Generosity: A Declaration of Trust in God

The sermon emphasizes the profound connection between generosity and trust in God, drawing from biblical examples and the speaker's personal experiences. The speaker begins by expressing gratitude for the congregation's willingness to embrace generosity, a trait that reflects God's giving nature. They highlight that generosity is not merely an act of giving but a declaration of faith in God's provision. The early church is cited as a model of generosity, where believers shared their possessions and supported one another, resulting in the Lord adding to their numbers daily.

The speaker recounts the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand with a boy's offering of five barley loaves and two fish, illustrating the impact of generosity combined with trust in God. They challenge the congregation to consider if they truly trust God with their resources, whether little or much. The speaker also addresses the discomfort some feel when discussing money in church, suggesting that this discomfort may indicate an area of life not yet surrendered to God. Generosity is presented as a hallmark of spiritual maturity and a response to God's goodness.

The sermon further explores the concept of a "bag mindset" versus a "barn mindset," with the former leading to a cycle of lack and the latter fostering a cycle of giving and faith. The speaker challenges the congregation to examine where their trust lies and to adopt a barn mindset, trusting that God will multiply what is given. They also address the misconception held by some Christians that their only goal is to make it to heaven, emphasizing that God has plans for believers on Earth, including the call to be generous.

Personal stories are shared, including an experience of giving away food and praying for people, which not only blessed the recipients but also provided an opportunity to spread the gospel. The speaker concludes by inviting the congregation to consider how they can activate generosity in their own lives, not out of obligation but out of gratitude for God's love and provision.

Key Takeaways:

Generosity is a tangible expression of our trust in God's provision and a reflection of His character. When we give, we are making a statement of faith, believing that God will take care of our needs. This was exemplified in the early church, where believers shared everything they had, trusting that their generosity would be met with God's faithfulness. Our willingness to give, especially in times of scarcity, reveals the depth of our trust in God's promises.

Generosity is not only about the act of giving but also about the attitude of the heart. It is a quality that should permeate the life of a believer, as seen in the early church's lifestyle. The speaker's call to be marked by generosity is a challenge to live out our faith in practical ways, impacting the world around us and demonstrating the love of Christ through our actions.

The "bag mindset" and the "barn mindset" represent two approaches to handling God's blessings. The former is characterized by immediate consumption and worry, while the latter is marked by giving and trusting in God's multiplication. This sermon challenges us to adopt the barn mindset, which aligns with a life of faith and trust in God as our ultimate provider.

Generosity is a key indicator of spiritual maturity. It is often the last area of surrender for believers, as it involves money—a sensitive and tangible aspect of our lives. The speaker's emphasis on generosity as evidence of spiritual growth invites us to examine our own lives and consider whether our giving reflects a heart fully committed to God.

The speaker's personal stories of generosity, such as giving away food and praying for people, illustrate how acts of kindness can open doors for the gospel. These stories encourage us to view generosity not just as a means of blessing others but also as an opportunity to share the love of Christ and the message of salvation with those around us.

### Bible Reading
1. **Acts 2:44-47 (NIV)**
> "All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

2. **2 Corinthians 8:1-5 (NIV)**
> "And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us."

3. **John 6:5-13 (NIV)**
> "When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, 'Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?' He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, 'It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!' Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 'Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?' Jesus said, 'Have the people sit down.' There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, 'Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.' So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten."

### Observation Questions
1. What actions did the early church take to demonstrate their generosity according to Acts 2:44-47?
2. How did the Macedonian churches exhibit generosity despite their circumstances in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5?
3. In John 6:5-13, what was the significance of the boy’s offering of five barley loaves and two fish?

### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the generosity of the early church in Acts 2:44-47 reflect their trust in God’s provision? [50:41]
2. What can we learn from the Macedonian churches' attitude towards giving in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, especially considering their extreme poverty? [54:41]
3. How does the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand in John 6:5-13 illustrate the impact of combining generosity with trust in God? [01:20:05]

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt uncomfortable discussing money in church. How did that experience reveal your level of trust in God’s provision? [47:40]
2. The sermon mentioned the "bag mindset" versus the "barn mindset." Which mindset do you currently identify with, and what steps can you take to shift towards a "barn mindset"? [01:07:36]
3. How can you practice generosity in your daily life, even if you feel you have limited resources? Share a specific example of how you can give this week. [01:08:46]
4. The speaker shared personal stories of generosity, such as giving away food and praying for people. How can you incorporate acts of kindness into your routine to open doors for sharing the gospel? [01:18:29]
5. Consider the statement, "Generosity is a hallmark of spiritual maturity." How does your current level of generosity reflect your spiritual growth, and what changes can you make to grow in this area? [01:17:19]
6. The sermon emphasized that generosity is not just about giving money but also about the attitude of the heart. How can you cultivate a heart of generosity in your interactions with others? [01:00:48]
7. How can you involve your family or small group in acts of generosity to create a collective impact, similar to the early church in Acts 2:44-47? [50:41]

Day 1: Generosity Reflects Divine Trust
Generosity is not just an act of giving; it's a profound statement of faith in God's endless provision. When one gives, especially from a place of scarcity, it is a testament to their belief in God's promises to provide and care for their needs. This act of faith mirrors the early church's practice of sharing, which was rooted in trust and led to growth and blessings within the community. [07:40]

Proverbs 11:24-25 - "One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."
Reflection: How can you demonstrate your trust in God's provision through an act of generosity today?

Day 2: Generosity as a Heart Attitude
True generosity goes beyond the mere action of giving; it is a quality that should saturate a believer's life, reflecting a heart that is fully aligned with God's own generosity. This heart attitude is a response to God's goodness and should be evident in the way one lives, impacting others by showing Christ's love through tangible actions. [07:40]

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a heart of generosity, and how can it change your daily interactions with others?

Day 3: Embracing the Barn Mindset
The 'bag mindset' leads to a life of worry and scarcity, while the 'barn mindset' fosters a cycle of faith, giving, and trusting in God's ability to multiply. This mindset shift is crucial for living a life that is anchored in faith and trust in God as the ultimate provider, moving away from fear and towards a life of abundance and generosity. [07:40]

Luke 12:16-18 - "And he told them this parable: 'The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' Then he said, 'This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.'"
Reflection: What 'bag mindset' habits do you need to replace with a 'barn mindset' to trust God more fully with your resources?

Day 4: Generosity as a Marker of Maturity
Generosity is a clear indicator of spiritual maturity, often being the final frontier of surrender for believers. It involves the sensitive and tangible aspect of money, challenging one to reflect on whether their giving is a true representation of a heart wholly devoted to God. This surrender is a step towards spiritual growth and deeper commitment. [07:40]

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."
Reflection: What does your pattern of giving reveal about the areas of your life that may still need to be surrendered to God?

Day 5: Generosity Opens Doors for the Gospel
Acts of generosity, such as sharing food or praying for others, not only bless the recipients but also create opportunities to share the gospel. These acts of kindness can be a powerful witness to Christ's love and can open hearts to the message of salvation, demonstrating the practical implications of living out one's faith. [07:40]

Hebrews 13:16 - "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
Reflection: How can your acts of generosity this week be a doorway to sharing the love of Christ and the gospel with someone?

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God bless. Thank you, God.

Well, good morning church, we have had an exciting morning already, amen.
I am excited to begin, or should I say continue, our series on Thanksgiving.
Last week we began talking about this idea of Thanksgiving as it pertains to generosity and as it pertains to gratitude.
Somebody say Thanksgiving.
And so we are going to jump into part two of this series.

Even as I begin to think about Ms. Jamie's story, it just kind of got me to this place where I'm like, man, God is so good.
Just in the aspect of how even ahead of time, Ms. Jamie said the worry isn't worth it. It's just a waste of time.
And so as she began to talk about how, you know, even before she realized that this thing was happening, even before she knew this, God was already taking care of it.
He was already talking to the mortgage company. They was already making their decision. They was already in the mail.
He knew how long it would take for the mail to get there, so at the exact moment that she would have that breakthrough.
And it is just a testament to the provision of God and his faithfulness.

So we want to dive into part two of our Thanksgiving series talking about generosity.
When we talked about gratitude last week, for those of you who were here last week, we talked about how gratitude should be our firm foundation.
No matter what's going on around us in every situation, we should be people of gratitude.
We talked about the physical benefits of gratitude, amen.
And then we talked about the spiritual benefits of gratitude.
We said that the attitude of every believer in every season and in every situation should be gratitude.

So this week we're talking about what I believe is the response to gratitude.
The response to the goodness of God and what God has done, and that response is our generosity.
I believe there is perhaps no clearer evidence of spiritual maturity than generosity.
So this is what I want to dive into today.

Let's pray.
Heavenly Father, thank you for your word.
Thank you for the opportunity to hear from you.
We are here to hear from you, God.
We know that your word is already anointed.
So would you anoint our ears so that we can hear what you're saying?
Would you anoint our hearts so that we can receive what it is that you're saying?
We bind any satanic or demonic force that would try to hurt or hinder your spirit from speaking and moving in this place in Jesus' name.
We thank you for this opportunity in Jesus' name. Amen.

All right.
As I said, there's no clearer evidence of spiritual maturity than generosity.
Our money oftentimes is the last area that we turn over to God.
We will give God our hearts, we will give God our time, we will give God everything else.
But when it comes to the money, that's when we get funny.
That's when we start, you know, "I'm just growing in this area," you know, "this is just something that I'm..."
It is often the last area that we will turn over to God.
This is the area that we want to retain, and we want to make sure that we have complete control over.
We want to retain that.

Some of us are uncomfortable right now.
Some of us are sitting here right now and we're even uncomfortable at the topic of bringing up money in church.
We're like, "Uh-uh, okay, okay, see, uh-uh, see, I knew it, I knew it, I knew it, I knew it," right?
Now some of that might be due to the misrepresentations of people who stand in the pulpit.
Okay, I'm not going to deny that.
There have been some misrepresentations of people who stand in the pulpit and speak when it comes to money.
But I believe that it is more likely that our discomfort is an indication that this area is not in the proper order that it should be in our lives.
It is a better indication that we have not placed this topic in this area in the place that it should be.

God can have our money but not have our hearts.
But he cannot have your heart and not have your money.
You can see people, and I'm a movie fan, and so I watch all kinds of movies, and in some of the movies they have the church scene.
And you got the guy who just killed a million people, and he's sitting in the church, and what happens? The offering bucket goes by.
He puts money in the offering bucket. Why?
Because you can give God money and him not have your heart.
However, when I give God my heart and say, "God, I give you everything that I have," it is impossible for you to give God your heart and not give him your money.

Okay, generosity. This is what we're talking about today.
I want to define generosity.
Generosity is the quality of being generous.
It is the willingness to give freely.
Okay, the quality of being generous, the willingness to give freely.
As Christians, we have been called to be generous people.
We have been called to be generous people.
Believers in the Bible were marked by their generosity.
And as believers, it should be a quality that we should be defined by.
We should be known by our generosity.
When people see us, they should see people that are generous.

Acts chapter 2.
Now I'm gonna spend some time in this book because I know some of y'all is tight.
So I'm gonna show it to you in the scripture so you all leave here and say, "See that pastor."
No, you're gonna say, "See that Bible."
Okay, Acts chapter 2, verse 44.
All right, we ready?
And all those who had believed in Jesus as Savior were together and had all things in common, considering their possessions to belong to the group as a whole.
See, some of y'all I get it, you mad right there. No.
And they began selling their property and possessions, and they were sharing in the proceeds with all the other believers as anyone had need.
Day after day, they met in the temple area, continuing one mind, breaking bread in various private homes.
They were eating their meals together with joy and what? Generous hearts.
Generous hearts, praising God continually and having favor with all the people.
And as a result, the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved.

So we see generosity at the very beginning of the church.
Now, some people are generous in the beginning.
When you start something new, everybody's excited, everybody wants to get in, and they want to give, and they want to be excited about it.
But then once it's there for a minute, then it was like, "Oh, well, you know, I gave in the beginning, and you know, it's cool."
And so we're talking about at the very beginning.

So now after some opposition, after some issues, Acts chapter 4, verse 34, two chapters over says there was not a needy person among them.
Because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them and bringing the proceeds of the sales and placing the money down at the Apostles' feet.
Then it was distributed to each as anyone had need.
Now Joseph, a Levite and a native of Cyprus, who surname Barnabas by the Apostles, which means son of encouragement, he sold a field belonging to him and brought the money and set it at the Apostles' feet.
See, this ain't the beginning no more.
Peter and John have been arrested already many times.
They have faced opposition. They have faced circumstances, and he still led with there was not a needy person among them.
Barnabas had a field. He just had a field, and he sold the field to make sure that the church and the body of the believers had what they needed.

Second Corinthians chapter 8.
I told y'all we're gonna dive in this.
Second Corinthians chapter 8, verse 1.
This is it.
Second Corinthians chapter 8, verse 1, we want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia.
Listen at this: for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means of their own accord.
Look at this, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.
And this not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

Church in Macedonia, this was a different kind of church.
This was a different kind of church.
This church was in extreme poverty.
And not like us, we say we're poor because we can't pay the Disney Plus subscription.
That's not what he's talking about.
Netflix goes up, we like, "I don't have money for anything else. I'm poor."
That's not, that's something different.
Extreme poverty.
Okay, extreme poverty.
And they were, it says, a severe test of affliction.
They were enduring suffering as a church.
Not they didn't have AC; they were enduring extreme suffering.
Yet in their extreme poverty, they were generous.
And in their suffering, they still had joy.

That's not us though.
Today, if we lack in any area, the first thing we do is we get sad.
I'm gonna be in your business all service, so you might as well.
The first thing we do when we don't have sufficiency, when we can't get the car, when we can't get the TV, when we can't get the things that we want, when we can't get those things, what happens to us?
We get sad.
We get sad.
We get sad, and then not only do we get sad, if the lack continues for a while, not only do we get sad, then we start getting anxious.
Because now we're worried about how we're going to take care of this, how we're going, uh, uh, where is this coming from?
When is this going to happen? Who?
So now we're sad and we're anxious.
Then if the anxiousness gets too long unchecked, now we're depressed.
Now we're depressed.
Nothing is going right, and everything is going wrong, and I just don't know, and I just don't, as a result of our lack.

Yeah, because that's what it has done to us.
But when I look at the church in Macedonia, you know what I see?
I see that that does not have to be our response.
It does not have to be our response.
We can be a people that even in our lack, we can still have joy.
We can be a people that even when we don't have, we can still be generous.
This church in Macedonia, they made it a point to be givers.
Imagine this: they are in extreme poverty, and they are begging Paul.
"Please, let me give. Please, I am begging you, please. I know that I only have this little bit that I have, but please let me give."

You know what that sounds like?
It sounds like somebody who knows something.
Because me, I'm looking at you crazy.
Clearly, you need to keep what you have.
But somebody who knows something, somebody, no, no, no, you don't worry about what I got.
I need to give.
Obviously, you know, I need to be generous.
Why? Because I know where my source comes from.
I know what, and so I need...

Well, why aren't you sad?
Why aren't you upset?
Why is it that even though you don't have, why is it that you're not depressed?
Why is it that you're not upset?
Oh, because my truck... I'm getting ahead of my...

All right, I got it.
I got it.
See, generosity isn't just a passing thought in scripture, right?
Because we want to do all of the things.
We want to get the blessings.
We want to walk by faith.
We want to see people saved, but generosity, we're like, "We're gonna skip over that chapter. Let's keep going."
It's just not a passing thought.
We see in these examples that this was a lifestyle of a believer.
It was a lifestyle of the early church.
It was a lifestyle of those who were afflicted.
These people were known as followers of Jesus, and they were known as people who were generous.
They were known for their giving.

And we are called to be generous because we serve a God that is generous.
We're called to be generous because we serve a God that is generous.
John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave."
God so loved the world that he gave.
And because of the love that we have, we should be people that are generous.
Because of the love that we are supposed to have, not only for God but for one another, we should be people that are generous.
Out of our trust and our reverence and our gratitude to God who gave us so much already.

And you might say, "Pastor, you don't understand my situation.
I am in a bad place.
And I hear you talking about generosity, and I hear you saying that we should be generous, but I feel like God hasn't been generous to me.
I feel like God might be holding out on me.
I don't think I'm a part of the generous God club."
I would challenge you to breathe.
That is an example of how generous God has been to you.
The very breath you take is an example of God's generosity.
Or perhaps the fact that you aren't getting what you deserve because of his grace and mercy, his generous grace and mercy, is an example of his generosity over your life.
We serve a generous God.

How about his protection?
How about he woke you up this morning?
He put clothes on your back.
He made sure you got here today.
You're still here in your right mind, most of us. Hallelujah.
This is an example of his generosity.
Generosity, and this has to be a result of us.
This is who we have to be.
God has called us to be generous.
God so loved that he gave.
And he's called all of us to give because love gives.
Love gives.
This is the heart of generosity.

All right, Acts chapter 20.
Acts chapter 20, so I want to show it to you.
Acts chapter 20, verse 35.
In everything I showed you by example that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said what?
"It is more blessed and brings greater joy to give than to receive."
Come on.
He said it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Now I noticed he didn't say it wasn't blessed to receive.
Hallelujah.
There is a blessing in receiving.
You know, you receive something, you get something, you're happy for, you're grateful for.
I am very happy when I receive things, and then when the Lord, right?
But he said it's more blessed and brings a greater joy to give than to receive.

The feeling that comes up on the inside of you when you're able to bless somebody.
You know, parents, when you've worked hard all year, you got a little extra change, and your kid asks for something, you're able to bless them with it even though you know they didn't deserve it.
But you're able to bless them with it.
And that feeling when they say, "Thank you, thank you, thank you."
But it is more blessed to give.
You probably can remember, you know, stuff that people have given you, but over time it's just stuff that you receive.
But the giving, the giving, it hits different.
It's just something different when you're able to say, "Hey, the Lord wanted me to bless you with this."
"Hey, you were just on my heart. I just wanted to give you this."
"Hey, you know what? I was thinking about you. I just wanted to..."

He said it is more blessed.
It is more blessed, and it brings greater joy to give than to receive.
Proverbs 11 says the generous man is a source of blessing and shall be prosperous and enriched, and he who waters will himself be watered, reaping the generosity he has sown.
The generous man or woman is a source of blessing and shall be prosperous and enriched.
He gives us the key right there.
If I want to be prosperous, if I want to be complete and whole in every area of my life, if I want to be enriched, then I probably need to work on being generous.
Somebody say giving is good.

So we read the scripture.
Proverbs says a generous man will be blessed.
We see the New Testament church being ridiculously generous in spite of their circumstances.
We see in the scripture that God is generous.
We see King Solomon, a proverb saying that a generous man is a source of blessing.
So if we see that giving is good, then why is it so hard for us to be generous?
Why is it so hard for us to be generous?
What is stopping us from walking this out in our lives?

For some of us, I know we feel like, "I barely have what I have.
There's no way that I could even think about giving generously."
For some of us, you're like, "If I give the little bit I do have, what else am I gonna have for myself?
I got two pieces of bread. If I give the two I got away, I got nothing. What am I gonna have for myself?"
Or here's a new one that I've heard quite often:
"You know what? I want to be generous, but I can't because I feel like, you know, I just don't want to be taken advantage of.
I don't want to be taken advantage of.
I don't want to give somebody my money, and then they do this with it.
I don't want to give somebody something, then they don't even appreciate it.
I don't want to be taken advantage of."

If any of these sound familiar to you, I want to tell you, you don't have a money problem.
You have a mindset problem.
You have a mindset problem.
And that's okay because today we're going to show you how to change that mindset.
We have to change our mindset towards generosity.
We have to.

I read this question, and it says, "Are you a bag or are you a barn?"
Do you have a bag mindset or do you have a barn mindset?
See, the bag says, the bag mindset says as soon as we receive, we consume.
And because we consume, we lack.
And because we lack, we worry.
And the cycle continues.
We go back to receiving, and then we consume.
We consume, and then we lack.
We lack, and we're in fear.
And it just keeps going, the bag mindset.

But the barn mindset says something different.
The barn mindset says as soon as we receive, we give.
Because we give, God multiplies, and because God multiplies, it builds our faith, and the cycle continues.
That when we get, we give.
When we give, God multiplies it, and when God multiplies it, it continues to build our faith, and it continues to be a cycle.

Generosity is a byproduct of those who have completely put their trust in God.
Generosity, giving, is a byproduct of those who have completely put their trust in God.
Ultimately, for those of us who are having a hard time with this, for those of us who can't seem to really figure this thing out, we're having a hard time grappling with this idea of giving, the central question is this: Do you really trust God?
Do you really trust God?

This is a heart check.
Do I trust him to be my provider?
Do I trust that he loves me?
Do I trust that he'll take care of me?
Do I trust that he will do what his word says that he will do concerning my giving?
This is the bottom line.
Do you trust him for real?
Do you trust him for real?

And here's the thing: your giving will expose where your trust is.
It's going to expose, do I trust him?
Because I can't say, "It's God, I trust you to take care of my kids.
I trust you to wake me up in the morning.
I trust you with my job.
I trust you with this."
But then when it comes to the finances, because it's all or nothing, God is like either you trust me or you don't.
It's not a gray area.
It's not like, "Oh God, I'm a little 80/20. I'm working on that 20."
It's no, I don't or yes, I do.

Generosity exposes this area.
God exposes whether our relationship with God is real or whether it's just Sunday service.
Whether it's real, whether it's something that we live out, whether we're exhausting it in every area of our life or we're just good enough to slide by on Sunday.
When I'm fully committed to him, I trust him wholly, and I know that my giving is good.
I know that my giving is good.
I trust him wholly.
I trust him when he says in Luke 6, "Give, and it will be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, for it will be put in your lap.
For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."
I trust him.
I trust him.

So when I'm giving, I'm not in fear because I now trust the source of my giving instead of this resource that I have.
I trust him in Second Corinthians when he says, "You will be enriched in every way."
Why? So that you can be generous.
He says you will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous.
Second Corinthians chapter 9.
So that you can be generous.

Why?
He says, "I'm giving it to you so that I can get it through you."
Read that.
Let's put that up on the screen.
Second Corinthians 9, verse 11.
You, because I want to make sure you see it.
I don't want you to believe me.
Second Corinthians 9, verse 11: "You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous."
I know you thought when you got that extra money that it was for you.
You're like, "Oh, I'm gonna get this TV. I'm gonna get this car. I'm gonna, oh, I'm taking everybody to dinner."
God, it's just God has just been blessing me.
I don't even know why God has just been...

He says, "You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous."
So if I'm not enriched, could it be that I haven't been generous with what he's already given me?
So why would he give me more to not be generous?
God is not a wasteful God.
If I can't get it through you, why do I need to give it to you?
Because it's just going to stop right here, and now you're building up earthly treasures that will fade away.
You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous.
And why?
Because this generosity through us is producing thanksgiving to God from those who benefit.
From those who benefit, it's always about him.
All of it is about him.
You think I'm giving it to you so you can give it away so that you can get the glory?
No, it produces thanksgiving to God.

And if you don't believe me, check Ananias and Sapphira.
They tried to do that.
They tried to give so that they could get the glory.
They tried to give so they could be like somebody else, kept a low for themselves.
Yeah, I'm gonna let you read that story; it didn't end well.
Why?
Because it's a heart thing.
God is not giving it to you so you can big up yourself and say, "Look what I did.
Look what I gave.
Look, y'all see me out here being generous?
Y'all see me giving to the homeless and giving to the hungry?
I gave 500 bags of food. What did you?"
That's not what he's doing.
He says, "No, I gave it to you so that you can be generous.
And this generosity through you produces thanksgiving to God."

It's an opportunity for you to give, and when someone says, "Why did you do that?"
You can say, "Let me tell you about the God that I serve."
"Why would you give me that?
Didn't you just get this?
Isn't this brand new?
Isn't this that?"
He says, "Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I wanted to do it because I wanted you to see that God loves you.
I wanted to have this opportunity to tell you about the faithfulness of God and how faithful he's been in my life.
I want you to know that he hears you.
I want you to know that he sees you."
But that door becomes open through your generosity.

This idea of giving, when we really trust him and we really trust his word, our mind shifts concerning generosity.
Now instead of asking, it don't matter if I'm generous or not because here's what immature Christians say.
That's the cleanest way I could say that.
Here's what immature Christians say:
"Well, it's not a heaven to hell issue, so I'm gonna be fine.
I'm gonna make it to heaven, so that's all right."
What?
That's all you're living for?
I mean, I get it, but you don't think God has plans for you here?
Here?

Because if that was the case, when you accepted him, he would have just... and then you was gone.
But you're here, so that means he has plans for you here.
So the idea of it's not just a heaven or hell issue is something that, let's just say, I'm not people at Limitless, but immature Christians.
When we think about that, we don't have this asset of, "Oh, does it matter if I'm generous?"
Because we're able now to see why our generosity matters.
Our generosity matters because it's an opportunity to reflect God's character.
We have an opportunity to reflect God's character.
Giving matters because it's an opportunity for us to demonstrate Christ-like faith.

You maybe came to church today, you said, "God, I just want to go deeper in you, God.
I just want to grow in my faith."
There is no greater area, there is no immediate area than for you to grow in your faith than in the area of your generosity.
"God, I just want to go deeper in you."
"Okay, give."
Whoa, wait a minute, Jesus!
But no, our giving, our generosity is an opportunity to demonstrate Christ-like faith.
Our generosity, our giving matters because it's an opportunity for us to bless others.
To get our thoughts and our eyes off of ourselves, to get our mind off of ourselves and what I want and what I need and what my plans are and where I want to go and what I want to do and who I want to do.
It's an opportunity for you to bless others.

Our generosity matters because it is an opportunity to show spiritual growth.
It's an opportunity to show spiritual growth.
Maybe you know when you start as a believer, you know money is a little tricky topic for you.
It's a thing, but it's an opportunity to say, "Nope, God, I've graduated in this area.
God, I trust you in everything, including my resources.
I trust you in my generosity.
I trust you in my giving."
This is not a test that I'm gonna have to take 50-11 times.
No.
When you give me an opportunity to be generous, I will do so because I trust you.
Why?
Because I'm growing spiritually.

Our giving matters because it is an opportunity to spread the gospel.
Last year we had this great opportunity.
We've done it a couple times; we have another one coming up here.
But we had this opportunity to give away some food, and we were in Woodland, at the fairgrounds, and we had our bags, had everything ready.
And as people began to come through, we had an opportunity.
Hundreds of people came through the line.
We would get the bag together, we would go up to the car, and before we gave them the bag, we would say, "Hey, can I pray for you?"
And then when they say yes, or they say no, they say, "Hey, do you know Jesus?
Before I pray, do you know Jesus?"
Every... but the opportunity was made possible because we began to be generous with the resource that we had.
That led to an opportunity to give people something that's greater than any resource that we have.
We had an opportunity to fulfill a physical need, which opened the door to meet their spiritual need.
This is why our giving, this is why our generosity matters.

John chapter 6, verse 5.
I want to read this and be out your way.
John chapter 6, verse 5.
Scripture says, "Lifting up his eyes then and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, 'Where are we to buy bread so that these people may eat?'"
He said this to test him, for he knew himself what he would do.
Verse 7, Philip answered him, "200 denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little."
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?"
Jesus said, "Have the people sit down."
Now there was much grass in the place, so the men sat down, about five thousand in number.
Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated, so also the fish, as much as they wanted.
And when they had eaten their fill, he told the disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments that nothing may be lost."

One man's trust in Jesus, one boy's trust in Jesus, through his generosity, ministering to us today over 2000 years later.
His trust in God, his ability to be generous.
He took the little that he had, and he trusted God with it, and God was able to do a miraculous work that speaks to us 2000 years later.
And I think, imagine what our generosity could do.
Imagine what the generosity of this church could do if we came together and said, "You know what?
We are going to take this seriously.
We're making a decision to step up in this area of our lives.
We are choosing to be generous."
What could God do with our little miracle that could be a miracle for the many?

There is a profound connection between our generosity and our trust in God.
Profound connection.
Generosity is not just an act of giving; it is a statement of faith.
It is a testament to our trust in God's provision and his faithfulness.
When we give, we echo the hearts of Proverbs 3:5: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding."
We acknowledge that everything that we have is from God, and we express our confidence in him to provide for us, not our job, not our checks, not people.
We express our confidence in him to provide for us.

Our generosity, our giving not only becomes a gift to others but an offering to God, demonstrating our faith and our trust in him.
The question is, do we trust him?
Do we trust him?
Do we trust him in our little?
Do we trust him in our many?
Do we trust him?
And here's the other thing: can he trust us?
Can he trust us that he would give it to us and then get it through us?
Exposes our trust.
Our generosity is both an opportunity to bless others, and it is a powerful way to deepen our trust in God.

"God, I want to go to the next level.
I realize I need to trust you in this area.
I realize that it's some areas that I'm..."
So I want to trust you in the area of my giving.
That we would become people who are generous, that Limitless Church, that the city of Woodland would be marked by our generosity.
That people would drive down the street and they would see that steeple, and they would say, "Man, I don't know what's going on, but that church right there, I don't know how they're doing it.
I need to go to that church and find out how are they giving so much?
How are they doing this?
How are they creating this program?
How are they doing this?
How are they doing that?
I gotta find out how are they being... something's got to be up."
I'm sure the pastor's cooking.
They... something's got to be up.

Because that's what they immediately go to.
"I gotta go, you know, I'm gonna go there for myself to figure out how they're being so generous."
And then I got you.
And then I got you.
Because once you sit in that chair, you experience the presence of God, and you experience the love of God, and you experience people who love God, and you experience ridiculous generosity, then it becomes contagious.
And it's one person, and it's their family, and it's their friends, and it's their coworkers, and it's their associates.
Before you know it, we can't even fill the building next door.
Excuse me, we can't stop filling the building next door because we made a decision to be generous.
This is what God has called us to do, and we have to decide whether we trust him or not.

Not out of obligation.
"Oh, I gotta give. Pastor said I should give, so no."
Not out of obligation, but out of gratitude.
"God, I love you. Thank you for taking... I gotta do something because you've been so good to me.
I gotta do something because you keep taking care of me.
I gotta do something because you keep providing for me, because you keep blessing me.
I gotta do something, and my response is generosity."
Out of gratitude and out of trust in him who has generously given us all things.
Generously given us all things.

So that's our challenge.
That's our challenge.
Will we be people marked by generosity?
In little or in lot, will we be people who honor God in our giving?
That's the question.
Hear what you're saying today.
What do I do? How do I start this?
How do I activate this in my life?
What do I do to make sure that I can be a generous person?
You said that this generosity changed your life.
How did you do it?
I would say come to church next Sunday, and I'll tell you because that's my time.

Father, thank you for your work.
God, thank you for challenging all of us in this area of generosity.
You loved us so much that you gave.
So God, we are challenged to trust you and love for you and be people who are generous.
God, I thank you for opportunities for those who are watching online right now and those who are sitting in this congregation.
Opportunities to exercise generosity.
Thank you for showing up.
We place our full trust in you as our provider in Jesus' name.

Would you stand with me?
Two things I want to do.
First thing I want to do is if you're here today and you said, "Pastor Keenan, you hit it right on the nail.
I realize that my trust is not where it needs to be.
I realize that I don't trust him like I should in the area of generosity.
I don't trust him like I should in the area of giving.
And today I want to change that.
I want to begin to change that by being marked by generosity."
If that's you today, could you just slip your hand up real quick, just slip it up real quick, put it right back down?
Hallelujah, okay.
You're saying, "I want to be marked by generosity.
Today is the day that I make a change to be generous."
I see it.
I see it.
Hallelujah, hallelujah.
I want to pray for you.
I want to pray for you.

Heavenly Father, right now I pray for those under the sound of my voice and those watching online.
God, I pray for those who this message hit home today.
God, generosity is a big thing, but it's a big thing to you.
And so God, today I pray that you will continue to increase our faith.
Increase the faith of those today who said, "Today, I want to make a change to be generous.
I want to be marked as a believer who is generous."
God, thank you for opportunities to be generous.
God, I thank you for open doors for generosity.
And I thank you for the testimony of generosity in the lives of the believers who are here today, God.
God, I thank you that you will just have blatant opportunities for us to show our generosity, that you would increase in us, that we would continue and grow in our reliance on you.
Limitless Church is a generous church.
We are a generous people in Jesus' name. Amen.

Amen.
The next thing I want to do, if you wouldn't mind, just be seated very quickly.
When service started today, we participated in baptisms, but we had one more person that wanted to get baptized, was running a little behind.
And so I wanted to honor that opportunity.
She came; she's ready.
So we have one more person that wants to get baptized.
Would you guys mind giving me three minutes, and let's participate in celebrating in this baptism? Amen.

Is it Miss Michelle?
Did I say it right? Was it Michelle?
Okay, while we're waiting for her, I'm gonna have the prayer team come up.
Just give her one minute.
You're welcome, you're welcome.

Before we leave, I always want to offer the opportunity for prayer.
If you're here today and you need God to agree with you, you say, "Hey, I need prayer for something."
We love to pray for people here.
If you're here today, you've never made Jesus Christ Lord of your life, we want to offer you that opportunity today as well.
God loves you so much; he sent his son to die.
God so loved that he gave.
And he says all that you need to do is if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord.
Not Lord on Sunday, not Lord on holidays, not Lord when I'm in trouble, but confess him as Lord over every area of your life.
If you believe in your heart and confess him as Lord, then you shall be saved.

Today, if you've never made him Lord of your life, today is the day of salvation.
Tomorrow is not promised; next week is not promised; the next time is not promised.
This is your opportunity.
So if you're here today and you've never made him Lord of your life, or you say, "Hey, Pastor, I just want somebody to agree with me in prayer," then would you make your way down to this altar?
Make your way down to the altar, and as that's happening, uh, I bet that's right.
Don't wait for nobody.
You get down here and get what you need.
Hallelujah, Jesus.
Hallelujah, Jesus.
Hallelujah.

Make your way down. It's open.
As that's taking place, we'll get our baptism going as well, but make your way down here and get what you need.
Hallelujah, Jesus.
Hallelujah.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for what you're continuing to do in the hearts and the minds of your people.
God, I thank you for the word that was spoken today.
I thank you for those who have committed themselves to you by going public through baptism, God.
I thank you for those who have recommitted their life to you, those who have given their life to you today, God.
This day is a testament to your grace and your mercy.
Thank you.
We love you.
We praise you.
We honor you in Jesus' name. Amen.

Amen.
Now our altar is still going to be open, but next week I want to dive into this.
I got some stuff in my pocket I want to give to you.
So please join us here again next Sunday.
I pray that God will give you opportunities to see this walked out in your life, and do me a favor, please.
When this happens, come back and tell me what happened because God is going to do something, and we need to hear about it.
Last week we heard Bianca's story; this week we heard Miss Jamie's story.
Next week I want to hear your story.
Amen.
God bless you.
Don't forget, live limitless.
God bless.

I'd be lying if I said you wasn't everything, everything to me, how you love me.
So when my light didn't glow and my debts got high and that bread got low and my life wasn't right and I had that left, good Lord, you promise you still kept it.
I'm grateful, so grateful.
My mama told me at your weakest, he's still able.
Like I'm just trying to pay the cable, but there ain't nothing to the king.
He sent his only son to take a charge for a thug.
Yeah, the example of real love.
My walk ain't been no crystal stair, 40 cal by the bed.
I'm just gripped with fear trying to come up on some food, ain't enough to share, but I still ate, and you were still right there.

Steven and Goliath, Simpson and Delilah, no matter the issue, you've always been my provider.
Spending time with you is the only thing I desire.
Never leave me lonely to definition to ride.
Hey, tell me who you gonna call on?
Who ain't never lost one yet?
Hey, who ain't never been wrong?
Who created you looking better than Corvettes?
I don't need a bunch of Facebook likes, just my face in your book and my lights.
All right, just a stage and a mic just to scream all night and tell them about your grace and your plan for their life.

It was you that kept me, you that saved me, you that filled me, mashed potatoes and gravy.
But food ain't enough to compare your blessing, so I just spent my days confessing.
I gotta keep it 100.
I'd be lying if I said you wasn't everything, everything to me, how you love me.
So when my light didn't glow and my debts got high and that bread got low and my life wasn't right and I had nothing left, good Lord, you promise you still kept it.
I'm grateful, so grateful.
My mama told me at your weakest, he's still able.
Look, I'm just trying to pay the cable, but there ain't nothing to the king.
He sent his only son to take a charge for a thug.
Yeah, the example of real love.
My walk ain't been no crystal stair, 40 cal by the bed.
I'm just gripping with fear trying to come up on some food, ain't enough to share, but I still ain't, and you were still right there.

No matter the issue, you've always been my provider.
Spending time with you is the only thing I desire.
Never leave me lonely to definition to ride.
And tell me who you gonna call on?
Who you never lost one yet?
Hey, who ain't never been wrong?
Who created you looking better than Corvettes?
I don't need a bunch of Facebook likes, just my face in your book and my lights.
All right, just a stage and a mic just to scream all night and tell them about your grace and your plan for the life.

It was you that kept me, you that saved me, you that filled me, mashed potatoes and gravy.
But food ain't enough to compare your blessing, so I just spent my days confessing that it was you.
So when they ask you with a real light, the very heartbeat of love, you can reveal that.
I can't even keep quiet.
Look, I can't keep this a secret.
Peeping, this is better than the weekend.
I love so sweet, you would swear you were sleeping.
Hey, but don't get caught slipping.
Gave me this life, and I'm still kind of tripping.

I know I don't deserve this love, don't deserve this grace showering from above.
Don't deserve this peace we're getting still.
I deserve it.
He reminded me I could never deserve it.
That's why he calls it a gift because when life get low, you can call it a lift.
They come, they go, he still remains.
Had a bit switched up, but he's still the same.
They want to put him in the mold, but he made the frame.
They told me it was rigged, but he made the game.

Yeah, and from that, I own everything from the dudes on the corner with the name chain to the girls in the club getting payouts.
Hey, let me take it as a way out.
Hey, you know the kid wouldn't lie to you because I'm all for the bread like a pie dealer.
Look, but I know that's more trying to run to the finish.
You were made to sell.
Look, so if you ain't heard nothing, Jesus is the realest over all, no bluffing.
If the mission gets tough, then leave it.
Hey, I'd be good right here.

"Generosity is a byproduct of those who have completely put their trust in God." [01:08:18]

"Do I trust him to be my provider? Do I trust that he loves me? Do I trust that he'll take care of me?" [01:09:28]

"Generosity exposes this area. God exposes whether our relationship with God is real or whether it's just Sunday service." [01:10:42]

"Generosity is not just an act of giving, it is a statement of faith. It is a testament to our trust in God's provision and his faithfulness." [01:23:19]

"Our generosity, our giving, not only becomes a gift to others but an offering to God, demonstrating our faith and our trust in Him." [01:23:19]

"There is perhaps no clearer evidence of spiritual maturity than generosity." [46:43]

"Our generosity matters because it's an opportunity to reflect God's character. Giving matters because it's an opportunity for us to demonstrate Christ-like faith." [01:15:46]

"Our giving matters because it is an opportunity to spread the gospel... We had an opportunity to fulfill a physical need which opened the door to meet their spiritual need." [01:18:33]

"Our generosity is both an opportunity to bless others and it is a powerful way to deepen our trust in God." [01:24:47]

"Not out of obligation but out of gratitude. God, I love you. Thank you for taking care of me. I gotta do something because you've been so good to me." [01:27:03]