Wholehearted Commitment: Transforming Lives Through Giving
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor reflecting on the importance of submitting all areas of our lives to Jesus, emphasizing that God's love is the foundation that compels us to be fully committed to Him. The pastor also discusses the significance of the church community and the importance of leadership roles within it. The topic of giving is introduced, acknowledging that discussing money can be uncomfortable, but it is an integral part of our lives and is addressed throughout the Bible. The pastor shares a scripture from Matthew 6:19-21, which speaks about storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth, and shares a personal story related to this scripture.
The pastor then announces some exciting news about the growth of the church, with over 200 new members joining New Hope. The pastor expresses excitement about this growth and mentions that a significant portion of the new members are children, indicating a young and vibrant congregation. The pastor also emphasizes the power of prayer and encourages everyone to pray boldly, knowing that God is actively at work in their lives and will answer their prayers.
The pastor reflects on the words of the Apostle Paul to the early believers in Galatia, emphasizing the importance of remembering the truth that when one accepts Jesus, their old sinful self dies on the cross with Him, and they become a new creation. The pastor expresses concern about the American church settling for belief without transformation, merely giving intellectual ascent to Jesus without truly living as His followers. The pastor encourages the congregation to have undivided devotion to the King of Kings and to commit to Jesus in every area of their lives.
The pastor shares a personal story about a special cashmere coat that was given to them as a birthday gift. They describe how they cherished and wore the coat throughout high school and college, but eventually moved to Florida where they no longer needed it. The pastor then recounts a time when they discovered their coat had been infested by moths and was completely ruined. This story serves as an illustration for Jesus' teachings on the transient nature of worldly possessions.
The pastor concludes the sermon by discussing the concept of tithing and its significance in the lives of believers. The pastor explains that tithing was an act of obedience and trust in God. By giving a tenth of their earnings to God, the people were acknowledging that they belonged to Him and that everything they had was a gift from Him. The pastor emphasizes that this truth still holds today, as we belong to God and all that we possess is a result of His provision.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of submitting all areas of our lives to Jesus, including our finances. This commitment is not just about belief, but about transformation and living as His followers. ([12:45])
- The pastor shares a personal story about a cherished cashmere coat that was ruined by moths, illustrating the transient nature of worldly possessions and the importance of storing up treasures in heaven. ([28:30])
- The pastor discusses the concept of tithing, explaining that it is an act of obedience and trust in God. By giving a tenth of our earnings to God, we acknowledge that we belong to Him and that everything we have is a gift from Him. ([35:20])
- The pastor shares a personal testimony about how God has always provided for them financially, reinforcing the message that giving back to God is an essential aspect of being all in with Jesus Christ. ([42:10])
- The pastor passionately declares their complete devotion to Jesus Christ, emphasizing the importance of wholeheartedly surrendering ourselves, including our material possessions, to Jesus Christ. ([50:15])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
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1. Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
2. Matthew 6:19-21: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
3. Malachi 3:8-11: "Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 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. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty."
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Galatians 2:20 reveal about the transformation that occurs when one accepts Christ?
2. In Matthew 6:19-21, what is the contrast between earthly treasures and heavenly treasures?
3. What does Malachi 3:8-11 suggest about the consequences of withholding tithes and offerings from God?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the transformation described in Galatians 2:20 reflect in the daily lives of believers?
2. How does the concept of storing up treasures in heaven, as described in Matthew 6:19-21, challenge the common perspectives on wealth and possessions?
3. What does the promise in Malachi 3:8-11 imply about God's response when we trust Him with our finances?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your life. Are there areas where you are merely giving intellectual ascent to Jesus without truly living as His follower? What steps can you take to submit these areas to Jesus?
2. Think about your possessions. Are there any that you are storing up on earth rather than in heaven? How can you shift your focus to storing up treasures in heaven?
3. How does your current practice of giving reflect your trust in God's provision? What changes, if any, do you need to make in your tithing habits to align with the teachings in Malachi 3:8-11?
4. Can you recall a time when you experienced God's provision after you trusted Him with your finances? How can this experience encourage you to continue trusting Him in the future?
5. What is one specific way you can demonstrate your complete devotion to Jesus Christ this week, especially in the area of your material possessions?
Devotional
Day 1: Total Submission to Jesus
In the journey of faith, it is crucial to submit all areas of life to Jesus, including finances. This commitment goes beyond mere belief; it is about transformation and living as His followers ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAJ0cP0Q6qU&t=750s)). It is about acknowledging that everything we have is a gift from God and using it for His glory.
Romans 12:1 - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."
Reflection: What is one area of your life that you have not fully submitted to Jesus? How can you begin to surrender this area to Him today?
Day 2: Transient Nature of Worldly Possessions
Worldly possessions are transient and can be lost or destroyed at any moment. The story of the cherished cashmere coat ruined by moths ([28:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAJ0cP0Q6qU&t=1695s)) serves as a reminder of this truth. It is therefore important to focus on storing up treasures in heaven, which are eternal.
Matthew 6:19-20 - "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
Reflection: What worldly possession do you cherish the most? How can you shift your focus from this earthly treasure to storing up treasures in heaven?
Day 3: Tithing as an Act of Obedience and Trust
Tithing is an act of obedience and trust in God. By giving a tenth of our earnings to God, we acknowledge that we belong to Him and that everything we have is a gift from Him ([35:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAJ0cP0Q6qU&t=2105s)). This act of giving is a demonstration of our faith and reliance on God's provision.
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."
Reflection: How does your current practice of giving reflect your trust in God's provision? What steps can you take to grow in this area of obedience?
Day 4: God's Faithful Provision
God is faithful in providing for our needs. The personal testimony about God's financial provision ([42:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAJ0cP0Q6qU&t=2515s)) serves as a reminder of this truth. Giving back to God is an essential aspect of being all in with Jesus Christ.
Philippians 4:19 - "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: Can you recall a time when God provided for your needs in a surprising or unexpected way? How did this experience impact your trust in God's provision?
Day 5: Wholehearted Surrender to Jesus Christ
Wholehearted surrender to Jesus Christ, including our material possessions, is a key aspect of our faith ([50:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAJ0cP0Q6qU&t=3000s)). This surrender is not just about giving up control, but about acknowledging that we belong to God and that everything we have is a gift from Him.
Luke 14:33 - "In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples."
Reflection: What does wholehearted surrender to Jesus look like in your life? What is one step you can take today towards this surrender?
Quotes
1. "Are you all in with Jesus? Do you trust Jesus to do what he said he's going to do? Do you trust God to take care of you? Do you trust God when he says test me in this? Do you believe that you will be blessed?" [01:11:51]
2. "When you say yes to Jesus, your old sinful self dies on that cross with him and you are a new creation. You are a new person in Jesus and the Holy Spirit comes and makes a home within you and there is power in that, there is so much power in that." [43:14]
3. "God's love is what provides that foundation, it compels us to want to be all in with Jesus. Because God loves us each so much and he died for us, and that affects every single area of our life." #!!46:33!!#
4. "Talking about money, talking about giving makes people uncomfortable, right? I mean, talking about it kind of has in the past made me uncomfortable. But it's so critical that we talk about money. Why? Because whether we like it or not, money is an integral part of our lives and Scripture addresses money quite a bit." #!!48:01!!#
5. "Jesus is speaking to how the things of this world, the things we collect, the things we value, the things that we spend our money on eventually become like my coat - moth-eaten, holy, destroyed, damaged, decayed." #!!50:36!!#
6. "When we surrender our money to Jesus, we are acknowledging that He is the ultimate provider and that our trust is in Him alone. It is a powerful act of faith and a reminder that our possessions are not our own, but gifts from God." #!!02:15!!#
7. "When we tithe, it unlocks something in the spiritual realm and enables God to start taking action on our behalf. It's like God opening the windows of heaven and pouring additional blessings into our lives." #!!01:01:56!!#
8. "Everything we have is a gift from God, so we're going to give back to God what He called us to give to Him." #!!01:07:09!!#
9. "We belong to God. I'm not my own. I belong to God. God has provided everything for me. God has blessed me. And we're called to give back to God for His work in this world." #!!01:08:12!!#
10. "By giving a tenth of what they earned to God, they were saying that they belong to God. They belong to God and all they had was a gift from God." #!!58:24!!#
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