1. INCREASE 1 COR. 3:1-7

2. INCREASE 1 COR. 3:1-7
Giving Prov. 11:25
“The liberal soul (generous soul -NKJV) will be made fat (Rich), and he who waters will be watered also.”

3. Increase premised on our
Giving to God
Giving to others
GIVING TO GOD
Foundation – Everything we have or possess are from God; belongs to God (James 1:17)
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes from the father of light with whom there is no variation or shadow of forming”.

4. INCREASE 1 COR. 3:1-7 We are mere stewards of God’s Resources
(1 Peter 4:10)
A steward –one who manages, administers and takes care of that which belongs to another.
GIVING TO GOD- An acknowledgement of God’s ownership of every material blessing
(1 Chron 29:14) “For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You.” (King David)

5. INCREASE 1 COR. 3:1-7 2. TYPES OF GIVING Amount/quantity specified
Amount/quantity left to our discretion
Compulsory Giving
Tithe:- God commands us to tithe (10%) from what He has given us
“(Lev. 27:30) “The tithe is the Lords it is holy unto the Lord”

6. INCREASE 1 COR. 3:1-7
Deut. 14:22 “you shall tithe all the increase of your seed”
Mal. 3:10 “Bring yea all the tithe into the storehouse”
Tithe- not an old testament thing - Jesus commended it (Luke 11:42)

7. INCREASE 1 COR. 3:1-7 Gods purpose for tithing in Old testament
To support the Levites, strangers, orphans, widows (Deut. 14:28-29)
To support the running of the temple and God’s work in general (Mal. 3:10)
To support the poor and needy in Israel
(Ex 23:11)

8. INCREASE 1 COR. 3:1-7 New Testament:
To Support- Preachers, Teachers Full-time Ministers (Gal.6:6, 1 Cor 9:14, Phil 4:15-18)
To Support the poor and needy in God’s family (Acts 4:34-37, Rom. 15:26)
God’s special Promise to those who tithe -
(Mal. 3:10)
Jesus said- we should not neglect the tithe
(Matt 23:23)

9. INCREASE 1 COR. 3:1-7
TITHING EXPRESSES FAITH.
It does not buy God’s blessings, but it releases His blessings upon our lives
(Mal 3:10)“___prove me now____and see if I will not open the windows ___and pour out a blessing__not be room enough to receive it “
- It is an expression of faith in God in the most practical way possible (e.i. belief that the 90% left after tithing has God’s blessing on it and with such blessing the 90% can purchase more than the 100% would without his blessing)

10. INCREASE 1 COR. 3:1-7
Tithing not limited to Money but extends to other possession e.g. oil, fruit, animals, harvest etc.
ii DISCRETIONARY GIVING
-Besides the tithe, scriptures encourage us to give out of the remaining 90% to the Needy, widows, orphans, aliens, Freewill offerings
(Lev. 22:21), Special Project (Ezra 8:24-36, Neh. 7:70-72) Ministers of Gospel etc.

11. INCREASE 1 COR. 3:1-7
The proportion of what is given out of the 90% left and the spirit/attitude it is given is what determines the level of increase we receive and Not the tithe we pay (2 Cor. 9:6-7) Therefore it is important to be a generous & cheerful giver (Ex. 25:2)

12. INCREASE 1 COR. 3:1-7 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TITHE AND OFFERING
Tithe-: “acquires the field”
Offerings (from remaining 90%)- are seeds which when sown (by giving)- result in increase.
God does not measure our giving by the amount we give, but rewards us according to the left –over after giving (Luke 21:1-4)

13. INCREASE 1 COR. 3:1-7
THE POOR – Necessary for them to give to receive God’s blessing which will break the curse of poverty e.g. Macedonia Christians (2 Cor. 8:2)
Jesus (our Ultimate example) Was rich, became poor in order to bless us (2 Cor. 8:9)
REFUSAL TO GIVE (Compulsorily or Discretionary)
Implications
Refusal to appreciate our role as not owners but stewards of God blessings.
An act of robbery and rebellion towards God (Mal. 3:8-12)

14. INCREASE 1 COR. 3:1-7 BENEFITS OF GIVING
Open heavens over the life of the giver
Abundant blessing
Protection from the devourers
Protection from want and famine
Why give during a recession?
See Ecl. 11:1-6 (esp. vs 4 Amp & 6)

15. INCREASE 1 COR. 3:1-7
YOUR GIVING SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO MATERIAL THINGS - GIVE – Talents/Skills,
– Time,
– Praise
As we give to God individually and collectively as a church, we increase individually and increase as a church)
As we collectively sow seeds of giving (Offerings, Praise, Time) and water same with continuous giving and living acceptable to God- God will increase us, as a Church