Living Generously - My Generosity Manifesto, Part 1

In today's message I'm going to share with a public manifest that I made about something I was going to start doing.

And here's the deal. It changed me and every relationship in my life you got here this day with welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge with children Living on the Edge features the Bible to promise international discipleship program. This program ship continues a series called living generously with a bit of a hovel wasn't looking for her kid went to see the little plastic cup to walk its product is called the law of the heart, so you read and you harvest strewn with plants strewn life in this program. Ship tells us how the law of the harvest became the foundation for his generosity manifesto.

So let's jump in and share with you how you can actually become extraordinarily kind and extraordinarily generous back on the front of your notes. I've actually decided I'm to make it my manifesto doesn't have to be years but this is mine. This is before God, and some going public with this you notice what manifesto is it is a published verbal declaration of intentions of your motives or your views on an issue. So it's public right I published it in the real thing here is that notice assessment to promote a new idea with a prescribed notions for carrying out the changes I'm going to share with you a new idea for me and the prescribed changes for my life and I just had the sneaking field but a lot of you're gonna want to take the next step in generosity as well.

I read it. Here's my manifesto. I want to be known in heaven and on earth is an extraordinarily kind and generous person I want none of this happens because I noted God says you considered my servant Job, I'm thinking that he does that about with you and some other people. I want him to say before I die. If you considered my servant Chip is extraordinarily kind and generous, my wife to say my husband is extraordinarily kind and generous.

I want my kids to say that what my neighbors to say that the people who know me best to say that I've been on a given journey that this little green card.

I wrote down as I was learning about giving on the journey and it's 1998 I wrote this to myself and I just read it over. I like to be more generous this year with my money and my time and then at 2000 II rewrote it because I realize it wasn't my money and it wasn't my time so I rewrote it and I said I like to be more generous this year with the time that you have given me and with the money that you entrusted to me and so I just kept reading that over. And this is 2001. That was her most generous year ever.

It was wonderful and fun and I listed people that we gave some things to that was just awesome. So would you like to go on the journey.

This is a journey that will radically change your heart.

But while will be people's lives forever and ever and ever and now will be completely different because you go and take the next step on the generosity journey to open your notes and as you open them there.

You'll notice it says you can become an extraordinarily kind and generous person I want to just underline you because your ear to be tempted. Some of you to think maybe you know this chip guys been at this for a while. None of this is every single person you can become extraordinarily kind and generous but you have to begin where you are and take what I call baby steps on that journey to do that. I have a picture I want to share and there is a process I want you to follow and then I can have a little practice that the Scripture teaches about how this all works. The picture I want to share is this is Henry grows up in a nice home dad in one of his brothers amazing athletes realizes he's not, in that category, but he had the sort of knack. He's an entrepreneur, so he goes to college and wants to make a little money and so he decides to sell T-shirts but but think like T-shirts on 15 or 16 different campuses in America and he gets college kids you know doing it so they realize that heaven will knack for business and then Henry realize that you know maybe we should explore spiritual things in our group with good morals and so they go to church and they go to church a lot like this one and I got shot because the person actually open the Bible and started talking about a relationship with God that was personal and like below. I mean, you know, I just thought you sort of check the box you go to church now and then will ask that happen. Henry realized he didn't have a relationship with God. He was just religious and so he turned from a Cindy receive Christ and then he started praying in the store.

Little by little ups and downs. Read the Scriptures and then he learned that God owns everything. All my gosh for business guidance like crazy. So in one way you show that he took it to the other taught give the first 10% of your income to declare that God owns it.

So is it okay so he did that and then he started getting around some people. Civil is not like a bill you pay. It's just, is it your heart that he wants and so he started, getting a little bit more be proportional and got excited about. We have to help this group in this group and that group and this person and so then he starts little business and he decides to do it completely different than it ever done like kingdom principles me I'm to be generous to my employees.

I mean it's an amazing story and God just went and then he thought, you know that's just one business. What if I could reproduce that. And out of that business, he started a venture capital firm called sovereign capital get it sovereign and he invest knotting Christian companies invest in Christians who are doing all cuff companies but they have to have a kingdom component that loves and cares and ministers and makes a difference in all kind of people's lives and so I declared okay, I've inspired by Henry story I've inspired by what I've seen. I've been on the generosity journey. I'm going to the next level and then I started studying, and studying for this and I saw something this happens you all right you been studying the Bible. Maybe some of you for years look stubborn at it for a while and I had a on my gosh oh my gosh my gosh this idea of reproducing things in life. I've never seen this before, so are you ready get your get your notes out and get a pen there's a process to follow and what I saw was it's all about CDs. You can actually look from the beginning of the Bible to the and it's about seeds in all of life is about sowing and reaping effect your whole life.

My whole life. Even the life of Jesus. It's about what you plant what you cultivate and what you harvest so want you to think about okay.

How has the sovereign, all-knowing, all-powerful, mighty God of the universe, what's his design. How was he created life to actually work in the very first moment that we have any kind of life is in Genesis chapter 1 Genesis 1 verse 1112 this is the very first time God speaks his life. The land produce vegetation, plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.

And God saw that it was good. Notice the land produce vegetation. Then God said, let the land produce vegetation seed bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seeds in it according to their various kinds, and it was so that I know about you but let's pause for just a second, the God of the universe is speaking life into existence.

The very first life is vegetation that he does the animals that he creates mankind. What's the deal with seeds I've never seen this before.

I didn't.

Did you notice ever seed seed seed. I mean, for five times. Here's what I want to get in all creation, everything living is created with a seed and everything created has the capacity and it's God's intention that it would not just grow but reproduce. In other words, a seed goes into the ground and gives new life. The Greek word for seed.

Are you ready for this one sperm a can you figure that one out life's for us is the other word so what I want to do this is not even stay with me. I'm then try and take you from the beginning of the Bible all the way to the and and I just want to trace the seeds and the impact because here's the deal.

When you see this, all of a sudden you realize oh generosity I'm going to be planting seeds either good seed or bad seed and and and the only kind of seeds that grow are the kind that die go under the earth, and then they bear fruit and oh so this is what life is all about you ready what we learn in terms of creation is all life is created and then there's a likeness that God wants what he creates us it was in his image he wanted people like us to rule this little earth why he rules the universe with kindness and goodness in perfect harmony will then we learn seeds require a perfect environment, things don't croak seeds can be everywhere but they only grow if there's the right environment and so chapter 2 what we get. God says there's water their sunlight. There's his presence is not quite right, early so we would get man and woman we got community and then there's choice to everything that's needed for a human being to grow, to flourish and to multiply and be Christlike and to be loving.

It's all there, and I want you to remember that seeds require the right environment in order to grow. Third, the choice is paradise is lost. Many of you know the story there's temptation. There's failure, the judgment, but there's a promise. If you're still in your Bible.

Look at verse 15 of chapter 3, so there's failure. Sin enters the world, but notice what happens. The judgment is. I never saw this before will be a war over the world is enmity between the seed of the woman which is mankind and the seed of Satan's all of a sudden all of the Bible opens up and you realize the generations of mankind and the generations of evil. And there's this conflict of kingdoms and then noticed the promise, but he this person, this Messiah that's going to come out of the seed of woman is going to crush Satan. He doesn't chapter 20 Revelation, but his heel will be bruised. That happens when he died on the cross. It's all I want you to get is our choices determine our growth or our demise.

We thought about that. Your choice where you spend your time what you watch what you do with your money. Our choices because all those things are proceeds.

Now we move on. The conflict begins Genesis chapter 4 all the way through Revelation and so are you ready for this.

The very first conflict happens someone comes to be generous to give an offering his names able. His brother brings an offering and for some reason, either as hard as it riders not bring in the right stuff.

And God says to able.

Great offering is from the heart. I love generosity because I'm generous and he says the cane unit that is not what I'm looking for in any season is hard to go see the sins crouching at your door. Don't don't go there, but instead he kills him. And then what you find is all the next chapters are Keynes seed in violence and corruption versus good seed, and then you get to chapter 6 for God says I'm I'm sad that I remained mankind there's violence and murder everywhere, and so he chooses an individual, Noah. Are you ready for this and the text says and no one and his seed, and so he he takes a normal person, and he's generous by building this art and God delivers and then as soon as he's done gets what he does.

The moment the waters done. He does a offering seeing a pattern here will then one of his sons goes is bad seed in the other guys are going to see have all these things a go go go go pretty soon now.

It's corruption and evil and you realize murdered all the assessment happening forever.

There's bad seed in the heart of man apart from God and so much chapter 12 here's the next person. There's as many neighbor himself to Abraham and his seed. I will make a great nation and you bless every nation on the earth but chapter 15 Abraham has done what you have to do, he has to leave in any because Lord I don't have the word literally.

I don't have a seed. I have no air and God says in your seed I will bless all the nations, just like the start of the sky like the sand of the seashore. And then you see the asking to make the ultimate offering pricing the patent seed good bad offering.

So he takes Isaac and is willing well then that would go to Moses's and the Texans you ready for this. The seed of Israel so God takes a man now takes a nation and said I'm gonna make this nation, I'm to show this nation how life really works so they would be a lie to people. Everyone was see it, will they don't do so well, but almost 5 books of Moses rights are about what kind of offerings. Thank offerings guilt offering sin offerings built and there told bring the first produce, God is teaching them.

They don't do too well. This is a pattern like we we struggle to and then there's David and he says to David Wright. Saul is the good-looking guy who's proud to gets involved in the occult. David is the little shepherd boy whose heart is in the right place.

God exalts him. Now he has his struggles, but then he says out of your seed, the Messiah's gonna come in.

What's the last thing David does in his life. He takes all of his personal treasury and gives this huge gift to build a temple for worship using the pattern. Then Jesus comes and he fulfills all this prophecy and Jesus is the seed of the woman and fully God and fully man and he comes to the earth and what's he do, he demonstrates what is good seed look like we gotta turn this thing around the whole world system is get get get Selby selfish selfish when I don't get my way.

I get angry. I get jealous I kill the history of mankind. So Jesus intervenes if he's going to deliver. Moses delivered Nehemiah delivered Abraham delivered not Jesus is going to come and what's member what he said about himself.

Unless a grain seed of wheat fall into the earth and die it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit.

Look in your notes for script is chapter 15 amok and read it. But guess what Christ is called the first fruits of the resurrection. He literally went to the earth like a seed into the darkness for three days and that he rose again because he rose again.

He defeated sin and Satan, and death and we receive it and guess what's the seed that comes in us the living Holy Spirit of God in us believers so that we would become like the original plan. Like our father.

And guess what. Now we have the seeds of time, the seeds of talent, the seeds of money in the seeds of opportunity and so Jesus teaches us followers. What the kingdom of God is like a seed right like a mustard seed to start small but then it grows and supports others the kingdom of God is like a seed planted and there's the tears and there's the wheat they grow up together and then he says the seed is the word of God and first Peter says that you're born again, not by the precious gold and silver but by the imperishable word of God. The seed of the word of God and so there's this group and were it believers all over the world.

The seed of God's word lives in and the agenda is that it would grow. But here's the deal. What did Jesus model only Dead Sea's grow until we die to ourselves to buck up our cross and follow him. Then it's just us in our own energy and then when you get to the very end, isn't it interesting Jesus crushes Satan. He has a kingdom of people for himself.

And what's the new heaven and the new earth look like what was the whole goal anyway selling reaping selling reaping selling reaping sowing rethinking Jesus so his own body in his life, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, and is a new heaven and there's a new earth, and there's a throne and this seems kind of familiar, doesn't water of life coming out of the throne and on either side. The tree of life and the tree of life bears fruit each month. Did you ever think about that to bear fruit.

There still seeds under sink any that before and then I begin to see the teaching of Jesus that I begin to see second all those parables, all that stuff about the law of the harvest, all that stuff about he was really trying to teach us. God created life or there would be light and love and relationship, but it only happens when you plant good seed and good seed that's cultivated in the right kind of environment is word Fellowship the kind of people, opportunity, and then he says there is this battle going on in your heart and my heart and the only way to break it. The generosity is the way to stop the greed in my heart and yours. And that's how God begins to grow and cultivate transformation LME show you the principles we we we see a process of seeds to follow from Genesis to Revelation out here's a practice to start your already selling everyday use of words you so like you so time you so money you social relationships, not what I want you to see this is the absolute truth about what's going to happen with what you're currently selling in my appeal to you is first my appeal to me. I want to so some different things so that they would come. I think God likes us to ask outlandish things I want the day to come, that someday in heaven. Maybe you find out about it later were God really say my servant Chip is extraordinarily kind and extraordinarily generous because I can tell you if you interviewed my kids and my wife and to my closest friends. They would say you gotta get extraordinary out of their he's making progress, but what would your what would your mate, what would your roommate what would your friends what would your employer, what would people say that you how kinder you help generous of you will cure secures the practices that will allow you and me to be extraordinarily kind and generous principle number one we read where we so do not be deceived underlying to see this is money and possessions are powerful. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, this will also reap.

For the one who sows to his flesh. The selfish side the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Are you ready we read where we so if all your time is it work if all your time is a success of all your time as income.

If all your time is about you. It's the flesh now do we need to have work and do lots of good things, but if it's selfish if it's about you, me, mind, greed, hoarding, and here's the thing. I've never met just one person actually I never met someone, I'm greedy. I'm materialistic.

I've actually done this I don't recommend it, but I got a clipboard and I pretended I was taking a survey and I went to a strip mall and I walked around and said excuse me in there, look me like weird and in the know if this is a survey but there's just one question and it just yes or no on the subtle. Okay, here's a question. Would you consider yourself headed brewpub, would you consider yourself a generous person.

Eight or 9/10. Guess what the answer was yes. You can't get more generous if you think you're generous right if you ask their wife their friends their kids. The roommate there what they would not say there generous. That's what he says don't be deceived in America. Are you ready for this, we could interview Christians all over America and I know if I are you generous person. They would say yes and I was saving. It's really amazing because only 2.5% of all those who claim to follow Jesus even give the first portion of 10% of their income. In other words, our words and our thoughts and intentions over here got says it will be mocked. You can read for you.

So second principle is that we read how much we so does not just where you so that's where you can read if life is all about you and about why don't we all do this, we don't don't don't give me that I feel guilty look, would you stop talking I mean I struggle with this. You struggle with this were in this together. But we can change we can change by God's grace and power. He says we read how much we so now this I say you sows sparingly will reap also sparingly and who sows bountifully will reap also bountifully. Each one must do just as he's purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

The context is there was a famine in this is Gentile church and they were raising money to help really really poor people and Paul's collecting it and he just it's just a reminder, you can give a little, you can get a lot.

The kingdom works like this. If you have 100 seeds and you plan it in a box 6555 you can get X amount of fruit.

If you have 100,000 seeds and you plan it in a box that's 5 acres by 5 acres. You get a lot more.

So he he's just reminding them what ever you. So, in whatever amount, if your little kind that's what you get back if you're a little generous. That's what you get back.

If you have harsh negative words. Guess what were you so that's what you get back, and how much just joining us, you're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram and ships talk today generosity manifest is from his series, living generously, living generously gives us a practical guide to becoming the winsome generous spirit. We so admire when we see it another's chip uses biblical examples and Jesus teaching to illustrate the rhythm and harmony of the law of the harvest and how that applies to living a more generous life yourself if you like to dig in and learn more. You'll find the discounted living generously resources on our website LivingontheEdge.org for more information just give us a call at 888-333-6003 will check before you get to your final thought about the teaching you wanted to talk for a minute about your book called the genius of generosity and also many people are having a tough time will what is it about this little book that you think would be helpful all day but I gotta tell you, there's multiple truths in Scripture that change your life. But I think one of the things that's so misunderstood and often just produces guilt among Christians like you know how much you getting and what your percentage and what it you give Moran what's wrong with you and it's been so framed around specific projects and things that this idea of generosity isn't about Ott's or should. It's about jewellike it's about love. It's about experiencing God the most generous being in the universe is God and he's deposited his spirit in us and there's lots of reasons that it's hard to be generous, but I mean the research, not just biblically but scientifically emotionally about our happiness or joy, our relationships, even our immune system. It's amazing that when you grasp what generosity is all about is not so much about your better than other people is not even so much about how holy you are.

It's not being smart in this little book, opens that up and it is such a joy when I see people I mean you can read it in a little over an hour and I do see people light up and it changes their life. So that's why I'm so excited about going strip well for limited time or discounting trips amazing little book, the genius of generosity is only about 100 pages was quick read will profoundly change the way you view everything God's given you including your life. Once you learn the genius of generosity. You look at your circumstances and people in a whole new way to order a copy for yourself or to order more to give as gifts. Just give us a call a triple late. 333-6003 Special offers on the app or go online to LivingontheEdge.org. The genius of generosity.

Check it out today as we closed today's program I made an appeal to you right mean we talked about seeds we talked about sewing. We talked about reaping and and I made the point for me and for you that every day we so mean you so words you so time you so money you so energy use so into the kingdom of God and whatever we so were going to reap and as we always have to remember you never reap in the same season that you so and and part of this manifesto that you heard me talk about was me kind of taking myself by the cuff of the shirt and shaking myself and saying chip.

Are you really serious about sewing the things that really matter and I will. I wanted before God to say Lord I want to. So today in such a way that as I look toward the future I would have a moment of reaping by your grace where you would actually say because the Scripture promises that as I so to your kingdom that you will say well done, thou good and faithful servant. I would like to be known by his grace as someone who is extraordinarily kind and extraordinarily generous, and what you need to know if you're not my wife. Part of my family or close friend is that is not what comes remotely naturally to me. Jesus modeled for you and for me how this has to happen in the results are great, but the process is really challenging Jesus would say unless a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die it remains by itself alone. But if it dies. Think than actual seed it dies he goes under the soil. If it dies, it brings forth much fruit. Jesus modeled that with his own life he died he went into the ground. He was resurrected and that he provided salvation and forgiveness for all of us. Part of becoming generous isn't some oh, if I do these things, God's going to give me a lot of stuff for people is going to think on this wonderful, generous, kind person at the heart of generosity is the sober self-assessment that you must die to yourself that you must follow Jesus in full surrender to the father's will and you must, as I must say Lord all that I have is yours. God left myself I will be greedy I will posture I will want to appear generous rather than be generous in some going to ask you today. Would you be willing in a moment right now to ask the Lord Jesus Lord, will you help me today to died to my own greed. Would you help me to die to the idols. Would you help me to die to what other people think and father. Would you then allow me to take my time and my money and my talent. And so it into loving people.

And then you have to turn that prayer into some baby steps of action.

Ask God, Lord, what does that look like today, not tomorrow, not next week, what's it look like today where I live with my family with my roommate with my husband with my wife with one of my kids at work and I will tell you sit quietly. He will speak and you follow and you will experience the sewing, the reaping and reward the God promises just before we close.

Would you pray with us for those who are responding to trips encouragement today.

There's always a spiritual battle going on when people feel prompted to draw near to God and obey. Thanks for taking a minute to do that until next time for everyone here is saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge a