Giving from the heart
Category: Grace
Key Passage: 2 Corinthians 9
Speaker: Paul Chisgar
Date: March 24, 2024
2 Corinthians chapter number nine. I appreciate all those that participate in our music department. What a blessing it is to us. We’re going to preach. I feel like the Lord has a message for us in this area. Maybe just for the internet we call it grace giving, or really you could title it giving from the heart. I praise the Lord; I believe this is a very giving church.
And I’m thankful for that. So I’m not coming because of an issue or a problem, or even maybe a giving campaign. We’re not there right now. Now, I will say as we get closer to building that building, we’ll probably be there. So I don’t hide that from you. We’ll be there. By the way, praise the Lord that the debt on the property is coming down. I think the last time I checked, it was around 120 or something like that. Praise the Lord, it’s coming down.
So those days are coming, but I just felt like the Lord wants to focus a little bit on this saying of grace giving. Giving—God can really use this area of giving to grow you. God really doesn’t need our money; it’s not like he’s short on money. But he can use that to grow you. And really, he likes to use this area to grow us.
And so I felt like the Lord just had us focus a little bit on this area tonight: Giving from the Heart, Grace Giving—how do you want to title it? We’ll read a little bit more than typical at the beginning tonight, and we’ll probably just read, and I’ll stop and comment here, explain a little bit as we go. We’re in 2 Corinthians 9. We’ll start in verse number 1 of God’s Word. And if you’re able to, would you please stand as we read God’s Word together tonight? 2 Corinthians chapter number 9, and verse number 1 of God’s word. If you’re there, would you say, “Amen?” Good, good.
Verse number one, 2 Corinthians 9:1: “For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you.” Let me stop and explain. I think that he is speaking of an offering that they made for the poor saints that were in Jerusalem or Judea. Chapter 4 talks about it a little bit. Romans 15 talks about it a little bit. I believe that’s what it’s talking about. He says, look, you’re good at that. It’s a little over the top, if you will, for me to mention this to you, but I’m going to mention it anyway, that type of thing. He said, you’re doing great in this area, but I want to mention it to you anyway. This is what you’re speaking of there.
Verse number two: “For I know that the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them in Macedonia, that Achaia”—that’s the capital of Corinth—“was ready a year ago. And your zeal hath provoked very many.” He’s saying, I’ve boasted, I bragged on those over in Macedonia about the church at Corinth. That’s this area here. Man, you’re just ready to give. And he said, I’ve told other people about it, and it’s provoked them. It’s encouraged them to get involved in this grace giving also.
Okay. Verse number three: “Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf, that as I said, you may be ready.” He said, I’ve sent some people ahead of time. He said, because I’ve been bragging on you, and I don’t want to get embarrassed about this to you. I want you to fulfill what I’ve been bragging on you about, right?
Verse number four: “Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me and find you unprepared, we”—that is, we say not ye, but we—“should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.” He said, man, if I come, you’re not ready, you’re not prepared. He said, I’m not going to say you, but me too, we’re going to be embarrassed about this deal. Okay, all with me on this? Just kind of get the context here a little bit.
Verse number five: “Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, your offering, if you will, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty and not as of covetousness.” He said, I want to be just kind of abounding, it’s plentiful, and not covetous. I think a little bit of Paul’s coveting—not that I’m coveting you to give more, you know, that type of thing. And so that’s just kind of the context.
Now, really, we get into the heart of the matter, if you will, in verse number six. “But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, always, having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” As it is written, I believe he puts that in there because he’s quoting from Psalm 112, verse number nine. So he said it was written Old Testament: “As it is written, he hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor. His righteousness remaineth forever.” Wow, that’s pretty awesome. Forever.
And just for a little bit tonight on this matter, grace giving, grace giving from your heart.
The Bible really mentions three types of giving. And many of you know this; we’re going to review a little bit. Don’t lose me during the review time, if you would.
First of all, there’s this matter of giving called tithing. It’s 10% of all thine increase. Tithing—it’s a matter of things that are already the Lord’s. It’s not ours.
I just read a couple of verses for you about this subject here. Leviticus 27:30: “And all the tithe of the land, whether the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord.” It’s not mine. It’s not yours. This is an interesting fault—I could not prove it. People that have studied agriculture, amen. We speak in tongues sometime around here. I’m pretty good at it, I tell you what. I don’t mean to on purpose either, you know, but it just happens, you know. But sometime I wonder why God called me to preach. I’m running. It’s proof of the pudding right there. Mispronounce about half my words. Anybody can say amen right there. I’ll agree with you on that, you know, no problem there at all. But those that study agriculture, they—some have said fruit trees, or you can really kind of boil them down to basically ten types of fruit trees. Now that’s interesting. God said you can eat of anything in the garden but one. That will be a tithe or a tenth even from the beginning. By the way, it says in the middle of the garden, first fruits giving you. But the tithe is the Lord’s.
Since we’re on the subject, look over Malachi 3, and you’ll know it, Malachi 3. If somebody says, “Turn to Malachi 3,” everybody says, “Oh, he’s going to preach on tithing.” But let’s do look at it very briefly. We’re trying to move on, just kind of reviewing a little bit at the beginning before we get to grace giving. But over here, Malachi 3, and several verses on the subject of tithing. We’ll start in verse number 8 right there.
Malachi 3, in verse number 8. Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi 3 and verse number 8. Look what it says right there. He says, “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.”
Now, let me just stop for a minute here and explain. Notice he doesn’t say you’re stealing from me. Stealing is one thing. Stealing is if someone breaks into our house tonight while we’re at church. I always think if anybody ever breaks into my house, though, no one to break into it: Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, you know. But I’ve alerted my dog Dixie. Hey, you’d be on extra guard Sunday morning and Sunday night when—you know, that’s my guard dog, you know. Well, that’s stealing. They break in when you’re not there, they steal.
Now, if somebody—they walk up behind Brother Frank because he’s so well-dressed, they can tell he’s a multi-billionaire, you know, by his dress, you know, that Brother Frank picked out this morning, you know—and they put a gun up to him, they say, “Buddy, give me your millions.” That’s robbing. They’re—they’re—they’re mugging you, if you will. They’re robbing. You’re inside the house, they go inside the house, they put a gun to your head, “Give me that.” That’s robbing, a little different there. See? And God’s saying, “Hey, you’re putting a gun to my head and you’re taking what is mine.” Well, you don’t give, you rob.
See, let’s keep reading. Verse number nine: “Ye are cursed with a curse.” Wow, that’s pretty strong language. “For ye have robbed me, even this whole nation, bringing all the tithes into the storehouse.” Now, that’s interesting. He doesn’t say that about offerings; he says that about tithes. I believe that tithes ought to go to the house of the Lord, which is the church. 1 Timothy 3:15 tells us that. By the way, I don’t give it a certain thing in the church; that’s just general offering, tithes to the storehouse, the Lord’s house, the church.
“That there may be meat in mine house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there should not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.”
Now, just tithing. You understand there, if I don’t tithe, I’m not giving God what’s his; it’s already his, and I’m robbing him if I don’t give it to him. And just something else about tithing: it’s the first fruits. It’s the first fruits of all thine increase. Proverbs 3:9 and 10: “Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”
Remember the children of Israel? They’re entering into the promised land, and they take—what do they take? The first city. What was it? They marched seven times around it. It was what? Jericho. Don’t take of it. Achan took of the accursed thing. Problems arose there. I mean, they were under a curse when they went and fought at Ai. Thirty-six men died. See?
All those are pictures. God’s law for tithing is before the law, during the law, and after the law. Well, he won’t take time to get into all that.
Second type of giving, second type of—I need to slow down, right? Blah, blah, blah, blah. That’s all, folks. Amen, you know. Every once in a while, I’ll crack myself up. What about that, you know? Number two type giving, amen. Number two type giving. We’re trying to get this kind of review done quickly—is alms deeds. We read about that this morning at the beginning of Matthew chapter number six. Alms deeds is, I mentioned this morning, when you’re giving to someone that’s poor, typically.
Now, Brother Josh has been on me near men’s prayer meeting. He shook my hand at the beginning of men’s prayer meeting, and he said, “Now, Pastor, I heard this morning that when you shake your hand, there’s supposed to be 20 bucks in there.” And I want to say, “Where, Brother Josh? Where’s it at? You’re supposed to be putting it in there, you know?” He saw it other ways, though, you know. But that’s where you’re helping the poor. You’re helping an individual.
Acts 3, verse number 2. Remember Peter and John went to the temple and the lame man there. Acts 3, verse number 2: “And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple.”
Verse number 3: “Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked alms.” That’s something you’re giving to the poor. Acts 10, verse number 12, talking about Cornelius, how he helped the nation of Israel: “A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.” It’s a wonderful thing, alms deeds. Matthew 6 talks about doing things for the needy, for the poor.
Then there is a type of giving called offerings. Offerings. The Bible never tells us how much that is, whether it be 10% or whatever. It’s up to each individual, however God leads you to do it. Offerings—it’s over and above your tithe. It’s special offerings. It doesn’t necessarily have to be here at the church house, but it’s offerings.
I’d suggest, you know, you give some. Faith promise would be a good way of giving an offering. We always, when we get there, we talk about over and above your tithe. It’s just whatever God leads you to give. We just had a special offering a couple weeks ago for Family Harvest Days. That’s a special offering. That’s over and above your tithe. Some of you are giving extra for debt retirement for property payment or debt, you know, the land over there. That’s a special offering.
This morning in Sunday school, we gave a special offering for Lucas. He’s in choir at the college he goes to, and they’re trying to make a trip down to where the hurricane is to sing for them and to help their ears and all that stuff. And we gave a special offering in there for that. And that’s just special offerings. It could be…
My wife, I’m a little mad at her about an issue. We went to a preacher’s meeting. She’s like, “Oh, no, what’s this about?” Went to a preachers meeting, Bible Literature Missionary Foundation, and said before they had a special conference. So we went down there, I think Monday night, and they were raising money to print Bibles. And she said, “Well, we won’t give more to that,” you know. And I said, “Hush, hush, I don’t want to hear that right now,” you know. And praise the Lord, she is a great giver, and she doesn’t mind giving by faith. And honestly, that’s a blessing. I never have to worry about, “I’ve got to talk her into this.” No, she’s always talking me into it. “Let’s do more, more, more,” you know. That’s a great thing.
But that’s an offering, and even not really necessarily through a church, but just offerings, special offerings that God leads you to give. Those are offerings over and above your tithe. And I think I’ve already mentioned, but offerings really don’t start until you’ve already given your tithe. Tithe is the Lord’s. And see, then I give offerings to him over and above that, however he leads to give.
Now, really, he’s talking about offerings, and this can kind of go in the category of alms given to the poor in Jerusalem and offerings here in 2 Corinthians chapter 9. Now, we’re just going to kind of go verse by verse for just a moment here. Would you jump down to verse number six of 2 Corinthians 9? 2 Corinthians 9, verse number 6.
He says there, “But this I say, he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” Can I put it, maybe in just simple terms? You give small amounts, you get back small amounts. You give big amounts, you get back big amounts. Not just physically, though that’s part of it, but it could be spiritually, it can be rewards in heaven. And not necessarily—not necessarily, though if the Lord leads, for sure I’d be grateful and thankful for it—but it may not even be to this church. It may be to a poor individual you know of.
But he spoke talking about offerings, and they’re giving to the poor saints in Jerusalem. A little bit later on, they’re very poor over there. Severe persecution. Many couldn’t work because of the persecution and so on and so on. But you give small, you reap small. You give big, you reap big. See, that’s a biblical principle.
We usually teach this in foundation class when we cover this area, this subject. God gives to who? Help me out. Anybody remember that? God gives to givers. We get that from Luke 6:38: “Give, and it shall be given unto you; press down, shaking together, running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
If you use a toy box shovel, you know, there’s little plastic—if you use that to shovel out, God says, “Oh, I’ll use the same shovel to measure back.” If you use a regular old shovel, you know, just a flat one around, you use that, just to, you know, however long that handle is, and you shovel out, God says, “I’ll use that shovel to shovel back.” If you use the snow shovel to shovel out, God says, “I got a snow shovel too,” you know, amen. That’s what he’s teaching. God gives to givers. And that’s a biblical principle. You’ve heard it said, and it’s true, you cannot outgive the Lord.
Giving. Our finances have been blessed so much, honestly. Years ago, I went to a conference, and they really got on this thing about tithing a little bit, and I had never really heard some of the things they taught, and they were right, about tithing on all thine increase—I mean, everything, you get a gift card, whatever. And we went home and said, “Hey, we’re going to make some changes,” and we made some changes. And boy, it just seemed like that—and then we began to give more, and we’re trying to get—we’re actually giving more than 10 cents a month now to faith promise, amen. But we try to give more and more and more every month. And, you know, you’re like, “Oh, man, it seemed like that’s when God began to bless more.” And that’s a biblical principle. And God gives to givers.
You say, “Are you a little embarrassed to preach on a subject like this?” Not at all, because I want you to be blessed. I never forget years ago when God wrote it down to my heart—that I went to a widow in the hospital visiting her, and she’s just a sweet, sweet lady, and she said, “Pastor, I have my tithe check.” And I said, “My goodness, I’m giving a tithe check. This widow is in the hospital. I’m getting a tithe check.” And the Lord said, “Paul, you don’t believe what I said in my word.” I said, “Okay, Lord, I’ll take it.” That’s true. And God took care of that lady.
And so I don’t feel bad about it because it’s the best thing for you and me both.
Now, let’s keep going. Let’s look at verse number seven, verse number seven here, verse number seven of 2 Corinthians 9. And God’s word there says, “Every man according as it purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly.” I’ve got to give this up? Or of necessity? Somebody’s standing over you with a steak? You better give. You can’t be a member of this church unless you do. No, no, none of that stuff. No, no, no, no.
Not grudgingly, not of necessity. “For God loveth a cheerful giver.” We’ll mention that in just a second here. But let me just say a word about this thing from your heart, as it purposeth in his heart. Now, I’m confessing a little bit here about the other night when my wife, she nudged me, and she said, “Hey, why don’t we give a little bit more of this thing here,” you know? My heart was already telling me that. My heart was already there. Man, I liked this. This is—man, printing Bibles and getting around the world. His word will not return unto him void. Man, that’s awesome, you know. They just printed all the thousands to the Ukraine, and they showed these pictures of these missionaries at this conference, and “Thank you for sending these Bibles over here, and it’s made an impact around the world,” and these different places. They showed this video of just Bibles getting out all around the world. Man, that does something to your heart. They knew what they were doing. I mean, they had it playing; they were on the ball, you know.
And so my heart was already there, and then my wife, she hit me real hard—she hit me hard, I’ll tell you what. I said, “Okay, maybe not that bad,” you know. But, see, my heart was already there, but you know the problem? My head was doing other things. You know what my head does? I mean, I can be detailed, and I—you know, I know where things are supposed to go and all that. And my head was saying, “Well, we got this, this, this, this, this, this.” But heart, as it purposeth in his heart.
You know, the Lord likes to work through our inside, through our heart. And he said, “Let him give.” As every man, it’s going to be different. Don’t compare. Don’t let anybody else know what you’re doing and all that other stuff. But it is as it purposeth in his heart. And God speaks to your heart. He says, “Hey, that person down the street there, they need a little help.” And God speaks to your heart, “Won’t you help them out a little bit?” Our head says, “Well, they live in America. They’re healthy. They can work.” And there’s some truth to all that. Is somebody got a head like me? Anybody out there like that? Yeah.
By the way, if they’re sitting on the street corner and all that, I don’t give them money. I often take it to McDonald’s or whatever, you know, but I’m not going to give them money because that money’s the money going to be used so often—I don’t know—but so often it’s going to be used to go get another bottle or so on. But however it is, in your heart, God speaks to your heart, “Won’t you do this for this widow, for this widower, or whatnot,” you know? And my head says, “But believe God.” And God says, “No, as it purposeth in his heart.” See, giving from the heart.
And it’s amazing when God really speaks to your heart. And God says—and sometimes we don’t even have it, but God has to be speaking to your heart. God says, “I can handle that. I can take care of this thing.” And give as it purposeth in my heart.
Just a moment here. Let’s talk about this: God loveth a cheerful giver. How many already heard that cheerful means hilarious? How many of you have heard that? Yeah, I think pretty much everybody’s heard that. I’m not against it; it’s true. But can I say this? When I started off giving back of the day—and I’m not saying I’ve arrived; I’m not for sure at this thing—but can I be honest with you? For probably years, I gave the tithe, not cheerfully, but out of obedience. I don’t think if I gave out of obedience at that point in my life, I’d have grown to be able to give cheerfully.
You understand what I’m saying? I hope that over the years God has matured me more, and I enjoy it, and I do. I’m sure I got my flesh and my head, you know, but for the most part, I like it; it’s a blessing to give. There are times I’ll resort back to my own fleshly ways, you know, especially when my life is elbowing me hard. You know what I’m talking about there? You are going to go to heaven and want to watch the replay of that, aren’t you all now? I tell you what, that’s for sure. We were talking this afternoon about there going to be instant replay in heaven. You’re going to be able to watch these things, you know, how it really happened. And it wasn’t that bad. Praise the Lord, I got a wife that encourages me to give. Well, at least I can make it sound good, amen. I mean, I’m preaching right now; I don’t have to tell the truth, right? You know, come on now, you know. Where was that at? Boy, I got off subject. I seen the look, so I’m like, “Whew,” you know.
But maybe you’re not there. Well, I’m not going to give; I can’t give cheerfully. Well, you’re probably never going to get there to give it cheerfully. I remember one time in Sunday school—I think we were talking about that—and a person came up to me and talked to me later and said, “Boy, that was me for years. And I’m glad I gave out of obedience, and then God’s grown me, and I enjoy it more.” God loveth a cheerful giver, and God grows you to that.
But this thing about just giving from the heart. As far as I can remember, I didn’t study it out this week, but as far as I remember, there’s only one time in the Bible where there’s an offering taken and God has to say, “Whoa, that’s too much.” Man, that would be a good day for a pastor. Whoa! I like that. I mean, that’s—and really, if you look over in Exodus, we’ll look at it real quickly here. Exodus chapter number 35. There’s actually an offering in the Bible where they had to say, “Stop giving too much.” The ushers aren’t taking it off the top and putting it in their pocket. Don’t give any more. No, that’s not what happened.
Exodus 35 is when they’re building the tabernacle, and it is what’s called a free will offering, and they’re giving it willingly. It’s not like a certain amount that’s required or tithe mandated, all those things. But don’t you see this? It’s just a wonderful thing. Look at Exodus 35. We’ll start verse number 4.
Verse number 4: “And Moses spake to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying, Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing…” What’s the next word? “Heart.” Heart, they’re giving from the heart. “…let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold, silver, and brass, and scarlet, and blue, and fine linen, and goat’s hair, and dyed rams’ skins, and badger’s skins, and shittim wood…”
Look in verse number 21, would you please? Verse number 21: “And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whose spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all his service, and for the holy garments.”
Look in verse number 29: “And the children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the Lord, every man and woman whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work which the Lord had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.”
Look what happens. Chapter 36, verse number 5. This is—wow—this is an amazing verse in all the Bible right here. Here it is: “And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the Lord commanded to make.” And Moses gave the commandment; they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing. That’s amazing. What happened when the heart got involved? And they’re giving from the heart. And every man purposeth in his heart, so let him give. As God leads your heart.
A little bit, we get this thing of offering and grace giving. It’s after all God has done for us. I was headed to Christ’s eternity, going to burn in hell forever and ever, going to the devil’s hell, and he shed his blood on the cross of Calvary. I mean, he came down and became a man, and he gave his own blood to purchase my personal redemption. He saved me. Everything I had, he gave it to me. By the way, when God—someone said, “When God gives you something, hold it with an open hand.” Everything you have, God gave it to you. My wife, he gave it to me. No, I won’t say it; I won’t say it. My son, my daughter, my grandchildren—everything God’s given me. He gave it to me. A wonderful marriage up until this point. No, I’m joking about all that. I mean, God’s given me everything, and surely I ought to be willing to give back to him. His heart. Has every man a purpose in his heart, so let him give. Lord, it’s yours; you just tell me how to direct it. It’s a matter of heart.
Now, let’s go on to verse number eight, would you please? Verse number eight, verse number eight of God’s word. “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, always, having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” One of my favorite verses in all the Bible. It does apply to everything because he puts all those superlatives in there, all things and so on. But the context is about giving.
And he says, “Now God’s able to make it where you can do those things that he led your heart to do.” Now, out of grace—grace. Really, he begins this subject about this offering over in the prior chapter, chapter number eight. Would you look over there very quickly? And he uses the church in Macedonia as an example of this grace giving. Would you go over in chapter number eight very briefly here? Just a couple of verses. Y’all still with me out there? I know it’s not the most pleasant message a pastor preaches on giving tonight. Man, I’m staying home next Sunday night, you know. But God can grow us all through this thing. He really can. And God gives to givers. And we’ll get to the last verse here just a minute. I don’t want to jump up ahead of myself.
But chapter number eight, look at verse number 1: “Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.”
The church in Macedonia, they weren’t filthy rich and everything going wonderful. No, they were in a great trial. They were in poverty, and yet they gave by God’s grace. That’s what we’re talking about.
Verse number 3: “For to their power I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministry to the saints.” And that church at Macedonia, it wasn’t when they had all that money in abundance that they gave. It was in their deep poverty.
How did they do that? By God’s grace. He purposed; he spoke to their heart, and they purposed in their heart to give, and God’s grace enabled them. That’s a wonderful way to live. Very pleasing to the Lord because it’s a life of faith. Faith is the thing that pleases him; it’s got to be involved to please him. But it’s giving as God works in our heart, and it’s not by our means, our ability, our blood—“I make this much,” and all. No, it’s by his grace. This church is very poor, Macedonia—trials and afflictions and deep poverty—and yet they gave over and above their power. See, now, by grace, by grace.
Grace giving is not really a matter of how much you can give; it’s a matter of how much God can give through you. And friend, I’m not necessarily just talking about giving to our church, but just giving as God leads you. It’s a matter of being a conduit through which his grace can flow. He can trust people.
We were a young married couple in L.A.—Lower Alabama. And we had a little one; John was born. And the church we were at was building a building, bought some land, building a building. And the pastor came up with this crazy, crazy idea. Y’all are on board all of a sudden here, I can see that, you know. He called it—and he did it, I think twice while we were there—he called it “Give It All Sunday.” I’m talking about a whole paycheck. Well, man, what about 10%? Don’t add no zeros behind that thing, buddy. Come on now, you know.
We made—and I mentioned this before—we made $125 a week, plus I think they gave us $50, I think it maybe went up to $60 a month to help with rent we were at, and they paid for our gas in our vehicle. And that dirty rotten scoundrel up there is talking about, “Give it all.” Well, what about if your check was $125 a week? Would you give it all? I think he would, actually. And we said, “Well, here goes.” And we felt led of the Lord, and we did that, just really, you know, as in 1995, something like that. That’s when you could buy a gallon of gas for a nickel. No, it wasn’t quite like that, you know. I’m not sure how much it was.
But, you know, we did that, and God took so good care of us. I forget so many details. So I called my wife today about it. She didn’t know what all I was going to say tonight, you know, but she’s like, “No, I didn’t.” But I was trying to, because I forget so many details. But just how God—and she said this on the phone this afternoon: She said, “You know, during that time, this really seemed like we never worried about finding…” Just seemed like some way God… I remember one time we lived in a trailer—those things, why, trailers—and you know, trailers, everything in trailers are unique and weird, you know. I mean, this trailer back here, you try to replace just an outlet, a socket—it’s not normal; it’s different; it’s a trailer, you know. Everything’s different.
And the hot water heater went out in that trailer, and it was a small unit, and it had to fit into this one section that was wider but smaller. I mean, just a unique hot water heater. And, you know, those things, they’re proud of their hot water heaters. I mean, they want a ton of money for it, you know. And it just happened. An older lady in the church was getting rid of a hot water heater. She was just giving it away; anybody wanted it, and it was the exact hot water heater we needed. I mean, thing after thing, God just always took care of us.
We were driving one of those wonderful cars. I’m sure some of you know what I’m talking about. Where once in a while, when you turn the key, it didn’t crank. So you get a screwdriver out and you cross those wires over on the starter. Anybody know what I’m talking about? How many ever done that before? Yeah, yeah. I mean, and here’s the thing: a wife with a little child, it’s just not good when she has to get out underneath the hood, sparks, you know, and finally crank. Anybody not talking about all those things? Yeah, yeah. And praise the Lord for a wonderful wife, even though I’ve made those comments tonight. But actually, because she was stronger in that area than me, and I appreciate it.
But anyway, during that time, we upgraded cars. You’re like, “How? I don’t know how you put that down on paper there; it just doesn’t make any sense.” But it was kind of the beginning of our stepping out, just grace giving. My wife, she didn’t know I was going—she said, and my wife, she had been saved for a while; she was probably a much better Christian than I at the time. But she said this afternoon: She said, “Man,” she said, “I was still getting out of the world at that time. Man, God was growing us so much during that time.”
And it’s so good for us just to be armed with what we really could, but watching the grace of God make it all happen. Grace giving. That’s what we’re talking about.
Would you bow your heads and close your eyes? I’m going to ask two questions, and this first one is going to sound—oh, it may be odd to you. I’m not asking for you to give something in the offering plate tonight when I ask this question. I’m not asking about it at all. But I am going to ask: Would you give your finances, your wallet, to the Lord? Not to me, no, no, no, no. Not necessarily, Brother [unclear] Baptist Church, no, no, no. But would you give your wallet, your finances, your money to the Lord? I mean, just holding it with an open hand: “Lord, it’s yours. You direct. I’m going to give my finances, our finances, to you. It’s yours, Lord.” That’s a major decision, but I’m asking tonight. You say, “Preacher, the Lord spoke in my heart. I just want to give him my finances.” And I’m giving it to the Lord tonight.
Heads bowed and eyes closed. No one looking, no one looking. But you say, “Preacher, I’m going to give my finances to the Lord.” That’s a great thing. Oh, it’s a wise decision. That’s a wise decision. What a great, great decision that is. He can take so much better care of it than I can. You can. That’s a wise decision. Thank you so very much. You put your hands down.
Maybe you’re here tonight. One more question, we’re done. You say, “Preacher, I’m going to ask the Lord to help me grow in this area of grace giving. And I’m asking, Lord, would you help me to grow in this area of grace giving?” Lord, would you help me to grow in that area of grace giving? That’s you tonight. That’s my prayer to the Lord. Lord, you have me to grow in this area of grace giving. Just let your hand up, preacher, that’s me. Would you ask the Lord that? God bless you. God bless you both. I’m with you, friend. I’m with you, both of those. God bless you. Thank you so very much. You put your hands down.
Would you please stand tonight? We’re going to have a word of prayer, and let’s just come to the Lord. Maybe tonight there in the invitation you just come say, “Thank you, Lord. You’ve been so good. You’ve been so good.” Someone mentioned in Sunday school this morning: If you make—I think it was $37,000 household income or more, you make more than 70% of the people of the world. $37,000 household income. If you make more than that, you make more than 70% of the world. God’s been so good to us. Maybe just come and thank him tonight and praise him. Give you your finances and grow me in the show. Would you do that?
Father Lord, we love you. You have been very good. I’m spoiled rotten, Lord. Thank you for your goodness to us. Help us to grow and glean from your word tonight. Lord, grow our Christian life for you even through this area. Lord, we’re excited about your grace enabling. Help us to listen to how you direct our hearts. And Father, we’ll thank you for what you do. We love you, Lord, in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Would you just come say, “Thank you, Lord. You’ve been so good to me”?
I missed one verse. Would you look this way? We missed that last verse. You want to go back over there? You’ll get your Bible. I know you’re standing, but get your Bible there real quick. We’ll get that last verse. We’ll get that last verse. It’s just a statement or two. It’s that last verse. 2 Corinthians 9, verse number 9 right there.
2 Corinthians 9:9: “As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor, his righteousness remaineth forever.” Someone said it this way: You give up that which you cannot keep to gain that which you cannot lose. That’s what he’s teaching. Glad you’re in church on a Sunday night. Glad you’re here. We even got the last verse in there. What about that? I’ll tell you what, and glad you’re here. Appreciate you. Praise the Lord for a great, great church family. Just awesome. Just awesome. Your workers, your givers—I’m not mad that you’re just preaching the Bible tonight, you know—your givers, and your soul winners. And praise the Lord for great, great people. You can understand my hillbilly language. That’s a good thing. That’s necessary, you know. And glad to be a part of it all, and glad you’re in the House of the Lord tonight. And praise the Lord for these new folks in the choir. What about them? And Brother Bill and Miss Patty. Yeah, that’s great. They’re going to sing a duet next Sunday together. I’m looking forward to that, and that would be a blessing. I appreciate it. I’m glad to inquire. Brother Stout, thank you for being with us. We appreciate it all day long.
Original File: Pastor Paul Chisgar ＂Giving from the Heart＂ - Sunday PM 10⧸23⧸2022 [9Ya-AuRp_xo]