Giving is Living
Part 1
Philippians 4:19
Pastor Carl Toti
January 28-29, 2023
WORLDVIEW SEGMENT
“INFORMED TO PRAY
EMPOWERED TO ACT.”
Astrology & Horoscopes
Deuteronomy 18:10–12a (CEB)
10 There must not be anyone among you who passes his son or daughter through fire; who practices divination, is a sign reader, fortune-teller, sorcerer, 11 or spell caster; who converses with ghosts or spirits or communicates with the dead. 12 All who do these things are detestable to the LORD!
Astrology is condemned in Scripture for a least two reasons:
1. It promotes faith in something other than the One True God.
2. It is a form of sorcery/divination and witchcraft.
See also: Daniel 4:7; Deuteronomy 17:2-3; Daniel 2:27-28; Isaiah 47:13-14; Deuteronomy 18:10-14; Isaiah 8:19; Micah 5:12; Leviticus 20:6; Leviticus 19:26; Acts 8:9-24; Acts 16: 16; Acts 19;18-20.
GIVING IS LIVING
MAIN IDEA: It is no secret giving is the wellspring of life. Those who live a life of giving have an endless supply of God’s provision.
Philippians 4:19 (ESV)
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Five Ways of Giving According to the Bible
1. SOME GIVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
Proverbs 11:24 (ESV)
24 One gives freely yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
Mark 10:24–25 (NKJV)
24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
2. SOME GIVE LEGALISTICALLY
Luke 11:42 (NLT)
42 “What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
“When there's something in the Bible that churches don't like, they call it legalism;” —Leonard Ravenhill
“Legalism says God will love us if we change. The gospel says God will change us because He loves us.” —Tullian Tchividjian
2 Corinthians 9:7 (NKJV)
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
3. SOME GIVE HYPOCRITICALLY
Acts 5:3 (NLT)
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.
4. SMART PEOPLE GIVE BIBLICALLY
Malachi 3:10 (NLT)
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!
5. SOME GIVE SACRIFICIALLY
1 Kings 17:13 (NLT)
13 But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you've said but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son.
