Message

The Bible has a lot to say about money. There are over 2350 verses in the Bible on how to handle money and possessions. Yet, many people, including believers don’t understand the biblical principles concerning money. Many of our ideas about money come from the world. So, they are wrong and lead to great problems in our lives.

Our title “What is God’s Plan for Your Money?” has a problem. Most people think of the money in their bank account as their money. They reason that they earned it, so it’s there’s to do with as they please. But that’s not what the Bible teaches about our money.

1 Chronicles 29:11-12 (ESV) Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 

These verses, as well as many others tell us that everything on this earth, including your bank account is God’s, He owns it. “All that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours.” Any riches that we manage for Him came from Him as gifts to us. We are manager or stewards of the finances that we have been given. So a more accurate title would be: “What is God’s Plan for His Money in My Bank Account.” But that’s a little long for a title. Let’s look at a key principle of God’s plan for His money in your bank account.

Malachi 3:10 (ESV) Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

This is a command and a promise concerning our handling of God’s finances. God instructs us to regularly give the first 10% of our income to His house. In the Old Testament, that was the temple. In the New Testament and today, it is the church. When you are faithful to give your tithes to God, He promises to bless you, so you will have no more needs. What if you choose not to obey this command?

Malachi 3:8-9 (ESV) Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me,

When we don’t give our tithes to God, we are stealing from God, that which He told us to give directly to Him. Rather than receiving the promised blessing, we will receive a curse, which is the opposite of blessing. That is why believers who don’t tithe are generally in perpetual financial difficulty. Tithing purpose is to bring financial blessing into your life and to help extend the kingdom of God.

Matthew 6:33 (ESV) But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

When we seek God’s kingdom first with our finances, He promises to meet all our needs. Exactly the same promise as given to us in Malachi 3:10. What of the other 90% that is not part of the tithe? Is that ours to do with as we please? Absolutely not. All of my money, all of your money is His. We are to use it extend the Gospel and His kingdom. That includes meeting the needs of your family, blessing others, giving to missions above your tithe and following His direction with all your finances. So, let’s learn some exciting principles from Jesus about God’s Plans for the Money He’s given us to manage.

Although many people don’t want to consider this question, it is one of the most important questions in life. The reason it is so important is that your choices in life will determine what happens when you die.

There are many conflicting ideas about life after death that people believe. However, the Bible is crystal clear about the true answer to this question. When you understand what happens when you die, you can alter your life choices to change your eternal destiny.

Daniel 12:2 (ESV)  And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 

The prophet Daniel tells us that at the end of time, everyone will be raised back to life. However, there will be two different destinations that are possible. The first is everlasting life with God and the second is everlasting death without God. The two destinations are often referred to in Scripture as heaven and hell.

The vast majority of people think that they will go to heaven when they die. However, Jesus said that the truth is the exact opposite of what most people think.

Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV)  “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. 

The default destination after death for every human being is destruction, that is hell fire, where they will tormented forever. A small minority, a few, will find the narrow gate and path which leads to eternal life. 

My message, What Happens When You Die? will help you understand Jesus’ teaching on your eternal destiny. It will help you make the right choices in life to assure you will spend eternity with God.

I’m sure that you and everyone alive would like to live a joyful life, but many have not yet found the secret. The Declaration of Independence lists three inalienable rights given by the Creator: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

What is this happiness listed there? The dictionary defines happy as being delighted, pleased or glad over a particular thing. We see from this first definition that happiness for most people is dependent on external circumstances.

I’m happy when life is going good. I’m unhappy when life is going badly.

I’m happy when I get my paycheck, I’m unhappy when I get my bills.

So therefore, happiness will come and go in a person’s life depending on the ebb and flow of their outward circumstances. Happiness is an emotional rollercoaster, sometimes up and oftentimes down.

The Bible speaks of something called joy that is quite different from happiness. Joy is not dependent on outward circumstances. Joy actually is a choice that a person can make.

James 1:2 (ESV) Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

This verse tells believers that when they face difficult trials in life, it should be an opportunity for joy.

Philippians 4:4 (ESV) Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

This verse commands believers to rejoice, so rejoicing is a choice. We are to rejoice always, this means both in the good and bad times. How is that possible? How can we have joy in circumstances that make other people unhappy?

The answer is that joy comes, not through outward circumstances, but through an internal relationship with Jesus. Joy and rejoicing come from following God’s plan for your life.

John 16:24 (ESV) Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

When we pray and ask for things that are God’s will, God will answer our prayers and our joy will be full. This verse implies that there are levels of joy and that our joy can increase. True joy is possible only for a believer in Jesus, because true joy comes from God alone.

The Bible describes a person without Jesus in their life as being lost. Lost from the most important relationship in life, a relationship with God. A lost person can find momentary happiness, but never a lasting joy. 

When a lost person finds Jesus, they are no longer lost, but found and saved. They become a child of God and find joy in the family of God that will last forever.

My message, The Secret of a Joyful Life will help you understand Jesus’ teaching on what brings joy in this life and joy in heaven. If you would like to have purpose in life that will bring you joy, this message is for you.

Click the button below to watch the message and gain access to the free study guide. 

Have you ever wondered why people who say they are Christians have so many different, even contradictory beliefs? They certainly can’t all be right, can they.

Many people today claim to be Christians or followers of Jesus.  Yet, whether a person is a Jesus’ follower is not a matter of personal opinion. Jesus Himself defined what it means to be His follower and the costs involved.

Jesus clearly set forth three marks that every follower of His was instructed to obey and experience. These three marks are clearly seen in the history of the early church recorded in the book of Acts. However, all three marks were lost for over one thousand years until being completely restored in the last hundred years.

The first mark is when a person is saved through repentance and putting their faith in Jesus alone, not through good works.

John 3:16 (ESV)  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

The second mark is that every believer must be water baptized after they have believed, following Jesus’ example.

Matthew 28:19 (ESV)  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

The third mark is receiving the promise of the Father, Spirit baptism, to be empowered to carry out God’s mission for your life., also following Jesus’ example.

Luke 24:49 (ESV)  And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” 

These three marks or experiences are just the initiation of person into the kingdom of God and there is much more required of every believer.

My message, Count the Cost of Following Jesus will help you understand Jesus’ teaching on what it means to be His disciple. These simple biblical truths are not taught or experienced today in the majority of American churches claiming to be Christian.

You can learn the truths that will change your life forever. Click the button below to watch the message and gain access to the free study guide.