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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!

GOD’S FAITH PROMISE PLAN FOR MISSIONS

Introduction

Hebrews 11 and the whole bible for that matter is a testimony that anything great that is done for God is done by faith! The passage here says that without faith it is impossible to please God!

I believe that is true with regard to our missions giving. God’s plan for missions giving is a faith plan. I want us to look at “God’s Faith Promise Plan For Missions”

I.         WHAT FAITH PROMISE IS NOT!

            A.        It Is Not A Pledge Or A Vow.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5--“When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.”

            B.        It Is Not Something That Someone Will Come To Us To Collect.

2 Corinthians 8:12–“For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.”

             C.        It Is Not Something Where We Sit Down And Figure Out How Much We Can Give.

Ecclesiastes 11:5–“As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.”

            D.        It Is Not Taken Away From What We Are Already Giving To The Church.

                        (i.e. Tithes and Offerings.)

Malachi 3:10–“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.”

II.       WHAT IS FAITH PROMISE?

            A.        It Is Between God And Us.

2 Corinthians 8:12–“For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.”

            B.        It Is Waiting Upon God To Tell Us How Much He Wants Us To Give For Reaching The World For Christ.

Philippians 2:13–“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

            C.        We Must Trust God To Supply It.

2 Corinthians 9:7-8–“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:”

            D.        We And The Missionary Become Partners In Faith.

                        You trust the Lord by faith to meet the promise for the missionary.

                        The missionary trusts the Lord to meet his needs through giving of His people.

Romans 1:17–“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

Colossians 2:6–“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:”

III.      WHAT FAITH PROMISE DOES.

            A.        It Helps The Church To Know What It Can Do This Year To Reach The World For Christ.

            B.        It Encourages United Effort.

1 Corinthians 3:9–“For we are labourers together with God. . .”

            C.        It Encourages Christians To Trust God.

It is good for the Christian as it does away with merely asking him to give out of what he has.

Giving out of what you have does not always involve faith. But, Faith Promise challenges us to trust God.

                        It permits us, by God’s grace, to do something for worldwide evangelization each week.

Even a little child can participate in the plan; yet, it tests the faith of a mature Christian.

Hebrews 11:6–“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

            D.        It Fosters Solid Stewardship.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2–“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

            E.        It Causes Some Christians To Begin Tithing Because One Cannot Truly Give A Faith Promise Unless He Tithes First.

Malachi 3:8-10–“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.

             F.        It Gives The Local Church A Real Incentive To Be Co-Laborers With Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15–“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

2 Corinthians 5:18-20–“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.”

            G.       It Causes Us To Get Our Priorities In Order.

                        First things become first.

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

            H.       It Encourages The Missionary.

1 Thessalonians 3:5-7–“For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. 6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:

7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:”

Philippians 4:15-19–“Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. 19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

IV.      HOW SHOULD FAITH PROMISE BE GIVEN?

            If at all possible the money should be given each week as the Lord provides.

1 Corinthians 16:2–“Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

V.        IS FAITH PROMISE BIBLICAL?

One of the best examples of Faith Promise is in 1 Samuel 1. Hannah asked God to give her a son and promised to give Him back to God. God gave her a son and she gave him back to God. That is Faith Promise!

            Faith Promise is also in accord with the spirit of the New Testament.

2 Corinthians 9:7–“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

            We need to purpose and then give. Giving is a spiritual exercise. Giving is worship.

            Consecration is the only valid basis for Faith Promise giving.

2 Corinthians 8:4-5–“Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”

VI.      WHAT IS THE “FAITH PROMISE” AIM?

            A.        It Is Not To Glorify Individuals Or Organizations, But Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:31–“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

            B.        Its Purpose Is To Support Adequately The Work Of World Evangelization, Which Is Commanded By Our Coming Lord And Saviour Jesus Christ.

Mark 16:15–“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Romans 10:13-15–“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

            C.         Its Purpose Is To Bring Us Into A More Closely Dependent And Blessed Fellowship With The Lord.

Philippians 3:10-14–“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Conclusion

Have you been praying about what God would have you trust Him for to give to Faith Promise Missions this year?

            Don’t dismiss it as unimportant.

            Don’t dismiss it as something you cannot do.

            Don’t just mindlessly check a box that you know you can give. That is not faith.

            Sincerely pray about it! Seek God’s face about it! Wait for an answer! Then obey God!

Are you tithing? If not, you need to start there. If you can’t trust God to meet your needs enough to tithe, you will never trust him to be able to give to Faith Promise. In fact, you would be robbing God of your tithe in order to give your Faith Promise and God won’t bless that.

Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!