Break Free from Financial Captivity (notes)

Good morning! The following blog contains sermon notes from Sunday at Revolution Church - featuring week four of the series, Break Free. This week, we dealt with Financial Captivity, and the message contained many scriptural references to help you learn to be both a cheerful and an intentional giver and break free from the financial constraint you may face every day.

In addition, check out the following financial resources from our friends at Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University to help you plan, budget and grow together as a giving family.

Online Budget Tools
Financial Peace University
Budgeting Software
My Total Money Makeover

Budget Tips (free!) from BudgetSimple.com

Check out the message and be blessed!

Pastor Kris

P.S. A video link to this message will be posted here by Tuesday, August 7th.

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Break Free: Financial Captivity

August 5, 2012

Pastor Kris Freeman

Revolution Church

Scripture: Luke 21:1-4

While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. I tell you the truth, Jesus said, this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.

1.     Satan wants you to serve MONEY .

2.     God wants you to serve HIM .

No man can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matt. 6:24)

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10)

People who love and trust in money:

1.     Never have enough – Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever has wealth is never satisfied with his income (Eccl. 5:10)

2.     Have money in the bank, but no peace in their hearts – Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil (Proverbs 15:16)

3.     Find it increasingly difficult to give big – Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability (2 Corinthians 8:2-3).

Breaking Free from Financial Captivity starts with the right MASTER .

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God (2 Corinthians 9:11)

You must be an INTENTIONAL giver.

aBegin with thanksgiving (1 Thessalonians 5:14-22)

bRecognize the blessing (2 Corinthians 9:7)

c Put God in the budget (Proverbs 22:7)

1.     I will intentionally return to God what BELONGS to God .

A tithe of everything, from the land, whether grains from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. (Leviticus 27:30).

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. (Malachi 3:10a)

2.     I will Intentionally put God FIRST .

The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives. (Deut. 14:23)

3.     I will intentionally give as an INCREASE of my faith.

Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. (Malachi 3:10b)

But just as you excel in everything, see that you also excel in this grace of giving (2 Corinthians 8:7).

Note: Resources complied from the New Living Translation of the Bible, and additional resources from Elevation Church (Pastor Steven Furtick, Break Out Series) and LifeChurch.tv (Pastor Craig Groeschel, How to Be Rich series).