How now shall I give?| Colin D'cruz

This message was preached  Colin D Cruz at Word of Grace Church on the October 11th, 2015.  To listen/download the audio please click here  . To listen to the Sunday's worship and prophetic contributions please click here

It’s not just that we give but how we give. What is the goal and result of our giving? Why does God want to bless us? 

It is so that we can be generous on every occasion and it will result in thanksgiving to God on the part of the recipient.

So how should we give? The money we get, we use for different things, to different churches, food packages, sponsoring education, etc.

Our model for giving should be Jesus.

2 Corinthians 8:9- though rich, he became poor. Jesus gave up the beauty of heaven for us.

1.      So we give sacrificially- it should be something that costs us and not from our comfort zone. When Hudson Taylor was preparing to go to China, he started living frugally and gave his money to bless people.

2.      2 Corinthians 9:2- with Eagerness- they were ready and enthusiastic. They were full of joy.

a.      So we make arrangement and we prepare in advance

b.      Verse 6 gives a promise and a condition. We have choice of how we give- sparingly or generously.

c.      To give from the heart and not the mind. Often the heart and mind can be in conflict. We need to give from the heart and not in a calculated manner. The lady with the alabaster jar gave with her heart. The disciples calculated with their minds and called it a waste.

d.      Don’t give reluctantly or under compulsion. God loves cheerful/ hilarious giving.

3.      Every time there are instructions about giving, God gives faith promises to enable us to give. As you give God will increase you seed so you sow more, to reap more and give more.

It starts with Jesus who became poor. As we give God gets the glory. Our giving is a sacrifice.

2 Corinthians 9:14- “And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.”

Which area are you lacking in? Is sacrificial giving tough? Or is it cheerful giving or lack of faith? Let’s enter the adventure with God and ask the Holy Spirit to help with this. 

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that have people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service. To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.