3g Service and 31 Personalities...the first "G" is Giving.

This past weekend my message was on 3g Service and 31 Personalities. Here’s the link to the VIDEO if you were unable to join us in person. Below is the outline I used, and as you’ll be able to tell, I went back and added more meat to the bones of it to further drive each point home for you. The video itself is only 26 minutes if you’d just rather watch that.

I began our time together by reading Romans 12:1, which says…

• (NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy [(set apart], acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

When we think of cell phone reception. We think of 5g, 4g, 3g, 2g, 1g…So, for the allotted time that we have together I figured a 3g message would be reasonable for today. Thus, I’ll be discussing three words that God laid on my heart…each beginning with the letter “G.”
 
The first “G”:

• Giving
  • For those who are the Givers.
    • I want to begin by stating that tithing is a great topic. Tithing has its purpose…it keeps the Church doors open, it pays the bills and salaries, it proves to God that we are thankful for what He’s blessed us with by giving a portion back to Him.
      • If not careful, then tithing can be something done out of duty or routine (not much thought put into it), or for the reasons of tax write offs or to bring attention to oneself.
    • But I’m not here to speak on tithing. I’m here to discuss going above and beyond in our giving. Giving because you want to and don’t feel obligated to.
    • When it comes to giving I want you to take three things into consideration…
    • Consider the ability to give as a gift from God…
      • Romans 12:3-8 (NIV) Humble Service in the Body of Christ
        • 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
    • Consider the example of the early Church.
      • Acts 2:42-47 (NLT)  42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
      • Peter says in Acts 3:6 a,b…I don’t have silver or gold, but such as I have give I thee…
        • Peter recognized that he didn’t possess some things that others did, BUT he did recognize that he had at least something to give.
        • What is your “such as I have”? And are you giving it or hoarding it for yourself?
          • I’m not attempting to guilt trip anyone into giving, but I do share this passage below so you’ll understand how serious He takes it...
            • Matthew  25:24-30 (NIV) 24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
        • What is it that the Lord has blessed you with? Do you recognize the brand of giving He’s gifted you with? Maybe it’s service (a servant’s heart), finances, time, a listening ear, a hug, baking something for someone, taking someone a meal, hospitality, giving someone a gift card, giving someone free lessons because you know they can’t afford them, taking someone clothes or furniture, taking them a craft that you specifically made for them…and the list could go on and on.  
        • Are you using your gifts and talents as living sacrifice opportunities for Lord? Are you doing it out of your reasonable service to Him and for His glory? Giving for God to receive all the glory is what ought to set each of us apart from how the world gives…it’s all about motive and intent. Why are you giving? For attention…to be seen by others? For His glory? Remember, God knows the heart intent of all men (1 Kings 8:39; Psalm 139:1-6, 22-24; Jeremiah 17:10; Romans 8:27).
    • Consider the example of Jesus. The Perfect Example of being a Giver:
      • His entire earthly ministry involved giving…
        • Matthew 11:5 (NLT) the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.”
        • John 5:1-9b (NIV) I have no one able to help me in the pool. Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” 8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
        • John 15:13 (NLT) There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
        • Philippians 2:8 (NIV) And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
          • That was His humble and reasonable service…a living sacrifice…furthering the Good News.
    • Giving will become a go-to for you the more you practice it.
      • It’ll become muscle memory.
      • Have the mindset of no strings attached…expecting nothing in return.
      • A genuine giver will have absolutely no reservations giving to others…
        • “I’ll give her my kidney”…
          • When my wife shared with me my Aunt’s posting about her need of a kidney…I didn’t hesitate to offer mine. Being a historical giver led me to having no reservations in donating a body part to my Aunt. What’s exciting is that as my daughters get their drivers licenses…they too put down that they’d like to be an organ donor.
          • Results of donating my kidney to my Aunt:
            • I’m healthy and my Aunt healthy. She gets to avoid dialysis for who knows how long.
            • Update from my Aunt in Hawaii, as of 4-10-22… “Happy 4-month anniversary (yesterday)! I'm doing well. Just did some stand up paddle boarding for the first time on some flat ocean water. About 3-4 weeks ago I had a bit of a scare with low white blood cell count, it was from too high a dose of immunosuppressants, but it's back under control now. Down to 17 pills a day & 8 different vitamins/minerals.”
        • “I’ll give my crowns back to the Lord.” Even in the presence of God one day we’ll notice no reservations in giving back to Him.
          • Article from gotquestions.org...What is the verse about casting our crowns before the feet of Jesus?
        • Giving produces genuine joy…
          • 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT) You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
          • Acts 20:35 (NLT) And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

• For those who are the Recipients.
  • Consider the Good Samaritan and the Jew (Luke 10:33-35). Here’s the link to the full Parable of the Good Samaritan.
    • The Jew was beaten, robbed, left to die on the side of the road. A Priest, Levite, and Samaritan approach the scene at different times. What’s the response of each? Keep in mind…all are seeing the exact same thing. Both the Priest and Levite…men involved with the things Lord keep walking by, maybe said something cliché like, “We’ll be praying for you.” Maybe the Jew prayed, “Lord, just send me someone who can help me.” And then a Samaritan approaches him. “Really, Lord. The one I have animosity towards…that’s who you send my way?” Just like the many who saw my Aunt’s Facebook posting…it only took one person to step up and help my Aunt out with a kidney (we’ve never had animosity towards each other by the way), it just took one for God to send this Jews way. God provided the Samaritan with resources…the exact resources needed to help get this Jew back on his feet. Do you think that Jew will ever forget what the good Samaritan did for him…how God provided in his time of need?
    • Humbly allow givers to give.
      • It had to have been a humbling experience for this Jew to receive above and beyond help from this Samaritan.
      • As I pointed out earlier, giving produces joy in the heart of the giver. As a parent, remember when your young child made you something that looked questionable to eat or drink, but he or she put all his/her heart and time into it. Did you at least happily receive it or tell him/her no thank you? Don’t crush their spirit of giving. They’re doing what they feel the Lord, or their heart is asking them to do. They may be wanting to follow your example of being a Giver and this is how they chose to put it into practice…will you humbly allow them the opportunity to do so? Don’t always feel like you must be the giver…express joy as the receiver too.   
• How should I give? Who should I give to? When should I give? We’ll hit on this in our third “G”, but for next time we’ll consider the second “G.”