Sunday AM Service - Pressed Down, Shaken Together, Running Over
3/20/2022
Text: Luke 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:5-9, Genesis 14:18-20, Proverbs 3:9-10
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
2 Corinthians 9:3-9 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up before hand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
Giving to the work of the Lord is something that most have been confused by, abused by, and misused by.
Jesus said, "Give and it shall be given unto you," - This is the economy of God!
While giving in this context speaks some of money, it refers to other things as mercy, grace, love and help.
Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, running over - abundant blessings.
2 Corinthians 8 and 9 are the most detailed chapters concerning giving to the Work of the Lord.
Paul does not mention tithing in 2 Corinthians 8 or 9 once, yet Tithing is the foundation of all Giving, whether it be in the Old Testament or New Testament.
Tithing did not originate in the Law of Moses but with Abraham in Genesis 14:18-20 - "He give tithes of all"
This is the first mention of Tithing in all Scripture. A. The Melchizedek Priesthood is eternal, of which Priesthood is CHRIST (Heb. 6:20) - Tithing is eternal concept "unto Christ" B. Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek because he was instructed by the Lord to do so; We are Abraham's children and continue to do what the Patriarch did as our Example (Hebrews 7:1-11; 21; Gal. 3:7-9) C. The Lord designated the tithe as it regards the amount, which is a tenth; therefore, is serves as the foundation for all Giving including that which is Christian.
These two chapters deal with giving to the "need at hand." The greatest need at hand ight now is the gospel of Jesus Christ!
These people at Corinth were "ready to give" to the cause of Christ. Revival had broken out in their midst occasioned by great Repentance
Giving was their way to show their love to the Lord
The criteria for all giving are to ministries that have the a. call of God; b. the Word of God; c. the Power of God
We must be led of the Lord where to give; fertile ground - "for the ministering of the saints"
Genesis 14:18-20 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hands. And he gave him tithes of all.
The Doctrine of Tithing, Tithing Before the Law of Moses; It was practiced 430 years before the law (Gen. 14:20; 28:22; Heb. 7:1-11).
Tithing under the Law of Moses
He commanded (Lev. 27:30; Mal. 3:10)
Five Purposes: A. For Levites (Num. 18:21-24) B. Tithes of tithes for priests (Num. 18:26; Neh. 10:37; 12:44) C. Tithes of tithes every three years for poor and the ministers (Dt. 14:27-29; 26:12-14) D. To supply God's house (Mal. 3:10) E. To honor God (Prov. 3:9-10)
When brought: yearly, along with all other offerings for the feast (Dt. 12:6-7; 14:22-26)
Belonged to God, not the people who paid them (Lev. 27:30-34; Mal. 3:8)
Where brought (2 Chr. 31:13; Neh. 10:28; 12:44; 13:5,12; Mal. 3:8)
If borrowed: 20% interest had to be added when paid (Lev. 27:31)
If exchanged: both it and the exchange must be paid (Lev. 27:33)
Tithing in the New Testament
Christ taught it (Mt. 23:23; Lk. 11:42; Cp. Mt. 5:20 with Lk. 18:11-12; Mt. 10:10; Lk. 10:7-8). This was teaching for the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 11:11-14; Lk. 16:16)
Paul taught it: A. Condemned sacrilege (Rom. 2:22), or robbing temples (Nal. 3:8-10) and using holy things (Lev. 27) B. Teachers to be paid (Gal. 6:6) C. God ordained support of ministers (1 Cor. 9:7-14; 1 Tim. 6:17-18) D. Christians to give as God prospers them (1 Cor. 16:2) E. Melchisedec priesthood is eternal and must be supported by children of Abraham (Heb. 6:26) F. Children of Abraham in faith must walk in his steps (Rom. 4:12; Heb. 7) G. Tithing is proof of obedience and appreciation of God's blessings (Rom. 4:12; Heb. 7:6-10; 1 Cor. 9:7-14; 1 Tim. 6:17-18; cp. Mal. 3:8-10; Prov. 3:9-10; Gen. 14:20; Dt. 8:10-20)
The Blessing Of Giving - 2 Corthians 9:5-7
The Corinthians were to understand the offering was a blessing - just others, but the giver too
It was not just a mere offering of money but rather a Praise Offering
It was to be generous as it was a gift to God
"Not of Covetousness" - The Modern Gospel is reeked with this spirit in giving and receiving
Covetousness is a great sin; Several words in Hebrew describe its evil power.
Hamad - "desiring a neighbor's possession (Deut 5:2)
Besa - "a desire for honest gain" (Prov. 28:16; Jer: 6:13)
Awa - "selfish desire" - (Prov. 21:26)
Final Commandment of Exodus 20:17 - "Thou shalt not covet"
"epithymia," - Expresses any intense desire concentrated on money - it's a sin of the poor and rich (1 Tim. 6:9; Romans 7:7; Acts 20:33)
"pleaonexia" - Ruthless self-assertion (2 Cor. 2:11) - relating to riches - repudiated by Christ in Luke 12:15, Mark 7:22 Eph. 4:19 - Worship of SELF - and IDOLATRY in Ephesisans 5:5 and Colossians 3:5.
Money is the God of the Covetousness.
2 Corinthians 9:6
Sowing and reaping bountifully - Proverbs 11:24-26
What we sow we reap - either little or great depending on the SEED
We reap in proportion to what is sowed - be it grain or money
"He that soweth great blessings shall reap also great blessings"
All giving is rooted in Grace and Gratitude
God manifested His Grace to us by giving the Lord Jesus Christ - GOD GAVE and GIVES manifold blessings to His glorious salvation
A truly gracious person will want to reciprocate to God with a heart of THANKSGIVING, NOT COVETOUSNESS
God was the first example of GIVING and we should follow that example!
Paul is literally begging the Macedonians to "give" because giving makes GRACE abound
"Sowing" and "Reaping" speaks of harvest - And he who gives will see God's harvest of "showers of blessing"; God is a God of showers of harvest riches;
He is the same God of showers of Blessings in the Christian life - He does not desire us to be in poverty
We are in those states because of choices, motive or lack of giving
Hi was of blessing is no the world's way - grinding the poor; witholding wages, robbing others - God's way is harvest (Galatians 6:7)
"HE WHO SOWS ON THE BASIS OF, ON THE PRINCIPLE OF BLESSINGS, SHALL REAP ON THIS BASIS AND THE PRINCIPLE"
Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; 10 then our barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes other will be refreshed.
26 People curse the one who hoards grain, but they pray God's blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
2 Corinthians 9:7 - Not Grudgingly, But Cheerfully
The amount of our gift cannot be assigned by another PRESSURED by another - it must be our CHOICE WILLINGLY
The Believer should choose FREELY what he wants -sparingly or bountifully
ANYTHING not giving willingly is NOT TRUE giving - Acts 2:44-45; 4:22
"SO LET HIM GIVE" - dictated by the heart (not the head)
The world gives according to its head because the world is selfish; the believer gives from the heart because if he's true believer his heart belongs to God
When giving has a view only to reward, it ceases to be Christian giving
God loveth a CHEERFUL giver, a HILARIOUS giver
God's approval and our profit are not to be determined by the amount of our gift, but rather the SPIRIT and the MOTIVE behind the gift!
Giving is not a means of distributing the money it is a means of developing characters.
How we handle the blessings of God determine a great deal of how we handle our hearts! (AND VICE VERSA)
It is a question of Christ's Loyalty and our loyalty
If the gift is forced and constrained it will to be accepted and will not be blessed
God loves a cheerful giver because it shows a heart like HIS OWN - a HEART disposed to give cheerfully
When God sees there is no sincerity or motivated by greed will hate the SPIRIT with which it is done no matter the amount.
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