WHAT GIFTS WILL BE RECIVED
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GIVING AND RECEIVING ARE SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS OF CHRISTIANS. WE GIVE THE GOSPEL FREELY. WE GIVE FORGIVENESS, AND LOVE. BUT WE MUST ALSO BE TAUGHT HOW TO RECEIVE.
Philippians 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
FAITH IS THE KEY TO GOD’S GRACE. WITHOUT IT, WE GET ONLY JUDGMENT.
Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
WITHOUT FAITH, THERE ARE UNPLEASANT THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN.
Romans 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
1. THE WORLD’S GIFT IS NOT WHAT YOU REALLY WANT.
WE HAVE TO BATTLE AGAINST THE DESIRES OF THE OLD NATURE THAT WANTS TO HAVE THE GIFTS OF THIS WORLD.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
—its’ conversations revolve around the things of this world. We must center our lives—and conversation around the Lord Jesus.
1 John 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
THE GIFTS OF THIS WORLD ARE OFTEN DECEPTIVE. ***Parents bought daughter a cell phone. Soon, she spent much her time on it, and developed relationship with people who finally brought her into the world of drugs and promiscuous sex.
Matthew 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
2. WE CAN RECEIVE THINGS FROM GOD, BUT MUST EXERCISE OUR FAITH.
A. THE BLIND MAN WAS NOT FORCED TO SEE. HE WAS OFFERED A GIFT AND RECEIVED IT.
Mark 10:48-52 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
3. WE KNOW THINGS FREELY GIVEN TO US BY GOD.
A. WE CAN RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE WORD, OR JUST HEAR IT AND FORGET IT.
James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
MORE THAN JUST MENTALLY. DO CHRISTIAN LEARN FROM THE WORD, BUT DO LITTLE ABOUT IT ? How would you classify them ? Strong or weak ? *(But, they almost always put on as if they are strong).
—DO YOU TRULY RECEIVE THE REALITY OF BIBLE PROPHECY ? ***SOMEONE IN A DOCTOR’S OFFICE ASKED THE TIME. THEIR WATCH HAD STOPPED. ONE PERSON SAID IT WAS 1:30. ANOTHER SAID THEIR CLOCK SAID IT WAS 1:00. THEY REPLIED, “I LIKE YOUR TIME BETTER.” DO WE CHOOSE TO ACCEPT WHAT TIME IT IS ?
Mark 13:34 For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
B. WE CAN RECEIVE THE GIFT OF GOD’S POWER.
BUT WHAT IS DONE WITH IT ? IS IT USED TO GLORIFY GOD ? —purpose is=“TO BE WITNESSES UNTO ME”
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
C. WE HAVE TO OUT-VOTE THE OLD NATURE, AND RECIEVE THE THINGS OF GOD RATHER THAN THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
EACH OF US HAS A MINISTRY WHICH CAN BE RECEIVED OR REJECTED. [PAUL RECEIVED HIS. ARE WE BLESSED BECAUSE HE RECEIVED IT ? YES. HOW MANY WILL NOT BE BLESSED BECAUSE YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE MINISTRY GOD HAS GIVEN YOU. IT MAY BE TEACHING, A MINISTRY OF FINANCES, A MINISTRY OF PRAYER, OF CONSOLATION, ETC.
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
MANY RECEIVE THE OFFER TO BE SAVED, BUT DO NOTHING WITH IT. JUDAS.
John 13:30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
“What Gifts Will Be Received”
A Bible Study with Dr. Ed J. MacWilliams
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