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The
Benefits
Of
Mega Giving

Outline
- MEGA POWER
    - 1)Mega power to witness
    - 2)Mega power to share
        - Beware a false sense of contentment
    - 3)Mega power to fulfill our new missions
        - Launch into the deep
        - We are called to be blessed that we may be a blessing to others
        - Three things will come about in the last days
- MEGA GRACE
    - 1)The mega crace of abundance
        - God wants us to be prosperous
        - God wants us to have the best, live the best, and give the best
        - The tithes and offerings are means of blessings for us
        - We need to live in the spirit of abundance
        - What are some manifestations of the spirit of poverty?
        - Our sacrificial giving will not diminish our capacity to enjoy God's blessings
    - 2)The mega grace of enabling.


Acts 4:34,35
There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he has need.
Great giving produces: Great power, great grace, and great fear.
(It should be noted at this point that we are talking about a Holy fear. A Holy fear of the Lord and not worldy fear. A Holy fear of the Lord leads to obedience whereas a worldy fear of the Lord leads to rejection)
In Greek, mega= Exceedingly great, grand.

|. MEGA POWER
     Acts 4.33a
    And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

    1)MEGA POWER to witness
 
    2)MEGA POWER to share
    Acts 4:34,35
     34    Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
    35    and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
 
     Beware of a false sense of contentment.
     Deuteronomy 8:18
     18    "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore your fathers, as it is this day.

     3)MEGA POWER to fulfill our new missions.
    Luke 5:4,10 - Calling of the First Disciples.
      Launch into the deep ...
    "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men."
    We are called to be blessed that we may be a blessing to others.
    Genesis 12:2 - The LORD's first promise to Abram.
    I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.
    Three things will come about in the last days

  1. Greatest number of souls saved.
  2. Greatest outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
  3. Greatest transfer of wealth.
     Exodus 12:35,36 - Pharoah allows the Israelites to leave Egypt.
     35    The Israelites did what Moses had told them and asked the Egyptians for gold and silver jewelry and for clothes.
    36    The Lord made the Egyptians generous to the people, and they gave them what they had for. So the Israelites stripped Egypt of its wealth
    Psalms 105:37,38 
    37    He brought Israel out with silver and gold, and no one among his tribes stumbled.
    38    The Egyptians were terrified of Israel, so they were glad when Israel left.
    Proverbs 13:22 - A Wise Son Lives Righteously
    22    Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren, but the wealth of sinners is stored away for a righteous person.
    Raising up the Josephs, Joshuas, and Daniels in the midst of great turbulence.
    Genesis 26:12 - Isaac and Rebekah at Gerar.
    12    Isaac planted crops in that land. In that same year he harvested a 100 times as much as he had planted because the Lord had blessed him.
     Genesis 47:23-26 - Joseph acquires all the land on Egypt for Pharaoh.
     23    Joseph said to the people, "Now that I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh, here is seed for you. Plant crops in the land.
    24    Every time you harvest, give 1/5 of the produce to Pharaoh. 4/5 will be yours to use as seed for your fields and as food for your households."
    25    "You have saved our lives," they said. "Please, sir, we are willing to be Pharaoh's slaves."
    26    Joseph made a law concerning the land in Egypt which still in force today: 1/5 of the produce belongs to the Pharaoh. Only the land of the priests didn't belong to the Pharaoh.
    Psalms 37:18,19
    19    They will be ashamed in the timeof evil; and in the days of famine they will have abudance. (NAS)

||. MEGA GRACE.
    Acts 4:33b - The believers share their property.
    And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
... And great grace was upon them all.
 
    1) The MEGA CRACE of abundance.
    Acts 4:34 - The believers share their property.
    34    There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales.
    There was mega givings, because there are people with mega means. And they are willing to give.

    God wants us to be prosperous.
    Is it true that we must be poor to be spiritual and humble?
    Proverbs 1:32
     ... the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
    1 Timothy 6:10 - Guidelines for living a Godly life.
    10    Certaintly, the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people who have set their hearts on becoming rich have wandered away from the Christian faith and have caused themselves a lot of grief.
    3 John 2
    Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
Greek: euodoo: Reaching our goal or destination and being successful in every areas: physically, emotionally, spiritually and financially.
     Jeremiah 29:11 - Jeremiah writes to the captives in Babylon.
     11    I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.
    Joel 2:26 - The LORD will give earthlyy blessings to His people.
    26    You will have plenty to eat, and you will be full. You will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has performed miracles for you. My people will never be ashamed again.
    2 Corinthians 8:9 - The collection for Christians in Jerusalem.
    9    You know about the kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was rich, yet for your sake he became poor in order to make you rich through his poverty.
    Psalms 35:27
    27    "Let the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."
    We are the servants of the Lord, thus the Lord delights in making us prosper.

    God wants us to have the best, live the best, and give the best.

    The tithes and offerings are means of blessings for us.
    Psalms 24:1
    1    The earth is the LORD's, and it all contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.
    Malachi 3:10-12 - The coming of the messenger of the promise.
    10    Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house and try Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you teh windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to recieve it.
    11    "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," says the LORD of hosts.
    2 Corinthians 9:6-9 - The reason to give to the Christians in Jerusalem.
    6    Remember this: The farmer who plants a few seeds will have a very small harvest. But the farmer who plants because he has recieved God's blessings will recieve a harvest of God's blessings in return.
The Principle of reaping what you sow. How much you get is in direct proportion to how much you have given. The more you give, the more you shall recieve.
    7    Each of you should give whatever you have decided. You shouldn't be sorry that you have or feel forced to give, since God loves a cheerful giver.
    8    Besides, God will give you his constantly overflowing kindness. Then, when you always have everything you need, you can do more and more good things.
    9    Scripture says, "The righteous person gives freely to the poor. His righteousness continues forever."

    We need to live in the spirit of abundance.
   The spirit of abundance is not related to how much you have in the bank NOW. We can have a big, fat bank account but yet still live in the spirit of poverty.

    What are some manifestations of the spirit of poverty?
    Live in the spirit of prosperity. We may not have a big, fat bank account NOW, but we can still live with the attitude of rest in any circumstance.
    Matthew 17:27 - Paying the temple tax.
    27    However, so that we don't create a scandal, go to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that you catch. Open it's mouth, and you will find a coin. Give that coin to them for you and me.

    Our sacrificial giving will not diminish our capacity to enjoy the blessings of God.
    Mark 10:29-31 - Eternal Life in the kingdom.
    29    Jesus said, "I can guarantee this truth: Anyone who gave up his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields because of me and the Good News
    30    will certaintly receive a 100 times as much here in life. They will certaintly receive homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields, along with persecutions. But in the world to come they will receive eternal life.
    31   But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

    2) The MEGA GRACE of enabling.
    Mega giving enables, empowers, and releases you to be all you can be, to be what you are called to.
    Acts 4:36,37 - The believers share their property
    36    Joseph, a descendant of Levi, had been born on the island of Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas, which means "a person who encourages."
    37    He had some land. He sold it and turned the money over to the apostles.

    Before the mega giving, Barnabas was not living accoring to his calling and his name. He owned fields! Old Testament laws clearly forbid Levites from owning agricultural fields. They were called to teach the Law and needed to focus all their concentration on it.
    Joshua 13:14 - Tribes that received land east of the Jordan river.
    14    Moses did not give any land as an inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The sacrifices offered to the LORD God of Israel are what the Levites inherited, as the LORD promised them.

    Deuteronomy 10:8,9
    8    At that time the LORD seperated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister to Him and to bless in His name, to this day.

    They are however allowed to own houses in the cities, and are given the best produce of the land.
    Leviticus 25:32
    32    "The Levites have always had the right to buy back their property in the cities they own.
    Ezekiel 44:30
    30    The priests should have the best of all the first ripened fruits. The best of every gift from all your contributions must go to the priests. The best of your dough must go to the priests. This will cause a blessing to rest on your home.

    Barnabas should know this law. Contrary to New Testament laws, he had owned a field. BUT what the law cannot do, the spirit could. Touched by the Lord, he finally walked in full obedience (Gave the land away) and consequently was able to fulfill his calling.
 
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