START GIVING

7th January 2013

Beloved,

FOCUS: And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8)

Let me begin by wishing everyone a great, fruitful, favor-full and extremely prosperous 2013. Let me by the Spirit of God say this: in 2013, make plans that will take only God to fulfill. Different servants of God have seen 2013 from different perspectives: “the year of the Lord’s favor”, “double portion (next levels)”, “season of overflow” and “our best year”. The summary is this; the hand of the Lord shall be seen on your life so much that it shall be clear he has done it. Hear him: And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honor before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it (Jeremiah 33:9). This scripture was fired into me while in a prayer session with a beloved brother, and I believe it with everything in me. Friend, the page is turned and the harvest season is here. It is called the overflow. Just like the ocean, the amount of water anyone can collect is only determined by the dimension of your container. All things are ready and you can only be limited by your faith. In 2013, all things are certainly possible to you. You shall not miss out in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

There is an abounding grace that leads for all sufficiency in all things. That grace comes from God. Think about it for a moment: all sufficiency in all things. How many things can you think about? All things include money, position, favor, honor, success, victory, wisdom, gifts of the Spirit and all other things. Hallelujah! God is able and willing to make such grace available to you and I. But what was the original discussion about? “For as touching the ministering to the saints” (2 Corinthians 9:1)! The discussion was about giving in the kingdom.  Let’s take 2 Corinthians 9:7-8  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. Do you think there is a connection between ministering to the saints and the abounding grace from God that makes all sufficiency in all things possible? Now let’s at a similar scripture, But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Like in the first, this scripture says God shall supply all your needs. How does the Bible define need? Jesus defined need as riches to the level of Solomon’s riches and wellbeing (Matthew 6:27-32). Think about that- all sufficiency in all things! But let’s step back to Philippians 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving but ye only. This qualified for the supply of all things. From these two scriptures, we see that grace for all sufficiency in all things follows giving.

God gave Jesus but saw him as a seed to bring many sons unto glory (Isaiah 53:10, Hebrew 2:10). In this season of overflow, first ask for the giving grace as the Philippians first gave. This is more than money. It includes your time, your skills, your prayers and your gifts. When we give, God makes grace for all sufficiency in all things available to us (2 Corinthians 9:8). Put it this way: the more you give, the more grace abounds for you and this brings all sufficiency in all things so that you can give again.

There is also a concept of sacrificial giving. That was what Hannah did. He gave Samuel before he was born. Abraham gave Isaac who he had at old age. In both cases God responded swiftly. See what God told Abraham, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me (Genesis 22:12).This suggests that your giving defines your love for God. Jesus was the proof of God’s love to the world for he so loved that he gave (John 3:16). Psalms 126 is all about sacrificial giving with consequent turning of captivity. For the curse to cease, David had to give God a costly gift (2 Samuel 24:24-25). Stop looking at the Pastor. Your giving is to God from where your reward comes.

In this 2013, sow yourself to God as a seed and the degree of overflow that shall happen to you shall surprise you.

Shalom

Brother Dr.Godwin Enwere

Elder at Temple of Praise Geneva