TEXT: ‘The best of all firstfruits of any kind, and every sacrifice of any kind from all your sacrifices, shall be the priest’s; also you shall give to the priest the first of your ground meal, to cause a blessing to rest on your house’ (Ezekiel 44:30) THOUGHT: Part 1 focussed on giving which helps to prevent selfishness, and can turn the curse into a blessing. It challenged those who receive to become givers too. This next part shows how honouring God and giving to Him first, releases that blessing on our home. Giving to God is a step of faith – ‘the first of your ground meal’ It is really saying, “I have more than enough living on the rest!” First is an important principle with God. ‘Seek first the kingdom of God’ (Matthew 6:33). Our text says, ‘Give to the priest (God) the first’. It also says, ‘Give the best’. Tithing is giving God a tenth of what we receive as income. It is not ending the week and seeing what we have left to put in the offering. It is starting the week and giving God the tenth first. Then believing God will take care of any shortfall caused by honouring Him with our finance. God...
Learn MoreTEXT: ‘The best of all firstfruits of any kind, and every sacrifice of any kind from all your sacrifices, shall be the priest’s; also you shall give to the priest the first of your ground meal, to cause a blessing to rest on your house’ (Ezekiel 44:30) THOUGHT: Most churches have had the unfortunate experience of people leaving whenever the subject of giving arises. I have experienced it myself on a number of occasions. It’s amazing how many churchgoers want the place of worship to remain in their community but are not prepared to adequately fund its continued existence! Many times fear prevents leaders from plainly speaking about money, yet it is a subject that needs to be clearly taught because the Bible has so many references to it. I make no apologies that “Giving” is the theme of Today’s Teaching because I want “Blessing” to come. Reading through the Book of Ezekiel, I came across this wonderful text. Who would not want a blessing to come on their house? This verse shows one of the ways we can help bring that about. Giving helps prevent selfishness ‘Whose heart is in his giving’ (2 Corinthians 9:7 AMP). It’s possible to give but begrudge having done so. Rich people can...
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TEXT: ‘Building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life’ (Jude v20-21) THOUGHT: Part 1 focussed on “Building”. Jesus said He would build His church and nothing can stop Him from doing that. Part 2 was on “Praying in the Holy Spirit”. When we pray under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we are praying according to the will of God. That can mean only one thing, prayers that will be answered! Part 3 was about God’s love and the need for us to believe God loves us and to allow that love to flow out of us in everyday life. Prior to take-off, air passengers are made aware of the emergency procedures should anything unexpected happen during the flight. One instruction is, “If there is a sudden loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will drop down from the ceiling. Fit your own mask first before trying to help someone else”. This is true spiritually. Do not neglect your own relationship with the living God by being too busy with the affairs of this life or with other people. ‘Seek first the kingdom of God’ is still the best...
Learn MoreTEXT: ‘Building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life’ (Jude v20-21) THOUGHT: Part 1 focussed on “Building”. Jesus said He would build His church and nothing can stop Him from doing that. Part 2 was on “Praying in the Holy Spirit”. When we pray under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we are praying according to the will of God. That can mean only one thing, prayers that will be answered! Part 3 is about God’s love. We will study this under three main headings. Our Responsibility – ‘keep yourselves’ God will do His part and keep us. Jesus prayed, ‘Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are’ (John 17:11) The Father has answered Jesus’ prayer for Peter made this clear in his epistle, ‘You who are kept by the power of God’ (1Peter 1:5). God will do for us what He promised Jacob, ’I am with you and will keep you wherever you go’ (Genesis 28:15). Now we have to do our part. No one can do this for us. We have to do it ourselves!...
Learn MoreTEXT: ‘Building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life’ (Jude v20-21) THOUGHT: Part 1 focussed on “Building”. Jesus said He would build His church and nothing can stop Him from doing that. 1 As the New Testament teaches Christians are now the temple, 2 we can make sure the temple within is in good condition and not full of rubbish that needs to be cleared out. Part 2 turns our attention to prayer and “Praying in the Holy Spirit”. Someone once said, “Seven days without prayer makes one weak!” But the reverse can be true. Seven prayerful days can make one strong. Prayer needs both the desire and discipline to do it. Ask a group of Christians, “Who feels they should pray more?” and almost every hand will be raised, but it is much harder to discipline that desire and actually do it. Jesus wants us to pray He set the example Himself 3 and that created a desire in His disciples, for they asked Him to teach them how to pray. 4 Jesus made it clear that prayer can not only bless us when our desires are...
Learn MoreTEXT: ‘Building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life’ (Jude v20-21) THOUGHT: Jude’s epistle is one of the smaller books in the New Testament but no less significant. The last book before Revelation, (which describes the end-time scenes this world will experience), Jude’s exhortation can help us to be ready for tough times ahead, whenever and whatever they may be. Jude was one of Jesus’ brothers. 1 It’s interesting to realise that he started out with his own doubts about Jesus, just like many people do. The Bible says, ‘For His own brothers did not believe in Him’ (John 7:5). Similarly David’s brothers were dismissive of his calling and anointing to be king, yet they ended up relying on his protection and served in his kingdom. The same happened with Jesus’ brothers. Overcoming doubts, they were filled with the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost, 2 and went on to serve Jesus in His kingdom. This fact should encourage every one of us that doubts are not necessarily a barrier to serving God, for as we keep our eyes on Jesus, we can...
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