In light of our Missions Faith Promises...

... I want us to look at these Scriptures and see what God is saying to us. 2 Corinthians 9:10 12 (NKJV) “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God...” God is saying to us that it is He Who gives us what we have to share with others through missions or benevolence in the first place. But when we are faithful to give away His blessings to us something supernatural happens...what is it?

  God has the power and He is more than glad to use it by demonstrating one of His divine principles ...that when we give He gives back pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall men give back to you. He multiplies our seed (our money) so that we have an opportunity to be generous every time an opportunity arises to bless our missionaries or help the poor. Being raised on the farm helped me to understand this pressed down, shaken together, and running over concept. Understanding my dad was not a Christian at the time...when we sold to Piggly Wiggly the baskets were not pressed down but fluffed up, not shaken together but barely moved, and not running over but scarcely at the top of the basket. If it was true friends or family, it was definitely running over with blessings.

As we are faithful with 10% of our income (the tithe) and give above that to Missions, God supernaturally multiplies our finances. This not only meets the needs that are presented but also causes thanksgiving through us to God...worship!  I am not a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but hear your pastor...because of your obedience to provide money to reach the lost around the world...God is going to multiply your seed (bless you) and He is going to bless Life Church! Why? So we can bless even more! Get ready to get out of your comfort zone and to experience God’s multiplication!

In Matthew 14:28 29 (NKJV) it says...

... And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.”  Peter asked Jesus to command him to do something an average human has never done...walk on water. Jesus said, “Come!” and the miracle happened.

This story is so interesting to me because Jesus first tells the disciples to get in the boat and to go to the other side. When they are in the middle of the storm He commands Peter to come to Him on the water. When they get to the other side and get out of the boat revival breaks out. Maybe it is just so much of who I am, but I see this story as a mission’s story. The whole purpose of getting in the boat was to go to the other side where people needed to hear the good news of Jesus Christ and have their lives put back together. They had to get out of the boat and to minister.

Life Church, it is time for all of us to get out of the boat and do our part for missions so that revivals can break out in multiply nations. Pastor Rick, I am in the middle of a financial storm, how could I possibly do anything without going under myself?  Peter starting looking at the wind and waves and he started going under...Guess who was there to catch him...Jesus!  We all raise our hands when we ask, “How many of you believe Jesus is coming back soon?  How many agree we are a mission’s church?”  We all raise our hands and shout but God is giving us a command like the one He gave Peter.  Matthew 28:19 20 (NKJV)  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” Our response to this is to get out of the boat and obey what Jesus has said. You can say ‘Amen!’ but you can also give! God will not let you sink when you make that Faith Promise!