Many of the other members of our congregation also gave personal possessions and treasures. After all, He owned them anyway.Ī few days later, I sold my equipment and gave the money to the building fund. If He wanted my cameras, I wanted to give them to Him. I knew that my obedience would lead to blessing. There was no way I wanted to avoid making the right decision. However, God’s conviction was strong and to the point. It wasn’t long before He began to impress upon me to give my camera equipment to the building fund. I had given financially but sensed there was something more that He was requiring. I also prayed specifically that He would show me what He wanted me to give. We began to pray that He would provide the funds we needed. Years ago, God led us to purchase property for the expansion of First Baptist Atlanta. If we obey God’s Word and cheerfully give the portion He has requested of us, He will bless us and the work of His kingdom. All that we have is a gift from God therefore, a tithe is a mere portion of what He has already given to us. To tithe is to give ten percent of our income to God for His work.
Pastor charles stanley sermons on defeat full#
Through him, God instructed the people to bring Him the full tithe and said, “‘Test Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows’ ” (Mal. The Old Testament prophet Malachi certainly believed this principle. It’s just a fact: you can never outgive God. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” (Luke 6:38). They will pour into your lap a good measure-pressed down, shaken together, and running over. In one of the clearest examples of this principle in Scripture, Jesus tells us, “Give, and it will be given to you. Instead, Jesus told him, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life” (Luke 18:29-30). Peter once boasted to the Lord, “Behold, we have left our own homes and followed you” (Luke 18:28). He once illustrated God’s generosity by describing how a wealthy “Lord” rewarded servants with multiple cities in return for their doubling the little bit of money he had given them. Jesus declared that anybody who gave one of His followers even a cup of water in His name would be lavishly rewarded (Mark 9:41). While He invites our gifts and offerings, He will always give us far more than we could possibly give Him. This story powerfully reminds us that we can never outgive God. Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever” (2 Sam. He said, “The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you. He wanted to build a temple for God-no small undertaking.īut God had a much bigger gift in mind for David. One day he looked around at his comfortable home and said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains” (2 Sam.
© 2019 All Rights Reserved.King David knew that God had prospered him and given him rest from all his enemies. Used with permission from In Touch Ministries, Inc. Charles Stanley, please visit And Listen to Dr.
The alternative is to play it safe, but then you'll miss out on God's best for your life.įor more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. This doesn't necessarily mean you will do it perfectly, but each step of obedience is a victory. God would never ask you to do something without empowering you to accomplish it.
You can focus on Christ and proceed in triumph or focus on yourself and withdraw in defeat. When the Lord challenges you to do something that you feel is beyond your abilities, you have two options. 14) but unless we believe Him and step out in faith, we'll never experience the life He has planned for us.įeeling inadequate is not a sin, but using it as an excuse is. He's promised to lead us "in triumph in Christ," (v. Have you ever avoided serving the Lord in ways that challenge your comfort zone? If so, you've probably missed a tremendous opportunity to overcome feelings of inadequacy. He asks a question that points to a common insecurity: "Who is adequate for these things?" (v. The area Paul deals with in today's passage is our Christian life. For others, the problem stems from a lack of success related to work, relationships, marriage, parenting, or any number of things. For some, this may be due to childhood experiences that negatively affected their self-image. Tragically, though, many people live with a cloud over their head because in their thinking, they never measure up. No one likes feelings of inadequacy, but they are something we must learn to handle, as none of us can avoid them permanently.
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