Message Notes
Resourcing Revival
Today's Songs:
Build Your Kingdom Here - Rend Collective
We Could Change the World - Matt Redman
Ever Be - Bethel Music
Never Once - Matt Redman
With Everything - Hillsong Worship
Remember, you can find all the songs from this week and previous weeks in a publicly shared, accumulating playlist on Google Play and in weekly playlists on YouTube (like this one).
Summary: There is a mutual cooperation, a covenant, between the giver (those called to give), and the Church (those who use the resources to accomplish God's decree).
Three separate pagan kings issue three separate written proclamations:
Cyrus: Ezra 1:2-4 - directs provision for the return of the Jews
Darius: Ezra 6:6-12 - directs provision for the reestablishment of the temple sacrifices
Artaxerxes: Ezra 7:12-26 - directs further provision for Ezra's return and the temple sacrifices
Section 1: Things we already know.
God owns it all and blesses us that we might be a blessing to others, a channel of His blessing. (Ref.: Psalm 24:1; 67:1-2)
Important Takeaway: God does not need us to accomplish His decree.
We ought to tithe, if we are giving out of the overflowing abundance of His grace.
And we ought to be cheerful givers (2 Corinthians 9:7)
We ought not to use our wealth to accumulate or covet the accumulation of other.
Important Takeaway: We cannot serve God and money, and the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil. (Matt. 6:24; 1 Tim. 6:10, respectively)
Section 2: God provides resources for a purpose.
The three written proclamations from Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes reveal an intended purpose, a specified intent, for the resources.
The onus is on the giver and the receiver to channel these resources towards His decree.
Our decree today is the Great Commission: to make disciples.
Important Takeaway: There exists a breach, more than one, in the flow of resources to this end.
Section 3: People do not give.
We are wealthier than we have ever been but give less than we ever have.
Further, there is a troubling shift of giving away from the Church.
Fewer Christians are trusting the Church with their resources, turning instead to secular organizations and charities.
Important Takeaway: There is a lack of trust in the Church.
Section 4: The Church must use the resources provided for the intent, the decree, and the making of disciples.
This implies deliberation and examination.
We must not use our resources to professionalize and alleviate the burden of disciple-making.
Important Takeaway: Corporately, just like individually, where our treasure is, there also is our heart.
Conclusion: Giving and receiving are part of a covenental relationship, established and commanded by God through mutual trust.
The giver is to trust God by giving cheerfully and fully out of an obedient and willing heart from the measure of grace given by God.
Likewise, the receiver is to trust God by faithfully distributing and administrating the resources given as though they had come directly from God's hand.
Both parties are to be responsible and faithful stewards of their time, gifts, relationships, and money, so that all is given for the glory of God, having come from God, to accomplish the purposes of God.
