The Gift of Salvation

If we are to become proper givers, we must pattern our giving after the ultimate giver, God. Our Heavenly Father freely gave us the greatest of all gifts, salvation.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:8,9

God gives us salvation, through faith, as a free gift. No one can earn salvation through good works; it is a miraculous gift from God.

When God gave His Son to this earth, Jesus was a free gift. God sent Him to provide us with salvation and eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 3:16,17

The only thing anyone can do to receive God's free gift of salvation is to simply tell the Lord, "I accept Jesus into my heart as the Lord and Savior of my life."

Do you see the gift of salvation is totally free? Always remember this truth. There is absolutely nothing anyone can do in his own power to earn eternal life. It is a gift from God.

The Gift of Faith

We know God freely saves us.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Ephesians 2:8

Salvation comes as a gift through faith. However, even the faith to receive salvation is a free gift.

... God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Romans 12:3

Faith is a critical part of our walk with God.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Hebrews 11:6

Do you know where you get faith?

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

God freely gave us eternal salvation. Then, so that we can please Him and defeat the enemy, He freely gave us faith.

Faith is vital if we are to break out of the bonds of insufficiency in which so many Christians languish today. God-given faith is a key to financial freedom. It is a major ingredient in attaining the inheritance God has provided for us. The writer of Hebrews exhorts us,

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 6:12

The promises of God for abundant supply are greatly dependent upon faith. Guard your faith. Feed your faith (Romans 10:17). Thank God for it, and give it plenty of exercise. As you give into the gospel, believe in faith that you will receive more and more, so you can give away more and more fruit from your harvest.

For God, who gives seed to the farmer to plant, and later on, good crops to harvest and eat, will give you more and more seed to plant and will make it grow so that you can give away more and more fruit from your harvest.

Yes, God will give you much so that you can give away much....

2 Corinthians 9:10,11 TLB

The Gift of the Holy Spirit

God has promised that when the Holy

Spirit enters your life, several marvelous things will happen.

1.    God will bestow upon you the fruit of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22,23

2.    You will receive power to be a witness.

. . . ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:8

3.    Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the wonderful prayer language He gives you, you will be able to build up the faith God has given you.

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.

Jude 20

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17), so you must study God's Word. Then use your prayer language to build up your faith.

4. The Holy Spirit will help you pray in accordance with God's will.

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Romans 8:26

Now here's the true miracle of the Holy Spirit: God freely gives us His Holy Spirit. We just have to ask.

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Luke 11:13

Are you beginning to grasp what a grand giver God is? He freely gives us all the things we need to live well in this life, and also in eternity.

If you are a child of God, you should show His personality to the world. God is the greatest of all givers, and you can be like Him, a great giver.

The Father Gives Freely and Joyfully

Our great Heavenly Father is continually giving to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

2 Peter 1:3

Many things pertain unto life. Just think of all the things life encompasses. Gasoline for our cars is something pertaining to life. Even though the price of gasoline may go up, God knows we need fuel, and the Bible guarantees God will supply all things that pertain unto life.

Life also includes groceries, clothes, housing, jobs. No matter how high the prices may go, our God promises to supply everything we need.

By now, this simple truth must be sinking into your spirit. God wants to bless us so wonderfully, so completely, so powerfully, because He wants us to become great givers like He is. God wants us to receive abundantly so that we can give abundantly.

God wants to position us for the greater blessing, for He said it is more blessed to give than to receive. As you learn to give in your everyday life, you are unleashing the process that will make you more like God. He is the greatest giver, and He wants you to become like Him.

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

1 John 4:17

God sees us as He is. Can you lay hold of that thought and grasp its eternal significance? God sees us as He is in this world. Isn't it wonderful to know that through your giving, your prosperity will grow so that you will be able to bless all men you meet? You are on the threshold of moving beyond receiving the blessing into actually becoming a blessing.

Jesus Is a Great Giver

When God's Son, Jesus, took on the whole nature and personality of His Heavenly Father, He became a great giver. Hear what the Word says about Jesus.

Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Ephesians 4:8

Aren't you glad these precious words are recorded in the Word of God? They reveal so clearly why Jesus came personally to this earth. Hear Him as He speaks to those who heard His words many years ago.

... I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it [new life] more abundantly.

John 10:10

He said, ”... I am come that they might have Jesus did not come to earth to make us give up good things and lead a life of sorrow, poverty and depression. If you read the words of the Bible, you will find that His true intention was not to remove us from the world and its goods, but actually to have us take over this world and its goods.

If we are going to function as Jesus did, we must be concerned about more than just our own abundance. We must also be concerned about our brothers and sisters around the world. We must care whether or not they have everything they need. It is not our choice; it is a command.

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Matthew 5:42

We must give to everyone who asks of us in the same way that Jesus did. He knew His Heavenly Father would supply everything He needed. He came to give; He literally tapped into the unlimited supply. We are to walk in His footsteps, doing the same things He did.

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Matthew 10:8

In giving freely, we open the storehouses of God and unleash an unending supply.

I believe you are beginning to understand that your decision to imitate Jesus in the grace of giving is one of the best you will ever make.

Even if you have never given a large amount of money to the work of the Lord, you can begin to change your lifestyle from that of a consumer to that of a provider. You can literally begin to come forth in ”... the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).

Say these words out loud. "My Lord Jesus came that men might have life more abundantly, and as His servant, I am now here that men might have life more abundantly."

The Holy Spirit Is a Great Giver

We have seen that the Father and Jesus are great givers. It must follow that the Holy Spirit is also a great giver. The Word of God clearly shows that He is.

Every informed Christian knows when you submit yourself to the Holy Spirit, He immediately becomes an abundant source of priceless treasures. With the Holy Spirit inside, the fruit of the Spirit becomes available to you.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, Iongsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance....

Galatians 5:22,23

The gifts of the Spirit are also available to you: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, the ability to distinguish between spirits, different kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues. All of these gifts

are documented in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.

And there's still more. The very power to witness is a free gift of the Holy Spirit.

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Acts 4:31

Are you beginning to see how much God has in store for us in His everlasting, abundant, inexhaustible storehouse? He has so much for us, there is literally no place on earth which can contain all of the physical and spiritual blessings of God.

... Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit....

1 Corinthians 2:9,10

Remember, the Holy Spirit is a great giver.

God Cares How Much You Give

If God didn't care how much or how often you give, he would not have included so many instructions in Scripture concerning the methods, the time, and the proper attitudes for giving. He repeatedly gives instructions about giving, including the specific day for giving.

Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him....

1 Corinthians 16:2

God does care when you give, and He cares how much you give.

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

2 Corinthians 9:6

When Jesus walked on the earth, He watched the people giving their offerings in the temple.

And Jesus sat over against [opposite] the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury....

Mark 12:41

Jesus sat and watched the people put their money into the offering. He was deeply moved by the attitude and the intentions of the giver. Jesus said the poor widow who sacrificed her two mites was the most generous giver of all, because her gift was large in proportion to her available money supply. Jesus was moved by her giving.

If we only tip God, we probably hope He doesn't notice, but when we get serious and give a substantial portion of our income to the Lord, it is comforting to know that He sees proper giving.

Never forget, you are literally positioning your heart before God when you participate in an offering to Him. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Luke 12:34).

Are you beginning to understand that God does care about your finances? He knows the measure from which you give, when you give, and the attitude you have as you give. That is not just my opinion. The Word of God says it. So plant this firmly in your spirit. Giving is important to God. He cares how much you give.

Godly Giving

Most Christians believe they should not expect anything in return for what they give. Inside they say something like, "Lord, I don't want anything in return. I don't expect anything back. I'm just giving because I love you."

When you give and expect nothing back, you are not giving the biblical way. The following statement is probably one of the most shocking and hard-to-believe biblical principles for the Body of Christ to accept: The godly way is to give expecting to receive!

Notice I said this is the godly way. When God gives, He always has definite expectations. For instance, when He gave life to mankind, God expected to receive from them worship, reverence, love, service, obedience, and companionship.

When He gave His Son, Jesus, to die for us, God expected to receive sons and daughters in return.

The Word of God is clear. Giving is tied to receiving.

Give, and it shall be given unto you....

Luke 6:38

Moreover, giving is tied to receiving a return of what you give.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Galatians 6:7

This is not my promise or my idea. Again and again God tells us to give, expecting to receive so that we can give even more the next time. It is godly to give and expect something in return.

Expecting a return does not mean you are selfish. God's ways are higher than ours. If He did not multiply back to us what we give to Him, where would we get the money to take the gospel to the world? God knows what He's doing.

Stop saying you don't expect anything back from God when you give. That simply is not a biblical statement. Give expecting to receive. Then you can be a good steward by giving even more to God's Kingdom the next time. I have found no limit in God's Word to the abundance you can have for the gospel, and for your family, if you persist in obeying God with your finances.

Giving Is Your God-Given Right

Consider this important verse of Scripture.

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.

Luke 6:38

The above promise is not restricted to any particular group of saints. Every saint has the right to claim it if he or she puts into action God's principle of giving.

What a joy and a God-given right it is for you to be a giver!

Suppose your local bank promised you that every time you wrote a check, it would credit your account with more than enough funds to cover the draft. Surely you would consider yourself a very fortunate person. At first, you would probably be a bit cautious, and write checks for moderate amounts. But, as the bank proved itself faithful and honored your checks again and again, putting more and more money into your account, you would soon realize that this wonderful new relationship was opening up a whole new life to you and your loved ones. Not only would it be a blessing to you, but any neighbor or friend who found out about your bank would want to have the same sort of account. It would be wrong for your bank to offer this program to you alone.

Of course, we know that banks don't operate that way, but God clearly declares He does! He promises to give us back more than we give, and He guarantees this return to all His depositors (all those who give to His work). When I say all, I mean all! God declares in His Word that He is no respecter of persons. More than once He promises that we will receive in return more than we give, every single time!

Are you grasping that truth?

Since the resources of the entire universe are at His creative disposal, our Heavenly Father will never run out of funds. He will always be able to meet His promise of giving back to us more than we give to Him.

Do you see what this information is doing to your thinking about giving to God? Giving to Him is not an obligation. It is an opportunity to put God's biblical principles into action! It is a chance to begin operating your heavenly checking account according to a principle that contradicts the world: the more you give away to God's work, the more He will return to you so that you can give to His work again!

Yes, God will give you much so that you can give away much....

2 Corinthians 9:11 TLB

If the entire Body of Christ began to operate in accordance with this biblical principle, we would witness the abundance Moses experienced in the Book of Exodus. His people were so willing to give to build the sanctuary that Moses finally had to stop the giving.

... Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.

For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.

Exodus 36:6,7

Begin to grasp your God-given right of giving. Act upon God's promise to return to you more than you give. If you will do so, there will come a day when the abundance of God will literally overtake you. You will have enough money to fulfill every desire to give to God, with plenty left over to meet your every need.

There’s More Than Enough

God is building a Church to be His special dwelling place in these last days. God wants to reach the world, but if we are constantly trying to figure out how much we want to give, we will probably talk ourselves out of 90 percent of what God wants us to give.

Hold this truth in your spirit. Our King of kings and Lord of lords is not low on funds. He isn't going bankrupt. He is trying to keep us from getting low on funds or going bankrupt. He has devised a wonderful plan for replenishing our treasury, and He instructs us in the supernatural realm of creating what we need. Miraculous power awaits you if you dare to apply His method of obtaining. You know how God obtains; He does it by giving.

For God so loved the world, that he gave....

John 3:16

There is more than enough for your life. Do you honestly believe you could give more to God than He could give back to you? Can you really imagine God watching you give, and saying, "Oops, that did it! You just gave me more than my current supply of blessings. There's no possible way I can ever give that much back to you"? Do you really think you could ever break the bank of heaven?

It will never happen! There is more than enough for you!

God is able to make it up to you by giving you everything you need and more, so that there will not only be enough for your own needs, but plenty left over to give joyfully to others.

2 Corinthians 9:8 TLB

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