Dear Friends
It's seems ages since I wrote you, so here goes!
In 2 Corinthians 8: we read where Paul is challenging the Church at Corinth to observe the amazing generosity of the Churches in Macedonia who weren't privileged like their counterparts in Corinth. In Corinth the people were wealthy, gifted, brilliant, great preachers, you name it they had it. Well in the churches of Macedonia just the opposite was the case; they were poor, persecuted, tested with many troubles and yet they overflowed in rich generosity and abundant joy. In the offering for the poverty stricken christians in Jerusalem they gave what they could and more. They kept begging Paul how they could give more! Can you grasp that? The poor were more open to generosity than were the rich! For them giving was a privilege and they never allowed their financially stretched situations to stop them from giving. They had discovered the truth, that you never receive from God by giving less! They knew that their Heavenly Farther has a limitless Storehouse and they knew how to draw from that heavenly Bank.
In so much of today's church fear replaces faith and so when it comes to giving money into God's Kingdom Work we so often think small rather than BIG. It has been said; "if it rained down $100 dollar notes christians would pick them up, then call at a shop on the way to church and get some small change to give in the church offering!" The Key is, the Macedonians "first of all gave themselves to the Lord". If in the church we have folk who as yet do not know the Lord, it's only natural that a generous spirit has yet to possess them. How many people have we introduced to Jesus so far this year? I imagine not too many, if our lives haven't really "put on Christ" as an attraction to them.
When it comes to giving a "Faith Promise" offering and this is what I'm challenging the folk of Mamre to do on the 6th June in order to pay for the new "Mamre Learning Centre" fully up front. When we stand in faith for a project of this nature, it's easy to get critized, be told raising money this way is a mistake. I'm sorry, but I've been too far and seen too much, I believe the project is important for the evangelism of the increasing number of children, youth, and Community needs in our area. For the offering on the 6th June to be the miracle many are now believing will happen, we all have to be built up in God's word and through our communion with Him and hear what we are to bring as an offering that day. It will be an amount beyond what we normally bring to church and it will represent what God has given us by His Spirit, It will be truly a Faith Promise Offering! Amen, a Miracle!!
Believing God for a financial miracle is no different than having faith for Healing, Salvation, Baptism in the Holy Spirit, it involves our desire plus faith minus unbelief which equals the answer! Let's never forget in all our walk of faith; "God Is A Big God" and I will never limit His provision to my Bank Balance. He owns the "Storehouse" and He can open it to you and me and so allow us to give beyond the impossible! AMEN!!
In His Grip
+ Harry