PICTURE

OFFERINGS

"If you sow sparingly, you will also reap sparingly; if you sow bountifully, you will also reap bountifully"
II Corinthians 9:6

By Patriarch John Williams (President of IICM)
EMAIL: iicm.vv@gmail.com (or) iicm@aol.com

I. INTRODUCTION:
1. Giving is the Greatest thing that anyone can do on this Earth.
2. There is a direct Relationship between ones Giving and their Prosperity
3. There is a direct relationship between our Giving and our Spiritual Maturity and Growth

II. OFFERINGS

Under the Old Testament

Burnt Offering - Lev. 1:6

Grain Offering - Lev. 2:6

Fellowship Offering - Lev. 3:7

Sin Offering - Lev. 4:1

Guilt Offering - Lev. 5:14 etc.

B. Under the New Testament

First Fruits Offering - Exodus 22:29, Romans 11:16

According to the Word of God, we should give the first fruits to the Lord as an Offering. We should not take the first fruits too literally, to mean that we should give only when we have an agricultural harvest of Vegetables, Fruits, Grains etc. The First Fruits Offering will also include, any blessing of repetitive nature that we get for the first time. Some examples of this kind of offerings are given below:

The First Month's Rent that we collect from our Tenant
The First Month's Salary that we get from our Employer
The First Blessing of any kind that we will receive repeatedly in the future

2. Thanks Giving Offering

Every time we receive a blessing from the Lord, no matter what it is, we owe an Offering to the Lord. The Word "Thanks Giving" implies that we should express our Thanks and Gratitude to the Lord, by "GIVING" something of value in substance. It is not "Thanks Saying" but it is "Thanks Giving". It is not enough, if we give a word of Testimony to the Lord when we receive a special blessing. In addition to the Testimony, we should also express our gratitude and thankfulness, by Giving a "Thanks Giving Offering". Some Examples of Blessings for which we should give a Thanks Giving Offering, are given below:

When we get Healed

When we get a Job

When we get a New House or any Material Blessing

When we are rescued or delivered from a Danger, Supernaturally

When we are receive any blessing

When it comes to Giving, a "Thanks Giving Offering", how much we give as a Thanks Giving Offering, is also very important. We should not give just a little money, as a token offering. How much we should give, depends upon the nature and the value of the Blessing that we received. Some Examples are given below:

When a person gets Healed of Cancer, after spending a lot of money, and going through a lot of pain, worries and anxieties, it will not be proper to give a token offering of a few units of any currency. Perhaps a sizeable Cash-Offering, equivalent to several thousands of units of currency, will be appropriate.

When a person gets some thing that is normally very difficulty to get, such as Admission in a School or College, a Job in the Government or in a Good Private Firm, a Visa to go to a Country or to get a Good Bride or a Bride Groom etc., the "Thanks Giving Offering" that one should give, should be substantial to reflect the significance, value and quantum of the Blessing.

3. Seed Faith Offering

This is a basic Biblical principle or requirement, and it is particularly significant when a person is praying for some Special Blessing. We cannot expect to receive a Blessing, without blessing first. We cannot expect to have a harvest, before Sowing. In order to justify the blessing that we are praying for, no matter what it is, we should first give an Offering to the Lord, so that he can bless it, multiply it and give it back to us, in a greater measure.

Give and it shall be given back to you, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will men give unto your Bosom. (Luke 6:38)

An Example for this kind of Offering are given below:

If a person is praying for a Two Wheeler for example, that person should give to the Lord, a meaningful Offering in order to reflect his faith first, and secondly for God to bless that Offering, multiply and give it back to him.
When a person does not have an Offering of adequate value to justify the request, that person may make a "Vow" to give what that person is not able to give, at the time of praying, but is willing to give it when it becomes possible.

III. KEY SCRIPTURES:

If you sow sparingly, you will also reap sparingly; if you sow bountifully, you will also reap bountifully
II Corinthians 9:6

Give and it shall be given back to you, a full measure, press down and shaken together will men give unto your Bosom Luke 6:38

Be not deceived; Be not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth that he shall also reap. Galatians 6:7

Bring me all your tithes into the storehouse. Prove me now saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Malachai 3:10

As a man purposeth in his heart, let him give… II Corinthians 9:7

Give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: Mathew 9:21

God loves the cheerful giver: II Corinthians 9:7

A Liberal Soul shall be made fat: Proverbs 11:25

WHAT IS GIVING?

It is a Godly Act

It is a Spiritual Act

It is An Act of Love

It is An Act of Faith

It is An Act of Worship

It is An Act of Thanksgiving

It is An Act of Honor

It is An Act of Pleasing

It is An Act of Sowing

It is An Act of Obedience

It is An Act of Remembrance

It is An Act of Restitution

It is An Act of Reconciliation

It is An Act of Stewardship

2. WHY SHOULD WE GIVE?

To Receive More

To Prosper

To Bless Others

To Support Any Good Cause

To Support the Ministry

To Get A 100 Fold Blessing

To Help the Needy and the Poor

To Demonstrate our Love

To Have the Joy

To Feed the Hungry

To Help the Poor

3. HOW SHOULD WE GIVE?

Willingly

Not Grudgingly

Cheerfully

Sacrificially

Daily

According to Our Ability

Beyond our Ability

Make a Vow and Give if we do not have now

Give Until the Need is Met

4. WHAT SHOULD WE GIVE?

Give Gold

Give the Best

Give the First

Give the Last

Sell and Give

Give Our All

Give One Tenth of All of Our Income

Give One Tenth of All of Our Increase

Give Thanksgiving Offering

Give Our First Fruits

Give Seed Faith Offering

Give a Special Offering when we Have a Special Need or Need A
Special Blessing

THE END

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