THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS THE CHEERFUL GIVER!!

GIVING EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE GIVING THAT'S BLESSED; NOT THE ONE DONE IN THE FLESH!!

 “…Remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that GIVETH thee POWER to GET WEALTH…” (Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV).  

 “…For it is God who WORKS in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13 NIV).

“…It is the SPIRIT who GIVES…. the flesh profits nothing…” (John 6:63 NASB). 

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God’s indwelling Holy Spirit EMPOWERS you to GIVE from your spiritual and material resources and WEALTH. “…it is God which WORKETH in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). YOU “…can do all things THROUGH Christ which strengtheneth (empowers) [YOU]….” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). “….APART from Me, you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).

“… A man can RECEIVE nothing, except it be GIVEN HIM [FIRST] FROM HEAVEN…” (John 3:27 KJV). “…Unto you it is GIVEN (gifted) ….not only to believe on him (depend upon him)...” (Philippians 1:29 KJV).  ALSO, “…As MANY as received him, to them GAVE HE POWER to become the SONS OF GOD…” (John 1:13-14 NASB).

The FATHER’s (God) WORD (Jesus) is POWER (Holy Spirit) and they are ONE. “…THERE ARE THREE that bear record in heaven, the Father (GOD), the Word (JESUS), and the Holy Ghost (POWER): and THESE THREE ARE ONE…” (1 JOHN 5:6-8 KJV). God’s Word is POWER.

The salvation message is the FIRST experience of God’s POWER. “….the gospel of Christ (the WORD) …. is THE  POWER of God unto SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH (THAT DEPENDS UPON HIM)…” (Romans 1:16 KJV). “…Unto YOU it is GIVEN (gifted) ….not only to believe on him. (not only to depend upon him)..” (Philippians 1:29 KJV). BUT, “…BY GRACE  (unmerited FAVOR) have ye been SAVED THROUGH FAITH (through dependency)…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV). “…RECEIVE (accept the GIFT)  with meekness the engrafted WORD (Jesus Chist), which is “ABLE” to SAVE your souls…” (James 1:21 KJV).

“… He (Jesus Christ) had a name written, that no man knew … his name is called The Word of God…” (Revelation 19:12-13 NASB). “….The Word became flesh…” (John 1:14 NASB). “…BY THE WORD of the Lord … [YOU ARE SAVED] …” (Psalms 33:6 NASB).

God’s POWER is invisible, but the results of God’s POWER “can” be CLEARLY seen.  “…Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities— HIS ETERNAL POWER AND DIVINE NATURE—have been CLEARLY SEEN, being UNDERSTOOD FROM WHAT HAS BEEN MADE, so that people are without excuse…” (Romans 1:20 NIV).

God’s power basically refers to his divine, holy authority or omnipotence. God’s kind of POWER is a spiritual attribute which originates from his divine, holy nature.

Everything that has been created is a manifestation of God’s eternal, holy POWER. God’s DIVINE, holy POWER is seen in nature, the cosmos, the heavens, the earth, all creature or humans, and in the way all things are sustained. “…The Son (the living word) … sustaining ALL THINGS by his powerful word…” (Hebrews 1:3 NIV). “…In him (Jesus) ALL THINGS hold together…” (Colossians 1:7 NIV).

A good definition of God’s POWER comes from understanding it through the lens of its original Hebrew and Greek meaning which points to words like exousia or dunamis which simply means ULTIMATE power or authority. “…POWER belongeth unto God...” (Psalms 62:11 NIV).

God’s holy power is in a category all on its own. Ancient Greek calls it dunamis power where miracles and mighty supernatural works derive. There are a lot of names given to define power such as: clout, one’s own ability, being sovereign, strength, one’s capability, dominion, authority, control, rule, or supreme influence.

There is no power, however, like that of God’s power. “… There is NONE like unto thee, O LORD; thou art GREAT, and thy name [ALONE]  is great in might.…” (Jeremiah 10:6 KJV). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…” (John 4:24 KJV).  “…POWER belongeth unto God...” (Psalms 62:11 NIV).

There are many examples of power, many definitions of power, but none of those powers are comparable to the POWER of God. “… There is NONE like unto thee, O LORD;” (Jeremiah 10:6 KJV).

No matter who holds positions of power; ultimately all power BELONGS to God. “…POWER belongeth unto God...” (Psalms 62:11 NIV).

If one possesses power of any kind, it was given to him by God. “…There is NO POWER but of God: THE POWERS that be are ordained of God…” (Romans 13:1 KJV). “….[God]…changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding…” (Daniel 2:21 KJV).

“…In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And bestows it on whom He wishes …” (Daniel 4:17 NASB). “…Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above…” (John 19:22 NIV).

ALL “…POWER belongeth unto God...” (Psalms 62:11 NIV). “…The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein…” (Psalm 24:1 KJV). “…for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof…” (Psalm 50:12 KJV). “…all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine…” (1 Chronicles 29:11 KJV).

The WORD of God is “…the POWER of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth…” (Romans 1:16 KJV). God’s dunamis power is often translated as miraculous power, especially since it extends far and abundantly above normal, common human power or capability. God “… is able TO DO exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV).

Jesus displayed that POWER. “…Jesus realized that POWER had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering…” (Mark 5:30-34 NIV).  “…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth  (HOW?) with the Holy Spirit and POWER,  (AND WHAT DID JESUS DO?) … he went around doing good and healing all ….because God was with him…” (Acts 10:38 NIV).

God used others to display that POWER too. “…Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and POWER, performed great wonders and signs among the people…” (Acts 6:8 NIV).  “…God did extraordinary MIRACLES (power) through Paul…” (Acts 19:11 NIV). “…I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and MIRACLES (power)…” (2 Corinthians 12:12 NIV).

“…Now God GIVES US many kinds of special abilities, but it is the same HOLY SPIRIT who is the SOURCE of them all. …it is the same God who does the work IN and THROUGH all of us who are his. The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each of us … It is the same and only Holy Spirit who gives all these gifts and POWERS… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).

The uniqueness of God’s POWER and what separates it from any other power is that it originates from his DIVINE nature. In addition, God’s POWER has demonstrated that it is the PRIMARY POWER that moves, shakes, sustains, and controls the entire universe and everything in it. “…There is NO POWER but of God: THE POWERS that be (exist) are ordained of God…” (Romans 13:1 KJV).

God’s POWER is witnessed throughout biblical and natural history. “… I HAVE MADE the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by MY GREAT POWER and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me…” (Jeremiah 27:5 KJV).  “…Lord God! behold, THOU HAST MADE the heaven and the earth by THY GREAT POWER and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee…” (Jeremiah 32:17 KJV).

God’s POWER is witnessed through the humans he EMPOWERED to fulfill his historical purposes as well. “…Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in POWER…” (Exodus 15:6 KJV). “…thou hast guided them in THE STRENGTH (power)…” (Exodus 15:13 KJV). “…O Lord God, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and THY MIGHTY hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to THY MIGHT (power)?” (Deuteronomy 3:24 KJV). “…God is our refuge and STRENGTH…” (Psalms 46:1 KJV). “…give thy STRENGTH unto thy servant…” (Psalms 86:16 KJV).

I hope we have established that God’s POWER is intrinsic and is witnessed in creation as well as in God’s people. “…Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities— HIS ETERNAL POWER AND DIVINE NATURE—have been CLEARLY SEEN, being UNDERSTOOD FROM WHAT HAS BEEN MADE, so that people are without excuse…” (Romans 1:20 NIV).

“…God GIVES US many kinds of special abilities, but … The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each of us … and … gives all these gifts and POWERS… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).

God’s people RECEIVE POWER from God's indwelling Holy Spirit, but it originates from his DIVINE Holy nature. “…I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God GIVEN unto me BY the effectual working of HIS POWER…” (Ephesians 3:7 KJV). “…My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the[HOLY] Spirit and OF POWER…” (1 Corinthians 2:4 KJV).

When God’s people mistakenly think POWER comes from themselves it is a sign they are deceived and do NOT know the truth. “…Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the POWER of God…” (Matthew 22:29 KJV). “…Remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that GIVETH thee POWER to get wealth…” (Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV). “…He GIVETH POWER to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength…” (Isaiah 40:29 KJV).  “…Truly I am full of POWER by the Spirit of the Lord…” (Micah 3:8 KJV).

Divine, holy POWER belongs to God and his kind of POWER is NOT intrinsic to man. “…Thou say in thine heart, MY POWER and the might of MINE HAND hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is HE THAT GIVETH THEE “POWER” TO GET WEALTH…” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18 KJV). “…Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I HAVE POWER to crucify thee, and HAVE POWER to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have NO POWER at all against me, EXCEPT it were given thee from above…” (John 19:10-11 KJV).

Jesus was the example of GIVING credit for his POWER to God and God alone.  “…As thou (God) hast GIVEN HIM POWER over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him…” (John 17:2 KJV). “…And hath GIVEN HIM AUTHORITY to execute judgment also…” (John 5:27 KJV). “…Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him…” (John 5:19-23 KJV).

In addition, Jesus was the example for demonstrating he had God’s POWER. “…that ye may know that the Son of man HATH POWER on earth to forgive sins…” (Matthew 9:6 KJV).  Jesus also had POWER over the unseen world. “…And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for WITH AUTHORITY AND POWER he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out…” (Luke 4:36 KJV).

Jesus GAVE his disciples power and authority over the unseen world. “…Then he called his twelve disciples together, and GAVE THEM POWER AND AUTHORITY over all devils, and to cure diseases…” (Luke 9:1 KJV).

It is God’s POWER that delivers the sinner from the BONDAGE of sin and allows him or her to experience the POWER of Christ’s resurrection. “…Who will free me from this life that is dominated by SIN? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…if the Son…shall make you FREE, ye shall be FREE indeed.” (John 8:36 KJV). “…That I may know him, and THE POWER of his resurrection...” (Philippians 3:10 KJV).

Believers rely on the EMPOWERING, indwelling Holy Spirit for Holy living (Living FREE from SIN). “…For God hath not given us the Spirit of fear; BUT OF POWER, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to THE POWER of God…” (2 Timothy 1:7-8 KJV).

The Father’s Word is POWER and salvation originates from the WORD'S inherent POWER.  “…For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the POWER OF GOD unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek…” (Romans 1:16 KJV).

The GOSPEL/WORD is God’s POWER that supernaturally works SALVATION “IN” and "THROUGH" those who believe (depend upon the Word). “…Unto YOU it is GIVEN ….not only to believe on him (not only to depend upon him)…” (Philippians 1:29 KJV). But, “…BY GRACE  (unmerited FAVOR) have ye been SAVED THROUGH FAITH (through dependency upon the WORD)…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV). “…RECEIVE (accept the GIFT)  with meekness the engrafted WORD (Jesus Christ), which is “ABLE” to SAVE your souls…” (James 1:21 KJV).

Through the GOSPEL/WORD/JESUS, God’s divine POWER becomes the key to EMPOWERING the believer's salvation and directing them into victorious Christian living. “…But thanks be to God, which GIVETH THEM the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (the WORD)…” (1 Corinthians 15:57 KJV). “…His “divine” POWER hath GIVEN unto [you]… ALL THINGS that pertain unto life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:3 KJV).

“… [WE]… WHO ARE “KEPT” BY THE “POWER” OF GOD THROUGH FAITH (dependency upon his WORD) unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls…” (1 Peter 1:5-9 KJV).

God’s POWER is not passive or inactive, but is the driving FORCE behind a productive and fruitful Christian life. ^“…God… works IN YOU to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose…” (Philippians 2:13 NIV). “….apart from Me (Jesus, God’s WORD), you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV). ^“…May… God, …EQUIP “you” with everything good for doing his will, and may he work IN US  what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ,” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…He gives POWER to the weak and strength to the POWERless.…” (Isaiah 40:28-31 NLT). “…NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS “ABLE” to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the POWER that worketh IN US…” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV). “…HE WHICH HATH “BEGUN” A GOOD “WORK” IN YOU “WILL” “PERFORM” IT “UNTIL” the day of Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 1:6 KJV). “….the GOD of Israel is he that GIVETH strength and POWER UNTO HIS PEOPLE…” (Psalms 68:35 KJV). “…SUMMON YOUR POWER, God; SHOW US YOUR STRENGTH, our God, as you have done before…” (Psalms 68:28 NASB).  “… [I am]…strengthened (empowered) with MIGHT by his Spirit in the inner man…” (Ephesians 3:16 KJV).

God MEETS every NEED you.“… God will supply all [your need]…” (Philippians 4:19 NASB). “…God will generously PROVIDE all you need…” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT). The HOLY SPIRIT even supplies you with the ability to GIVE!

“…Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver…” (2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV). I AM A CHEERFUL GIVER. “…by the grace of God I AM what I AM…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV).

God’s grace is bestowed upon the unworthy, the underserving, and those who did not earn it and grants to them Christlike character, empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit, that produces Godly fruit. I AM A CHEERFUL GIVER. “…by the grace of God I AM what I AM…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV).

God’s grace is bestowed upon the unworthy, the underserving, and those who did not earn it and grants to them the beauty of  his holiness, empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit and expresses how God’s love has set them apart from all others. I AM A CHEERFUL GIVER. “…by the grace of God I AM what I AM…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV).

God’s grace is bestowed upon the unworthy, the underserving, and those who did not earn it and grants to them the ability to carry out his word, empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit to do all his good pleasure. “…God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). I AM A CHEERFUL GIVER. “…by the grace of God I AM what I AM…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV).

God’s grace is bestowed upon the unworthy, the underserving, and those who did not earn it and supplies all that is needed, empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit to have MORE than enough to share with others. “…And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others…” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT).  I AM A CHEERFUL GIVER. “…by the grace of God I AM what I AM…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV).

God’s grace is bestowed upon the unworthy, the underserving, and those who did not earn and is an expression of God’s divine love, empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit to further demonstrate his GREAT, faithful, everlasting love. “…Great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD” (Psalms 117:2 KJV).   I AM A CHEERFUL GIVER. “…by the grace of God I AM what I AM…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV).

God’s grace is bestowed upon the unworthy, the underserving, and those who did not earn it through the GIFT of the indwelling Holy Spirit. “….ye shall receive the GIFT of the Holy Ghost…” (Acts 2:38 KJV). “…the Spirit of God dwell in you…” (Romans 8:9 KJV).   “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV). “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV). “…God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV).

“…by the grace of God I AM what I AM…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV). I AM is one of God’s names and can mean the source of all reality. God’s name “I AM” verifies reality and when used with His word creates reality.

Your identity becomes linked with truth. “…thy word is truth” (JOHN 17:17 KJV). Every time you say I AM, link it with a biblical truth. Believers can actively accept their new identity “IN” Christ Jesus. “…But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was “NOT” WITHOUT EFFECT…” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV).

God’s indwelling Spirit is not without effect and thus can EMPOWER you to GIVE. You can say, “ I AM A CHEERFUL GIVER.”