OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH 2017- GIVING DETERMINES PROMOTION

Memorise: Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee. Deuteronomy 16:17
Read: Deuteronomy 16:16-17
16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty:
17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.
Bible in one year: 2nd Chronicle 29-30, Ezekiel 40:20-34

1. When God commanded all males in Israel to appear before Him in today’s Bible reading, He specifically instructed that they should not come before Him empty-handed.
2. He also instructed that whatever they brought to Him must be a reflection of the level of blessings they had received from Him.
3. Based on these two parameters, can you say you have followed the divine pattern whenever you appear before God?
4. Today, when God’s people assemble before Him, many of them do not care about what they bring as an offering, as long as they bring something.
5. Do you know that God cares about this? For this reason, 2nd Corinthians 8:12 says, “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.”
6. One year, during our annual thanksgiving service for pastors and ministers of our church, I told them that God expects them to bring an offering that reflects how much He has blessed them individually. Then I asked them this question: “Brethren, do you know that many of us demote ourselves by the offering we give? “They appeared surprised to hear this. So I further explained that God knows us individually, and He knows the level to which He has blessed each one of us. He knows those who can afford to give N500 and those who are unable to give more than N100. If you are in the category of N1000 but give N500 per offering, you are indirectly saying to God, “Dear Lord, you made a mistake placing me in the category of givers of N1000. You should have left me in the category of givers of N500,” Then the Lord would reply, “I thought I promoted you, but if you want to demote yourself, no problem.”
7. This is why some people are experiencing financial dryness. You are the one who told God that the level He placed you at is too high and that He should take you lower.
8. I shared with my children that at the beginning of every year, I draw up a budget stating what I want to earn as my income for the year. Then I tell God that this is where I was last year but this is where I want to be by the year’s end. Thereafter, I start giving to reflect my expectations based on my target. I promote myself by giving beyond my present level, and I can tell you in unmistaken terms that God has never failed me, not even once. Before the end of the year, I would have already surpassed the limit I set for myself.
9. How has it been with your life of giving?
10. Make necessary adjustments today and key into your joy.

It’s important to always meditate on the word of God and ask for divine revelation concerning His word. Many believers have been deprived of greater blessings simply because of ignorance regarding giving. As our father stated, giving prompt us to divinely receive supernatural blessing. “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Luke‬ ‭6:38‬ ‬‬The last statement in this verse explains it all. The measure at which we give, is the measure at which it shall be replenished to us. May the Lord help us. Also, let’s give cheerfully and not because we are being persuaded. “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” ‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭9:7‬. May God continue to empower and strengthen Pastor E.A Adeboye in Jesus name.

Key Point
Giving at a level that matches the financial status of your expectations is a way to compel God to supernaturally upgrade you to that expected level.
HYMN
There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.
Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O Lord;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.
There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

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