For Every Action a Reaction
Generosity • Sermon • Submitted
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36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!”
41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.
43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.
44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.
45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need.
46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts,
47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
1. The Action of Pentecost, the Reaction of the outpouring of unity
1. The Action of Pentecost, the Reaction of the outpouring of unity
The Holy Spirit empowered / anointed Peter and the disciples to preach
3000 repented and were added to their number
They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teachings
They devoted themselves to fellowship and breaking bread
They devoted themselves to meeting from house to house
They were together in unity
A song of ascents. Of David.
1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
They had a common goal / vision - reach the lost
2. The Action of Generosity, the Reaction of great power in preaching
2. The Action of Generosity, the Reaction of great power in preaching
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.
34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales
35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement),
37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Great Grace
No needs unmet
No need for government assistance
Not socialism but fellowship
Generosity opens doors for the Kingdom of God advancing
3. The Action of Greed, the Reaction of destruction
3. The Action of Greed, the Reaction of destruction
1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.”
Poverty is a mindset that needs to be destroyed
Money is not the answer to poverty
70% of lottery winners end up bankrupt within 5 years according to the National Endowment of Financial Education
Many go bankrupt after a sudden infusion of money - even athletes and celebrities
Easy come easy go
A change of mindset changes outcomes
Change your mind, change your life
Change your present, change your future
Don’t waste time on yesterday, it is dead
Yesterday can’t be changed
Greed led to the lying
Equal opportunity does not bring equal results
Mindset
4. Action of Obedience, the Reaction of blessing
4. Action of Obedience, the Reaction of blessing
4 However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you,
5 if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.
Obedience to the Word of God is the solution to ending poverty
Jesus was obedient to the Father
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Jesus was obedient to His parents
51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Obedience causes blessings to follow you
2 All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:
Obedience causes prosperity to follow your DNA and your work
9 Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your fathers,
10 if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Obey and you will be preferred
obey and His love will follow and fill you
5. The Action of Sacrifice, the Reaction of Increase
5. The Action of Sacrifice, the Reaction of Increase
Jesus was sacrificed and many have come to the Lord
Complete dependence on God leads to provision from God
Your sacrifice never goes unnoticed
God sees all you sacrifice
Time to sacrifice for His Glory
Time to sacrifice for His House
2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come for the Lord’s house to be built.’ ”
3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai:
4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”
5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.
6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.
8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord.
9 “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house.
10 Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops.
11 I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands.”
Your sacrifice for the Lord is never in vail
Make your actions count
Time to be generous and build the House of the Lord