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The Blessing of Giving
- David Brown
- Feb 1, 2009
Passage: Luke 6:38
The Blessing of Giving
Luke 6:38 KJV
NLT…Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.
Giving is a God trait, a God characteristic that should be practiced by every child of God!
We are blessed to be a blessing!
We bless and then we’re blessed again in return.
God models this for us in John 3:16.
Giving is a godly principle that changes situation, lives and even the world. And not just ministers teach this…
In 2007, President Bill Clinton wrote a book, “Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World”. In his book, Pres. Clinton urges all of us toward a life of giving and volunteerism.
Robert Kiyosaki, who wrote the “Rich Dad Poor Dad” books teaches that giving is a vital part of any wealth building strategy…
Donald Trump says the same thing. Giving and generosity is a vital key to prosperity. Giving is not only biblical…it’s practical!
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 KJV
NLT… Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
Philippians 4:15-19 KJV
God’s supply in our lives is linked to our giving to the gospel!
Proverbs 11:24-25 Message
The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.
Proverbs 22:9 NIV
A generous man will himself be blessed,
Proverbs 28:27 Message
Be generous to the poor—you'll never go hungry;
Proverbs 3:9-10 KJV
The Giving of First Fruits…
The Jews gave a firstfruits offering to the Lord at the beginning of their harvest season. It was one of their prescribed offerings and has been a great inspiration and blessing to us here at Victory.
Exodus 23:19 KJV
The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the Lord thy God.
Deuteronomy 26:1-11 KJV
The word “firstfruits” = first, chief, best, choice part. It also means, “a promise of things to come”
The first and best of the harvest was to be set aside, then given to the priest to be presented as a wave offering to the Lord.
The firstfruits was separate from the tithe which was given after the harvest.
The firstfruits offering reminded the Jews that God was firstplace in their lives and that they owed him for all they possessed. By offering their firstfruits, the were declaring their faith in God’s ability to supply their needs.
The firstfruits offering signaled their faith that God would protect their crops and help them realize the remainder of their harvest! (Firstfruits season was also “hail season”)
The Firstfruits offering was given by the Jews once a year.
It was commanded…but was a “freewill” offering.
The amount was decided by the giver. There was no minimum nor maximum amount. It was determined by the givers blessing and by his love for the Lord.
To give it brought blessing!
Ezekiel 44:30 KJV
A Firstfruits offering is an act of faith!
It is an act of worship that is saying to God that we trust him to protect our harvest from storms whether they be of weather or economic recession and that He is able to help us reap a great harvest!
Testimonials
Today, We are giving a Freewill Firstfruits Offering to God! (It will be used for the House of God, for the poor that we help and for our ministry projects.
You decide the amount according to what you’re believing your blessing to be this season…and your love for God.
You can give a firstfruits offering from your household finances…or from your business.
You may give a cash gift…or you can pledge an amount to be given over the next few weeks.
Bring your Firstfruits Offeing to the altar as we sing and rejoice!
I will then lift it up to God, wave if before him and pray for the Blessing on your house!
Let’s pray and prepare our firstfruits offering!