Worship Him by giving

(Acts 1:8 KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

(Acts 2:38 KJV) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

(Acts 10:38 KJV) How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses ..

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:14-20

One night the king of Syria sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city. When the prophet’s servant got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Alas, my master, what shall we do now?” he cried out to Elisha. “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For our army is bigger than theirs.” Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, open his eyes that he may see!” And the Lord opened the young man’s eyes so that he could see horses of fire and chariots of fire everywhere upon the mountain! II Kings 6:14-17.

Now, God promises to care for us if we trust him and play ball with him. Our text today promises that God will supply all your needs because he is abundantly wealthy. So why don’t we trust him? Because we can’t see the Spiritual world around us. We can’t see that army of fiery horses and chariots gathered around us to protect us. We can’t see heaven’s treasury. All we can see is the enemy around the city. All we can see are the potential bills to pay and all the material things we want and think we need.

Even our money bears witness to the fact that as a nation we rely upon Divine Providence. On the dollar bill is a pyramid, which represents the building of our country. Directly above the pyramid is an “eye” symbolizing the eye of God. This stresses the importance of putting spiritual welfare above material prosperity. Our founding Fathers firmly believed that our strength was rooted in God and that our progress must always be under the watchful eye of Providence. Another important symbol is contained in the words “Annuit Coeptis” in a semi-circle at the top of the seal. Referring to the Almighty, they mean, “He has smiled on our undertakings.” I want you to remember the eye above the pyramid, a concept on our money yet (!) to emphasize that we are to put spiritual welfare above material prosperity.

When we put spiritual welfare above material prosperity and comfort, God will open the floodgates of heaven. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me. God WANTS to bless you. He really truly is standing at the door of your life; ready for you to unlock the door so he can come into your life and bless you. So how do you unlock the door to heaven’s treasury? The answer is in Paul’s letter to his favorite congregation in Philippi. In this letter, God gives us the premise and the promise for his blessing. You can have the promise if you meet the premise. There is a condition attached to God’s blessing. We find the promise of God’s blessing in the Letter to the Philippians. Paul’s letter to the congregation in Philippi is a wonderful letter. It is warm and appreciative. This particular congregation had been especially good to Paul, and this letter is really a thank you note. In it we find the promise that God will meet all your needs. It is on the top of the outline. Let’s read it together.

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:14-20

So why are a lot of Christian’s needs not being met? What’s the problem? The answer is that this promise is not for everybody. In fact, it doesn’t apply to all Christians. Because with every promise there is a premise. A condition. God says, “If you do this, then I will do that.” A lot a people want to take the promise in verse 19 while avoiding the premise of verses 14-18! You cannot expect God to deliver on the promise of verse 19 unless you are doing what verses 14 through 18 talk about. In this letter Paul is telling the Christians in Philippi that because they have given sacrificially God will take care of their needs. Lets look first at the premise. Then we will look at the promise.

THE PREMISE (Vs 14-18): I MUST BE GENEROUS

Jesus said it this way in Luke 6:38: Give to others and God will give to you. The measure you use for others is the measure God will use for you. So you get to decide. Do you want God to bless you? Then you have got to be generous. Unless I am helping others God is not obligated to meet my needs. God is saying that you can short-circuit God’s power and the promise in your life. You block the flow of blessing by being stingy Be generous, and you will be prosperous. Help others, and you will be helped. – Prov. 11:25

(Gal 2:10 KJV) Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
Give firstly to the Christian workers, their familes and to the poor in the Church and give out freely Christian Materials. Christian Music even to your own family.

THE VALUE OF GENEROSITY

The Bible gives us three reasons for being generous.

1. MY GIVING IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO OTHERS – (vs. 14-16)
It was good of you to share in my troubles.as you Philippians know, in the early days.not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only, for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.
Paul was a pioneer. He was doing something few people ever do. He was taking faith in Jesus Christ into areas of the world that had never heard of God, let alone Christ. He was laughed at, scoffed at, nearly stoned to death, shipwrecked, arrested, thrown in jail, and had to flee for his life numerous times. He needed encouragement. And the neat people in the Philippian church encouraged him with monetary support time and again. He called them.

Phil. 1:3 + 5 – “Partners in Ministry”
That’s cool. Would you like to be a partner in ministry without even having the neeed to even go to seminary and to learn Greek and Hebrew, the mere teachings of men? When you are generous in your support of those in ministry, you become partners with them. Pastors, and even their families, need encouragement. Help them, support them too.

That’s cool. Would you like to be a partner in ministry without having to go to seminary and learn Greek and Hebrew? When you are generous in your support of those in ministry, you become partners with them. Sunday School teachers, ministry team members and leaders of Mission, Stewardship, Youth, Fellowship, etc., need encouragement.

In another letter to the Church in Corinth he tells them that because of their generosity they have a great reputation.

Cor. 8:1-5 – A great reputation
Are we developing a reputation, as did Philippi and Corinth, for being a generous church filled with people who give generously.

The second reason for being generous

2. MY GIVING IS INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE

Though I appreciate your gifts, what makes me happiest is the well-earned reward you will have because of your kindness. – (vs. 17 LB)

Right now there are a whole lot of people who are concerned about the stock market. It hasn’t rebounded like we (make that “I”!) had hoped. The economy seems to be showing ominous signs of being soft. People are looking for places to invest. Did you know that God pays interest? Jesus said that God pays up to 100 fold what you give up for the Gospel’s sake. What is that – 10,000% interest?! The Good News translation says, “I want to see profit added to you account.” God is keeping records. You have an account in heaven with your name on it. Every time you give something it is added to your account in heaven. Jesus said that when you give a cup of cold water in his name, it is written down. That is why it is often said that The only thing you take with you is what you have given away.

Give happily to those in need, and always be ready to share whatever God has given you. By doing this, you will be storing up real treasure for yourselves in heaven – it is the only safe investment for eternity! -1 Timothy 6:18-19 LB God’s bank never goes bankrupt. And you will be spending a lot more time in eternity than you are in this life!

2. MY GIVING IS A SACRIFICE TO GOD ( vs. 18)

God will repay it too.

I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

Do you want to please God? Sure, you do. Have ever wondered what it is that pleases God? The answer is right here. The most pleasing thing you can do for God is sacrificial giving. That pleases God most of all because it is done in faith, and the Bible tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Jesus Christ was a sacrificial giver. His life pleased God more than any other life. When you are generous and sharing you are the most like Christ.

The premise is that to unlock the door to God’s blessing, you have got to give generously and sacrificially. That is the condition attached to his blessing

THE PROMISE

(Vs 19) MY GOD WILL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS

Lets wrap this up. When God promises to meet our needs if we give generously of ourselves.

This does not include:

The consequences of laziness. (1 Thess. 3:10)

ll your wants. (James 4:3) There is a big difference between our needs and our wants.

It does cover all legitimate needs Matthew 6:25-33, 1 John 5:14-15

The Supply: “with all his abundant wealth through Christ Jesus.” God wants you to see the horses and chariots of fire protecting you. God wants you to see that the cattle on a thousand hills are God’s, as the Psalmist says. God want you to see heaven’s treasury with all its abundance. God has the resources and he has the means. He will supply all your needs if you team up with him.

Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each one should give whatever he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under pressure, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make ALL grace abound to you, so that in ALL things, at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you will abound in EVERY good work. – 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NIV

THE KEY

And God.will supply you with all the seed you need and will make it grow and produce a rich harvest from your generosity. 1 Cor. 9:10

When i want to find out how truly a Christian, a spiritual a person i also first look at their hold on monies, and if they rightfully help the poor persons in their own churches. .

(Luke 1:53 KJV) He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

“One person wrote in his church paper that “gifts to the building fund would build up treasure in heaven”. The other person said the same thing about gifts to his TV ministry. And they both added, “put us in your will and treasure in heaven will continue even after you have died”. Not if they are give at the expenses of he poor persons!

(Mat 23:23 KJV) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

In the Bible “Treasure in heaven” is a term that only Jesus used. He used it sparingly, and only regarding gifts to the poor. Jesus said giving to the poor builds up treasure in heaven. He said it on two occasions to different groups. Whether or not one can, after death, continue to accrue treasure above by his legacy to the poor is not covered in scripture. Applying ordinary logic it seems to make sense, however. But not money given for mostly for building programs or the TV ministry.

The poor, they will always be with us but God stil demands that we help them especially His people to show real care for them too, even to their situations so they to may praise God that he indeed loves them. And in so doing the people of God will here accrue real treasure in heaven. What you give to the Poor the Lord will repay as well.He is no man’s debtor too.

(James 2:14 KJV) What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

We need to give away our abundance to the poor persons so we can also personally be free to serve God better. You cannot serve God and money. you Will despise one or the other

And may God bless you
today and always!

The
Tree
Of Praise
The Precious
Power Of Praise!
Praise = honours God!
Praise = brings deliverance!
Praise = is the voice of faith!
Praise = is the language of Heaven!
Praise = sets the stage for God to move!
Praise = releases God’s Angels to minister!
Praise = fuels joy which is our strength!
Praise = knocks down walls of resistance!
Praise = stills the enemy and the avenger!
Praise = dispels darkness and depression!
Praise = precedes not follows blessings!
Praise = moves God’s many blessings down!
Praise = brings God onto the scene!
Praise = is total acceptance of God’s Word!
Author Unknown