Investments That Bring Heavenly Returns
 

I. Return only comes through investment.
A. If you don’t put anything in (deposit) can’t take anything out. 
B. God invested His Son into this world.
John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
C. His investment produced a company of Sons. Investment produces harvest.
D. You can’t have more fruit without the first fruit.
John 12:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” 

II. It’s time for an investment to be made in the Kingdom of God.
A. What have you been sending up? 
B. Are you investing in the kingdom of God or are we investing in the now and now. 
C. Prayer is one of the greatest investments we can make.
Rev. 5:6-8 “And I looked, and behold in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the Seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.  Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.  Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the PRAYERS of the saints.”
D. By putting the Kingdom of God first in our lives through prayer, we experience the release of heavens resources into our lives.
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
1. If you want answers, invest in heaven with your prayers.
2. If you want a return, you must invest.
3. Send up no prayers and you will get no answers.
E. If we don’t believe for anything, we won’t get anything. Kingdom resources are released through faith.
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

III. More than enough is what the Bible calls ABUNDANT.
Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him is able to do exceedingly abundantly above what we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever amen.”
A. Are you living in the land off “not enough”, just enough or more than enough?
B. Jesus said I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
C. Where does He want us to live?  In the land of not enough, just enough or more than enough?

IV. God is a giver.
A. When we came to Jesus we had nothing to offer to Him except ourselves.
B. We were bankrupt. He took us from that state of spiritual bankruptcy and brought us into His kingdom and made us partners/joint heirs with Him.
Romans 8:17 “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
C. God has covenanted (or made agreement) to bless us. As we invest in the Kingdom, God’s abundant blessings overflow in our lives.
Genesis 12:2-3 “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Proverbs 10:22 “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.”
D. The law of reciprocity was at work in Abraham’s life. Follow me (give Me what I ask) and my blessing shall rest upon your life. 

V. The law of reciprocity says that when you give something – it will come back. 
A. This is the law of sowing and reaping.  If you don’t sow there is no harvest. 
B. We can only receive a harvest of what we have planted. 
C. Sow to the flesh we reap the fruits of the flesh. (That’s reciprocity)
D. If we sow discord, we will have strife, and where there is strife there is every evil work.
E. If you sow in the flesh you will reap corruption. , but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. (That’s reciprocity) 
F. God’s law of reciprocity or sowing and reaping is an unequal reciprocal agreement. God’s blessings are much greater than what we can ever give Him.
Malachi 3:10-12 “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. 11“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts; 12And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” Says the Lord of hosts.”  MORE THAN ENOUGH.

VI. What do you want to invest in today? What kind of return do you desire to see in your life?
A. Want peace? Be a peacemaker. You know what to do to have peace? Don’t fight. Blessed are the peacemakers.
B. Want friends? Be friendly. If you go around saying, I don’t have any friends, I don’t have any friends, the people who thought they were your friends will be making an exit because they will think, well I thought they considered me their friend. I guess I’m nobody.
1. Quit putting up repellents around you. What are the repellents?  Speaking words of rejection.
2. Telling people “nobody’s my friend. “ And they’re on the phone talking to you.
3. Those who would like to reach out to you are put off by your expectations.   You expect no one to like you and if you say that enough it comes true.
4. Begin to say; Lord I am thankful for my friends.  Bless my friends.
C. Do you want respect? Then respect others.
D. Do you want a better marriage? Put more love effort into it.
E. Do you want advancement in your job or career? Then do everything as unto the Lord and bless your boss and co-workers. Self-employed, then bless your employees, don’t just find fault. Find reasons to praise. Be thankful.
F. Do you want to be healthy? Watch what you consistently eat, exercise, and speak to yourself in Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Tell your body to come in line with God’s Word.
G. Do you want your resources to go further? Give and it shall be given to you.
H. Do you want answers to life’s problems? Pray.
I. Do you want forgiveness? Then forgive others, walk in forgiveness.
J. Do you want to consistently experience the presence of God? Commit yourself to worship and praise.
Psalm 22:3 “But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.” (NKJV)
Psalm 22:3 “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” (KJV)

This message and outline was inspired by study notes put together by Pastor Ann Johnson.