Wednesday – 4/9/2014

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Speakers:

• Robin Atherton
• Ann Eutsler
• Karen Hocker
• Megan Atherton

Scriptures used:

• Malachi 3:8-12
• Deuteronomy 28
• Exodus 36:3
• Exodus 36:5-6
• Acts 3:1-9
• Acts 9:36-42
• Ruth 2
• 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
• Ephesians 4:16

Subject:

• Offerings and Alms.
• Tithes are for the support of God ‘s ministers.
• Offerings are what support the Church, not a percent. They are as needful and we need to be mindful of them.
• Tithing is the most underlying thing we need to set our minds to walk in, we know who God is and have accepted His reconciliation. Now walk in His hope. If you do not tithe it is robbery from God, as well as when you do not give offerings. In doing Tithes, offerings and alms we are partaking of God and that needs to be where our heart is when we give.
• All of us are in a position to give these things. Not necessarily monetarily. If we seek to support the Lord’s work we will see where we are able to do these things. He will show us.
• The curse that God is talking about in Malachi, go back and read Deuteronomy 28. It says if we don’t do these things there will be a curse upon us.
• There is a saying, “You can’t outgive God.” When you give to the Lord, He will bless you.
• Our reason for tithing should be to bless the Lord and being thankful for the blessings He has given us. It should not be a burden to do the will of God. We have all seen it that way at times. We need to repent of that because that is a thing done not in faith. When we do a thing it should be in hope.
• Faith in God is walking in the knowledge that what God says is true, every word written and spoken!
• We don’t do it begrudgingly but with joy and gladness.
• The Lord has given us everything we need to work and earn an income.
• If we will trust God, He will show up and take care of us. We know that the Lord will provide everything we need to serve Him. Including us, we are part of that need.
• Peter says silver and gold have I none, but that didn’t stop him in serving the Lord. He gave what he had which was much more valuable than silver and gold, Jesus.
• We are like the man that was lame and had been made whole, we are no longer on the wayside wounded or crippled we are made whole and it is our job to go forth in doing the Lord’s will in supporting God’s ministers and His church in joy and gratefulness to Him for making us whole.
• How mindful are we to those ministers of the Lord’s needs or the churches’?
• It is the responsibility for the church to support the ministering.
• We need to be mindful everyday as those who minister unto us are mindful daily of our needs spiritually.
• Everyone of us are the beneficiaries of the $20.00 that was given to Davy to go to Maryland to minister the gospel.
• Our lives should be about bringing forth the gospel to those who don’t know it.
• The tools used for ministry take time, money and effort and by partaking in supporting these things we are sowing good seed. God will show you what part we may take in that, be open to hear and do it.
• Alms, are done in secret.
• Dorcas did works as unto God. The coats and such she made was an alms deeds for those in need. This was a woman who had a testimony of faith and love. When she was raised from the dead many people believed in the Lord and by that testimony many people received salvation.
• Cornelius’ Alms were a memorial to the Lord for him, so the Lord sent Peter to him and the Lord testified of Cornelius’ alms.
• In the book of Ruth is a good example of alms. Boaz commanded the reapers to on purpose leave behind  more for Ruth. That was an alms offering unto Ruth as unto the Lord. He did that because he knew her faith to the Lord. By doing so Naomi’s hope was revived. There was a fruit in those alms.
• Sow to the spirit, relating to everything; thoughts, deeds, acts, everything. The things worth having are the things of the Lord. Store up treasures in heaven where moth and rust doth not corrupt.
• If you serve the Lord, He will give you everything you need. We all have testimonies of the Lord’s provision. Look for them and believe Him with a good hope. Recognize that good hope comes when you sow unto Him.
• We know the children of Israel went into captivity, Ezra and Nehemiah are books worth reading. A great example of a people with a great desire to rebuild and to perform God’s will.
• We are the body and our supply comes from one another, everyone of us has a part in its support. So that we make increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
• We hope this gives a stronger sense of tithe, offering and alms and their importance and the Lord will move each of us according to His will.