HOW TO GIVE GOD’S WAY

TEXT- 1 CORINTHIANS 16:1-2; 2 CORINTHIANS 9:7

INTRODUCTION

THERE WAS A CHURCH THAT PRACTICED WHAT IS CALLED "RESPONSIVE PRAYING".  SOMEONE IN THE CONGREGATION WOULD SPONTANEOUSLY RESPOND TO EACH PRAYER REQUEST MADE IN PUBLIC.  ONE SUNDAY THE PASTOR WAS PREACHING ON THE TOPIC OF THE JUDGMENT DAY.  AS USUAL, THE CHURCH TREASURER WAS ASLEEP ON THE FRONT ROW.  AS THE PASTOR CONCLUDED HIS MESSAGE HE BEGAN TO PRAY, "DEAR LORD, ONE OF THESE DAYS WE ARE GOING TO WAKE UP, AND ITS GOING TO BE DARK EVERYWHERE!"  "LORD, HELP US!" SOMEONE SHOUTED.  ABOUT THAT TIME THE TREASURER WOKE UP.  THE PASTOR CONTINUED, "AND WE ARE GOING TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL HONG KONG, AND THEY ARE GOING TO SAY THAT IT IS DARK THERE.  "LORD, HAVE MERCY!" SHOUTED SOMEONE ELSE.  "WE'RE GOING TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL HONOLULU, AND THEY ARE GOING TO SAY THAT IT IS DARK THERE."  THE PREACHER SAID.  "LORD, DELIVER US!" SHOUTED ANOTHER PERSON.  "THEN WE ARE GOING TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL PARIS, AND THEY ARE GOING TO SAY THAT IT IS DARK THERE."  "YES, LORD, YES!" SHOUTED ANOTHER PERSON.  "THEN WE ARE GOING TO CALL MOSCOW, AND THEY ARE GOING TO SAY THAT IT IS DARK THERE."  FINALLY THE CHURCH TREASURER COULD HOLD BACK ANY LONGER AND SHOUTED, "LORD, LORD, WHAT A PHONE BILL!"

THIS MORNING OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN 1 CORINTHIANS 16:1-2 AND 2 CORINTHIANS 9:7; AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "HOW TO GIVE GOD’S WAY."

MANY PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO HEAR THIS TOPIC SPOKEN OF WITHIN THE CHURCH.  THEY THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE TAUGHT OR PREACHED.

YET, WITHIN THE NEW TESTAMENT, ONE OF EVER TEN VERSES (288 IN ALL) DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE SUBJECT OF MONEY.

THEREFORE, A BALANCED CHURCH SHOULD TEACH AND PREACH ON THIS TOPIC AT LEAST 10% OF THE TIME.

MARTIN LUTHER ONCE SAID, "THERE ARE THREE CONVERSIONS THAT TAKE PLACE IN A CHILD OF GOD'S LIFE.  THE CONVERSION OF THE HEART, THE MIND AND THE PURSE."

TODAY I’D LIKE US TO LOOK AT EIGHT WAYS TO FINANCIALLY GIVE TO GOD.