FREEDOM
November 18 & 19, 2023 // Pastor Mike Berry
1. GOD WANTS YOU TO
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 10:10 NKJ
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Proverbs 3:5–10, NIV
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
Malachi 3:8–10, NIV
2. GOD OWNS
Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel: I am God, your God. I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me. I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
Psalm 50:7–12, NIV
3. YOU GOT TO BE
Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
Lamentations 3:40, NIV
Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.
Luke 14:28–30, NIV
4. MAKE WISE
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.
Proverbs 22:7, NIV
5. HAVE A
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.
Proverbs 16:3, NIV
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11, 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.
Acts 2:44–47, NIV
Action Steps: What do you need to do to develop a live, save, give plan? What do you know you need to change about the finances in your life to better honor God? Do you believe God owns everything and we will have to give an account for our stewardship to God? What is your plan for tithing and trusting God in every area of your life?