Hello there!
I'm sorry to those who wanted to be the first to blog on sunday, but I guess while you guys were out @ Speedlight, I'll blog something first.
Beijing has been relly cooling (Praise The Lord!) and apparently, cold. However, it has been a very fun week, I did not realise that yesterday was saturday!
Ok, let's get down to business. We (me, my schoolmates, my teacher and some girls from Nanyang Girl's High) went to Beijing International Christian Fellowship in 21st Century Hotel for the Sunday service. It was from 9.30 to about (if i remember correctly, 11++).
The speaker was Greg Smith, and he had spoken at the church before. Today, He brought about God's Word about tithing and trust.
OK, maybe all of us have no qualms about tithing, but no harm listening rite?
(The sermon is titled "The Trust Test")
Trusting God means simply looking beyond what we see to what God sees.
Also, God does not expect us to understand His will, but just to obey it completely.
When it comes to tithing, there are three main reasons why people do not tithe.
1) "I don't know how to give"
2) "I don't want to give"
3) "If I give God 10%, I cannot survive on 90%"
Actually, given that everything is God's (Can't remember which verse sorry!), God only wants 10% of it, wants us to keep 10% (to save) and manage the rest of the 80%
quite a good deal, eh? we keep 90%, God only requires 10%!
From what I happen to observe, this is actually a test, to see if money holds the centerplace in our lives. That's why God onlyasked for 10%, to test the heart...
TRUST stands for:
T- TAKE inventory (Psalms 139: 23-24)
We need to keep accounts with God of our doings, and to see if we have any sins. When we do so, God knows everything, and He will take responsibility to provide for our needs.
R- RECOGNIZE God as our SOURCE (Not sure where)
Everything is God's, and He is the source of all things. Nothing we have is ours, so how can we steal from God?
U- UNDERSTAND God's Principles
God has a few principles for stewardship, but the Brother speaking had only time for three:
a) Principle of Ownership: Everything is God's. We only manage God's resources.
b) Principle of the Harvest: (or "God's Economics") As we sow bountifully / sparingly, we will reap (proportional to) the amount we sowed. Even so, we will reap much later than when we first sow. (So, don't expect INSTANT results!)
c) Principle of Opportunity: Give ourselves and others the opportunity to invest in God's kingdom. No doubt God does not need us, but He invites us to be shareholders in His kingdom.
S- SURRENDER to God
Remember: God does not expect us to understand why. He only needs us to obey.
This part is especially for leaders. When we explain to our members whycertain things must be done, they might not understand at all right? That's why we tell them simply to obey us, correct? The same goes for us and God. Even if God explained it to us, we might not be able to comprehend it completely. That's why He only requires our complete obedience, and not our complete understanding.
That just reminds me... the song "You know better than I" that Bro. Bobby Micheals sang...
Verse 2:
If this has been a test, I do not see the reason.
But maybe knowing I don't know is part of getting through.
I try to do what's best, and faith has made it easy
To see the best thing I can do, is [to]put my trust in You.
Chorus:
For You know better than I, You know the way.
I've let go the need to know why, for You know better than I...
If I put the whole song here, it's gonna make you look like X_X , so I think I'll just leave these parts of the song for your thinking and meditation. I'll put it up on my blog another time, okay?
alright, back to where I was...
T- TEST God's promises:
In Malachi 3: 10-12, it says...
"Bring ye all the tithes into the [Lord's House], that there may be [sacrifices to offer] in my house, and prove me now herewith, (saith the Lord of hosts,) if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before her time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
And all the nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a [delightful] land, siath the Lord of hosts."
First, we bring God what He is due. Then, we test Him if He will not provide all our needs, even to the overflow! (Do remember to have the right attitude about tithing!) After that, even all the people around us will call us blessed.
To those who need help, here's three steps to consider:
1) Establish your Priorities, and give the rest to God.
2) Determine your Purpose, and give with the right mindset.
3) Start with a Percentage, and slowly increase. (This is in consideration you cannot go the full 10% immediately. If you can, however, by all means please do so.)
Alright... thatwas a pretty long post. Sorry to have taken up your time, and I hope this helps.
BTW, please pray for me. The skin on my back is so dry that it cracked! Please help me to pray for its recovery.
Thanks a lot, and God sustain you in the week ahead!
In His love.
Gideon
Labels: Sermon
