GOD’S PATTERN FOR GIVING, TO RELEASE KINGDOM LIVING

1 Corinthians 16:2 NLT - "On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once."

Giving shows God is first place in your life, not money.  God's nature is that of a giver.  Giving is a process to release prosperity into your life.  As We Increase Our Giving, It Increases Our Capacity for Receiving - Luke 6:38 "...the amount you give will determine the amount you get back."

WHAT IS GOD’S WAY? “There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.”

Proverbs 11:24 NKJV - To walk in increase we must release!

1. THE HOARDER

WITHHOLD means “accumulation that is carefully guarded, to hoard” - Having stuff does not mean you have provision!

• Hoarding is a Self-Preservation mentality
• Hoarding prevents giving
• Hoarding is based in fear
• Hoarding prevents giving.

There is Wisdom in Preparation but NOT at the expense of OBEDIENT Giving!!!

RESULTS OF HOARDING:

POVERTY means “insufficiency or lack of necessities” - WHEN YOU HOLD BACK – YOU LIVE IN LACK!

2. THE SOWER

SCATTER means “to disperse or sow”.  Plant the seed and pray for the harvest!  The seed only GROWS when someone SOWS.  Tithing and Giving doesn’t affect your salvation but it does affect your blessing as you walk in obedience to God’s Word!  Sowing always precedes reaping.  Our motive for giving is not to get more stuff.

WHY DO WE SOW?

• We love God
• We want other people to be blessed
• We are blessed to be a blessing!
• We don’t want to consume all we have on ourselves Acts 20:35 “…It is more blessed to give than receive” - JESUS

RESULTS FOR THE SOWER:

“There is one who scatters, yet INCREASES more…”

• Hold Tightly - Have Less
• Give Freely - Gain More

BE GENEROUS & PROSPER! - Proverbs 11:25 says "A Generous Person will Prosper…"

• IT PRODUCES: TREASURES IN HEAVEN
• IT PRODUCES: PROVISION AND MULTIPLICATION NOW

What You Keep is ALL You Have, What You GIVE Multiplies.  John Wesley said "Earn all you can, give all you can, then save all you can."

Challenge:
At HWC we are known as "The Friendly People" and that's good; now let's trust God and covenant to be generous on all occassions so that we become known as "The Friendly, Generous People".

Wisdom From Proverbs for Success @ Work!

POWERFUL PROMISES OF HARD WORK

• Want to be RICH? “Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get RICH.” - Proverbs 10:4
• Want to become a LEADER and have SUCCESS? “Work hard and become a LEADER; be lazy and never succeed.” - Proverbs 12:24
• Want to be someone who GETS THE JOB DONE? “A lazy life is an empty life, but ‘early to rise’ GETS THE JOB DONE.” - Proverbs 12:27
• Want to PROSPER in ALL areas of life? “Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will PROSPER.” - Proverbs 13:4
• Want to live on the EASY PATH? “A lazy fellow has trouble all through life; the good man’s PATH IS EASY!” - Proverbs 15:19

WORKING HARD Isn’t Something We Do Once In A While, IT’S A LIFESTYLE that produces success!

WORK DILIGENTLY - Proverbs 13:4; Proverbs 10:4

DILIGENT means “constant in effort to accomplish something”

We want to be the ONE who GETS THE JOB DONE!

Hard work is doing whatever your hand finds to do and doing it with all your might! - Ecclesiastes 9:10

'Laziness is the parent of poverty while diligence is the parent of wealth.' - Kevin Begley

WORK RELIABLY - Proverbs 22: 13

PRACTICAL STEP:
Set YOUR alarm AND your children’s alarm one half hour earlier than usual.  Prepare everything you can the night before.

WORK ENERGETICALLY - Proverbs 20:13

LOVE means “to have an appetite for”

PRACTICAL STEP:
Develop a healthy sleep pattern.  Go to Bed at a reasonable time, get up early.  If you watch T.V. before bed – set a timer to go off ½ hour before you want to go to bed.

*National Sleep Clinic tells us that 6.5 to 7.5 hours of sleep will cause you to live longer & healthier!

WORK COMPETENTLY - Proverbs 22:29

COMPETENT means “skilful, knowledgeable, well qualified”

PRACTICAL STEP:
HOW do we become competent?  Take upgrading courses that are for your field; Ask someone who is respected and does well in your field or company if they would mentor you; On your own time learn more about the company or the career; Attend workshops.

*If you never get a promotion, ask your supervisor, “What can I do to improve my performance?” Then, whatever they tell you to do – DO IT!

IMPORTANT:  PROMOTIONS don’t come as a right, but as a reward – for a job well done!

WORK SELF-SUFFICIENTLY - Proverbs 6:6-11

WORKING HARD IS NOT SOMETHING SOMEONE ELSE CAN FORCE YOU TO DO, IT IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE FOR YOURSELF!

“The work of our hands brings many benefits” Proverbs 12:14 - Benefits in Finances, Relationships, Home, God, Church & Workplace

Wisdom from Proverbs for Relationships

There are Friendships That Can MAKE You or Friendships That Can BREAK You!

"SHOW ME A PERSON’S FRIENDS, I WILL SHOW YOU THEIR CHARACTER!"

HARMFUL FRIENDS

1. FAKERS – Proverbs 29:5
   There is a difference between a compliment and flattery.  Motive Is The Key.  When someone pays a compliment, the motive is about others; they aren’t looking for anything in return.  When someone flatters, the motive is about themselves; they have ulterior motives.  It’s ok to be nice, but don’t put people in a vice.
      
2. TAKERS – Proverbs 19:6,7
   Many will entreat the favor of a liberal man, and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts. All the brothers of a poor man detest him - how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone.
      
3. SQUAWKERS – Proverbs 22:24
   These people are often critical.  WARNING: They phrase it nice but it’s Dangerous & Contagious!  Quarantine relationships that have squawkers.
      
4. TALKERS – Proverbs 16:28; 20:19
   Stay away from people who talk too much!  Fools Will Be Found Meddling – Proverbs 20:3.  CAUTION: Those who talk WITH YOU about OTHERS will talk WITH OTHERS about YOU.

HELPFUL FRIENDS

1. TRUSTWORTHY – Proverbs 20:6
   FAITHFUL means Trustworthy  LIFE LESSON: Loyal people are not necessarily trustworthy people – BUT – Trustworthy people are loyal people. They have your best interest at heart!
      
2. DEPENDABLE – Proverbs 17:17
   LOVE means Dependable, Steady, Constant
      
3. ENCOURAGERS – Proverbs 27:9
   HEARTFELT means Sincere words that bring life.  We need to be people who bring sweet words of encouragement, even in the midst of a bad atmosphere.
      
4. WISE – Proverbs 13:20
   WISE means Give Careful Thoughts To Your Words & Actions

2 characteristics of WISE people:

1. They seek to please God and not other people. Do we want to be people-pleasers or God-pleasers?
2. A wise person considers other people before themselves - Proverbs 12:26

CHALLENGE: Proverbs 12:26 tells us, 'The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.'  We need to use wisdom in choosing our friends, but first, we need to BE a good friend.  Do I make people better people and better believers as a result of their being around me?  Am I building people up with my words?  Can people rely on me?  Am I a giver, not looking for something in return?  We need to be trustworthy people of character.

Wisdom from Proverbs for Marriage

Today we are going to increase in wisdom in the most important decision you will ever make in your life - after knowing Jesus.  The first most important decision you can make is the decision to follow Jesus; that is an eternal decision.  After that, the most important decision is not your career, your clothes, your shoes, your house, where you will live or what church you go to.  The decision that will impact you most after choosing to become a Christian is who you choose to marry!  This decision will impact your life like no other decision.  This is the one decision that can determine if you live in a war zone or in peace; in poverty or prosperity; in frustration or happiness; in chaos or order!

QUALITIES FOR A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE

What a MAN'S ATTITUDE should be toward marriage:

The man who finds a wife finds a treasure and receives favour from the Lord - Proverbs 18:22  A wife is a RARE TREASURE to be cared for and cultivated.  Most women respond to a loving attitude.  Choose to: WORK HARD AND WORK TOGETHER – she needs to know she’s your priority and you are on her side!

What a WOMAN'S ATTITUDE should be toward marriage:

A worthy wife is her husband's joy and crown; a shameful wife saps his strength - Proverbs 12:4  A husband is to be SUPPORTED and RESPECTED.  A wife's attitude is NOT to NURTURE or NEGLECT but to RESPECT.  Shameful means 'Disinterested and disrespectful'

Great Marriages don't just happen, they take work!

So we need to become SKILLED in HOW WE BUILD!

ATTITUDES THAT TEAR DOWN:

Main Ways a Woman Tears Down is With Her WORDS:

• Nagging – A nagging wife annoys like a constant dripping - Proverbs 19:13
• Arguing – It is better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a contentious wife in a lovely home - Proverbs 21:9  Contentious means 'argumentative'
• Complaining – It is better to live alone in the desert than with a crabby, complaining wife - Proverbs 21:19  TO COMPLAIN WILL ONLY DRAIN YOUR MARRIAGE!

Main Ways a Man Tears Down is With His ACTIONS:

The Main thing Proverbs WARNS men to guard against is LOOKING & LONGING - Why be captivated, my son, with an immoral woman? - Proverbs 5:20  Captivated means 'thrilled or fascinated with'.  Men are VISUAL – they are VISUALLY under attack all the time.  A second glance makes an image an imagination.  Don't allow inappropriate images to turn into an inappropriate imagination.  Looking at images is cheating on your spouse!  You begin to compare your spouse with the images.  Nothing devalues a wife more than when her husband looks after another woman - Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. ….May you always be captivated by her love - Proverbs 5:18-19

ATTITUDES THAT BUILD UP:

1. HEALTHY INTIMACY

A wife needs to be VISUALLY GENEROUS toward her husband.  Honey seems tasteless to a person who is full, but even bitter food tastes sweet to the hungry - Proverbs 27:7

Give him an eyeful every day and he won't stray!

2. TRUST EXPLICITLY (Trust means 'to put one’s confidence in')

Her husband can trust her and she will greatly enrich his life - Proverbs 31:11  Trust takes years to gain, minutes to loose and when lost may never be gained again.  If trust is broken, understand that it will take time to earn that trust back.

3. WALK IN UNITY

She will not hinder, but help him all her life - Proverbs 31:12  Unity means 'to be pleasant and agreeable'.  Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction? - Amos 3:3  Couples need to AGREE IN UNITY!  They should talk and pray together.

4. LIVE GODLY

He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honour - Proverbs 21:21  Righteousness means 'to desire to live right'

More than anything else this will BUILD A STRONG MARRIAGE AND A GREAT LIFE!

Wisdom For The Family

BY WISDOM A HOUSE IS BUILT, AND BY UNDERSTANDING IT IS ESTABLISHED - Proverbs 24:3

'ESTABLISHED' means 'to be set firmly, to be stable.'

PROVERBS OFFERS GUIDANCE FOR PARENTS

1. A Parent is to Give DIRECTION:

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” - Proverbs 22:6

'TRAIN' means 'to put something in their mouth to be tasted.'  If we don’t give them a taste for the right things, others will give them a taste for the wrong things.  The message kids hear clearest is NOT the one we SHOUT OUT but the One we LIVE OUT!

2. A Parent is to Give CORRECTION:

PARENTAL KEY - They may not always RESPOND, but you STILL have to SAY it!

“A youngster's heart is filled with foolishness, but discipline will drive it away.” - Proverbs 22:15

“Discipline is the tool, to keep our children from becoming a fool.”

“If you refuse to discipline your children, it proves you don't love them; if you love your children, you will be prompt to discipline them” - Proverbs 13:24

'PROMPT' means 'ready to act whenever necessary.'

The purpose of Correction is Reflection to get them back in the RIGHT Direction

The KEY is BALANCE: CORRECTION & DISCIPLINE AND AFFECTION & PATIENCE

3. A Parent is to Give AFFECTION: Prov. 15:17

Set an atmosphere in your home and take time to DISPLAY AFFECTION to your children with your time and with your talk.  Provide boundaries for your children your best and trust God to do the rest!

Wisdom - A Road Map

I'm writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way, I'm drawing a map to Righteous Road. I don't want you ending up in blind alleys, or wasting time making wrong turns.  Hold tight to good advice; don't relax your grip. Guard it well! - Proverbs 4:11-14 (Message)

Don't get distracted from good advice.  Hold onto wisdom.  Say, "I want to stay on Wisdom Way"

What is wisdom?  WISDOM is knowing the right thing to do, what to do and then making the choice to do it.

WE ALL HAVE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE NOT FOLLOWED GOOD ADVICE

• We Think We Know Better
• We Want To Do It
• It Only Affects Me, It’s Not Hurting Anybody Else

If you walk in wisdom's way, were you are today is not where you'll stay!

RESULTS- Then we FIND OUT:

• We Really Didn’t Know Better
• We Might Have Wanted the Actions, But We Didn’t Want the Consequences to the Actions
• We Not Only Hurt Ourselves But We Hurt Somebody Else

When We Don’t Follow Good Advice – We Are Following the WRONG WAY

God Does NOT Want You to Live in a MESS; God Wants You to Live in SUCCESS!

HOW DO WE LIVE IN SUCCESS?

GOOD ADVICE

Proverbs 4:13 Hold Tight To Good Advice

• From Our Parents
• From Other Wise, Godly People
• From Our Pastors

GOD'S ADVICE

Proverbs 4:21 Keep My Message in Plain View at All Times.  Concentrate!  Learn it by Heart!

• Joshua 1:8 says: “…You Will Make Your Way Prosperous and Have Good Success”
• Psalm 1:3 says “In All You Do, You Prosper”
• Proverb 8:14 says “Good Advice and Success Belongs to Me”

STRATEGIES TO INCREASE IN WISDOM - Proverbs 2

We seek for things like more money (most make millions in a life time), more time (most spend 9 years of their life watching TV) or a better spouse (when we need to be a better spouse).  We should not seek these things, we should seek more wisdom from God.  We need wisdom in our work, our relationships, our family, our mouth and our money.

Proverbs 2 starts with ‘IF’. Promise and blessing is CONDITIONAL on our action.

1. Accept His Word – Proverbs 2:1

Accept means to lay hold of, to seize.  The bible is our handbook or manual for living.  We need to learn it and live (do what it says).  It makes sense that the manufacturer knows best what to put in the manual and how to operate the item.

2. Apply Our Will –  Proverbs 2:2

Heart is referring to your mind, your thinking, the determination of your will.  Wisdom does not happen on its own; we need to seek after it.  Why do we let other's decisions guide our actions?  We need to be determined to be wise and make good decisions.

3. Ask For Insight  – Proverbs 2:3

Insight is clear understanding of complex situations.  You don't need counsel on situations that are pretty obvious, but for complex situations, you can ask God for insight.  We don't need worldly wisdom but godly wisdom.  James 1:5 encourages us to ask God for wisdom.  He has a generous portion for you!

4. Actively Pursue  – Proverbs 2:4

Seek wisdom like it is a treasure!  Don't be casual in your seeking or you may not find what you are looking for.  What you need is already there, you just have to search for it.  It may be an inconvenience or put you out of your comfort zone.  When you are looking for treasure, you can't always look pretty; sometimes you have to get messy or get out of your comfort zone.  We need to realize there is value in being wise!

BENEFITS OF SEARCHING FOR WISDOM - Proverbs 2:5-20

• Knowledge Of God - Proverbs 2:5
• Victory And Protection - Proverbs 2:7
• Good Judgment For Living - Proverbs 2:9
  Discretion is forethought, foresight, caution in practical affairs - a word from God does not displace getting wisdom; in fact, in justifies getting wisdom all the more!
• Deliverance From Evil People - Proverbs 2:12
  'Perverse' means foolish or deceitful
• Empowerment To Live Right - Proverbs 2:20

We need to become treasure seekers.  The treasure of wisdom will empower us to live blessed and not stressed!

5. THE GREATEST BENEFIT OF SEEKING WISDOM IS THAT WE WILL GROW IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST!

In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden - Colossians 2:3

If we gain godly wisdom then the effort to actively pursue that wisdom was all worth it.  Wisdom is the beginning of Exponential Increase!

Wisdom - The Most Important thing

GETTING WISDOM IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO! – PROV. 4:7

Scripture: Proverbs 1:1-7

1. Prayer For Wisdom - Proverbs 1:1

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God..." James 1:5

1. Purpose of Proverbs - Proverbs 1:2-3

To Teach Wisdom and Discipline

• Wisdom is the ability to make good choices.
  If you know the right thing, you’re knowledgeable - if you do the right
  thing, you’re wise.  Don't equate knowledge with wisdom.

• Wisdom is the application of knowledge.
  You don't have to have a degree to be wise.

• Wisdom is the skillful use of knowledge.
  The book of Proverbs is not a book of promises, its a book of wisdom to
  help us skillfully use our knowledge to guide our lives.

2 Ways That You Can Get Wisdom:

• Trial and Error (knowledge)
  - personal experience

• Instruction of Others (wisdom)
  - benefit of learning from their experience

3. Pursuers of Wisdom - Proverbs 1:4-6

"Study to show yourself approved..." - 2 Timothy 2:15 - get into Proverbs!

Proverbs  Was Written For:

• Those who can be easily influenced – will increase in discernment
• Young People – will give them knowledge and good judgement
• Wise – will increase in learning
• People of Understanding – will receive increased guidance

We need to increase our capacity for wisdom.  Luke 2:52 tells us even Jesus grew in wisdom...

4. Prerequisite for Wisdom - Proverbs 1:7

A fool is one who acts without counsel and disregards Godly instruction. Characteristics of a Fool:

• Cannot receive instruction;
• A know-it-all;
• So strongly opinionated, you can't tell them anything;
• a talker and never a listener (a listener - engaged in process with right heart and attitude)

These qualities will hold you back from increasing in God.

Wisdom can be found in LIVING FOR JESUS and LIVING LIKE JESUS - "In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." - Colossians 2:3

HOW DID JESUS LIVE HIS LIFE?  “The FEAR OF THE LORD is the beginning of Wisdom” Proverbs 1:7  Fear is reverent submission, to honour, to respect, to submit to.

The foolish person will live in a way that pleases himself and others but a wise person will live in a way that pleases God.

Put God First In Our Giving & Put God First In Our Living

CHALLENGE: To have the Courage to say that ‘I WILL put God first’ and the RESOLVE to make it happen!

'If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time!'  As a believer, when you make a resolution, you don't have to do it by yourself.  Philippians 2:13  God will help you when you rely on him.  I am going to rely on the Lord and resolve to live right.

4 Ways to Live Right: - Psalm 101:2-4

You will not accomplish any goal unless you have determination!  Four times in this verse, David states, “I WILL”.  He didn't say he would try or he might.  That means absolutely nothing.  There is no determination or intention whatsoever.  David was determined to
put first things first!

1. Live Right Among Others - I WILL behave wisely, in a perfect way

To 'behave wisely' means "to act circumspectly" - 'circumspectly' means "to encircle, to see or inspect something".  “The Perfect Way” is God’s way of living.  We are not perfect, but we are being perfected.  We are being transformed by the renewing of our minds. Romans 12:2

2. Live Right at Home – I WILL walk within my house with a perfect heart

At home there are many distractions that make it difficult to live right.  We let down our guard due to familiarity; but we can't let our flesh rule!  “Perfect Heart” (vs. 2) DOES NOT mean ‘without fault’.  It DOES mean ‘Completely Committed to Doing What is Right’.  "I'm gonna commit my life to doin' what's right, both day and night!"

QUESTION:  How do we walk with a Perfect Heart?

• Take time to pray each day! - Ps 119:147 Just pray - it's a great way to start your day.  It's the First Fruit of your day!
• Be quick to forgive one another! - Col 3:13 Allow people room to grow - not an excuse for bad behaviour, but grace to change.  We all grow at different speeds in different areas.
• Be quicker to admit when you’re wrong. - Isa 57:15; Eph 4:26,27   Don't let the sun go down on your wrath.  It will give a foothold to the devil and a foothold becomes a stronghold!

3. Live Right With Your Sight - I WILL set nothing wicked before my eyes.

'Wicked' mean 'worthless, unprofitable, unbeneficial'  Putting God first requires removing anything that qualifies as 'wicked' from your eyes.

• The Law of Gravity states “what goes up, must come down”
• The Law of Garbage states “what goes in, must come out”

What you look at long enough is what you think about, talk about and then live out in your life.  When you learn something by visual, you double your chances of retaining it.  That goes for both good and bad. 1 John 2:16  Impure visual images will stimulate impure thoughts and actions.

4. Live Right in your Thoughts - I WILL NOT know wickedness!

“I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil!” Psalm 101:4; "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7

Sometimes we're sinking because of our stinking thinking!  When we change our thinking we can change our life! 

Scriptures on right thoughts: Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:97-99; Philippians 4:8 These scriptures all come with a promise!

CHALLENGE: Have the Courage to put God first - and RESOLVE to make it happen!  Live right among others, at home, with your sight and in your thoughts.  This week, journal your journey with the Lord and reflect on what God is doing as you resolve to 'LIVE RIGHT'!

The Purpose of Firstfruits

"But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him.  For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]."
- Hebrews 11:6

"But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides."
- Matthew 6:33

The word 'SEEK' means, 'to aim for or to strive after'.  In the year of Exponential Increase, we at HWC need to PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST!  "My first goes to You & I will trust You all year through!"

Scripture: Deuteronomy 26:1-4, 8-11

'FIRST FRUITS' simply means 'the first and best part'.

PURPOSE OF FIRST FRUITS:

1. Offering of APPRECIATION – Deuteronomy 26:8

Proverbs 3:9 "Honour the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops (increase)."

We’ve got to give God thanks for where He’s brought us from and where He’s taking us to.  When you trust God and give Him your all, you can thank Him for where He's taking you because you know it will be good!

'BROUGHT OUT' means 'to move forward to something'.

2. Offering of ANTICIPATION – Proverbs 3:9

Your barns will be filled with plenty. - Proverbs 3:10

'BARNS OR STOREHOUSE' means 'a depository for goods, a warehouse'.

3. Offering of CELEBRATION – Deuteronomy 26:11

It is a time of teaching your children how you are thankful and how you celebrate God's faithfulness and goodness.

PROMISES OF THE FIRSTFRUITS OFFERING:

• A Blessing will rest on your house - Ezekiel 44:30
• Give God the best and the rest will be blessed! - Romans 11:16

What We Do With the First - Will Establish the Rest!!!

Get ready for:        BLESSING!  Ÿ  FAVOUR!  Ÿ  INCREASE!

YOU’RE SETTING THE PATTERN OF PROVISION...
FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR!