WHY OFFERINGS WHAT IS AN OFFERING A presentation

WHY OFFERINGS

WHAT IS AN OFFERING? • A presentation made to a deity as an act of religious worship or sacrifice. • A contribution or gift, especially made at a religious service. • The concept of offering is an expression of gratitude, thankfulness, joy, appreciation. Achievement, and success. • A response of love to our Creator

Other words/ synonyms for the word offering. • Sacrifice • Contribution • Oblation • Donation • Gift • present

God and offering • Ephesians 5 v 2 And live a life of love, just as Christ loved us, and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TITHES AND OFFERINGS • OFFERING: LEVITCUS 22 V 17 – 23 No blemish, defect, blind, injured, maimed etc. This is your personal selection of what you wish to give to your God. TITHE: LEVITICUS 27 V 30 - 34 Any tenth that passes under the priest’s rod, lame, defected etc. That will be the Lord’s choice.

OFFERINGS TO BE OF QUALITY • EXODUS 25: 1 – 7 Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying, “Speak to the children of Israel that they bring Me an offering. From anyone who gives it willingly with his heart, you shall take my offering. And this is the offering which you shall take from them; gold, silver and bronze. Blue, purple and scarlet thread, fine linen …”

BENEFITS OF GIVING • ACTS 20 V 35 • “…It is more blessed to give than to receive. ” • THESE ARE THE DIRECT WORDS FROM THE SAVIOUR HIMSELF

David’s attitude towards offering • Psalms 50 v 14 Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you, and you will honor me. Psalms 54 v 6 I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you, I will praise your name, o Lord, for it is good.

Psalms 50 v 23 • He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.

GOD’S FORMULAR • Luke 6: 38 Give and it shall be given to you • For you to be given you must give what you have first.

ABEL’S OFFERING • • • Gen. 4 v 4 The Lord accepted Abel and his offering WHAT FACILITATED THIS ? HEBREWS 11 v 4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offering. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

Gen. 22 vs 1 - 24 Our God values our practical demonstration of how we love to Him. Abraham did everything to please His Creator God. It was imputed to him as righteousness. For the sake of his love to God he could even offer his son as an offering Do you think you can give your “Isaac” if God asks for him

PRESENTS/OFFERINGS FOR VARIOUS OCCASSIONS - BIRTHDAY PRESENTS - SUPRISES - WEDDING PRESENTS HOW DO THESE COMPARE WITH THE OFFERINGS GIVEN TO THE ALMIGHTY, OMNIPRESENT, OMNISCIENT, OMNIPOTENT GOD?

THE MACEDONIAN SPIRIT • 2 Cor. 8 v 1 • And now brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. • Out of the most severe trials, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. • For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

WHERE THERE IS LOVE THERE IS GIVING • JOHN 3 V 16 • FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. • GOD LOVED AND HE GAVE • HE GAVE THE BEST GIFT EVER

THE MACEDONIAN SECRET • V. 5. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.