Nov 12: Needers & Feeders
When we ask God to increase our faith, He tends to increase our NEED for faith.
The church is not built on special offerings, but people who give CONSISTENTLY to God. Just like children are not built on the uncle that shows up once a year on holidays.
It’s not about your ability, it’s about your availability.
EACH MAN SHOULD GIVE. (stuck on that part, because I think some people make excuses)
What he has decided in his heart to give.
Not reluctantly or under compulsion
When we’re trying to get more of God in our life, He’s trying to get more of us.
“Well, I went to the church, and I didn’t get anything out of it.” What did you put into it? ‘Cause the last time I went to the bank and asked for more money than I put in, it didn’t work out so well..
Did you ever have someone do something for you that was nice, but the WAY that they did it, made you wish they didn’t do it?
You can get FAT coming to a church like Elevation. You can begin to feel like you are not needed, and you are not known. And in one sense, you are right. God doesn’t NEED you. He can find someone else.
If you think that bringing your PRESENCE into the presence of God is somehow a favor to Him--you probably read the book backwards!
If HE needs it, He will speak it.
Paul says, I want to give you the privilege to give to something that is bigger than you.
Vs.8, “and God is able” (do you really believe that?)...”to make all grace abound to you”
Vs. 10, God supplies seed to the sower.
The question is not, “is God able?”, it’s “are you a sower?”
A lot of people get stuck at the level of “What I need”. We get stuck in “Me Mode”
He will respond to your need by giving you a seed. We want God to give us a HARVEST. But he responds with a seed.
When I sowed what God gave me, it became what I needed.
The only way for you to receive what you need, is for you to give what you have.
God responds to your need with a bigger need….
Jesus takes the disciples from needers to feeders...they need rest, but they run into needy people.
Jesus orchestrated the physical need.
You will never know what you really need until God shows you a bigger need.
You will never know that God is able, until God shows you that you are not.
If you have a big need---you are about to see yourself going from needer to feeder.
We do not have enough--but God is able.
Jesus enabled the DISCIPLES to feed the 5,000.
It’s not are ABLE. It’s are you AVAILABLE.
Sacrifice means you give something and it goes away. Sow means you give something, and it gets bigger.
Jesus wasn’t given as a sacrifice, He was a seed.
When is the last time you stopped and asked God, “what do you want to do THROUGH me?”
The more we stay focused in cultural ideas and norms of consumer-based Christianity—THE WORLD STARVES.
Study 2 Corinthians 9.
How can you apply verse 6 in your life?
Study Matthew 14:13-21.
What else jumps out at you about this passage? What’s interesting? What questions do you have? What can you apply to your life?
EXTRA (from VICTORIOUS):
Why do you think God wrestled with Jacob in Genesis 31?