Gen 2:10-15 NKJV
Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. 11 The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. 15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.
God placed man in Eden: pleasure, delight. Ideal Environment
4 Rivers were part of the environment to insure productivity & increase
God puts us in the middle of potential for productivity – we must learn to recognize & seize
Euphrates River: fruitful. Represents Work
Lord God put man in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.
Work is to sustain us and meet our needs…
The River of Work does not produce wealth – your paycheck is not enough
You cannot earn your way to wealth or financial freedom with a 9-5
The more we make, the more we spend
We need to do more – we need more rivers
Gihon River: the breaking forth.
Get God involved: Operate under an open heaven
Principle of having full & free access, after keeping the devoted thing holy - Gen 2:15-17
The devoted thing: the Tithe – 10% of “all” – Gen 14:20; tithe on “increase” - Deut 14:22
Mal 3:10a. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house,
When we honor the devoted thing, God causes there to be a “breaking forth”
10b. Try Me now in this," Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not (throw) open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that’s not enough. 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
When we don’t touch the devoted thing – the tithe
Tithing is Rain, Miracle Grow & Pesticide
Pishon River: increase. Investing & making a Profit
We know how to ake money – know how to spend, – but we Must turn some into Seed
How does seed function?
Never say you don’t have enough to start, because a seed is a small thing
1st Blessing: “Be fruitful and multiply”
The Father does not intend for us to only consume and exhaust
God wants us living under a principle of increase in our lives
Matt 25:26-27
His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. NIV
Our money should be working while we sleep – principle of sowing & reaping
We Don’t Know How to make that happen – we’ve never been taught
How bad do you want it? Are you willing to learn?
Jesus tells us a principle in Matt 25:27: Compound Interest
(Example of compound interest from “Money, Master the Game” by Tony Robbins)
William
Started at age 20
$4000 per year @ 10% return
20 years, until age 40
Earned almost $2.5 million
600% more
James
Started at age 40
$4000 per year @ 10% return
25 years, until age 65 – 5 yrs longer
Less than $400,000
$2 million less
Hiddekel River (Tigris): Riddle of lightness; sound
Light & sound are Creative elements – this river has to do with our creativity
Jesus said, “We are light” – we can produce & project images
We are carriers of a sound
Sound is creative: “And God spoke and said…”
“You shall have whatever you say” – Mk 11:23
Solve the riddle of light – Who am I?
Follow the river – follow your curiosity & creativity
Gen 4:19-22
Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah. 20 And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock. 21 His brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute. 22 And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron.
Most people are afraid of this river of curiosity
Because creative ideas can be scary
We never learn to deal with our fears
Creativity asks you to do things that others haven’t done
Fear says, “Don’t do that. Nobody’s ever done that. It won’t work.”
When we give in to our fear and not our curiosity, we kill our creativity
We dam up the Tigris River
The Tigris runs parallel to the Euphrates (could become work or business)
Or, it could just be like tithing, not adding moneym but creating conditions for Eden
There are 3 Voices: The Lord’s, my voice & your voice – the most important one
What are you saying to yourself about what you received today?
What are you going to do with what you’ve received?
Challenge: Add one river…