Here are my notes for this new series:
Miracle Math (-) + (+) = (x)
(-) is what we can subtract from our life = Sacrifice
(+) is what we can add to our life for Kingdom Purpose
(x) is God’s miraculous supply for this life and all eternity
Sacrifice = giving up of something valuable or important for somebody or something else considered to be of more value or importance
- Just as “love that doesn’t cost is just a feeling”, giving without sacrifice is just a tip
- “Something valuable or important” is a matter of the heart
- Sacrifice is a matter of the heart and it costs
Like Fasting – its not so much about what we are fasting from as what we are fasting to
- Sacrifice – Its not so much about what we are giving up as what we are gaining
- In God’s light, sacrifice doesn’t cost, it pays!
The Cross
- The Greatest Sacrifice! (for the joy that was set before Him, he endured the cross)
- The Great Exchange – not for us to continually consider our sin forgiven, but to continually consider Him the author and finisher of our faith…
Miracle Math is the formula that God uses and will use to produce the miracles needed to build His Church, corporately and individually
Example: Mk 10:17-30
- 17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
- 18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
- 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’
- 20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
- 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
- 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
- 23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”
- 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!
- 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
- 26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”
- 27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
- 28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
- 29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s,
- 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.”
The (-) is house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, land…
The (+) is for Jesus and the Message
The = is (x) of what he gave up and what we gave to for now, and eternity
Sacrifice has always been looked at from the negative perspective of what we have to give up (what we will have less of)…
- in actuality it is the small door by which we enter into the Large life of what we get – miraculous supply, God’s glory, devil defeating victory, Godly relationships
- When we let go of what is in our hand for our purpose and release it to God’s hand for His purpose, we get God’s miracle multiplication for His Kingdom and our blessing
Miracle Math is not a magical formula… it is not some gimmick…
- we are not raising these funds with fundraisers, bazaars, raffles…
- we will be teaching what God expects of us as managers of our financial resources… Stewardship is Management For Eternity
- we will all become better managers and God will provide all the finances we need to build corporately and individually
- Haggai 1:9 God explains His priority and why His people were not experiencing His miraculous supply – they had pockets with holes in them – “Because while you’ve run around, caught up with taking care of your own houses, my Home is in ruins.”
3 Important Questions as we move into this season of Stewardship:
1. Why should I want to give?
- To bring glory to God = Build The BEST for His Cause
- Being faithful with what we have is God’s way to the blessing of More (being faithful in the little things…) (Equal sacrifice, not equal gift)
- We All Need the Opportunity to Give
- Corporately, We together need finances to serve our world (the gospel is free but it costs money to proclaim)
- Personally, Our personal growth comes through giving (our generosity is the measure of our capacity)
- Protectively, Giving is the best guard against greed and selfishness
- Productively, Giving stimulates faith
2. Is God able and wanting to Multiply what I give to Him?
2 Cor 9:10 “Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,”
3. How should I plan my involvement in this miracle campaign?
- Start where you are at
- Give purposefully, cheerfully and consistently
- Put God and His Kingdom first (Tithing) (if God were to take your tithe and times it by ten and made that your income…?)
- Plan what you could sacrifice in your lifestyle that would make more seed available
- What minor important things could you give up for the Major important purpose of God and your eternity?
- Look at practical ways that you could save a little here and there – over time and together with many doing the same thing, it ADDS UP!
- Pray about a God given goal that you could believe for
