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.
2 When God speaks His blessing onto you He will speak to you through a window.
a It will fit your life perfectly (Peter was a fisherman, so God talked about fishing to him).
b When God speaks, His words have the potential to change our situation.
aa New idea, location, concept, direction
bb Listen as He speaks
B Be obedient, the window opens, and words of good flow at you.
IV Fourthly, we must act on God’s word for us.
A Jesus could have made the fish jump into the boat already filleted, coated with a cornmeal batter, deep fried with fries and hushpuppies.
1 He told Peter to "put down into deep water"
a Peter had to act on the word of blessing
b If we act like God’s children, we’ll be treated like God’s children.
2 Jesus didn’t force Peter out to the deeper water (where the blessing was).
B There are some obstacles to acting on the blessing.
1 Work (just washed our nets! We want our checks to come in the mail).
2 Fear of failure (God can manage your business better than you!)
3 Tradition (Grandparents, Dad, me...)
V Last, God releases abundance on us.
A Peter had fished all night long, results were zero, futile.
1 When he fished Jesus’ way, the result were "off the hook".
a What Peter tried and failed to do, Jesus did!
b There wasn’t enough room to contain the abundance, so he called the other boat!
2 ...if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.
B God keeps His promises!
Conclusion
A There is a way to exchange our eternal currency:
1 Give
2 Open windows
3 Blessing
4 Act on blessing
5 Abundance
B Today, maybe you’re ready to try Malachi 3:10 out in your own life.
1 Obedient, giving
a Commitment card (renew my commitment, committing)
b Pray-gently tear, and we’ll pass around the offering plates.
2 Obedient, living
a Repentance
aa After Peter saw the abundance, he was amazed (it’s a sad condition when you stop being amazed at God’s blessing).
bb "Depart from me for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"
cc What Peter really needed wasn’t a boat full of fish, but rather a Savior (already in the boat).
dd What you really need is closer than you realize
b Repent (turn away sin and turn to a Savior)
3 Obedient, serving
a Watchmen (Suzann), usher/greeter, choir (Linda), Kingdom Kids (Pam), Sunday/Wednesday night (Don), Sunday School (Kathy).
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My name is Mike Fogerson, and I pastor a Southern Baptist Church in Chester, Illinois. I have been a long-time user of Sermon Central and truly appreciate its content and contributors. Some of the best sermons I’ve ever preached have been reworked material from this website. As you use the material from my sermon bank, understand that it is work that has been done from not just myself, but from hundreds of other pastors as well. If you see part of your message, or a bunch of your message with my name on it and this upsets you, please email me and I will quickly respond and cite you as the main source. My intent is not to claim someone’s work as my own. I am disclaiming up front that I use the resources from Sermon Central and appreciate the tool. I simply want all those who use my work to know that some of these messages were inspired by the Holy Spirit working through other pastors. Because I do use the messages of other pastors I waive all claims of originality or origin of creativity for the messages posted under my messages. I pray God blesses your preaching ministry for the glory of His Kingdom.
Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
