Psalm 116:12-19 - WHAT WILL YOU GIVE GOD TO KEEP IN 2008

INTRODUCTION:

Last week I preached, "What has God give you to keep" and it was about the giftedness and opportunities that God has given us all and the responsibility we have to use those things for God.

This week I want us to look as what we are willing to give God to keep in 2008. My presupposition is that there is really nothing you can give God that he has not already given to you first.

ILLUSTRATION:

There was a very godly woman whom an ungodly man had mocked for years because of hearing what he considered her simpleton prayers. One day he heard her tell God she was hungry and at noon today she would look out her front door for whatever groceries her wanted her to have.

He laughed in himself and said I will buy her groceries, put it at her door, and prove to her that God has nothing to do with those types of things. So about 11:50AM he put a huge amount of groceries at her door and waited for her to open the door. Sure enough, exactly at noon she opened the door, saw the groceries, and shouted for joy, giving God thanks for what he did.

The ungodly man jumped out of the bush mocking and saying God did not give you those groceries I did. There is no God, and your prayers were not answered. She responded, why sir not only did God answer my prayer about the groceries but he miraculously made the devil be the delivery boy.

Brothers and Sisters God has given you privilege, ability, and opportunity to reach your maximum potential in this life and to live in peace about it no matter how much or how little material things you end up at death. But what you do with those things is what you can and will give back to God.

When you come to the end and you say I have done the best I can and give it that I have, even then you cannot give anything original back to God that he did not first give to you.

There is only one original thing given to you by the Lord that you by your own free will can either keep or give throughout eternity and that is your soul. God has placed your soul in your hands and give you free will to decide it you will keep it or give it back to God.

Maybe you say I don't need to be born again, I am a good person, I do the best I can, and I haven't made any major mistakes in my life.

Well let us examine your life and see if you need a Savior!

1 - Have you ever put anything in front of God? If so you have broken the 1^st commandment.

2 - Had you ever put your possessions or job in front of serving God? If so you have broken the 2^nd commandment.

3 - Have you ever cursed, using the Lord's name in vain? If so you have broken the 3^rd commandment.

4 - Have you ever went without taking one day in a week to honor God? If so you have broken the 4^th commandment.

5 - Have you ever disrespected you father or mother? If so you have broken the 5^th commandment.

6 - Have you ever hated anyone? If so you have broken the 6^th commandment.

7 - Have you ever looked upon someone to lust after them in your heart? If so you have broken the 7^th commandment.

8 - Have you ever taken anything at anytime that did not belong to you? If so you have broken the 8^th commandment.

9 - Have you ever told a lie? If so you have broken the 9^th commandment.

10 - Have you ever wanted something that belonged to someone else? If so you have broken the 10^th commandment.

You have broken God's laws, you are a sinner, God does love you, Jesus did both die and rise from the grave for your atonement, you do have a free will, and it is your choice whether you will spend eternity in heaven or hell.

Let's look at what you can give God according to the way the world looks at things today. You say pastor how is that? Let's look at things backwards from the temporal and material unto the eternal.

I - WILL YOU GIVE YOUR FINANCES TO GOD IN 2008

ILLUSTRATION:

Joel Santos - From Sermon Central Online

The roof of the church hall of a little Swiss church, at the turn of the 20th century, was falling down. So the members of the church held regular prayer meetings in the hall after the service to pray for funds to repair the roof.

There was an old man, known to be very tight with his money, who used to attend and sit near the back of the hall. He could sneak out just before the collection plate came round at the end of the prayer meeting.
One Sunday, he was held up on his way to the prayer meeting in the Hall by the vicar and could only find a seat at the front of the church.

During the prayer meeting, a piece of the roof fell and hit him on the head. Feeling spoke to by the Lord, he stood up and said "Lord, I'll give $1000"
A voice at the back of the church was heard to say" Hit him again, Lord"!

WHERE YOUR INVEST YOUR FINANCES IS DRIVEN BY WHERE YOUR HEART IS

Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

WHAT YOU'RE WILLING TO GIVE DETERMINES YOUR VALUE OF HEAVEN

Mat 19:20  The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

Mat 19:21  Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

WHEN ABUNDANCE DIRECTS YOUR GIVING - YOUR ATTITUDE OF LIVING IS WRONG

Mark 12:42  And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

Mark 12:43  And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

Mark 12:44  For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

WHOSOEVER PLACES HIS TREASURE IN THIS WORLD WILL NEVER SEE THE NEXT

Luke 12:15  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Luke 12:16  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

Luke 12:17  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

Luke 12:18  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

Luke 12:19  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

Luke 12:20  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

Luke 12:21  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

WILL YOUR PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT BE IN THE RED WHEN YOU DIE?

Mat 16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

WILL YOU LIVE IN 2008 WITH A CAUSE OR WITH THE CURSE?

Mal 3:8  Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Mal 3:9  Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Mal 3:10  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

ILLUSTRATION: FROM SERMON CENTRAL ONLINE

Rick Bezanson

There was a young ambitious man talking to his grandfather about his future plans. The young man said," I will learn my trade." The grandfather asked, "And then?" The young man said," I will set up a business." The grandfather asked, "And then?" The boy said," And then I will make my fortune." The grandfather repeated,"And then?" The boy said, I suppose I will retire and live on all my money." The old man asked,"And then?" The boy said hesitantly," I suppose some day I will die." The grandfather looked the young man straight in the eye and asked, "AND THEN?" The boy was silent. Brothers and sisters aren't we like this young man. We make great plans for this life and ruin our health working to attain them. But we do not look beyond this life to our everlasting destination.

II - WILL YOU GIVE YOUR BODY TO GOD IN 2008

ILLUSTRATION:

You see "perfect" in terms of God's expectation of us does not mean sinless - we can't be sinless we've already blown that! But perfection when understood in the context of progression is possible.

We may not have a flawless day but our expectations and desires to be complete in our love for God and each other should stand against the mirror of perfection every day. God is not asking you to be sinless but rather to be "perfect" or complete in our striving for excellence - in our desire and endeavoring to think and thus be more like Jesus.

EVERY MAN THAT IS IN CHRIST IS A NEW CREATION - OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY

2 Cor 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Cor 5:18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 2 Cor 5:19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 2 Cor 5:20  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Cor 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor 6:1  We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

YOU ARE BORN OF THE SPIRIT BUT LIVE FOR GOD IN YOUR BODY

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

GRACE EQUIPS BELIEVERS WITH THE MEANS FOR MATURITY

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

2 Cor 7:1  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

SANCTIFICATION IS THE MEANS OF GRACE FOR PERFECTING THE BODY

1 Th 4:3  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 1 Th 4:4  That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 1 Th 4:5  Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 1 Th 4:7  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 1 Th 4:8  He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

1 Th 5:22  Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Th 5:23  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom 13:12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Rom 13:13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. Rom 13:14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

III - WILL YOU GIVE GOD YOUR LIFE IN 2008

I found an interesting top ten list about new year's resolutions at About.Com:Pittsburg - Online 1/12/08, From Kimberly & Albrecht Powell:

1. Spend More Time with Family & Friends, 2. Fit in Fitness, 3. Tame the Bulge, 4. Quit Smoking,

5. Enjoy Life More, 6. Quit Drinking, 7. Get Out of Debt, 8. Learn Something New, 9. Help Others

10. Get Organized

Everything in the top ten list had to do with individualism and everything for the betterment of this life without regard to eternity or where they would spend it.

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom 10:11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Rom 10:12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

CONCLUSION:

FROM SERMONCENTRAL ONLINE

"Every time you are making a choice, you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different than it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life you are slowly turning this central thing either into a heavenly creature or into a hellish creature: either into a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God, and with its fellow creatures, and with itself... Each of us at each moment is progressing to the one state or the other." C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, p. 92.