The Power of Giving

INTRODUCTION

Intro

God often gives us opportunities to be blessed. But many times they requires something of us.

As we let go of things, through giving, he often gives us more than we had in return. Requires action on our part.

 When we are in need God says we can give our way to breakthrough & abundance. This completely contradicts worldly thinking that encourages us to fight for and horde what we have.

Matthew 10:39 (TPT) All who seek to live apart from me will lose it all. But those who let go of their lives for my sake and surrender it all to me will discover true life!

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. - Jim Elliott

Elijah and the Widow 1 Kings 17:8-16 - 8 Then the Lord said to Elijah, 9 “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”

10 So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”

12 But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”

13 But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”

15 So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. 16 There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.

My thought - Illogical to send Elijah to a widow?

God multiplied what she gave & it had bigger impact than they expected

It's not about quantity, it's about quality. She was willing to give when the cost was high.

A widow will feed me?- Elijah obeyed - even when it looked illogical - and it was a blessing to the widow. 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

His need blessed her AND him

Elijah asked for the one thing she needed. Her response vented her heart

Just picking up sticks - where are you just picking up sticks in life? Is there something hopeless you feel like you can’t change

He speaks to her heart: don’t be afraid.

She fed him first & God provided

Always enough.

When we honor god first, he gives us the rest of what we ask for.

He’s the god of “always enough” - generous

We need vision that lifts our head & eyes above our circ. So we can give our way out

Luke 6:38 - Give generously and generous gifts will be given back to you, shaken down to make room for more. Abundant gifts will pour out upon you with such an overflowing measure that it will run over the top! Your measurement of generosity becomes the measurement of your return.” (TPT)

Practical ways of giving (how God asks us to give) - family spouse work church

2 Cor. 9:6-15 - 6 Here’s my point. A stingy sower[c] will reap a meager harvest, but the one who sows from a generous spirit will reap an abundant harvest. 7 Let giving flow from your heart, not from a sense of religious duty. Let it spring up freely from the joy of giving—all because God loves hilarious generosity![d]

8 Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything[e]—every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do. 9 Just as the Scriptures say about the one who trusts in him:

Because he has sown extravagantly and given to the poor, his kindness and generous deeds will never be forgotten.[f]

10 This generous God who supplies abundant seed[g]for the farmer, which becomes bread for our meals,[h] is even more extravagant toward you. First he supplies[i] every need, plus more. Then he multiplies the seed as you sow it, so that the harvest of your generosity[j] will grow. 11 You will be abundantly enriched in every way as you give generously on every occasion,[k] for when we take your gifts to those in need,[l] it causes many to give thanks to God.

12 The priestly ministry[m]you are providing through your offering not only supplies what is lacking for God’s people, it inspires an outpouring[n]of praises and thanksgiving to God himself. 13 For as your extremely generous offering meets the approval[o] of those in Jerusalem, it will cause them to give glory to God—all because of your loyal support and allegiance to the gospel of Christ, as well as your generous-hearted partnership with them toward those in need. 14 Because of this extraordinary grace, which God has lavished on you, they will affectionately remember you in their prayers. 15 Praise God for his astonishing gift, which is far too great for words![p]

LET giving come forth. It’s already in us.

v. 8 says that God will make you overflow with abundance. He does the work after WE give.

God set the example for giving:

CALL JOSH UP TO PLAY

We give because he first gave - John 3:16 - he gave...

We love (or give love) because he first Ioved us. (1 John 4:19)

All comes down to this: that He’s a good Father & He gives his children good gifts

Orphans aren’t givers, they take only (fear focused)

Sons are givers- unafraid of running out - we give much cuz we’ve been given much ( by a good father)

We need to know what we’ve been given - 

USHERS COME FORWARD - Segue in to communion

Pray for non-believers