BIBLICAL GIVING FOR COVENANT BLESSINGS Part 2 Pastor Wole Gbogboade Text: Ezra 3:7-13 (NIV) Here we see a vivid example of where the people of God gave willingly their money; they also work with their hands according to talents or physical ability; they watched over the work; they brought food and drinks and they all sang praises to God and danced in thanksgiving. Some shouted for joy while others wept for the same purpose simultaneously. As we follow kingdom principles, blessings manifest in our lives because God is true to His word. When Ezra and the people built and consecrate themselves, revival burst loose in their midst and God blessed His people. A similar thing happened when Hezekiah carried out reform in Israel which included the peoples’ lives and the Church. They gave willingly in obedience as they purged themselves. God released His blessings upon the people. 2 Chro. 31:9-10 (NIV) Of course, this happened after they were sent into slavery in Babylon because of their disobedience to the word of God. Thank God they chose to walk in kingdom principles that attract God’s blessings. DIMENSIONS OF GIVING Since we must give whatever God has given us as seeds into the lives of others as well as nations to expand God’s kingdom on earth, we know that it is not only money. 1- Talents: Our God given talents must be used to bless others through training. 2- Skill: Every skill we acquire should be used to build God’s kingdom and His people. God gave Bezaleel a special talent/skill for the purpose of building the Tabernacle in the wilderness. Christians need other Believers who are skill to train or disciple them in these skills in righteousness unlike the unbelievers who pass on their skill with their bad and sinful habits. 3- Money: Our substance or money is also a necessity for building both the house of God and the work of ministry which kingdom building. 4- Spiritual gifts: “The evidence of the Spirits presence is given to each person for the common good of everyone.” 1Cor. 12:7 (GW) Every gift the Holy Spirit gives is for the benefit of others not just for our own. Gifts such as healing, faith, prophecy, working of miracle, tongues, discernment, administration, help etc should be used to edify, heal and encourage and boost the faith of others in God. The five-fold ministry gift is to equip the saints to grow to maturity and to serve in the Church. “So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak Gods message, we should do it according to the faith that we have; if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach; if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully.” Rom. 12:6-8 (GNB) 5- Time: Invest your time not just on ourselves alone but on others. 6- Pray: Pray for others not just yourself. 1Tim. 2:1-4 7- Fruit: The fruit of the Spirit we are graced to develop should be model as we disciple others so they can also form godly character. 8- Serve: We don’t only serve God with our money or material possessions; we should also serve Him physically in the House of God and outside. We should live a life that will glorify God. 1Peter 2:12 (NIV) However, we should avoid sowing to the flesh because harvest is determined by the seed sown: “Because he who puts in the seed of the flesh will of the flesh get the reward of death; but he who puts in the seed of the Spirit will of the Spirit get the reward of eternal life.” Gal. 6:8 (BBE) FLESH: Sow to the flesh reap death. Gal. 6:7-8 Sow laziness reap poverty. Prov. 6:10-11 (KJV) Sow bad thought reap bad habit. Matt. 15:19-20 Sow wind reap wild wind. Hosea 8:7 Sow action reap reaction. Prov. 22:8 Sow bad reap evil. Prov. 17:13. Job 4:8. Fruit of the flesh are found in Gal. 5:19-21 SPIRIT: Sow good seed reap good harvest. Acts 10:38 Sow to the Spirit reap eternal life. Gal. 6:7-8 Sow in tears reap in joy. Psalm 126:5-6 Sow good thought reap good habit. Matt. 15:19-20 Sow hard work reap upliftment. Prov. 22:29 Fruit of the Spirit are also found in Gal. 5:22-23 Jesus is our example. He went about doing good. We must emulate Jesus. Word of Salvation Publication christfamilyevangelicalmission/ tyrannusschool.wordpress/ PO Box 7572, Ikeja (100001), Lagos. Nigeria. Tel: +234- 8033250375, Feel free to forward this monthly teaching to other Believers.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 11:37:37 +0000
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