Devotionals on quality of gifts and offerings

Devotionals on quality of gifts and offerings

Posted on January 19, 2009 Updated on January 27, 2009

Memorise: “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7)

Read: 1 Kings 18:37-38

Pastor E. ADEBOYE

According to Acts 4:24-31, God gives signs of answered prayers to His children. When confronted with fear or threat, you could pray until fear gives way to faith, courage and boldness. You could pray and be filled with the Holy Spirit thereby praying more fluently in a different tongue, or tongues other than your regular spirit language. If you were burdened, depressed or heavy hearted when you started praying, you could pray to a point when the weight is lifted and you feel light in your spirit.

That is a sign. Sometimes, the situation appears dark and gloomy but when you pray to a point you are overshadowed with light, your answer has come. Also, it could be a vision or flash. Or He may speak specifically on the matter. He may drop a scripture in your spirit man. Be sensitive to know when God is giving you a sign!

Fire could also indicate the acceptance of an offering. It is one thing to give an offering and another thing for it to be received. Cain’s offering was rejected because it fell short of God’s expectations. Many offerings have been given to God, but only God knows the percentage of them that are received or rejected.

You can give to God, but you cannot force Him to accept your offering. The only way you can compel acceptance of your offering is by satisfying Heaven’s requirement completely. Have you tried to find out if God accepted the offering, thanksgiving or seed given to Him? This is important.

In today’s reading, fire fell on the offering of Elijah as proof of divine acceptance. In other words, fire is the receipt Heaven gives for earthly offerings received. Many offerings are rejected for several reasons. God may reject an offering that insults Him. Our God is the Almighty. He is the Creator of all things. He is not asking you to give to Him because He doesn’t have, but because He wants a reason to bless you.

Your giving is just an excuse for God to bless you. For instance, when the accuser of the brethren – the devil comes into God’s presence, and challenges, ‘Why are you blessing so and so?’ God will say, ‘He has given to me, and is only receiving his harvest’. God is not a beggar. If you give beggarly offerings when you can afford something better, God will reject it. If you give defective, or bad offerings to God, He will reject it. If you give grudgingly – that is your heart and hand disagree on what is being offered, He will reject it. From today, you must work on your offerings and ensure they satisfy all of Heaven’s requirements. If God rejects your offerings, He has already rejected your person.

God wants to bless some people tremendously but He has no reason to do so. Give Him one through a Heaven provoking praise, offering, obedience or service!

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