In the Bible Christian Ministry
Sunday 3-23-25 (Open Hands Part 3)

  • Hold On and Don’t Let Go

    We have discussed letting go of burdens so we can hold on to God
    We have discussed letting go of pride, status and ego so we can hold on to God.
    Last week we covered how to hold on to God and maintain.
    And we spoke of how he would bless us and give us fruit.
    Now What?

    Give it Away

    Maintaining faith in God
    Maintaining trust in God
    Maintaining focus on God
    Means your roots run deep in the spirit of what God has established
    That means you will continue to produce FRUIT
    What does a tree do with it’s fruit—it gives it away
    Now that you have opened your hands to Let go
    And you opened your hands to Grab onto God
    Now you can open your hands to give yourself away to God and to Others
    Philippians 2:1–4 NIV
    1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
    John 3:16 NIV
    16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
    We must follow. Following His example
    We must give of ourselves
    Following is not easy.
    2 Corinthians 9:6–8 NIV
    6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
    Do you only need MONEY!!! A Want
    Want Money because I Need Peace
    Want Money because I Need Joy
    Want Money because I Need Love
    You must give in order to receive.
    We give money....and lets say you get money.
    Still no Love
    Still no Joy
    Still no Love
    Park up front NOW!!!!!!! How long that last. Now folks saying...HMPH
    Same way you were willing to GIVE that Money so you could get some MONEY.
    Take them few Joy Seeds out of your pocket
    Pull them two Peace Seeds out of your pocket
    DIG deep and get them LOVE seeds
    You must give the seed. You can keep the seed, pocket the seed or you can sow the seed.
    When you sow the seed you get to see how it grows and you reap the fruit.
    See when I help you are you using the seed from the fruit that I produce. And in turn the more people I can help with the fruit that I produce then the more fruit I get to benefit from.
    My own fruit does not benefit me.
    How I give that....Easier than you think… YOU JUST DON’T Want Too.
    Something as simple as a kind word
    A smile when you don’t want to
    A listening ear
    1 Peter 4:10–11 NIV
    10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

    I strive to be an AMBASSADOR

    2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV
    20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. .....
    If I’m an ambassador then I must act in accordance with His will and how he wants things. I must operate out of LOVE
    What does Giving Look like:
    not about money
    not about time
    it’s about Love
    God gives us Love.
    Everything He gives starts with LOVE
    Am I willing to give you not what you deserve but what God wants of me.
    Me giving what God wants of me requires me to give to others what God wants of me...not what you necessarily deserve.
    God didn’t give us what we deserved.
    I may feel you...
    deserve to get cussed out
    deserved to get a bad look
    deserve the silent treatment
    deserve the cold shoulder
    As His ambassador I am required to act on His behalf. Not what you deserve and not on what I want to do.
    (Tell the Story)
    Luke 19:1–10 NIV
    1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
    Outsourcing Tax Collection:The Roman government outsourced tax collection to private contractors (publicani) who bid for the right to collect taxes in specific regions. 
    Freedom to Collect:These contractors had the freedom to collect as much tax as they could extract from the populace, leading to exploitation and corruption. 
    Corruption and Extortion:Publicani were known for overcharging people and keeping the extra for themselves, often using violence and threats to intimidate people into giving them money. 
    Roman State Backing:Tax collectors had the backing of the Roman state (military acting as police), which allowed them to enforce their demands. 
    Negative Perceptions:Tax collectors were seen as traitors to their nation, collaborators with the Roman oppressors, and were often viewed as dishonest and greedy, leading to social ostracism and religious impurity. 
    But WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF ME. Not even what PEOPLE say!!!!
    EATS Example
    (Tell the Story)
    Acts 16:27-30 - Jailer
    Acts 16:27–30 NIV
    27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
    Did he deserve salvation?
    Giving God requires giving of SELF
    Your talents
    Your time
    Your prayers
    Your meditation
    Giving
    Luke 6:38 NIV
    38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
    Luke 6:37–40 NIV
    37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 39 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.
    Where the MONEY??????
    You got to be willing to do more that others if you expect to lead others.
    How are you going to be a leader of men or a light to others if you are not willing to act differently.
    We must be willing to give what we are holding on to.
    By Giving to Others I am giving to God.
    That’s my service. I am a servant of the most high.
    I am your server for tonight. This is not me you getting. This is a server of the most high. What he is cooking I’m bringing to you. With good grace.
    You have come to the Lords table. How many have left the Lord’s table because the SERVER was not a good representative of what He has produced
    Food Good
    Atmosphere Good
    SERVICE HORRIBLE
    We are Ambassadors of Christ

      • 1 Corinthians 11:1NIV2011

      • Luke 14:25–33NIV2011

      • Hebrews 4:14NIV2011

      • 1 Thessalonians 5:19–22NIV2011

      • Hebrews 12:1NIV2011

      • Psalm 1:1–3NIV2011

      • John 15:5–6NIV2011

      • Colossians 2:6–7NIV2011

In the Bible Christian Ministry
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