Investing In Your Eternal Dream Home Series

Building Your Eternal Dream Home Series

Investing in Your Eternal Dream Home

Jan. 27, 2008 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor

Introduction

A I can have $1,000 in Canadian money, and not be able to buy a fried chicken platter at the Ol’ Farmhouse down the block.

1 Canadian money is good in Canada, American money is good here.

a Realm, country

b We know about treasure in heaven, but what about exchanging/converting?

2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2 (NASB)

a My soul is already rich/prospering!

b Show up here, now

B "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Mal 3:10 (NASB)

1 There is a 5-step process to convert riches from the eternal realm into my present realm.

a God asks us to give (bring your whole tithe into the storehouse)

b God opens the windows of heaven (something opens in me, light)

c God begins to speak blessing into our lives (benediction)

d We must act on God’s word for us

e God releases abundance on us (there is not enough room!)

2 In the New Testament (Luke 5:1-8), this sequence is identifiable in the Lukian account of Peter’s calling to follow Christ.

a Luke’s account is the Blu-Ray, letterbox, director’s cut of the similar accounts in Matt. 4 and Mark 1 of Peter’s call.

b Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; 2 and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. 3 And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. 4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." 5 Simon answered and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets." 6 When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; 7 so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet , saying, "Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man! Luke 5:1-8 (NASB)

3 Let’s look at this 5-step process to bring eternal blessing into the right now.

4 Pray

I God asks us to give

A Before Peter was a full-time apostle, he made his living as a commercial fisherman (partners, at least two boats in his business).

1 Jesus was teaching and asked Peter if He could use his boat.

a Boat was probably Peter’s most cherished possession

b Comparable to asking a truck driver for his rig, a programmer for his laptop, farmer/tractor, carpenter/toolbox, salesman/Blackberry or cell phone.

2 Peter gave it to Him!

B Jesus can ask for anything, at any time, from any one of His followers.

1 I know He’s asked me to tithe.

2 If Jesus can ask a little boy for his lunch (John 6:9-11), He can without reservation/hesitation ask for a portion of what He’s put in our hands.

II Secondly, God opens the windows of heaven

A As a result of Peter offering his boat to Jesus, the windows of heaven were about to open up for him.

1 We know how the story ends, but something miraculous happens when Peter surrendered his boat to Jesus.

a Peter’s submission set in motion the windows, floodgates opening in heaven.

b Floodgates/windows are barriers, impediments, blockers, barricades.

2 Peter’s obedience/giving indicated the gates and windows being thrown open.

B Our obedience here triggers something there

1 When I give, it’s not to get paid...obedience

2 "Name it and claim it" theology-NO, "give it and live it"-yes

III Thirdly, God speaks blessing into our lives.

A Jesus told Peter to go to the deep water, let down his nets, and catch some fish.

1 These were Jesus’ words of blessing on to Peter (good words)

a Typically, fishermen fished 1) at night 2) in the shallow water

b Jesus’ words pointed Peter to a new location, spot, in a new direction, method, way, time, concept.