Worship

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Gen:4:1: And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
Ge:4:2: And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Ge:4:3: And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Ge:4:4: And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Ge:4:5: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Ge:4:6: And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Ge:4:7: If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.


Giving to God (3)
Lessons
There is an acceptable way and there is an unacceptable way to give to God.


It was communicated to both Cain and Abel. Otherwise why would God blame Cain for not doing it the right way?

One them (Abel) responded the right way: obedience. How?
He gave the choicest – the best of his lambs
The other (Cain) was disobedient. He did it his own way rather than what he was taught.

There are consequences for responding rightly to the word of God.

Prompt, total obedience triggers the blessing of God:
Acceptance
1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Rom.12:1-2
Prosperity
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Phil4:19
10 Now may[b] He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.2Cor9:10-11
38Give, 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." Luke6:38
Joy
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
1John1:4
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Rom14:17
41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Acts5:41
Favour
42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved
Acts2:42-47

Disobedience opens the door for Satan, who is crouching secretly, like a lion waiting to pounce on a prey. As it applies to giving in this passage so it does apply in other subjects. One sin opens the door for other sins. Just as stealing leads to lying and cheating and cover-ups so we find that Cain disobedience and consequent rejection led to his anger, and later, murder.
Partial obedience is disobedience. (1Sam15) Saul lost his crown by partial obedience. Joshua and Caleb entered the Promised Land by following the Lord wholeheartedly. Abraham, when told to leave his country, kindred and father’s house for a place unknown, obeyed immediately. David refused to give the Lord what did not cost him anything.
The consequence of wrong response is rejection, separation, leading to dejection and eventual destruction.

Our giving is weighed not just in the amount (quantity) but also the quality.
It is not just what we giving but how we give it.
An acceptable offering has to be given:
Cheerfully
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2Cor9:7
Generously
Willingly and
of the best quality

May we give to provoke the blessing of God by giving willingly, generously, cheerfully and of the best quality, in Jesus’ Name, amen.

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