My thanks and honor goes to Jesus Christ, who has made stately miracles in my life. This
essay wasn't dubbed from another source but was graciously given to me by the Spirit.
Everything on this paper is corroborated within the Bible. When you have finished examining this
article, please remember to have a heart to serve.
To begin, I desire that you ask yourself this question: is your obedience to (if you are
devoted) to God forceful, or is your fidelity willingly? Another question: do you pay tithes and
offering because it's required of you, or you choose to?
Matthew 15:8 "These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their
lips, but their heart is far from me."
It's impossible to serve God with an empty heart! How will it profit you? There's no
benefit because God only bless those that love him. Did he favor the Pharisees, who lacked love,
faith, and obedience? Though they gave tithes and offerings, God wasn't pleased because they
disregarded the other parts of the Law: faith, love, obedience, and judgement (Matthew 23:23).
God saw their hearts, and he discovered that their hearts were "far from me." (Matthew 15:8)
Therefore, do not possess a haughty or contemptuous heart. God is pleased when you submit and
give to him cheerfully. Also, remember that love is greater than sacrifice.
Mark 12:33 "And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and
with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all
whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
2 Corinthians 9:7 "As he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of
necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
Matthew 5:24 "Leave your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled
with your brother, and then come and offer your gift."
Before depositing your tribute into the collection plate, be certain that you aren't angry
at another person. It is not honest to bring a gift to God, while possessing a loathing spirit
against a fellow human. Is it possible to come to the altar with a grudge against another person,
but say you love God? No because you hate the person that you can see, so how can you love
God, whom you can't see? First, forgive the person that has done you wrong, and be reconciled
with him and God will accept your alms. If you don't absolve with the other person, your sins to
God will not be overlooked.
Matthew 6:15 "If you don't forgive men their trespasses, neither will god forgive you
your trespasses."
My next subject is about giving to God, called tithes and offering. First, read these two
verses which are in the Bible:
Luke 6:35 "...and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great......"
Acts 20:25 "...and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more
blessed to give than to receive."
When you bestow a valuable gift to your employer, wouldn't that boss return to you a more
valuable gift? If you gave your donation out of love, and not for money or a promotion, would
you expect your supervisor to supply you with a gift that is very extravagant? No, because love is
not puffed up, or greedy. Rather, love is charitable. When you pay tithes do not expect a single
cent to be returned to you because it's a gift to God out of love and reverence. He's been kind
and wonderful to you it doesn't matter if he returns the amount you gave him. Only, you are
pleased that you gave him an excellent alms out of love, and not greedily for a reward.
Doing this act kindly and happily, your Father will reward you greatly because you acted
humbly and out of love, not expecting a prize in return. If your employer can reward you for a
great contribution they received from you, how much more will your blessing be from your
Father if you do the same to him out of love and faith. Therefore give out of love, and have hope
that God is pleased with your offering. You are not blessed by what you put in, but by how you
put your offering in, and why you did. How do you put your offering in? Happily and joyfully.
Why? Because you love and obey God willingly.
My next topic deals with love and compassion. Every servant of God should have love
and show it willingly. If someone asks you for a fish, will you give that person a serpent? If
someone asks you for bread, will you give that person a stone? When you refuse to have
compassion and love, you do the same. How can you be godly and holy if you close your bowels
of compassion and love? Aren't these things more important that prophesy, tongues, knowledge,
money, faith, and hope? (1 John 3:17, 1 Corinthians 13)
Also, support those that are weak in faith. Don't sneer at that person or gossip about him,
but lift him up. Do less talking, and more hearing..
Hebrews 3:13 "Exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be
called hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
Galatians 6:1 "If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an
one in the spirit of meekness..."
If you see someone doing wrong, advice that person and correct him. If you see someone
that is weak in faith, support that person and help him to walk in Christ. What good is there in
gossiping and teasing a person? That isn't delight in our Lord's eyes. He doesn't want us to sit
around and procrastinate, he wants us to go out and help those that can't stand and those who
are fleeing from darkness. Have compassion always on those people and show love. Jesus has
done the same to you.
The Lord invites you to be as strong and faithful as the men throughout the Bible were,
such as Elijah and Elisha, Moses, David, Jeremiah, John, the Apostles, and many others. Strive to
know what errors are, and what being righteous is all about.
Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they
shall be filled."
Seek the Lord for knowledge and wisdom, which is available only through him. If you are
comfortable with what you currently have, there's still much more to learn. Keep striving, always
seeking to know more. If you desire to become a better Christian, go out and search for the
wisdom which comes from God. Ask the Lord, and he will open the doors.
Read the Bible and pray, while meticulously studying the parables Jesus told. Although
they're peculiar when you first approach them, try to learn what the parables symbolize. They
have the answers to life's issues. If the scriptures of the Holy Bible aren't rooted in your hearts,
the world will overcome you, allowing you to lose faith and become trapped in a perilous plight.
Therefore, seek guidance while you are still able to and place it at the tip of your tongue.
Search for the joy that the Lord extends. His yoke is easy, light, and simple. Depression is
non-existent because the Lord is with you. I, myself, am persuaded that neither life or death,
angels or demons, or any creature, can separate me from God. Many will engage you, such as the
Devil, trying to coerce you into becoming envious of the world. Don't despair because the world
will soon find their vile activities unsatisfactory and will seek another path to escape their sadness.
If the world finds Jesus, they will discover a happiness that will never fade. If you ask Jesus, he
will donate without any charge because there's no fee. Believe and pursue knowledge, and you'll
find what you're craving for: tranquility and enjoyment.
Keep your faith and endure when the storm comes. If you endure to the very end of the
tempest, a beautiful, morning sun will rise and you will have more strength than earlier. The
warmth of the sun's heat will relax and you'll enjoy its precious sight. You will say to yourself,
"I trusted in the Lord, and he has shown me a beautiful morning. I woke up with a burden, he
gave me absolute joy; I was hurt, but now I'm completely healed; I was trapped in wire, but the
Lord is with me, who shall not allow me to be utterly cast down, at all times."
My final subject serves as the most important communication beacon between you and
God. Trust me, I learned this the hard way.
Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is
willing, but the flesh is weak."
It's imperative that you pray frequently. It gives you strength and keeps the world from
destroying you. If you don't pray, the world will stomp you and sift you as wheat. The Devil will
come and fool you, moving to erase the Word of God from your heart and causing you to
uphold the wicked paths of the world. The Spirit is always willing to do what is correct, but the
flesh will always hinder you. Therefore pray, that you may be able to control the desires of your
flesh, and fully cooperate with the Spirit to live. "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if
ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." (Romans 8:13) Pray that
you may be spiritually-minded, doing the godly things Christ bids you to do.
When you do pray, don't pray proudly. Don't pray only to receive attention from the
Father, but pray for help, guidance, strength, salvation, or whatever your heart desires from your
Father.
Matthew 6:7 "And when ye pray, use not vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they
think that they will be heard for their many words."
Avoid using articulate words. You'll receive no greater reward. Use the words that come from
within you, which allows the heart and the tongue to be on agreement. The mouth should be
saying the words that comes from within you. If the lips don't utter the words from your heart,
you are not only having pride, but you are lying to God also.
Do not pray for guidance if you will not follow it in your heart, neither pray for help if you
don't expect Jesus to provide for you. Do not pray for rain if you don't believe Jesus wont do it.
Therefore, I tell you again: speak the words of your heart in when praying because that's where
you store your desires. Your tongue doesn't hold your aspirations, your insides do. Amen.
I thank you for reading this paper. I urge you to consider the messages I have told you.
Have faith and trust in the Lord to show you the way. Thirst for the water of knowledge and
wisdom so that he will quench you. More importantly, have love, compassion, mercy, and help
others to be strong in faith. Don't be greedy or puffed up because affection, forgiveness, and
empathy are important traits you must possess if you choose to serve God. Remember to pray
often and read your Bible(s). Light many candles in your heart as I come to an end to this
message. Amen.
P.S. All honor is due unto my Lord. Praise Him all ye that can walk, talk, write, and sign
language. My final Amen.
Sermon By Jermaine. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 1999. Revised 2001.