Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? Luke 9:23-25
OUR TIME INVESTED IN OTHERS IS THE GREATEST COMMODITY BECAUSE TIME IS THE ONLY THING YOU CANNOT GET BACK WHEN IT’S GONE.
…A person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people. Romans 2:29
When we serve others we start physically and spiritually connecting here on earth with what our souls will do for all eternity.
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”; After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. John 13:1;3-7;12-17
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KNOWLEDGE AND APPLICATION
THE HEART OF SERVING
1. SERVING STARTS WITH ME
Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 1 Timothy 4:12
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10
2. SERVING STARTS WITH BEING FAITHFUL WITH THE SECRET OPPORTUNITIES
“You can map out a fight plan or a life plan. But when the action starts, you’re down to your reflexes. Thats where your road work shows. If you cheated on that in the dark morning, you’re getting found out now under the bright lights.” Joe Frazier
WHAT WE DO IN THE PRIVATE TIMES IMPACTS HOW WE WILL BE IN OUR PUBLIC TIMES
For the lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes. Proverbs 5:21
“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:1;3-4
3. SERVING STARTS WITH THE INSIGNIFICANT AREAS EVERYONE ELSE IGNORES.
If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Galatians 6:3
Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. Luke 16:10
Great opportunities often disguise themselves in small tasks.
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” Matthew 10:42
4. SERVING STARTS WITH THE UNDERSTANDING IT’S THE MISSION OF JESUS
This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:12-13
A love that goes beyond self and is willing to serve the interest of others CANNOT BE IGNORED BY the world
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:35
TAKE HOME- OUR COMMITMENT
You must each decide in your heart how much to give…. 2 Corinthians 9:7
BLOOMHERE.ORG/KINDNESS
Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Ephesians 5:16
NOTES:
THE GENEROUS LIFE LEADS TO A BLESSED LIFE
You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35
The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25
THERE IS NOTHING MORE CHRISTLIKE THAN TO SELFLESSLY GIVE
3 MINDSETS THAT DEFINE A GENEROUS HEART
1. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH
You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! Haggai 1:6
But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the lord sends rain and the crops grow again!” 1 Kings 17:13-14
Then the woman told Elijah, “Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the lord truly speaks through you.” 1 Kings 17:24
Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13
2. THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH
Your children and your crops will be blessed. The offspring of your herds and flocks will be blessed. Your fruit baskets and breadboards will be blessed. Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed. Deuteronomy 28:4-6
Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke 6:38
3. THERE IS INFINITELY MORE THAN ENOUGH
“The lord will guarantee a blessing on everything you do and will fill your storehouses with grain. Deuteronomy 28:8
And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11
TAKE HOME
…the godly love to give! Proverbs 21:26
And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
You must each decide in your heart how much to give. 2 Corinthians 9:7
YOU CAN’T OUT GIVE GOD!
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Malachi 3:10
We are concluding our series YOU ASKED FOR IT.
This week we are discussing on sharing our faith.
What does living a life sharing the Gospel look like?
Am I involved in doing this?
How do we share our faith?
Diving into the Word of God Pastor Mike takes us down this road as we journey into this tough topic.
We are continuing our series YOU ASKED FOR IT with the topic being Forgiveness.
We all have been hurt by one person or another:
How do we forgive them?
What does our relationship with them look like after we forgive them?
Listen in as we look on what the Word of God says about forgiving those who have hurt us.
BloomHere.org
Welcome to the Bloom Church Podcast!
We are currently in a series called "You Asked For It" where we are talking about the top topics that you have selected.
This week we are looking into the reality of Spiritual Warfare.
BloomHere.org
This week Pastor Mike is continuing the series You Asked For It where he has chosen the top topics that you have selected.
Depression and anxiety is a very real struggle in our lives today. We are taking a look on how God can aid you on your journey of freedom from this hard topic.
We have begun a new series at Bloom Church.
YOU ASKED FOR IT is a series where Pastor Mike is diving into the top topics that have been requested by you.
This week we are jumping into a topic we ALL deal with...Stress
BloomHere.org