Matthew Chapter 6
In Matt 6:24 mammon = material wealth. Jesus is telling us if our focus is on our stuff or the burden of not having enough money to pay off our stuff or acquiring more stuff. Then we are trying to divide our time between two masters. Does God want our time divided?
Then He says vrs 25 “Therefore” read 25-32 this type of lifestyle with throw you into a cycle of worry. Sleepless nights, stressful days. Where is my next dollar coming from and who will it go to?
So what Jesus is saying, the key to conquering our time being divided is vrs 33 Seek the Lord first and He will take care of He rest.
With that being said how do we do that in the realm of our finances? Budget- Definition-
an estimate,
2.
a plan of operations based on such an estimate.
3.
an itemized allotment of funds,
Proverbs 27:23
We ended with a passage last week and I want to look more at what that means
Diligent= constant in effort to accomplish something and persistent in doing anything.
If we want to alleviant worry that is caused by financial slavery in our lives we have to live with a Budget. This is important because then we can focus in a things of God rather then things of earth. Serve God not mammon.
Look at what Jesus says about planning
Luke 14:28-30 when you are committing or starting something you should have a plan
So the question is: Is your budget a joke? If others saw the state of your finances would they laugh, maybe they would cry.
Principles to look at when you are making your budget
1. Take drastic measures- Matt 5:29-30 if you are haphazard with spending or don’t know the “state of you flocks” you have to get whatever is in your way out of the way and do it. Maybe it is procrastination. Cut up the credit cards
Tip: credit cards are tools. It takes a plan to make money
2. Proverbs 21:5 don’t act to quickly, Get a free night in hotel and just go through a 2 hour demonstration. The concept is they don’t want to give you time to think. And find out, this is a rip off. So think & pray before you spend 2 week principle $50
3. Proverbs 20:18 get advice. Ask other people who are good with money what their advice is.
4. Hebrews 13:5 contentment with what you have. Remember no matter what we have or don’t have Jesus loves us and was willing to die for us and if we trust Him He will be there for us.
So pray that you would be content with what you have
Challenge- Budget Sheet fill it out and live by it for 6 months.
Challenge 2- Become a crown financial counselor
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
DEBT- With my mind on my money series
Debt… it is the American way, buy (get) now pay later
The spiritual condition that we are in can sometimes brings to a pace where we make bad decisions that put us in debt
Matt 6:19-21 notice Jesus says this is a heart condition and now in our society we are able to store up stuff and not have the money to back it up.
Lets look at some warning signs that check our hearts to see if we may be headed toward a debt situation.
1.Outstanding loans on depreciating items or living on credit
2.Unable to give or save Mal 3:8
3.Prone to extravagant spending and indulging in things
4.Looking for get rich quick schemes
5.Care what other people thing about your financial situation
What does the Bible say about debt?
Romans 13:8 is a passage many quote in support that a Christian should never borrow money. I don’t believe this passage is saying that, look at vrs 5-6 and explain.
The principle here is pay your debts and have a plan to do so.
Proverbs 22:7 You are servant to whoever you borrow from. This is telling us that when you get up in the morning and go to work you are doing so to pay off your debts. The problem with this type of lifestyle is that you should be a servant to the Lord not to the creditor or your stuff.
1 Timothy 6:10 When we get to greedy and want to much stuff it harms our spiritual lives and brings trouble to our lives.
What do you do if you have debt?
1. Commit to a plan to pay off your debt. Psalm 37:21 it is sin not to pay your debts.
a. Credit cards.
How call creditors and get rates changed
Set up a payment plan that is more the minimums not only are you wasting on paying the interest you are also not making that money work for you in investments
Credit cards are not evil hey just need to be used properly. We will talk about that next week.
b. Cars- this is where we have been so tempted and duped
c. School loans
d. Home. The last step to financial freedom is paying off your home
2.Free up extra money to get rid of this debt. Sacrifice, sometimes in life sacrifice is a consequence of bad decision.
How to stay out of Debt.
Make a plan Proverbs 27:23-24
What is our greatest debt that we can never pay? 1 Cor. 7:22-23
The spiritual condition that we are in can sometimes brings to a pace where we make bad decisions that put us in debt
Matt 6:19-21 notice Jesus says this is a heart condition and now in our society we are able to store up stuff and not have the money to back it up.
Lets look at some warning signs that check our hearts to see if we may be headed toward a debt situation.
1.Outstanding loans on depreciating items or living on credit
2.Unable to give or save Mal 3:8
3.Prone to extravagant spending and indulging in things
4.Looking for get rich quick schemes
5.Care what other people thing about your financial situation
What does the Bible say about debt?
Romans 13:8 is a passage many quote in support that a Christian should never borrow money. I don’t believe this passage is saying that, look at vrs 5-6 and explain.
The principle here is pay your debts and have a plan to do so.
Proverbs 22:7 You are servant to whoever you borrow from. This is telling us that when you get up in the morning and go to work you are doing so to pay off your debts. The problem with this type of lifestyle is that you should be a servant to the Lord not to the creditor or your stuff.
1 Timothy 6:10 When we get to greedy and want to much stuff it harms our spiritual lives and brings trouble to our lives.
What do you do if you have debt?
1. Commit to a plan to pay off your debt. Psalm 37:21 it is sin not to pay your debts.
a. Credit cards.
How call creditors and get rates changed
Set up a payment plan that is more the minimums not only are you wasting on paying the interest you are also not making that money work for you in investments
Credit cards are not evil hey just need to be used properly. We will talk about that next week.
b. Cars- this is where we have been so tempted and duped
c. School loans
d. Home. The last step to financial freedom is paying off your home
2.Free up extra money to get rid of this debt. Sacrifice, sometimes in life sacrifice is a consequence of bad decision.
How to stay out of Debt.
Make a plan Proverbs 27:23-24
What is our greatest debt that we can never pay? 1 Cor. 7:22-23
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
"A basket full of reminders"
Text Deut 26:1-15
Vr. 1 End of Torah=law God is going to bring them into a land. The land will be prosperous and with that the Israelites will be tempted to forget what God has done in their lives.
So He gives a directive…
First Vr. 2 Take a basket and put in the “first fruits” of crops.
Talk about how a farmer must feel to wait for the crops and then give away the first ripe fruits to God. Not the leftovers. Dinner illustrations over for leftovers
=The first thing you need to do is give to the work of the Lord
Second Vr 3-4 Bring it to the priest and declare that God allowed me to come into this land and he gave it to me and fathers. In essence they were saying that God is the King in my life and I am bringing the King the best of what I have in this basket.
= Declaring that God is the King of your life.
Third Vrs 5-10 The worship liturgy that they were to say. The reminder of what is in that basket. Jacob was the Father.
Discuss the passge
=Every time you give to the Lord you should remember what the Lord has done for you and it is a time of worship for you
Susan Ehrnstrom Testimony
Forth Vr. 11 Give thanks for what the Lord has given you.
=Giving is our way of thanking God
Vrs 12-14 what were they giving to and how much was it Levite=rabbi or teachers aside from their temple duties, Stranger=outsider to Israel, Fatherless (orphans) and widows=those in need. So they can eat=support
So God’s people were directed to fund the ministers, the ministries that reach out to outsiders and the ministries that help people in need
Vrs 15 They are calling down a blessing from the Lord
So how did Israel do with this directive?
Duet 26 was written in 1200bc
1050 BC 1 Sam 8 Israel demands a king – shows their lack of reliance on God
700BC Hosea 5:3 Israel is corrupt in their heart because they were prosperous.
6:4 You have lost your heart you forgot your story. Your story is what keeps you connected to God
700 bcAmos – the basket 4:1-22 Cows of Bashon stingy oppressors Cows in region of Israel that were well bred.
So they forgot their King, forgot their story of what God did in their lives and they forgot about the basket and what was supposed to be in it.
What about you?
1. The King- if Jesus is not your King you should not give. That is exactly why we don’t pass the plate because we don’t want people who don’t trust in Christ to feel obligated to give.
2. Are you giving of your “first fruits” do you set aside money each week in proportion to what you earn? Or are you giving Him left overs? Where should you start?
Mal 3, Deut. 14, Numbers 18 23 & 1/3 %
What if you are in debt? Should you still give
3. When you give, every time you write that check or set aside that money are you remembering what God has done in your life and how he has blessed you?
4. Are you saying thank you or are you giving grudgingly?
5. If you are supporting the work of the Lord God will not forget you and He will bless you.
Ann Frank “no one has ever become poor by giving”
So the first step in dealing with your finances is bringing consistently an offering to the Lord.
Vr. 1 End of Torah=law God is going to bring them into a land. The land will be prosperous and with that the Israelites will be tempted to forget what God has done in their lives.
So He gives a directive…
First Vr. 2 Take a basket and put in the “first fruits” of crops.
Talk about how a farmer must feel to wait for the crops and then give away the first ripe fruits to God. Not the leftovers. Dinner illustrations over for leftovers
=The first thing you need to do is give to the work of the Lord
Second Vr 3-4 Bring it to the priest and declare that God allowed me to come into this land and he gave it to me and fathers. In essence they were saying that God is the King in my life and I am bringing the King the best of what I have in this basket.
= Declaring that God is the King of your life.
Third Vrs 5-10 The worship liturgy that they were to say. The reminder of what is in that basket. Jacob was the Father.
Discuss the passge
=Every time you give to the Lord you should remember what the Lord has done for you and it is a time of worship for you
Susan Ehrnstrom Testimony
Forth Vr. 11 Give thanks for what the Lord has given you.
=Giving is our way of thanking God
Vrs 12-14 what were they giving to and how much was it Levite=rabbi or teachers aside from their temple duties, Stranger=outsider to Israel, Fatherless (orphans) and widows=those in need. So they can eat=support
So God’s people were directed to fund the ministers, the ministries that reach out to outsiders and the ministries that help people in need
Vrs 15 They are calling down a blessing from the Lord
So how did Israel do with this directive?
Duet 26 was written in 1200bc
1050 BC 1 Sam 8 Israel demands a king – shows their lack of reliance on God
700BC Hosea 5:3 Israel is corrupt in their heart because they were prosperous.
6:4 You have lost your heart you forgot your story. Your story is what keeps you connected to God
700 bcAmos – the basket 4:1-22 Cows of Bashon stingy oppressors Cows in region of Israel that were well bred.
So they forgot their King, forgot their story of what God did in their lives and they forgot about the basket and what was supposed to be in it.
What about you?
1. The King- if Jesus is not your King you should not give. That is exactly why we don’t pass the plate because we don’t want people who don’t trust in Christ to feel obligated to give.
2. Are you giving of your “first fruits” do you set aside money each week in proportion to what you earn? Or are you giving Him left overs? Where should you start?
Mal 3, Deut. 14, Numbers 18 23 & 1/3 %
What if you are in debt? Should you still give
3. When you give, every time you write that check or set aside that money are you remembering what God has done in your life and how he has blessed you?
4. Are you saying thank you or are you giving grudgingly?
5. If you are supporting the work of the Lord God will not forget you and He will bless you.
Ann Frank “no one has ever become poor by giving”
So the first step in dealing with your finances is bringing consistently an offering to the Lord.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
"At the end of the day"
Matthew 7:21-23
Lets look at the context…
3 weeks ago we studied the preceding verses in which Jesus said you will know them by their fruits. We issued the got fruit challenge and I hope that many of you have taken the challenge.
We spoke about displaying “fruit” or evidence of the fact that you are a believer. In that passage it stated “beware of false prophets they come as sheep in wolves clothing” And their purpose is to lead you the wrong way, so we test them by their “Fruits” what they are teaching.
So Jesus in His conclusion of the “Greatest sermon ever preached” is saying some people who are viewed as religious, that seem to have it all together, that are doing things and claiming it is in Jesus’ name, still don’t know Jesus because they don’t believe the truth about Him.
Vrs 21 Not everyone who says “Lord Lord”
but he who does the “will of my father”
Lets look at what God’s will is John 6:40 “He who believes has everlasting life”
Vrs 22 The people who think they are doing what God wants
Like- keeping the ten commandments, feeding the hungry, giving to the poor, helping others, etc.
but really ignoring “God’s Will” which is belief in Christ.
Who falls into this category? Cults and false religion.
Another Jesus 2 Cor. 11:4
1 John 4:1 Test the spirits
How do we test them? Here are three ways
The Jesus of the Bible is prayed to (Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 116:4 and Zech. 13:9 with 1 Cor. 1:1-2).
The Jesus of the Bible is worshiped (Matt. 2:2,11; 14:33; 28:9; John 9:35-38; Heb. 1:6)
The Jesus of the Bible is God (John 20:28; Heb. 1:8).
The Jesus of the Bible is the only way of salvation. Acts 4:12 not by works
Bottom line
Jesus is saying guess what “it’s not grandma” you are being fooled it’s the wolf and he is leading you to destruction.
Vrs 24-25 Sayings (what are the sayings? Flip back through the sermon) into practice will be equipped to deal with life’s storms.
1 Corinthians 3:12 you will also be rewarded for putting these sayings into practice they are like precious stones.
Vrs 26-27 The flip side if you don’t put these sayings into practice and don’t have a foundation with the true Jesus Christ you are foolish. You will not be able to weather life’s storms and in the end there will be destruction. You are building your life on the ways of the world and that is foolishness.
Vrs 28-29 People were astonished because His teaching had substance, unlike the scribes.
Lets look at the context…
3 weeks ago we studied the preceding verses in which Jesus said you will know them by their fruits. We issued the got fruit challenge and I hope that many of you have taken the challenge.
We spoke about displaying “fruit” or evidence of the fact that you are a believer. In that passage it stated “beware of false prophets they come as sheep in wolves clothing” And their purpose is to lead you the wrong way, so we test them by their “Fruits” what they are teaching.
So Jesus in His conclusion of the “Greatest sermon ever preached” is saying some people who are viewed as religious, that seem to have it all together, that are doing things and claiming it is in Jesus’ name, still don’t know Jesus because they don’t believe the truth about Him.
Vrs 21 Not everyone who says “Lord Lord”
but he who does the “will of my father”
Lets look at what God’s will is John 6:40 “He who believes has everlasting life”
Vrs 22 The people who think they are doing what God wants
Like- keeping the ten commandments, feeding the hungry, giving to the poor, helping others, etc.
but really ignoring “God’s Will” which is belief in Christ.
Who falls into this category? Cults and false religion.
Another Jesus 2 Cor. 11:4
1 John 4:1 Test the spirits
How do we test them? Here are three ways
The Jesus of the Bible is prayed to (Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 116:4 and Zech. 13:9 with 1 Cor. 1:1-2).
The Jesus of the Bible is worshiped (Matt. 2:2,11; 14:33; 28:9; John 9:35-38; Heb. 1:6)
The Jesus of the Bible is God (John 20:28; Heb. 1:8).
The Jesus of the Bible is the only way of salvation. Acts 4:12 not by works
Bottom line
Jesus is saying guess what “it’s not grandma” you are being fooled it’s the wolf and he is leading you to destruction.
Vrs 24-25 Sayings (what are the sayings? Flip back through the sermon) into practice will be equipped to deal with life’s storms.
1 Corinthians 3:12 you will also be rewarded for putting these sayings into practice they are like precious stones.
Vrs 26-27 The flip side if you don’t put these sayings into practice and don’t have a foundation with the true Jesus Christ you are foolish. You will not be able to weather life’s storms and in the end there will be destruction. You are building your life on the ways of the world and that is foolishness.
Vrs 28-29 People were astonished because His teaching had substance, unlike the scribes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)