Living The Blessed Life
Living The Blessed Life
•   2 Week Series
•   Taught by David Thompson
•   Week 1 – Lordship & Generosity
•   Week 2 – Practical Stewardship & Generosity
Generous Life – Gateway

                    Route 7




Financial Hope
                 Topical Classes   FPU
   Workshop
What Is


     The Blessed Life?
John 3:16
   We are most like Christ when we give
Deuteronomy 28:1-14
•   You will find favor wherever you go
•   Your children will be blessed
•   You will have abundant prosperity
•   Your finances, job, and influence will grow
•   You will never need to borrow / use debt
•   You will be able to bless others
Gateway Blessed Life
• The days of a blessed person are filled with
  divine coincidence and heavenly meaning

       Matthew 10:29
You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but
are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put
on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages
disappear as though you were putting them
in pockets filled with holes!      Haggai 1:6
                                                         9
Ownership
                    Lordship / Stewardship
     The world says:
                                   I own it
     Many Christians say:
                 God owns 10%, I own 90%
    The Bible says:
 The earth is the Lord’s and all it contains
 1 Corinthians 10:26
 Other references: Deuteronomy 10:14, Job 41:11, Psalm 24:1   10
Faithful Stewardship

If God is the owner, then we are His stewards

  Moreover it is required in stewards that one
  be found faithful            1 Corinthians 4:2

       Have you been approaching your
     finances as an owner or a steward?

                                                   11
God Must Be First
• Exodus 13:12-13
Exodus 23:19




               Proverbs 3:9-10
Genesis 4:3-5 – Cain & Able
3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the
fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And
Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from
some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked
with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and
his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was
very angry, and his face was downcast.
Joshua 7:1-26
• Tower of Jericho, God commands them not to take the
  plunder, it is the first of their victories and is
  consecrated to him. If they give the first the rest is
  blessed, if they keep it, even what they have will be
  taken away.
• 7 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the
  devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri,
  the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of
  them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.
Oh no, which one of us came first?
Tithing

Life

                 Not Law
10%
• 2 Corinthians 8: 8-9
  8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test
  the sincerity of your love by comparing it with
  the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the
  grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he
  was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so
  that you through his poverty might become
  rich.
Malachi 3:7-12
• 8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.

-How are we robbing you?

• “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse
  —your whole nation—because you are robbing
  me.”
Malachi 3:7-12
• 10 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.
The Principle of Multiplication
Luke 9:12-17
The Spirit of Mammon
       What are your money fears?
-Not having enough money at retirement
-Not enough saved for emergencies
-What if I lose my job
-Worried I can’t cover the credit card bills this month
-Will I be able to provide for my family
The Spirit of Mammon
Matthew 6:24    Deuteronomy 8:18
The Gift of Generosity
• “He who was rich chose to become poor so
  that you might become spiritually rich.”
                            -Patrick Johnson
• Jesus was the chief of generous givers.
  2 Corinthians 8:8-9 (Jesus gave us the ability to store
  for ourselves treasures in heaven)
“Aspiring generous giver, take note. What qualifies as
an act as truly generous has relatively little to do with
the amount of money one gives. Generous giving
begins with the posture of total humility. Here we find
the Incarnate Prince of Heaven, of whom the angels
sing, who sits at the right hand of Almighty God as Lord
of all Creation: on His knees before ordinary men,
washing the dirt and grime of Jerusalem’s pathways off
their dust-encrusted feet. This picture must be riveted
into our hearts. It shows us what we must become.”
-Gordon McDonald
Grace & Generosity

2 Corinthians 8:1-8

2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Definition of GRACE

• a: unmerited divine assistance
  given humans for their
  regeneration or sanctification
2 Corinthians 8:1-8
• 1 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you
  to know about the grace that God has given
  the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a
  very severe trial, their overflowing joy and
  their extreme poverty welled up in rich
  generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as
  much as they were able, and even beyond
  their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they
  urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of
  sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.
• 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They
    gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and
    then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we
    urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a
    beginning, to bring also to completion this act
    of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel
    in everything—in faith, in speech, in
    knowledge, in complete earnestness and in
    the love we have kindled in you—see that
    you also excel in this grace of giving.

2 Corinthians 8:1-8
2 Corinthians 9:10-15
• 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and
  bread for food will also supply and increase your
  store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your
  righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every
  way so that you can be generous on every
  occasion, and through us your generosity will
  result in thanksgiving to God.
• 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying
      the needs of the Lord’s people but is also
      overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
      13 Because of the service by which you have proved
      yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience
      that accompanies your confession of the gospel of
      Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them
      and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for
      you their hearts will go out to you, because of the
      surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to
      God for his indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:10-15
God Rewards Good Stewardship
              Hebrews 11:6
6 And without faith it is impossible to please
  God, because anyone who comes to him must
  believe that he exists and that he rewards
  those who earnestly seek him.
God Rewards Good Stewardship

            1 Corinthians 3:8
8 The one who plants and the one who waters
  have one purpose, and they will each be
  rewarded according to their own labor.
Miracle in Franklin
Wrap Up Points
•   Blessed Life = Divine Appointments in your life
•   God owns it all
•   You manage God’s resources
•   God must be first
•   Tithing is key starting place
•   Multiplication
•   Generosity
Next Week
• Practical Application

• How to physically steward what God has given
  you

• Miracle in Franklin: The other side of the story
David Thompson

David.Thompson624@yahoo.com


stewardship@gatewaypeople.com

Equip - Living the Blessed Life

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Living The BlessedLife • 2 Week Series • Taught by David Thompson • Week 1 – Lordship & Generosity • Week 2 – Practical Stewardship & Generosity
  • 3.
    Generous Life –Gateway Route 7 Financial Hope Topical Classes FPU Workshop
  • 4.
    What Is The Blessed Life?
  • 5.
    John 3:16 We are most like Christ when we give
  • 6.
  • 7.
    • You will find favor wherever you go • Your children will be blessed • You will have abundant prosperity • Your finances, job, and influence will grow • You will never need to borrow / use debt • You will be able to bless others
  • 8.
    Gateway Blessed Life •The days of a blessed person are filled with divine coincidence and heavenly meaning Matthew 10:29
  • 9.
    You have plantedmuch but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! Haggai 1:6 9
  • 10.
    Ownership Lordship / Stewardship The world says: I own it Many Christians say: God owns 10%, I own 90% The Bible says: The earth is the Lord’s and all it contains 1 Corinthians 10:26 Other references: Deuteronomy 10:14, Job 41:11, Psalm 24:1 10
  • 11.
    Faithful Stewardship If Godis the owner, then we are His stewards Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful 1 Corinthians 4:2 Have you been approaching your finances as an owner or a steward? 11
  • 13.
    God Must BeFirst • Exodus 13:12-13
  • 14.
    Exodus 23:19 Proverbs 3:9-10
  • 15.
    Genesis 4:3-5 –Cain & Able 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
  • 16.
    Joshua 7:1-26 • Towerof Jericho, God commands them not to take the plunder, it is the first of their victories and is consecrated to him. If they give the first the rest is blessed, if they keep it, even what they have will be taken away. • 7 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.
  • 17.
    Oh no, whichone of us came first?
  • 18.
  • 19.
  • 21.
    • 2 Corinthians8: 8-9 8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
  • 22.
    Malachi 3:7-12 • 8“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. -How are we robbing you? • “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse —your whole nation—because you are robbing me.”
  • 23.
    Malachi 3:7-12 • 10Bring 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.
  • 24.
    The Principle ofMultiplication Luke 9:12-17
  • 25.
    The Spirit ofMammon What are your money fears? -Not having enough money at retirement -Not enough saved for emergencies -What if I lose my job -Worried I can’t cover the credit card bills this month -Will I be able to provide for my family
  • 26.
    The Spirit ofMammon Matthew 6:24 Deuteronomy 8:18
  • 27.
    The Gift ofGenerosity • “He who was rich chose to become poor so that you might become spiritually rich.” -Patrick Johnson • Jesus was the chief of generous givers. 2 Corinthians 8:8-9 (Jesus gave us the ability to store for ourselves treasures in heaven)
  • 28.
    “Aspiring generous giver,take note. What qualifies as an act as truly generous has relatively little to do with the amount of money one gives. Generous giving begins with the posture of total humility. Here we find the Incarnate Prince of Heaven, of whom the angels sing, who sits at the right hand of Almighty God as Lord of all Creation: on His knees before ordinary men, washing the dirt and grime of Jerusalem’s pathways off their dust-encrusted feet. This picture must be riveted into our hearts. It shows us what we must become.” -Gordon McDonald
  • 29.
    Grace & Generosity 2Corinthians 8:1-8 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
  • 30.
    Definition of GRACE •a: unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification
  • 31.
    2 Corinthians 8:1-8 •1 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.
  • 32.
    • 5 Andthey exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:1-8
  • 33.
    2 Corinthians 9:10-15 •10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
  • 34.
    • 12 Thisservice that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:10-15
  • 35.
    God Rewards GoodStewardship Hebrews 11:6 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
  • 36.
    God Rewards GoodStewardship 1 Corinthians 3:8 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.
  • 37.
  • 38.
    Wrap Up Points • Blessed Life = Divine Appointments in your life • God owns it all • You manage God’s resources • God must be first • Tithing is key starting place • Multiplication • Generosity
  • 39.
    Next Week • PracticalApplication • How to physically steward what God has given you • Miracle in Franklin: The other side of the story
  • 40.