How We Are To Act as Christians Part 3

How to Act

Verse’s

Generosity

WHAT ARE THE BIBLICAL GUIDELINES FOR GENEROSITY? 

GENEROSITY MEANS GIVING ENTHUSIASTICALLY

GENEROSITY MEANS GIVING CHEERFULLY

GENEROSITY FLOWS OUT OF A CONCERN FOR THOSE IN NEED.

GENEROSITY TAKES PREPARATION.

Moses gave the command, and this message was sent throughout the camp: “Bring no more materials! You have already given more than enough.” So the people stopped bringing their offerings. Their contributions were more than enough to complete the whole project.  God did not require these special offerings, but he appealed to people with generous hearts. Only those who were willing to give were invited to participate. God loves cheerful givers . Our giving should be from love and generosity, not from a guilty conscience.

Those whose hearts were stirred gave cheerfully to the tabernacle. With great enthusiasm they gave because they knew how important their giving was to the completion of God’s house. Airline pilots and computer operators can push test buttons to see if their equipment is functioning properly. God has a quick test button he can push to measure the level of our commitment-our pocketbooks. Generous people aren’t necessarily faithful to God. But faithful people are always generous. The believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could.

There were serious food shortages during the reign of the Roman emperor Claudius (A.D. 41-54) because of a drought that had extended across much of the Roman Empire for many years. It is significant that the church in Antioch assisted the church in Jerusalem. The daughter church had grown enough to be able to help the established church. The people of Antioch were motivated to give generously because they cared about the needs of others.

This is “cheerful” giving that the Bible commends . Reluctant giving reflects a lack of concern for people. Focus your concern on the needy, and you will be motivated to give. When you harvest your crops, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop. It is the same with your grape crop-do not strip every last bunch of grapes from the vines, and do not pick up the grapes that fall to the ground. Leave them for the poor and the foreigners who live among you, for I, the LORD, am your God.  This law was a protection for the poor and the foreigner and a reminder that God owned the land; the people were only caretakers. Laws such as this showed God’s generosity and liberality.

As people of God, the Israelites were to reflect his nature and characteristics in their attitudes and actions. Ruth and Naomi were two people who benefited from this merciful law . God instructed the Hebrews to provide for those in need. He required that the people leave the edges of their fields un-harvested, providing food for travelers and the poor. It is easy to ignore the poor or forget about those who have less than we do. But God desires generosity. In what ways can you leave the “edges of your field” for those in need?

• Exodus 35:4-36:7
• Exodus 36:6-7
• 2 Corinthians 9:7
• Acts 11:19-30
• Acts 11:29
• 2 Corinthians 9:7
• Leviticus 19:1-37
• Ruth 2:2

Paul organized a collection of funds for the poor in the Jerusalem church. Many of the Asian churches gave money. Paul explains and defends his beliefs about giving, and he urges the Corinthians to follow through on their previous commitment.

Importance: Like the Corinthians, we should follow through on our financial commitments. Our giving must be generous, sacrificial, well planned, and based on need. Our generosity not only helps those in need but enables them to thank God.

Honesty in ,On the Word

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HONESTY?

HONESTY PRESERVES SOCIETY

HONESTY PRESERVES THE FAMILY

REJECTED HONESTY IS BETTER THAN ACCEPTED DISHONESTY

They go about their evil deeds with both hands. How skilled they are at using them! Officials and judges alike demand bribes. The people with money and influence pay them off, and together they scheme to twist justice. Micah could not find an upright person anywhere in the land. Even today, uprightness (honesty, integrity) is difficult to find. Society rationalizes sin, and even Christians sometimes compromise Christian principles in order to do what they want.

It is easy to convince ourselves that we deserve a few breaks, especially when “everyone else” is doing it. But the standards for honesty come from God, not society. We are honest because God is truth, and we are to be like him. . Sin had affected the government leaders and society in general. Deceit and dishonesty had even ruined the family, the core of society.

A family is only as strong as the level of honesty between its members. As a result, the only way left to purify the people was God’s judgment. This would draw the nation back to God and restore them from the inside out. You can see that we were not preaching with any deceit or impure purposes or trickery. . It’s disgusting to hear a person “butter up” someone. Flattery is phony, and it is a cover-up for a person’s real intentions. Christians should not be flatterers. Those who proclaim God’s truth have a special responsibility to be honest. Are you honest and straightforward in your words and actions? Or do you tell people what they want to hear in order to get what you want or to get ahead?  Most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned for it.

HONESTY BREEDS TRUST. People with a reputation for exaggeration or lying often can’t get anyone to believe them on their word alone. Christians should never become like that. Always be honest so that others will believe your simple yes or no. By avoiding lies, half-truths, and omissions of the truth, you will become known as a trustworthy person.

• Micah 7:1-20
• Micah 7:3
• 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20
• 1 Thessalonians 2:3
• James 5:1-12
• James 5:12

Joy

HOW CAN JOY BECOME CHARACTERISTIC OF OUR LIFE?

JOY GROWS OUT OF REAL WORSHIP

 JOY COMES FROM BEING IN GOD’S PRESENCE

JOY COMES FROM HAVING THE HOLY SPIRIT

WE CAN BE JOYFUL IN SPITE OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES

Believers can have profound contentment, serenity, and peace no matter what happens. This joy comes from knowing Christ personally and from depending on his strength rather than our own.

Importance: We can have joy, even in hardship. Joy does not come from outward circumstances but from inward strength. As Christians, we must not rely on what we have or what we experience to give us joy but on Christ within us.

The LORD said to Moses, “Give the Israelites instructions regarding the LORD’s appointed festivals, the days when all of you will be summoned to worship me.”  Worship involves both celebration and confession. But in Israel’s national holidays, the balance seems heavily tipped in favor of celebration-five joyous occasions to two solemn ones. The God of the Bible encourages joy! God does not intend for religion to be only meditation and introspection. He also wants us to celebrate. Serious reflection and immediate confession of sin are essential, of course. But these should be balanced by celebrating who God is and what he has done for his people.

I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is filled with joy, and my mouth shouts his praises! My body rests in safety. David’s heart was glad-he had found the secret to joy.

True joy is far deeper than happiness; we can feel joy in spite of our deepest troubles. Happiness is temporary because it is based on external circumstances, but joy is lasting because it is based on God’s presence within us.

As we contemplate his daily presence, we will find contentment. As we understand the future he has for us, we will experience joy. Don’t base your life on circumstances, but on God.

When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Here there is no conflict with the law. The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in Christ. They are the by-products of Christ’s control-we can’t obtain them by trying to get them without his help. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our life to his .

We must know him, love him, remember him, and imitate him. As a result, we will fulfill the intended purpose of the law-to love God and our neighbors. Which of these qualities do you want the Spirit to produce in you? Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again-rejoice! It seems strange that a man in prison would be telling a church to rejoice. But Paul’s attitude teaches us an important lesson: our inner attitudes do not have to reflect our outward circumstances.

Paul was full of joy because he knew that no matter what happened to him, Jesus Christ was with him. Several times in this letter, Paul urged the Philippians to be joyful, probably because they needed to hear this.

It’s easy to get discouraged about unpleasant circumstances or to take unimportant events too seriously. If you haven’t been joyful lately, you may not be looking at life from the right perspective. Ultimate joy comes from Christ dwelling within us. Christ is near, and at his second coming we will fully realize this ultimate joy. He who lives within us will fulfill his final purposes for us.

• Leviticus 23:1-44
• Psalm 16:1-11
• Psalm 16:8-9
• Galatians 5:16-26
• Galatians 5:22-23
• John 15:4-5
• Philippians 4:1-23
• Philippians 4:4