“Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38.
This may be the key verse in all the New Testament to fulfillment and contentment. This has the power to change your outlook on materialism. Yes, this is a great teaching by Jesus, and yet overlooked so much of the time.
Let’s look at this verse and discover it’s great value. First, you are to give. You take the first step. By giving first you open yourself up to the giver, who is God. All good things come from Him. He gives to us and then we give to others.
The promise is that it will be given to you. This is God’s promise to you. We are blessed to be a blessing. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. Now how this comes about will be determined by God. It’s His promise. This may be material blessings and it may not. The blessings may come in many forms, but we are to give first. We activate the promise of God by giving. It’s what you give that will be blessed. Time, talent, or treasure.
This teaching goes on to say, “with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” We are blessed to be a blessing. To take your talents or material wealth out of circulation is to block the blessing. God is going to give to those who obey Him and use what He gives them to share with others.
As Christians, we all know our privilege of tithing. Yes, it’s a privilege to give a tithe every Lord’s Day. When professing Christians don’t tithe, they rob God and rob themselves. God wants to give you more but if you refuse His teaching He can’t violate His Word.
Give and it will be given to you, has so much potential for every Christian. God’s abundance can become your abundance. Generosity is the door-opener to God’s heart. I am not discounting obedience. It goes without saying that we must obey God if we love Him. However, giving is not just tithing, but so much much more. It is lending a helping hand, it is visiting the sick, it is inviting someone to church, it is giving someone some money who is in need, it is sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, it is getting involved in a small group, it is teaching children or being a helper, it is all of the above and much much more.
The bottom line is that if you want God to bless you, you give first like the scripture teaches. Life is too short to waste. The Christian life is the only life worth living. God is the only true God, and He is worth serving. When you activate God’s principles, you are now in line for God’s blessings.
Read this verse over and over again. Then continue to pray for an answer from God as to how to give and really live. This verse can change your attitude, your Christian walk, and your life. The key word is Give.
Chaplain Bud,
The Christian Church at Cogan Station
A quick look at American society today reveals that something is desperately wrong. The question is how did America end up the way it is today? I believe the answer is that the condition of America is due largely to the condition of the American churches.
Henry Blackaby says; “If society as a whole seems to be getting darker and darker, it is not the problem of darkness; the darkness is just acting like its nature. But it is that the light no longer dispels the darkness, and the salt no longer preserves. It is time for the light to say, “if things are darker, the problem is us.” (Foundation of Revival page 72 .)
We need revival in our churches today. Some people are saying the day of revival is over. People are too busy, people don’t need six nights of preaching, or revival is too old fashioned. We are modern now. We have new ways of doing church, the old ways are over forever.
True revival is never out dated. True revival is God calling His people to service and repentance. True revival is not just singing a couple of songs, special music and a twenty minute sermon. No, true revival is the Holy Spirit convicting the saints of sin and luke-warmness. True revival is the church coming to life as God wants her to be.
True revival is the experience of the church and evangelism is the expression of the church. We evangelize because we have been revived. We go out because we have been sent out because we have cleaned out the things in our lives that prevent us from doing God’s will. The church must reach out or she will die out.
True revival will shake up the church. So we must pray up, pay up, speak up, sing up, witness up, and over all get up and get going for Jesus. Revival brings a new spirit of victory and excitement.
Do we need revival? Yes, we need revival. Do we want revival? That will be revealed April 9th-14th. The attendance will tell the true story on whether we want revival or not.
If you want to see true revival in this church, here are some suggestions:
1. Keep praying daily for revival.
2. Make arrangements now so you can be in revival every night. Don’t miss one night.
3. Invite everyone you see or know to revival.
4. Volunteer to help one night in the nursery, children’s ministry, usher, park cars, etc.
5. Use your vehicle as a bus to haul people to church.
6. Be open to what God will teach and show you in His Word.
We have some big things going to happen here at Cogan Station in April. On April 2nd it’s Friend Day. We have a goal of 1000 people. It will only happen if you invite and bring guests. April 9th, Revival starts and will go on all week. Then April 16th is our Easter Service. Again, our goal is 1000 people for Jesus.
These things will only be successful if you help and get involved. Let’s have a truly GREAT REVIVAL !
See ya in church,
Bud