LIVING FOR/FROM ETERNITY

THERE ARE PRINCIPLES AND LAWS THAT GOD HAS PUT IN THE EARTH, AND IF WE KNOW THEM AND LIVE OUR LIVES BY THEM WE WILL SEE SUCCESS. HOWEVER, RECENTLY I HEARD SOMEONE SAY , THAT IT CAN BE HARD FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS WALKED WITH GOD A LONG TIME, AND WHO HAS BASED THEIR LIVES ON GODLY PRINCIPLES AND BEEN LIVING IN THE GOOD FRUIT OF THAT LIFESTYLE, TO TRULY LIVE BY FAITH. BECAUSE OUR LIFE OF FAITH IS TO BE LIVED OUT FROM A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND NOT A FORMULA. SO YOU CAN SEE SUCCESS IN YOUR LIFE, BECAUSE YOU FOLLOW GOD’S WORD, BUT STILL BE DRY INSIDE BECAUSE IT’S BECOME MORE OF A FORMULA THEN A RELATIONSHIP. SO AS I TALK ABOUT THINGS TONIGHT, I DON’T WANT IT TO BECOME ANOTHER THING TO ADD ON YOUR ‘TO DO’ LIST OF A SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN, BUT RATHER COMMUNE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND ASK ‘ HOW DO I PERSONALLY LIVE THIS OUT IN MY LIFE?” PSALMS 68:6 NKJ God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a dry land. LOOK AROUND THE ROOM AT YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND TAKE A MOMENT TO MARVEL AT HOW GOOD GOD IS TO PLACE US TOGETHER. PEOPLE WHO LOVE AND SERVE GOD... WE’RE AN INCREDIBLE GIFT TO ONE ANOTHER AND MEANT TO REFRESH ONE ANOTHER PSALMS 92:12-15 NKJ 12The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be [c]fresh and [d]flourishing, 15To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

1. PART OF LIVING FOR ETERNITY IS BEING PLANTED IN A LOCAL CHURCH

BOTH THE SCRIPTURE THAT WE JUST LOOKED AT TELL US THAT THE LOCAL CHURCH IS MEANT TO BE A SOURCE OF LIFE TO US. THE REBELLIOUS DON’T WANT TO BE A PART OF A FAMILY, AND IT PREVENTS HARVEST IN THEIR LIVES. BUT BEING PLANTED AND ALLOWING YOURSELF TO BECOME ROOTED IN A HOUSE SETS YOU UP TO FLOURISH AS YOU CONTINUE TO GROW IN THE LORD. HOW DO WE BECOME PLANTED? PASTOR OFTEN TALKS ABOUT TIME, TITHE AND TALENTS - THAT’S DEFINATELY A PART OF IT. GIVING YOUR TIME, IS GIVING PART OF YOUR LIFE. SO IS GIVING YOUR TITHE. BOTH OF THESE WILL HELP ATTACH OUR HEARTS TO A PLACE. SAME WITH GIVING OF OUR TALENTS. IT’S PART OF THE WAY WE DISCOVER GOD’S GIFTING AND SPECIAL ANOINTINGS ON OUR LIVES. ACTS 2:42 NKJ And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. ACTS 2:46 NLT They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— ROM 12:13 NLT When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. DIFFERENT TRANSLATIONS SAY - PRACTICE HOSPITALITY, SEEK HOSPITALITY, PURSUE HOSPITALITY, EXTEND HOSPITALITY 1 PET 4:9 NKJ Be hospitable to one another without grumbling NLT Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. THE REASON I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS IS BECAUSE I WAS READING HOE ELDERS IN THE CHURCH SHOULD BE KNOWN FOR THEIR HOSPITALITY. NOW

NOT ALL OF US HAVE THE TITLE OF ‘ELDER’ BUT WE’RE ALL CALLED TO BE EXAMPLES IN THE FAITH, AND AS I LOOKED UP ‘HOSPITALITY’ I WAS SURPRISED AT HOW MANY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS HAVE A CHARGE TO US AS BELIEVERS TO SHOW HOSPITALITY TO ONE ANOTHER AND TO STRANGERS. A BIG PART OF HOW WE BECOME PLANTED IN THE CHURCH IS BY SPENDING TIME WITH ONE ANOTHER. THAT IS HOW OUR HEARTS KNIT TOGETHER. IT DOESN’T HAPPEN BECAUSE WE SIT TOGETHER FOR TWO HOURS ON A SUNDAY, AND LISTEN TO A SERMON TOGETHER. THAT’S NOT THE EXAMPLE WE SEE IN THE EARLY CHURCH. THEY DID LIFE TOGETHER AND IDENTIFIED WITH ONE ANOTHER. HOSPITALITY IS GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT FOR EACH OF US. YOU’RE NOT REQUIRED TO PRACTICE IT LIKE I DO- INVITING BIG CROWDS TO MY HOUSE. BUT YOU ARE TO PURSUE IT. ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SHOW YOU HOW THAT LOOKS IN YOUR SPECIFIC SITUATION! PART OF THE ENEMIE’S STRATEGY DURING COVID WAS TO ISOLATE AND CAUSE FEAR. THAT CAME INTO THE CHURCH AS WELL. IT’S TIME TO TOTALLY THROW THAT OFF OF OURSELVES AND REENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY GOD HAS PLANTED YOU IN. THIS WILL KEEP YOU- A WELL ROOTED PLANT IS NOT EASILY MOVED. 2) LIVING GENEROUSLY WE CAN LIVE GENEROUS LIVES BECAUSE WE KNOW, AND HAVE EXPERIENCED AND BELIEVE IN THE GOODNESS OF GOD. PHIL 4:19 NKJ And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. AMP And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (EPH3:20) SO MANY OF THE STORIES AND MIRACLES IN THE BIBLE TESTIFY TO THE WAY GOD PROVIDES FOR US ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES.

• FEEDING 5000 BASKETS LEFT OVER
• 1ST MIRACLE - WATER IN TO WINE - SETTING THE STAGE TO HOW GOD WOULD DO THINGS
• • TH GARDEN WOF EDEN WHERE GOD ORIGINALLY PLACED MAN
• LIKE PASTOR SAID - JESUS PAYING HIS OWN TEMPLE TAX AND PETERS
• THE FISHERMEN LOWERING THEI NETS FOR A CATCH - PROVIDING FOR THEIR FAMILIES AS THEY LEFT TO FOLLOW JESUS MAL 3: 10-12 KJV 10Bring 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. 11And 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. 12And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. JOHN 3:16 NLT 16“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 2 COR 9:6-8 NIV 6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (MATT 14:15-21 FEEDING 5000, PARABLE OF TALENTS) CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN GODS GOODNESS AND THAT HE PROVIDES, NO MATTER WHAT SEASON YOU ARE IN.
• ELIJAH AND THE WIDOW WOMAN - THINGS DIDN’T CHANGE WHEN SHE SOWED ONCE. SHE WAS SUSTAINED AND CONTINUED TO SOW FROM A PLACE OF SCARCITY, BUT EVENTUALLY THROUGH GOD’S SUSTAINING POWER SHE CAME OUT OF THAT TIME OF FAMINE! WE LIVE GENEROUS LIVES, BEING QUICK TO GIVE WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT PROMPTS US - REMEMBERING THAT OUR SOURCE IS THE GOD WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH - WHO LOVES US SO MUCH THAT HE GAVE!

1. PREPARING FOR AND SOWING INTO THE NEXT GENERATION DAVID WAS KNOWN AS THE MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART

• WORSHIPPER/FELLOWSHIPPED WITH GOD
• REPENTER - HAD COME TO KNOW GOD’S CHARACTER ENOUGH THAT HE RAN TO HIM, NOT AWAY WHEN HE SINNED.
• HONOURED THOSE GOD HAD OUT IN AUTHORITY AND SUBMITTED HIMSELF TO GOD’S TIMING
• GENEROUS
• PREPARED AND GAVE GENEROUSLY SO THAT THE NEXT GENERATION COULD BUILD A PLACE FOR GOD’S HABITATION OUR FOREFATHERS IN CANADA SACRIFICED AND WENT THROUGH HARDSHIP SO THAT THEY COULD BUILD A LIFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THIS GENERATION DOES NOT THINK THAT WAY - BUT GOD SAYS A RIGHTEOUS MAN DOES PROV 13:22 NKJ A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. JOEL 1:3 NIV Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. GEN 18:17-19 NKJ 17The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18since Abraham will certainly become a great and [r]mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed? 19For I have [s]chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.

Rev 19:10, Rev 12:11 prophecy - do it again