OPENING SCRIPTURE:

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (JESUS) have come that they may have LIFE, and that they may have it (LIFE) more ABUNDANTLY. (John 10:10 NKJ)

ABUNDANT: Exceedingly, Beyond Measure
The key to Abundant Life is: GIVE TO GIVE AND NOT GIVE TO GET

The Kingdom of God is based on the principle of giving!

• The law of sowing and reaping: “As long as the earth remains, there will be SEED TIME and HARVEST” (Genesis 8:22)

For God SO LOVED the world that He GAVE His only begotten SON, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have EVERLASTING LIFE. (John 3:16)

• The seed was His Son. The Son had to be given.
• Without giving, there is no Everlasting Life or Abundant Life!
• Giving reveals the condition of your heart.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Matthew 6:21 NKJ
• What God is after is not your treasure but your heart!

HOW DO WE DEVELOP THIS GIVING HEART?

#1 RECOGNIZE THAT EVERYTHING BELONGS TO HIM

“If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in YOUR LAND WHICH THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GIVING YOU (Deuteronomy 15:7)

• Your land represents everything you have: Life, Job, House, Everything!
• God owns it all. Your role is simply the caretaker, the manager.

#2 RESPOND WITH A WILLING HEART

“You shall not HARDEN your HEART nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and WILLINGLY lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.” (Deuteronomy 15:7-8)

• A harden heart creates a closed hand that cannot receive from God
• A willing heart is an obedient heart!

“If you are WILLING and OBEDIENT, You shall eat the good of the land (Isaiah 1:19 NKJ)

#3 DEAL WITH A SELFISH HEART

BEWARE lest there be a WICKED THOUGHT IN YOUR HEART, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the LORD against you, and it become SIN among you. (Deuteronomy 15:9)

• God calls SELFISHNESS WICKEDNESS OR SIN.
• Give without expecting anything in return. GIVE TO GIVE!

If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. GIVE TO THOSE WHO ASK, AND DON’T TURN AWAY FROM THOSE WHO WANT TO BORROW. (Matthew 5:40-44 NLT)

#4 DEAL WITH A GRIEVING HEART

You shall surely GIVE to him, and your HEART should not be GRIEVED when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. (Deuteronomy 15:10)

• Selfishness attacks us before we give but grief attacks us after we give.
• Who owns everything we have? Who gave everything to us?
• The reason why we grieve after we give is: WE THINK IT IS OURS NOT GOD’S

CONCLUSION
• What is The Holy Spirit telling you through this message?