I had God’s message all prepared and then I read Gail’s sermon from last week.   I thought I really needed that sermon and I thank you Gail for emailing to me. I also needed to be at Regional Conference. (testimony given). Publicly, I need to let this church body know that I have spent too much time trying to weed out this field, and it isn’t even my job!  My job is to be wheat right along with you.   It’s our job to stay rooted in God’s Word, and bear the fruit that makes for good bread  and quoting Gail, “as we live among what Satan sows.  God and His angels will take care of what Satan has sown, and we must turn it over to God to handle.”   With this said, we are now going to begin the journey that God has so directed.

Does God care about what we do, what we say; what we listen to; what we do for others; what we do with the possessions entrusted to us here on earth?   Is there a link between our eternal soul and our earthly GIVING?   Scripture makes it clear in Romans 14:10-13 and 2 Corinthians 5:10 that we will all give an account of our lives. (Read Romans & 2 Cor.)

I hope most of you brought your Bibles this morning b/c you’re going to need them.   I’ll give you a Scripture…look it up & as soon as someone has found it, please raise your hand so that you can read it aloud.... 

“Giving” Scriptures (Emphasis added red font & Scriptures inclusified)

Luke 6:38

Give, and it will be give to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it till be measured back to you.

 2 Cor. 9:5-10

Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brethren to go to you b/4 I do and make arrangements in advance for this bountiful, promised gift of yours, so that it may be ready, not as an extortion but as a generous and willing gift.   Remember this: the person who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously AND w/blessings.   Let each one give as they have made up their own mind and purposed in their heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves – takes pleasure in, prizes above other things - a cheerful giver.   And God is able to make all grace come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient.   As it is written, God has scattered abroad, given to the poor;  God’s righteousness endures forever.   Now may God Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating also provide and multiply your sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity.]

 Proverbs 19:17

The person who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and that which s/he has given God will repay to them. 

 Proverbs 21:13

Whoever stops their ears at the cry of the poor will cry out themselves and not be heard.

 Proverbs 22:9

The person who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for this person gives of their bread to the poor.

 Proverbs 28:27

The person who gives to the poor will not want, but the person who hides their eyes will have many a curse.

 Philippians 4:15-19

Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia,, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.   For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.   Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abound to your account.   Indeed I have all and abound.   I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.   And my God shall supply all your needs according to God riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 Matt. 25:31-46

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.   All the nations will be gathered b/4 Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.   And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.   Then the King will say to those on His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Parent, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.   Then the righteous will answer Him saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?   When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?   Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?   And the King will answer and say to them, Assuredly, I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of My brothers/sisters, you did it to Me.

Then He will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.   Then they also will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?   Then He will answer them, saying, Assuredly, I say to you, in as much as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me!   And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. 

Imagine a REVOLUTION…..a revolution of GENEROSITY!

(Share asking the question: Has this church ever been a GIVING church?)

Jesus measures generosity by a radical standard………the condition of the giver’s heart.   (Matt. 6:21)….”For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  So, giving is more than an obligation for followers of Christ; it is an exciting opportunity to lay up treasure that will last for all eternity.  “The Lord Jesus Himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ ” (Acts 20:35b).  B/4 we are through looking at “giving” & stewardship we will have a “LIFESTYLE” of generosity. People that is a promise from God!   My job in this new venture of Church of the Holy Spirit will be as a teacher, motivator, encourager, and an example to the followers of Jesus Christ. To stir a new, Spirit-led commitment to generosity among this congregation and beyond.  CHS is to become a G-I-V-I-N-G body of believers!

God loves to bless, and our blessings are meant to bless others.  Hang on to your hats because God is going to take us on a wild ride. No longer is this church body to look at themselves. The I don’t, I’m not, she doesn’t, I’m tired of, ….I...I…I, me, me, me – will no longer be acceptable.   We are to move forward and learn to generously give of our money, talents, skills, gifts and time. We are to focus on what can we do for the ministry of Jesus Christ instead of what can this Church do for ME!