Integrity in Giving
Today we address bringing tithes, offerings, and first fruits gifts to God.
Today we address bringing tithes, offerings, and first fruits gifts to God.
So may we never be arrogant, or look down on another, for each of us is an original… (Galatians 5:26 TPT) As His originals, our assignment is to keep being compassionate to those who still have doubts, to snatch others out of the fire to save them, to be merciful over and over to them, always coupling our mercy with the fear of God. As for our own lives, we must guard our hearts, and keep ourselves free from the pollutions of the flesh. That’s what a quick snapshot of “walking by the Spirit”.
Many Christians feel that walking by the Spirit is very difficult. My pastor, Dr. Lester Sumrall used to say, “God cannot bless ignorance. If God’s Holy Spirit is to function fully in our lives, we must have an open heart and a consuming desire to know all we can about the nature and role of the Holy Spirit.” Even though our flesh (our sin nature) and the Holy Spirit are opposing forces in constant conflict, God initiated powerful strategies to enable us to walk by the Spirit and dominate the sin nature.
It’s important for us to build a strong spirit so we choose more often than not, to rely on the Holy Spirit in us. There are several spiritual disciplines found in the Word of God that can help us to build a strong spirit.
Water Baptism is an outward, public display of a person’s change on the inside, due to the Holy Spirit bringing conviction of sin, repentance, and forgiveness. By obeying the command to be baptized, we identify with the power of the cross and resurrection, to deliver us completely from the power and authority of sin.
Paul urges us in Galatians 5:16 to, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” We have a sinful nature that is in conflict with the Spirit. It is important for us as followers of Jesus to understand that the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit and vice versa.
What can save America? People are looking for someone to guide them through the difficulties of life/help them navigate around the rocks in the river called life. What they need though is fathers. That is God’s order.
Our message title is taken from James 5:17,18 regarding Elijah, a prophet of God who lived in some very challenging times. Though we read about him in I Kings 19 that “(he) was afraid and ran for his life.”; we will look at some events in his life that show an example of a man of great faith JUST LIKE US! Right?? Carrying out John 14:12; right??
Since James, undoubtedly the brother of Jesus and a leader of the church in Jerusalem wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that: “Elijah was a man just like us. . . ” (James 5:17 NIV), I would like to take a look at US, by taking just an overview of the life and times of the prophet, Elijah in the message today.
The Holy Spirit plays several roles in our lives that gird us with strength and help us to live in the victorious life that Jesus died to give us. Because He is with me, the impossible becomes possible!