Flourish – Part 1 – Who Owns It?

Psalm 92:12-13 // The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; 13 planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. Flourish: To BREAK FORTH, to blossom Proverbs 11:24 MSG // The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. Proverbs 11:24-25 NKJV // There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. 25 The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 // Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. Gallup survey: Rich = $150,000 Rich = $75,000 Money magazine $5,000,000 Nobody is rich, but everybody knows somebody who is. $45,000 is top 1% in the world God doesn’t want us guilty, He wants us responsible. The more a person makes, the less they give. Luke 12:48 NLT // When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. 2 Corinthians 9:11 // You will be made rich in every way. Then you can always give freely. We will take your many gifts to the people who need them. And they will give thanks to God. God blesses us so we can bless others. Genesis 12:2-3 // “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Galatians 3:14 NLT // Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham… WHO OWNS IT? 1. It ALL belongs to God. Psalm 24:1 // The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. 2. The FIRST belongs to God. Genesis 4:3-5 // In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 3. The TITHE belongs to God. Leviticus 27:30 // A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.