30th November 2021

GIVING Giving in the house of God and to anyone in need of help should not be regarded as a taboo, considered strange and or seen as something out of place by our human nature. If we worship in a Bible believing church; it is necessary to know the enriching principles set by God to guide us in the way live and conduct ourselves at home (privately) and in the church (spiritually) in relation to giving. David gave a clear insight in Psalm 41:1-3 and declares: “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.” The above verses can be linked to what Cornelius did in his daily living in Acts 10:1-3 to make an angel of God appeared to him. The Bible recorded that “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with his entire household, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.” In any house of God therefore, it is not out of place for God to expect us to give from our first fruits with joyful experience and tailor our gifts (giving) in His Presence after the abundance of His grace upon us and Proverbs 3:9-10 endears our thoughts towards this concept with the following sentence: “Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” Giving therefore plays an important role in the life of any child of God and should not be scornfully looked at. For Apostle Paul says: “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” 2 Corinthians 9:7-8 Without mincing words, It is God’s ordained directive that His children must give and not only to the less privileged but also to His Household so that He too can adequately bless them in return. Under this mandate, l must be able to direct you all to do something that will make our worship more meaningful in His Presence. You must be able to trust in these principles for you to be able to unlock your heavenly riches. “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Psalm 34:8 I therefore pray to God to teach us His ways so we can always trust Him and be obedient to His principles “for the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.” Amen (Psalm 84:11-12) Http://testimony-times.blogspot.co.uk Just Checking into His Presence...