God OR Money IV- MULTIPLYING YOUR SEED - Pr. Brent Cantelon October 25th, 2009

Watch this message at http://www.clachurch.com/index.php?id=158

Text: 2 Corinthians 8 and 9

Tithe is established by the Lord and we have discussed that thoroughly in the past 3 weeks together. The offering is when we seek the Lord, in regard to the 90% left after we have returned the 10% to God. We then ask the Lord what He would want us to do with what is in our hands to make a difference in the lives around us. There are so many areas we can help in! Boxes of Love, Gateway of Hope, and the Village of Hope. There are missions all around the world.

What benefit is there in giving seed offerings to the Lord? What is the harvest?

• Harvest of souls. The Kingdom of God expands.
• Harvest of blessings. We are blessed to be a blessing.
• Harvest of thankfulness. Thankfulness to God when we see what our offering has done.

It's not about money, it's about our hearts. Where your treasure is---

Sow few seeds, produce a small crop. The Lord wants to know “how would you like the blessings measured out?" Big blessings come with big offerings. It's not about the dollar amount it's about what is left over for us after we have given. Give and it shall be given unto you. Press down, shaken together and running over. God wants us to give cheerfully and willingly. The rich young ruler never learned to give and the condition of his heart was marked by his sadness as he walked away.

There are 3 people that God makes note of in the scripture for their giving:

• The widow gave 2 pennies. She gave all that she had to the Lord. Luke 21:1-4
• Mary gave costly oil. This was worth one year's salary. Mark 14:9
• Zaccheus gave half of his wealth to the poor and 4 times back to those he had stolen from. Jesus said to Zaccheus in Luke 19: 8-9 "Salvation has come to this house." It was evident by his giving that he had been totally set free of his love of money.

Every dollar you give will be recycled on this earth into someone else's hand. You can take nothing with you. You must leave it here when you go. Why not sow it into the Kingdom of God.

Ministry Time

1. Today bring all your finances under God's authority. Is God the CEO or just a financial consultant? Perhaps you have just seen that this moment and would say “I have been treating God as a “Financial Consultant” I will make Him the CEO of my life and my finances from this point on.

2.God drawing your heart is the basis of giving. Why not respond and say “It's all yours Lord, I surrender it all.”

3. Pray for those who are in financial need. That the Lord would take control of their finances and give them freedom in giving and multiply blessings to their lives.