PURSUE YOUR PURPOSE AND YOU WILL PROSPER!

Whoever pursues righteousness (godliness) and Unfailing Love will find Life,  Prosperity (godliness), and Honor - Prov 21:21

Pursue Your Purpose and You will Prosper:

• Pursue Righteousness – right relationship with God
• Pursue Unfailing Love - right relationship with Others

God First:  Pursue RIGHTEOUSNESS

Righteousness means character and conduct consistent with God’s Word

SIMPLE: Trying to live right, according to the Word

Pursue UNFAILING LOVE:

Unfailing Love is an eager desire to care for the needs of others

Prosperity Process:

• KNOW YOUR PURPOSE
• PUT YOUR PRIORITIES RIGHT

AND THESE PRINICPLES WILL CAUSE PROSPERITY IN YOUR LIFE

LIFE – vibrant, energetic living

• the grass is brown and dead
• it’s dark when you go to work and dark when you come home

Living that is exciting and producing

• growth
• increase
• an excitement about what is coming next

 PROSPERITY – wholeness
“Whole in  your Spirit, Your Body and Your Soul!”

HONOUR – abundance and a good reputation

Loyalty and Kindness

Watch the service at http://www.kbmlive.tv.

What 2 things do WE NEED TO DO?
A. Don’t forget the things I’ve taught you
B. Keep my commands in your heart

2 Things: GOD SAYS WILL  HAPPEN:
A. They will give you a long life  – anyone want a long life?
B. AND a Satisfying or Prosperous Life.

Satisfying or Prosperous means "health, wealth, peace and contentment"

Never let loyalty and kindness get away from you! Wear them like a necklace; write them deep within your heart. 4 Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will gain a good reputation.
- Prov. 3:3

Our GOAL is showing Loyalty and Kindness;
The FRUIT of that is Favour and a Good Reputation

Loyalty and Kindness will create a 'BOOMERANG BLESSING'

Loyal means "unswerving in allegiance"

We need to GET BACK ON THE LOYALTY TRACK!

Loyalty – focuses on "WE" not on "ME"
Loyalty – is the foundation of Unity

"Loyalty means nothing unless it has at its heart the absolute principle of self-sacrifice."
- Woodrow T. Wilson - 28th President of the United States of America

"Loyalty develops Unity which impacts Prosperity"

 
Kindness is "expression of love or thoughtfulness that is not seeking anything in return."

Do you think you deserve credit merely for loving those who love you? Even the sinners do that!  And if you do good only to those who do good to you, is that so wonderful? Even sinners do that much!

- Luke 6:32-33

We need to be people who do random acts of kindness!!

• Kindness with no strings attached;
• Kindness to people you don't know;

Kindness just to be Christ-like brings God's favour and prosperity!

Watch the service at http://www.kbmlive.tv.

God Hates What Hurts Us And Others

We need God's Direction, Protection & Correction.  Proverbs 6:16 tells us about the things God hates.   It's easy to look for the things God hates in other people's lives, but we need to look in the mirror and be aware of things that may be in our own lives that God hates.  Every one of the following things will hurt us and hurt others.

4 PARTS OF THE BODY THAT CAN CAUSE INIQUITY:

1. God Hates EYES that look down on others

When someone looks down on you, they think they are higher than you.

For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him. - Romans 12:3

TWO MAIN AREAS WHERE PRIDE COMES IN:

1. IN NATURAL THINGS:

• What they HAVE
• What they KNOW
• How they LOOK

"Be careful of pride 'cause it's a quick slide"

2. IN SPIRITUAL THINGS:

• What they DON'T DO compared to others

In 2 Corinthians 12:6-7 Paul tells us could boast of many things but he chose not to. He didn't want anyone to think any higher of him than what they can see in his life and message. We have to make sure our walk opens the door for our talk.

1 Peter 5:6 - Humble yourself If you look down on others you won't be lifted up. If you look up to God you won't be taken down. Don't get taken down - get lifted up!

2. God Hates HANDS that shed innocent blood

The Bad News: We have all shed innocent blood because of our sin - Hebrews 9:22

The Good News: HERE is an INCREDIBLE truth:

• GOD HATES the SIN but he LOVES the PEOPLE!

3. God Hates a HEART that devises wicked schemes

To direct our thoughts toward doing things that displease God

"What we justify in your mind - it's only a matter of time before we are living it out."

Proverbs 4:23 says 'Above all else, guard your heart!'

Guard means to set a post like a night-watchman

Heart means the mind, thoughts, and seat of emotions

• The guard will discard all evil thoughts - 'I gotta guard & discard!'

How do you Guard Your Heart?

• Ask YOURSELF – Will these thoughts result in obeying God... or fulfilling the flesh?
• Ask GOD – to set a protection around your mind
• Ask a Godly Friend (HWC, Life Group Leader) – to pray for you that you will overcome every temptation

4. God Hates FEET that run into evil

• Your thoughts…will eventually become your actions
• Your future is your current thought life - all grown up!
  We don't fall into sin... we choose to sin!
• You’ve got to GUARD what you THINK and GUARD where you go! 'We can't play, we've got to run the other way!' 'You have to embarrass sin before it embarrasses you!'
• For your PROTECTION set your feet in the OPPOSITE DIRECTION! - 1 Timothy 6:11-12

"Because I belong to God, I'm going to run from evil; I'm going to pursue a godly life!"

CHALLENGE:
We need to guard our thoughts.  What comes into our thoughts becomes our talk and will eventually become our walk.  We need to guard the way we think, the way we speak and they way we go.  We need to run away from evil and pursue godly things, a life that pleases God.

CONFESSION:
"I declare over my life today that I choose to set a guard over my mind; that my thoughts and words will build up and not tear down and that I will pursue a godly life.  I declare that my feet will run from evil and run to the things of God.  I choose to set my feet in the right direction and go the way that you desire me to go!"

CARELESS WORDS ARE DANGEROUS WORDS!

Careless Words Can Create a Disaster

• Can create wounds
• Can Create misunderstandings
• Can create unnecessary frustration
• Can create barriers between you and others
• Can create a trap to hold us back from promotion
• Can create curses over our lives, and the lives of those around us

We need to master blessing other people!

If we are going to LIVE WISELY then we need to choose to use 'CAREFUL' - NOT 'CARELESS' WORDS

Careful Words Can:

• Build Others Up
• Clarify Situations
• Strengthen Relationships
• Bring Hope and Joy

1. Careless Words are Many... Careful words are Few – REFRAIN from talking too much - Proverbs 21:23; Proverbs 10:19

Trouble means "Distress or Unnecessary Grief"

Sometimes we need to turn off the flow
(zip it before we flip it)!

Careless words Flow Freely in the heat of a moment.

A few practical guidelines when:

• You're tempted to talk about someone – turn off the flow
• You're tempted to talk about yourself and your accomplishments – turn off the flow
• Talk becomes negative – turn off the flow
• You`re not giving someone an opportunity to speak – turn off the flow

I gotta know when to turn off the flow!  "Even a fool when he holds his peace is considered wise!" - Proverbs 17:28

It's better to keep silent and let people think you're a fool - then to open your mouth and remove all doubt! - Abe Lincoln

2.  Careful words are Filtered – RESTRAIN from responding quickly in conflict - Proverbs 17:27

Our words need to be helpful - not harmful!

TWO POWERFUL METHODS for Filtering My Words:

1. Restraint: means to quietly depart from someone, to withdraw from something

Politely walk away – before you say  – something you’ll regret!

2. Even-tempered: means "not easily angered, remaining cool, calm and self-controlled"

Take a moment to Pray before you Say

3.  Careful words are Favorable – RETAIN a Christ-like quality - Proverbs 8:7-8

True means "reliable, ethical" AND "lining up with God’s word".

Wholesome means "beneficial to the well-being of others".

• They build others up
• They bring life into situations
• They boost people’s faith

Good means "upright, exemplary, pure"

My Words will be "True, Wholesome and Good"

God's Prescribed Way - Pastor Dave Tunakitis

Glorify means 'to make God look good!' Deuteronomy 4:7

He's God and We Are Not!!  Jesus gave us His prescribed way for success in our Christian walk in John 14:6 when He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” - Mark 2

Jesus proved he had the authority to forgive sin by laying down his life and taking it up again.  He made God look good by dying on the cross to save us from our sins.  People don't like Jesus' prescribed way so they make up their own rules for getting to heaven. 'As long as my good outweighs bad...'

Examples From the Bible :

Cain & Abel:
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD.  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, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.  So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.  Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry?  Why is your face downcast?  If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?  But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it. - Genesis 4:2-7

The bible doesn't tell you everything you want to know. It tells you what you need to know but not what you want to know. At this point in scripture we haven't been instructed on blood sacrifice.  Abel works with livestock, but Cain was a produce farmer, so he decides to give of his best produce. Cain thought, "What's the difference?"  We need to approach God in the prescribed way.  He is God & we are not!

Moses:
Moses had to go to God because the Israelites were grumbling again, in need of water.  Moses was not instructed to strike the rock this time - like last time.  God doesn't always do it the same way.  He always has a prescribed way.  We can't reduce God to a formula.  Every day, He has a prescribed way.

Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water.  You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”  So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he commanded him.  He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”  Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff.  Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.  But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them. - Numbers 20:8-12

Moses was having a bad day.  He was frustrated with the people grumbling.  Because he did it his own way (he assumed this time was like the last time) and not the prescribed way, he dishonoured God and did not get to lead the people into the promised land.

David:
David wanted to bring the ark back to Jerusalem.  It seemed right to the people.

Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul. The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people. So David assembled all Israel, from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (Kiriath Jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name. They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets. When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. The LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God. Then David was angry because the LORD’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. - 1 Chronicles 13:3-11

David's motive was sincere towards God.  But he was not God.  He was required to honour God.  There was a prescribed way to move the ark and they did not honour that.  And so they tried again...

It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the LORD our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.” So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves in order to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. And the Levites carried the ark of God with the poles on their shoulders, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.. - 1 Chronicles 15:13-15

People today make certain assupmtions about God.  They try to say that there are many ways to get to God.  Things like, 'As long as I am a good person...' or 'I am a part of a sincere religion...' or 'I will be a giving person...'   But there is only one prescribed way to get to God and that is through Jesus.  The only reason people don't want to follow the prescribed way is because they don't want to surrender their lives to God and follow his rules, his prescribed way.

Jesus is... the prescribed way.
The cross made God look good.  God has a prescribed way of doing everything.  Each day we need to seek him for his prescribed way for everything he calls us to do.  Jesus tells us in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Paul wrote, "By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also." - 1 Corinthians 6:14  He goes on to write, "Because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence." - 2 Corinthians 4:14

The bible declares the prescribed way in Acts 4:12, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

You possess THE POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH

Over 150 times in Proverbs it talks about our lips, our tongue, our words.

2 Reasons Words are Important:

• Volume - we speak enough words each year to fill 66 x 500 page books!
• Value - the content of what we speak can either tear down or build up.

‘The tongue has the POWER of Life and Death’ - Proverbs 18:21 

LIFE means substance, that which strengthens and sustains. 

This verse is saying YOUR TONGUE HAS THE ABILITY TO DRAIN the Life out of someone or SUSTAIN and bring STRENGTH.

"My words can drain them or sustain them!" 

POWER means within one's ability.

PRACTICAL WAYS TO SPEAK LIFE:

1. Speak THOUGHTFULLY – THINK BEFORE WE SPEAK

‘The godly think before speaking; the wicked spout evil words’ – Prov. 15:28 

THINK means to meditate on what to answer. 

‘May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD…’ - Psalm 19: 14

• Our THINKING affects our SPEAKING
• Our SPEAKING affects our LIVING
• Our LIVING affects our DESTINY

2. Speak CAREFULLY - Watch Every Word

‘Those who control their tongue will have a long life…’ – Prov. 13: 3 

CONTROL means to guard, to keep a close watch on the effects.

3. Speak SPARINGLY – Holding our tongue

‘When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise’ – Prov. 10: 19

HOLD means restrain, keep in check, use sparingly. 

Our words are like toothpaste that's out of the tube... once they're out, it's virtually impossible to get them back in!

You cannot blame what you say on a bad day!

'Nothing I say today is going to teach me anything... so I'd better listen!' - Larry King

4. Speak ENCOURAGINGLY - Build Up, Don’t Tear Down

‘The godly speak words that are helpful…’ – Prov. 10:32

Sometimes we've got to delay what we say and find another way!

5. Speak PLEASANTLY – Words That Bless

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones - Prov. 16:24

PLEASANT means words full of grace , kindness, blessing.

GOOD NEWS from the GRAVEYARD!

It was on a Friday…When they took Jesus down from the cross.

• He was covered with blood
• There was a hole in His side
• His face was horribly disfigured
• The flesh hung from His back in tatters

BUT... SUNDAY MORNING Changed Everything...

GOOD NEWS FROM THE GRAVEYARD! Luke 24:1-9

GOOD NEWS – HE’S NOT HERE! HE IS RISEN! Luke 24:6

We can have the confidence of an ETERNAL LIFE. Romans 5:21

GOOD NEWS – HE IS Who He Said He Was. Luke 24:6-7

We can have the confidence of an ABUNDANT LIFE! John 10:10

ABUNDANT means “superior, extraordinary, surpassing, uncommon”

An Abundant Life is NOT Just about Money, A House or a Spouse.  An Abundant Life is about:

1. Having Peace of Mind
2. Prospering in your Relationships and in Your Finances
3. Being Healthy in Your Body and in Your Soul
4. **COMPLETE in Every Part of Your Life and Being

GOOD NEWS – The WORK OF THE CROSS WAS COMPLETED! Luke 24:6

We can have the confidence of an FULFILLED LIFE. Romans 6:4

NEW means “greater quality of life, a new kind of life”

CHRIST: The Anointed One and His Anointing - Luke 4:18-19  ANOINTED TO:

• Preach Good News
• Free Those in Bondage
• Give Sight to the Blind
• Empower Those Who Have Been Oppressed
• Declare God’s Favour

God Gave His Best, so You Could Live LIFE at Its Best!

Click Here To Watch An Easter Celebration Video

FOUR ACTIVATORS FOR YOUR MIRACLE

1. Believing is an activator – “If you believe, you will receive” Matthew 21:22
2. Asking is an activator – “Ask and it will be given to you” Matthew 7:7
3. Living the Word is an activator – “Be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful” Joshua 1:8
4. Sowing is an activator – “Unless a seed goes into the ground it dies alone” John 12:24

**The moment the seed is sown there is an Activation of Multiplication!

3 Keys To Walk In Miracle Power

2 IMPORTANT FACTS We Must KNOW:

FACT #1 – Satan is our enemy and he has a plan for our life
FACT #2 – JESUS is on Your Side and he has a plan for Your Life
 - John 10:10

Abundant means superior, extraordinary, surpassing or uncommon.  Jesus came to give you an uncommon life.

TRIPLE THREAT to the Devil’s Scheme:

1. PRAY IN FAITH - Mark 11: 22

MOTIVE: Why Pray?

1. To PREPARE our lives - James 5:16

'The prayer of a person striving to live right, has the authority and might to accomplish something.'

2. To Increase our Faith - Mark 11:24

METHOD: How To Pray

Here are 3 SIMPLE GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE PRAYING:

• THANK HIM - Psalm 100:4-5
• TELL HIM - Isaiah 55:6
• ASK HIM - Philippians 4:6-7

2. FAST IN FAITH

When we fast, we GIVE UP something our FLESH wants, so that we can RECEIVE something our SPIRIT needs.

MOTIVE: Why Fast?

ACT of Fasting – ACTIVATES:

• Closer Relationship with God - James 4:8
• Hearing from God - Acts 13:2
• Increases our Confidence in God - Esther 4:16
• Defeats the Enemy -  Mark 9:29
• Releases Miracles - Daniel 10:3,11

METHOD: How We Fast

DON'T Make a Big Deal - it's for God and not for others - Matthew 6:17-18
DO take part in  "LEAVEN FREE FAST" - 1 Corinthians 5:6-8

3. GIVE IN FAITH – Luke 6:38

Giving in Faith is trusting God that He will provide for you.

MOTIVE: Why Give?

• GIVE – because we LOVE God
• GIVE – because we TRUST God
• GIVE – because it PLEASES God
• GIVE – because it’s a BLESSING TO OTHERS

When you make your giving about God, He'll make His blessing about you.

METHOD: How We Give

1. RIGHT ATTITUDE

• Willingly – 2 Corinthians 8:12
• Cheerfully – 2 Corinthians 9:7

2. RIGHT ACTION

• Consistently
• Generously – 2 Corinthians 9:6
• Sacrificially – 2 Corinthians 8:2-3

Our GENUINE obedience to God always produces great victory in our life!

Principles For Giving - Generosity

God Has a Pattern for Giving to Release Kingdom Living
- 1 Corinthians 16:2

Giving shows that God, not money has first place in our lives.  God set the example by giving his best.  In John 3:16 the Word says that God loved us so much that He gave His Son!  He put us first by giving His best - His only Son!  We need to follow His example by putting God first and giving our best.  Giving is God's process to release prosperity into your life.

As we increase our giving, we increase our capacity for receiving.

Are you ready to attack lack in your life?  To move from 'not enough' to 'more than enough'?  Are you ready for a release of increase?

How we give is as important as what we give.  Proverbs 11:25  "The generous will prosper..."  God never gives us something that is outside of our reach.  We all have the ability to be generous, therefore we all have the ability to prosper.

The characteristic of a generous person is one who gives generously and who doesn't cling to their cash.  Generous means "one who gives freely".  A generous person doesn't try to manipulate God but is obedient to God.  A generous person returns the tithe, brings their offering and looks for an opportunity to share what they have.  True generosity has no motive behind it.   You can't bribe God and you can't buy a miracle!

You can grow in generosity.  What you considered as generous many years ago will most likely be much larger today.

Principles for Generosity: 2 Corinthians 9:10-11

1. God is our source.  He supplies seed for you to sow and He supplies bread for you to eat.  Your bank account is not your source; your job is not your source: the government is not your source.  Generosity teaches us that God is our only true source.

2. God brings the increase of resources you can give and He enlarges you.  Your generosity increases as you are generous.  Give first - and live on what remains.  Then, God will cause what you sow to grow.  Remember not to eat your seed.  Canadians spend 102+% of what we make.  That means debt.  That is why we struggle to be generous.

3. God makes you rich in every way.  Rich means "abundantly supplied".  Why does God do this?  So that you can be generous all the time - on every occasion.

Generous giving produces prosperous living.  It's not for once in a while, it's a lifestyle.

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".