Transcript Generosity under Pressure or, How to Win in November No

Generosity under Pressure
or, How to Win in November No Matter What
August 15, 2004
Montecito Covenant Church
Telford Work
The Spirit and the bride say,
"Come." And let everyone who
hears say, "Come." And let
everyone who is thirsty come. Let
anyone who wishes take the water
of life as a gift. …
The one who testifies to these
things says, "Surely I am coming
soon." Amen. Come Lord Jesus!
(Revelation 22:17, 20)
Therefore, since we are justified by
faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ … and we boast
in our hope of sharing the glory of
God. And not only that, but we also
boast in our sufferings, knowing that
suffering produces endurance, and
endurance produces character, and
character produces hope, and hope
does not disappoint us, because God’s
love has been poured into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has been
given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)
Exhort and reprove with all authority.
Remind [the church] to be submissive to
rulers and authorities, to obedient, to be
ready for any honest work, to speak evil of
no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle,
and to show perfect courtesy toward all.
For we ourselves were once foolish,
disobedient, led astray, slaves to various
passions and pleasures, passing our days
in malice and envy, hated by people and
hating one another. …
… But when the goodness and loving
kindness of God our Savior appeared,
he saved us, not because of deeds
done by us in righteousness, but in
virtue of his own mercy, by the
washing of regeneration and renewal
in the Holy Spirit, which he poured out
upon us richly through Jesus Christ our
Savior, so that we might be justified by
his grace and become heirs in hope of
eternal life. (Titus 2:15-3:7)
Formerly, when you did not know God,
you were in bondage to beings that by
nature are no gods; but now that you
have come to know God, or rather to
be known by God, how can you turn
back again to the weak and miserable
worldly things, whose slaves you want
to be once more? …
For freedom Christ has set us free.
Stand fast, then, and do not submit
again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians
4:8-9, 5:1)
Through love become slaves to one
another. For the whole law is summed
up in a single commandment, “You
shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
If, however, you bite and devour one
another, take care that you are not
consumed by one another. Live by the
Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the
desires of the flesh.
(Galatians 5:13-16)
Now the works of the flesh are obvious:
fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry,
sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger,
quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy,
drunkenness, carousing, and things like
these. … By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control. ...
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have
crucified the flesh with its passions and
desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also
be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become
conceited, competing against one another,
envying one another. (Galatians 5:19-26)