Great News
Giving is the hardest part of the christian walk.
Once you start giving God's way, satan is going to declare open warfare against you.
He will cloud your mind with all kinds of ideas about not being able to afford it..
"I can't do it this week."
"I'll give a double portion next week."
"I need my money more than the preacher does,"
and many other excuses why you should not give. Once you start giving every week,
you will be short of what you need.
All kinds of things will happen to steer you away from this task.
What are the benefits if you succeed?
God has promised to bless those that do in his way.
Num 18:21
21 "I give to the levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance
in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.
Mal 3:7-11
7 "Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them.
Return to me, and I will return to you," says the Lord Almighty.
"but you ask. How are we to return?"
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me."
"How do we rob you?" "In tithes and offerings."
9 You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me.
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.
"Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if
I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing
that you will not have room for it."
11 "I will prevent pests from devouring your crops,
and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit." says the Lord Almighty.
1 Cor 9:11
11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you,
is it too much that we reap material harvest from you?
1 Cor 9:11
13 Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple,
and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar?
2 Cor 9:5-7
5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance
and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised.
Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows generously, will also reap generously.
7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give,
not reluctantly or under compulsion.
God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Cor 9:8
8 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 Cor 9:10-11
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food
will also supply and increase your store of seed and you will enlarge
the harvest of your rightousness.
11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion,
and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.(NIV)
The biggest lie taught in the christian community is that once you come to Christ,
you are going to have a wonderful life.
No hardships, no conflict, no problems.
Common sense alone will tell you that satan is not going to waste his time
on someone who is going to hell anyway.
Once you come to Christ and start living in faith,
all hell is going to break loose, If you are truly saved.
The two messages that satan does not want taught are
you get to heaven by faith and
you prove the holy spirit by the way you give.
