EAST JAMAICA CONFERENCE OF SDA STEWARDSHIP, WILLS & TRUST DEPARTMENTS Sermon for CCP/Stewardship Day, April 18, 2015. Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings

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


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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


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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.


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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]


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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.


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



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.



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)



SDA Christians?

ANSWER:

c) A Christian is a follower or disciple of Jesus; someone who seeks to pattern His godly lifestyle.


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.


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)


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.


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?


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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.)



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.



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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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.


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our financial times


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)


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our financial times


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.



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.



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/



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)



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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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?



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.



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


The End


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Contacts: Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 371-1910.

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

EAST JAMAICA CONFERENCE OF SDA STEWARDSHIP, WILLS & TRUST DEPARTMENTS Sermon for CCP/Stewardship Day, April 18, 2015. Secrets to Increased Christian Blessings