Pride holds us back from acknowledging that God is the source of our provision. Some might argue that their hard work has brought forth their wealth, but let’s not forget it is God is the source of life. Nobody can extend their lives, and it was His breath that brought Adam into a living being.
Galatians 2:21 (NKJV) I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.
Secondly, nobody can obtain a right standing before God based on their own strength. We were given the imputed righteousness when we received Christ into our lives. Our salvation has nothing to do with our good works but is purely the grace of God because He has redeemed us through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Deuteronomy 8:18 (NKJV) “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
Thirdly, it is God who has given us the ability to obtain wealth so that He may establish His covenant.
God is a God of covenant. Therefore, He operates within the covenant relationship with us. Since everything—from material goods to wisdom—is shared in a covenant relationship, He will provide for our daily necessities through our jobs or businesses, and He will also provide for us based on the calling and gifting that He has given us. If we truly trust in God and believe that God is our provider rather than people, we can be unaffected by and content in whatever circumstances. If we don’t want to compromise with the world when under pressure, we must make this a strong foundation in our lives.
2 Corinthians 9:8-11 (NKJV) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
This passage says that God ensures we always have all sufficiency and an abundance for every good work. The seed here refers to our tithe and freewill offering. God not only supplies the seed we sow but also multiplies them! It is the opening of the window of heaven that is referred to in Malachi 3:10. Therefore, there are two avenues for the Lord to ensure that we always have all sufficiency and an abundance for every good work, and there will be a constant flow of provision when God can trust you to be a blessing to others! You are blessed to be a blessing.
Sermon Series: Freewill Offering
因蒙福而成为祝福
骄傲使我们很难承认上帝是我们一切供应的源头。有些人可能会说，是他们在工作中的辛勤付出为他们带来了财富，但我们不要忘记上帝才是生命的泉源。没有人能延长自己的生命，正是祂所吹出的那一口生命之气使亚当成了有灵的活人。
加拉太书 2:21 我不废掉神的恩；义若是藉着律法得的，基督就是徒然死了。
第二，没有人能够凭借自己的力量获得站在上帝面前的合法地位。当我们接受基督进入我们的生命时，我们得到了归与我们的公义。我们的救恩与我们的善行无关，全然在乎上帝的恩典，因为祂因耶稣基督的宝血救赎了我们。
申命记8:18 你要记念耶和华你的神，因为得货财的力量是他给你的，为要坚定他向你列祖起誓所立的约，像今日一样。
第三，是上帝给了我们获得货财的能力，使祂可以坚定祂与我们之间的圣约。
上帝是立约的上帝。因此，祂运行在与我们的盟约关系之中。既然所有的一切—从物质到智慧—都在盟约的关系之下共享，祂将通过我们的工作或生意来供应我们日常所需，祂也将根据给我们的呼召和恩赐来提供给我们。如果我们真实地相信上帝，相信我们的供应者是上帝而不是别人，我们就可以在任何情况下都不受影响并感到满足。如果我们不想在压力之下与世界妥协，就必须把这真理作为我们生活和生命的坚实基础。
哥林多后书9:8-11 神能将各样的恩惠，多多地加给你们。使你们凡事常常充足，能多行各样善事。如经上所记，他施舍钱财，周济贫穷。他的仁义存到永远。那赐种给撒种的，赐粮给人吃的，必多多加给你们种地的种子，又增添你们仁义的果子。
叫你们凡事富足，可以多多施舍，就借着我们使感谢归于神。
这段经文提到，上帝确保我们总是有足够和丰盈去行各样善事。这里的种子指的是我们当纳的十分之一和甘心乐意的自由奉献。上帝不仅供应我们播种的种子，祂还使它们成倍增加！这就是玛拉基书3:10中提到的“敞开天上的窗户”。因此，上帝有两条途径来确保我们总是充足和有丰富的资源来完成各样善事，当上帝能够信任你能成为他人的祝福时，供应将源源不断地到来！你因蒙福而成为一个祝福。
讲章系列：自由奉献
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