The Power Of Cheerful Giving Series

GRACIOUSNESS BEGETS GRACIOUSNESS- GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER

A]

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that HE IS REAL and that HE REWARDS THE FAITH of those who GIVE ALL THEIR PASSION AND STRENGTH INTO SEEKING HIM.

Think about David. He wasn't the biggest, strongest, most qualified.

How did he make it to the palace? How did he surpass others that had more natural ability?

The scripture says, "David was a man after God's own heart". David was constantly seeking God.

He was always writing songs of praise, telling God how much he loved him, how much he needed him, how great God was.

When you diligently seek God, you will go places that your natural ability could not have taken you.

B]

1 Samuel 13:14 But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

Friends, God sees every sacrifice you make. He sees when you get up in the morning to seek him. He sees when you take time to pray before you make the decisions.

C]

Acts 13:22 But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’

He sees you getting your children dressed, driving down the freeway to come to church. Your effort has not gone unnoticed.

Let me assure you, a reward is coming. You cannot give God something without him giving you more back in return.

You've given God your time by coming today, by watching. God is going to help you to get more done this week.

Many of you gave in the offering. You spent gas money.

God's going to cause what you have left over to go further than if you would've kept it all for yourself. When you seek him, he rewards you.

D]

Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you".

Notice the key: in other words, don't seek the blessing. Seek the ONE WHO BLESSES. Don't be consumed by things.

BELIEVE THAT HE EXISTS

Don't chase after money, fame, fortune, bigger this, bigger that. Chase after God.

If you will seek the ONE WHO BLESSES, then all these blessings FLOW FROM THAT RELATIONSHIP... this is where many people miss it.

When we seek things, life is very shallow.

Our motive must remain rooted in simple thankfulness for His grace.

But we can know that when the books of earth are closed someday in eternity, no one will ever say that they give more to God than He gave to them.

E]

2 Kings 4:8 Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where THERE WAS A NOTABLE WOMAN, AND SHE PERSUADED HIM TO EAT SOME FOOD. So it was, as often as he passed by, HE WOULD TURN IN THERE TO EAT SOME FOOD.

9 And she said to her husband, “Look now, I KNOW THAT THIS IS A HOLY MAN OF GOD, who passes by us regularly.

10 Please, let us MAKE A SMALL UPPER ROOM ON THE WALL; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever HE COMES TO US, HE CAN TURN IN THERE.”

This story is about wealthy woman who asked Elisha the traveling prophet to eat at her house.

He did so and her house soon became a regular stop whenever Elisha came through the area.

Helping Elisha must have somehow been rewarding to the woman, because she began to think of ways that she might be able to bless him even more.

She told her husband that SHE WANTED TO BUILD A SMALL ADDITION ONTO THE HOME TO GIVE ELISHA HIS OWN FURNISHED ROOM WHEN HE CAME.

Then he would be able to come and relax there.

What a blessing! And that’s exactly what they did.

This woman was generously spending her family’s money to provide extravagant hospitality for this man who served God.

Now this woman didn’t do this to “get” anything.

She didn’t make a deal with God that if she built this room for Elisha, she expected certain things back from God.

She seemingly just gave as God led her.

But what happened?

2 Kings 4:11-13

F]

11 And it happened ONE DAY THAT HE CAME THERE, and HE TURNED IN TO THE UPPER ROOM AND LAY DOWN THERE.

12 Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “CALL THIS SHUNAMMITE WOMAN.” When he had called her, she stood before him.