Posted by: Shirley Smith on Thu, Jan 31, 2019
"UNDERSTANDING THE REASON FOR GIVING"
Pastor Johnson’s message came from Isaiah 55:1-3, Malachi 3:8, 1 Corinthians 16:2, and 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. The subject was “Understanding The Reason for Giving” with the following subtopics:
“What God Offers”
Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy grain and eat. Come; buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, And your earnings for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me; Hear, so that your soul may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
“What You Do”
Will a man rob God? Surely not! And yet you have robbed me. What do you mean? When did we ever rob you? You have robbed me of the tithes and offerings due me. And so the awesome curse of God is cursing you, for your whole nation has been robbing me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so that there will be food enough in my Temple; if you do, I will open up the window s of heave for you and pour out a blessing so great you won’t have room enough to take it in! Try it? Let me prove it to you! Your crops will be large, for I will guard them from insects and plagues. Your grapes won’t shrivel away before they ripen, says the Lord Almighty. And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land sparkling with happiness. These are the promises of the Lord Almighty.
“What You Should Do”
On the first day of every week each one of you is to put something aside, in proportion to his prosperity, and save it so that no collections be made when I come. You must tithe all of your corps every year. Bring this tithe to eat before the Lord your God as the place he shall choose as his sanctuary; this applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn of your flocks and herds. The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.
“What God Sees and Gives”
Now remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, who sows generously will also reap generously and be blessed. Let each one give just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace come in abundance to you, so that you may always have complete sufficiency in everything and have abundance for every good work and act of charity. As it is written and forever remains written, He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever! Now He who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness which shows itself in active goodness, kindness, and love. You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous, and this through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many expressions of thanksgiving to God. Because of this act of ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to the gospel of Christ which you confess, as well as for your generous participation for them and for all, and they also long for you while they pray on your behalf, because of the surpassing measure of God’s grace in you. Now thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.
Read the scriptures and be blessed!
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