A Successful Christian Life

3 John 1.2

A.     Godly Giving [– God wants to give good things (blessings) to His children.  Our Heavenly Father loves us and wishes to give us everything we need to succeed in this life and His kingdom work.  Without a doubt our Heavenly Father is a gracious giver.  He provides an abundance for all mankind, He even provides for the wicked in the midst of their rebellion.  God especially wishes to give to those who know Him and love Him.  Consider what the Bible teaches about the giving heart of Almighty God.] 

1.      God Wants to Give to his Children (3 John 1.2; 1 Chron 29.12) [- It is God’s Will to Prosper You.]  

[3 John 1:2 ² Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. ]

a.       [Prosper - εὐοδόω (gk) - To lead in a good way, to prosper one’s journey (Sept: Gen. 24:27, 48). Figuratively, to make prosperous, give success to^[1] ]

b.      [There are numerous ways for one to be prospered.  One might be prospered:]

(1)   [Financially]

(2)   [Stature or Position]

(3)   [Reputation ]

c.       [God wishes to give success to all of His people.]

[1 Chronicles 29:12 ¹² Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. ]

2.      God Is Worthy to Give to his Children (Matt 25.14; Psalm 50.10-12) [– Without a doubt our Heavenly Father is able to give His children success.  The ability of a father to help his children succeed is largely dependant upon his ability to help his children.  Our Heavenly Father is certain able to promote His faithful Children.] 

[Matthew 25:14 ¹⁴ For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.]

[Our Heavenly Father is as this traveling man, He places His kingdom resources into our hands and we are responsible using them for His kingdom work.  Everything in this world belongs to our Heavenly Father.  The Bible states:]

[Psalms 50:10-12 ¹⁰ For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. ¹¹ I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. ¹² If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. ]

[There are abounding resources in our Lord’s kingdom.  God is able to promote and prosper you as His Child.]

3.      God is Willing to give to His Children [– This deals with human choice.  God honors those who honor Him.  When you use what God has given you for God’s purposes then God pours more of His provision upon you for more of His kingdom work.  We demonstrate our willingness to work in our Heavenly Fathers kingdom work through our obedience to His revealed will through His written Word.] 

[Luke 6:38 ³⁸ Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. ]

[Psalms 1:1-3 ¹ Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. ² But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. ³ And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.]

[When God’s children choose to honor Him by obeying Him then God honors them by promoting and prospering them.]

B.     Godly Givers [– God gives in proportion to the submissive giving of His people.  As born again Christians learn to appropriately give in our Heavenly Fathers kingdom work, then God promises to respond through a bountiful harvest.  We must remember that our Heavenly Father will not give us anything more than we can bear (1 Cor 10.13) so even in our giving and reaping our Heavenly Father responds appropriately to our spiritual maturity and need.] 

[Illustration – Pastor at an affluent Church and his teenage son’s car] 

[Biblical principles that surround givers include:] 

1.      Christians must Sow to Receive (2 Cor 9.6) [– The law of all of God’s creation is that something must give before anything can be received.  We sow seed that we might reap a harvest.  We give work that we might earn a wage.  We give the seed of life to produce life. Something must be given if something is going to be received.]  

[2 Corinthians 9:6  But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. ]

[The Sowing and Reaping principle teaches us:]

a.       [That if nothing is sown, nothing will be reaped.]

b.      [That our reaping is dependent upon the bounty in our sowing.  If we sow little of anything, then the harvest that follows will be in proportion to the seed sown.]

c.       [That our reaping is dependant upon what we sow.  Sow corn and you will reap corn.  Sow tares and you will reap tares.]

[Hence, if you would be prospered by our Heavenly Father, then you must sow appropriately in His kingdoms work.  You cannot sow to the worlds work and expected to reap and kingdom harvest.  You cannot sow wickedness and expect to reap righteousness.  If you sow all your treasure, time and talent to worldly things, then expect some worldly harvest.  If you desire the prosperity that God promises then you must sow bountifully in God’s kingdom work.]

2.      Christians must See to Receive (Matt 6.33; Mal 3.7-12) [– Your seed must be sown in good, purposeful ground in order for it to yield a harvest.  God tells us how to sow in his kingdom.] 

a.      [Establish a Kingdom Priority – Christians need to realize that only those things that are done for Christ, with an eternal perspective will last forever or have eternal value.  Jesus said,] 

[Matthew 6:33 ³³ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.]

[If everything you sow is sown to the flesh, then everything you will reap will be mortal and in this world.]

b.      [Establish a Kingdom Priosperity – Christians will set themselves up for an immortal harvest and a kingdom harvest when they give specifically to God’s work in God’s way.  When you give your tithes and offerings to a Church dedicated to God’s kingdom work then you are sow toward a kingdom harvest.] 

[Malachi 3:7-12 ⁷ Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? ⁸ Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. ⁹ Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. ¹⁰ Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. ¹¹ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. ¹² And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.]

[Without any doubt God says bring your tithes (10%) and offerings into His storehouse and your Heavenly Father will open the windows of heaven upon you.  But if you fail to bring your tithes and offerings in then you bring a curse upon you.]

[God’s people need to see the difference between just giving in kindness and giving to God’s kingdom work.  They need to also see the giving in God’s way brings their Heavenly Fathers bountiful harvest.]

3.      Christians must Sing to Receive (2 Cor 9.7-8) [– Gracious Givers Receive From God’s Heart.  Your attitude when you give makes all the difference in the result of your giving. ] 

[2 Corinthians 9:7-8 ⁷ Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: ]

C.     Godly Gain [- Many of God’s children have not learned to give and receive in God’s kingdom work.  Giving is the key to success in this Christian Journey.  God’s people must sow in God’s kingdom in order to reap a kingdom harvest.  Consider that:] 

1.      The Promise Comes With Patience (Heb 6.12; Luke 8.15; Rom 8.25; Heb 10.36; Gal 6.9; Philip 2.14; 1 Cor 10.10-11) [– There are things that will work like roundup in our spiritual harvest.] 

a.       [Impatience - Don’t kill your harvest after you have sown your seed through impatience.] 

[Illustration – Round Up – Kills most everything green that it touches] 

[Hebrews 6:12 ¹² That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.]

[Luke 8:15 ¹⁵ But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. ]

[Romans 8:25 ²⁵ But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. ]

[Hebrews 10:36 ³⁶ For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. ]

[Galatians 6:9 ⁹ And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. ]

b.      [Murmuring – A murmur is a secret displeasure.  It is grudging.  It is complaining behind God’s back.] 

[Philippians 2:14 ¹⁴ Do all things without murmurings and disputings: ]

[The children of Israel began to murmur against God when they were walking through the wilderness.  They murmured because God wasn’t giving them the promises they expected fast enough.  Their murmuring brought God’s chastening hand upon.  Our murmuring will bring God’s chastening hand upon us.] 

[1 Corinthians 10:10-11 ¹⁰ Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. ¹¹ Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. ]

2.      The Promises Come With Providence (James 1.17) [- Everything that comes into a born again Christians life comes from the providential hand of Almighty God.  Our Heavenly Father loves us and desires to care for us.  Our Heavenly Father desires to prosper us in more ways that our mortal minds can imagine.  The Bible states:] 

[James 1:17 ¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. ]

[Will you honor your Heavenly Father by choosing to receive of His incredible provision and prosperity?  Then honor Him by obediently sowing in His kingdom work.] 

CrossRoads Baptist, April 27, 2008