Banking on God | Rich Wilkerson Jr. | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Banking on God

Rich Wilkerson Jr.

VOUS Church • Oct 27, 2024 • 57 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In the conclusion of the 'Theology of Money' collection, Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr. encourages believers to shift from merely 'banking with God' to completely 'banking on God' with their financial lives. Biblical financial freedom comes when we recognize God as the ultimate owner of everything, returning the first portion through tithing and stewarding the remaining resources through wise budgeting and saving. By aligning our money with Christ's Lordship and investing in eternal kingdom purpose, we break the spirit of greed and experience God's overflowing heavenly blessings.

Themes

Biblical StewardshipTithing and ObedienceOvercoming Greed and MammonGenerosity and Kingdom RichesFinancial Planning and Discipline

Pastor's Points

1.

Return the First

2.

Steward the Rest

3.

Focus on True Riches

Key Points

1.
Believers are called to redeem material wealth by using present earthly resources with forward-thinking kingdom foresight to impact eternity.
2.
Tithing is fundamentally a baseline act of obedience and trust rather than optional generosity, acknowledging God as the sole owner and provider of all things.
3.
Attempting to serve both God and money distorts financial perspective, creating either greed or a poverty mindset that wrongfully despises money as evil.
4.
Money is designed under Christ's Lordship to be an effective tool to advance the kingdom rather than a master that dictates personal choices.
5.
God promises in Scripture that when believers return the first portion of their income in faith, He will open heaven's floodgates and pour out overflowing blessings.
6.
Faithfulness in managing small earthly resources prepares believers for greater spiritual responsibilities and true eternal riches.
7.
Practical financial discipline, including intentional budgeting, saving, and investing, demonstrates honor to God and good stewardship.
8.
Focusing solely on accumulating earthly wealth for self-indulgent comfort while remaining spiritually impoverished toward God is spiritual foolishness.

Sermon Moments

“The Ice Cream Illustration: Pastor Rich asking his three-year-old daughter whan for a bite of the ice cream he bought her, only for her to hold it back and say, 'No dad, it's mine!'”

“Tithing as Obedience: 'Tithing is not generosity, it's obedience. When I give a tithe, I'm not being generous, I'm just being obedient.'”

“The Poverty Gospel Trap: 'Equally as damaging as the Prosperity Gospel is the poverty gospel... Jesus never called me to hate money; money is a tool I'm supposed to use to advance His kingdom.'”

“Floodgates of Heaven: 'A floodgate is designed to hold water back... could it be possible today that because of our disbelief or lack of trust, blessings are being held back that will only be unlocked when we return to God what He's given us?'”

“Budgeting Discipline: 'Every dollar needs a name. You got to know where your money's going.'”

“Alfred Nobel's Obituary: The story of Alfred Nobel reading his own premature obituary titled 'The Merchant of Death Has Died,' which convicted him to redirect his fortune toward the Nobel Peace Prize.”

“Demonstration of Generosity: VOUS Church stepping up during the service to cover the debts of 16 congregation members standing in financial need as a tangible illustration of God's floodgates.”

This Week

Begin returning the first tenth (tithe) of your income to your local church as a baseline act of obedience and trust in God.

Create a written monthly budget where every dollar is assigned a specific name, purpose, and destination before the month begins.

Establish a consistent practice of saving a designated percentage of your income to maintain margin and remain positioned to bless others.

Examine your spending habits to eliminate unnecessary debt and break free from impulsive, worldly spending patterns.

Evaluate your heart attitude toward wealth, rejecting both greedy accumulation and a poverty mindset that despises financial tools.

Look for practical, immediate ways to meet the tangible financial or material needs of individuals within your church family and local community.

Align your long-term financial planning with eternal kingdom priorities rather than focusing solely on self-indulgent comfort and earthly security.

Remember This

Believers redeem their material wealth by returning the first tenth to God in obedience, stewarding the remainder through practical discipline, and investing in eternal kingdom purpose.

A Challenge for You

Test God in the area of tithing and stewardship for a full year. Commit to returning the first tenth, stewarding the rest through budgeting and saving, and focusing on true riches, and see how God opens the floodgates of heaven in your life.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.