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Changing Lives Ministry
Daily Devotional
"grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity."
2 Peter 3:18

Holiness, Godliness, Usefulness
01/18/2016, by John Kincaid


Lesson 850: Why Give? Pt.6

Paul planted several churches in Macedonia: Philippians, Thessalonians & Bereans.

These believers endured extreme persecution, probably lost their jobs, maybe homeless.

The Greek word for poverty in 2 Cor.8:2 means destitute, a beggar who has nothing - no hope.
 
Yet they didn’t see their circumstances as an excuse to stop giving. Paul didn’t have to beg.

They experienced abundant joy in the midst of severe poverty, as they kept giving generously.

They even begged Paul to tell them of more worthy causes so they could meet more needs.
 
If you give your heart completely to the Lord, it’s easy to give Him what’s in your pockets.

Warren Wiersbe wrote, “It is impossible to love God and ignore the needs of your neighbor.”
 
The Macedonian believers didn’t question or complain about the need in Jerusalem; they were humble, cheerful, glad to help.
 
They had nothing, yet they had everything that really matters. They were poor, but God enabled them with willingness and ability to share a gift of great value.

We are still talking about it today. Their sacrifice was recorded in the Word of God; it will be remembered eternally.

 

About This Series

The goal of this series is to become more useful in serving the Lord Jesus Christ, as an instrument in the Redeemer's hand. The theme verses for the series are Ephesians 4:22-24, Philemon 11, 2 Timothy 2:21

- to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
- and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
- Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.
- Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work
.

 

Changing Lives Ministries
Asheville, NC 28803

ministrychanginglives@gmail.com

Phone: (828) 318-9825

For Further Reading

These authors and books were
helpful in preparing this series:

Bryan Chapell:
   "Holiness by Grace"
Kris Lundgaard:
   "The Enemy Within"
Jerry Bridges:
   "The Pursuit of Holiness",
   "The Practice of Godliness",
   "Respectable Sins",
   "Trusting God",
   "The Discipline of Grace",
   "Transforming Grace"
Warren Wiersbe:
   "Bible Exposition Commentary"
A.W. Tozer:
   "The Pursuit of God", 
   "The Knowledge of the Holy"
J.I. Packer:
   "Rediscovering Holiness"
Russell D. Moore:
   "Tempted and Tried"
Paul Tripp: "Instruments
   in the Redeemer's Hands"
Timothy Lane & Paul Tripp:
   "How People Change"

Copyright © 2016 Peace In Believing Ministries, All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are from: The Holy Bible: English
Standard Version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

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