I Choose Peace - In Tests of Faith, Part 2

What does it really mean when the Bible says my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus, who is that promise for and how can you know what you really do that. That's today living on the state with thanks for joining us for this Edition of Living on the Edge with shipping Living on the Edge features the Bible to on the steely discipleship program in just a minute Chip wraps up the series I choose peace along with the study of Philippians chapter 4 in this program will share an inspiring given by God especially for the stay with us. Discover how this divine opportunity can change your life forever. Just before we get started. If you missed any part of the series along the way, you can catch up anytime@livingontheedge.org or by listing of the chip and remap leaders chip for part two of his message tests of faith. Let's look at the process. The principal restated when you have a need plant a seed when you have a need plant a seed that that that's that's the picture. Notice what he says in verse seven of second Corinthians chapter 9. Remember this whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. In other words, to a farmer if you plant like 15 seeds of wheat you get a little bit weak. If you plant 15,000 seeds of wheat. You get what all delete if you want a lot plant a lot is not rocket science, but is going to make this a spiritual principle. If you have a need plant a seed and by the way can I encourage you that please move this beyond financial implications. Anybody ever have a need for a friend. What you what we normally do whine, grumble, complain, have a little pity party tell the one person 3000 miles what the church today. Things are friendly and have a little name tag. No one said hi my name yet. What would happen if instead of the law of the world get a friend get a friend get a friend. You walked in here for five weeks and Rohan said who could I be a friend to what your name how are you doing are you knew what would happen if I would if I need more time if I gave time unit. This sounds crazy when I get totally totally overwhelmed. I've I've decided this is true I'm gonna live this way often when I have a to do list this long. I just set my alarm, or I asked the Lord in my case because to wake me up an extra half hour hour early and I give God an extra half-hour in our and you know what he does. He multiplies the fruit of the other 23.

I cannot tell you how many times you need time give some time away. You need a friend give some friendship away.

What ever you need plant a seed. You need love. Give some love the way you need more affection be more affectionate with those in your family more affectionate with those you care about idea came across a little parable that sort of points this out when he read it to you. It's as once there was a man lost in the desert near death from thirst. He wandered almost aimlessly through the burning sand for many days growing weaker by the moment.

At long last, he saw an oasis in the distance, palm trees, indicating that there was water.

He stumbled forward, feverishly fell beneath the shade of the trees that he finally might quench his tortured thirst. But then he noticed something strange about this oasis instead of a pool of water or spring bubbling up from the ground he found a pump besides the pump was to objects.

A small jar of water and apartment.

The note explained that the leather gasket within the pump must be saturated with water for the pump to work with in the jar was just enough water for this purpose.

The note also warned that the reader should not drink from the jar every single drop must be poured into the opening at the base of the pump to soak the heat dry gasket. Then as the leather softens and expands an unlimited supply of Sweetwater would be available the parchment's final instructions were to refill the jar in the container for the next traveler. The man faced the dilemma he was dying of thirst, and he found water not much.

Of course, and likely not enough even to save his life, but it seemed the height of folly to pour it away down the base of the pump. On the other hand, if the note was accurate by pouring out the small quantity of water. He would then have all the water he wanted.

What should he do, let's let's personalize put your mind's eye, you there.

What would you do it all boils down to one simple thing doesn't if the note is true. You're an idiot not to do it. If the note is false, probably gonna die anyway.

If the note is true, the smartest, wisest, shrewdest thing you could ever do is take that what you could ask consume immediately and pour it down in order that by giving you would receive good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over unlimited supply that's really what Philippians 419, is teaching and by the time we get to the end of this message, you are gonna find yourself in a dilemma. I was like to warn people when you bring people to a crossroads and Sagan go writing to the left to come to a point where you have to decide is this true or not. Do I believe it or not. What I can tell you is many many many of you will make a decision to go down the path you've never gone many of you will take a step that you've never taken before and when you take that step you will start experiencing the kind of stories that I talked about and you will have your own quarterback of $1000 or an unexpected tax return or God opening a door or a promotion or people do things that you thought only happened other people because guess what you will set yourself up so that Philippians 419 is a promise that applies to you. It does not apply to the average Christian America average Christian America. The priorities are completely out of whack. About 97.5% of them are not sacrificially at all giving her given the first portion of their income now as you think about that. Notice that the procedure is outlined and I want you to hear very carefully. This is not a health and wealth gospel. There's not a millimeter of room for trying to cut a deal with God, the giving to get that you can't hear sometimes on the radio or TV in a book you know I'll give God hundreds of give me a thousand, volume 10,000 you give me hundred thousand. I know what all do I get to play game what I really want is this so I'm just going I say what the moment you do that you disqualified. In fact, the apostle Paul goes on to say, give with the right motive. It's not giving. If you're giving to get the fact of the matter is that is that this is such a principal in the law of harvest a lot of great things happen, even as people pervert this but notice what he says in verse seven, each man should give what he's decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. If you have your pen. I want you to underline for phrases phrase number one what he has decided phrase number two, not reluctantly phrase number three under compulsion and phrase number four loves a cheerful giver, and what you see there is that motive is outlined, he says. First, it needs to be what he has decided another words, you might write the word thoughtful pure motives have to do with thoughtful giving. I remember when I was coming up in United Grove in a Christian home or anything and I would go to church and I would have my wallet or something and so if I was in like a pretty good mood. I gave five bucks if I was in like a not very good mood.

I gave a dollar and if I felt like you know God -type happy I gave 20 about of the most generous guy in the whole world I know anything about the Bible but it was like he is currently going to a movie was a good movie. You know five great movie. I did get 20 you know felt really good about myself. I had no concept of percentages are off the top or how God has blessed me and it was usually emotionally rooted in the moment got to give that way, did you notice that we arty took the offering by design. I don't want anyone to hear this and say, 00 okay if I hear you got it right some big check.

You can't write a big check in is to be thoughtful.

This is this is about our church is doing well financially. This is about any need that we have. This is all about peace or not and so your motives and needs to be thoughtful.

Paul says on the first day of the week for scripting 16 wanted to on the first day the week. Evaluate house. God bless me what do I have and set aside a portion in keeping with his blessing.

Second thing you notice that it says that needs to be, not reluctantly, so it should be. The opposite is enthusiastically your given enthusiastically. This is it like God to shoot a duty and I want I want to give because I feel like there's peer pressure.

I'm trying to please people given enthusiastically.

Third, it's voluntarily not under compulsion to this, isn't that some guy got up and rant and rave and showed you pictures of hurting people all around the world and said you know this will never get done unless you do it in anytime I feel manipulation when people talk about money. I just I get that as a sign from God.

Don't give your says right here. I want to give under compulsion, and the final one is a cheerful giver. It literally from the Greek word, we get our word hilarious seek the word miser is the root word for miserable, miserly non-generous people are miserable there. The Scrooges of our world and we all have a little Scrooge inside of our heart and God says I want you to experience contentment. So what you have to do is you live in a world this is. Can't get get get get get get get get get get get more more more more more bigger bigger bigger better better better now now now as we get our charge cards that we got stuck we can afford our garages.

But you know we don't use anymore in our closets are filled with more stuff that we don't use anymore. We become this consumer and we and and and yet guess what were still not satisfied and God says the law of the harvest is give, give, give, give your heart first direct your heart to your finances. Give your talent. Give your time give care love.

Be generous, be tender toward God tended toward people and as you give for the right reason with the right motive. Loving God and loving others. It will be what good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over back into your lap.

In fact, he expands the promise well beyond any financial consideration.

He says God will give you everything you need in every area of your life is a wild second Corinthians 9 verses eight through 11 literally you wanted to summarize what he says God will give you keyword everything you need in every area of your life.

Are you ready for a fun exercise. If you have a pin. I have one in here.

You should bring a pen to church. I'm serious because I'm to do something right now and if you don't have a pen you can miss all the fun. This is gonna be fun. Really fun. I'm going to read the next three verses. As I read the next three verses if you have a pen then every time I say the word all you can circle it and every time I say the word, every you can circle it and when you get done on your notes, not the people. I don't have a pin but on your notes. You can see all all all, every, every, every, every, and you have a little spiritual experience.

Ringo while could God really mean this, you bet he does pins up and running. Are we ready and God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all you need, you will abound in every good work.

He just told him I want you to give, give, give, give, and world scare no no no no no way a second God is able to do what give you all grace, so you get all things at all times for all you need business. I like finances with all things you need in school you need on the team you need with the boyfriend you need, relationally, spiritually, emotionally, he will give you what all things at all times. All that you want this essay better. Underlying needs. We remember as it is written, he scattered abroad his gift to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply all supply and increase the store of your seed and one large. The harvest of your righteousness. This next line is critical and can ask you to underline about three or four phrases. But here's what I want you to listen for as I do. He's really giving a agricultural metaphor. I mean, a farmer would hear this and go to the but he's going to go .1 .2 .3 agriculture agriculture. Agriculture then .4 he's going to twist it and say what I was really talking about was spiritual issues, righteousness follow along.

Underline the phrase. Now he who supplies the phrase seed to the sower.

That's the original provision to invest. God gives all of us seed okay make of it as 100,000, 10,000 different for different people, but he gives you seed and bread for food. That's today's provision so you may get a big bushel of seed you take a portion of that seed you grind it up you make bread that's for today. Third will also supply and increase your store of seed. What's this touristy a farmer plants the seed he harvest is all the seed part of the seat. He takes over here and uses for daily food. The other he stores to do what next year he's gonna put it back in the ground.

He's going to invest it correct. Now notice what he goes and will enlarge underline the phrase the harvest of your righteousness.

The original provision by God summons for today's needs. Some is so that you can reinvest or give let it die so that it can be multiplied and when it's multiplied. When you live with the law of the harvest is a giver with your time and your talent and your treasure what comes back he enlarges the harvest of your righteousness, and then notice verse 11. You will be made rich in every that's a word to get the circle you will be made rich in every way. So why does God make people rich emotionally. Why does God make people rich relationally. Why does God make people rich financially so they can get bigger bigger bigger more more more. Have have have acquire acquire acquire present present press is… He will make you rich in every way so that you will be generous on every occasion and through your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God usually saying he doesn't like a Randy Alcorn is a great phrase. He says God doesn't increase your income to raise your standard of living is to raise your standard of giving one of the things I've done is I've just set down and up at some point, you say, here's a line as long as I live, however much money got ever. Here's where I live. Here's how much money everything over that I'm to give away, and I think every single person is to draw a line otherwise the creep will come and you just you to start getting more more more more stuff but did you notice he says God makes us rich so we can be generous on every occasion and and Paul is writing to a church that he's encouraging to give to plant seeds to give, and it was tough for them like it's tough for us and then he says through us you can give it to us in the world and go back to Jerusalem and working to feed these people don't have any food your Jewish brother and they can eat that food and it's got thank you thank you thank you thank you you're an awesome God because God does provide. But he often provides what to his people love the song by I think it's a casting crown group we heard earlier and it talks about, you know, if we are his body wire in his hands reaching wire in his arms. Loving, why aren't wire with our mouth teaching you know the way God loves us Jesus when he didn't walk in there think he had a body.

Guess what you are guess what were his body. And when there's a need over there he puts it on my heart and my bad attitude and always the best, but if that lady needs money for her rent. I was his hands and then God provided for me. And as we give see we have a limited ply mentality down deep in our hearts we think there's just one pie.

And if I gotta get my sliver and if I give my sliver away or someone messes with my slivered won't be enough for me and God said, you understand. I'm a God of abundance on the pie maker when you give away your slice I might give you hope I if I can find a handful of people to give away pies may not give you a truckload of pies because God longs he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

But he makes us rich in every way so we can be generous. And so as you turn the page. I said you have a decision to make.

This is the only time in all of Scripture I can find were God so wants you to experience his power.

So wants you to experience the reality of supernatural grace he's going to say here's a tangible specific way where you can make a decision and you can be a giver that will put the issue is not money. The issue is, do you believe me. Do you have faith. Are you willing to believe. Are you willing to take the water and pour it down the pump or not and so he says I dare you literally never when you were kids we did. It was a kid you know you are on this roof and works mostly on the roof and there's a house pretty close and wanted to run real fast on the roof and try and jump. Our house was real close from that roof to that roof and you're thinking of you. If you don't make it to get a guy in and of course some kid turns and goes by Daria. Your whole manhood on the line. And I'm going to die. Mom like this and you know you're thinking of. This is nuts and then goes I double dare you, and then you had to tighten your pennies actually are gonna hit on my stomach right on the edge and I slid down the roof didn't get hurt too badly, but was very smart. Beulah God says to you this morning.

I dare you test me.

Malachi 3 look in the box. God says not missing out there. This is to you. Bring the whole tithe circle, the wormhole tied the word tied just means 10% bring the whole tithe into the storehouse. 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. Test me bring in the first portion be a giver.

Find out is the parchment true or not, and underneath that I have a challenge it says I your name on my notice as Chip Ingram do not write Chip Ingram on your notes, choose to take. Got up on his challenge is promised to trust him to meet all my needs. I take this step by committing the first 10% of my income to the Lord for the next 90 days and you what, there's no magical thing here, and this is not the time to talk about.

Yes you know Abraham before the law gave 10%.

If you study the Old Testament, you realize that it was a theocracy and it was a different time. The actually about 23% in unit Jesus in Matthew said to the people you know. Hey, you should keep typing your herbs and spices. But don't miss the point of the law on justice and compassion. You know what the point is not 10%. I mean it to clear, but I'd say is hide pray real hard about signing my name and take got up on his challenge for 90 days. Like I said I got a file folder about this thick. I've done this for a number of years and I just got stories of a little Chinese girl came in. It was her second time in church being a Christian and what you and I felt kinda bad him a Christian. A week before it was her second time, but she didn't have any baggage she did know anything. She gave her first portion.

She came back next week and said I had twice as many customers is this how it works and I said well sometimes you know God's really gracious, especially new Christians in a member. A guy who you know as was pretty well-off and realized he been a 10% what is income Growing decided to give 20 next year and became the number one salesman in major company am I saying all this can happen to you know I'm saying if you give God will give back in the area in the way that your heart needs the most. I member one family and all those emails wrote said. Dear Chip, I want you to know that nothing good at all happened in our finances as we took the 90 day challenge our monies just about the same but because we took it we set down as a couple for the first time in five years and looked at where money was going. We actually sat down and had a budget and resolve some issues and want to tell you now that what happened was so amazing is our marriage and our family.

We've never had such peace in our home in all the years we've been married. See treasure chain hooked to heart by the way, for those that are new and may be visiting. Are you not been here that long.

If for any reason there's any sense that you sense in your spirit that may be.

This is some sneaky ploy for this church to get money. Give it some more. Else okay, this is not about our needs. This is about you and then there's a 3 x 5 card that's that we put in your notes. I would encourage you to decide whether you do this or not before God. Write your name on that card and say dear God, I'm taking the Malachi 3 challenge the 90 day and stick it somewhere where you can read it over and pray see what he does is you listened and said in your heart of hearts I want to take Malachi go to our website. You obviously don't have a 3 x 5 card in front of. We've provided a free download that says I will commit to the Malachi 3 challenge now what I want you to know is that you will be saying to God. Okay, you dared me you dare me to trust you for 90 days with my finances and Lord here I am. I'm going to trust you and then write the date down. Make sure you talk with your mate if you're married tote do this off on your own and not be on the same page.

But then I would encourage you okay Lord I'm going to do this, you said you would meet all my needs according to your riches in glory for many of you this is tithing you know you kinda give sporadically or and for some of you it you don't give it all.

This is a moment of truth and you realize.

If I give the first 10% of my income, I'm can have to radically prioritize my finances. I'm gonna probably have to make a little budget.

Here's what I want you to know if you will take this step. You're gonna see God work and we made it really easy you go to Living on the Edge of got something right there on the Malachi 3 challenge.

I have a stack of letters and emails over the years of people that have done this and God has shown up in radical ways and by the way, he doesn't always show up financially. He often shows up in ways that are more important to your heart, your life and your relationships and just so you know that this is no manipulation on our part.

If for any reason you think they were doing anything other than really wanting to help you obey God, you know, give it to some charity or certainly give to your local church. But here's what I want you to do. Don't turn off the podcast or the radio or the app in think oh that's nice. Someday some way I ought to do that. This is the living God calling you to give your heart to him, evidenced by your money. You'll never regret it and God will show up. God bless you. Now go for fixture with your wanting to step up and take this Malachi 3 challenge. Let me tell you how to download this resource go to LivingontheEdge.org tap broadcasts and then special offers app listeners just have special offers commit to trust God with your finances for the next 90 days by being a part of the Malachi 3 challenge which it we've talked for the last several programs about experiencing God's peace and I know that you've written a book on the subject that identifies the major places we struggled to access that peace could you review those for us and sure how God wants to care for us when were worried and anxious. Absolutely Dave, I think there's five specific areas where we tend to lose our peace.

In fact, I call them peace robbers conflict in relationships. They steal your peace, anxiety, projections into the future of what might happen if this happens and what about that that steals your peace of circumstances when they change dramatically, or they don't change and you think it's always going to be this way.

This marriage will never work out I'll never get a good job, financial pressures that people have now or retirement that's gone or money that's gone or am I going to have enough money to take care of my basic needs that can rob our peace and then finally I think there's times where the Lord begins to nudge us often when the world is shaken. God speaks and he asked us to take a big step of faith.

It might be relocating might be starting a new business might be hey get married now, it might be you need to put a pause on something but it's a big decision and I think we can get paralyzed around those we lose our peace in this series and in the book that I write. We systematically walk through each of those areas and we say this is what the word of God says, and here are practical specific ways that you can access the piece. The presence the power. The purpose of God in the midst of those things.

It doesn't mean everything's going to be all okay and that you get what you want tomorrow. It means that that promise that I will be with you always in my power my presence and my direction will be available for you 24 seven that's what the books about that's what this series is about and my prayer is that our listeners would pass this on to relatives and friends and coworkers. This is the kind of book that an unbeliever would pick up and say hey man, you know, I know it's got some Jesus stuff in here but this is really helpful. This will really give me what I need.

So that's our hearts desire days and that's our prayer to order your copy of chips brand-new book I choose, please visit LivingontheEdge.org or call AAA to 333-6003. If you're ready for more peace in your life get your hands on this resource or order a few to study together with some friends you want to revisit the truth in this book again and again, especially when anxiety and worry threatened to overwhelm you to order your copy of I choose peace. Just go to LivingontheEdge.org or call AAA 333-6003 that's AAA 333-6003 app listeners tap special offers. As we wrap up I want to say thanks to those who make this program possible through your generous financial support. Your gifts help us create programs purchase airtime and develop additional resources to help Christians live like Christians. If you've been blessed by the ministry of Living on the Edge.

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This is Dave Drury saying thanks for listing to this Edition of Living on the Edge