Trusting God's Provision: Faith, Community, and Stewardship

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound truth of God's provision and the importance of aligning our lives with His principles. Reflecting on the past year, we acknowledged the miraculous ways God has provided for our church, even when circumstances seemed dire. Despite losing a significant source of financial support, we ended the year with more resources than ever before, a testament to God's faithfulness. This experience reminds us that God's provision is not dependent on our understanding or plans but on His abundant grace and purpose.

Our mission is to abide in Christ and bear lasting fruit, not through programs or plans, but by nurturing what God has planted within us. We are called to be stewards of hearts, not just resources, and to prepare a safe place for the next generation to grow and flourish. This requires us to trust God with our finances, to tithe faithfully, and to partner with Him in every aspect of our lives. Tithing is not just a financial transaction; it is a declaration of trust and a test of our hearts. God promises to open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings when we honor Him with our resources.

Moreover, we are reminded of the importance of community and divine connections. Our purpose is intertwined with the people God places in our lives. We are called to love and serve one another, to be known by our love, and to reflect Christ in our actions. This love is not just a feeling but a commitment to put others first, to serve selflessly, and to be generous like our Father in heaven.

As we move forward, we are encouraged to return to the basics: reading the Word, praying, worshiping, and aligning our finances with God's kingdom. These practices are not mere rituals but vital connections to the source of life and transformation. In doing so, we open ourselves to the abundance and wisdom of God, allowing Him to work through us in ways beyond our imagination.

Key Takeaways:

- God's Provision and Faithfulness: Despite losing significant financial support, God provided abundantly for our church, reminding us that His provision is not limited by our understanding or plans. Trusting in His faithfulness allows us to witness His miraculous work in our lives. [04:11]

- The Importance of Tithing: Tithing is a declaration of trust and a test of our hearts. By honoring God with our finances, we invite His blessings and open the windows of heaven. It is not about the amount but the heart behind the giving. [08:26]

- Community and Divine Connections: Our purpose is intertwined with the people God places in our lives. We are called to love and serve one another, reflecting Christ in our actions. This love is a commitment to put others first and to be generous like our Father in heaven. [24:21]

- Returning to the Basics: Reading the Word, praying, and worshiping are vital connections to the source of life and transformation. These practices are not mere rituals but essential for spiritual growth and alignment with God's kingdom. [29:38]

- Trusting God with Our Finances: Aligning our finances with God's principles is crucial for experiencing His abundance and wisdom. By being faithful with worldly things, we open ourselves to heavenly blessings and opportunities. [53:19]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [04:11] - God's Provision and Faithfulness
- [08:26] - The Importance of Tithing
- [12:01] - Trusting God with Finances
- [24:21] - Community and Divine Connections
- [27:21] - Seeking the Kingdom First
- [29:38] - Returning to the Basics
- [32:34] - The Importance of the Word
- [39:25] - The Power of Prayer
- [41:54] - Experiencing God's Presence
- [44:33] - The Simplicity of Worship
- [50:20] - Understanding Our Identity
- [53:19] - Aligning Finances with God's Kingdom
- [55:38] - Abundance and Resourcefulness
- [58:45] - Serving Others and Loving Generously
- [01:01:05] - Final Blessing and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Malachi 3:10 - "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And try me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it."
2. John 15:5 - "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing."
3. Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

Observation Questions:
1. What examples from the sermon illustrate God's provision and faithfulness to the church despite financial challenges? [04:11]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of tithing in a believer's life, and what biblical references support this practice? [08:26]
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of community and divine connections in fulfilling our purpose? [24:21]
4. What are the "basics" that the sermon encourages believers to return to, and why are they considered vital? [29:38]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of God's provision challenge our understanding of financial security and planning? [04:11]
2. In what ways does tithing serve as a declaration of trust and a test of the heart, according to the sermon? [08:26]
3. How does the sermon suggest that community and divine connections impact our spiritual growth and purpose? [24:21]
4. What does it mean to "seek first the kingdom of God," and how does this principle relate to the other practices mentioned in the sermon? [27:21]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's provision in an unexpected way. How did it impact your faith and trust in Him? [04:11]
2. How do you currently approach tithing, and what changes might you consider to align more closely with the sermon’s teachings on financial stewardship? [08:26]
3. Identify a person or group in your life that God might be calling you to connect with more deeply. How can you take a step towards building that relationship this week? [24:21]
4. What specific steps can you take to prioritize reading the Word, praying, and worshiping in your daily routine? [29:38]
5. Consider your current financial habits. What adjustments can you make to better align your finances with God's principles and experience His abundance? [53:19]
6. How can you actively serve and love others in your community, reflecting the love of Christ in your actions? [58:45]
7. What distractions in your life might be preventing you from seeking God's kingdom first, and how can you address them this week? [27:21]

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting in God's Unseen Provision
God's provision often defies human understanding, as it is rooted in His abundant grace and purpose rather than our plans. Reflecting on the past year, the church experienced a miraculous increase in resources despite losing a significant financial support. This serves as a powerful reminder that God's faithfulness is not limited by our circumstances. Trusting in His provision allows us to witness His miraculous work in our lives, encouraging us to rely on His promises rather than our own understanding. [04:11]

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust God more fully for His provision, even when the path seems unclear?


Day 2: Tithing as a Heartfelt Declaration of Trust
Tithing is more than a financial transaction; it is a declaration of trust and a test of our hearts. By honoring God with our finances, we invite His blessings and open the windows of heaven. It is not about the amount but the heart behind the giving. This act of faith demonstrates our reliance on God and our commitment to His kingdom. When we tithe faithfully, we align ourselves with God's principles and experience His abundant blessings. [08:26]

"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine." (Proverbs 3:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you make tithing a more intentional act of worship and trust in your life today?


Day 3: Embracing Community and Divine Connections
Our purpose is deeply intertwined with the people God places in our lives. We are called to love and serve one another, reflecting Christ in our actions. This love is not just a feeling but a commitment to put others first, to serve selflessly, and to be generous like our Father in heaven. By embracing community and divine connections, we fulfill our calling to be known by our love and to create a safe place for others to grow and flourish. [24:21]

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your community can you reach out to today to show Christ-like love and service?


Day 4: Returning to the Basics of Faith
Reading the Word, praying, and worshiping are vital connections to the source of life and transformation. These practices are not mere rituals but essential for spiritual growth and alignment with God's kingdom. By returning to these basics, we open ourselves to the abundance and wisdom of God, allowing Him to work through us in ways beyond our imagination. These foundational practices help us stay rooted in our faith and connected to God's purpose for our lives. [29:38]

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16, ESV)

Reflection: What is one spiritual discipline you can commit to deepening this week to strengthen your connection with God?


Day 5: Aligning Finances with God's Kingdom
Aligning our finances with God's principles is crucial for experiencing His abundance and wisdom. By being faithful with worldly things, we open ourselves to heavenly blessings and opportunities. Trusting God with our finances involves more than just tithing; it requires a holistic approach to stewardship, ensuring that every financial decision reflects our commitment to His kingdom. This alignment invites God's guidance and provision into every aspect of our lives. [53:19]

"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." (Luke 16:10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you better align your financial decisions with God's kingdom values today?

Quotes

"Long and short of the business meeting this afternoon is, God is good, and as usual, the finances of new life never make any sense, because God just takes care of things. You know, with losing my dad's company, you know, a significant tither was gone in this last year, and yet we ended the year with more money in the accounts than I think we've ever had in my tenure of leading this church. And God's taking care of us. I don't know where the money's always going to come from. In fact, I don't know where things we need for tomorrow are going to come from." [00:01:45]

"The answer is his hand, and he always, always, always provides, and we've watched God do the most amazing things, and we're going to continue to see him do those things. So new life exists to see all the world know his glory, that we would abide in Christ so that we would bear lasting fruit. You know, I got asked earlier, so what's next? We've done the rebranding. We've done this stuff. Like, is there a, and this is my words, but is there a plan for what comes after? And I said, my job is to help all of you be who you're supposed to be in the kingdom." [00:02:27]

"Offering tonight comes out of Leviticus 27, 30. It says, and all the tithe of the land is the Lord's. It is holy to the Lord. Malachi 3 .10, bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And try me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, that I will not open up for you the windows of heaven and pour out such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." [00:09:41]

"These commands, the work that God has called us to, guys, it will continue no matter what. But for your lives, you have to step into partnering with God. You don't get to say, God, bless my life. Bless me in all these areas. God, help me in these things. And then ignore him in how you handle finances. You have to honor him. You have to tithe. And I know that that is such a touchy subject. I know that it's so hard to hear someone say, you must do this. But I'm standing not as someone to tell you, you have to do this so that I can pay my bills, God's taking care of that." [00:10:26]

"I'm challenging, I'm declaring, and I'm speaking to you guys. You have to do this because that is how God knows what your heart is. That is how God, he says, test you in this. If you cannot be faithful with money, who will test you? Who will give you heavenly things to be rewarded with? Scripture's really clear. And he says, do it. And it's you give it and you let it go. It doesn't matter, guys. How, and you know, some people say, well, if I have to give to this, then there's accountability to it and I want to know some answers. Nope." [00:11:10]

"one he wants me to be dependent on him i love and my kids i even encourage you to ask them this my kids will say well we want to do something or we want to do this and you know amber and i will say well that's not in the budget my kids will now turn around and look at me and say well i'm gonna ask jesus then they've seen him move finances move in things they they've watched god meet those needs time and again where they now trust it and it gets a little funny because they almost treat the lord like the the piggy bank that they get to go to well god will take care of it god will pay for it but i'd much prefer that than them to go well we can't i don't ever want them to say we can't i want them to ask the lord what he can do and what it could be" [00:12:12]

"we only hit this once a year and i know that it can bristle some in the midst of it but there's a reason why we go through these and go through the scriptures on giving because when that's true anything's possible i love jerry dearman's story where his dad worked in aerospace and was a manager at one of those large companies in california and time after time you know the pink slips would go around and people would get dismissed and his dad wouldn't because the lord would just bless and take care of him but one time he did get handed the slip he got laid off and got sent home and on his way home he just kept asking the lord lord what are you doing in the midst of it and the verses in malachi where after 3 10 it says and watch for i will rebuke the devourer on your behalf so when he got home he showed his wife that his job was gone and not in fear not in frustration not in anything but absolute trust of the lord because they'd watched him do it season after season they prayed they got on their knees in their bedroom they put the pink slip on the bed and they said lord you know we are tithers we stand with you and you promise to rebuke the devourer you promise to rebuke what comes after us he went back to work the next morning because they gave him all the week to finish out and then they were to go home and when he got to work that morning his boss was instructing him to finish packing some things up and doing things and his the boss above them walked in and handed his boss a pink slip and said you're gone and looked at jerry's dad and said you have his job now" [00:15:47]

"when someone stands with the lord in the midst of things and he watched season after season in a very volatile industry if you understand aerospace and how they get big contracts so they hire lots of people and then they go through a slower season so they lay a bunch of people off and over and over and over again they stood on what god was doing and they watched god respond and take care of them so this this is who our god is i want to challenge you to check your heart today to say god i affirm that the tithe is yours that you have this holy sacred part and you know because i've taught on this before that means that the rest the other 90 percent is blessed beyond measure you want to talk about abraham you want to talk about job you want to talk about where those people in scripture solomon where there is an abundance beyond anything you could know it's when we get our heart in the place where we say god you're first and then i will take care of others i will love and i will bless and i will be generous like my father in heaven it changes everything so let's stand and let's declare this today over ourselves over this church over this season ready as i give and" [00:19:06]

"well tonight's going to be horribly practical horribly i hate giving one two three four five sermons do a b c d and i'm going to tonight because you you you really we're going to talk about some of the basics we're going to talk about what god is doing in the earth right now and how you can partner with him join with him step into what he is doing and see a result unlike anything you've ever seen before but i want to i want to share with you something that got posted online um earlier today by chris valetan i think it's not only very fitting um but i think it really is a great way to look at this year as we're stepping into what god is doing it's called the law of divine connections in the epic best -selling book good to great why some companies make the leap and others don't author jim collins if you don't know that was a book that really got popular in the early 2000s about it was research that was done by a think tank on why some companies not only survived but made a change from having a dive into becoming great and enduring again um collins when he wrote the book was not a christian but it took the church world kind of by surprise by how much this book actually impacted some things within our realm and he ended up getting saved after he wrote the book but it says in his research collins points out that the greatest companies get right people on the bus in the right seats before deciding on a destination that seems a little counterintuitive right tell me where we're going tell me why it's important and then i'll decide whether or not i'm going to be a part of it isn't that normal like you want to know what's going to happen how it's going to be and you get to decide for yourself well do i want this do i not want this what he challenged he says this business philosophy student stark contrast to the greatest leadership minds of the time who taught that vision and mission were more important most important ingredients of any great organization but collins makes a compelling argument that mission and vision are the best fleshed out with the people who embrace the same core virtues and culture the truth is most of us are asking what we are called to do when in fact we should first be asking who are we supposed to be with" [00:22:59]

"It's only when we find our people that we can fulfill our purpose. The fact is that our purpose lies in our people. Furthermore, if you can accomplish your mission without other people, I question whether you're even on the right path, which is the story of my own life. And that's what Chris is saying about what happened, that God, every time he tried to do it alone, God would stick him with other people where he had to be in community, had to be connected. But think about that." [00:22:56]

"Love those around you. Love the neighbor who technically in the story was of the enemy. The bad guy. The bad guy. I still, I love the Samaritan being the bad guy. The bad guy. If you haven't seen the kids movie, Bad Guys, in the last few years, you need to watch it. Because the bad guy is the hero of the story. The Samaritan is the bad guy, people. And he does what's right. He loves the person when no one else will." [00:24:21]

"God says, it doesn't matter who you are, where you've come from. It doesn't matter how those things are supposed to walk out culturally. He says, will you love when God presents an opportunity? What if God is simply waiting for us to love, to step into a place where love not only gets to dictate, but it gets to transform the road in front of us? What if the roadblock or the problem or the mountain that you're facing is only there because you're not with the right people?" [00:25:03]

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Transcript
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