NOV 10
HILARIOUS GIVING
#GIVING
This topic makes many people uncomfortable, there is a multitude of criticism all over the online, in print and in conversation toward Christian giving, especially tithing and monetary giving, but let’s get past all the criticism, lies and distortion, and look to the big picture TRUTH.
GOD GIVES THE BEST GIFTS
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Matthew 7:11 “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
Here’s a snippet of the awesome things God has given:
The earth (Genesis 1 & 2)
Jesus (Matthew 20:28, John 3:16)
Salvation (Matt 18:11, Luke 19:10)
Eternal Life // Relationship with Him (John 3:16, John 17:3)
The Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4)
The Gifts of Christ - Leaders (Ephesians 4:1-16)
The gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Galatians 5:22-23)
His Presence (Matthew 28:20, Matthew 18:20)
Purpose (Gen 1:27-28, Gen 2:15, Matthew 28:18-20)
Healing and deliverance (Matt 8:2-4, Luke 7:1-10, Mark 1:30-31, John 5:1-9 and so many more)
Intercession (Hebrews 7:25)
#Blessing (Ephesians 1:3)
Wives (Gen 2:18-24, Proverbs 18:22)
Peace (Philippians 4:7)
An Inheritance in His Kingdom (Romans 8:17)
Power to get wealth (Deut 8:18 “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
Rest (Matthew 11:28, Hebrews 4)
Grace and Mercy (James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5-6, Psalm 145:8-9, Lamentations 3:23)
Gifts to those who overcome Revelation 2-3
A BRIEF BIBLICAL HISTORY OF HUMAN GIVING
Cain and Abel (Gen 4)
Job 1:5
Abraham (Tithing before the law) Gen 14:20
The Old Covenant: THE LAW
Burnt Offering / Sin offering (Exodus 29:14, 18, 24-25, 36)
Wave offering / Heave offering (Exodus 29:27-28)
Drink offering (Exodus 29:40)
Grain offering ( Exodus 29:41)
Exodus 29:42 "“This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet you to speak with you”
Tithe: Leviticus 27:30-32, Deut 14:22 ““You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year.”
Offering for the Tabernacle etc
Freewill offering - Exodus 25
David (2 Sam 6:22, 2 Sam 24:24)
Rebuild Jerusalem (Nehemiah & Ezra)
Kings and Gentiles gave to help Israel (Exodus 12:36, Ezra 1:6, Cyrus Ezra 1)
The magi to Jesus (Matthew 2:11)
The Pharisees tithed (Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42)
The widow (Luke 21:1-4)
Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)
Mary anoints Jesus: (Matt 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, Luke 7:36-50; John 12:1-8
Jesus and Peter (Matthew 17:27)
The Church
Gave all (Acts 2:44-47)
Sold houses (Acts 4:34)
Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5)
Corporate giving (2 Corinthians 8-9)
Daily distribution (Acts 6)
HILARIOUS GIVING
2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
First of all, the context of this verse isn’t tithing, its corporate giving above and beyond tithing, for the purpose of helping the needy!
Cheerful - Greek: “hilaros” (where we get the English word Hilarious) - it means cheerful, joyous, prompt to do anything.
As we have seen above, God honors this kind of wholehearted, sacrificial, joyful giving. It ALWAYS flows from a revelation of God.
KEYS TO HILARIOUS GIVING
Knowing God
Knowing our Identity in God
KNOWING GOD
God desires obedience above sacrifice. (1 Samuel 15:22)
Obedience requires hearing from God.
Hearing from God flows out of knowing God. Handy Link
When we know God, we know He is good and thus we can trust Him. When our giving flows from obedience rather than obligation, appearances or self-righteous works trips, we are empowered to give hilariously, outrageously and cheerfully because we can trust that God is not going to ask us to give beyond what He is going to provide.
When we give obediently, it comes back: Luke 6:28
So let’s grow our knowing by digging into God’s word and presence! I have included a list below under the heading Appendix A of the names and nature of God. USE IT IN YOUR PRAYER LIFE. Psalm 34:8 says “taste and see that the Lord is good”.
KNOWING OUR IDENTITY IN GOD
Likewise, let’s grow our knowing of who we are in God. There is a list under Appendix B of our new creation state of being. APPLY IT
In terms of our giving, the reality is we have full access to the storehouses of Heaven. When we truly come to terms with our identity in God, it will transform our behavior, it will transform our perception and it will empower us to understand that everything we need for everything we were meant be and do has already been given. This will drive us to God and look to what HE is looking to do in every situation and it will empower us to live a lifestyle of not just generous living, but hilarious giving.
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APPENDIX A: Names and Nature of God
I am: Genesis 15:1, Exodus 3:14
Before Abraham was I am: John 8: 48-59
I am the Bread of life: John 6:35
I am the good shepherd: John 10:11-18
I am the Light of world: John 8:12
I am the Door: John 10:9-16
I am the True vine: John 15
I am the Way the Truth and the Life: John 14:6
I am the resurrection and the Life: John 11:25
Jehovah: Gen 2:4, 7:1, 5, 16, Ex 6:2-3, 14:30
Jehovah Elohim - Lord God: Gen 2:4
Jehovah Adonai - Lord God sovereign: Gen 15:2, 8; 2 Sam 7:18-29
Jehovah Jireh - Lord will provide: Gen 22:14
Jehovah Rophe - the Lord heals: Ex 15:26
Jehovah Nissi - The Lord my banner: Ex 17:15
Jehovah N’kaddesh - The Lord who makes you holy: Ex 31:13
Jehovah Shalom - The Lord our peace: Judges 6:24
Jehovah Sabaoth - The Lord of hosts: 1 Sam 1:3, Josh 5:14
Jehovah Rohi - The Lord my Shepherd: Psalm 23:1
Jehovah Tsidkenu - The Lord our Righteousness: Heb 23:5-6, 33:14-16
Jehovah Shammah - The Lord who will be there: Ezekiel 48:35
Jehovah Sabbath - The Lord of the Sabbath: Luke 6:5
Lord of the Breakthrough: 2 Sam 5:20
Lord of the heavens: Ex 31:17
Lord of all the earth: Ex 31:17
Lord of Lords: Deut 10:17
Lord of All Phil 2:9-11
Risen Lord: 1 Cor 15:3-4
King of Kings: Revelation 17:14
Prince of Peace Is 9:6
Our Peace: Ephesians 2:14
God of the nations: Genesis 10, Psalm 47:8, Psalm 117: 1
Creator: Genesis 1:1, 1 Cor 1:16-17
Incubator: Genesis 1:2
Author and Perfector: Heb 12:2
Potter: Genesis 2:7, Isaiah 64:9, Romans 9:21
Seed of the women: Genesis 3:15
Alpha and Omega (First and last, beginning and end): Rev 22:13
Ancient of Days: Dan 7:9, 7:13, 7:22
Rock of Ages: Isaiah 26:4
Rock of Revelation
Rock: 1 Cor 10:4
Chief Cornerstone: Ps 118:22
Almighty: Rev 1:8
El Shaddai (Almighty, all sufficient, more than enough): Gen 17:1, Ex 6:3
Righteous One: 1 John 2:1
The Word: John 1
Son of God: Matt 3:17
Son of Man: Luke 19:10
Son of the Most High: Luke 1:32
Son of David: Matt 21:19
Bridegroom: Matt 9:15
Bright morning Star: Rev 22:16
Day star: 2 Peter 1:19
Deliverer: 1 Thessalonians 1:10
Faithful and True: Rev 19:11
Great High Priest: Hebrews 4:14
Head of the Church: Ephesians 1:22
Holy Servant: Acts 4:29-30
Emmanuel/Immanue (God with us)l: Isaiah 7:14
Yahweh (God for us):
Judge: Acts 10:42
Lamb of God (who takes away the sin of the world) : John 1:29
Lion of Judah: Rev 5:5
Mediator: 1 Tim 2:5
Messiah: John 1:41
Mighty One: Isaiah 60:16
Mighty God: Is 9:6
Our Hope: 1 Tim 1:1
The Great Prophet: Mark 6:4
Redeemer: Job 19:25
Savior: Luke 2:11
Wonderful Counselor: Is 9:6
Master Craftsman: Proverbs 8:30
Exceeding Great Reward: Gen 15:1
Our Shield: Gen 15:1
Our song: Ex 15:2, Is 12
Rabboni (Master Teacher): Mark 10:51, John 20:16
God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob: Acts 3:13
He rewards: Rev 2&3; Heb 11:6
He Grants forgiveness: James 2:13
He judges: Matt 5; Rev 20; Psalm 75:7
He is coming back: Matthew 16:27
He will rapture the church: 1 Thess 4:17, 2 Corinthians 12:1-4, Rev 12:5 - In the greek the words “Caught up” is harpazo - in latin this is translated as Rapturo - We mention this as many today question whether the notion of the rapture is actually Biblical
He will marry the church: Revelation 19:6-9, Rev 21, 22
He is building his Church: Matt 16:18
He does all things well: Mark 7:37
He confirms his word with signs following: Mark 16:20
He casts out demons: Matt 8:28-34, Mark 5:1-17
He rebukes, corrects and instructs in righteousness: Luke 4:38-39, Luke 4:40-41, Mark 1:32-34, Matt 8:26, Mark 4:39, Luke 8:24, Mark 16:4
He grants repentance: 2 Timothy 2:25
He’s won the victory over sin and death: 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, Rev 3:21
He’s conquered every principality and all spiritual wickedness in high places: Ephesians 6:12
He provides us armor: Ephesians 6:10-18
Gave His life: John 3:16, Galatians 1:4, John 10:18
Has a fathers heart and wants us to do greater things than him: John 14
Sacrifices: 1 John 4:10
Shed His Blood: Ephesians 1:7
He Rejoices:
He was born of a virgin: Matt 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38
He speaks to us: John 10:10
He listens: Gen 18:16-33, Ex 32:30-33, Psalm 17:6, 2 Cronicles 7:14
He sings over us: Zephaniah 3:17
He disciplines us: Proverbs 3:12, Hebrews 12:6
He intercedes: Hebrews 7:25
Preparing a place for us: John 14
Guides Kings hearts like a watercourse: Proverbs 21:1
Gives spirit of revelation and wisdom: Ephesians 1:17
Endows us all with natural and supernatural faculties, aptitudes and capacities: 1 Corinthians 12-14
He’s eternal, immortal, invisible, invincible: Romans 1:20
He is Relational: Gen 1:26, John 17:3, Matt 7:21-23
Slow to anger: Ex 34:6, Numbers 14:18, Psalm 86:5, Nehemiah 9:31
Blesses: Psalm 67
Curses: Genesis 3:16-24, Deuteronomy 28:15-68
Is Jealous: Exodus 34:14
Provides seed for the sower: 2 Corinthians 9:10
Brings life from death: 1 Samuel 2:6
Faithful: 1 Cor 1:9
Fruitful: John 15, Galatians 5
Heals: James 5:14, Proverbs 4:20-22, Exodus 23:25, Psalm 30:2, Isaiah 53:4-5, Praise 103:2-4
Comforts: 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Empathizes: Hebrews 4:15
Leads: Isaiah42:3, Matt 12:20, 2 Corinthians 2:14
Calls us by name: Isaiah 43:1, Romans 9:28-33
Prefers the whole family to individuals: Psalm 87:2
Prefers us to sit at His feet and learn, rather than to be busy serving: Luke 10:38-42
He conceals and He reveals: Proverbs 25:2
He separates: Matt 13:47, Matt 25:31-46, Matt 10, 34-46
He exposes deception: John 8:12
He punishes the wicked: Proverbs 11:21
He’s merciful: Deuteronomy 4:31, Matt 9:13
He’s full of grace: John 1:16
He is spirit: John 4:24
He feels, thinks, reasons: Isaiah 1:18, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Philippians 2:5, Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 139:1-2
He repents: Exodus 32:7-14
He intercedes: Romans 8:26
He rules, reigns: Psalm 47;8
He sanctifies: Ephesians 5:26
He justifies: Romans 4:5
He glorifies: John 13:32
He overcomes: 1 John 5:4
He resists: James 4:6
He humbles: Matt 23:12, Daniel 4
He adopts: Ephesians 1:5
He Connects: Proverbs 8:2, Acts 9 & 10, John 4:1-42
He whispers and shouts: 1 Kings 19:12, John 11:43-45, John 12:44-50
He instructs: Psalm 32:8
He teaches, preaches: Ex 4:15, Deut 4:36, Psalm 25:12, Psalm 71:17
He rests: Gen 2:2
He starts and finishes: Philippians 1:6
He gives love, life and light: John 1:4
He mourns, weeps, smiles, laughs: Matt 5:4, John 11:35, Numbers 6:25-27, Psalm 2:4
Puts the solitary in the family: Psalm 68:6
Cares for widows and orphans: James 1:27, Psalm 113:9
He persuades: Romans 8
He Teaches
He gives visions and dreams
He gives us fruit
Formed Adam and Eve with his hands out of Dust: Gen 2:7, Gen 2:21-22
Formed us in our mother’s womb: Psalm 139:13, Jeremiah 1:5
Spoke to people: Gen 8:15, Gen 16:13, Gen 17:3, Gen 31:11, Gen 24:7, Gen 35:15, Gen 46:2, Exodus 6:2, Joshua, 23:14
Met face to face: Exodus 33:11
Spoke to Nations through the prophets - Books of the Prophets OT
Made Covenants:
- Adam: Gen 1:26-30, 2:16-17, 3:15;
- Noah: Gen 9:!1;
- Abraham: Gen 12:1-3;
- Moses: Deuteronomy 11;
- David: 2 Samuel 7:8-16;
- Phineas
- ALL: Jeremiah 31:31-34, Matt 26:28, Hebrews 9:15
Used foreign powers to chasten His people and other nations:
Chastened people himself: - Gen 3, Matt 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-18, John 2:15,, Matthew 15, Mark 7, Matthew 23,:1-12, Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-27, Proverbs 3:12, Hebrews 12:4-12
Came as love in person: John 3:16, John 15:13
Gave no defense of Himself: Matthew 27:14, Mark 15:5
Was Crucified: Matthew 27:32-56
Was resurrected: Luke 24
Worked Miracles: John 2:1-11, John 4:43-54, Mark 1:21-27, Matthew 8:14-15, Mark, 1:32-34, Luke 5:1-11, Matthew 8:1-4, Luke 7:1-10, Mark 2:1-12, Matthew 12:9-14, Luke 7:11-17, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:26-39, Matt 9:20-22, Mark 5:21-24, 35-43, Matt 9:27-34, John 5:1-15, Luke, 9:10-17, John 6:16-21, Mark 6:53-56, Matt 15:21-28, Mark 7:31-37, Matt 15:32-39, Mark 8:22-26, John 9:1-12, luke 9:37-42, Matt 17:24-27, Matt 12:22-23, Luke 13:10-17, Luke 14:1-6, Luke 17:11-19, John 11:1-45, Matthew 20:29-34, Mark 11:12-14, Luke 22:50-51, John 21:4
Shared food: Mark 2:13-17, Luke 22:7-8, Matt 26, Mark 14 (also Jesus fed four and five thousand)
Taught: Matthew 4:23, Matthew 9:35, Matthew 26:55,
Engaged in affectionate physical contact: - John 13:23, Luke 18:16, John 13:1-17, Luke 7:36-50
Gave people visions & dreams: Matthew 1:20-2:23, Matthew 27:19, Acts 16:6-10
Exercised the gifts of the Holy Spirit: John 1:48, John 4:29
APPENDIX B: Our New Creation STATE OF BEING
- Kings and Queens - Revelation 1:6, 5:10
- Royal Priests and Priestesses - Revelation 1:6, 5:10, 1 Peter 2:9
- Sons and Daughters Psalm 82:6, 2 Corinthians 6:18
- Citizens - Ephesians 2:19, Philippians 3:20
- The Bride - Revelation 18, 21, 22
- The Church - 1 Corinthians 12:27
- Co-heirs - Romans 8:17
- Co-laborers - 1 Corinthians 3:9
- Fishers of Men - Matthew 4:19
- Disciples Matthew - 28:19-20
- Warriors - 1 John 4:4 and 5:4
- Soldiers - 2 Timothy 2:3, Rev 19:19
- Eternal Stars - Daniel 12:3
- Soul Winners - Proverbs 11:30
- Light of the world - Matthew 5:13-16
- Salt of the earth - Matthew 5:13-16
- Body of Christ - 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
- The Temple - 1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19
- The New Jerusalem - Revelation 21
- City set on a hill - Matthew 5:14
- Joyful house of prayer for the nations Isaiah 56:7, Matthew 21:13, Mark 11:17
- Lively stones 1 Peter 2:5-9
- Household of Faith - Galatians 6:10
- Commonwealth of Israel - Ephesians 2:12
- Branches on the vine John 15:5
- Sheep of his pasture John 10:1-21
- General assembly - Hebrews 12:23
- Those registered in Heaven - Hebrews 12:23
- New Creations - 2 Corinthians 5:17
- Bible Believers
- Born again - John 3:1-21
- Brethren - All throughout NT
- The Adoption - Romans 8:15, Romans 9:4, Galatians 4:5, Ephesians 1:5
- Saints - 1 Corinthians 1:2