Face To Face With Divine Generosity Series

DEFINING MOMENTS – PART FIVE

FACE TO FACE WITH DIVINE GENEROSITY

JOHN 3:16-18 (PAGE 752 - DR. LARRY L. THOMPSON (2015)

Introduction:

Today we are focusing on the most important defining moment in life; when you, as a person created by God, understand the amazing, sacrificial generosity of God’s grace. Turn to John 3:16-18-P. 752

“For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him. 18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in Him. But anyone who does not believe in Him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16-18

John 3:14 is arguably the most quoted verse in the world. We have all seen the guy holding or wearing a ‘John 3:16’ sign a sporting events; we have seen John 3:16 painted on rocks along the side of a road, or on tee shirts and bumper stickers. We all know the verse well: “For God so loved the world…” BUT,’ IF YOU READ THIS PASSAGE IN PROPER CONTEXT, YOU ALSO KNOW THAT THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN HIM FIRST, ARE CONDEMNED

Interesting, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GENEROSITY PEOPLE START GETTING NERVOUS! A new building campaign; or sign a pledge card? THE GREATEST WAY TO REALLY UNDERSTAND GENEROSITY IS EXAMINE THE GENEROSITY OF GOD. IN COMPARISON…

BILL GATES: Bill Gates is on the top of the Forbes list for the richest man in the world and is now worth $79.3 Billion. Statistics regarding wealth of Bill Gates:

• If Gates were a nation he would be the 37th wealthiest COUNTRY on EARTH of 196 nations.

• $79.3 billion dollars, at a simple 6% rate, means that he makes $124.70 every second of his life. It is not worth his time to stop and pick up; truthfully, he should leave it there for one of us!

• Bill Gates is 59 years old. If he lives to be 90, he will have to spend $6 million dollars a day to exhaust his fortune.

• If Bill Gates gave EVERYONE on earth $10 he would still have $9 billion to work with.

• Bill Gates is not only the wealthiest man on earth, but he also one of the most generous in giving away $33 billion dollars to date!

Here’s what you need to understand about today’s defining moment…The Gates statistics are staggering…BUT COMPARED TO THE GENEROSITY OF JESUS CHRIST…POOR BILL GATES IS A HOARDER. WHY? Because: “ALL THAT YOU ENJOY IN LIFE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO YOU BY GOD!” Col. 1:16 – p.833

“For through Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16 (NLT)

EVERYTHING WE ENJOY IN LIFE HE HAS MADE FOR US. We often forget it. I love a GREAT HAMBURGER but I never drive by a farm and look at a cow and say, “WOW, I BET THAT IS GOING TO BE DELICIOUS!” OR a pig in the mud and you look at that and say, “OH, MAN, if I could just get Your BACK END and STICK THAT IN THE OVEN…WOW!” We see the generosity of God in the common everyday experience of life. THERE IS NOTHING THAT YOU ENJOY THAT WAS NOT GIVEN BY GOD.

MY GOAL: FOR YOU TO CLEARLY UNDERSTAND DEFINING MOMENT REGARDING THE GENEROSITY OF GOD: I want you to be SO overwhelmed by what God has given you that you would never again be resentful for what you don’t have.

Sadly, THAT’S THE DEFAULT MOST OF US CONSIDER! WHAT WE DON’T HAVE! WHAT IF TODAY, SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015 YOU WOULD SAY “I HAD A DEFINING MOMENT AS MY EYES WERE OPENED TO THE TRUE GENEROSITY OF GOD IN MY LIFE!”

THREE PIECES OF EVIDENCE to help you conclusion.

I. THE GENEROSITY OF GOD IS EVIDENCED WHEN: GOD SENT HIS SON (John 3:16-18)

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him. 18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in Him. But anyone who does not believe in Him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16-18

Here is the difference between God’s generosity and Bill Gates generosity. God gave generously; His very best, even to His enemies, even though they stood against Him and did not believe in Him. You will never see Bill Gates wearing an APPLE WATCH!