Open Heavens Daily Devotional
Date: Sunday 23rd December 2018
THEME: GOOD MEASURE
Hymn 6: A NEW THING
(Tune: There shall be showers of Blessing)
1. We will soon shout Halleluiah
Because God will do new things
Sinners will be forgiven
Prodigals will come home soon.
Chorus:
Shout Hallelujah
Because God will do new things
Rivers in desert now flowing
Hallelujah to our king.
2. We will soon shout Hallelujah
Because God will do new things
Sickness and sorrow will be gone
Bondage will be forgotten.
3. We will soon shout Hallelujah
Because God will do new things
The barren will be faithful soon
Failure will be forgotten.
4. We will soon shout Hallelujah
Because God will do new things
Poverty will be forgotten
Stagnancy will soon be gone.
5. We will soon shout Hallelujah
Because God will do new things
To all miracles are given
There shall be celebrations
6. We will soon shout Hallelujah
Because God will do new things
Many will have testimonies
Of prayer answered fully.
7. We will soon shout Hallelujah
Because God will do new things
One of us will chase a thousand
Two will conquer ten thousand
8. We will soon shout Hallelujah
Because God will do new things
Songs of praises we will sing
Hallelujah to our King
Memorise: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. Luke 6:38a
Bible Reading: Proverbs 11:24-25 (KJV)
24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth, and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Message
The Principle of giving is one of the cardinal principles that God has put in place for the benefit of His children. God wants us to prosper and be wealthy, to the extent that we can afford to lend to nations.
However, the measure of God’s liberality to us is determined by our liberality to Him. All of God’s principles are simple and straight forward. This principle we are considering today simply says “Give, and it will be given to you.” In other words, you have to give so as to receive. Unfortunately, as simple as this principle is, many Christians do not apply it, because deep down in their hearts they don’t believe it.
When you sow a seed, you never get back the exact seed you gave out. For example, a farmer who plants a watermelon seed will reap multiple watermelons with much more seeds in them; all from that single seed. That is the meaning of good measure. God always multiplies whatever you give to Him, and He never owes anyone. He always pays back His debts, and that is why Genesis 8:22 says that seed time and harvest will never cease. If you are faithful to your seed time, you can rest assured that He will be faithful enough to give you your due harvest.
Why do many people sow without receiving in good measure? This might be because they don’t give willingly. 2nd Corinthians 9:7 says that we must not give grudgingly or as though we are under compulsion. In other words, for us to reap the benefit of our sowing, it must be done willingly from the heart. Our God loves a cheerful giver, and for this reason, aside from the fact that you have to willingly give, you also have to do it joyfully. I was invited to a certain church a while ago, and because I was there, they were calling for all manner of offerings. l was getting annoyed already when they still called for one more offering.
Grumbling, I put my hand in my pocket to get money out and I heard God say to me, “Keep your money! If you want to grumble while giving Me an offering, then don’t bother.” I quickly changed my attitude before giving the offering. Do you know that if you grumble to give an offering, you are just throwing away your money? That sort of offering is not accepted by God, it is better for you not to give at all.
Correct your attitude to giving from today. Whenever you have the opportunity to give, remember that when you give joyfully, you will also receive in good measure.
Key Point: A cheerful giver is a guaranteed receiver
Bible in one year: Micah 5-7, John 16:16-33