Not in My House Series
How to Change Banks
January 24, 2010
Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction
A There are banks on every corner, but there are really only two: bank of the world or Bank of God.
1 I’m not talking about where you put your money as much as where you put your trust (world or Kingdom).
a Matt. 6:24, you must make a choice, you can’t do both. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Matt 6:24 (KJV)
aa Mammon (literally riches) refers to wealth personified (money, possessions, ultimately to another god in the earth)
b Most Christians would say, “I bank at the Kingdom,” but saying it is much different than doing it (saying it IS NOT doing it).
2 You can make deposits, withdrawals, loans at either, but not both.
a Both banks do these transactions, but in completely different ways.
b We’ll look at both banks & how to make sure you’re at the right one.
B (transitional sentence)
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I The bank of the world always falls, fails.
A In Gen. 11:1-4, we see the most telltale signs of the bank of the world. Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words.2 It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.3 They said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly." And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.4 They said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." Gen 11:1-4 (NASB)
1 The people spoke in one language (probably Hebrew), and they looked out for only one.
a Built a tower to reach heaven in order to do two things:
aa To overtake God (a name for themselves)
bb To determine their own destiny; get up high enough to survive another flood (God can do what He wants, He can’t get us).
b These folks were determined to meet their needs without God
aa Let US build, make a name for ourselves, lest we get scattered.
bb They were determined to make it without God.
2 The Lord said, "Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.7 "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language , so that they will not understand one another's speech ."8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city.9 Therefore its name was called Babel , because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth. Gen 11:6-9 (NASB)
a Things got hard, difficult, scattered when they chose to bank at Babylon.
b It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and He adds no sorrow to it. Prov 10:22 (NASB) Why did God add “...and He adds no sorrow to it?”
aa If you choose to try to make it without Him, in the Babylonian system, you’re going to have sorrow, fatigue, grief, worry.
bb There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Prov 14:12 (NASB) If you chose to do things without God, according to the Babylonian system, you’re going to have some areas lacking.
c (IL) Scouts are making a step stool, & the boys want to do it, build it...let’s do it, & about 3 minutes later, “Pastor Mike, can you help us cut the board, nail this side?”
aa On their own it’s not going to be built, but if they ask for help it will get done!
bb Daddy, I need your help!
B There are telltale signs you’re with the wrong bank.
1 You constantly worry about money. For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life , as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 31 Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?'32 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matt 6:25, 31-34 (NASB)
a People at the world’s bank are living like they do not need God, trust in themselves for provision (God helps those who help themselves isn’t in the Bible).
b If you’re seeking His Kingdom and righteousness, then the Bible says God will make sure you have food, water, clothes-needs are met.
aa If I’m living for #1 me, my kingdom-worry, anxious, fret (1.0).
bb If I put the Kingdom at #1, myself at #2, I’m living life at 2.0-no worries.
c Riches of the world have “sorrow” attached to them; not God’s riches.
2 You refuse to return the tithe & give offerings. "Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, 'How have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings .9 "You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you!10 "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 3:8-10 (NASB)
a The people of God stopped giving 10%, robbed God of what He commanded, & it triggered something in heaven-the windows of blessing.
aa Because they didn’t put the Kingdom/
righteousness of God first...they closed the windows on their own blessing.
bb Sabotaged their own financial blessings because they didn’t trust God.
b When you tithe you’re saying, “God, You’re my Provider, & I’m proving I believe You’re my Provider.”
aa When you refuse to tithe, you’re saying, “God, I don’t trust you to provide for me, & I’m proving it by keeping the money in my hands.”
bb Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth , who will entrust the true riches to you? Luke 16:11 (NASB) If you’re not faithful with money, how can you think God will open the window of heaven on you?
3 You are not living a holy life. "Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.2 "All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God: 12 "The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. Deut 28:1-2, 12 (NASB)
a You cannot sleep around, steal from the people you work for, cuss people out, gossip about others, badmouth your pastor-and many other things you know are wrong-and have blessing work for you.
b Why? Because your deeds are your seeds, you sow the wrong seed through behavior that is contrary to God’s Word, don’t be shocked when you go to make a withdrawal from the Bank of Heaven & see a closed sign on the window (you’ve been banking at the wrong bank).
c (IL) I bank at Region’s, but I go to BV to make a withdrawal.
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II The Bank of Heaven
A Jesus introduced Simon Peter to this bank in Luke 5, after a long night of catching nothing, when Jesus said, “You’re not in the right spot.” When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." Luke 5:4 (NASB)
1 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." Luke 5:5 (NASB) Peter agrees, & the moment he moved into the waters/area where Jesus wanted them to go & dropped the nets...BOOM the windows of heaven open!
a He did just what Jesus said (didn’t even really want to!)
aa “I will let down my nets”-saying it wasn’t doing it!
bb When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break...Luke 5:6 (NASB) When they had done this-drop their nets.
b When he did, he moved from the world’s bank to God’s Bank, & he experienced a great harvest. GREAT QUANTITY (great reward)
2 The moment Peter focused his attention on what Jesus wanted, he had his needs met.
a If God wants you saving people, discipling people, choir, nursery, breakfast, encouraging people-put that first!
b Watch the windows open
B God will look for opportunities to bless you.
1 Not so you can get rich, but give like you are.
a There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, and there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results only in want.25 The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered. Prov 11:24-25 (NASB)
b Give like you’ve got plenty!
c When you lay up treasure in heaven, you have plenty now & are earning interest in heaven.
aa Die-what I have here stays.
bb Banked in glory is still all I have!
2 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Cor 9:6-15 (NIV)
a God gets money to you to get it through you!
b There are 3 blessings here: you’re blessed, you bless others, God gets the glory.
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Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
