Giving - Part 3

 

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on June 25th 2023  by Colin D Cruz. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here.

Giving - Part 3 

Last 2 weeks I shared about how our giving should be:

1. Proportionate - it’s not the amount but the proportion of our income that we give. 

2. Lavish - Mary poured out an alabaster jar full of perfume and Jesus commended that as beautiful. 

“(for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The apostles recognized the call on Peter and Paul but also said to remember the poor. It is heart-wrenching to see the poverty in our country. We live wonderful lives, but the need is great!

As we give towards the kingdom and towards the poor, we are storing our riches in heaven. 

When it comes to giving, there are different kinds of responses. But when we encounter Jesus, our heart is transformed. How do we know if someone’s heart is transformed? What instrument do we use? There is no oximeter to check the transformation in someone’s heart. But Jesus says, where your treasure is, there your heart is also. So if you want to see if your heart is truly in the kingdom, look at your giving. 

“And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold."”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

What we know about Zacchaeus is that he is not just a tax collector, but a chief tax collector. The tax collectors were notorious in taking money from people with unrighteousness. They were called crooks and cheats. But then he met Jesus and his life changed. How do we know he put his faith in Jesus?

1. He calls his Lord 

2. There was lavish generosity towards the poor 

3. He wants to make restitution and make things right. 

How you handle money is the thermometer of our heart. “And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Firstly, giving is an act of grace. 

There are 3 stages to giving: 

1. Not able/ willing to give 

2. Giving what you’re able to 

3. Giving even more than what we think we are able to. 

• Is your giving costly or comfortable?

• Is it beyond my ability? 

“begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Our giving is a privilege. Everything comes from God. 

“But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The reason for our giving is Jesus himself. Jesus set aside his riches and came down in poverty, in humility. As we give like Jesus, we will also join him in his riches. 

Our giving is like sowing and reaping. As we give, we sow. A farmer knows about sowing. When he gets a crop, he can eat the seed or sow it back. 

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The principle is this - the return is proportional to the seed that is sown. Ask if you’re sowing generously. 

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Not reluctantly. 

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God's promise is to give us grace in every area of our life. 

“He who supplies seed to the Sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:10- ‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This is another promise of God. The blessing of God is not to make a name for ourselves but to produce thanksgiving to God. 

“By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God has blessed us with his great salvation. There are needs all around us. God has said that as we give proportionately and generously, and take hold of his promises, the grace of God comes in. Giving involves faith.

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 has 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.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.  

Giving - Part 2

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on June 18th 2023  by Colin D Cruz. For the audio & video please click here. 

GIVING - PART 2

You all know that we are approaching the Gift Day and hence, we’ve been going through a series of sermons on “Giving”. Today, once again we’re going to talk about money. When it comes to money, most of us are embarrassed. When we meet someone new and introduce ourselves, do we ask them how much they earn? Money may affect all of us in some way. It is private, especially in a church setting.

In New Testament, Jesus spoke a lot about money. He spoke about money, giving, greed etc. 15% of what he spoke was about money and greed. This shows that money was important to Jesus. There is something significant about money.

The Gift Day we’re talking about is the annual gift day offering that we take every year in the month of November or December. We’re not the only church doing this but all the churches in Regions Beyond across the world in different countries. We’ve been doing this for many years now. What exactly do we do with this gift day offering? We use it for different purposes to support many causes within India, to support widows and also the poor. It is a great joy to be a part of this giving unless our minds are informed and hearts are changed.

Mark 14:1-9 -  Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. ² “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.” ³ While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. ⁴ Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? ⁵ It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages^[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. ⁶ “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷ The poor you will always have with you,^[b] and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. ⁸ She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. ⁹ Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Verse 3 - While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

This account of Jesus is there in all the gospels. There was a dinner at Simon the leper’s house. Why were they having this dinner?

John 12:2 - Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 

The dinner was to honor Jesus. Martha served while Lazarus was sitting along with Jesus. The dinner was happening at Simon the leper’s house. We see 2 reasons here – Simon the leper and Lazarus

The Jewish law says that a person who is a leper should be separated from everyone. But here, the dinner is happening at Simon the leper’s house. Most probably, Simon was an ex-leper who was healed by Jesus.

John 11: 1-3 - Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. ² (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) ³ So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

In verse 5, we come to know that Jesus loved Lazarus, Mary and Martha.

John 11:5 - Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

When a message was sent to Jesus about Lazarus being sick, he didn’t bother to go. Jesus did so many things, he healed so many people. So, Mary and Martha thought he’d come to see Lazarus. But Jesus did something totally out of his character. He did not go and he delayed his going to Bethany.

John 11:17 - ¹⁷ On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

John 11:32 - ³⁵ Jesus wept.

Jesus goes to Bethany and by then Lazarus was in tomb for 4 days. Can you imagine? His body must be decaying and stinking. But what did Jesus do?

John 11:43-44 - ⁴³ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

I’ve read somewhere – Earth is the closest place to heaven for those who put their faith in Jesus and the closest place to hell for those who don’t put their faith in Jesus.

If there’s anyone here who hasn’t put their faith in Jesus, today is the day.

 Mark 14:3 - While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

We don’t really know if the celebration was because Simon was healed of his leprosy or if Lazarus was raised to life.

But Mary comes, takes out the perfume jar breaks it and pours it on Jesus’ head. The disciples who were present there quickly calculated the price of that perfume.

I read on the internet that the most expensive perfume in the world costs 1.5 million dollars.

Mary, takes a precious Alabaster jar and does not put just 1 or 2 drops of perfume but breaks it open and pours the whole thing on Jesus’ head. The whole room must have been filled with the fragrance of that perfume. This is an act of extraordinary and lavish devotion.

Mark 14:4-5 - ⁴ Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? ⁵ It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages^[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

While Mary poured out her extraordinary and lavish devotion, the disciples were calculative, thought it was a waste and even rebuked her harshly.

This is the difference between Mary and the disciples. Jesus touches our hearts and minds.

When we give out gift day offering, how would you like to give? And when you do, what people say about it is not important. But what Jesus says is important. What does Jesus say?

Mark 14: 6 - ⁶ “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

The King of the universe says that what Mary did was a beautiful thing.

Mark 14: 8-9 - ⁸ She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. ⁹ Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Mary did what she could do and what others think about that was not important to Mary. Her act of generosity is being talked about even today after 2000+ years. 

1.  Whatever we give to Jesus, this is what Jesus is going to say. We are looking for divine approval but not of man.

2.  Timely action – Before Jesus died.

When Jesus rose on the third day, Mary went to see, but he was already risen and left the tomb. What Mary was unable to do on that day was done by her before his death.

3.  Prophetic statement – verse 8 – prepare for my burial. The disciples did not know anything when Jesus said this. Mary saw the opportunity before Jesus dies and she gave what she could. It was an act of true devotion.

Matthew 26, in the same chapter, there was another person who showed his devotion.

Matthew 26:49 - ⁴⁹ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

Judas showed his devotion with a kiss. But it was not a true devotion. It was a betrayal.

Our giving can be either an act of true devotion like Mary’s or something like what Judas did.

I want to say something to the young generation who are largely concerned about themselves but not concerned about how to spend it. When it comes to offering, it is minimal, when it comes to hospitality, they say, “Let us dutch”. I would like to invite you. Join Mary and give an extraordinary offering.

Those who have Jesus in their lives, give thanks because Jesus paid it all for our sins. For me, my last breath on earth will be my first breath in heaven.

In Manipur, amid all the riots, people are sent to jail for holding Bibles.

While we are still here, let us do good and give generously.

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 has 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.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.  

Giving - Part 1

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on June 11th 2023  by Colin D Cruz. For the audio & video please click here. 

GIVING - PART 1

This year several great pastors/ preachers have passed away. These were giants of the faith. If we are human, we are mortal – one day we must go. There is only one generation that will be there when Jesus returns.

Paul knew he was going to go. He said I fought the fight and knew his end had come.

Our relationship with Jesus determines where we go – this is true for everyone big, small, rich poor. The question after our death that will be asked is Who is Jesus to you and the answer to that will determine where we will spend eternity.

So, if there is anyone who has not put their trust in Jesus, you can do it today. If you believe in Him and His sacrifice on the Cross and confess your sins and acknowledge Jesus as Lord, you will be with Him in paradise one day.

We all heard about the horrific train accident – life can go in one moment. But we know that when we die, we will be with Jesus forever. This is our great hope.

Jesus tells us how we need to prepare ourselves for heaven. At 40 degrees C, we cannot think of packing thermals for cold weather.  Next time I will pack and prepare better. But for heaven there is not a second chance. We need to know how to prepare ourselves well.

Matt 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Someone lost 2.4 crores on an internet scam.!!

Jesus’ command is not to store treasure on earth. The whole world is running after money and quick rich schemes. Jesus is not against us storing treasures.

Look around everything we see will be destroyed when Jesus comes back. There will be a new heaven and new earth. So everything will be gone. Jesus is not against you storing treasure he is concerned with where you store it. Store it in heaven. As we give to the work of God, to the poor it is being credited to your account in heaven.

My message this morning is on giving and not tithing.

Lev 27:30 our tithe belongs to the Lord. We are just bringing it to the Lord as it belongs to him in the first place.

We have not started giving yet.

How we give is very important.

There are different ways in which people determine how we give.

Let me tell you how your giving has impacted others. We support Education for All which runs schools in very poor rural areas giving them quality education. These children work as rag pickers, in sweatshops and then come to school in the afternoon. These few hours help them get educated and they enjoy it, and it gives them hope to dream.

We are amazingly blessed. We have so much in fact too much! Think about those living in abject poverty and we can make a difference.

How much should we give?

Mk12:41

Keep in mind a few things. The people here will not know how much you gave but Jesus will know. He sat near the treasury and watched how people gave and commented on how they gave.

Our giving is in secret, but it’s known to Jesus. Rich people threw in large amounts. We may feel proud or embarrassed about how we are giving.

There was this poor widow who put in two small coins. People would have judged the rich man’s giving as a lot and the poor woman’s giving as of no consequence. But Jesus commended her as having put in more than all the others! The others gave out of their wealth, but the widow gave everything she had!!

So much we give is not important but what proportion we give. So, Jesus commends us on the amount and proportion.

As we give proportionally, generously and in faith where lives are being changed, that is our great reward.

We need to give sacrificially.

2 Sam 24:13 David takes census which God had told them not to do. God sent a plague (v13) and 70, 000 people died. David buys Arunah’s field and did not take it free. He did not want to sacrifice anything that did not cost him anything.

How much therefore does it cost or pinch you? Is it a sacrifice to God? David was a man after God’s own heart despite all his sins. Let’s give sacrificially.

1Tim6:18-19

Paul commands those who are rich to do good as they will lay up treasures for themselves in heaven.

 Conclusion

Our giving will result in treasures in heaven. There are blessings on earth as well that we will receive.

Paul says lay up treasure in heaven that is a firm foundation. We get only one chance to do this – that is our one lifetime.

Let’s give proportionality and sacrificially. We are blessed and God has entrusted wealth in our hands let us be good stewards of it.

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 has 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.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.  

The Power of Thanksgiving

 

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on June 4th 2023  by Colin D Cruz. For the audio & video please click here. To listen to the worship please click hereclick here

The Power of Thanksgiving

Christians often ask the question, “Lord, what is your will for me?” For 99% of us, God’s will is already revealed to us in the word and can be discerned by the spirit of God. 

Today we are going to look at one aspect of God’s will which was echoed in the worship today. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ““give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Giving thanks in good circumstances is easy. But the Bible says, in all circumstances- in personal as well as circumstances which don’t affect us directly. We hear about train accidents and what is happening in Manipur, when we hear about Ukraine and the devastation there, how do we give thanks? We are to give thanks IN every situation, not FOR every situation. Our faith is in the God who never changes. God can bring good out of evil. We cannot understand everything but we have hope. 

How is Thanksgiving the will of God for us? 

There are over 75 references in the scriptures instructing and commanding us fit to give thanks. What flows from our mouth generally is complaining rather than thanksgiving. Often our conversation is full of grumbling. Col 3:18; Eph 5:20; etc., all instruct us to give thanks. 

Thanksgiving changes thinking. We need to be overflowing with thanks for everything. A gratitude journal can change your spirit. James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

At every step of the way, we are there because of God's protection over us.

Expressing thanksgiving to people. Express gratitude in the family and in friendships. 

We all have difficult situations that come and go.

1. A situation of lack:  Matt 14: 15-18 “As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭15‬-‭19 ‭NIV‬‬ When you give thanks for what you have he can give you what you need. 

2. In dead situations: “Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” ‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭38‬-‭44‬ ‭NIV‬‬. 

Today you might be dealing with situations that are of lack or are dead. But as we trust in God more than our situation, we are able to give thanks. Romans 4:18-21 “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” In our dead situations, we give glory to God. 

The will of God for our lives is to be thankful in every circumstance. It’s simple yet powerful. 

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 has 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.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.