Empowered by Love

To call love an emotion is to limit its power.  Emotions are fleeting and motivated by the moment.  Perhaps from the world's perspective, love might fit within such parameters, but the God-type of love never fails as Pauls says in 1 Corinthians 13:8.  It is not turned off or operational only under certain conditions.  It is in fact the power source by which we can accomplish the supernatural.

Empowered by Love to Give

Many in the church give religiously rather than as motivated by love.  As a result, they give grudgingly.  But 2 Corinthians 2:7 (amp) addresses having the appropriate attitude in giving.  It says you should be a cheerful, joyous, "prompt to do it" giver whose heart in his/her giving.  Only then can God make all grace and favor abound towards you. 

The best example of giving empowered by love is John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave . . ."  First He loved then He gave.  And the gift He gave did nothing less than restore to Man the gift of eternal life.

Empowered by Love to be a Witness

If the greatest love displayed is the sacrifice of self for your neighbor, then by the Holy Spirit, the second greatest love displayed is leading another to accept Christ as Lord and Savior. I suppose we should love someone enough to be willing to lay down life for them.  But truthfully, Jesus was purposed by birth to be a martyr so no one else would have to be.

I venture that to say that the greatest love displayed and remain alive after the fact would be to lead another to Christ.  What do you more dear than your relationship with God through Jesus Christ?  Certainly this relationship is more important than that with your spouse.

If you want to show love to your neighbor as yourself, you would offer them the opportunity of salvation.  If you want them to experience to same bond of unconditional love that you experience, then you should not keep Christ to yourself.  The God-type of love in your heart should be your motivation.

I know you have the desire to show love in a manner as described above, but discouragement or fear often overwhelms you.  If this is you, pray that love be perfected within you; " perfect love casts out all fear," 1 John 4:18 (NKJV).

A person who loves like this would be an unstoppable force in the earth for the Body of Christ.  You'll become a perfect tool for the Father empowered by love to accomplish all He requires of you.

How to Avoid Robbing God of the Offering

In Malachi 3:8, God tells Israel they had been robbing Him in both tithes and offering. That word "offering" is often overlooked in this passage. Why? Verses 10 – 12 continue to discuss the benefits of tithing strictly. Those three scriptures don't reference the offering at all.

Besides we've always been taught that in contrast to the tithe, the offering is ours to give. It's already understood by many that failing to bring the tithe is stealing. But does this apply to giving offering as well? Did God mince words in Malachi 3:8?

Well there is no empty rhetoric in the Word of God. The offering is yours to give, and the harvest you receive is proportional to it. You won't be a sinner no matter what you offering you give.

But the robbery occurs when you bring an unsuitable offering—one not fit for the King of kings. Though giving the offering is your decision, it does not automatically follow that God accepted it.

We know that God rejected Cain's offering because Cain brought God less than his best. And God told Moses that He never changes—actually He repeated this in Malachi 3 as well—a so you shouldn't think God less likely to reject your offering today. An offering rejected by God is nothing more than a charitable donation, and He's not obligated to return a harvest for it.

You increase the likelihood of robbing God of the offering when you give an offering for which you did not consult Him—for which you were not led of the Holy Spirit.

If you have $100 come offering time and give God $5, chances are you robbed Him in that moment. It's not the amount specifically so much as you gave no meditation to the gift but just gave something to traditionally/religiously participate in the offering service. In essence, you gave God what cost you nothing, specifically what King David in giving his sacrifice in 2 Samuel 24 purposed to avoid.

To avoid robbing God of the offering, consult God on the gift. The Bible does not say that your offering has to be a surprise to Him. If you get Him involved in this worship, He will tell you what to give, how much to give, and what to sow towards. With God involved in this process from the start, you ensure a harvest on the seed sown. Certainly God is always as good as His word.