A LIFE Worth Celebrating

Think Of Him First

Date: 13 October 2019

Speaker: Duane Lowe

Last week we found out that “Attitude is everything;” that when we give Him our hearts, He’ll empower us to give as He gave so we can serve His mission. Malachi 3 & 2 Chronicles 31 give us “Kingdom of God Principles” that never change. As a matter of fact, it’s how we Celebrate Jesus being King of His Kingdom within our hearts. 

Matthew 6:33 (NIV) Jesus comes on the scene and challenges everyone to SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD and everything we NEED will follow.

Malachi 3: 6-11 (MSG) “I am God—yes, I Am. I haven’t changed. And because I haven’t changed, you, the descendants of Jacob, haven’t been destroyed. You have a long history of ignoring my commands. You haven’t done a thing I’ve told you. Return to me so I can return to you,” says God-of-the-Angel-Armies. “You ask, ‘But how do we return?’ 8-11 “Begin by being honest. Do honest people rob God? But you rob me day after day.”

Jesus is talking about mercy and forgiving others. 

• The definition of Ordinances is simply: “Principles of ordinary behaviors.” 
• It’s ordinary for the people of God to Thank God for their harvest and increase even in times of recession and trouble because they know God is in charge of the details; the circumstances and the situations in our lives. 

This is how simple God is explaining His ORDINARY PRINCIPLES: 

• If I tithe, my choice to let Him bless and protect me! 
• If I don’t tithe, my choice is to be cursed and unprotected!

The Definition of Tithe: Tenth Part; The First Tenth… 

3 Reasons God Allows This Argument to Exist:

1. Tithing Is Biblical:

 Genesis 14: 18-20 (NIV), Genesis 28:22 (NKJV), Lev. 27: 30 (NLT), Deut. 26: 2 (NKJV), Duet. 13-15 (NKJV), Matt. 23-23 (NKJV), Hebrews 7:8 (NKJV)

THIS IS AN ORDINARY PRINCIPLE OF HOW WE CELEBRATE HIM AND WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO IT!

1. Tithing Is A Test:

• Who’s being tested? God! 
• Every time you get paid: “Are you going to believe and put God to the test?”
• THAT His Ordinary Principle (Ordnance) work? 
• That 90% BLESSED will go farther than a 100% without His blessing. 
• THAT “OUR FAITH” in the tithe puts God to the test? Develop an attitude of gratefulness

The Bible 10th always represents TESTING

• Let’s Take A TEST: I’ll ask a question and you give me the answer (Loud and Clear). 
• How many times did God challenge Pharaoh to test Him in Egypt? Pharaoh disobeyed and 10 plagues were the result. 
• How many commandments are there? 10
• How many times did God challenge Israel to test Him in the wilderness? 10

Galatians 6:6-7 (NKJV)

3.Tithing Is A Blessing:

When we’re not grateful and benevolent, how does God handle us? He has His angels on assignment.

 2 Chronicles 31: 4-10 (NKJV)

• Embracing Gods ordinary principle always works
• Get this ordinary principle down in your life and watch your life change. 

What is God saying to you about this message?

A LIFE Worth Celebrating

The Principle of First

Date: 20 October 2019

Speaker: Duane Lowe

The Principle of First is demonstrated from the beginning to the end of scriptures.

• It’s the one principle that supports our faith in Jesus and His Cross. WHY? Jesus is the firstborn and first fruit of all creation.
• When we get “The Principle of First” right in our lives, everything else comes into order.

First Fruits supported the dominion and authority of Adam prior to his choice to fall.

The most wonderful life that can be lived is tied directly to who is # 1 in your life.

We are quick to say God is #1 but let’s do an audit on what we think about most! Pull out a ledger or your checking account and find out where you spend money most! How did you do last month on testing God?

THE FIRST THING WE DO WITH THE INCREASE GOD GIVES US TELLS US WHO IS # 1!

Exodus 13:1-12; 12-13 (NIV)

Three requirements associated with Israel’s freedom was:

1. The first born must be sacrificed or redeemed.

Christians who are negative toward tithing reveal their lack of understanding of God’s Principle behind tithing. 

Jesus is God’s tithe. God give the tithe first! God didn’t wait until we straighten up or cleaned up to “give His son.” He gave His Son when we were mocking, spitting at and nailing Him to a Cross. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us! John 3:16 (NIV)

The only way we can give the tithe is: The way God gave His first-born and how Israel gave the first born of their herd.

God did not invent tithing for His sake; He invented it for our sake! Tithing helps us walk in faith.

1. The first fruits must be offered.

Proverbs 3:9 (NIV)

Exodus 23:19 (NIV)

God doesn’t use the word “give” when He addresses tithing. He uses “BRING” and or “RETURN” because you can’t “give” what doesn’t belong to you. You can either bring it or you can keep it.  

God lets the Israelites know that the best is His and it must be returned to Him at His designated place, the house of the Lord.

The first portion is the redemptive portion.

• This is why the gospel message is so powerful
• The first portion has the power to bless the rest
• When we bring the tithe to God, the rest is redeemed. This is verified all through scripture.

When we keep the first in our heart, our house and our account, it’s cursed!

Genesis 4:3-5 (MSG) (NKJV)

REMEMBER THIS: It’s not just that God wouldn’t accept Cain’s offering; He couldn’t! God cannot ACT OUTSIDE of WHO HE IS.

God can’t be second. He’s FIRST! God requires that we think of Him first.

1. The tithe must be returned first.

Leviticus 27:30 (NJKV)

If you go home and start with paying your mortgage, your visa, your utilities, your grocery and then God. God didn’t get the first, the mortgage company got the first. 

 When you do it this way, most of the time there isn’t enough left-over for God. God doesn’t receive left-overs.

In your heart, is God first?

Exodus 13:14-16 (NIV)

God is saying in this passage: One day you son is going to ask you why do you tithe to the Lord?

When your son asks you why you do this, you say: But God with a mighty hand has delivered me.

There are several families that need to hit the “reset button” on their lives. Many are slave to their present possession because they didn’t get it God’s way and God can’t bless them until they get their lives in order with God.

What is God saying to you about this message?

A LIFE Worth Celebrating

WWMD; Are You Part of the Club?

Date: 27 October 2019

Speaker: Duane Lowe

Evidence a spirit of offense is influencing our lives:.

• When I feel like “I’m not okay and it’s your fault,” the spirit of offense justifies the conclusion. Marriage relationships are impacted by this predominately. 
• When I feel like “I’m too busy,” the spirit of offense has imprisoned my way of thinking to the culture around me or eat up with greed etc. 
• When my attraction to the opposite sex isn’t from a God prospective, the spirit of offense has my spiritual lens skewed. 
• When as a follower of Jesus, I’m not effective in His Great Commission, the spirit of offense has stolen my faith in God’s plan for me. 

Offense feeds on our personal passions for CONTROL and POWER.

Mammon has influenced all of us at some point in our lives. 

• Time, talents, resources. We’re going to use money as a point of interest to learn why being busy and too tired to serve in God’s Great Commission is a reality among most believers today. 

Is money bossing you around? Your boss just might be mammon if: 

• If there is more month than there is money.
• If you’re driving a car more expensive than your home.
• If you “freak-out” over balancing the budget. 
• If you and your spouse maintain separate checking accounts. 
• If you’re living like Tony Parker but getting paid like Peter Parker.
• If you get more calls from debt collectors than from family and friends. 
• If you regularly visit the pawn shop to pay bills. 
• If a payday advance clerk knows you by your first name. 
• If you’re more interested in keeping up with the Jones than inviting the Jones to Church. 
• If you write a hot check to return God’s tithe and you write “In Jesus Name” in the memo. 
• If you budget each month for overdrafts fees.  
• If you regularly raid your child’s piggy bank to purchase something. 

Jesus teaches us Matthew 6 and Luke 16 how to: 

• Honor God and become a steward of what is your own and true riches.
• God wants us to KNOW how money gets in the way of our fellowship with Him.

He refers to this word “Mammon” four times.  Matthew 6:24 (NKJV), Luke 16:9-12 (NKJV)

Three questions to ask yourself to see if you are serving mammon:

1. What is mammon? 

• Mammon is an Aramaic word that essentially means “riches.” Mammon is the Assyrian “god of wealth” which comes out of Babylon.
• Mammon promises us: 
  • Security, (Peace) — How many of you have thought that money could give you security? 
  • Significance, (Fulfillment)
  • Identity, (People will respect and listen to you)
  • Happiness,
  • Power, (Control)
  • And freedom. (To go where, how and when you want, like Cain)  

• Mammon is a system that is in total opposition to God and His ways!
  • Mammon says to buy and sell; God says to sow and reap. 
  • Mammon says to cheat and steal; God says to give and receive. 
  • But more than anything, mammon wants to RULE. 

Revelation 13:16-17 (NKJV)

• Mammon has come to all of us at some point in our lives and convinced us that:

• • I either need God to come through for me 
  • Or I need someone to give me some money

1. Is Money Evil? 1 Timothy 6:10 (NKJV)

• Loving and serving mammon is the ROOT of All Evil!
• The Key to understanding Luke 16:9 is to take unrighteous mammon (money, increase that has been dedicated to the god of riches and independence) and:
  • Redeem it by returning Gods portion to Him 
  • And His Spirit can rest on it 
  • Then use it to build the Kingdom of God by influencing people to follow God! 
  • And when you die, they (people who you used your money to witness to) will welcome you into an everlasting home. 

Remember This: God Is the Only One That Can Turn Money Into Souls!

1. What Should I Do with Unrighteous Mammon? Luke 16:10 (NKJV)

• God gives a little to see what we will do with it! 

• • When we give generously, save aggressively and spend wisely, GOD GIVES US MORE! 
  • And if we steward MORE well, He gives us MORE!  
    • The world says: “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.” 
    • The Kingdom Principle is: The GOOD STEWARDS get MORE and the Poor Stewards Don’t get more.

• • • God says When It Comes To Tithe, We Only Have Two Choices! 
      • We can either bring it to the house of God 
      • Or we can steal it! 
    • What Are True Riches? People! Not money! 
      • Because People Last Forever! 
      • He made us eternal and everything else is temporal!

What is God saying to you about mammon and stewardship?

A LIFE Worth Celebrating

Am I Generous?

Date:3 November 2019

Speaker: Duane Lowe

God has a plan and generosity is what facilitates His plan.

Does my life demonstrate God’s Kingdom and character? If not, Why?

• When I celebrate Jesus by being generous, He’s King of His Kingdom and my relationships are healthy.
• When I celebrate Jesus by being generous, I’m full of peace and joy and free from worry, fear and doubt.

I will choose to serve God or mammon which means the evidence of the one whom I serve is easy to detect. Mammon encourages selfishness which supports being human. Jesus empowers us as sons to be generous bringing heaven to earth.

An example of extravagant giving is demonstrated in John 12:1-8 (NKJV).

The two questions that need an answer about this event is:

1. Why did Mary do this?
2. And why did it bother Judas so much?

Like the battle between good and evil, light and darkness, God and mammon, this incident highlights the fact that wherever you find generosity, you will find selfishness battling against it for control. Each of us must take a hard, inward look and ask these questions:

• Am I generous
• Or am I selfish?
• Which of these attitudes has the upper hand in my life?

Three important things about generosity we need to know:

1. Generosity has an enemy.

The enemy of generosity is selfishness. Everyone has battled with this spiritual attitude at one time or another.

1 Corinthians 10: 13 (NKJV)

Every time Judas was tempted God didn’t allow it to be too unbearable. He always

made a way of escape for him, but he refused to choose the available escape route. Judas continued to choose selfishness.

God’s way to escape mammon’s temptation is to listen to His voice and host His presence. Embracing this truth empowers us to escape the temptation to rob God and be generous instead.

When I’m walking in a selfish spirit, I always find seemingly good, logical and religious reasons not to be generous. Just like Judas, selfishness attempts to get the focus off selfishness in us and onto the “extravagance” of others.

Mary came to Jesus and with a heart overflowing with gratitude and love. That love translated itself into worship through an offering of great price.

2. Generosity is extravagant.

2 Corinthians 8:5 (NKJV)

God is impressed when we honor Him with ALL OF OUR HEART FIRST!

There are 3 levels of giving in the Bible, 1 level of returning and 2 levels of giving:

• Tithes (returning)
• Offerings (giving)
• Extravagant offerings (giving)

All giving in the Bible is represented by these methods.

There is a battle raging inside each of us. The battle between selfishness and generosity; it is a battle generosity must win. Ask yourself these revealing questions:

• What do my offerings say about my gratitude and love for God?
• What does my spending say about what’s truly important to me on this earth?

Answering these questions reveal how we view the Great Commission and God’s Treasure, People.

3. Generosity has a reward.

Mary gets Rewarded in John 12, Matthew 26 and Mark 14.

Mark 14:9 (NKJV)

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)

God rewarded Mary because God is rewarder!

When we give with the right heart, God will reward us, and no one can stop Him. NOT EVEN HIGHER TAXES!

What the Spirit saying to you about generosity?

A LIFE Worth Celebrating

God’s Gift To You: Take The Day Off

Date: 1 December 2019

Speaker: Duane Lowe

Question: How important is taking a day off to you? 

All of us fit into one of these 4 categories of hearers. Those who are:

1. Stuck with “doubt” that the Holy Spirit is speaking 
2. Struggling to be obedient to what the Holy Spirit is saying 
3. Stable in your faith and are moving forward in your relationship with the Holy Spirit
4. Secure in our relationship with the Holy Spirit and allowing Him measurable’s to manifest

God gives us a gift that equals taking the day off. When we do it, we’re letting God know that we want to be like Him.

Exodus 16:23-26 (NKJV) God let them know that His provision for their “Day Off” is provided on the “Day Before.”

Exodus 16:27-30 (NKJV) The Sabbath is a gift from God to us!

There are 5 points that God reveals about taking a day off:

1. It’s a commandment. 

When we honor God’s commands there are blessings and when we ignore them there are serious consequences. If we don’t rest there are consequences. Weariness leads to broken relationships, financial difficulty, health issues etc.

Exodus 20:8-11 (MSG) When we choose to take a day off each week, we’re honoring Him!

1. It’s a witness. 

Exodus 31:14-15 (NKJV) The Sabbath is one of God’s greatest witnesses in scripture. 

Exodus 31:16-17 (NKJV)

1. God is serious about it.

Numbers 15:32-36 (NKJV)

What do we do on a Sabbath? The way you answer this question is better observed from the perspective of “What you don’t do.” 

• What you don’t do is work! NO phone calls, emails, texting etc. for your work. The problem with our lifestyles presently is: “We’ve got our office wherever we go.” 
• What about emergency? Jesus addressed this matter! Get your ox out of the ditch. HOWEVER, everything isn’t an emergency.

1. Unobserved Sabbaths accumulate.

2 Chronicles 36:20-21 (NKJV)

1. God made the Sabbath for our benefit.

Mark 2:27-28 (NKJV)

What is God saying to you about this message?

A LIFE Worth Celebrating

What Are You Waiting For?

Date: 8 December 2019

Speaker: Duane Lowe

No Holy Spirit – No Rest  / Know Holy Spirit – Know Rest

God picks a specific day to redeem humanity back into their rightful place as His representative in the seen realm. The feast day of “Pentecost” would include all nations and people to be His special treasured people and family. 

1. God introduces His SPIRIT to the world once again,
2. Everyone is invited to enter His REST with and in Him. 

Question: So, what Is the Holy Spirit like and what do we need to know about God’s Spirit?

Those who allow Jesus to baptize them with the Holy Spirit and fire enter into a special place in Christ: Hebrews 12:22-25 (NIV). We’re encouraged not to disregard the voice of the Holy Spirit. What He has to say to us is the key to our deliverance and freedom.

Acts 4:31 (NKJV) They opened up to the truth of saying what they heard God speak without regard to those who tried to stop them.

Paul reminds Timothy that God doesn’t give anyone the spirit of fear. He charges Timothy to encourage the people when fear comes by “stirring up the gift.” (2 Timothy 1:6-7)

We’re talking about what is to “EXPERIENCE” the Holy Spirit “KNOWING” us. Many think of “God and His Spirit” as a soulish feeling. God wants us to give that feeling up for a far better feeling.

We Jesus invites us to follow Him, He is inviting us to: 

1. Lose our soul by turning it over to Him.
2. Allow Him to baptize us with the Holy Spirit so our dead spirit can resurrect.
3. He’ll give us our soul back saved.

Colossians 1:27 (KJV) Jesus physically shows his followers to: listen and speak, and to see and follow.

Jesus reveals this coming spiritual presence in John 14:16-18 (NKJV).

3 things we need to know about the Holy Spirit:

1. He’s my helper

What does the Holy Spirit help us do? John 16:8-11 (KJV)

1. 1. Influence others to see their need to be saved. 
   2. Convince others of their (right standing) with God. 
      1. Instead of seeing what’s wrong with other, you will begin to see what’s right about them. 
   3. Influence others to believe in their “authority”.

God gives us His Spirit to convince and comfort us about how He sees us!

John 12:31 (NKJV)

Romans 16:20 (NKJV)

John 16:8 (NIV)

1. He’s my friend

Mark 16:15-18 (NIV) 

Acts 4:31 (NKJV)

1. He’s my God

John 14:16-18 (NKJV)

John 14:26 (NKJV)

Matthew 1:18-21 (NKJV)

Acts 5:3-4 (NKJV)

• Jesus wants to make experiencing His Holy Spirit as easy for you as possible.
• The Holy Spirit descended on Him at His water baptism so that He could baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire at your water baptism.

Ask the Holy Spirit what is He saying to you through this message.