Faith and Finances

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Faith and Finances</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id82.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Parting With Money Positively"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Ministry Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org"><U>stan@stanbaker.org</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>“Faith and Finances,” Berean Bible Church, October 1, 2000</B></div> <bR> <div>      God meets the needs of those who are doing his will. There are many stories of people who can’t really afford to give, but give anyway, in faith. They are people who are in debt, people who are out of work; and as they obey God in giving, God provides for them.</div> <div>      We struggle in areas where we do not obey. Family situations deteriorate when people do not live according to God’s principles. People lose friends (or fail to make friends) when they choose to be unkind. Churches suffer when its work is conducted selfishly, rather than for the glory of God. It’s possible that many of us are struggling financially because we are not following God’s principles about finances, especially giving.</div> <div>      Last week, we saw that God demands that we be generous, giving people. But maybe you are asking yourself and your spouse, Can we afford to give? Maybe you have too much debt, not enough income, or misplaced priorities. What does the Bible say about whether or not you can afford to give?</div> <bR> <div> <B>I. 2 Corinthians 9.6-8: We can give cheerfully because we know God will provide.</B></div> <div> A. Vs. 6, General principle: Sow generously, reap generously. If you give in abundance, God will provide abundantly for your needs.</div> <div> B. Vs. 7, Be a cheerful giver. Giving to God is not like paying alimony or debts or being forced to give. It is cheerful, it is a privilege.</div> <div> C. Vs. 8, God will provide!</div> <bR> <div> <B>II. Malachi 3.6-12: God is waiting for you to take a step of faith.</B></div> <div> A. Vss. 6-7, God issues a call for Israel to return to him.</div> <div> B. Vss. 8-12, God challenges them to return to him in the area of their giving.</div> <div> 1. Vs. 9, They were cursed because of disobedience. They were not giving ten percent of everything back to God as the Law required. Deuteronomy 28 says that God would bless Israel if she kept his commands, but they would suffer curses if they chose to disobey.</div> <div> 2. Vs. 10-12, They could be blessed by obeying in giving. God challenged them to test him to see if he would be faithful to his promise – he most certainly would.</div> <bR> <div> Take the step of faith in obedience to God: Be a generous giver. God is waiting to bless you.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>