Giving Is Living

GIVING IS LIVING

Luk 18:18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Luk 18:19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

Luk 18:20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother.

Luk 18:21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

Luk 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Luk 18:23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

Luk 18:24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

Luk 18:25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

INTRO:

We find here that the "Rich Young Ruler" has asked the Lord what he must do to recieve eternal life. What do I got to do to live forever, to be as great as you are LORD, to do the works that you do , to have the peace that you have, etc....

The Lord told him to sell all that he had and distribute it to the poor, or give all of himself to God, and he walked away empty , sorrowfull, and dead spiritually.

What was the point of Christ? Living is giving. Jesus himself came into the world not to receive but to give

Phi 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Phi 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

CHURCH IS NOT A :

WAY TO GET READY FOR TAX SEASON

CLUB

WE ARE THE HANDS AND FEET, THE BODY OF CHRIST JESUS !!!!!!!!!!

Illust. Jesus BROKEN HANDS

Story told of a large cathedral church that was hit by a earthquake. The disaster destroyed the church, and all that remained was a century old statue of Jesus stand ing with his arms out stretched, only the rubble that fell from the earthquake fell and broke off the hands of Jesus. They called upon a man who said he could fix it, after making arrangements with him, they changed their minds about fixing the hands. The man asked why and they told him that they all agreed that the broken hands served as a reminder that we as the body of Christ are the hands and feet of Christ.

WE ARE LIKE TREES MADE TO GIVE

We as Christians are compared all through the Bible as either a tree, bringing forth fruit, or a branch of the vine bringing forth fruit etc..

A fruit tree or a grape vine are both living organisms that exist and live to give. They grow and produce fruit so that others may be nourished and live. If a tree is not giving it is not living.

Mat 21:19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

Mat 21:20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

YOU KNOW WHAT LEAVES ARE GOOD FOR? ADAM USES LEAVES TO HIDE HIMSELF AND HIS CONDITION.

LEAVES

God does not want a part of us but all of us. To live we must give.

He knew that the tree may have appeared to have appeared to live becuase it was clothed with leaves but the heart or the inside of that tree was dead because there was no fruit, friend you may look alive on the outside and according to the standards of men but God is not impressed with your leaves,

Church attendance

Your knowledge of the scriptures

Your righteousness(holiness or outward appearance)

Your position in the church

God knows your heart were men just see your leaves and if you are not producing

Fruit then you are not giving and for sure not living.

Fruit will give life to the one in need of it.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

PRODUCING FRUIT WILL RESTORE- People need something off of your tree.