Pastor Mac Hammond | November 14, 2021
Recap:
Most people have a direct impact on 6-7 people in their lives. These are the people with whom they can speak into and share the Word of God. That number expands slightly through lifestyle evangelism. When you live life in line with God’s Word, people will be able to watch how a godly lifestyle can bring peace, joy, and hope.
You can expand your influence beyond both of these options by supporting the preaching of the Gospel with your finances. As you support Bible-based ministries to reach others with God’s Word, you enable the Word to be preached to people worldwide—and you can receive a harvest of God’s favor in return for expanding His kingdom.
Dive Deeper:
When you live in a world that is in desperate need of a Savior, you have a few options. First, choose to live your life well. When you know Jesus, you can show others how stable, grace-filled, and joyful a life with Jesus can be. You can stir curiosity in those around you and cause them to wonder, “Is a better life possible?”
Secondly, you can be vocal about your relationship with Jesus. Now, this is most effective with your inner circle, the 6-7 people who are closest to you. You can communicate Scripture and talk about your relationship with God in a way that invites and encourages other people to be a part of God’s kingdom and make choices that align their lives with God’s Word.
Lastly, you can use your money to support the preaching of the Gospel. This option has the farthest-reaching effect, for when you choose to invest your resources in a Bible-based ministry, you can receive a harvest not based on the personal reach of your life, but based on how far the Word travels around the state, nation, and world to tell people about Jesus.
Of course, God doesn’t expect you to bring increase to His kingdom without making sure that you are taken care of as well. In each of these scenarios, the favor in your life will grow as you reach others for God’s kingdom. In the one-on-one situations, the people you are connecting with will begin to look at you more favorably as they understand the impact that the kingdom of God you are modeling for them can bring.
When you evangelize through your lifestyle or your financial resources, you can believe that God’s favor will abound in your own life as well in return. That is your harvest, for when you sow the seed of God’s Word into other people’s lives through your communication, lifestyle, and financial decisions, you will reap a harvest of God’s favor in return.
Read More:
Proverbs 3:1-4 KJV
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: for length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: so shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Proverbs 3:1-4 TPT
My child, if you truly want a long and satisfying life, never forget the things that I’ve taught you. Follow closely every truth that I’ve given you. Then you will have a full, rewarding life. Hold on to loyal love and don’t let go, and be faithful to all that you’ve been taught. Let your life be shaped by integrity, with truth written upon your heart. That’s how you will find favor and understanding with both God and men—you will gain the reputation of living life well.
Galatians 6:6-8 KJV
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Luke 6:38 TPT
Give generously and generous gifts will be given back to you, shaken down to make room for more. Abundant gifts will pour out upon you with such an overflowing measure that it will run over the top! The measurement of your generosity becomes the measurement of your return.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 ESV
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Discussion Questions:
1. Do you know someone who seems to have an abundance of favor in his or her life? Why might that be true?
2. Have you experienced God’s favor in your own life?
3. Why is it important that we work to expand God’s kingdom?
4. What difference does it make when we talk about God, live a life that honors Him, and sow financial seed into His kingdom?
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