“Kingdom Investments”
Amos 9:13 You will have such a harvest that you won't be able to bring in all of your wheat before plowing time. You will have grapes left over from season to season; your fruitful vineyards will cover the mountains.
Amos 9:14 I'll make Israel prosper again. You will rebuild your towns and live in them. You will drink wine from your own vineyards and eat the fruit you grow.
Amos 9:15 I'll plant your roots deep in the land I have given you, and you won't ever be uprooted again. I, the LORD God, have spoken!
Key Verse: Amos 9:13 “You will have such a harvest that you won't be able to bring in all of your wheat before plowing time…
Introduction:
The Bible includes numerous accounts of grace or favor that flows like a river upon God’s people. It’s significant to note that these seasons seem to be tied to acts of trust and obedience!
The corporate world would liken it to what is known as the ROI or return on investment. A well-known biblical example of an anticipated return on investment is the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-20.
Matthew 25:14-18 "Similarly, it is like a man going on a trip who called his servants and turned his money over to them. To one man he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, based on their ability. Then he went on his trip. The one who received five talents went out at once and invested them and earned five more. In the same way, the one who had two talents earned two more. But the one who received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and buried his master's money.
The takeaways from this story are many, but one striking and heart-stirring truth rings clear. While the ability to reap a return may be yours and mine, the investment is the Lord’s!
Whatever the investment – treasure, time, talent, or trust – the Scriptures reveals over and over that God honors His Word and blesses the investment and the investor in a pattern of divine favor.
After a series of offerings, Abraham multiplied in riches even while famine was making its mark on Egypt (Genesis 12:6-13:2)
Isaac sowed seed in the famine-stricken land of Gerar and received a hundredfold return. (Genesis 26:1, 6;12)
Jacob built alters and gave offerings (Genesis 35:1-14)
Joseph employed various practices of investment, which caused Egypt to prosper while other nations suffered (Genesis 41:46-57)
Kingdom investments will always pay their dividends!
Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he also will reap.
1st A Challenge to Faith
In the story of the feeding of the five thousand there is a great message on investment and increase!
John 6:5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes and saw a great crowd come to Him. He said to Philip, Where shall we buy loaves so that these may eat?
Always remember that when Jesus ask a question, its not because He needs the information.
John 6:6 And He said this to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
John 6:8-9 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, there is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are these among so many?
Suddenly, Andrew stepped up alongside a young child with a basket lunch of two small fish and five little loaves of bread.
At that very moment, Jesus asked for an investment – an investment of faith, and an investment of resources!
2ND A Faith That Transforms
If we can and if we will entrust our resources to God, here are the results we will receive.
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
It all begins with the opening of your hand. Had the child held tightly to his little lunch, that’s all he would have had. However, the opening of his hand allowed a human transfer that became the divine transformation.
John 6:13 Therefore they gathered and filled twelve handbaskets with fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over to those who had eaten.
2Corintians 9:6-8 But I say this, He who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Each one, as he purposes in his heart, let him give; not of grief, or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that in everything, always having all self-sufficiency, you may abound to every good work;
2Corinthians 9:10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for eating, may He supply and multiply your seed, and increase the fruits of your righteousness
Look at Peter and John:
Acts 3:6 But Peter said, Silver and gold have I none, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!
God’s promise of “increase” applies as much to sowing mercy, forgiveness, and good deeds as it does money.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given to you, good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over, they shall give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you measure, it shall be measured to you again.
Mark 10:29-30 Jesus said, "I tell you with certainty, there is no one who has left his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields because of me and the gospel will not receive a hundred times as much here in this world - homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields, along with persecution -as well as eternal life in the age to come.”