiritual and practical gifts are intended to flow through believers — what is received freely from Jesus becomes the very thing to give away; living with open hands creates a revolving door of blessing so others are ministered to and the kingdom advances. [13:41]

Matthew 10:7-8 (KJV)
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Reflection: Identify a spiritual gift, insight, or resource God has freely given you; this week, pick one person to intentionally bless with that gift and write the specific action you will take and when you will do it.

Sermon Summary

I reminded us that the kingdom is not about making converts but making disciples whose lives are reordered around Jesus. When our vision shifts to seek first the kingdom and His righteousness, trust rises and the heart opens. That’s the paradox of plenty: less in our hands becomes more in His. God does not subtract—He multiplies. He doesn’t ask for what we don’t have; He asks, “What’s in your hand?” When we place what we actually have into His hands, multiplication begins.

We watched this play out in Scripture and in practice. In the feeding of the five thousand, the miracle didn’t start when Jesus blessed the bread; it started when the disciples surrendered the loaves and fish. Scarcity says “protect,” but heaven says “place it in My hands.” I illustrated how a closed fist can’t receive. An open hand can give—and also receive—because generosity is a flow, not a possession. Seeds feel like loss when they leave your hand, but multiplication starts the moment they hit the ground.

Scripture anchors this. Matthew 6:33 sets our order. 2 Corinthians 9 promises that God supplies seed to the sower and multiplies what is released, growing far more than finances—joy, peace, purpose, and witness expand. I shared how even a simple word of gratitude can multiply courage in someone’s heart. And we looked at God’s stubborn promise in Malachi 3:10: “Test Me.” He pledges to pour out blessing and rebuke the devourer. Sometimes His provision looks daily, like manna—enough for today, enough to keep trusting tomorrow.

This is not about money; it’s about trust. It’s about living with an open hand in a world training us to clench our fists. God’s math is different: surrender becomes multiplication, generosity becomes abundance, release becomes replenishment. I asked us to ask Him two simple questions: Do I live with open hands or a closed fist? And am I holding anything I need to release—finances, relationships, my future, my hurts? As we move toward our Christmas Gift Offering, let’s pray, listen, obey, release, and trust. Christ doesn’t call us to equal giving, but to equal sacrifice. In His hands, less becomes more.

Key Takeaways

1. Seek first; trust reorders everything. When God is first, everything else finds its rightful place—not necessarily easier, but rightly ordered. Trust isn’t denial of difficulty; it’s clarity about who owns the story and carries the weight. Reordered loves produce real peace, even while walking through valleys. Seeking the kingdom aligns our desires with His provision. [67:20]
2. Less becomes more in surrender. Multiplication begins at the moment of transfer, not after the blessing is spoken. Jesus asks for what we have, not what we wish we had, because obedience is the seedbed of miracles. Scarcity’s lie is broken when we place our “not enough” into His hands. Surrender is how lack becomes leverage for grace. [74:34]
3. Open hands receive and release. Closed fists protect but cannot receive; open hands both give and gather. Generosity is the way God keeps the river of provision moving through us, not just to us. The posture of the heart is the pipeline of heaven’s provision. Holding blocks both inflow and outflow. [73:00]
4. Generosity multiplies more than money. God enriches us in every way so that we can be generous in every way—relationships, peace, joy, and purpose expand. Giving creates space for God’s presence and wisdom to breathe in our homes. Even small acts—like simple gratitude—carry weight and reframe a room. Abundance isn’t only counted; it’s cultivated. [79:32]
5. Release invites God’s replenishment. “Test Me” is God’s invitation to trust Him where fear presses hardest. He not only pours out; He also rebukes the devourer—provision and protection together. Often He trains us in daily rhythms of dependence, like manna, building resilient faith. We learn that He sustains not by hoarding, but by replenishing. [83:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[64:45] - Purpose and Series Introduction
[66:28] - Paradox of Plenty: Less Becomes More
[66:56] - Seek First the Kingdom
[68:43] - Feeding the 5,000: What Do You Have?
[71:27] - Closed Fist vs Open Hand
[73:23] - Freely Receive, Freely Give
[75:51] - Seeds, Sowing, and Multiplication
[78:26] - Generosity Creates Abundance
[80:49] - The Power of Encouragement
[83:16] - God Replenishes What You Release
[83:50] - Test Me in This
[88:24] - Daily Provision, Daily Trust
[91:46] - Phone Prayer and Healing Testimony
[95:38] - Breaking Generational Poverty and Ministry

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
Matthew 14:14–22
14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. 22 And immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.

Observation questions

What does Matthew 14:14 tell us Jesus did first when he saw the crowd? How does that set the scene for the miracle?
In verse 17 the disciples say, “We have only five loaves and two fish.” How does the narrative move from their statement to the feeding (v.18–19)? What steps are recorded between the disciples’ answer and the crowd being fed? [01:08:43]
What are the concrete results recorded in verses 20–21 (how many ate, what remained)? Which detail surprises you most and why?
The passage ends with Jesus sending the disciples ahead by boat (v.22). What immediate change of action does Jesus make after the miracle, and what might that imply about his priorities? [01:14:58]

Interpretation questions (third-person objective)

Why would Jesus ask the disciples what they already had rather than asking for something different or more? What does that teach about God’s method of working through what people already possess? [01:10:25]
How does the sermon’s illustration of a closed fist versus an open hand inform the meaning of surrender in this passage? What does an “open hand” posture enable that a closed fist blocks? [01:12:19]
What might the twelve baskets of leftovers (v.20) communicate about the nature of God’s multiplication—practical provision, abundance for future use, or symbolic meaning for the disciple community?
How should the promise “test me” (Malachi 3:10, cited in the sermon) be understood in light of the feeding miracle—does testing God change how people are to risk what they have? [01:23:50]

Application questions (personal and specific)

What is one specific thing you are holding tightly right now (a financial item, a relationship, a hurt, a plan)? This week, what concrete step will you take to place that thing into the Lord’s hands (pray about it, give a percentage, release a conversation, ask for help)? [01:18:05]
The sermon invited practicing an “open hand” by giving and receiving. For the next seven days pick one small, measurable act of generosity (an amount to give, one hour to serve, a note of encouragement to a coworker). What will you do, when will you do it, and who will you tell to keep you accountable? [01:13:41]
The message used Malachi’s “test me” as an invitation to trust God with provision. What fear comes up in you when you think about testing God financially or sacrificially? Name the fear and one tiny step you will take this week to move toward trusting despite that fear (e.g., tithe a small amount, give to someone in need, ask a trusted friend to pray). [01:23:50]
The pastor told the Walmart story about simple, spoken appreciation. Who in your daily life needs a brief word of gratitude or encouragement this week? Plan the exact words you will say or the message you will send and when you will do it. [01:21:09]
If you sensed the sermon’s call about generational poverty or long-standing mindsets that keep you clenching your fist, what is one declarative, faith-filled step you can take this week to break that pattern? (Examples: repeat a Scripture aloud, meet with a prayer partner, schedule a financial counseling session, publicly commit to a sacrificial gift.) [01:35:38]
Matthew 6:33 was a hinge in the sermon: “Seek first the kingdom.” What is one daily habit you will change starting tomorrow so that seeking the kingdom comes before a primary distraction (social media, work hours, entertainment)? Specify the habit, the trigger, and how you will replace the old pattern. [01:07:20]

(End of guide — if people want prayer or to take next steps, invite them to meet with a prayer partner after the study.)

Sermon Clips

So last week, Pastor Rob taught us that generosity begins with vision. And when your vision changes, your heart follows. And when your heart shifts, generosity stops being a burden and becomes worship. He reminded us that where you set your eyes determines where your heart goes. And that we only give because Jesus gave first. So this week, we take the next step. When your vision shifts and you begin to trust God with what's in your hands, you discover something powerful. God does not subtract. God multiplies. So this is the paradox of plenty. Less in our hands becomes more in his. [01:05:51] (47 seconds) #VisionShapesGenerosity

Jesus didn't ask the disciples what they didn't have. He asked them, What do you have? What's in your hand, Jerry Branch? That's what he's going to use. He's not asking you for what you don't have. Five loaves and two fish, they told him. Not enough for a crowd. Not enough to fix the problem. But God never asked for what you lack. Only what you already possess. Yes, Pastor Rob told us last week that generosity begins with vision. But vision alone is not enough. Eventually, your hands must open. And when your hands open, God begins to multiply. [01:10:27] (46 seconds) #BringWhatYouHave

You can't out give him. He sees you. He knows exactly where you're at. He knows exactly what you need. So, notice the miracle didn't start when Jesus blessed the bread. The miracle started when the disciples surrendered what they had. He asked them, what do you have? They said, man, all we got is five loaves, two fish. Jesus said, bring it to me. That's when the miracle began, when they surrendered that to him. The miracle started because of surrender. [01:14:32] (37 seconds) #SurrenderStartsMiracles

``Seeds feels like loss when it leaves your hand, but multiplication begins the moment it hits the ground. The moment you let loose of that is the moment the multiplication begins. And again, it's the issue of our heart. Think of someone who gives sacrificially in a tough season. Not from overflow, but obedience. Suddenly opportunities arise, needs are met, peace replaces pressure. They discover that miracles often wait on willingness. [01:16:29] (43 seconds) #SowToMultiply

So, the question I would ask is, what are you holding on to tightly? What's in your hand? Pastor Dennis had a $1 bill. What's in your hand that you're not releasing? Is it your finances? Is it relationships? Is it your family? Whatever it is, release it to him and watch him work. What miracle might be waiting on your surrender? [01:17:51] (30 seconds) #ReleaseToSeeMiracles

So, last week we learned generosity is trust in action. This week, we learned God's response to that trust is he replenishes, he sustains, and he multiplies. Malachi 3.10, Pastor Rob quoted earlier. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house, and put me to the test now in this, says the Lord of armies. If I do not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. [01:23:22] (36 seconds) #WindowsOfHeaven

Think of believers who tithe faithfully. They're not always wealthy, but they're never empty. Their lives become sermons. The sermons say something like this. God meets me where I trust him. When we release, God replenishes. When we trust, God proves faithful. So this message is not about money. It's about trust. Week one taught us that vision shapes the heart. This week teaches us that trust releases multiplication. [01:29:39] (38 seconds) #TrustReleasesMultiplication

So in the kingdom, less becomes more. Surrender becomes multiplication. Generosity becomes abundance. Release becomes replenishment. God is inviting you into his math. For miracles begin with trust. Are you trusting him? To the best of your ability that you know how. [01:30:17] (33 seconds) #KingdomMath

So as we move toward this Christmas gift offering, I would encourage you, pray, listen, obey, release, and trust. Christ, not equal giving, equal sacrifice. Ask the Lord, what do you want me to place in your hands? Because in the kingdom, less in our hands becomes more in his hands. [01:33:09] (32 seconds) #PlaceItInHisHands

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