The Power of Giving by Pastor Mike Picone

May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18 May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus. 2 Timothy 1:16

Paul writes this in the shadow of being abandon by his disciples in the province of Asia. But than he writes about someone of great character and commitment a man know as Onesiphorus. The name Onesiphorus actually means profit bearer. There is not much written about this man, but evidently God had put Paul on his heart. And he was not ashamed of Paul being treated like a criminal. I want to talk with you about becoming a profit bearer an Onesiphorus. Someone who is concern for the welfare of others in the Body of Christ and concerned for the five fold ministry (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and teachers) of our day.

Let’s look at the power of giving.

It is more blessed to give than receive. Acts ‪20:35 

The Lord revealed to me , when you give it is a five fold investment.

1. Your sowing into the Kingdom of Heaven. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:20-21

What you believe in, you spend your resources on. When you share your resources, you are sowing into the Kingdom your time your finances and your prayers. And In the Kingdom your resources are protected and credited to your account. A record of your resources is being remembered and recorded.

2. Your helping the Ministry, Church that you gave to. ( Acts 4: 30-37)

And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Acts 4:36-37

Just like in Acts 4, the ministry needed help from those who had gotten blessed by the ministry of the Apostles. When you give your helping that Church, Ministry to further the work and mandate that was given it by the Lord.

3. Your sowing for your future needs ( Phil.4:18-19) The Scripture says, God will meet all of your needs, the way it is stated in the Greek is with a future tense, indicates the contemplated or certain occurrence of an event which has not yet occurred. God knowing your future need before you do. And than active, the active voice represents the subject doer or performer of the action. God in action meeting Needs that are now, but also pointing to needs that will come up.And than stated as fact, The indicative mood is a simple statement of fact. If an action really occurs or has occurred or will occur, it will be rendered in the indicative mood.

4. The feeling of fulfillment, putting others first ( Philippians 2:3- 5). By us giving (of our prays, time, resources to others) it helps us get ride of self. Making us more like our Lord. So we are fulfilling scripture.

5.  A connection is being developed with that church, ministry on a Spiritual level, and emotional level. The Apostle Paul makes this statement in (Phil. ‪4:14-15) Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only. Philippians 4:14-15

The Greek word that is used here for communicate or share sygkoineo is a word that means, you are partakers of, to share in company and participate with that person. In this case it was the Philippian church with the Apostle Paul. He said you shared in my hardships. And again he says (Now you 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 you only.) Than he makes the statement and my God will meet all of your needs. He doesn’t say God will meet all of your needs but “my God” meaning mine own, the God of me. It is said in a very personal way to the Philippians. So when we give into the work of God we can truly do it cheerfully.Remember we are giving our resources into the Kingdom of Heaven so that His work may go forth.