You Must Not Hold Anything Back (GIVE).
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Text:
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.
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 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. 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. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
Thoughts:
Historically, the Israelites were commanded to give. To those who think that they are smart and educated but do not know the bible as well as they think they do. It wasn’t about money. They gave God the first fruit of everything:
Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.
To not delay to offer also means “You must not hold anything back”.
God can not bless you if you hold anything back.
God will reject your offering if you give it begrudgingly.
They didn’t have the mind-set that some people had. I worked hard, I labored in the field, so I deserve to take this fruit, I deserve to partake of this liquors/wine, and just maybe if I have enough left over, I’ll give God some. NO!!! God said thou shalt not hold back.......when you give me offerings from your crops and your wine.
The reason why, is God is the reason you have it in the first place.
YOU OUGHT TO STOP HOLDING BACK FROM GOD!!! THE WORD SAYS......THE BIBLE SAYS “YOU MUST NOT HOLD ANYTHING BACK!” JUST TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR.....GIVE IT UP.
They gave God everything, they gave God the first fruit of the vine, they gave God the first fruit of their increase, they gave God the first male child of the family (Hannah is proof), they gave God their everything.......because GOD WAS GIVING THEM EVERYTHING!
AND WHEN YOU KNOW GOD HAS BEEN GOOD, AND WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE IS BY THE GRACE AND MERCY OF GOD......YOU WON’T HOLD BACK FROM GOD......YOU’LL GIVE TO GOD WHAT IS DUE TO HIM!!!
Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
YOU MUST NOT GIVE GRUDGINGLY.
Paul was dealing with an issue in one of the poor churches. They needed help and they needed to raise some money.
And it doesn’t matter what church you attend, you’re going to always have some people that feel like they are above giving. They feel like it doesn’t apply to them, they never give in the offering, never pay tithes......that’s the money part.
But the scriptures declare:
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 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. 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. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
You say will brother preacher, that was the law and we not under the law, and it was something that Moses instituted. WRONG!!!
And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Melchezedek, king of Jerusalem....who in a sense was a type of Christ.....Hebrews says without beginning and without end. Gave a 10th of all he had to Abraham. BEFORE THE LAW!!! Why because Abraham was a man of God, Abraham was a prophet, and Melchezedek honored and blessed God by giving a 10th of his tithe.....of all to Abraham.
But it isn’t always about the money:
Then you have some people that come to church and they won’t give anything in the service, they just sit there and watch, and have their mouths closed the entire service. Not one form of expression, no sign of affection toward worshipping the LORD......why are you here.
You say....well....I’m worshipping God inwardly......WRONG.....THERE IS NO SCRIPTURE TO SUPPORT THAT. BECAUSE EVERYWHERE IN THE BIBLE WHEN PEOPLE WORSHIPPED GOD, THEY BOWED DOWN.......THEY PAYED HOMAGE TO GOD, THEY PRAISED THE LORD, YOU MEDITATE IN YOUR PRIVATE TIME, BUT WHEN YOU ARE IN THE DELEGATION AMONGST THE SAINTS....YOU WORSHIP GOD!!! You say you meditating within but you really sleep. You really disengaged from the service.
And to be honest you kinda telling on yourself. Because no one should have to pump you to worship and praise God, because if you do it outside the church......you shonuff will do it in the church! When you are bound, you will not praise the LORD, when you are living in sin and disconnected from God......those are the ones who won’t praise the LORD.
Why because the devil will tell you “you better not praise the LORD, you know what you did this week, you better not be a hypocrite, if you praise God, I’ll put this on you, I’ll cause this to happen. But you need to make the devil the liar he really is.
Because the scripture says “LET EVERYTHING THAT HAS BREATH PRAISE YE THE LORD!!!”
The problem with some of us is that we don’t understand the law of sowing and reaping.
Paul says “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly.” So if you’re not really giving God your time....don’t expect big results. You want a big financial blessing, but you give very little in offering and you don’t pay your tithes. You sow sparingly, you’re going to reap only a small amount. You going through hell and high-water, you got walls in your life you know you need to come down, but you sit there and won’t praise the LORD, not realizing that when the “praises go up.......the blessings come down”.
Paul essentially says what you put in is what you going to get out of it. Little effort, little results........GREAT EFFORTS.......GREAT RESULTS!!!!
Paul then makes another point “you must decide in your heart what you’re going to give unto the LORD.” Because when you give, you give as unto the LORD. Do you hear me this morning saints of God.
Paul says not to give grudgingly or under compulsion. Don’t give reluctantly. “I’m only giving because the preacher is asking me to.” I’m only praising the LORD because the preacher made eye contact with me......and some of us still won’t budge.
If you’re heart ain’t right.....you might as well keep that money in your pocket. If you opening your mouth and just giving God a half way praise.....you might as well keep your mouth closed, matter of fact why come to church if you are not going to worship the LORD!!! I understand you are not a shouter, I understand that some of you are introverts, guess what.....I am too. But while you are here......you ought to do something. Lift a finger, move your head, say something to God, don’t walk in His house and don’t say nothing to Him.......WORSHIP HIM!!!
I don’t feel like going to church today.....YOU MIGHT AS WELL STAY HOME! YOU’RE COMING TO CHURCH UNDER COMPLUSION.......BUT IMMA WARN YOU.....THE WORD SAYS NOT TO FORSAKEN THE ASSEMBLING OF OURSELVES TOGETHER AS THE MANNER OF SOME; BUT EXHORTING ONE ANOTHER: AND SO MUCH THE MORE, AS YE SEE THE DAY APPROACHING!!!!
IN OTHERWORDS IF YOU REALLY KNEW WHAT TIME IT WAS.....YOU’D BE DOING ALL YOU CAN WHILE YOU CAN!!! CAN’T YOU SEE THE SIGN OF THE TIMES, THE STUFF THAT IS GOING ON THAT DID NOT HAPPEN IN MY GENERATION......YOU THINK IT IS NORMAL......AND IT IS NOT. EVERYDAY I LIVE TO SEE A BRAND NEW DAY......I SEE MORE AND MORE THAT JESUS IS SOON TO COME!!! NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO STOP COMING TO CHURCH, NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO SLACK, NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO WORK.
BUT WE GOT TO PUT OUR HAND TO THE GOSPEL PLOW......AND WE GOTTA WORK UNTIL THE DAY IS DONE!
Paul then says “for God loveth a cheerful giver” ANNNDDDDD “God is able”.......just tell three people “God is ABLE!!!”.......what is God able to do? “To make all grace abound” The NLT says “God will generously provide all you need.”
Touch your neighbor and tell them.....neighbor....you better start giving!!!!
God will bless you so much.....that not only will you have to take care of your needs, but HE IS ABLE to give you enough to share with others.......ANYBODY THAT BELIEVES GOD WORD TELL HOLLA AT SOMEONE AND SAY “HE’S ABLE!!!!”
I may come back and deal with the full text another time....but:
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Substance defined from the Hebrew means wealth!
Dealing with the text:
Closing with this:
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.
The principle of giving says that whatever you give God, God will give back to you.
Give Jesus said, and you shall receive.
When you bless somebody else.....God will bless you in return.
Most people think that Jesus is only talking about money.
But The Lord is talking about more than money.
Jesus said give and it shall be given unto you. These words are coming from a man who several chapters later would give his life!!!
Jesus gave his life.....and HIS LIFE CAME BACK TO HIM!!!
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
That’s the problem that many people have. They want to retain their life, they want to save their life, their way of life, their thoughts, their habits, their addictions, what they enjoy.
But Jesus said if you do that......you’re going to lose your life. JUST TESTIFY ENCOURAGE SOMEONE.....DON’T HANG ON TO YOUR LIFE!!! Especially if your life is not pleasing the LORD......YOU’VE GOT TO DIE TO THAT LIFE!!!
Jesus then says “whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR.......NEIGHBOR WE’VE GOT TO GIVE UP OUR LIFE IN ORDER TO SAVE IT!!!!
YOU WANT TO BE SAVED? GIVE UP YOUR LIFE!!! YOU WANT TO BE BLESSED......GIVE UP YOUR LIFE!!! GIVE UP YOUR THOUGHTS, GIVE UP YOUR OPINIONS, GIVE UP YOUR WAYS, GIVE UP YOUR HABITS, GIVE UP YOUR ADDICTIONS, GIVE UP YOUR SINS!!!! TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS.....FOLLOW HIS LEAD, FOLLOW HIS WAYS, FOLLOW HIS PLAN!!!
YOUM MUST NOT HOLD ANYTHING BACK.......YOU MUST GIVE GOD YOUR BEST!!!! GIVE HIM YOUR MONEY, GIVE HIM YOUR FAMILY, GIVE HIM YOUR WEALTH, GIVE HIM YOUR TIME, GIVE HIM YOUR WORSHIP, GIVE HIM YOUR LIFE........GIVE GOD EVERYTHING.......GIVE GOD EVERYTHING.......I NEED SOMEBODY TO REACH WAY DOWN AND GIVE GOD YOUR BEST PRAISE!
I NEED SOMEBODY TO GIVE GOD A SHABACH PRAISE!!! IF YOU PRAISE HIM......HE’LL SHOW UP IN THE ROOM.......IF YOU PRAISE HIM.......HE’LL START FIGHTING YOUR BATTLE......IF YOU PRAISE HIM........HE’LL LOSE THE SHACKLES THAT TRY TO BIND YOU!!!! PAUL AND SILAS WAS LOCKED IN PRAISE AND AT MIDNIGHT!!!!
AT THE DARKEST TIME IN THEIR LIFE.......WHEN IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS OVER, WHEN THERE WAS NO LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, WHEN ALL HOPE SEEMED TO BE LOST, ONE PRAYED AND THE OTHER SUNG PRAISES UNTO GOD!!!! AND GOD SHOWED UP.......I SAID GOD SHOWED.......
GOD TOLD ME TO TELL YOU THAT IF YOU GIVE ME EVERYTHING......I’LL SHOW UP!!!! AND WHEN GOD SHOWED UP......THE CHAINS FELL OFF.
WHEN THEY PRAYED AND SANG PRAISES........THE DOOR OPENED UP......GOD SAID I’M GETTING READY TO OPEN THE DOOR.
WHEN THE SUNG PRAISES AND PRAYED.......THEY WERE SHOOK OUT OF WHAT HAD THEM BOUND!!!!
WHEN THE SUNG PRAISES TO GOD AND PRAYED TO GOD......THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM WAS LOOSED!!!
GOD SAID IF YOU PRAISE ME WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE, IF YOU ASK ME TO DO AND PRAISE ME FOR IT.......I’LL LOOSE YOUR FAMILY MEMBER.......I’LL LOOSE THE SICKNESS.......I’LL LOOSE THE MONEY!!!
Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.
YOU MUST NOT HOLD ANYTHING BACK!!!!! GIVE......GIVE......GIVE GOD THE GLORY DUE HIS NAME.......GIVE IT TO JESUS AND LET HIM WORK IT OUT.....GIVE GOD YOUR BEST.......GIVE IN THE OFFERING......GIVE YOUR TITHES.....GIVE YOUR SUBSTANCE.......BECAUSE GOD GIVES US HIS BEST!!!!