You know, I don’t think God makes things all that complicated. It seems we as people have some sort of innate need to add pieces to a puzzle that is already very easy to solve… take healing for example. In the way God operates in scripture and the way He shows up in our daily life, He makes His will regarding healing easy to understand. Where we struggle is with the idea that Christ couldn’t possibly be enough to REALLY heal us -- so we complicate it.

It sounds so simple, in fact, that we often struggle with it.
We were created to be with God.
We fell under a curse. God saved us from this curse.
And because of that salvation we really can experience that healing.

But for some reason we think that it has to be more than that. To be able to accept healing under such simple terms, we just need to understand it - where it comes from, who it comes from, and ultimately how we get it. 

And it starts with faith.

"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17

The Bible lists at least eighteen spiritual gifts, manifestations of the Spirit, and ministry gifts (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4).
Do you know what your gifts are?

Other gifts include things like:

• Celibacy (1 Corinthians 7:7-8)
• Hospitality (1 Peter 4:9-10)
• Martyrdom (1 Corinthians13:3)
• Missions (Ephesians 3:6-8)
• Voluntary poverty (1 Corinthians 13:3)

Here are a few things to consider when you are studying spiritual gifts:

• Each one of us has been given spiritual gifts. Our spiritual giftings demonstrate the uniqueness of who we are (2 Corinthians 12:5, Ephesians 4:7).
• There are manifestations of the Spirit that demonstrate the power of who Christ is (1 Corinthians 12:7).
• Some people have a ministry gift. These are specific to those who are called to be ministers in what are often referred to as the "five-fold ministries (Ephesians 4:11).
• The purpose of all God-given gifts is to glorify God and to edify His church (1 Corinthians 12:11).

So what are you doing with your gifts?

Have you every noticed how the first step in doing something new is often the hardest one to take?
So many people have experienced God’s blessings when they tithe, you may as well be one of them.

Here’s a three month challenge for Destiny Church members - if you haven’t been tithing, put God first in your finances for 90 days, and if you do not experience His faithfulness, we’ll return 100% of your tithe.

God asks us to give our first and our best back to Him, and He promises He will bless the rest. This first is called the tithe, or “tenth” of our income. We return to the Lord 10% of what He's given us, because it belongs to Him. The tithe is a practical and tangible way to put God first. (Leviticus 27:30 NIV; Deuteronomy 14:23 TLB)

Register for the Tithe Challenge here.

God emphasizes giving and generosity for a reason… in short He wants you blessed.

Giving glorifies God.
It not only supplies the needs of others, but also causes the recipients to thank and glorify God. (2 Corinthians 9:12-13)

Giving builds faith and creates God-opportunities.
It creates a greater dependence on the Lord and leads to a more intimate relationship with Him.

Giving develops character.
Our character becomes more like Christ’s Jesus when we become other-centered rather than self-centered. (Philippians 2:3-4; 1 Timothy 6:18-19)

Giving results in God's blessings.
(2 Corinthians 9:6, 11; Philippians 4:17-19) Those who share abundantly in the lives of others will harvest the blessings of the Lord. We cannot out-give God, because He promises that He will give back to us whatever we share with others. (Proverbs 11:25; Deuteronomy 15:10; Proverbs 3:9-10; Luke 6:38; Proverbs 19:17; 22:9; 28:27; Malachi 3:10; Acts 20:35)

Giving is an eternal investment.
While it is true that "You can't take it with you" - you can send it on ahead.

If you are not already tithing, here is a great opportunity to start.

This is a Three Month Tithe Challenge.
Basically, it's a contract based on the promises of God in Malachi 3:10-11. We commit to you that if you tithe for three months and God doesn't hold true to His promises of blessings, we will refund 100% of your tithe. No questions asked. If it’s time for you to begin your own tithe journey, download the registration form from the link above and drop it in the offering at Destiny, bring it by the Resource Center in the back of the auditorium, or bring it to the church offices.

Have you ever been so angry and hurt that you dared not open your mouth, even in prayer, for fear of what might come out? Here’s a piece of loving pastoral advice:
God’s not afraid of your hurt, or anger, He loves you, and will take you just as you are… so, make sure nobody is around, look up and let ‘er rip! Pour your heart out to God, tell Him what’s really going on, all of it, and how you really feel, what you need from Him.

King David gave a couple examples of this in Psalms. They’re called laments, and the most extreme ones are called imprecatory Psalms. In Scripture, these are considered to be the most “radical and extreme”. These are prayers during times in David’s life when death seemed immanent, and everyone had betrayed him. During these times of feeling overwhelmed, David gives us a look at just how heartbroken he was, and how much he was struggling at times with his faith.

Imprecatory is from an old Latin word and it means to pray for punishment for those who persecute. Below are a couple of examples… and yes, these are all from the Bible. Notice they are all from the book of Psalms and they are all prayers from King David at various times in his life.

Psalm 55:15
Let death take my enemies by surprise; let them go down alive to the grave, for evil finds lodging among them.

Psalm 58:6
Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;
 
Psalm 69:28
May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous.

Psalm 109:9
May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.

Psalm 137:9
How blessed will be the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.

Whoa! That’s pretty rough stuff. Many stay away from these types of Psalms (imprecatory) because they show a very real and raw look at humanity, and I admit they can create a bit of confusion.

But here’s the important thing to remember:
God does not run from us when we are heartbroken, tired, and/or struggling with our faith.

God wants us to run to Him when we feel like we’re in it up to our neck, and give Him permission to take it from there. God doesn’t turn a deaf ear to our prayers, even if our prayers aren’t the most “liturgical” (customary church-lingo). God will take us right were are and move us to a better place, as long as we invite Him into the journey.

Most time is wasted not in hours, but in minutes.

If we never look at how we spend our 168 hours per week, our schedules will get cluttered, life will get crazy, and our greatest asset will be lost.  Every day has opportunities that may be seem good - but are they the best?

How much quality time do you spend with God, with your spouse, with your children, and with your friends? God wants us to be faithful stewards, not wasting the time He has given us.

Here is a time log… I dare you to keep track of your life for the next 7 days, and then look back at where all the time went. You might be surprised!