It's Good to Give Thanks to God

Psalm 92:1-5--It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD ; I sing for joy at the works of your hands. How great are your works, O LORD , how profound your thoughts!

Leviticus 22--The offer of sacrifice of thanksgiving was important. This kept their attention on the Creator, their guide, their deliverer, their provider. Israel was required to never forget God's deliverance. We are to thank Him because He has delivered us from the bondage of sin. Also, we must thank Him for providing for us.

Psalm 50:23--He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way
so that I may show him the salvation of God.

Psalm 105:1-2--Give thanks to the LORD , call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.

Psalm 106:1--Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD , for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 107:1--Give thanks to the LORD , for he is good; his love endures forever.

We are continually reminded to give thanks to God. God wants us to be thankful people. Giving thanks to God is absolutely important and essential.

It's good to give thanks is good because 1) it honors Him; 2) it's an act of obedience; 3) it refocuses our attention; 4) it releases us from anxiety; 5) it refreshes our relationship with Him

Philippians 4:6-7--Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God does not want us to live in anxiety. When we give thanks, it is difficult to live in anxiousness. You can thank Him for the past, present, AND future!

Spending time with Him and thanking Him is refreshing.

Why We Believe

Galatians 6:14, May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

The cross is the heart of what we believe. It holds a preeminent position in the New Testament. The Gospels are theological treaties. The message of the Gospels is to identify who Jesus Christ is and His death at calvary and His impact on our life. They head in the same direction: the cross. They all deal with events around the cross.

Matthew 16:21, From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Mark 10:45, For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Jesus satisfied God's req for the shedding of blood for sin from someone who did not commit sin.

Luke 2:33-35, The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.

John 1:28-29, This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

Jesus Christ, in the mind of God, was already a slain lamb before the creation of the world. God's plan for salvation was preordained. He did not wait until after Adam and Eve's disobedience to devise the plan of salvation.

Acts 2:22-23, "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

1 Corinthians 1:17-19, For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

The Apostle Paul was committed to the message of the cross. He said that that was his reason for his preaching and teaching.

Romans 5:6-10, You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

All this centers around the cross and the death of Jesus. The death of His son brought us back into relationship with God.

Hebrews 9:27-28, Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Christ bore the sins of many. This message is throughout the bible. This was the message of Jesus. That's why Jesus came. Jesus knew that he came to die. To pay for out sins, Jesus had to suffer the consequences of sin.

1 Peter 2:24-25, He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Jesus bore our sin. When He died at the cross, He was our substitute. He was seperated from God the Father. This was his penalty fopr our sin.

The cross is a symbol of God's love. The cross is the sign of true liberty. Without the cross, there is no hope. What will you do on your deathbed without the hope of the cross? The cross brings hope, certainty, security. You may be ethical but what about your sinful nature? There is no hope of salvation without the death of Jesus on the cross. That is the testimony and the witness of the word of God.

Why do we make the cross the central focus of our faith? This is how we experience spiritual liberty in our life. It's the heart of of what we believe. It is the liberating power in our life. This is the core of the bible. It's the key to walking in liberty from the power of sin.

Human effort is of no value. Our works are like filthy rags in the eyes of God.

This is God's truth. The basis for our salvation is not what WE did but what HE did on the cross at Calvary. The shedding of Hid blood is what delivered us. We are clensed, redeemed by His blood. We are forgiven through His blood. The cross is the only way to be saved. This is because this is the heart of God. It is His plan.

If forgiveness before God is not through the cross and Jesus' death, then with is it through? What is the basis of what I expect God will let me into heaven. The only other logical explanation is my deeds. God makes it clear that works will not save us. The only way to salvation is through the cross.

The cross permeates scriputure. The cross liberates us.

When we come to the cross and we are saved, the blood of Jesus helps us walk in victory,freedom every day. God will provide everything I need. God will provide every desire of my heart. Every good thing that comes my way comes by the grace of God.

Jesus' death satisfied God's demand for death for sin.

Paul said the world, sin lost its appeal. It's not the driving force. Our personal relationship with Jesus is our driving force. We will begin to blossom because we will becoming what God wanted us to be in the beginning.

The cross is a like a mirror. The cross mirrors our unworthiness. The cross mirrors God's love, mercy, grace, kindness, might, power, etc.

The cross is the means of our salvation.

The cross is like a magnet. When Jesus be lifted up from the earth, He will draw all men unto Him.

The cross is like a model. It is the model of sacrificial love.

Have you ever applied the message of the cross to your life? Have you accepted God's forgiveness given to us through Jesus' death on the cross at Calvary.

Are You On Thin Ice With God?

Some people hear the gospel over and over but never repent. Others are saved but living with willful sin. Deep down inside we don't think that we can get away with sin. Doesn't forget. God doesn't overlook. Is there a limit to God’s patience?

Patience is God's willingness to wait. It's the goodness of God that allows Him to withold punish from those who deserve it.

Exodus 34:4-6, So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the LORD had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD , the LORD , the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,

God proclaims Himself as a merciful God.

Psalms, David proclaimed over and over the loving-kindness of God.

2 Peter 3:3-9, First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

This was written to those who wondered how to answer skeptics. It explains how God’s “slowness” in bringing ultimate judgment on sinners demonstrates His patience.

God doesn’t let people get away with sin. The penalty of their sin begins to affect them physically, mentally, or emotionally. There is no such thing as God forgetting it or over looking it. Examples in Scripture:

Adam and Eve were immediately punished for their sin. Therefore, some people think they are getting away with sin. Just because we are not punished immediatel after we sin does not mean we are getting away with it. There is no such thing as getting away with sin.

God took the Israelites from bondage, and brought them to the Promised Land. When they sinned, He made them wander 40 years in the dessert.

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the prophets were ignored (about Israel's idolatry). The Israelites figured they had special status with God and were immune to punishment. However, Jerusalem was eventually conquered by Babylon and taken captive. When God's judgement comes, when it's time to pay for our sin, be sure that our sin will find us out.

There is a limit to God's patience. Just as God ran out of patience with the nation of Israel, God runs out of patience with individuals. His chastising hand comes upon His children. Be sure your sin will find you out.

1 Timothy 1:12-16, I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.

What’s God’s purpose in being patient?

Romans 2:4-5, Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.

1. He’s giving rebellious people time to think about it, time to be saved.

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

It's dangerous to live in rebellion to God and God's word, yoiu are going down a dangerous path. Some say, to justify their lifestyle, that there is no God. That is foolish.

2. He knows we have a fallen nature. We are disobedient by nature. We have to learn obedience.

3. He knows we are sometimes ignorant of His Word. Too frequently believers are not encouraged to read God's word. That's where we learn about HS.

4. He knows we all have weaknesses.

E. What is the application to our lives?

God is willing for people—even Christians—to suffer so that He gets their attention. He wants to put us in a position so He can show us how to live our lives. We abuse His goodness and love and mercy by rejecting what He desires for us. It’s time for God’s people to stand up and live godly lives, or God will judge this nation, just as He did the nations in the Bible.

Ecclesiastes 8:11, When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of the people are filled with schemes to do wrong.
“Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil”

If you aren’t saved, you don’t know if you’ll have another chance to repent and accept Christ as your Savior. Don’t wait until it’s too late!

God is a patient God. But His patience is finite. Trust Jesus Christ as your Savior and Master so you don't wear thin God's patience.

Our Trustworthy Guide

Life is an traveled trail that each of us travels. Is there anyone guiding me? All of us need a guide. God wants to be your trustworthy guide.

Psalm 32:8-9: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

God will instruct, teach, guide us on our path. Is there anyone giving me instruction, guidance in my life or am I doing it on my own? God is available to be my guide.

Psalm 31:3--Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

Psalm 48:14--For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. God will guide us until death.

Psalm 73:23-24--Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. God promises to be my guide. Am I seeking genuine guidance from anybody? We all need a guide. God did not equip us to live our lives on our own understanding. We are inadequate.

Life is a journey. We go up difficult mountains and through valleys. We pass through the desert. We have conflict with other people and times of wonderful relationship. Life is hard because we live in a fallen world. Oftentimes, when people get in trouble, it’s because they ignored God. God is motivated by love. Why would we not want to follow His plan for us? We are inadequate to live without divine guidance.
People who don’t know God may seem to do well in life, but one day they will give an account of themselves

Luke 12:16-21--And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 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 all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

Many people want to be like this guy. They want to acquire much and "eat drink and be merry." When you choose to live life without God, God says you are living the life of a fool. It is essential to have a guide; a spiritual guide.

Reasons to follow God
1. God knows us perfectly. He knows our strengths, weaknesses, endurance, personality, desires, relationships, etc. He knows everything about us.
2. He’s available to guide us. Are we available to follow him?
3. He has set the best path for us. He already knows our path. He knows the dangers, what we should avoid.

When things become difficult, the wise thing to do is to respond by trusting God to protect you, provide for you, and guide you in every decision. God is our guide, not the world. God will never mislead us. This doesn't mean that I'll never have trials or hardships. But God promises to counsel us with His eye on us.

There are certain things God wants you to accomplish in life. Don’t try to figure it out; leave it up to God. Trust God, guide, supply at every turn. H will never leave, fail you. God will never tell me to give up. He will tell us to surrender. Giving up means defeat. Surrendering means awesome victory.

Psalm 32:8-9--I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

God warns us not to be like an unbroken horse or a mule that won’t obey.

It's OK to ask friends for advice but it should be "what do you think God would have me to do?" God is trustworthy. He will always tell us the truth.

Sometimes we disobey because we want to choose an exciting and colorful route for ourselves. God knows what we want better than we do. When you hit stormy times, remember that Jesus will guide you through them.

Don’t you think it’d be wise to link your life to the Master Guide? He’s a trustworthy, dependable, unfailing, intimate and personal guide. It begins by asking the Lord Jesus to forgive you of being rebellious and of trying to have your own way.

A Good Conscience

God gave us a conscience for a specific reason.

1 Timothy 1:18--Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

Paul prayed that God would discipline these people so they would repent. When you preach false doctrine, that means you're not listening to your conscience. We make decisions that involve our conscience. The

Your conscience is a gift of God. We are uniquely made. Believers and non believers have them.

Genesis 3:7--Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Adam and Eve ignored their conscience, they disobeyed God.

1Samuel 24:5

David's conscience bothered him after he cut off a piece of Solomon's garment in the cave.

Everyone has a conscience.

Romans 1:18--The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.

Even lost people know the truth because God made it evident inside them. For instance, every believes assault/murder is wrong. The only explanation is that God put these morals inside of us. We understand that there is a penalty for our wrongdoings. Man's conscience lets us know that these things are wrong.

Once you begin to violate your conscience it, something begins to erode inside of you, your heart is darkened, your conscience is dulled. God gave the rebellious people over to their sins.

Romans 2:14-(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

God has written in unbelievers what is right or wrong. Their conscience bears witness to this. There is no escape from obedience to God. Every person has one and we all have to deal with it. It's a monitor. It monitors what we think, everything we do. It's a gift from God. The word of God sharpens your conscience. It's our moral capacity placed within us to distinguish between right and wrong. It's not there to guide us. People have an advantage to have a conscience.

HS is our helper. HS is equipped to do things for us that we are unable to do for ourselves.

You cannot violate your conscience without consequences.

How do we find favor with God?

When you have someone's favor, you have their support. How do you show favor? You can't receive rejection and favor with someone at the same time.


Exodus 33:9-16--As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent. The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. Moses said to the LORD , "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people." The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."


It's god's purpose and will to give you favor.n The Bible shows us how he operate in the lives of others. He reveals his ways in the Bible. How did God show His favor to Moses?


Saved his life. Allowed him to be raised by his own mother. Escaped Pharohs murder attempt. Gave him the 40 years of growth. Burning bush experience. Leading Israel to deliverance. Gave him strength and courage. Performed miracles through him.


Psalm 30:5--For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.


God limits the time of hurt and pain in our life.


Luke 1:?--But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.


God gives us unusual experiences and opportunities in our life.

He gave us Jesus Christ, forgiving our sins, giving us the Holy Spirit. He provides for us. Gives us our desires. Gives us friends. He understands us.


How do we find favor with God? Is based on His will or something that He looks for in us?


Grace=unmerited favor. "Every good thing that comes our way comes from god


Genesis 6:8-9--But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.


One way we can have His favor is to walk with Him. To walk with Him means this: trust, obey, seek, love , worship, serve Him.


Proverb 3:1-4--My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.


A second way we can find favor with God is to feed on the word of God; to learn how He thinks, put His principles into practice. Also we should treat others with truthfulness and kindness.


Proverbs 12:1-2--Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. A good man obtains favor from the LORD, but the LORD condemns a crafty man.


A good man is a man who's heart is bent towards God. They desire to obey, love, serve, please God.


1 Peter 2:19--For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.


When we go through hardship and we've done what's right, instead of complaining, we bear up under it; we endure it, trusting God to see us through it.

God favors us out of his Grace. Other times He gives us favor for the work we do.

Colossians 3:23-25--Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

God expects me to do my best, to give all that I've got, heartily, to do my labor, to work for Him. It is the Lord Christ whom I serve. Whatever I do, do it heartily as if for the Lord. God is interested in holiness: a clean heart. God is interested in timeliness, cleaniness, orderliness, etc. We are on loan from God to do our business. We are accountable to God. If I want God's favor, then I must do MY best.

God favors people who are not Christians. Evrything we have comes from God. Brilliant, unsaved people are given brilliance from God. Eventhough God has favored them, it is purposed to lead them to repentance [Romans 2]. God has the right to favor whomever He chooses to accomplish whatever goal He wills. These people, if they die without Christ, they are still lost.

We must acknowledge God's sovereignty.

There are reasons why people don't feel God's

1. Things don't go the way we expect them to.

2. He fails to answer our prayer.

3. He delays the answer to our prayer.

4. We don't understand the pain, disappointment, heartache, suffering we experience.

5. We suffer loss (death, finance, divorce, etc.)

6. We look at our life and compare ourselves to others. We often overlook how God is favoring us.

7. We fail to achieve God's goal and purposes for our life.

8. Sometimes God is not favoring us because of our sin. He withdraws His favor from us. He also doesn't favor us because of our ingratitude.

If we have these feelings, we must look at ourselves to find the problem. God favors us in many ways that we often overlook.

Sometimes people have a false sense of guilt. Sometimes God favors us but we don't feel it because of our false sense of guilt, our poor self-esteem, etc. We still feel guilty for something that God has already forgiven us.

Faith versus Reason

The first battle between faith and reason occured in the Garden of Eden between Satan and Eve. The world's reason is insufficient. People who use the world's reason apply this to the things of God. They make decisions based on reason not faith.

1 Corinthians 1:18-21--For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29--But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.

God's message appears foolish to those who are perishing. To the world, God's message seems absurd. But God has chosen the weak things.

Many people operate under the idea that life is about doing more good than bad. This is man's "clever approach." Cults, too, are performance based; acceptance is based on performance. But rejecting/refusing God's word is just as foolish.

What are they to perform? How much? How long? How do they know when they've performed? When will they know that the quality of their performance meets the standard for their god?

Nobody can come to know Jehovah God Almighty without knowing Jesus Christ.

2 Cor 4:?

1 Cor 2:12-16--We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

The way of reason dethrones God. People reason set up their own values and standards. This leads to destruction. Believers do this too. When God tells us no and we say yes, we dethrone God. The way of fiath requires our presonal acceptance of Jesus Christ and His atoning work on the cross.

God's Master Plan of Finance

God is in control of everything; even when things look uncertain. His plan is the best plan. God cares about our finances.

Luke 6:38-Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

God cares about how we handle our finances. Finance is a vital part of our life. God blesses us, pressed down, shaken together, not settled and filled with air.

Malachi 3:8-"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse-the whole nation of you-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 you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.

When we disobey God, God discontinues His blessing.

Our first investment is our bringing our tithe (1/10) of our increase to God's storehouse. This is the first step in God's financial plan. We are to give God the FIRST 1/10, not what's left after we've spent everything. Tithing helps people stay out of debt, which is bondage. If you spend the tithe, you rob God and God cannot honor that. God manages the finances of those who entrust their finances to Him.

God's plan for money is not accumulation. It is distribution and multiplication. God does not want to keep us poor.

Obedience to God's financial plan and ALL other aspect of life. God will honor obedience when we are obedient in ALL areas of our life.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8--Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

God will meet your needs AND provide for you something to give. If I want to be blessed beyond the tithe, I will give beyond the tithe. Give cheerfully, not out of obligation. The blessings come when we give as much as we can, not as little as we can. God promises to bless us for our giving to Him. If we sow bountifully, the we shall reap bountifully.

The bounty is not just money. We receive the riches of God's promises (eternal life.)

Are we reservoirs or channels for God's money? Wise people choose God's plan of distribution and multiplication, not the world's plan for accumulation.