(Exodus 12:26-27)(NIV) And when your children ask you, “What does this ceremony mean to you?” then tell them, “It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.”

(Luke 22:15-20)(NIV) “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

(1 Corinthians 5:7)(NLT) …Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.

Jesus Our Passover Lamb

1. The Lamb was spotless.

(Exodus 12:5)(NIV) The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.

(1 Peter 1:18-19)(NLT) For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

2. The Lamb was sacrificed.

(Exodus 12:6)(NIV) Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.

(Isaiah 53:5)(NIV) But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

(please leave Isaiah 53 on the screen until I say #3)

3. The Lamb was shared.

(Exodus 12:4)(NIV) If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor.

(2 Corinthians 5:19)(NIV) God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

(John 1:29)(NIV) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Welcome to Freedom Church!

Welcome to the last installment of this wonderful series: Be Rich.

This series really has little to do with money and more to do with our mind set as a steward of all of God’s resources He has given to us.

Money is just part of those resources. The gifts He’s given to us… like our children… our spouse… jobs…friendships… the talents… are you living for yourself or others?

Title: Rich Towards God

Our theme passage and series comes from this incredible instruction from Paul to Timothy here in…

(1 Timothy 6:17-19)(NIV) Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

-Present Word… why would he say that? It’s because there is another world we live in. Another mind-set that says: I want it all! NOW! Earthly mindset.. when there is another world to live by.

-In this way…. Meaning… when you have an eternal mindset- being rich toward others while you’re here knowing you are going to a better place… you’ll unlock life that is truly life.

Pastor Ryan did a great job helping us understand that rich doesn’t mean just financial.

Rich means….More than you need.

That’s a different mindset. This world says… get more for yourself….

Eternal mindset says…. God has blessed me with more than I need…. so I will live my life doing my best to make an eternal difference in the life of others.

So…. I want to challenge you to not just leave here today and say….

Yea… I’m rich, I want to be able to make an eternal difference. No… all great things that happen, happen when we have a plan… a strategy if you will.

So here’s a question for you to ask yourself.

What is my giving strategy?

Pastor Ryan shared his with us last week. Here’s the thing…. We aren’t saying you have to have OUR strategy, we are simply saying….just have one.

Because here’s what I know to be true.

If you don’t have a strategy for your resources, I promise you, this present world will.

IOW- Your strategy to manage the resources God gives you is your filter.

TIME- We want you to work 70 hours a week and be on call during the weekend and you have 3 kids in sports. That’s the job offer…

You have to process that through your FILTER…your strategy of managing the resources God has given you… (your marriage, kids) and make the decision.

People who live by this world just jump in and say…YEP! I’ll do it and their family suffers and their marriage falls apart and they get upset at God over it.

Same is true for your money and other resources…. What is your giving strategy?

A mindset that is about eternity would have this type of giving strategy:

Eternal Giving Strategy:

1. I will intentionally share my stuff. Remember…it’s not just money…that’s part of it, but your car….your truck to help people move.. your ability to fix things for people like me who know hardly anything about fixing things…..

Your house for example… would you intentionally share your home to have a small group in so that others can grow to become more like Jesus? -The question is…

Am I leveraging what I have for eternal purposes?

Again…we are talking about an eternal giving strategy….

2. I will intentionally share my time.

One of the major problems we have in our PRESENT WORLD is that we do not live with margin.

With our money, our stuff…and certainly with our time.

I think more people would give more time to eternal things if they could, but they are stretched too thin as it is. No margin. Just like money.

We didn’t have a strategy and overcommitted our money, our time in this point… and instead of taking hold of life that is truly life….guess what’s happening…. We are letting LIFE take hold of us and we are trying to hold on for the ride. And it’s not fun.

So…. Make the decision today friend. Call time out on the field and say… I will be intentional with my time. I’m going to reorder my life and be intentional with my time.

(Ephesians 5:11-16)(MSG) Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. Wake up from your sleep, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!

How? Get on a serving team here… go through growth track and we will help you with your strategy to make the most of your time.

The 3rd part of my strategy is…

3. I will intentionally share Christ.

Here’s the thing….

Let’s say by some crazy amazing super-hero ability, you knew that your friend had cancer and no one else did. Would you tell them?

Sure… else, what kind of a friend are you?

Of course….you’d tell them….why? Because you would want them to know and to do everything they can to try to live.

Please listen to me church. Every single day….right here in our own community…people are taking their last breath and facing either Heaven or Hell.

You have an ability to know whether or not someone will live forever with Jesus in Heaven or in Hell. To KNOW this and not share it with your friend would be a crime.

I know…I know the biggest reason is fear. What will they say?

Listen…let the fear of them spending eternity in Hell be greater than the fear of them hurting your feelings for a moment.

To help you in your strategy to share Christ, we make this a place where you can invite your friends. We aren’t going to do anything spooky, kooky or weird but we will give them an invitation to know Jesus every service.

We have invite cards for you today to help you have that discussion with them.

It’s why we planted this church….. we decided as a family that we would intentionally share Christ and the best way we knew how to do that was to plant a church…. And get this… since we opened the doors… 1, 839 people made a decision to commit or recommit their lives to Jesus.

Why have a strategy? Because eternity matters.

One of the things I love about scripture is how something written so long ago applies to our lives right here and now.

Jesus knew we would have a tendency to store up for ourselves the resources we are given. He knew we’d think it was “normal” to save things for later…. So, in Luke, He tells this Parable….this story….and example..which is exactly how we are living now….

(Luke 12:16-19)(NIV) And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”

IOW- he thought he had plenty of time to enjoy it all…if you don’t live with eternity in mind…this sounds great. But look at what God says to him…

(Luke 12:20-21)(NIV) “But God said to him, ‘You fool!

Not because he was rich, but because he didn’t know what to do with his richness.

This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

And look at what Jesus says….this is the point of the story…. Check it out….

“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

So, because we love you… because we want you to live with eternity in mind, we want you to be rich toward God.

How do I do that?

Being rich towards God means I value:

Stewardship over ownership.

I’m going to realize that nothing is mine anyway, I’m a steward…a manager of God’s.

EVERYTHING I have..not just the 10%, the whole thing… all my “stuff” I manage not based on what I like, but I find out what He likes and try my best to manage it that way.

People over possessions.

Why? Because possessions burn….people last forever.

This is why a portion of what you give today goes to Stella’s voice. What’s Stella’s voice? A place that rescues people stuck in sex trafficking and finds a new home for them and help them rehabilitate. People matter.

Here’s what I know…this may sting a little but it’s true.

We will live one of two ways.

We’ll love people and use money or we’ll love money and use people.

I say we love people and use our money…our resources to invest in what lasts forever.

Eternity over temporary.

Paul speaks to this again…

(Philippians 3:18-20)(NIV) …many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Listen…one day He’s coming back… it’s true…and it will be wonderful to stand before Him and say…. I did my best with what I had to be rich toward God. How about you?

Intro: Welcome to Freedom Church… We’re so glad you’re here with us!

Today we are kicking off a brand new 3-week series, called “BE RICH”.

This series isn’t necessarily about money… but about a mindset. A mindset that reveals how “RICH” we really are. It’s about how we handle the resources God has entrusted to us. It’s about having a spirit of radical generosity.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV)

Rich = More than you need

Willing = “Don’t have to, I get to.”

If we have an abundance of any kind, we are RICH… and we are RICH so that we can meet needs around us.

When we are WILLING, we move beyond the “Need” for it, and understand the “Desire” behind it!

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13 (NLT)

God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him. Philippians 2:13 (CEV)

Title: Willing and Able

Transition: Today we are going at what it means to have both the DESIRE and ABILITY to be generous.

We are not trying to guilt you into giving, but to simply stir the “WHY.” In fact, if the “WHY” isn’t there… don’t do it.

Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God I now give my personal treasures of gold and silver for the temple of my God, over and above everything I have provided for this holy temple: 4 three thousand talents of gold …and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for the overlaying of the walls of the buildings, 5 for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen.

(375 Tons of gold and silver = $21 Billion)

Now, who is willing to consecrate themselves to the LORD today?”

Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly. 7 They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze and a hundred thousand talents of iron. 8 Anyone who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the LORD... 9 The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly. 1 Chronicles 29:3-9 (NIV)

I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. 1 Chronicles 29:17 (NIV)

“Who is willing?”

Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. 2 Corinthians 8:11-12 (NIV)

Transition: Here’s the point, God is not looking at the WHAT, but the HEART behind it.

The goal of today = Not WHAT… but to remember WHY.

The WHY is the motivation behind what we do…

When you lose your WHY, you lose your WAY.

(Marriage analogy)

Transition: So I want to do today, is not to show you YOUR why… you have to discover your own WHY, but I want to show you MY WHY.

1.Obedience

My wife and I give… simply because God asks us to.

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 3:10 (NIV)

A command… not a suggestion (my dad)

Tithe = FIRST %10

Again it’s not a money thing… it’s a faith thing.

God understands that our hope will naturally migrate toward OUR ability to provide… so he set up a way to keep that in check.

(Adeline and offering)

I give… because the one I’ve surrendered my life to, instructs me to give!

2.Joy

I give because it’s fun! (Girl Scout cookies)

You’ll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, ‘You’re far happier giving than getting.’” Acts 20:35 (MSG)

When you are able to be generous AND willing… you will find yourself saying “Can you believe we get to do this?!”

3.Relationship

Because I am in a relationship with God and His people…

So I give up personal privileges… and I take up personal responsibilities.

(Marriage – Living for the other person’s good.)

4.Vision

Because I believe in the vision of this church…

-Kid’s learning about Jesus

-MOTION Night

-Small Groups

-Planting churches (500)

-One Hope

-Reaching those who are far from God

5.Blessing

This one is a little selfish… but that’s ok.

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 3:10 (NIV)

“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field…” Malachi 3:11

We give to position ourselves for God’s blessing and protection!

This can get skewed… (TV preachers / “Give and God will…”)

No, give generously to needy persons. Don’t resent giving to them because it is this very thing that will lead to the LORD your God’s blessing you in all you do and work at. Deuteronomy 15:10 (CEB)

6.Legacy

I want to be characterized as a man that was faithful with what he had… and that modeled RADICAL GENEROSITY!

When you identify a characteristic you want your life to have… work backward!

My wife and I… Generosity is a core value of our family.

(We have stuff – If we want something usually we’ll buy it – but we LOVE giving.)

Freedom Church – The most generous church in the world!? (OPRAH)

(Starbucks last year – bibles – Missions)

7.Devotion

One day… I’m going to be walking in heaven and see Jesus for the first time.

“Well done… well done.”

“Thank you Jesus…”

“No… Thank you.”

Transition: As we discover our WHY… here are 3 ways to take our giving to another level:

1.Intentional Giving

What I mean is this: the one who sows a small number of seeds will also reap a small crop, and the one who sows a generous amount of seeds will also reap a generous crop.

7 Everyone should give whatever they have decided in their heart. They shouldn’t give with hesitation or because of pressure. God loves a cheerful giver.

11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous in every way. Such generosity produces thanksgiving to God through us. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, 11 (CEB)

The truth is… I think a lot of people can be manipulated into giving… guilted… play on their emotions.

God doesn’t want us to be emotional givers, but PRE-DECIDED givers.

“YOU” in this verse = Pre-deciders

Intentional giving is what unlocks blessing.

(Will we tithe? When will we give? How much?)

2.Percentage Giving

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44 (NIV)

God is not looking at the amount, but the amount in relation to what you have.

Percentage matters. (If our giving is safe, is there really any faith involved?)

3.Eternal Giving

Paul describes our work on this earth (including our giving) as building something…

Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation! Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you’ll be found out.

The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won’t get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn’t, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won’t be torn out; you’ll survive—but just barely. 2 Corinthians 3:12-15 (MSG)

All “building” is not the same…what may look like building in this life, is really in vain.

(Social Justice without Jesus… is building in vain.)

What YOU build… wont last. What HE builds… will survive.

When we look at our resources as a tool to make an eternal impact… we will.

Big Idea:

Challenge:

Salvation: God take control of my life… It’s the easiest thing you will ever do, but I will cost you everything.

Today we are kicking off a brand new 3-week series, called “BE RICH”.

(I know what you’re thinking! – “You should give more” talk that churches are notorious for.)

And these assumptions and fears (that are legitimate at times) reflect that WE need to have a better understanding about the role money plays in our lives and how to have the right perspective when it comes to handling it.

This series isn’t necessarily about money… but about a mindset. A mindset that reveals how “RICH” we really are. It’s about having a spirit of radical generosity.

Generosity is something we as a church strive for… (Coffee, donuts, T-shirts, etc)

The hallmark of Christianity is radical generosity.

…Let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. 1 John 3:18 (MSG)

(Costco Samples)

That’s our job… in everything we do, to give people a sample of how GOOD God is!

Radical Generosity communicates something beyond meeting needs… it demonstrates LOVE in a tangible way.

(“I don’t know about them… I may not agree with them… but that group, they are the most generous people I know… They know how to love people and are making a difference!”)

Transition: It’s clear that generosity is something God wants us to be known for…but generosity is not first an action, but a mindset. So, before we can truly live right, we have to think right… because the way we think, affects the way we behave.

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)

In fact, real Christianity… a true follower of Jesus is defined in this way:

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NLT)

God clearly has a different plan for us that we can’t figure out on our own… thinking our way.

“Think Right – Do Right”

Over the next 3 weeks we are going to look at an interesting letter the Apostle Paul (church planter) wrote to Timothy (Young Pastor of the church in Ephesus).

Applicable to your life / But it was directed to Timothy as a Pastored his church.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV)

(Instructions about what NOT to do AND what TO do…)

Why do we need this? Because generally rich people aren’t very good at it…

Statistically it’s proven… that the more money American’s make, the less we give.

Paul is teaching Timothy… As a pastor, teach your people who are rich… to be good at it. To understand you have the resources you do, for a reason! (The government…)

Transition: This is about a perspective shift… to change the way we look out our money and to learn how to live with radical generosity.

We are going to learn… that we all are richer than we think and we have to learn to be good at it!

Why is this such a big deal? Why does this need to be talked about? (3 reasons)

1.Rich people don’t like to admit they are rich.

Tall People = “I’m tall.”

Athletes = “I’m athletic.”

Singers = “I sing.”

Vegetarian = “I don’t eat meet.”

But being rich… is not something we don’t admit.

Gallup pole: How much money would you have to make to be considered rich?

Rich = $150,000

They asked those who make $30-34,000…

Rich = $75,000

They asked the subscribers of money magazine…

Rich = $5,000,000

Conclusion: Nobody is rich but everybody knows somebody who is.

What does this have to do with me?

If you make between $44k – $48k in combined household income… you are in the top 1% of wage earners in the world!

Not at the $44k mark? You have running water… You don’t have to worry about running out. We spray it on the ground!

Transition: Here’s the point… we are blessed! We have more than we need. We are rich!

NOT so we can obtain more stuff… or provide more comfort… but so we can do something with it!

You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NLT)

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous in every way... 2 Corinthians 9:11 (CEB)

2.Rich people are plagued with discontentment.

Simply put… The more you have, the more you want. (Appetite… clothes)

Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! 11 The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers 12 People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep. Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 (NLT)

Our wealth (however excessive), is not about us.

Obtaining wealth just to keep it is a horrible way to live and just perpetuates the human condition of discontentment. (kids – toys – box / UPGRADES – iphone)

Having and enjoying stuff isn’t bad… but it’s not the end goal.

We just need reminded out that.

3.Rich people live with a false sense of security.

We believe we can build our way to safety… financial security. (As if that were such a thing)

“If I save enough…I can protect myself from anything bad that could happen.”

The truth is… “How much would you need to become financially secure against anything? More than you currently have.”

The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. Proverbs 18:11 (NIV)

I’m not saying don’t save or live foolishly… But to ask the question: “Where is my hope?”

Your HOPE will migrate to your money.

Again this is not… “YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE ANYTHING!” (Gnostic Gospels)

Transition: SO how do we change this?

(Your expectations of what I’m going to say… guilt...)

We just need to change our thinking… to THINK RIGHT

1. I will be grateful.

David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying “Praise be to you, LORD, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.11 Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 (NIV)

Gratitude keeps our perspective in the right place.

(No room for pride… selfishness… discontentment.)

Gratitude makes you more generous… that’s our goal as a church!

Everything we have and have done… It’s GOD! We fight to never take it for granted. We didn’t earn this… It’s a privilege!! (Greenroom sign)

Result = Gratitude makes us more generous

2. I will lead with generosity

Simply put… before I spend, I will give.

Our focus shifts from us and stuff… to others and need!

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy,and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)

So the question becomes, where do you want your heart?

(Your house? Car? Iphone? Your own success?)

I want my heart… in a place of Godly peace, not financial security.

I want my heart… in a place of gratitude, not discontentment.

I want my heart… invested in eternal purpose, not fleeting glory.

You’ll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, ‘You’re far happier giving than getting.’” Acts 20:35 (MSG)

Result = Generosity leads, your heart follows.

3. I will put my hope in God.

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. Proverbs 30:8-9 (NIV)

The chief competitor of your soul is your stuff.

When He is our Hope…

Result = I will not trust in riches, but in Him who richly provides.

Big Idea: We are rich… lets be good at it.

Challenge: It’s easy to migrate away fro God…

Salvation: God take control of my life… It’s the easiest thing you will ever do, but I will cost you everything.

Title: MARKED

(Acts 20:24) (NLT) But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

(Hebrews 12:1-2) (NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

Reasons we don’t run:

1. Fear of Harm

(2 Timothy 1:7) (NLT) For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

2. Identity Crisis

(Jeremiah 31:3) (MSG) “I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!

(Ephesians 3:18) (NLT) And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

SIX KEYS TO RUN THE RACE

1. Prepare

(1 Corinthians 9:25) (NLT) All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.

2. Perceive

(1 Corinthians 9:25) (NLT) All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.

3. Purpose

(1 Corinthians 9:26) (NLT) Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.

When people lose their WHY they lose their WAY.

4. Proceed

(1 Corinthians 9:24) (NLT) Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!

5. Pursue

(1 Corinthians 9:24) (NLT) Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!

(Philippians 3:14) (NLT) I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

6. Persist

(1 Corinthians 9:27) (NIV) No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

(2 Timothy 4:7) (NIV) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

"In order to run our race and finish our course, we need to understand that God has an appointed time that is usually different to our due date." –Christine Caine

Vows of Mother Teresa

God, I yield myself fully to you.

I embrace your calling on my life.

I will do your bidding without delay.

I will refuse you nothing.

I will endure all hardships.

When I don’t feel your presence, I will still be faithful.

I will seek to love you as you have never been loved before.

Here am I; send me.

Intro: Welcome to Freedom Church… We’re so glad you’re here with us!

We are in the middle of our series called the “FOUR CUPS”…which lays out 4 promises that God made to us…HIS ultimate plan for each of our lives.

Here’s why this matters… We are all on a spiritual journey…looking for answers.

This plan God has for us… answers our questions. This plan is found symbolically in the yearly Jewish Passover… as a reminder of God’s promises.

“I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God…” Exodus 6:6-7 (NIV)

The Four Cups

1. The Cup of Sanctification - “I Will Bring You Out.” (Salvation)

2. The Cup of Deliverance - “I Will Free You.”(Working on issues)

3. The Cup of Redemption – “I Will Redeem you.”(Discovering)

4. The Cup of Praise - “I Will Take You As My Own People.” (Fulfilled Living)

There is a huge disconnect in so may of us… We’re saved… BUT WHY?

“Why am I here?”

Transition: The answer to that question is found in cup 3…

The Cup of Redemption

…I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.” Exodus 6:6 (NIV)

Redeem:

1. To buy back or repurchase (Owned by someone else… wrong place… Jesus)

2. To change for better or reform (Low goals… most people… good = no bad)

3. Repair or restore(A restored car… back to its original intent, but now it’s priceless!!)

Transition: Ok… if this is God’s plan (which sounds great) why do so few experience it?

The answer… is actually found in the promise.

I’m going to redeem you, and I’m going to do it 2 ways.

…I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.” Exodus 6:6 (NIV)

Why an outstretched arm? Most you are in a place much lower than God sees us.

He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.Psalm 40:2 (NLT)

Or lets put it this way… Most of us don’t see ourselves the way God sees us.

“Low… broken…going to heaven, but have nothing to offer… nothing you can work with.”

Two things that keep us from experience this promise:

1. Inferiority

We don’t see the greatness that God sees in us… (Sinners, wretched, Ready Now)

True… BUT then you met God. He does not want you to maintain that view. HE wants to lift you out.

…Your right hand has held me up, your gentleness has made me great. Psalm 18:35 (NKJV)

Inferiority leads to insecurity, which affects our identity.

This is why so many of us are driven by what others think…

(Growing up…insecure… middle school… high school… music…my first message)

The more I learned to see myself the way God sees me, the more I stopped trying to prove myself and find acceptance through human approval… and the more I learned to walk confidently in my identity.

Too often we see life through the rear view mirror… instead of looking straight ahead to what God sees.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the powerof the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. Romans 8:1-2 (NLT)

So how does God see us?

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

God sees things in you that you don’t see in yourself… and honestly that other people don’t see as well. (Sibling rivalry)

Get GOD’S view of yourself… and others. (Honor = God’s view of people)

Transition: That’s part of His redemption plan… the other part is the second part of that verse.

…I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.” Exodus 6:6 (NIV)

Acts of judgment… but not against us… against our enemy.

The devil has a DIFFERENT plan for your life. (Do you how?)

2. DIVERSION

(The part God didn’t plan… but you lived.)

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 (NLT) God’s judgment of the enemy… cancels His plan off of your life. You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmedthe spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. Colossians 2:13-15 (NLT)

The enemy has no claim, debt, or authority on your life… and God is just waiting for us to realize it!

But…his plan of diversion is not just the bad things we’ve done or that have been done to us. Success can be a diversion… we try to realign our identity and purpose by what WE can accomplish. Regardless of how… the enemy is trying to divert us from living out our full purpose. We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us. 1 Thessalonians 2:18 (NLT)

Prevent = to stop progress

He can’t physically touch you… but He can touch your path. (Broken world) And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 (NLT)

(Map analogy… ANY path you have taken… there IS a road!)

God’s gifts and God’s call are under full warranty—never canceled, never rescinded. Romans 11:29 (MSG)

Which means… God has NEVER changed His mind about you. He never will.

He can always… redeem you. How?

How do we drink from the Cup of Redemption?

Spiritual Gifts …Simply put God has put something on the inside of you to do.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us… Romans 12:6(NIV)

Grace = Charis (Divine enablement)

Grace gift… something you are good and enjoy doing. (public speaking)

(Working with Kids… or my hands) …Music, helping the poor, leading others…GOD DID THAT!

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts… 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NIV)

Go after it!! (Studies show that 87% of the body of Christ doesn’t know what their gift is)

We want to help you discover it… because when you do life gets fun.

(My favorite part of ministry)

“This weeks issue” --- TO --- Making such a difference and having so much fun…

God has better… He wants you to make a difference…live with purpose… to know why you are on this planet.

SO How do we?

1. Discover your gift

Your design reveals your destiny.

God had something for you to do, before he created you. (Not the other way around…)

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. Psalm 139:13-14 (NLT)

You are COMPLEX! (what you like, laugh at, do well, think about…)

HOW you were made… points to WHAT you are suppose to do.

The key to it all… is God. Schooling, success, ambition can’t do it.

It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. Ephesians 1:11-12 (MSG)

For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible... everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. Colossians 1:16(MSG)

2. Develop your Gift

It’s never perfect when you discover it…

Our job as a church… is to help you discover it. Growth Track

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up… Ephesians 4:7,11-12(NIV)

3. Use Your Gift

This is when life gets fun… this is when you can lay your head down at night and be satisfied… yea you have problems… but life is fulfilling because what I do is bigger than my problems!

This is how you live…(Honor all who are using their gifts).

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)

Your real purpose is to serve God by serving others.

Our ultimate expression of worship is to love people on His behalf.

For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Hebrews 6:10 (NLT)

Big Idea:

Challenge:

(Pray – Salvation / Discovery)

Communion

When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table.[a] 15 Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 16 For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”

17 Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”

19 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”

20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you. Luke 22:14-20 (NLT)

(Exodus 6:6-7) (NIV) “I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under

the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will

redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will

take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I

am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the

Egyptians.

The Cup of Deliverance.

(Galatians 5:1)(NIV) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm,

then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

(Ephesians 2:8-9)(NLT) God saved you by his grace when you believed. And

you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward

for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

(Philippians 2:12-13)(NLT) Work hard to show the results of your salvation,

obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving

you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Triune beings:

Body – Physical part…has issues…cravings, appetites, lusts etc.

Mind – Thoughts, your free-will and emotions.

Spirit – In His own image.

Results of Deliverance:

1. Victory over sin.

Sin: What we do to ourselves.

(Romans 7:21-25)(NIV) So I find this law at work: Although I want to do

good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;

but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind

and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a

wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to

death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

2. Healing from wounds.Wounds: What others do to us.

(Ephesians 4:26-27)(NLT) And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t

let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the

devil.

3. Authority over the enemy.

(Ephesians 6:10-12)(NIV) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty

power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against

the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but

against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark

world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

(Romans 7:21-25)(NIV) So I find this law at work: Although I want to do

good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;

but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind

and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a

wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to

death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

(Romans 8:1)(NLT) So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to

Christ Jesus.

(Romans 8:2)(NLT) And because you belong to him, the power of the lifegiving

Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

(Romans 8:5-6)(NLT) Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think

about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think

about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your

mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and

peace.

What has the most influence on how we think?

Answer: Relationships.

The relationships I choose have a direct impact on my pursuit

toward a fulfilling life.

(Proverbs 28:13)(NLT) People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if

they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

(1 John 1:9)(NIV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and

will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

(James 5:16)(NLT) Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so

that you may be healed.

THE CUP OF SANCTIFICATION

1. Help you identify where you are on the journey

2. Help you move to you next step on the journey

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 (NLT)

When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can’t break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable.

We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us… Hebrews 6:17-20(MSG)

A life of fulfillment is not based entirely what YOU do, but what GOD promised.

...If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 (NIV)

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? Numbers 23:19 (NLT)

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory. 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT)

“I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God…” Exodus 6:6-7 (NIV)

The Four Cups – God’s PROMISES for your life.

1. I Will Bring You Out.

The Cup of Sanctification – SALVATION

“I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God…” Exodus 6:6-7 (NIV)

2. I Will Free You.

The Cup of Deliverance – FREEDOM

“I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God…” Exodus 6:6-7 (NIV)

3. I Will Redeem you.

The Cup of Redemption – RESTORATION

“I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God…” Exodus 6:6-7 (NIV)

4. I Will Take You As My Own People.

The Cup of Praise – FULFILLMENT

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 2 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT)

The Cup of Sanctification

Sanctification = to be set aside

“At some point we’ve all found ourselves in bondage to something, living common lives with no purpose. We’ve settled for less, resigned ourselves to mediocrity, and started to believe we’re nothing special. This path always leads to slavery – which is a life we were never intended to live.” – Pastor Chris Hodges

Slavery = submission to a dominating influence

It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this. Titus 3:3-11 (MSG)

The desire to set people free is central to God’s heart.

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10 (NLT)

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:8-10 (NLT)

1. Make the Move

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9 (NLT)

2. Let it Go

“Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for? Mark 8:34-37 (MSG)

3. Commit Your Life

But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells—even though you still experience all the limitations of sin—you yourself experience life on God’s terms. It stands to reason, doesn’t it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he’ll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ’s! Romans 8:10-11 (MSG)

Big Idea: God’s plan for your life has never changed… He wants to rescue you. He wants to exchange your old life for a new one!

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)