Join us at our Midland location this Sunday, 9:30am

NEW YOU, DAY SIX

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Turn with me to Deuteronomy 15:7-8:

“But if there are any poor Israelites in your towns when you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward them.
Instead, be generous and lend them whatever they need.”
— Deuteronomy 15:7-8

The goal of becoming the New You is learning how to do things God’s way:
  • Give 10%
  • Save 10%
  • Live on the remaining 80%

God’s way always leads us toward becoming more generous in our lives.

Today I have 4 principles from Deuteronomy 15 that I want to unpack with you.

I believe these 4 principles could be GAME CHANGERS in your life and in your heart.

Ready?

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1.  DEAL WITH A SELFISH HEART

Look at Deuteronomy 15:9:

“Do not be mean-spirited and refuse someone a loan because the year for canceling debts (the Year of Jubilee) is close at hand.
If you refuse to make the loan and the needy person cries out to the Lord, you will be considered guilty of sin.”
— Deuteronomy 15:9 (NLT)

Don’t be the Old You; become the New You!
Choose to be someone who opens your hand and opens your heart.

For the ancient Hebrews, this verse had deep meaning in their daily lives.  
Every seven years was the Year of Jubilee when all debts were cancelled.  
It was a foreshadowing of what we now experience in Christ Jesus.
What Deuteronomy 15 is saying is don’t be selfish when you see a need, especially if you’re not receiving a kick-back in return.

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I have five children.

I love to give my kiddo’s toys — it brings joy to this father’s heart to see their faces light up and their imaginations switch gears into overdrive.

What disappoints this father’s heart is when my kids will not share their toys.
I always ask myself, why won’t they share with an open heart?
After all, I’m the one who gave them the toys to begin with.

This is how God relates to us — He is the Father and we are His kiddo’s.

God says selfishness is wickedness.
Selfishness pollutes our hearts and poisons our lives.
Our God says, “Be generous as I am generous!”

“This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away…”
— 2 Corinthians 9:10

Think about it: why did God create giving? 

Some people answer: “To support His work.”
Really?  Do you really think God needs your money?

God didn’t create giving for His sake; God created giving for your sake!

Giving works greed and selfishness out of your life.

Deal with a selfish heart and allow God’s open-handed way of life to impact your life!

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2. DEAL WITH A GRIPING HEART

Look at Deuteronomy 15:10:

“Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.”

When you give from the right heart, God will bless ALL you do!

Too often we give with a griping heart: we focus on what we don’t have or we change plans and we regret making our gift.
For example, have you ever given a donation somewhere and then something breaks (like an appliance or your vehicle)... and then you REGRET giving your donation?
Sometimes we make a donation somewhere and then we gripe and whine about it.

God is blunt on this one: Deal with your griping heart!

““The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
The world and all its people belong to him.””
— Psalm 24:1

Giving is about trusting God’s promise that He will not wreck you; He will BLESS you!

Trust the Giver.  Release the griping.



3. DEVELOP A GENEROUS HEART

Look at Deuteronomy 15:14:

“Give him a generous farewell gift from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress.
Share with him some of the bounty with which the Lord your God has blessed you.”


We are blessed to be a blessing to others.
We are born selfish, born again generous.

Jesus taught us to be generous:
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear...
Why do you have so little faith?
Don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’
These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
— Matthew 6:25-36


Jesus says don’t worry, be open-handed, and don’t worry about getting something back!

What is the very first thing we teach children?  SHARE!

God is saying to all His children:
“When are you going to grow up? When are you going to become like your Father?”

Your kids learn about giving and generosity by watching you.

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4. DEVELOP A GRATEFUL HEART

Deuteronomy 15:15 says:
“Remember that you were once slaves in the land of Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you!”

Remind yourself that everything comes from God.

Remember what life was like before Christ.

“But you are God’s chosen treasure —priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones.
He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own.
He did this so THAT WE MAY broadcast his glorious wonders throughout the world.”
— 1 Peter 2:9 (TPT)

When you remember, you become grateful.
A grateful heart has the potential and power to change the world: Yours.

“The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.”
— William Booth


Let’s have one heartbeat and See What God Can Do Through You.

REFLECTION

1) What challenged you the most in this session?

2) Why is giving always about the heart instead of your bank account?

3) How does Deuteronomy 15 change the way you see your heart?
Move Forward to Session Seven