Giving is an Result of Grace (Rev. Markus M. Musa) 22-11-2015

★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)
LCC Ungwan Paul Gindiri,
Tudun Wada, Jos
Plateau State
22nd November, 2015

RETIREMENT SERVICE IN HONONR OF REV. EPHRAIM HAGGAI

SERMON
* Speaker: Rev. Markus M. Musa
* Topic: Giving is a Result of Grace
* Text: 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
* Theme: Growing up in Christ (Ephesians 4:15)
* Service Leader: Rev. Gideon Kannap

* Paul wanted the Corinthian believers to know the unusual way by which the grace of God was demonstrated through the Macedonian Church by which they excelled in giving

* If there is no generous giving in the Church, that congregation should grieve And morn because they lack the special grace of giving that is vested through the Holy Spirit

* Many people do not give, not because there is no money, but because they have not given the Holy Spirit His due place in their lives

* God's grace enables you to give generously and cheerfully

* Multiply grace and distribute it

* The policies of the Roman Government had impoverished the people of Macedonia
→ Many believers were persecuted
→ The source of living of many people were confiscated by the Roman Government

* In spite of their peculiar disadvantage they excelled in the grace of giving

* What was the secret of the Macedonian Church?
→ the Holy Spirit in their hearts
→ they gave themselves to the Lord (verse 5): We did not expect that! They gave themselves to the Lord first and then to us, since this was God’s will.

* A person who gives himself to the Lord does not hesitate when he is required to give for the sake of the Gospel of Christ

* Question:
→ Have you surrendered yourself to the Lord?
→ Are you totally submited to your spiritual leaders?

* Only the power of the Holy Spirit can empower a man to give beyond his (natural) ability

* Many people have been blinded by the things of the world that they do not realize that they lack the Holy Spirit in their lives

* The example of the Macedonian Church:
1. Total commitment to the Lord
2. Unconditional submission to Church leadership

* One of the biggest problems of the Church today is a widespread lack of commitment to God and to spiritual leaders

* The Church must place more emphasis on [disciplining] believers to become more like Christ

* Discipleship is the best way to keep Satan and the flesh at bay

* You need to examine yourself to see whether you are still in the faith

* Believers are interested in seeing practical Biblical living in their spiritual leaders

* Every Minister of the Gospel must work as if he/she has only one day to live.
→ The time is short and we need b be faithful