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Saint Paul has written in 2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich”. |
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INTRODUCTION |
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In this world, everybody wants to be rich in everything. God also created us to be rich in everything (Gen.2). But because of our disobedient we became poor and lost all our riches. That’s the reason Jesus came to this earth to redeem our riches which the devil stolen from us. |
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But, if Jesus Christ was a mere man, in what sense was He rich and how could He make his followers rich by His poverty? His family was poor. He himself possessed no property from the manger to the cross. He died as a poor man and was buried in a borrowed grave. The answer to these questions would have to be that He was and still is more than a mere man. He was God from all eternity (Mic.5:1-2; John 1:1-2; Rev. 1:7, 8, 17, 18). |
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He created and owned the vast universes (Eph. 3:11; Col. 1:15-18). He laid aside His God form and riches and took human form to redeem us. He became poor and died as our substitute. He now makes rich all who believe Him (John. 1:12; 3:16). They become heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ of all God owns (Phil. 2:5-11; Rom. 8:17; Gal. 3:29). |
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Though we believe Him, still we are under the poverty! Why? What should we do in order to become rich? |
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1. SEEK THE LORD |
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Jesus has promised to make us rich with a condition. If we seek Him He will make us rich. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33). |
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Daniel was seeking God, even in the time of his trouble. That too daily thrice (Dan. 6:10) “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before”. |
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So, Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian (Daniel 6:28). |
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Let’s seek the Lord at all our circumstances as Daniel did, surely the Lord will make us rich. Jesus was seeking God early in the morning (Mark 1:35) and in the whole night (Luke 6:12). Hence, he was able to make us rich. |
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2. GIVE TO THE LORD |
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Jesus has promised in Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you”. |
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What to give to the Lord? |
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A. Give whatever belongs to the Lord. The Word of God says in Lev. 27:30
“A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. |
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If we obey to the Word of God, surely the Lord will make us rich as per Mal. 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it”. |
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B. Give whatever God has commanded to give. The Lord has commanded to Moses in Exod. 25:2 “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give? |
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King Ezekiah gave a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep and goats for the assembly…” (2 Chro. 30:24). Hence, the Lord blessed or made him rich, “Hezekiah had very great riches and honor and he made treasuries for his silver and gold and for his precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuables”
( 2 Chro. 32:27). |
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The Lord always likes to give. Even He gave His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to us (John 3:16). He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Rom. 8:32). |
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“…for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7) in order to make us rich. Give, you will be given! Celebrate this Christmas by Giving!!.
Wishing you a meaningful Christmas and a Blessed New Year-2009. |
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