Planted: Planted in obedience
Filed under #churchnotes on January 12, 2025Highridge focus this year:
- Isaiah 61
- Written in the Old Testament
- 700 yrs before Jesus was born
- Messianic prophecy (re: Isaiah 61:1-3)
- New Testament, actual life of Jesus, He goes into synagogue, reads this.
- “Today this has been fulfilled in your hearing” scroll drop
- God placed us here.
- We are oaks of righteousness
- When we said yes to Jesus, this was placed on us.
- Not because of how good we are, but because we said yes.
- NO ONE can take that from us
- But the fruit we bear and what our spiritual life looks like is on us.
(Video to unveil the theme of the year)
- Stand firm in the storms
- Rise higher after every season
- Grounded in purpose
- Growing in strength
2025 - Planted: faithful and fruitful
- 800 year old Bonsai tree that sold for 100,000,000 yen.
- Maintaining bonsai requires making small changes now that lead to drastic results in the future (just like our faith).
- Jesus took multiple opportunities in His short time here to talk about our relationship with money.
- Food, shelter, security, ‘happiness’, keep score.
- We put money in a position that only Jesus should fulfill.
- 21% of Christian’s tithe.
- Give Jesus full access to every area of your life (marriage, soul, finances, etc.) if you want to be a disciple.
- WE ALL DESIRE FINANCIAL FREEDOM
- How do we find financial freedom?
- We live a life of generosity.
- He doesn’t need our money, but He wants our heart.
- Go to the app, “Lord I trust you,” click.
- My trust is in Jesus, not my finances.
How to:
1. Redirect your treasure
- Either money is your master or Jesus is your master.
- Matthew something
- Don’t tip God instead of trust Him
2. Your heart will follow
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
— Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
- We do not preach “give to get”
- Prosperity: you give 100, you get 1000, sow a seed.
- We do not believe that
- Bad theology
- God does bless, so maybe sometimes that will be financial.
- Malachi 3:10 (NEEDS! Not wants!)
- We give because we love him and he’s our provider, not to get.