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Seemingly Random Thoughts on Giving

Random Thought #1 Giving was a command in the OT The Command to Tithe General tithe to Levites Lev. 27:30 Levites to tithe on the tithe Nu. 18:26 Feast on the tithe on the third yr store it Dt. 14:22 We see near the end of this section, in 2 Cor 9, Paul refers to God’s grace again!

Random Thought #1 Giving was a command in the OT The Consequences of not Tithing Mal. 3:6-12 We see near the end of this section, in 2 Cor 9, Paul refers to God’s grace again!

Random Thought #1 Giving was a command in the OT The Consequences of not Tithing Mal. 3:6-12 6 “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your ancestors 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 mere mortal rob God? We see near the end of this section, in 2 Cor 9, Paul refers to God’s grace again!

Random Thought #1 Giving was a command in the OT The Consequences of not Tithing Mal. 3:6-12 Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—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 We see near the end of this section, in 2 Cor 9, Paul refers to God’s grace again!

Random Thought #1 Giving was a command in the OT The Consequences of not Tithing Mal. 3:6-12 pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty. We see near the end of this section, in 2 Cor 9, Paul refers to God’s grace again!

Random Thought #1 Giving was a command in the OT The Consequences of not Tithing Mal. 3:6-12 God equated disobedience as stealing from Him - Mal. 3:8 God turns away from the disobedient Mal. 3:7 God puts Israel under a curse Mal. 3:9 We see near the end of this section, in 2 Cor 9, Paul refers to God’s grace again!

Random Thought #2 Giving is Lifestyle in the NT Jesus Had nothing Gave everything We see near the end of this section, in 2 Cor 9, Paul refers to God’s grace again!

Random Thought #2 Giving is Lifestyle in the NT Jesus Early Church - Acts 2:42-47 Ananias and Saphira – Acts 5:1-11 Paul – Phil. 4:10-14 Collections for Jerusalem Church - 2 Cor. 8, 9 We see near the end of this section, in 2 Cor 9, Paul refers to God’s grace again!

Random Thought #3 Means of Grace – It is a way that God blesses you! 2 Cor. 8:7 – Like excelling in Faith , knowledge, speech, earnestness Mal. 3: - No giving = no blessing and a curse Billy will add to this next week…. We see near the end of this section, in 2 Cor 9, Paul refers to God’s grace again!

Random Thought #3 Evidence of Grace – Maturity 2 Cor. 9:14,15 – the recipients of the offering pray for the givers because of the surpassing grace of God in their lives - 2 Cor 9:15 - Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (Jesus) We see near the end of this section, in 2 Cor 9, Paul refers to God’s grace again!

Random Thought #4 Giving is a sign that the gospel has penetrated your heart “The last part of a person to be converted is their wallet” Herbert Kane Where your treasure is there your heart will be also! Mt.6 We see near the end of this section, in 2 Cor 9, Paul refers to God’s grace again!

GIVING IS AN (THE) INDICATOR OF YOUR HEART FOR GOD!!! We see near the end of this section, in 2 Cor 9, Paul refers to God’s grace again!

Random Thought #5 Giving is to God GIVING as to God GIVING is an act of worship We see near the end of this section, in 2 Cor 9, Paul refers to God’s grace again!

Random Thought #6 Giving and Greed are at odds You can not serve both God and money Mt.6:24 Godliness with contentment is great gain 1Tim. 6:6 We see near the end of this section, in 2 Cor 9, Paul refers to God’s grace again!

Pop-Quiz What are your dreams and aspirations? Who do you admire most? Why? What kind of advice do you seek about important financial decisions? We see near the end of this section, in 2 Cor 9, Paul refers to God’s grace again!

Pop-Quiz How do you habitually spend disposable time and money? How much debt do you have for non- necessary acquisitions? How do you view retirement?

Random Thought #7 Giving is to be “felt” The 10% question Widow’s mite Lk. 21:2 Living Sacrifices Rom. 12:2 Remember – “Can I keep anything?” We see near the end of this section, in 2 Cor 9, Paul refers to God’s grace again!

“I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving way too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them.” ~C.S. Lewis We see near the end of this section, in 2 Cor 9, Paul refers to God’s grace again!

Random Thought #8 Giving is financial – and then some Living Sacrifices Time Treasure Talent We see near the end of this section, in 2 Cor 9, Paul refers to God’s grace again!

GIVING IS FOR EVERY BELIEVER ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY We see near the end of this section, in 2 Cor 9, Paul refers to God’s grace again!

Conclusion I had a dream... As we trust in Him and do this, life becomes more satisfying! So, What would you be willing to trade to have a deeply satisfying life & true fulfillment?

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