On the last day of the revival, we had Jimmy Cook speaking on financial fitness. The title of his sermon was “How to Obtain Financial Freedom.” I’m thankful to Jimmy for speaking to us and being a part of the revival.
Below are my notes from the sermon. Please keep in mind these are not exactly what he said but what I heard and took away from Jimmy’s message on financial fitness.
Financial Freedom in Honoring God
There are three people interested in your finances:
- you
- God
- Satan
Honoring God with our finances is not a new problem. Even the people of Israel struggled with it in the Old Testament.
“Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.” —Malachi 3:7-12
Robbing God
“Thou shalt not steal.” —Exodus 20:15
Stealing from God is serious business. When we don’t honor him with our finances, that’s exactly what we’re doing.
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” —Exodus 20:3
Some people treat money like their god. Their whole lives revolve around it. This should not be so. Money is a tool from God, but we cannot see it as anything more than that.
Escaping Financial Bondage
“In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.” —Proverbs 15:6
Financial bondage comes in a lot of forms:
- charging for daily expenditures
- missing paying bills
- consolidating
- overworking to the point of missing church
God wants us to be financially free. Are you a tither? Then you’re probably not in financial bondage.
“Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.” —Proverbs 23:4
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” —Matthew 6:33
We need to trust Jesus with everything, including our finances. When we do things his way, we can trust that he’s going to take care of the rest.
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” —Mark 8:36
Faithfulness Rewarded
Jimmy told us the story of a terrible car wreck he was involved in. Afterwards, he was thankful to be alive, but he had all of these bills to pay. He didn’t think he could keep up with them, but despite it all, he kept tithing, and God saw him through.
We must be good stewards, and that starts with giving God what he asks of us. Faithfulness and gratefulness are central to financial fitness.
Are you letting your desire to impress others interfere with your walk with God? If we’re not careful, we can let our finances come between us and God. May it not be so.
Each of us must return personally to God. Only he can help us attain true financial freedom and fitness, and it’ll only come by doing things his way.
What a great fitness revival we had this year! In addition to all the wonderful services, we also raised $2,000 for Gideons International. Each speaker donated their honorarium, and we gave attendees an opportunity to give on Thursday night. These funds will help spread God’s word around the world, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we accomplished!
I’m already excited for next year’s revival. But until then, I’m going to take what I’ve learned this year and use it to become more fit. Thank you for reading my notes on the messages, and I hope to see you at our fitness revival next year!
To your fitness!