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EAST JAMAICA CONFERENCE OF SDA
STEWARDSHIP, WILLS & TRUST DEPARTMENTS
Sermon for CCP/Stewardship Day,
April 18, 2015.
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 2015
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STEWARDSHIP, WILLS & TRUST DEPARTMENTS
Presentation Topic:
“SECRETS TO INCREASED CHRISTIAN BLESSINGS AND REWARDS IN UNCERTAIN FINANCIAL TIMES”
For SABBATH, 18-April-2015
Prepared by:Waldon WRIGHT
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 2015
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THOUGHT
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jer. 29:11 (NIV) Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 20153
WHAT WILL BE SHARED
1. Secrets2. Presentation objectives3. God’s desire 4. My reality versus God’s
desire5. My reality Action Plan6. Seven Secrets to
Blessings/Rewards7. Conclusion
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 2015
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1. SECRETS
1. What is the meaning of “secrets”?
ANSWER:
a) Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 2015
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1. SECRETS1. What is the meaning of “secrets”?
ANSWER:
b) Something that is not properly understood; a mystery.
A valid but not commonly known method of achieving or
maintaining something.
[http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/secret]
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 2015
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2. PRESENTATION OBJECTIVETo help you to understand, valid and recognized principles (secrets) for achieving and maintaining increased blessings and rewards that God wants each of us, including SDA Christians, to enjoy.
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 20157
3. GOD’S DESIRE FOR HIS PEOPLE1. Who are God’s People? Do they include
SDA Christians?
ANSWER:
a) God’s people are individuals who believe in the triune God, know Him, love Him, and keep his Commandments
24/7.
John 3;16, 14:15, 21; 1 John 2:3,4; 2 Chron. 7:14; Isa. 26:2, Rev. 22:14
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 20158
3. GOD’S DESIRE FOR HIS PEOPLE1. Who are God’s People? Do they include
SDA Christians?
ANSWER:
b) Some of these persons are in heaven, some are alive in various places and countries around the world, and some have “passed” on, sleeping in their graves awaiting the certainsecond coming of Jesus.
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 20159
3. GOD’S DESIRE FOR HIS PEOPLE1. Who are God’s People? Do they include
SDA Christians?
ANSWER:
c) Yes! Some Seventh-day Adventist Christians are included in this illustrious
group of God-loving, sin-hating followers of Jesus (i.e. don’t plan to sin), who allow the rule of Jesus to govern their lives. (See definition below)
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 201510
3. GOD’S DESIRE FOR HIS PEOPLE1. Who are God’s People? Do they include
SDA Christians?
ANSWER:
c) A Christian is a follower or disciple of Jesus; someone who seeks to pattern His godly lifestyle.
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 201511
3. GOD’S DESIRE FOR HIS PEOPLE
1. Who are God’s People? Do they include SDA Christians?
ANSWER:
c) A SDA Christian is a special or peculiar Christian who loves and obeys (the triune) God as a lifestyle and keeps God’s ten (10) commandments, including the seventh-day Sabbath; believes in and looks forward to the certain, imminent, second coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 201512
3. GOD’S DESIRE FOR HIS PEOPLE2. What is God’s desire for His people?
ANSWER:
a) Faithfulness /trustworthy (1Cor. 4:2)
b) Health and prosperity (3 John 2)
c) Prosperity, security, hope and a future (Jer. 29:11)
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 201513
3. GOD’S DESIRE FOR HIS PEOPLE2. What is God’s desire for His people?
ANSWER:
Note: Although God blesses the just and the unjust, as exemplified in His provision of rain and sun on both, God stipulates His desires as the bases and conditions upon which He provides increased blessings and rewards to His people.
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 201514
4. MY REALITY vs. GODS’ DESIRE
1. Apparent contradiction: If God’s desire and plan is not to harm His people but to provide prosperity, security, health, hope, success (CEV) and a future, why is it that so many of His people have seemingly not been enjoying the increased blessings and rewards?
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 2015
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4. MY REALITY vs. GODS’ DESIRE
2. Answer to Apparent Contradiction:
a) Roller coaster Christian experience – lack of consistency in faithfulness.
b) Sin and ignorance (includes money management)
c) Lifestyle – (Aggregation of decisions which we make, which affect our
health, and over which we more or less have control.)
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 201516
4. MY REALITY vs. GODS’ DESIRE
2. Answer to Apparent Contradiction:
d) Test and the great controversy.
e) Accidents
f) Environment of sin
Hurricanes, earthquake, pestilence
Choices of sinners affect God’s people.
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 201517
4. MY REALITY vs. GODS’ DESIRE
3. What should our recognition and understanding of present realities lead us to do?
a) Surrender ourselves to God and ask Himfor wisdom. (James 1:4-6)
b) Resolve to do what you need to do for yourself as distinct from what God will do for you.
(Josh. 24:15.
c) Dependency, Independency
or Interdependency (Highest level of maturity).Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 2015
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4. MY REALITY vs. GODS’ DESIRE
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5. MY REALITY ACTION PLANi) Understand the nature and characteristics of
our financial times
a) Know the times (Rom. 13:11) & what to do:
Shrinking economy (Recession) vs boon)
Inflation - a sustained increased in the general price levels of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 2015
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5. MY REALITY ACTION PLANi) Understand the nature and characteristics of
our financial times
a) Know the times (Rom. 13:11) & what to do:
Disinflation – a slow-down in the inflation rate (i.e. when
inflation declines to lower levels)
Deflation - a decrease in the general price level of goods and services. Occurs when inflation falls below 0% (negative inflation)
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 2015
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5. MY REALITY ACTION PLANi) Understand the nature and characteristics of
our financial times
a) Know the times (Rom. 13:11) & what to do:
Like Joseph in Egypt during the famine, and
Like Issachar in 1 Chron 12:32 (NASB), God’s people need to
understand the signs of the time and know what is the best course for Israel to take.Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 2015
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5. MY REALITY ACTION PLANii) Assess or evaluate your present, actual and
factual situation - Financially & spiritually
a) Be objective, practical and honest
b) Do a SWOT, assets, potential, including your finances.
iii) Establish your destination or finish line a) Decide where you want to go from
where you are today.
b) Prioritize your goals and write them down, especially in terms
of career.
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 201523
5. MY REALITY ACTION PLANiv) Plan how to move from your present
situation to your future or desired destination
a) Identify your strategies. c) Identify what resources you already
have or can get until you get what you really want or desire.
b) Identify what resources you will need including help for others (advisers, experts, mentors) and how you will secure them.
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 201524
5. MY REALITY ACTION PLANiv) Plan how to move from your present
situation to your future or desired destination
d) List skills and knowledge required Do everything possible to improve on
yourself and your present skills. d) Set realistic time lines e) Make a commitment to act, being very
practical and proactive. Phil. 4:13. f) Identify all the benefits for you.
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 201525
5. MY REALITY ACTION PLANiv) Plan how to move from your present situation
to your future or desired destination
g) Do the doable – Be focussed on the most important. (The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.) Phil. 3:14; Matt. 6:33
h) Control the controllable, Eccl. 9:10.i) Don’t worry about not getting everything done. Matt. 6:31,34.j) The KEY is to get the right things done, personally, financially, professionally and spiritually.
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 201526
6. SECRETS TO INCREASED BLESSINGS/REWARDS
Seven (7) Principles for Increased Blessings/Rewardsi) Make God your ongoing and best partner (Jer.
29:11; Prov. 3:5-6.)ii) Be faithful to God, especially in five (5) areas:
a) Tithe (Mal. 3:8-11)b) Offering (Prov. 3:9,10)c) Sabbath observation (Isa. 58:13-14)d) Pure religion (James 1:27)c) Work of Mission (Tithe & Possessions)
Don’t take faithfulness to God, generally and in financial matters, for granted.
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 201527
6. SECRETS TO INCREASED BLESSINGS/REWARDS
Seven (7) Principles for Increased Blessings/Rewards
Are tithers better off financially? The finances of Christians who tithe are generally
healthier than the finances of those who do not, according to a new report that takes a close look at the financial, spiritual and giving practices of people who give 10 percent or more of their income away to churches and charities each year.> Researchers compared tithers to non-tithers using nine financial health indicators, and found that tithers were better off in every category.
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 201528
6. SECRETS TO INCREASED BLESSINGS/REWARDS
Seven (7) Principles for Increased Blessings/Rewards Among tithers, for example, 80 percent have no unpaid
credit card bills, 74 percent don't owe anything on their cars, 48 percent own their home and 28 percent are debt free.
"The weird thing is, a tither looks at that and says to himself, 'Well I'm better off because I give.'
A non-tither looks at that and says, 'Oh, they give because they're better off,'" said
Brian Kluth, founder of the study and Maximum Generosity, who called the findings "unprecedented.”
Source: http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-christians-who-tithe-have-healthier-finances-than-those-who-dont-95959/
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 201529
6. SECRETS TO INCREASED BLESSINGS/REWARDS
Seven (7) Principles for Increased Blessings/Rewards
Note: Dr. Kluth is only affirming what the Bible says
in Prov. 3:6,9,10, and Mal. 3:10-12. In summary, you cannot lose when you do what God says.
iii) Think long-term with your goals and investing. (Choosing Heaven is the best long-term investment)
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 201530
6. SECRETS TO INCREASED BLESSINGS/REWARDS
iv) Live within your means (Income to exceed your expenditures or spend less than you earn). A Budget helps.Create and save from your surplus; Have and maintain a saving philosophy rather than a spending mentality.
v) Minimize the use of credit cards (by planning your expenditure and avoiding impromptu buying).
vi) Do periodic financial andspiritual check-ups
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6. SECRETS TO INCREASED BLESSINGS/REWARDS
The periodic spiritual/financial check-ups.Evaluate where you are spiritual and financially just like going to the medical doctor to get a physical check-up.
This should involve asking yourself four (4) very important questions, viz:a) What do you owe?b) What do you own?c) How much are you spending?d) How strong are your safety nets?
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 201532
6. SECRETS TO INCREASED BLESSINGS/REWARDS
vii) Be a practical disciple of faith
a) Live one day at a time; don’t crowd out today’s blessings with tomorrow’s worries and burdens.
b) Don’t let others who fall cause you to fall, and don’t cause others to fall.
c) Reduce risks (Information is available)
d) Pray, trust in God and ask Him for wisdom. Phil. 4:16; Psa. 37:25.
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 201533
6. SECRETS TO INCREASED BLESSINGS/REWARDS
Conclusion:
i) Remember the best partner to have is Jesus.ii) Have regular partner meeting. iii) If you constantly acknowledge Him and
study his word, He will direct your paths.iv) Give Him the praise in everything and in
every situation and
Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings & Rewards in Uncertain Financial Times, April 201534
The End
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Contacts: Email: donwal1982@gmail.com
Telephone: 371-1910.
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