Scripture at Sunrise 4.2.2018

“Bring ye all of the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” -Malachi 3:10

Many read and plead this promise without noticing the condition upon which the blessing is promised. We cannot expect heaven to be opened or blessing poured out unless we pay our dues unto the Lord our God and to His cause. There would be no lack of funds for holy purposes if all professing Christians paid their fair share.

Many are poor because they rob God. Many churches, also, miss the visitation of the Spirit because they starve their ministries. If there is no temporal meat for God’s servants, we need not wonder if their ministry has been little food in it for our souls. When missions pine for means and the work of the Lord is hindered by an empty treasury, how can we look for a large amount of soul-prosperity?

Come, come! What have I given of late? Have I been mean to my God? Have I stinted my Savior? This will never do. Let me give my Lord Jesus His tithe by helping the poor and aiding His work, and then l shall prove His power to bless me on a large scale.

[from Faith’s Checkbook by Charles H. Spurgeon]

Scripture at Sunrise 6.3.2013

“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God.” -Luke 11:42

The Pharisees tithed even down to the spices, but they didn’t practice justice and the love of God. They liked the outward show, but the heart is where it counts.

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Sermon Audio

Morning Sermon Audio: Cleaning the Outside (Luke 11:37-44) | Pastor Steve Wainright

Scripture at Sunrise 12.13.2012

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” -2 Corinthians 9:7

If your purse is not open at the top with tithes and alms of all you earn, God will sooner or later put holes in the bottom. -John Piper via Twitter

Scripture at Sunrise 7.18.2011

“You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” -2 Corinthians 9:11

Giving Bountifully, Purposefully, Cheerfully! 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

 

Give Bountifully (vs. 6)
Sowing appears to be a loss, when in reality, it’s great gain.

Give Purposefully (vs. 7)
Think about what you’re giving and why you are giving.
Give Joyfully (Romans 12:8- Cheerfully help others.)

Question: Should you give if you don’t have joy? Yes! Give anyway and fight for your joy!!!!
(No joy as a child of God=problem.) Serve Him joyfully! (Deuteronomy 28:47)

If you don’t have joy:
1)Pray you’ll see the goodness of God in the land of the living.
2)Put yourself where you’ll be captivated by God’s majesty, power, and splendor. (Mainly found in the Word of God. Camp there!)
3)Think about Hell, its agonies, and how Christ has saved you from that.

(vs. 8-15)
Want much? Sow much that you might sow some more. He will make you abound to give. God richly blesses us that we might be generous, all for the glory of God. Our giving increases thanksgivings to God.

Give to be able to give more.

When it came to describing God’s gift to us, Paul couldn’t even put it into words. He’s given us so much…salvation, righteousness, justification, redemption, grace. Such love. Such grace. This is the motivating factor of a child of God to be a giver.

Scripture at Sunrise 6.20.2011

“I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.” -2 Corinthians 8:8

Giving is our greatest privilege. A heart of generosity seeks the good of others. (Example: Zacchaeus in Luke 19…when he trusted Christ, his heart became generous as he gave over 50%.)

Giving is initiated by God’s grace (vs. 1)

Though they were going through persecution and hard times, the Macedonian churches gave joyfully. (vs. 2)

You reap what you sow and you can’t outgive God. (ch. 9:6; Luke 6:38)

The Macedonian believers wanted to fellowship with the believers by serving and sharing. They begged Paul to take the gift (the grace…something that was undeserved and freely bestowed).

Key to Giving? Total commitment to Christ. (vs. 5) When you’re totally committed to Christ, everything else is totally committed to Him as well. (Romans 12:1-2)

Giving shows how much you love. If you love much, you will give much. We are called to fervently love one another…show love as many ways as you can. (vs. 8)

Christ loved us when we were unloveable. He loves us so much that He left His richness and became poor. We are co-inheritors of all He has because He gave all He had. If you love Him, you’ll love like He gives. (vs. 9)