Level Up / 04. Level Up ⬆️ Wk1
04. Level Up ⬆️ Wk1
Speaker: Joel Virgo
Key scriptures: Mark 4: 2-20
Visit www.weareemmanuel.om for more content.
As Christians, we should be planning our giving. This series will be about how we can level up in our giving. We believe we are free to use the resources we have to glorify God and we hope this series will encourage us more in this.
In Matthew 6:21 Jesus said where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. What you give to, including your money is where your heart is going. God has called us to trust that it is better to give than to receive. God in his essence is a giver. As Christians, we are free from the power of the law. Giving is not about shaming, but it’s about being truly free. The Christian has the liberty to enjoy using money instead out of fear protecting yourself- you can instead use it to serve and love and give to what God wants. Love of money is deeply unsatisfying. It will squeeze you dry and give you nothing back. Instead, love Jesus. He has promised to provide all your needs.
In the Old Testament there was a law of tithing which required 10% of worshipper’s income for the temple. There are two opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to views on this topic. There are those who abide lawfully to giving 10% and tend not have much a personal relationship with God – it was more mechanical. However, we are now free from the law and we now give in the spirit so it’s not just about giving to be acceptable, because we are accepted in Christ. However, there is the other side of that, where others make the claim that you are so free that you will give nothing. However, Jesus would say that this is being in bondage to fear and the love of money. You should not give by compulsion either (2 Corinthians 9:7). Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Tithing is a good guide to us but is not something we give out of compulsion. The balance is important; give by the spirit.
Jesus summarises givers into four types of people in the parable in Mark 4:2-20:
1. Fearful – (vs 15) Those who hear the word and it doesn’t land it gets robbed of them. Questioning whether you can trust God into monthly planning to give to God or even level up. However, we are not to fear for this because if God has made us any promise- it is the promise that He will provide all our needs.
2. Shallow – (vs16-17) Immediately they receive the word with joy but when tribulation comes they fall off. Don’t get excited about the one off giving. Faithfulness will be proven in constant progress and patterns that we deliberately attend to. (vs16-17)
3. Uninspired- (vs 18) The cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches enter in. Those who have become uninspired to give to the church because of distractions. Jesus would call this being choked. Wake up to see the beauty of what Jesus is doing with his church and be inspired to sew into that.
4. Intentional- (vs 20) Jesus invites us to flourish and bare massive amounts of fruit. These are those who are stubborn and committed to giving to God.
Key scriptures: Mark 4: 2-20
Visit www.weareemmanuel.om for more content.
As Christians, we should be planning our giving. This series will be about how we can level up in our giving. We believe we are free to use the resources we have to glorify God and we hope this series will encourage us more in this.
In Matthew 6:21 Jesus said where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. What you give to, including your money is where your heart is going. God has called us to trust that it is better to give than to receive. God in his essence is a giver. As Christians, we are free from the power of the law. Giving is not about shaming, but it’s about being truly free. The Christian has the liberty to enjoy using money instead out of fear protecting yourself- you can instead use it to serve and love and give to what God wants. Love of money is deeply unsatisfying. It will squeeze you dry and give you nothing back. Instead, love Jesus. He has promised to provide all your needs.
In the Old Testament there was a law of tithing which required 10% of worshipper’s income for the temple. There are two opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to views on this topic. There are those who abide lawfully to giving 10% and tend not have much a personal relationship with God – it was more mechanical. However, we are now free from the law and we now give in the spirit so it’s not just about giving to be acceptable, because we are accepted in Christ. However, there is the other side of that, where others make the claim that you are so free that you will give nothing. However, Jesus would say that this is being in bondage to fear and the love of money. You should not give by compulsion either (2 Corinthians 9:7). Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Tithing is a good guide to us but is not something we give out of compulsion. The balance is important; give by the spirit.
Jesus summarises givers into four types of people in the parable in Mark 4:2-20:
1. Fearful – (vs 15) Those who hear the word and it doesn’t land it gets robbed of them. Questioning whether you can trust God into monthly planning to give to God or even level up. However, we are not to fear for this because if God has made us any promise- it is the promise that He will provide all our needs.
2. Shallow – (vs16-17) Immediately they receive the word with joy but when tribulation comes they fall off. Don’t get excited about the one off giving. Faithfulness will be proven in constant progress and patterns that we deliberately attend to. (vs16-17)
3. Uninspired- (vs 18) The cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches enter in. Those who have become uninspired to give to the church because of distractions. Jesus would call this being choked. Wake up to see the beauty of what Jesus is doing with his church and be inspired to sew into that.
4. Intentional- (vs 20) Jesus invites us to flourish and bare massive amounts of fruit. These are those who are stubborn and committed to giving to God.
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