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Monday 8 October 2012

Five Reasons to Live Generously - Sermon Review

Sunday Sermon Review - October 7, 2012
Topic - Five Great Reasons to Live Generously
(from my home church that I attend regularly)
Speaker - Jacob Friesen

This is Thanksgiving weekend. The service began with singing several songs - "Wonderful Saviour Wonderful God",  "I'll Stand", and  "What a Friend we have in Jesus".

We had a guest speaker in our church today named Jacob Friesen from Winnipeg.
He began his sermon by outlining the basic drift of his message in discussing the joy of giving, how to live a life of generousity, and asking the question - why should we give? Does it really matter whether we give or not?
2 Corinthians 9 : 6-7 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

The message is based on 2 Corinthians 9: 6-15 ( posted at the bottom )
Here is some of what our speaker said:

The church in Jerusalem was in need and Paul wants to bring a gift to them from the believers in Corinth.
When it comes to giving, there are two kinds of attitudes in people - 1) A heart that holds back and says How much of my income can I keep for me? and 2) A heart that wants to give and says How much can I share?
Generousity starts with God - God has more than enough resources to provide for you. It all comes from God. You can never out give God. In prosperity there is a danger to forget the Lord.
Deuteronomy 8:10 -When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.

Five Great Reasons to be Generous
#1) It Reminds Us that We Belong to God - Everything comes from God
Our Heavenly Father will take care of us because we belong to Him

#2) There Is More Where This Came From -
It is not about how much we have that determines whether we can give or not
It is not about the worthiness of the project in question - It is about the Nature of God
Everything belongs to our Heavenly Father and He is able to give more.
Verse 10 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:

#3) Giving Honors God -
God is honored when we give generously
Mr Friesen mention the bus driver in Winnipeg who recently became famous when he gave his shoes to a homeless person on the street.
Verse 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;

4) We Give in Obedience to God's Word -
God has told us to be generous as He is generous

5) We Will Be Blessed
A life of generousity pays great dividends
When we become selfish and hoarding people, we become alone and lonely
As we give, God gives more and it brings joy that keeps multiplying
Verse 6  and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Bonus Point - #6 - We Can be Generous because Christ Lives in Us-
Christ enables us to open our hand
It is God's amazing grace that enables us to be generous.
Verse 15  Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

We have placed our trust in the Lord God Almighty. He will provide for us.
Life is uncertain but God is Faithul.

2 Corinthians 9: 6-15
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:
(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

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