BIBLICAL GIVING
New Foundations Course
II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Nowhere is this truth more evident then in how you handle your money.
SHOW ME SOMEONE'S CHECK BOOK & I CAN TELL YOU MUCH ABOUT THEIR LIFE!
Now that we are God's, we are in need of learning his principles.
THIS IS A VERY BASIC SOLID TRUTH PRINCIPLE THAT NEEDS TO BE INGRAINED IN US. Commit these verses to memory...
Proverbs 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
You & I can say we love God and the work of our Church all we want. But the truth will always come out. You cannot have your heart in something without your money in it also. If you do not desire to give to God, you don't love God. < don't be fooled by your own talking. >
No matter what everybody's opinion is, the Lord looks at our giving very seriously. It's amazing how connected the heart is to the check book. As one man said: YOU CAN GIVE W/O LOVING, BUT YOU CAN'T LOVE W/O GIVING!
LET'S EXAMINE ANOTHER POWERFUL VERSE:
Luke 6:38 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.
Here we have come to one of the most important aspects of practical Christianity. Giving unto God. Let's lightly examine some biblical perspectives tonight to get you started. You will learn much deeper principles about giving as you walk with God.
First of all, you must realize that giving is DIRECTLY connected to FAITH. We will show tonight that it is also connected to salvation!
Jesus promised you would receive back (in time) more then you gave. Remember: Sometimes there are more important needs then money in any given time.
There are 3 basic types of Biblical giving.
a> Tithe b> Offering c> Alms
Let's spend a good deal of study on the tithe, then touch on B & C.
#1> TITHE: Study Coons Bible Study Outline.
#2> OFFERING: This is an amount given over and above the tithe.
NFC - GIVING PAGE TWO
Often people ask: How much should I give in an offering?
Well, How much do you love God? How much do you want a blessing?
I can tell you this as a guideline...
II Corinthians 9:6- 8 But this [I say], He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good work:
REMEMBER: Offerings were just as much expected by God as tithes, however,
there was no amount set on it. It's from your heart!
Malachi 3:8- 9 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation.
As you have already read... God said to bring the tithes in the Storehouse. *** AND HE PROMISED A BLESSING FOR GIVING FAITHFULLY! ***
The word offering occurs 754 times in the Bible.
" " offerings " " 265 times in the Bible. Think about it?
What are offerings used for?
#1. A HOUSE OF WORSHIP
Exodus 35:4- 10 And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This [is] the thing which the LORD commanded, saying, Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever [is] of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass, And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' [hair], And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense, And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate. And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded;
#2. WORLD MISSIONS
This is a sure key to blessing! God has blessed our church because we bless mission endeavors around our world to obey the great commission...
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations...
Our church supports about 30 different missionaries each month as well as other endeavors that will be explained later.
#3. The GENERAL OPERATING costs of the assembly. Notice the report.
I Corinthians 16:1- 3 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first [day] of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as [God]
NFC - GIVING PAGE THREE
hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by [your] letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
#3. ALMS: Giving that is to a needy individual or family.
Deuteronomy 15:7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:
Acts 10:1- 4 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian [band], [A] devout [man], and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
Several points of interest:
a> when you fear (respect) God, and are concerned with pleasing him, you will give to those in need from time to time.
b> God always honors obedience with Spiritual blessing.
c> Our praying & our giving are a memorial to us before God.
Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all [men], especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
Though we should give to those who have needs, be careful that you don't get taken advantage of by someone who is merely lazy. Often the best way is to give an offering through the church "designated" to a family or need. That way you get properly receipted from the church, but most importantly, sometimes the Pastor or staff may know more about the situation than you do. They may council you to give in another manner.
*** From time to time in the church, you will get a call from the secretary saying there is someone in the church who is in need of food or whatever. Please do your best to cooperate with the effort even if your short yourself. God will bless your faith & love!
POINTS TO CLOSE ON:
Remember: your tithe belongs to God FIRST. After you have given a tithe, then you can give an offering & alms.
II Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
ABOVE ALL:
START SOMEWHERE! Let the adventure of faith giving begin in your life!
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