From a September 18, 2011, message by Pastor Randy Thornton, pictured above
As part of a “survivor’s guide” series, Randy Thornton, senior pastor of Grace Church in Southern Pines, N.C., delivered the following message, “God’s Guarantee,” to his congregation.
“America’s rate of poverty increased to a greater rate than ever before,” Thornton said, noting that 46 million U.S. citizens lived below what is considered the poverty level in 2010. “The job loss rate may put more people below the poverty level. Did God fail? Did he lie? Did he exaggerate?”
Thornton’s questions referred to this verse: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
“With every promise, there is a condition with it,” Thornton said.
The most asked-about subject in the Bible is salvation, but the next most asked-about subject is finances, he said. He recommended courses offered by Crown Financial Ministries and Financial Peace University classes led by Dave Ramsey.
“God says, ‘I will show myself strong to those who are in Christ Jesus,’” Thornton said. “Over the last 50 years, the government has violated biblical principles. We’ve said, ‘God, don’t be a part of our nation.’ What a nation sows, it’s going to reap. Today’s message is about ‘how to put God first in your life.’ God has promised to take care of us, financially.”
Thornton listed five conditions for receiving God’s help: 1. Ask God for his help. 2. Learn to be content. 3. Practice giving by faith. 4. Maintain your integrity. 5. Trust God with your life.
1. Ask God for help: “You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God” (James 4:2 NIV).
“We need the favor of God,” Thornton said.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). Here’s an acronym for “ASK”: A – Ask; S – Seek; and K – Knock.
“God wants to do miracles, so you can share and be a witness for the Lord,” Thornton said.
2. Learn to be content:
“God is far more interested in your character than your comfort,” Thornton said. “In America, we have what I call ‘junkies’ – they go out and buy a new car or a new dress. God is interested in meeting your needs, not your wants. Typically, we Americans tend to spend just a little more than we make.”
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:6-7).
“You get to take that which is done for God, with the right heart and motive, to heaven,” Thornton said.
The Apostle Paul said, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:12).
Thornton said people who used a credit card, during an experiment, spent 23 percent more than those who used cash.
3. Practice giving by faith:
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
“A church service where one-third of the message is about the gospel and two-thirds of the service is about raising money – that’s manipulation,” Thornton said, noting that Malachi 3:10 tells us to “test God.”
“Sow into the places where you are fed,” Thornton said. “If you give outside your church, don’t do it with your tithes. Do it with your offerings. Honor God with all your increase. Invoke God’s blessing on your life. Your job isn’t safe, but God is the same, yesterday, today and forever.”
He said Grace Church has been blessed and has tons of stories about those blessings.
“I promise you,” Thornton said, “God is true to his Word.”
“Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops” (Proverbs 3:9).
4. Maintain your integrity.
God wants you to be able to say, “I didn’t lie; I didn’t cheat; I didn’t steal.”
“Guys, you have to live with yourselves,” Thornton said. “Don’t compromise.”
“Better the poor whose walk is blameless, than a fool whose lips are perverse” (Proverbs 19:1).
“But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble” (Proverbs 4:19).
“When you are walking with integrity, God blesses the things you have,” Thornton said. “God blesses you to bless others.”
5. Trust the Lord with your life.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
“Put God first in your life,” Thornton said. “Cultivate a relationship with him. My God shall supply all your needs, according to his riches in glory. Guys, let’s walk in God’s favor. All through the Bible, there are all kinds of stories of supernatural provision… If you’re here and would like to receive Christ as your Savior, would you raise your hand, right now?”
Thornton prayed, “Father, I pray for that hand that is raised…. God, as he surrenders his life, as he prays to receive Christ….”
Thornton spoke to the audience:
“I believe this is the time to do business with God…. Let’s stand and worship…. God is wanting to do more miracles in your life…. I sense there is someone here…God is wanting you to take off the lock to the door of your house and let God come into your family…. I pray for this family where the door has been sort of ‘God, stay out of our lives’…. God, take out the hurt and bitterness and pain…. God, put in an aroma of the presence of God… May Jesus Christ become the center ‘mantel piece’ of that home.”
