Under the Under the Water BucketWater BucketPointPoint

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God wants to give good gifts God wants to give good gifts to his childrento his children

How I handle my relationships How I handle my relationships with the people in my life with the people in my life determines my experience determines my experience with God- and the blessings with God- and the blessings he wants to givehe wants to give

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The basis of my fellowship The basis of my fellowship with God is following by faithwith God is following by faith

Without faith it is impossible Without faith it is impossible to please Godto please God

Faith is the key that opens the Faith is the key that opens the door to God's work in my lifedoor to God's work in my life

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The eyes of the Lord range The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to throughout the earth to strengthen those whose strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to hearts are fully committed to him- 2 Chron. 16:9him- 2 Chron. 16:9

BlessingBlessing- an undeserved, - an undeserved, unmerited gift from Godunmerited gift from God

−MaterialMaterial−RelationalRelational−HealthHealth−Ability to enjoy what God has Ability to enjoy what God has

provided provided

What has God blessed me What has God blessed me with?with?

Why? What is its purpose?Why? What is its purpose?

If you then, who are evil, know If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to how to give good gifts to your children, how much your children, how much more will your Father who is more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to in heaven give good things to those who ask him!- Matt. those who ask him!- Matt. 7:117:11

God…richly provides us with God…richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment everything for our enjoyment - 1 Tim. 6:17 - 1 Tim. 6:17

Parents give because…?Parents give because…?

God is differentGod is different

−All made in his imageAll made in his image−Wants me to be like himWants me to be like him−He is a giver, looking to blessHe is a giver, looking to bless

God's blessings are God's blessings are nevernever just just about mabout mee

Having My Baby…Having My Baby…

……there was a priest named there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were Both of them were uprightupright in in the sight of God, observing the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments all the Lord's commandments and regulations and regulations blamelesslyblamelessly. .

But they had no children, But they had no children, because Elizabeth was because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both barren; and they were both well along in yearswell along in years

Once when Zechariah's division Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time incense. And when the time for the burning of incense for the burning of incense came, all the assembled came, all the assembled worshipers were praying worshipers were praying outsideoutside

Then an angel of the Lord Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. was gripped with fear.

But the angel said to him: ‘Do But the angel said to him: ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to you a son, and you are to give him the name Johngive him the name John. He . He will be a joy and delight to will be a joy and delight to youyou, and , and many will rejoice many will rejoice because of his birth…because of his birth…

Many of the people of IsraelMany of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the hearts of the fathers to their children and the their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous- to make ready the righteous- to make ready a people prepared for the a people prepared for the Lord – Luke 1:5-14, 16-17Lord – Luke 1:5-14, 16-17

Zechariah and Elizabeth are Zechariah and Elizabeth are going to be blessed- going to be blessed- andand vindicatedvindicated

Zechariah and Elizabeth are Zechariah and Elizabeth are going to be blessed- going to be blessed- andand vindicatedvindicated

But the bBut the blessinglessing is not is not justjust for for them- it's for a whole nationthem- it's for a whole nation

Zechariah asked the angel, Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” The well along in years.” The angel answered, "I am angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good newsto tell you this good news

And now you will be silent and And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the not able to speak until the day this happens, because day this happens, because you did not believe my you did not believe my words, which will come true words, which will come true at their proper time" at their proper time" - vs. 18-20 - vs. 18-20

How I receive the blessing How I receive the blessing determines my experience of determines my experience of the blessingthe blessing

KEYKEY: It's not just about : It's not just about Zechariah and ElizabethZechariah and Elizabeth

He will be a joy and delight to He will be a joy and delight to you you and and many will rejoice many will rejoice because of his birthbecause of his birth

You do not have, because you You do not have, because you do not ask God- James 4:2do not ask God- James 4:2

There are things God wants to There are things God wants to give us that we do not give us that we do not receive because we don't areceive because we don't asksk

When you ask, you do not When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask receive, because you ask with with wrong motiveswrong motives, that you , that you may spend what you get may spend what you get on on your pleasuresyour pleasures- Jas 4:3- Jas 4:3

God never designed his God never designed his blessings to tblessings to terminateerminate on me on me

God never designed his God never designed his blessings to tblessings to terminateerminate on me on me

•God's gifts should always go:God's gifts should always go:

−UUpwardpward (praise) (praise)−OOutwardutward (others) (others)

When you ask, you do not When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your spend what you get on your pleasures- Jas 4:3pleasures- Jas 4:3

When I see all God's gifts as When I see all God's gifts as oopportunitiespportunities to bless others to bless others in his Name, I become open to in his Name, I become open to rreceivingeceiving all that he wants to all that he wants to givegive

Bread vs. ExtraBread vs. Extra

One man gives freely, yet One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.to poverty.

A generous man will A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be others will himself be refreshed- Proverbs 11:24-25refreshed- Proverbs 11:24-25

Peace I leave with you; my Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be be troubled and do not be afraid- John 14:27afraid- John 14:27

−Peace with GodPeace with God−Peace of GodPeace of God−Peace with othersPeace with others

Is peace a blessing?Is peace a blessing?

What does God want me to do What does God want me to do with it?with it?

Blessed are the Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God - called sons of God - Matthew 5:9Matthew 5:9

God has given me peace so God has given me peace so that I can make peace with that I can make peace with and for othersand for others

Be kind and compassionate to Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God other, just as in Christ God forgave you - forgave you - Ephesians 4:32Ephesians 4:32

Is Christ's forgiveness a Is Christ's forgiveness a blessing?blessing?

What should I do with it?What should I do with it?

The basis for giving The basis for giving forgiveness is the forgiveness is the forgiveness Christ has given forgiveness Christ has given meme

I'm not called to just receive I'm not called to just receive God's gifts, but do something God's gifts, but do something with them in a way that with them in a way that bblesseslesses others and h others and honorsonors himhim

In other words, be like JesusIn other words, be like Jesus

Command those who are rich Command those who are rich in this present world not to in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly hope in God, who richly provides us with everything provides us with everything for our enjoyment for our enjoyment 

Command them to do good, Command them to do good, to to be rich in good deedsbe rich in good deeds, and , and to to be generousbe generous and and willing to willing to shareshare

Who does this apply to?Who does this apply to?

What are they to do?What are they to do?

In this way they will In this way they will lay up lay up treasure for themselvestreasure for themselves as a as a firm foundation for the firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is take hold of the life that is truly lifetruly life- 1 Tim. 6:17-19- 1 Tim. 6:17-19

What's the promise?What's the promise?

If I'm not experiencing "life If I'm not experiencing "life that is truly life," could it be that is truly life," could it be because I'm holding on to my because I'm holding on to my stuff too tightly?stuff too tightly?

Again, God never designed his Again, God never designed his gifts and blessings to gifts and blessings to terminate on meterminate on me

But to each one of us grace But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why apportioned it. This is why it says: “When he ascended it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to his train and gave gifts to men”- Eph. 4:7-8men”- Eph. 4:7-8

I am gifted and empowered I am gifted and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Why?by the Holy Spirit. Why?

Now to each one the Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common is given for the common good- 1 Cor. 12:7good- 1 Cor. 12:7

Jesus lived with, trained and Jesus lived with, trained and taught the disciples (learners)taught the disciples (learners)

He then died on the cross for the He then died on the cross for the sins of the world, was sins of the world, was resurrected and filled his resurrected and filled his people with his Spiritpeople with his Spirit

−Sins forgivenSins forgiven−Relationship with God securedRelationship with God secured−Empowered by God's SpiritEmpowered by God's Spirit

Before ascending into heaven, Before ascending into heaven, he leaves one command (all 4 he leaves one command (all 4 Gospels and Acts):Gospels and Acts):

•Make disciplesMake disciples

−Baptize (share, reach, bring to Baptize (share, reach, bring to faith)faith)

−Teach to Observe (help grow and Teach to Observe (help grow and become so they can reach, too)become so they can reach, too)

If I think salvation is about me, If I think salvation is about me, I've mI've missedissed the whole point the whole point

−I'm here because someone I'm here because someone prayed for and shared with meprayed for and shared with me

−The greatest blessing was never The greatest blessing was never meant to be hoarded but sharedmeant to be hoarded but shared

−Faith may be personal, but it Faith may be personal, but it was never mean to be pwas never mean to be privaterivate

God's gifts should always God's gifts should always terminate in:terminate in:

−Praise to himPraise to him

−Blessings for othersBlessings for others

What blessing has God given What blessing has God given me?me?

Why? Why?

What does God expect me to What does God expect me to do with it? Will I?do with it? Will I?

Heaven and Hell:Heaven and Hell:

The Story of ForksThe Story of Forks