"GIVING TO GOD"
I. HOW TO GIVE TO GOD.
A. There is an art to giving. Listed as a gift of the Spirit in
Romans 12.
1. By the way some gifts are given, you want to say
"keep it, who needs it."
2. Some make a lot over giving little, some make
little over giving a lot.
a. I had an uncle who made offering us a piece of
candy out of a box seem like the Hope Diamond.
Never comfortable in his home.
B. There are various types of giving.
1. What we used to call Indian giving. Giving then later
demanding it back.
2. Conditional giving.
a. Stipulation attached to gift.
b. 1st Baptist Church in Huntington Beach.
3. Forced giving.
a. Give him a piece of your candy.
4. Pressured giving.
C. "With a complete heart they offered willingly unto the Lord."
(verse 9.
1. This is the only way we should give to God.
2. This is joyful giving. "Then the people rejoiced."
3. "God loves a cheerful giver."
II. WHAT CAN I GIVE TO GOD?
A. Psalm 116 - "What shall I render unto Thee?"
1. God doesn't need a thing I have.
a. He existed quite well before I ever came along.
b. He will exist quite well after I am gone.
2. God is not broke.
a. He's not about to file bankruptcy.
b. He doesn't need you to bail Him out.
c. He is not depending on your support.
B. "Everything comes from Thee" (verse 14.
1. Look at the vast universe. He made it!
a. Where did all the gold & silver come from?
b. He could create golden galaxies.
c. Scientists speak of probability of diamond
galaxies.
2. Any material gift you may give to God, the material
came from Him and He can create it in abundance, so as
to make it common.
a. This is why He never measures the amount of a
gift.
b. The true value is in the cost. What did it
cost you to give?
1. Widow's mite.
C. "Of Thine own have we given to Thee."(verse 14.
1. Anything I give to Him already belongs to Him.
a. That's like having someone cut flowers out of
your own garden to give you a bouquet.
E. Giving is then just an expression of love.
1. I am giving this to you God because I love you.
F. There are gifts other than material.
1. Time--giving God more time in your life.
2. Talents.
3. Service.
4. Heart.
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Chuck Smith (1927 - 2013)
Pastor Chuck was used in the Jesus People revival where he was used along with others to minister to the hippy young people. They saw a work of the Spirit where many were added to the church and discipled. He has raised up many pastors who are a part of the Calvary Chapel movement now and where he pastors the large Costa Mesa church in California.The Calvary Chapel movement is based of simple principles that Chuck Smith taught over the years such as: The priority of agape love, Simple fellowship amongst the saints, the breaking of bread, the teaching of God's word chapter by chapter and verse by verse. And lastly and most importantly the principle not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord.