2 Corinthians 8:1-15 (New International Version)
How do I excel in this grace of giving?
One possible solution. Give yourself first to the Lord and then to people (poor, widow, ministers of the gospel) in keeping with God's will. (ref. 2 Corinthians 8:5)
Second possible solution. Willingness. 2 Corinthians 8:12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
Giving is one of the great joys and privileges of the Christian life. Clinical psychology has concluded that generosity and kindness are good for your health: For example, lifespan has been found to increase among older adults who volunteer. And since the self-centered pursuit of riches is sinful, it makes sense that generosity brings freedom and the loving the right things.
Contentment Prayers / Confessions
Lord I thank you that I am still before You and wait patiently for You; I do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalms 37:7
Lord I thank you that I am righteous and content with little than the wealth of many wicked; Psalms 37:16
Lord I thank you for showing me mine own bitterness and working it out of me that I might fully understand the joy of my salvation. Proverbs 14:10 - Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.
Lord I thank you for Your Word in Proverbs 14:14 where the faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good man rewarded for his.
Lord I thank you for the little You have provided me with righteousness than more me gaining much with injustice. Proverbs 16:8
Lord I thank you for Proverbs 30:8 - Keep falsehood and lies far from me (keep extreme teachings of Christian prosperity or Christian poverty away from me); give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
Lord I thank you for the satisfaction in my work. (Ecclesiastes 2:24 - A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,)
Lord I thank you for the gift of satisfaction in all my toil (home, work, school, church). Ecclesiastes 33:12 -13 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil--this is the gift of God.
Lord I thank You for my handful with tranquillity than for two handfuls with me toiling and chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:6
Lord I thank you that not all of my efforts are for my mouth and therefore my appetite is satisfied. Lord I thank you that I have advantages over a fool: I know how to conduct myself before others, my appetite is NOT roving, my life is meaningful and I do NOT chase after the wind. Ecclesiastes 6:7-9
Lord I thank you that I don't exhort money, nor do I accuse people falsely and I am content with my pay. Luke 3:14
Lord I thank you that I happily retain the place in life that You have assigned and called me.to him and to which God has called him. I thank you that I am not trouble by the place you have called me. If I gain my freedom from this situation, I praise you. If I do Not gain my freedom from an oppressive situation, I still praise you. 1 Corinthians 7:17,20-21,24
Lord I thank you for working 1 Timothy 6:6-8 godliness with contentment is great gain in my spirit. I realize I have brought nothing into the world, and I can take nothing out of it. I thank you for food and clothing, I AM content with that.
Lord I thank you that I am righteous and content with little than the wealth of many wicked; Psalms 37:16
Lord I thank you for showing me mine own bitterness and working it out of me that I might fully understand the joy of my salvation. Proverbs 14:10 - Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.
Lord I thank you for Your Word in Proverbs 14:14 where the faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good man rewarded for his.
Lord I thank you for the little You have provided me with righteousness than more me gaining much with injustice. Proverbs 16:8
Lord I thank you for Proverbs 30:8 - Keep falsehood and lies far from me (keep extreme teachings of Christian prosperity or Christian poverty away from me); give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
Lord I thank you for the satisfaction in my work. (Ecclesiastes 2:24 - A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,)
Lord I thank you for the gift of satisfaction in all my toil (home, work, school, church). Ecclesiastes 33:12 -13 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil--this is the gift of God.
Lord I thank You for my handful with tranquillity than for two handfuls with me toiling and chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:6
Lord I thank you that not all of my efforts are for my mouth and therefore my appetite is satisfied. Lord I thank you that I have advantages over a fool: I know how to conduct myself before others, my appetite is NOT roving, my life is meaningful and I do NOT chase after the wind. Ecclesiastes 6:7-9
Lord I thank you that I don't exhort money, nor do I accuse people falsely and I am content with my pay. Luke 3:14
Lord I thank you that I happily retain the place in life that You have assigned and called me.to him and to which God has called him. I thank you that I am not trouble by the place you have called me. If I gain my freedom from this situation, I praise you. If I do Not gain my freedom from an oppressive situation, I still praise you. 1 Corinthians 7:17,20-21,24
Lord I thank you for working 1 Timothy 6:6-8 godliness with contentment is great gain in my spirit. I realize I have brought nothing into the world, and I can take nothing out of it. I thank you for food and clothing, I AM content with that.
Paradoxes of Christian faith
“The way to power lies through the realization of helplessness; the way to victory lies through the admission of defeat; the way to goodness lies through the confession and the acknowledgment of sin . . . the way to independence lies through dependence, the way to freedom lies through surrender . . ." Theologian William Barclay
“Finding a Listening Ear” (“Inspired to Pray”)
Sunday School Lesson Summary for January 20, 2008
Luke 11:5–13;
v. 5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
midnight represents time of inconvenience, we can always go to a real friend specifically God at an inconvenient time - Antonio Hillman
lend me three loaves would required his friend to get out of bed, and bake the loaves - very inconvenient - Stanley Udochukwu
v. 6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him
notice how many times the word friend is used in this passage. Friends have relationship, confidence in each other because they know each other. Please note John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
v. 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
boldness or persistence gets us ready to receive from the Lord. Persistence is NOT begging because of the relationship. A real friend will always provide for a friend in Need. - JoAnn Jones
v. 9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
v.10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
seeking requires us to bring God in rememberance of His Word - Antonio Hillman
Sometimes we pray amiss because we do not pray according to the word - Stanley Udochukwu (reference scripture James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.)
praying according to God's word helps us pray His will and not our flesh (our own lust). (reference scripture Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.)
v. 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
we must recognize our good gifts from God. we might ask for money, He will give us knowledge of how our handle our finances.
Luke 11:5–13;
v. 5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
midnight represents time of inconvenience, we can always go to a real friend specifically God at an inconvenient time - Antonio Hillman
lend me three loaves would required his friend to get out of bed, and bake the loaves - very inconvenient - Stanley Udochukwu
v. 6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him
notice how many times the word friend is used in this passage. Friends have relationship, confidence in each other because they know each other. Please note John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
v. 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
boldness or persistence gets us ready to receive from the Lord. Persistence is NOT begging because of the relationship. A real friend will always provide for a friend in Need. - JoAnn Jones
v. 9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
v.10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
seeking requires us to bring God in rememberance of His Word - Antonio Hillman
Sometimes we pray amiss because we do not pray according to the word - Stanley Udochukwu (reference scripture James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.)
praying according to God's word helps us pray His will and not our flesh (our own lust). (reference scripture Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.)
v. 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
we must recognize our good gifts from God. we might ask for money, He will give us knowledge of how our handle our finances.
With Moses I speak face to face
Numbers 12:1-15
Many saints ask why they do NOT hear from the Lord. I believe the above passage of scripture unlocks a spiritual truth about hearing from God. v 3 says (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) This verse on Moses' humility seems to interrupt Aaron's and Miriam's conversation on the Lord speaking through them. Humility is a key to hearing from God (Please note another scripture that bears witness: God resisted the proud, but giveth more grace to the humble!)
Also note verse 7 "But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. "
Faithfulness may be a secondary truth in hearing from God.
Prayer: "Please, my lord, do not hold against us the sin of arrogance we have so foolishly committed." if any unfaithfulness has crossed our path, please forgive us. Please speak clearly and precisely to us face to face. In Jesus Name. Amen
Many saints ask why they do NOT hear from the Lord. I believe the above passage of scripture unlocks a spiritual truth about hearing from God. v 3 says (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) This verse on Moses' humility seems to interrupt Aaron's and Miriam's conversation on the Lord speaking through them. Humility is a key to hearing from God (Please note another scripture that bears witness: God resisted the proud, but giveth more grace to the humble!)
Also note verse 7 "But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. "
Faithfulness may be a secondary truth in hearing from God.
Prayer: "Please, my lord, do not hold against us the sin of arrogance we have so foolishly committed." if any unfaithfulness has crossed our path, please forgive us. Please speak clearly and precisely to us face to face. In Jesus Name. Amen
Prayer for finances at home and church
Lord I pray (according to 2 Chronicles 8:15) that no one at home or church neglects King Jesus' orders to the priests or the Levites in any matter, including the [temple's] finances.
Lord I pray that the hand of God is on my family and church to give them unity of mind to carry out what the Jesus you have ordered according to the word of the Lord
(2 Chronicles 30:12).
I pray against the spirit of Judas (in my church and family members) who would betray You for thirty silver coins. Matthew 27:3,5.
Lord I pray that each family/church member pay the Lord a ransom for his or her life. And no plague (particularly financial) will come on them when you number them. Lord I pray everyone give an offering to the Lord. I pray that our chuch will receive the money from the spiritual Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting (Exodus 30:12-16).
I pray according to 1 Timothy 6:10. I bind the love of money in my family members and church. I bind the eagerness for money, that will make family or church members wander from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Lord I pray that the hand of God is on my family and church to give them unity of mind to carry out what the Jesus you have ordered according to the word of the Lord
(2 Chronicles 30:12).
I pray against the spirit of Judas (in my church and family members) who would betray You for thirty silver coins. Matthew 27:3,5.
Lord I pray that each family/church member pay the Lord a ransom for his or her life. And no plague (particularly financial) will come on them when you number them. Lord I pray everyone give an offering to the Lord. I pray that our chuch will receive the money from the spiritual Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting (Exodus 30:12-16).
I pray according to 1 Timothy 6:10. I bind the love of money in my family members and church. I bind the eagerness for money, that will make family or church members wander from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Humility as “downward mobility”
Luke 14:7-11 (New International Version)
7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Humility as “downward mobility” is clearly seen in Jesus' picture of taking the lowest seat at the table. If a person took a low seat, he might be raised to a higher one, but if he took a high seat to begin with, someone who outranked him might come in and he would then be forced to take a lower seat.
In the first scenario, there was nowhere to go but up, but in the second, no room for gain existed, only shame.
7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Humility as “downward mobility” is clearly seen in Jesus' picture of taking the lowest seat at the table. If a person took a low seat, he might be raised to a higher one, but if he took a high seat to begin with, someone who outranked him might come in and he would then be forced to take a lower seat.
In the first scenario, there was nowhere to go but up, but in the second, no room for gain existed, only shame.
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Luke 18:9-14 (New International Version)
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
In Jesus story above, the Pharisee's prayer was a self-serving proclamation of his own virtue and good works, an attempt to show off to God (vv. 11-12). That's why God heard the prayer of the humble and repentant man, but not that of the proud and self-righteous one.
Prayer: Lord never let me approach (help me to be conscious of how I approach) Your throne never self-serving of my own virtue or good works. Never let me approach Your throne to show off to God or anyone else. Justify your servant as I know You do by Your mercies as my attitude is contrite and repentant. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Luke 18:9-14 (New International Version)
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
In Jesus story above, the Pharisee's prayer was a self-serving proclamation of his own virtue and good works, an attempt to show off to God (vv. 11-12). That's why God heard the prayer of the humble and repentant man, but not that of the proud and self-righteous one.
Prayer: Lord never let me approach (help me to be conscious of how I approach) Your throne never self-serving of my own virtue or good works. Never let me approach Your throne to show off to God or anyone else. Justify your servant as I know You do by Your mercies as my attitude is contrite and repentant. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Humble thyself under the might hand of God
TODAY IN THE WORD
Read: Isaiah 6:1-7
Stunned by God's awesome presence, Job humbly responded: “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know . . . My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.” (see Job 38-42).
Humility properly begins as a “vertical” virtue; that is, it depends on an accurate sense of who one is before God. There's no quicker cure for pride than to compare the mortal to the immortal, the finite to the infinite, the selfish to the loving, and the sinful to the holy.
Lord: help me to have a proper sense, view of humility (of your presense), particularly when upset and need to respond to my wife.
Read: Isaiah 6:1-7
Stunned by God's awesome presence, Job humbly responded: “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know . . . My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.” (see Job 38-42).
Humility properly begins as a “vertical” virtue; that is, it depends on an accurate sense of who one is before God. There's no quicker cure for pride than to compare the mortal to the immortal, the finite to the infinite, the selfish to the loving, and the sinful to the holy.
Lord: help me to have a proper sense, view of humility (of your presense), particularly when upset and need to respond to my wife.
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