OMBS7/ The Grace of Giving

PRAYER - "Draw Water Out Of The Wells Of Salvation"

If you are saved, you will certainly praise God when Jesus comes. His saints will say, "O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation; ...the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation." With joy they will draw water out of the wells of salvation. Draw that salvation water now. Rejoice!

Isaiah 12:6 - "Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee."

PRINCIPALS - "The Assyrian - Rod Of Mine Anger"

After centuries in the Promised Land, God had enough of Israel's idolatries, hypocrisies, and countless other sins. He ordained Assyria to be "the rod of mine anger." "The staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, ...to tread them down." God sent the Assyrians to punish Israel, taking the northern ten tribes into captivity. Even today, God uses His enemies to punish backsliders. Then, they too will be judged.

Isaiah 10:15 - "Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it?"

PRINCIPLES - "God Will Finally Destroy Hypocrites In Great Anger"

So much of modern Christianity depicts a milquetoast God - soft, timid, unassertive and spineless. But God, the Righteous Judge, will not tolerate flagrant sin and hypocrisy indefinitely. "The Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly."

Isaiah 9:14-15 - "Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day. The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail."

PROPHECIES - "The Government Of Christ On Earth"

Lucifer wanted it, and he tempted Christ to surrender it, but it cannot be taken. The kingdoms of this world are Christ's forever. No other power will ever prevail against Him. The earth is the LORD's and the fulness thereof. He shall reign forever.

Isaiah 9:7 - "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom,

Positive Thinking

The Grace of Giving

Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. – 2 Corinthians 8:7

How do you give to the Lord? Do you just drop some money in the plate at church without much thought? Or do you just write a check to God at the first of every month and pay Him like you pay all your other bills? You need to think about that because how you give is a matter of deep concern to God. He’s particular about how offerings are given. He won’t receive just any old thing however you feel like giving it. In Malachi, for example, God refused to receive Israel’s offerings. They were bringing Him their defective animals, their blind calves and the injured ones they couldn’t do anything else with—and God said it offended Him. He told them, “You don’t have any reverence or honor for Me, and I’m not going to accept your offering.” That kind of thing didn’t die out after the book of Malachi. Many today don’t have any reverence for God at offering time. People wait for the preacher to beat them over the head until they feel so guilty they have to reach down in their pocketbooks and get some money out. But I want you to know, that’s offensive to God. In fact, He spoke directly to a friend of mine about it. The statement He made to her so impressed me, I wrote it down word for word. It grieves Me when the Church takes offerings, He told her. I said to worship Me. Don’t take from the people, but let them bring their gifts and worship Me. Then they will see the fruits of their giving. If you and I want God to be pleased with our offerings, we’re going to have to do what the Apostle Paul wrote about in 2 Corinthians 8:7. We’re going to have to learn to “excel in this grace of giving” (New International Version). We’re going to have to quit being casual about it and to learn to give with faith and reverence in worship. Next time the offering plate is passed, don’t just drop your gift carelessly in the plate. Get serious. Determine to obey God. Worship Him with your money and be thankful. He’ll do more than simply receive it, He’ll open the windows of blessing for you.

Plan of Salvation read acts 2:38