Being A Cheerful Giver

 Announcements: We praise God as Pastor Bruce Butler and First Lady Donna Butler celebrate 21 years of marriage with a much need and well-deserved vacation. Today's sermon was led By Pastor Michael Hunt.

Romans 13:1

1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

4  For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

5  Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

6  For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

7  Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

11.   We're not poor because we have nothing, but we might be poor today, because we are always giving to man what we should be giving to God.

a.   Let's talk today about something that the man of God seldom talks about, because he doesn't want you to think that he wants something from you, when he doesn't.

b.   Because we know this, we should not forget our responsibility.

c.   We can't move on because of the little sins we hold on to, that we need to be taking to the altar.

d.   There is prayer here every other Friday. It may be three or four people, and when they come, they come together to pray for everybody that's in this church.

e.   God is not mocked, man is deceived. Because he cannot sow tares, and reap wheat. A tare Is a tare, even if it tries to live with the wheat.

f.    Malachi 3:7-11

7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

8  Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

9  Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

10  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

11  And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

g.   You cannot expect blessings from God if you do not do what you are supposed to do.

i.    1 Corinthians 9:1-6

1  Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

2  If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

3  Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

4  Have we not power to eat and to drink?

5  Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

6  Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

j.    Paul was a Pharisee of the highest ranking, and on the road to Damascus, he ran into a power of the highest extent. He was blinded and ran into Jesus.

k.   There was a time when we were on the road to Damascus, and we ran into Jesus and caught the same light.

m. 1 Corinthians 9:10-18

10  Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

11  If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

12  If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

13  Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

14  Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

16  For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

17  For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

18  What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

n.   One thing that will make our pastor happy is if we learn how to lift up one another.

22.   God loves a cheerful giver.

a.   2 Corinthians 9:6-7

6  But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

b.   If you want to be rich, sow cheerfully. If you only have 5 dollars, and you take it and give it to somebody, THEY will be blessed, and God will multiply what you gave them.

c.   The only poverty that you got is what you make. There isn't a single poor person in here today.

e.   God says if you must have, you have two hands and two feet. Go forward. If you CAN'T do it by yourself, you got brothers and sisters that will help.

f.    We must learn also to get down on our knees and pray.

g.   Giving is a reward in reaping.

h.   Matthew 6:33:34

33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

i.    Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

j.    When you get to the altar and you lay down your gifts, I guarantee you, you're gonna get a blessing!

k.   Romans 12:1-2

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

All your greatness comes from God.

33.   We must have patience. Patience will reward us with reaping.

a.   Galatians 6:7-9

7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

b.   Don't be weary, because the devil is everywhere, and he wants to destroy the body of Christ.

d.   We can have victory today, we can be rich today, we can have what God would have us to have today, if we would give up the things that are holding us back.

f.    Philippians 3:13-14

13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.