Give More and Live With An Attitude of Gratitude

by Rick Warren

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion … your   generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV)

What an amazing verse! God makes you rich in every way so you can be generous on every occasion, which will result in thanksgiving to God.

God doesn’t bless you so you can be greedy; he blesses you so you can be generous. You give away and God gives back to you so you can give more away and he can give more back to you and on and on and on. God doesn’t give you things so you can pile them up. When you let go of what’s in your hand, it’s now empty to receive greater blessings from God.

But as I’ve said before, God’s giving to you is based on your attitude. That’s why it’s so important to live with an attitude of gratitude. The Bible says, “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God” (2 Corinthians 9:12 NIV).

When you give, you are performing a service. To serve and to give is the same thing. It’s two actions of love. You can’t love without serving and giving. And the best part is this: your  service leads to expressions of thanksgiving to God.

Take a moment to pray and express your  gratitude to God.

THE GOOD NEWS IS…

28 November 2010 (am)

Pastor Melody vd Merwe

Rom 8:31-39

Intro: Bad news – the thing that has remained plentiful, accessible and free.

News 24/7 on TV – Internet – radio – cell phone – word of mouth.

• As a born-again child of God; you don’t have to let the bad news cause you worry. Worry is sin – Rom 14:32… for whatever is not from faith is sin..

The Good News is Rom 8:31-39 … nothing can separate us from the love of God.

LB v 35: who then can ever keep Christ’s love from us? When we have trouble or calamity, when we are hunted down or destroyed, is it because He doesn’t love us anymore? And if we are hungry or penniless or in danger or threatened with death, has God deserted us?…

Instead of focusing on your circumstances, problems, crisis, focus on God and His word.

The truth is God NEVER changes!!!

• There’s no recession in heaven!

God has no financial problems!

We are still invited to come to God and buy from him without money, faith is the currency of heaven. Is 55:1-3

Mark 4:38… do you not care that we are perishing?

Start doing in the dark what you learned in the light.

Start saying in the tough times what you heard and were taught in the good times.

Allow the implanted word to kick in.

The basics you were taught in boot-camp to take over in the combat of war situation.

Peter sinks when looking at the waves!!

Is 43:2 When you pass thru the waters.

A thousand and ten thousand

Ps 112:7-8

Ps 91:2 –Refuge

Go through the fire Is 43:2

Dan 3:25

With man impossible – with God all is possible. Matt 17:20, 19:26, Luke 1:37

No weapon formed – Is 54:17

Helper – Heb 13:6

He surrounds me Ps 125:2 …as the mountains surround Jerusalem so the Lord surrounds His people…

With me: – Ps 43:5 … fear not, for I am with you..

-         Heb 13:5 … never, never leave…

For Me: – Rom 8:31 … if God is for us, who can be against us…

In Me: – 1 Cor 6:19 … or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you,…?

Joel 3:10

Weak say I am strong – poor – rich. 2 Cor 12:10

Ps 119:65 Overflowing in His blessings.

No weapon formed against me.

Every place I tread – given to me.

STAND YOUR GROUND!!

Now is Not the Time to Give Up

21 November 2010 (am)

Pastor Melody vd Merwe

Hab 2:1-4

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up! (Thomas Edison)

The first step to succeeding in anything, is making a quality decision NOT TO GIVE UP!

If you’re going to fulfil your divine purpose in life (walk with God / Marriage / Business) you must realize, and be fully persuaded that; Giving Up is NOT an option!

Background

Moses Num 11:15 – Kill me

Elijah 1 Kings 19:4 – It is enough!

Hab 1:2 & Hab 2:1-4

So often we ask the Lord questions, but we seldom wait to hear His answer!

Remember:

• God has (is) an answer to our overwhelming circumstances. (Hab 2:1) CEV… while standing guard on the watch tower, I waited for the Lord’s answer, …

• God’s promises always proves true, it is never lat! (Hab 2:2+3) CEV… then the Lord told me: “I will give you my message in the form of a vision. Write it clearly enough to be read at a glance. (v3) At the time I have decided, My words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting – it will happen!…

• • (Hab 2:2+3) LB… but these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, don not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!…

Num 23:19 (CEV)…God is no mere human! He doesn’t tell lies or change His mind. God always keeps His promises.

Remember

• The just live by faith, no matter what the circumstances! (v 4) Hab 3:17-19 – Change from first question!

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO GIVE UP BECAUSE …

1. God doesn’t give up on us…

Phil 1:6 (Notes)

Ps 138:8 WW + Notes

Heb 13:5+6 (Notes)

Gen 28:15

Deut 31:6+8

Josh 1:5 be strong 6,7,9

2.  We can make it…

Prov 24:16 (Notes) (TEV)…no matter how often honest people fall, they always get up again; but disaster destroys the wicked…

2 Cor 4:8-16 (LB 8+9)… we are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. (9) We are hunted down, but God never abandon’s us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.

v9 Phillips – we may get knocked down but we are never knocked out!

3. We will receive the promises…

Heb 6:13-20 (Notes) (v 18) It is impossible for God to lie. (+LB)

Heb 10:23… let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, fo He who promised is faithful.

Heb 10:32-39 (WW + Notes) + (LB)

Num 23:19 + (LB) …God is not a man, that He should lie; He doesn’t change His mind like humans do. Has He ever promised, without doing what He said?

DON’T GIVE UP!!!

ATTITUDE IV: Giving Thanks Always

14 November 2010 (am)

Pastor Melody vd Merwe

Luke 17:11-19

Intro:  It is your attitude towards life that will determine life’s attitude towards you. Despite many people’s belief to the contrary, life plays no favourites.

You control your attitude. If you are negative it is because you chose to be negative – NOT because of other people, or circumstances.

Luke 17:11-19 10 lepers called out for mercy. Ten were cleansed as they went. And one returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, he fell down on his face at Jesus’ feet, and gave Him thanks – a Samaritan (v14-16)

Other 9 Jews – felt it was their due?

§         Ingratitude did not deny Christ’s mercy to the nine, but it did deprive them of fellowship with Him.

(Not all healings are instantaneous but rather, there is frequently, a healing, “As you go”. V14)

Have a thankful heart for all that He has done for you. Born again, washed in the blood, cleansed of unrighteousness, fearfully & wonderfully made, breath, today, food, health & appetite, given you power to get wealth, His word, Spouse, children, family of God, new day.

An unthankful heart leads to great problems – into the same problems you had before you were born again. (think you deserve it  – NB by grace)

Giving Thanks Always (manners – small)

Eph 5:20 … Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

WW John 6:11…to be grateful, to express gratitude, to be thankful…giving thanks.

1 Chron 16:7 WW Thank – Yadah. To revere or worship with extended hands; to praise, give thanks, acknowledge, declare the merits of someone. Important word for ‘praise’ or ‘thanks’. Yadah suggesting outstretched hands as a means of worship and thanks.

1 Chron 16:8-13, 23-36

2 Chron 5:13+14 Result of praising and thanking the Lord – The Lord turns up!!

Come into His presence with thanksgiving.

Ps 95:1-7 WW Ps 95:2 Thanksgiving – TODAH. Thanks, thanksgiving, adoration, praise. Comes from YADAH – thus to thank or praise God is “to lift or extend one’s hands” in thanks to Him.

Enter His gates with Thanksgiving. Ps 100:4+5

Jesus Matt 11:25

Lazarus John 11:41 thanked God.

1 Thes 5:18 In Everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

2 Thes 2:13 But we are bound (under obligation) to give thanks to God always for you…

Rom 1:8

1 Cor 1:4

Phil 1:3

Col 1:3

1 Thes 1:2+3

2 Thes 1:3

2 Tim 1:3

Phil 1:4

ALWAYS GIVE THANKS – MAY THIS BE YOUR ATTITUDE – AN ATTITUDE OF THANKSGIVING.

Giving Back to God

by Rick Warren

Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest; then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10 (HCSB)

The purpose of tithing is to teach us to always put God first in our lives. God doesn’t need our money. He wants what it represents: our gratitude, our priorities and our faith.

Now look at these verses in Proverbs 3. Do you see where it says, ‘Honor the Lord by giving him the    leftovers of all your income’. Now, you can see, that’s NOT what it says at all.

It says, “Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest …”. We give to God first, before anyone else, right off the top of our income.

And here is the promise, “Then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine”. Many of you know that Kay and I have always lived this way, we give the first 10% to God. If we’re going to be in debt, we will be in debt to other people, but we are not going to be in debt to God.

You and I are called to give back to God in gratitude, but also as a demonstration of our priorities. And, it is a demonstration of our faith in his promises.

In Malachi 3:10, God says, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse …”. That means the place where you worship. Then God says, “Put me to the test!” In a sense, ‘Test me and see how I will bless you for your obedience’.

God says he will provide all that you need. He     doesn’t say he’ll provide all that we greed, but all that we need.

ATTITUDE III: Pride vs Humility

07 November 2010 (am)

Pastor Melody vd Merwe

James 1:21

NKJ…Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

AMP … so get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls.

• Been there, done that, got the tapes.
• If the word is old to you, it’s not real to you.

Repetition is the mother of learning and the father of understanding.

Phil 3:1, 2 Pet 1:12, Jude 1:5

Eating same breakfast over and over – nourishes you every time you eat and digest it.

Attitude

• It is your attitude at the beginning of a task more than anything else that will determine your success or failure.
• It is your attitude towards life that will determine life’s attitude towards you. Despite many people’s belief to the contrary, life plays no favourites.
• You control your attitude. If you are negative it is because you have decided to be negative – not because of other people or circumstances.

PRIDE VS HUMILITY

Prov 16:18. As you grow in Christ there is a danger that you may develop a spirit of pride. Protect yourself against haughtiness. Don’t become judgemental or critical.

Never become unteachable. (be FAT – faithful, Available, Teachable)

Prov 29:23… a man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble will retain honour…

Pride originated with Lucifer – he perverted humility.

Satan has never created anything; he has only perverted what God put into the earth.

Pride – carnal nature – flesh.

Being spirit-controlled is the solution to overcoming pride.

Ezek 28:17 & Is 14:13-14

I … I… I… pride always talks about ‘I’ – self.

What is pride?

Pride is a wrong or false estimation of oneself. When you get full of pride you assume you are right and everyone else is wrong.

Pride always wants its own way. (we should want God’s way)

When pride enters, criticism and negative thinking abound.

Be FAT (faithful, available & teachable)

We must develop fat hearts and thin heads (not fat heads and thing hearts).

Pride goes before the/a fall – fights…”I”.. Arguments… I have rights… you have no right to say that about me. I think, I feel, I know…

It takes 2 to argue. – Argue with a corpse?

Ever been bitted by a dead dog?

Proud hearts stir up strife. Prov 28:25

What is Humility?

(WW) Acts 20:19

Humility – total absence of arrogance, conceit, and haughtiness…

Humility is the right attitude to, and estimation of, oneself.

Humility is the ability to receive that which you do not deserve.

Humility is the foundation for obedience.

Blessing of humility. Prov 3:34-35

1 Pet 5:6-8 (v8)… devil can devour those who are in pride. – not casting care upon the Lord, not depending on the Lord but on self…

Humility is total dependence on God.

Religion vs Humility Luke 18:10-14

James 4:6 – grace to the humble (v7) submit to God (The Word)

James 4:8-10 – (v10)…humble yourselves… – your will is involved.

True Humility

1. Total dependence on God Deut 8:3

God wants us to be totally dependent on Him, not our won strength or ability.

–       Never leave or forsake you.

2. Ability to receive what you don’t deserve Rom 8:31+32

Greatest being God’s son. – What the Word says about me.

3. Ability to lose all and still believe who you are in Christ

We must base our self-worth only on Jesus, not fame or fortune.

Never judge a person by what they have!!

Rom 3:4…indeed, let God be true but every man a liar…Your self-worth is in Jesus not in who you are or what you have.

4. Desires to be the best you that God intended you to be and not anybody else.

You are unique. Don’t strive to be somebody else. Don’t envy others. James 3:16 …Where envy and strife is, there all evil abounds…

5. True humility is obedience to God

Jesus is our example in all things. God did not humble Jesus, He humbled himself.

Let this mind be in you…Phil 13:4-8

–       If we humble ourselves God will exalt us.

6. True humility is walking in love

Those who are truly humble will walk in love. 1 Cor 13:4-8 (LB)

As you humble yourself you will bear much fruit that will glorify the Father. Gal 5:22-24

Stay humble before the Lord and never take any of the credit for what God is doing through you.

Do Something About That

by Rick Warren

“When Esther’s servants told her what Mordecai was doing, she was deeply disturbed.” Esther 4:4 (TEV)

A key to discovering your destiny is to identify the needs that stir your heart. What is it that upsets you? What causes you to think, “Somebody ought to do something about that”? Whatever it is, that is the key to your destiny. My wife, Kay, calls it being seriously disturbed. It bothers you so much that it moves you to action.
In Esther, chapter 4, Esther’s servant tells her that her uncle, Mordecai, is publicly mourning because of Haman’s plot and the king’s decree to kill all the Jews. When she hears what Mordecai is doing, it deeply disturbs her. She probably thinks that a lot of people will die unless she does something.

Does anything disturb you or is your life so insulated that nothing makes you say, “Somebody ought to do something about that”?

Saddleback Church became the leading church in America in the fight against AIDS because Kay read an article in Newsweek that said 14 million children had been orphaned by AIDS and it seriously disturbed her. And she’s not alone. In our church there are over 300 ministries started by    people in our congregation who saw a problem, a need, a hurt or an injustice, and decided to do something about it.
Isaiah 58:6-11 gives ten amazing promises to those who act on injustice. Take a moment to read it. God promises that – his favor will shine on you, your wounds will be healed, he will always be with you, he will save you and protect you, he will answer your prayers, he will turn darkness to light, he will guide you, satisfy you with good things, and keep you strong and well.
All of those promises are built on being generous with   people less fortunate because God wants us to learn generosity.  Here is your homework assignment for today: Make a list of the needs you see that disturb you. Then pray and ask God to show you ways you can use your gifts to make a difference.

ATTITUDE II: Servant

31 October 2010 (am)

Pastor Melody vd Merwe

Matt 20:25-28 & 23:11+12

Servant: Doulos (Doo-Loss) –

• a bondslave who is bound to do what he is told to do, regardless of what he thinks about it.

• Carry out orders no matter what he feels or thinks about them.
• Dipicts one whose very existence is to fulfil the commands of his master. I.e. One whose will is completely swallowed up in the will of another.

WW Rev 19:5 Often the service involved is voluntary, in which a person willingly offers obedience, devotion and loyalty to another, subordinating his will to him.

Intro: We (as church – body of Christ) have a responsibility to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and also one another.

Different servants in the Word of God.

Evil servants, unprofitable servants, unfaithful servants, unworthy servants, wicked and lazy servants.

Also a wise servant and a good and faithful servant.

The choice is ours as to what type we are!!

God does not force anyone to do anything.

NOT talking of Christian doormats.

Servant is not weak but definitely MEEK (power and strength under control)

Willingly offers obedience, devotion and loyalty (WW 1 Tim 6:11)

Jesus was never weak – came in the form of a servant – whom did he serve? Firstly the Father and then the World.

God will use you, if you are willing, obedient and available.

Good, wise and faithful servants…

1.  Don’t’ belong to themselves.

Confess everyday – “As a child of God, I no longer belong to myself, I have been bought by the blood of Jesus and I belong to Him.”

Deut 30:19 If you belong to God then choose God and do whatever He tells you to do.

In the Kingdom of God there is no such things as “My Rights”, only God’s rights.

Rom 1:1…Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God…

1 Cor 9:19 …for though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I may with the more…

2.  Are Obedient

Matt 8:9+10

1 Sam 15:22

NB!! Compromise is not obedience – Partial obedience is not obedience 1 Sam 15:23

Do not have an attitude of rebellion (I know God’s word says….BUT)

A good and wise and faithful servant is one who will obey.

3.  Is Not Selfish

A selfish servant is and unprofitable servant. 15% of the body of Christ carry the entire church. 15% of the people in the kingdom are doing all the work, providing all the finances and doing all the praying for the whole church worldwide. Have you ever noticed how many people will flock to a healing meeting whilst how few attend a prayer vigil for the nation? Which is more important? If one hundred people come to a prayer meeting it is considered a success, whilst thousands will come to a miracle service!

We are the Body, we need to work together, not being selfish but responding to the needs around us.

The reason that God wants you to prosper is that He wants you to be a channel of Hiss blessings. Eph 4:16…  start doing your share!

Luke 22:24-27

We must have the attitude of a servant, not looking for our promotion, but seeing how we can serve, firstly the Lord Jesus and then those around us.

4.  Is Busy Doing the Works of Jesus

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

We see the works He did – always busy with His Father’s business.

Whatever Jesus did – DO IT!

Whatever Jesus says to you – DO IT!

Matt 24:42-51

Be busy until He comes.

5.  Walks in the Compassion of Jesus

Always allow God’s love to flow through you.

Compassion – pity that prompts you to do something to help.

Matt 14:13+14 Compassion is the direct motive for at least five of Jesus’ miracles.

6.  Desires to Be Faithful

Matt 25:14-29

Talents – money – use what you have to further the Kingdom of God.

7. Desires the Spirit of Servanthood

Desire to serve rather than to be served.

• Jesus last work before going to the cross.

John 13:5-17

Jesus even washed Judas’ feet.

Our attitude must be one of unconditional love.

Mighty Men of David – Fetched him water 1 Chron 11:15-19

8.  Is Willing and Obedient

Willing – as you purpose in your heart.

2 Cor 9:7 + WW Cheerful

1 Sam 15:22 … to obey is better than sacrifice…

Illustration: Little boy told to sit.

Sitting on the outside but on the inside standing up.

Servant vs Slave

Jesus Phil 2:3-8