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Sermon Reources available here...

                      

Faith Promise Living and Giving During the 1995 Thanksgiving season, Paul Harvey shared a true story that reflects a subtle thought about giving to the church. A lady called the Butterball Turkey Hotline with a very unusual dilemma. She had a turkey that had been in the freezer for twenty-three years. She wanted to know if the turkey was safe to eat. The Butterball specialist said the old bird would be edible only if it had remained at zero degrees all of these years. He quickly added that the turkey would have probably lost its flavor and would not recommend eating it. The caller responded to this information by saying, “That’s what we thought. We’ll just give it to the church.” If it’s of value, keep it. If it’s worthless, give it to the church. This subtle mindset involves a lot more than old, frozen turkeys. This may explain why 75 percent of adult Americans gave less than $500 to both churches and charities in 1995. Within the Southern Baptist Convention, only 10.25 percent of the 15.4 million members give a tithe or more of their income. Preaching Today, Tape 156, Baptist Standard, Sept. 11, 1996, p. 12, The Deacon, Oct.–Dec. 1996, p. 44

What does God want to deliver through you?

How can God use you? How big is your faith in God?

Next Sunday is Faith Promise Sunday. For some of you this will be the first time that you have heard of Faith Promise giving. By the end of this service you should understand exactly what faith promise is all about. Every week on the back of the bulletin we list how much money is given to Faith Promise.

We do that because people just like you have given God a chance to give through them.

The Faith Promise plan for giving to missions was used first in the late 1800’s by Dr. A.B. Simpson, founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance church. Simpson said that he received the plan from the Apostle Paul by reading his correspondence to the early Christian church at Corinth. Later the plan was further developed and widely publicized by the late Dr. Oswald J. Smith, pastor of the Peoples Church in Toronto. After more than 60 years of Faith Promise giving, the members of the Peoples Church now give more than 60 percent of their annual church income to missions.

Simpson based this plan on verses of scripture found in 2 Corinthians 8:3-5.

“For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping God’s will.”

Let me try this morning to lead us in understanding what this concept of faith giving is all about.

In First Samuel there is an incredible story of God delivering something through someone who was willing to trust God by faith to use her in a dynamic way.

I Samuel 1:27-28 (The Message)“They first butchered the bull, then brought the child to Eli. Hannah said, “Excuse me sir. Would you believe that I’m the very woman who was standing before you at this very spot, praying to God? I prayed for this child, and God gave me what I asked for. And now I have dedicated him to God. He’s dedicated to God for life. Then and there, they worshipped God.”

Hannah was her name and she was miserable. As was often customary in the Old Testament days she was one of two wives married to the same man. Elkanah was faithful to God and to go every year to worship God and to sacrifice to Him. There was something going on at home that wasn’t pleasant! Elkanah’s other wife had children and Hannah did not. You can use your imagination a little bit. It doesn’t take a genius to understand the dynamics that were going on. This scripture tells us in verse six that, “ because the Lord had closed her womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on for year after year.”Hannah’s husband tried to be faithful to her, in fact the Bible says he gave her a double portion of food on the day of sacrifice because he loved her and the Lord had closed her womb. Every year the Bible says Hannah would weep and not eat during the time of sacrifice.

In verse 8, “Elkanah her husband would say to her, Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

The story that I want to tell you today is about the year that things changed. Hannah connected with God and things changed in a dramatic way. It reads just like a good novel. The Bible says she stood up from where the family was gathered and eating. An old priest by the name of Eli was sitting by the entrance to the temple and watched as this woman wept much, in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord.

I. Faith Promise Is Requesting Something From God.

    A. It means that we ask particularly

“Oh God of the Angel Armies, if you’ll take a good, hard look at my pain. If you’ll quit neglecting me and go into action for me by giving me a son.” I. Samuel 1:11a

When we desire a particular answer we must ask in a particular way.

God delights in giving us what we ask for if it is in His will for our lives.

Hannah didn’t just ask for a child she asks for a boy.

    B. It means that we ask purposefully

“I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you. I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline.” I Samuel 1:11b

Hannah’s purpose was to give her son back to God.

Her desire was to have a son who would serve God all the days of his life.

Our purpose in asking God what He wants to give through us is so that we can be a channel to deliver the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world.

There is a great Biblical principle concerning giving found in Luke 6:38, “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.”

Faith Promise is a promise to allow God to give a specific amount of money through us. Not money that we have. Not money that we know where it is. Money that God will bring into our life to be given to His cause. We are just the delivery service.

    C. It means that we ask persistently

“It so happened that as she continued in prayer before God, Eli was watching her closely.”

Sometimes we ask God things and then we forget about it. Hannah prayed year after year.

This week we are asking you to ask God how much He wants to give through you. After you put that amount down next Sunday on the card found in your bulletin this morning you and I will need to continue to pray and remind God of His promise to give you the money to pass on to this cause.

II. Faith Promise Is Relying on God to Answer

The faith-promise is an opportunity for an individual or a family to increase their faith in God. Such a promise leads us to personally face the question, “How much faith do I have in God?”

    A. There is but One God.

Hannah’s husband tried to meet her need. It was a well-meant gesture, but only God can answer our request.

    B. Only God can supply what we need.

Phil. 4:19, “But my God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

We trust Him for the money.

We trust Him for the means to give it.

We trust Him for the measure or specific amount.

    C. It is not a matter of us figuring out how to accomplish it…there is no faith involved in that kind of thinking.

You and I must let God deliver or give through us. We open ourselves to God’s generosity and then wait to see Him work through us.

III. Faith Promise Is Receiving the Answer

God moved on Hannah’s behalf in a dramatic fashion. We read in this chapter of 1 Samuel that:

“It happened that as she continued in prayer before God, Eli was watching her closely. Hannah was praying in her heart, silently. Her lips moved, but no sound was heard. Eli jumped to the conclusion that she was drunk. He approached her and said, “You’re drunk! How long do you plan to keep this up? Sober up woman!”

Hannah said, “Oh no sir—please! I am a woman hard used. I haven’t been drinking. Not a drop or wine or beer. The only thing, I’ve been pouring out is my heart, pouring it out to God.”

    A. God answers prayer and will supply our needs.

    B. When we pray, we must pray believing that God answers our prayers.

We must believe that God will answer our prayer and provide the means necessary to give the money we are promising by faith.

    C. It is 'Faith' Promise.

Heb. 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

IV. Faith Promise Is Returning It To God

    A. We should return it with grace.

“Before the year was out, Hannah had conceived and given birth to a son...”

Hannah had one desire and that was to deliver her son to God. Her son was the answer to her faith promise.

    B. We should return it with gladness.

“Elkanah said to his wife, Do what you think is best. Stay home until you have weaned him. Yes! Let God complete what he has begun!"

So she did. She stayed home and nursed her son until she had weaned him. Then she took him up to Shiloh, brining also the makings of a generous sacrificial meal—a prize bull, flour, and wine. The child was so young to be sent off”

Do you remember the text of this sermon?

“They first butchered the bull, then brought the child to Eli. Hannah said, “Excuse me sir. Would you believe that I’m the very woman who was standing before you at this very spot, praying to God? I prayed for this child, and God gave me what I asked for. And now I have dedicated him to God. He’s dedicated to God for life. Then and there, they worshipped God.”

What a great story of how God wants to give through us.

Sometimes Christians act like it is their money when they give back to God. With faith promise there will be no doubt, this is money God is using you to deliver. It is not my money.

Hannah didn’t try to re-negotiate with God.

Chad was a young, shy outcast. At the end of the school day when other children would walk home together, Chad was left to himself. For this reason his mother was deeply concerned when Chad told her he wanted to make a Valentine for every child in his class. Nevertheless, she purchased all of the supplies for him to fulfill his desire. With paper, glue, and crayons, Chad spent three weeks making thirty-five Valentines. On the morning of Valentine’s Day, Chad was overflowing with excitement. He carefully collected all of his Valentines and headed out for school, but his mother was not so enthusiastic. She knew her son might not receive a single Valentine and wondered if he could handle that level of hurt. To compensate for the pain, she baked his favorite cookies and had them ready when he walked through the door. The afternoon silence was broken by the sound of children walking down the street. As usual, the other kids were laughing as they walked together and Chad was all by himself. She noticed his hands were empty and tears started to fill her eyes. When the door opened, she choked back the emotions and said, “Mommy has some warm cookies and milk for you.” He barely heard a word. His face was glowing and his chest was about to burst with pride as he said, “Not a one . . . not a one. I didn’t forget a one, not a single one!” The greatest joy in life is reserved for those who are more interested in giving than receiving. Stories For The Heart, Alice Gray, 1996, p. 67–68

A grateful and obedient heart led Hannah to give her son to serve God.

    C. We should return it with generosity.

In I Cor. 9:6-8 we read these words: “Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under conpulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need.”

God will provide if you ask him to allow you by faith this week to arrive at the amount He wants to give through you to support missions through this local church.

In the Korean culture, people give their gifts with both hands. They do this to communicate an important aspect of giving. . . . “I’m not holding anything back. I’m giving you all that I have to offer.” Such a philosophy should permeate all of our giving whether it is to God or others. Ironically, children are often taught to fold their hands together when praying. With the Korean perspective in mind, this small gesture could be a constant reminder of our commitment to give God all that we have while holding nothing back. SBC Life, May 1999, p. 6

Some of you have probably read some of Stephen King's writings. Stephen King almost died a few years ago in a car accident. Listen to what he wrote sometime after that experience. He said, "I found out what 'you can't take it with you' really means. I found out as I was lying in the ditch beside a country road covered with blood and mud. I had a MasterCard in my wallet, but when you are lying in a ditch with broken glass in your hair no one accepts MasterCard. We come in naked and broke. We may be dressed when we go out, but we're just as broke. Warren Buffet? Going out broke. Bill Gates? Going out broke. Tom Hanks, broke. Stephen King, broke. All the money you make, all the stocks you buy, and all of the mutual funds you trade, is mostly smoke and mirrors. So why not consider making your life one long gift to others."What a great suggestion from Stephen King on how to steward what God has entrusted to each of us.

Faith Promise Sunday is a chance for you and me to participate in something bigger than ourselves.

Several years ago in Newsweek Magazine Stacy King was asked what the highlight of his basketball career had been. When he was a rookie playing for the Chicago Bulls there was one night that he got in the game in the last minute and scored one point. Amazingly he said that that was the highlight of his career. That's not exactly how he worded it. When Newsweek asked him about the highlight he looked back and said, without thinking about it, "Well it would have to be the night that Michael Jordan and I combined for a score of seventy points!"Faith promise giving is all about you and God scoring major points together.

This is not a pledge.
This is not legally binding.
This is not something that you will ever receive notices about.

This is something that you and God will have to keep track of.

I want to encourage you this morning. Begin to ask God what He wants to give through you. The missionary committee has set a goal of $35,000.00. I think that is great. I think we can do it.

Next Sunday we will ask you to respond by filling out the Faith Promise form that you will be given.

Can we just take time this morning to ask God to give us the ability to know this week what He wants to do in us.

Prayer

2003/10/19