GAINING THROUGH GIVING

TRETS 29-11-2018

GAINING THROUGH GIVING

Luke 6:38; Proverbs 11:24-25; 28:27

The world will be a better place to live in if the children of God can discover the secrets of blessings that are inherent in the act of giving. Giving is a virtue that has its root in God. God gave His Son; the Son gave His life for humanity; the Spirit gives us the grace and strength to make the Christian life easy. God wants us to cultivate the attitudes of giving in our lives. The Lord Himself emphasised the importance of giving when he said that: “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38). Paul the apostle re-presented the message of the Lord in Acts 20:35; “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

1.   THE POWER OF GIVING Acts 20:35; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 4:15-19; Proverbs 19:17

Giving opens the treasure house of Heaven to the giver. God honours giver with divine provision as He says that “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself” (Proverbs 11:25). Paul exhorted the believers in Ephesus to “remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). In recognising the liberality (giving) of the Philippian believers, Paul the apostle has this to say: “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:18-19). There is a saying that says “Givers Never Lack”; part of the blessings accrued to the giver is the fact that he can never lack because God will always meet his needs. Divine favour will always be upon him and his children too are blessed wherever they go. Some calamities that ought to befall him are divinely taken away by divine providence. The list of the blessings for the giver is unlimited.

2.   THE PRINCIPLES FOR GIVING Malachi 3:10-12 Corinthians 8:1-5; Luke 6:38; Philippians 4:15; Proverbs 11:24-25; 28:27; Genesis 25:27; 1 Samuel 25:4-11

The basic thing God expects from you regularly is your tithes and and offerings as stated in Malachi 3. After giving your tithes, there are other needs that may arise in the church and you need to give to support the kingdom service, like mission outreaches, construction works in the local church or central church etc. Apart from giving for the kingdom works, we have needy brethren in the church that we need to care for; it is our responsibilities to assist those that are in need among us and those that are doing one ceremony or the other, like marriage for themselves or their children, naming, burial etc. Giving should not be taken for laziness, as the Scriptures says in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 that, “...if any would not work, neither should he eat.” We need to however warn ourselves of the attitudes of people like Jacob who tempted his brother to sell his birth right to him at his crucial hour of need and that of Nabal who insulted the servants of David that came to him for assistance. 

3.   THE PRACTICE OF GIVING 2 Corinthians 8:1-5; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11; Luke 6:38; Proverbs 11:24-25; 28:27; Philippians 4:15-19; Deuteronomy 15:11

Giving should be part of our lifestyle. We shouldn’t attach any condition to giving, of course once in a while you may decide that if a miracle happens you will give something tangible to the Lord, you don’t use the gift to bribe God but you want to use it to appreciate God’s goodness in your life. Some people are very faithful in paying their tithes and offerings, but when it comes to extra giving for needs in the church or to the needy brethren, they shut their hearts and hands; this is not fair, we should make giving part of our Christian service and a way of life. You should cultivate giving habit and always think of doing good to someone every time. Put a smile on someone’s face today by letting God use you to meet his or her needs and watch God surprising you with bountiful blessings in return.

Walking on the waters by faith

DEEPERLIFE  THURSDAY  REVIVAL  MESSAGE

November 8, 2018

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Walking on the waters by faith

Matthew 14. 22-33.

Our text today is applicable to everyone as much as it was to the disciples. A spectacular miracle had just taken place in the feeding of five thousand people miraculously. However, as Jesus commanded the disciples to go ahead on the ship, Satan struck on the journey and there was a great storm of wind. Compounding their problem was the sight of a spirit-being on the sea walking towards them. Like every human, they were afraid without measures, but the Lord doused their fears saying “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid”. Peter, in his quest, asked for permission to walk on waters to Jesus. He did the impossible and walked on water against the natural force of gravity but as he saw the wind around, he began to sink. The world is a place of warfare and the battles of life keep on raging vehemently on daily basis like the storm. Satan and his agents are always fighting the children of God. In order to win and conquer in the challenges and storms of life, the saints will need to manifest unwavering faith in the ever powerful and unfailing ability of God who says in His word “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11). There is therefore the need to develop a personal faith in the Lord and trust Him more in the times of trouble and trials. He will never fail us in Jesus name.

1.   THE DANGER AND PERILS OF FEAR AND DOUBT DURING THE STORM Matthew 14. 24-26, 30, Numbers 13:26-33; 14:1-3, 20-23; 2 Kings 7:1-2, 16-20; Luke 1:18-20

Fear, faithlessness, doubt or unbelief is a dangerous cankerworm that can totally destroy a man who yields himself to its power. Just like the disciples of Christ, there will always be challenges of life that bring contrary situations as we can see in our text. These will naturally bring troubles to us as humans, but when we fail to trust God assuredly for victory, hen fear comes. Concentrating on the problems makes us to exaggerate it more than it is. The ten spies that went to spy out the land of promise saw the land the way God described it to them; that alone was enough to convince them that whatsoever God says is always true. They confirmed that “We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.” (Numbers 13:27). But instead of focusing on God’s past goodness and unfailing promises, they focused on the negative aspects of their findings and instigated the whole congregation to murmur against God and to doubt His ability to take them to the land of promise. Since they confessed with their mouths that “...We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.” (Numbers 13:31), God punished them for this. They exaggerated the power of the enemy and underrated the unfailing power of the Almighty God. So God confirmed their confession and told them they would not get there. The lord of the King in the days of Elisha doubted God’s power in Elisha’s prophecy and didn’t believe in any supernatural act. He spoke against the power of God in unbelief; he saw the miracle but didn’t partake in it. Zechariah doubted the validity of the angel’s message and became dumd. Unbelief is dangerous, beloved, steer clear of it!

  

DEVELOPING PERSONAL FAITH TO WALK OVER THE STORM Matthew 14.28; Mark 9:24; 11:24; Luke 18:1-8; Hebrews 11:1,6; James 1:7-8; Joshua 10:12-14

The challenge for spiritual growth in the lives of the disciples of the lord Jesus Christ made them to call upon the Lord in prayer “And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). Faced with the challenge of barrenness, Hannah took her case to God in prayer, her faith developed as a result of serious prayer to God for a divine intervention in her situation; she was not disappointed, her miracle Samuel came. How about Jabez? He called on the name of the God of Israel and the Lord answered his prayer and changed his condition for better. The unfortunate widow woman in the Lord’s parable on prayer persisted in her request for justice against her enemy till her request was granted.

In order to develop our faith and to always be on the mountain top all the time, there is need for each and every one of us to avoid unbelief like poison. Unbelief is a spiritual poison to faith and wherever it is found, it will destroy our Christian life and conviction. The Israelites who left Egypt with enthusiasm of making it to the Land of Promise couldn’t get to the land of Canaan because of unbelief (Numbers 13:31-33). In our Christian journey, we need to do all we can never to allow any iota of unbelief in our lives because it will make us loose God’s presence and best for our lives.

DEFINITE PRAYER OF FAITH DURING STORMS OF LIFE.  Matthew 14. 27-31, Mark 11:22-24; Luke 1:45; 2 Kings 4:18-26, 35-37; Luke 8:43-44; Matthew 15:21-28

    

Faith is very powerful and there is no impossibility that can withstand it.  Peter saw the Lord walking on the sea and asked for His command to do the same. He began to walk on water until he shifted his focus to the wind. But when He called on the Lord for help, The Lord rescued him. Prayer to God must be definite and precise. We must identify our need and make our request accordingly. The woman in Shunem believed all is well and it was so for her. The perplexed woman with the issue of blood believed in touching the Lord for her miracle and she got it. What about the Canaanitish woman? She received a wonderful miracle for her daughter through her faith. We are told in Hebrews 11:32-35 “And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:  Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection” all these exploits were made possible by God’s power through faith in Him and His unchanging word.