“One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” (Pro. 11:24-25)

Giving of tithes and offerings is a misunderstood topic among many believers. Some are reluctant to give because they felt they could not afford to give since they are living from paycheck to paycheck. Others do not give generously because of their lack of proper understanding regarding the topic. But the truth of the matter is – giving is the key that the Lord has designed to unlock the abundance of blessings for those who respond positively.

Our God is a generous God. All good things are from Him. The whole of creation is a gift from God for us to enjoy. He gives us light, air, food, water and clothes. And beyond this He gives us Himself. He gives us Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit. He gives us forgiveness and He gives us love. He gives us the gift of eternal life and He is preparing a place for us in heaven. His generosity is unquestionable and He wants us to live in abundance. In His economy, He has designed the key to abundance is through generosity – giving with a cheerful heart. That’s why the Lord Jesus said in Luke 6:38, “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.”

There are numerous accounts of people whose generosity, even when they were extremely low themselves on the very basic necessities, lifted them into a place of true spiritual and natural abundance. One such example is the church in Macedonia (2 Corinthians8). The Scripture describes them as people of “extreme poverty” (materially speaking) but they were rich in generosity. They experienced the grace of giving and had overflowing joy. Their generous giving had brought about a level of existence that transcended their material poverty. They were a thriving church living in the abundant grace of God tough they did not have much finances.

Our giving to the Lord and the reciprocal blessings that come with it can be likened to the great rivers of the world. They are flow into the oceans. The oceans never overflow nor do the rivers run dry. Oceans and rivers are all water, and water, whether it is on the ground in the form of a liquid as a river or lake, or in the heavens in the form of vapor as clouds - is still water. This miracle of water always returning to its previous state is one of the great cycles in nature that make life on the planet earth possible. That unending cycle of water flow symbolizes the nature of our Father the Creator of the universe. He has never stopped giving and has never exhausted His supplies. We are all part of Him and He is our unending source. Everything comes from Him and everything returns unto Him. He is like that Great River that continues to flow and empty itself into the ocean while never running dry. (Romans 11:36). So when we give (not just money but) of ourselves, we are connected to the never ending flow of life and resources that find its source in Him. That’s the key to an abundant life!

Blessings,

Pastor Chris Chan

Speaker: Ps. Christopher Chan
Date: February 7 2010

Why Give?

The “stick” approach.

• People give because of the threat of punishment for non compliance under the Law.
• “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?‘ “In tithes and offerings.” Mal 3:8
• You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Mal 3:9

The “CARROT” approach

• People give because of the lure of getting rich through giving.
• Gen 26:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.
• Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

The “Bible’ approach

• Act 20:35 … remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
• Generosity is the key to a Blessed Life!
• Pro 11:24 Ada yang menyebar harta, tetapi bertambah kaya, ada yang menghemat secara luar biasa, namun selalu berkekurangan.
• One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

The water cycle illustrates the circle of life and blessing from our Heavenly Father.

• John 7:38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.“
• John 4:14 But whoever takes the water I give him will never be in need of drink again; for the water I give him will become in him a fountain of eternal life.
• So when we give, we are “plugged” into the cycle of life and blessing.
• 2Co 9:6 Remember this saying, “A few seeds make a small harvest, but a lot of seeds make a big harvest.” Orang yang menabur sedikit, akan menuai sedikit juga, dan orang yang menabur banyak, akan menuai banyak juga.
• 2Co 9:7 Each of you must make up your own mind about how much to give. But don’t feel sorry that you must give and don’t feel that you are forced to give. God loves people who love to give. (or God loves a cheerful (hilarious) giver.
• 2Co 9:8 God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others.
• 2Co 9:10 God gives seed to farmers and provides everyone with food. He will increase what you have, so that you can give even more to those in need.
• 2Co 9:11 You will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep on being generous.

Why Give?

1. We trust that God will provide for all our needs.
   • Php 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
   • Allahku akan memenuhi segala keperluanmu menurut kekayaan dan kemuliaan-Nya dalam Kristus Yesus.
2. God is the ultimately giver that cannot be superseded.
   • 2Co 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
   • Karena kamu telah mengenal kasih karunia Tuhan kita Yesus Kristus, bahwa Ia, yang oleh karena kamu menjadi miskin, sekalipun Ia kaya, supaya kamu menjadi kaya oleh karena kemiskinan-Nya.
3. God is the ultimately giver….
   • John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
   • v17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
   • Rom 5:7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
   • v8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

3 Mindsets toward GIVING

1. BAG mindset

   Scarcity mindset – we don’t have enough to give. Living within the limits of circumstances.

   • Hag 1:6 You harvest less than you plant, you never have enough to eat or drink, your clothes don’t keep you warm, and your wages are stored in bags full of holes.
     
   • 1Ki 17:12 She (the widow of Zarephath) replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me.

2. Basket mindset

   • More than enough mindset. Believes in a generous God.
   • Deut 28:4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
   • Deut 28:5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.
   • John 6: 5-13 (Feeding of the 5000)
   • John 6:9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
   • John 6:12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”
   • John 6:13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

3. Barn Mindset

   • Believes that God is the infinite source of supply.
   • Deut 28:8 The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to.Pro 3:9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops;
   • Pro 3:10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
   • Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
   • v16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.
   • v17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.‘
   • v18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
   • Luke 12:19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”‘
   • v20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
   • v21 “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.“
   • The “Barns of blessings” are not for our sole consumption but rather for others.

UrapanMu mengubah hidupku
Datang Roh Kudus, Kau kurindu
Dengan minyak yang baru urapiku
Mengalir penuhiku, mengalir pulihkanku
KuasaMu bebaskan hidupku

Satu yang kurindu bersekutu denganMu
Bawaku lebih lagi tinggal di dalamMu
Nikmati hadiratMu jamahlah s’luruh hidupku
UrapanMu mengubah hidupku

Nyanyi bagi Dia
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Blessed be Your Name
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How He loves us
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Bagi Dia
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In Christ alone
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Speaker: Matthew White
Date: February 7 2010

Why is giving so hard?

• Lack of money is stressful
• How much money for happiness?
  • A little more – John D. Rockefeller
  • 20%
• Sever connection between money and happiness
• Phil. 4:12-13

2 Cor. 9:6-9 – Law of Sowing and Reaping

Laws of Sowing and Reaping

• Good soil matters
• Are we planting on good ground?
• The fruit of giving to God lasts an eternity
• Sowing reaps a harvest
• Don’t be stingy with seeds
• Prov 11:24-25 – Entering the flow of God’s blessing
• RG LeTourneau
• Sowing is risky
• We are completely reliant on God
• Jim Elliot – “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose”
• A full life is measured by giving not by gaining

Better Is One Day
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Made Me Glad
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Jesus Lover Of My Soul
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Blessed Be Your Name
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Your Grace Is Enough
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Enough
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How He Loves
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I Love You Lord
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I Offer My Life
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by Simon William Prasetyo

Hebrews 11:1 says: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Many people write things about faith, sing songs about faith, and even bible also mention many things about faith. Many people in our church are often write something about faith on their Facebook, MSN Messenger, Skype, etc. However, many people still think that faith is acting like something is so when it really isn’t so, and if we do that long enough, then it will become so. But that’s not it at all. Faith is real. God’s Word daily. Speak and confess them aloud to yourself. Then act out whatever the Word says. God moves when you move—in a faith that is active.

This is saying that faith is real. It is the evidence of things not seen. Notice it didn’t say “things that don’t exist.” They do exist. They just aren’t
seen. Now, do you want to experience that faith? Before that, you should know that faith without deeds is nothing. In bible, James 2:14-26 explains this by emphasizing on:

James 2:20, “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”

I believe you will see that faith really works. However, you must do your work diligently with pure heart and fully rely on God. I believe that God is a faithful God. He never abandons us.

Awesome In This Place
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I Stand In Awe
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King of Majesty
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We Worship You (U R Good)
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Draw Me Close
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I Sing Praises to Your Name
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Speaker: Ps. Christopher Chan
Date: January 31 2010

Keys to growing strong

Theme for the next 4 years:

• Building An Unshakeable Generation
• Since then 2 major quakes have occurred:
  • The Padang 7.6 quake on Sep 30, 09
  • The Haiti 7.0 quake on Jan 12, 10.

Luke 21:11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

Unshakeable Generation

Heb 12:26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”
Heb 12:27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

Keys to growing strong

Hosea 10:12 (NIV) Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.
(KJV) Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

1. Sow into yourself………………..
   You are a good potential ground!
   1 Cor. 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
   2 Cor. 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay (earthen vessels) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
   It’s your ground. You have the sole responsibility to make your ground fruitful.
   Problem with the ground - “fallow” or unproductive because it was neglected; it was no worked upon.
   Examples of “fallowness”:
   1. Prayer (intercession) life.
      1Ti 2:8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.
      1Ti 2:1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—
      1Ti 2:2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
      1Ti 2:3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
   2. Devotional Life (Intimacy)
      Psalms 42:1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
      (2) My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
      (7) Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
      Mat 15:8 “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
   3. Finances – mismanagement
      Luke 16:10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
      11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
      12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

Jesus We Enthrone You
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Shout to the Lord
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Sing to the King
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I Adore
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I Sing Praises to Your Name
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Spirit Touch Your Church
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