Giving Generously Series

How do we transform our lives in the area of prayer and spiritual awakening? Well, the answer is found from a thorough study of revival in the Bible. When you do this study, you will find a connection between spiritual awaking of God’s people and giving.

I want to point to examples in the Bible that show a connection between giving and revival. The first example is found relating to the tabernacle in the wilderness. The tabernacle was the portable house of worship built after the Exodus in the wilderness.

The Tabernacle

They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. 4 So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing 5 and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done.” 6 Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, 7 because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work. (Exodus 36:3-7)

Here is an example where God’s people were giving so abundantly to build the tabernacle that there was already more than enough, and they still kept giving. Moses had to order the people to stop giving.

But look what happened. The Lord filled the tabernacle with his glory. A glory cloud covered the tabernacle.

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. (Exodus 40:34-35)

The tabernacle becomes exhibit A. The people gave generously, and God pours out his glory on the place.

Solomon’s Temple

Just forget about the price tag of Solomon’s temple. This temple was more magnificent than the Taj Mahal and much more costly. David wanted to build the temple, but God had better plans. Instead of David building God’s house, God would build David’s house. The house of David would live in eternity through lineage of Jesus Christ. It would be Solomon who would build the temple. David and the people gave generously.

Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly. (1 Chronicles 29:6)

The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly. (1 Chronicles 29:9)

But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. (1 Chronicles 29:14)

I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. (1 Chronicles 29:17)

Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the LORD your God.” So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the LORD and the king. (1 Chronicles 29:20)

And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple. (1 Kings 8:11)

The priests could not perform their service because the glory of the Lord filled his temple.

The Second Temple

When they arrived at the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of the families gave freewill offerings toward the rebuilding of the house of God on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver and 100 priestly garments. (Ezra 2:68-69)

They gave a freewill offering. There were setbacks and there were obstacles.

For seven days they celebrated with joy the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because the LORD had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel. (Ezra 6:22)

They celebrated the Passover with joy like never before. This is an exciting concept, generous giving being the key to spiritual awakening for an individual, a church or a people.

Tithing in Malachi

Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. (Malachi 3:7)