A Heart After God – Jan 17

Offering message: 3 John 2; Deuteronomy 8:18; Job 36:11; Psalm 35:27; Psalm 118:24, 25; 1 Chronicles 4:10. God gives us the power to gain wealth, and He has pleasure in our prosperity. God’s prosperity adds no pain with it. Sermon message: How can we have a heart after God? He wants us to get in line with Him. Isaiah 1:18 and 19 say that we will eat the good of the land if we are willing and obedient. He is your Source, and He wants you to be blessed. Our being willing and obedient ties in with seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness. A heart after God is a willing heart. Money reveals the heart. Each one of us must examine his or her own heart. Covetousness blocks blessings. Where your money is, there your heart will be. Matthew 19:16 tells of a rich ruler to whom Jesus told to sell all his belongings and give to the poor and follow Him. He went away sorrowful. Jesus said, “How hard it is for who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:23-31 says that those who leave houses and family for His sake will receive 100 times more now. You can desire to do things for Him but not really be willing. In this country we are self-sufficient and do not depend on God. In Luke 19:1 Zacchaeus gave half his goods and restored four-fold whatever he took. Jesus did not have to ask him to do that because Zacchaeus had a willing heart. God looks at your heart. If you are willing, it is the same as doing it. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac showed God his heart. We must be both willing and obedient. A lot of times money is not the problem, but it is a lack of faith and willingness. Get willing, and then you will get the vision and the faith. God is not against our having riches, but we are not to trust in them (1 Timothy 6:17-19). In fact, He became poor that through His poverty we might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). He richly provides us with all things to enjoy. We can have full enjoyment by doing good, being generous, being willing to share, or in other words, seeking first the kingdom of God. We read of the Corinthians giving an offering willingly (2 Corinthians 8, 9). Ask God for finances to give where you want to give. It is okay to exhort to give. He who sows bountifully, reaps bountifully. Each person should give as he purposes in his heart. Are you willing in your heart? We should give because we love God. Be moved by compassion, not because of need. God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you may have sufficiency and abundance. Give yourself willingly to Jesus.