Basildon Healing Mission
(Eastside World Outreach Ministries)
Reg Charity 1115487
Grace in Giving
Grace freely gives, grace does not hold back for there are no boundaries.
When you are given something special and are placed in charge of it, like a
Pot of food and you are told to take this pot of lovely tasty food out and share it amongst the people. What do you do?
You know the food is very tasty because many times you have eaten from this pot.
You know that there are people who are very hungry for this food but they do not know
Who has the pot. You know the pot will never run dry, and the more you share the good
Food from the pot the more it will be refilled with fresh tastier food, what do you do?
It’s like grace you know it’s good, you like it, you love it and it’s all you have ever wanted.
But the giver of grace is asking you to share this grace with others who have not yet
Tasted grace what do you do?
If you hang onto it selfishly that grace like the food in the pot will grow stale and even dry up, and you may become graceless. You need to give out grace so that your pot will
Continue to be filled with fresh abounding grace, a sweet savor, full of joy, not dry and crusty. Remember heaven is not just pie in the sky, its cake on the plate while you wait.
2 Cor 8:7 Now as you abound {and} excel {and} are at the front in everything--in faith, in expressing yourselves, in knowledge, in all zeal, and in your love for us--[see to it that you come to the front now and] abound {and} excel in this gracious work [of almsgiving] also.
2 Cor 8:8 I give this not as an order [to dictate to you], but to prove, by [pointing out] the zeal of others, the sincerity of your [own] love also.
2 Cor 8:9 For you are becoming progressively acquainted with {and} recognizing more strongly {and} clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favour and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied).
2 Cor 9:6 [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly {and} grudgingly will also reap sparingly {and} grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously {and} with blessings.
2 Cor 9:7 Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind {and} purposed in his heart, not reluctantly {or} sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, "prompt to do it") giver [whose heart is in his giving].
2 Cor 9:8 And God is able to make all grace (every favour and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always {and} under all circumstances {and} whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].
2 Cor 9:15 Now thanks be to God for His Gift, [precious] beyond telling [His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift]!
The Christmas season is a time of family friends giving to each other without expecting anything in return, what can a six month old baby give you?
It seems it is the only time of the year when most people think of giving in joy.
The three wise men at Bethlehem came and gave their gifts of Muir, Frankincense and gold. They did not expect anything back.
But for the rest of the year our selfishness dominates us, and Christmas unleashes the spirit of generosity. It draws us close to family and gives joyfully.
To really enjoy Christmas, next time your family exchange gifts don’t look at the one who receives but the one who gives! They will be so excited saying ‘I knew you would like it’, they look for the joy in the face of the one who receives.
We need to get beyond giving selfishly, hoping to get something in return, but do so with joy.
Funny how when things become repetitive, every Sunday out comes the offering plate, it can make us hate giving as much as we dread Christmas.
And messages on giving seem offensive, it seems so commercialised.
So many people think you have plenty of money anyway; the church is doing so well, so why bother us about money.
Why it’s not for your pastors pocket, it’s not to make you go with out and suffer.
It’s actually an opportunity for you to step into a whole new place of blessings, an opportunity to be able to give back to God in grace.
We ask because this is a request from God, a commandment, as our family’s character,
is guidance to us.
We have an assignment from God to address this subject and we all need to hear it.
There always seems to be a hidden agenda with these messages, feeling that there is a hook in the message ready to snare you. Please listen and do not close you ears, we all know parting is such a sorrowful process that leaves pockets and purses crying out in pain.
We do not care how much you give, but what we do care about is how you give because with giving attitude is everything. But once you truly develop an appetite for grace giving
You will give and give joyfully.
The saints in the early Christian church in Jerusalem were in financial poverty and were desperate and the apostle Paul set out to raise funds for the church from the rich churches in Greece. Paul on his way passed through Macedonia to the even poorer churches there.
2 Cor 8:1 WE WANT to tell you further, brethren, about the grace (the favour and spiritual blessing) of God which has been evident in the churches of Macedonia [arousing in them the desire to give alms];
2 Cor 8:2 For in the midst of an ordeal of severe tribulation, their abundance of joy and their depth of poverty [together] have overflowed in wealth of lavish generosity on their part.
2 Cor 8:3 For, as I can bear witness, [they gave] according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability; and [they did it] voluntarily,
2 Cor 8:4 Begging us most insistently for the favour {and} the fellowship of contributing in this ministration for [the relief and support of] the saints [in Jerusalem].
2 Cor 8:5 Nor [was this gift of theirs merely the contribution] that we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His agents] by the will of God [entirely disregarding their personal interests, they gave as much as they possibly could, having put themselves at our disposal to be directed by the will of God]—
It was so unexpected, people saw the Macedonian church as one that would always need to be supported by bigger churches and never one to stand on its own.
They had given themselves completely over to God, and they had tasted from the pot of grace and it tasted so good that they wanted everything that God had for them.
They also new that in order to step deeper into God they had to share from there own pot the grace that they had received.
So they decided to give over and above what they had. Not only from their purse but from their heart.
2 Cor 8:7 Now as you abound {and} excel {and} are at the front in everything--in faith, in expressing yourselves, in knowledge, in all zeal, and in your love for us--[see to it that you come to the front now and] abound {and} excel in this gracious work [of almsgiving] also.
Grace must be free to abound in all areas of your life, it’s a river of running water that God is poring into your soul, you need to remove the stopper and allow that river to flow from you into all areas of your life. Not just certain areas of your life but also into the joy of giving.
2 Cor 8:9 For you are becoming progressively acquainted with {and} recognizing more strongly {and} clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favour and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied).
Christ left all the wealth of Heaven, Jesus did not come to this earth seeking riches, so do not become a Christian if you are doing so in order to become rich. It won’t happen, it did not happen in the bible, Jesus came to poverty, yet he gave us riches that money could never buy. We need to model Christ, selfless, graceful, and loving in all we do, let the river of the Holy Spirit flow! - Amen
2 Cor 9:3 Still, I am sending the brethren [on to you], lest our pride in you should be made an empty boast in this particular case, and so that you may be all ready, as I told them you would be;
2 Cor 9:4 Lest, if [any] Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared [for this generosity], we, to say nothing of yourselves, be humiliated for our being so confident.
2 Cor 9:5 That is why I thought it necessary to urge these brethren to go to you before I do and make arrangements in advance for this bountiful, promised gift of yours, so that it may be ready, not as an extortion [wrung out of you] but as a generous {and} willing gift. When you come to give do not become selfishness and part in deep sorrow with it.
Paul expected the Corinthian church to do more, a bigger church should give more?
Not always, only from the church which has a warm and generous heart, not from one whose heart is so dried up like an old prune it hardly beats. And the purses are held so tight they would need a can opener to open them.
The Tendency to give little in secret, and some how hope by the time the offering plate arrives your money would have multiplied making it seem you were a generous person.
I have news for you Mr. and Mrs. Shilling are not getting married and they have never been known to breed. Truth is gracious giving is not to give more but to be gracious in what we give. Yes try smiling as you part with your money, do not embarrass the usher as he struggles to pull it from your hand.
2 Cor 9:6 [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly {and} grudgingly will also reap sparingly {and} grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously {and} with blessings.
Some have a deep fear that they may go crazy as the plate passes in front of them, so leave there money at home. Some are afraid they will run out of money!
But the trouble is who are you deceiving? Your Pastor he knows what your like?
God sees all, He loves you and He wants you to receive blessings from Him, but in order to reap those blessings you need to learn how to sow. He problem is many people are waiting for there bread to return to them, when they have never sent any out.
We cannot out give our God do not worry about giving to much! ( some would be nice).
What makes giving attractive?
2 Cor 9:7 Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind {and} purposed in his heart, not reluctantly {or} sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, "prompt to do it") giver [whose heart is in his giving].
Individual must give proportionately , you may decide that like the Macedonians you also want to receive all that God has for you. You may want to discuss with your family about how much you can afford to give. Make a plan for giving, Once grace takes over it
will make giving spontaneous, for God loves a cheerful giver.
When you put in the plate today cheer jump up and down as you cast your seed on God’s waters, don’t cry and make waters.
If you feel you are unable truthfully before God, unable to give any more , then
Remember not all grace gifts should not require a payment.
There all so many non money gifts that can be given in grace remember
Matthew 25: 31-46? There is cleaning, helping, gardening, cooking, visiting etc
Many ways you can tithe your time to God.
2 Cor 9:8 And God is able to make all grace (every favour and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always {and} under all circumstances {and} whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].
Grace enables us to link up to God’s supply line. Now watch what Paul is saying before you start looking for those growing bank balances, there are so many false evangelists who preach get rich quick tithing! It never happened in the bible and it won’t happen now. Remember, we talk of the riches of heaven things money cannot buy, If you sow God will bless you in all areas of your life, increase your family home, Job, food etc, all areas. He makes opportunity open to you in order that you will prosper, not hand money out to you Why? So you can give more that’s why!
2 Cor 9:13 Because at [your] standing of the test of this ministry, they will glorify God for your loyalty {and} obedience to the Gospel of Christ which you confess, as well as for your generous-hearted liberality to them and to all [the other needy ones].
Grace Leads to incomparable results do not wait until you think you will be able,
Remember not to leave your money at home when you come to church but give now.
2 Cor 9:15 Now thanks be to God for His Gift, [precious] beyond telling [His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift]!
God gave more than we will ever know His son for 33 years, willingly, gracefully, lovingly and we killed Him that’s grace. Remember freely you have received, don’t stay on spiritual milk all your Christian life, but take a bite on the meat of God’s word trust Him. Don’t hold back any part of your life from Him, Faith is stepping out as the Macedonians did, they wanted all of Him, Give gracefully – Amen.
Bishops Tony and Marilyn.