Transcription
Faith-PromiseMissionsDevotional akeland.com
A FIVE-DAY FAITH-PROMISE DEVOTIONALGUIDEDAY FIVERead: Philippians 4:10-17It is both the privilege and the duty of the Christian to sendmissionaries by means of generous financial gifs. In ways beyond all human understanding of logic or of math, God takesour gifs, multiplies them, uses them, and repays the giver withblessing. This is what Faith-Promise is all about.C.T. Studd was a pioneer missionary to China and India, before dyingon the mission field in Africa in 1931. Studd believed in the providenceof God to supply missionary expenses. He practiced what he preachedby giving away to missions the vast fortune he inherited upon his father’s death. It was Studd who wrote, “Only one life, twill soon be past,only what’s done for Christ will last.” This was the guiding principle ofC.T. Studd’s life. As today’s text reminds us, Faith-Promise is all abouteternity and our heavenly “bank” account (see v. 17).Your Faith-Promise for missions holds the potential to have agreater impact on your spiritual life than any other event thisyear. Faith-Promise is not designed to replace your normal giving, but to increase it and, in increasing your giving, to expandyour faith. The Faith-Promise is about money, but it is aboutmore than money. Faith-Promise is essentially about yourheart.The Faith-Promise concept has been used in many churchesover the years. Of the 23 churches in the United States with thelargest mission budgets, 20 (almost 90%) utilize this program.More importantly, God has used the Faith-Promise strategy toturn believers’ hearts to Himself.I pray that God will use this five-day devotional guide to instruct your mind and touch your heart regarding the biblicalconcept of Faith-Promise missions giving and your involvement in it.Pastor DanLike C.T. Studd, we who participate in Faith-Promise also believe in aprovidential and promise-keeping God. Remember, Faith-Promise is nottelling God what you will give, but asking God what He would haveyou to give. Faith-Promise is not based on our promise to God, butGod’s promise to us; not our faithfulness in keeping our promise, butGod’s faithfulness in keeping His promise. Faith-Promise is not apromise to God, but a promise from God that He will supply. When wehear what God promises to give through us, we must believe and act byfaith.The amount God wants you to give is up to Him. How God suppliesthis promised amount is also up to Him. Just as God is not limited inHis resources, He is not restricted in the sources He may choose to supply His promise. However, we should be aware that God has used thefollowing avenues as conduits for His supply in the past:1) From unusual or unexpected sources of income (be aware that this isgiven to you, but it is not for you)2) By giving you creative ways to generate additional income3) Though money-saving and/or cost-cutting changes in your life-style4) Giving to Faith-Promise out of your abundance (savings, sale of appreciable holdings and valuables, etc.)QUESTION FOR REFLECTION:Northsidebaptistlakeland.com1) What is the amount God has promised to supply to you? If you arenot sure, will you prayerfully repeat the study?
DAY FOURRead: 2 Corinthians 9:12-15DAY ONERead: 2 Corinthians 8:1-52 Corinthians 9:15, reveals that the indescribable gift of God’sSon to us is the foundation of our Faith-Promise. Our FaithPromise commitment shows that we love God and those whomGod loves – the missionary and the lost.In today’s text, Paul explains what Faith-Promise giving is allabout. The churches in Macedonia were weak and poor, yet theydistinguished themselves by begging for opportunities to give andthen giving out of their poverty far more than anyone could expect.This attitude is the foundation for Faith-Promise giving.Before we ask what our Faith-Promise will be, we must ask whatour Faith-Promise will do. Though participating in FaithPromise, we experience the privilege of being instruments ofGod’s grace. Second Corinthians 9:12-15 reminds us that FaithPromise is an experiment in faith that supplies the needs of themissionary and causes everyone touched by our gift to thank andglorify God. Our participation in Faith-Promise also shows oursubjection to the Gospel and our gratitude for God’s unspeakable gift to us.Giving to God’s kingdom work is far too important to be simplya duty. Through Jesus, God gave us righteousness for our sinand riches for our poverty. Our Faith-Promise proves that theGospel is at work in our lives.QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:1) Do you consider Faith-Promise as a duty, a privilege, or both?Why?2) Have you been praying about your Faith-Promise? Whatamount are you now thinking about? As you have studiedGod’s Word and prayed, has God stretched your faith? (refer toDay 1, Question 3)3) How have you given to missions in the past? Will your giving change this year? In what way(s)?Northsidebaptistlakeland.comFaith-Promise does not begin with the question, “How much can Iafford to give?” But rather, “How much will I allow God to givethrough me?”The proper understanding of Faith-Promise revolves around thefact that we are stewards who own nothing yet control everything.As stewards, we hold all that we have in trust for God. It was thissingle revelation that sparked the giving of the Macedonian Christians. They first gave themselves to God. They didn’t give only apart of their lives and possessions, they gave everything. They understood they belonged entirely to God; therefore, they gladly gaveeverything to God.As you consider your faith promise commitment, tell God thatnothing is off limits to Him, it is all His already, and ask God tomake the behavior of the Macedonians real in your life.QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:1) How does understanding that God owns it all change your perspective on Faith-Promise giving?2) How does changing the question from, “How much should Igive?” to “How much does God want me to give stretch yourfaith?3) After prayer, study, and reflection, write down a preliminaryFaith-Promise commitment and keep this figure in reserve untilyou complete the next four daily devotionals.
DAY TWORead: 2 Corinthians 8:7-9DAY THREERead: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11Today’s text gives us a profound insight into the Christian life:We cannot expect to excel in faith and love unless we abound ingiving. If we want to grow in faith, we must grow in our giving;if we want to expand our giving, we must extend our faith.Learning the truth that faith and giving are connected, and thateach will expand the other, is one of the most important resultsof Faith-Promise. This is what Faith-Promise giving is allabout.Today’s text explains that God’s resources are never limited. Hegives us all we need for daily living and then extra to give away.As one Bible version interprets verse 11, “He will make you richin every way so that you can always give freely. And that yourgiving, through us (i.e., Faith-Promise) will cause many to givethanks to God.”It has been well-said that one can give without loving, but noone can truly love without giving. By faith our promise becomesthe concrete way we prove that the life of faith and the life ofgiving are the same life. When we fail to “abound in this grace”of giving we rob ourselves of the privilege, the joy, and theblessing that accompanies the Faith-Promise. God wants tostretch our faith through our giving so that we may “abound ingrace” (v. 7) and “prove the sincerity of our love” (v. 8).QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:1) How are faith and giving connected in your life? Are youabounding in each or is there room for growth?2) How will making a Faith-Promise commitment grow yourfaith?3) The “forwardness of others” in verse 8 means that others areeagerly awaiting your gift. How will the sincerity of your lovebe proven by your Faith-Promise commitment?4) What dollar amount is God impressing upon you today?Don’t make your commitment yet, but continue to pray.Northsidebaptistlakeland.comThe Faith-Promise method of giving can be vulnerable to misuseif we are not careful. First, we must never think we can dictatean amount to God and then promise that we will give thatamount if He provides it sometime during the year. Second, wemust never assume that the promise is ours -- the promise isGod’s. And third, we must understand that the promise we makeis not to God, but from Him. Faith-Promise is not telling Godwhat you will give, but rather asking God what He would haveyou to give by faith in His supply.God is always 100% faithful to His promises. The key to FaithPromise giving is hearing from God. That is what these dailydevotionals are about – listening for the amount that God promises to give to us so that we, in turn, can give to missions. FaithPromise Missions Conference is a time for us to hear from Godand affirm our faith in Him by making a commitment.QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:1) How are vv. 6-8 related? How do they relate to Faith-Promisegiving? How do these verses play-out in your life?2) How does John 16:24 relate to Faith-Promise? Philippians1:6? Matthew 10:29-31?3) In what way does giving by faith, based on the promises ofGod, change your attitude about Faith-Promise?
DAY TWORead: 2 Corinthians 8:7-9DAY THREERead: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11Today’s text gives us a profound insight into the Christian life:We cannot expect to excel in faith and love unless we abound ingiving. If we want to grow in faith, we must grow in our giving;if we want to expand our giving, we must extend our faith.Learning the truth that faith and giving are connected, and thateach will expand the other, is one of the most important resultsof Faith-Promise. This is what Faith-Promise giving is allabout.Today’s text explains that God’s resources are never limited. Hegives us all we need for daily living and then extra to give away.As one Bible version interprets verse 11, “He will make you richin every way so that you can always give freely. And that yourgiving, through us (i.e., Faith-Promise) will cause many to givethanks to God.”It has been well-said that one can give without loving, but noone can truly love without giving. By faith our promise becomesthe concrete way we prove that the life of faith and the life ofgiving are the same life. When we fail to “abound in this grace”of giving we rob ourselves of the privilege, the joy, and theblessing that accompanies the Faith-Promise. God wants tostretch our faith through our giving so that we may “abound ingrace” (v. 7) and “prove the sincerity of our love” (v. 8).QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:1) How are faith and giving connected in your life? Are youabounding in each or is there room for growth?2) How will making a Faith-Promise commitment grow yourfaith?3) The “forwardness of others” in verse 8 means that others areeagerly awaiting your gift. How will the sincerity of your lovebe proven by your Faith-Promise commitment?4) What dollar amount is God impressing upon you today?Don’t make your commitment yet, but continue to pray.Northsidebaptistlakeland.comThe Faith-Promise method of giving can be vulnerable to misuseif we are not careful. First, we must never think we can dictatean amount to God and then promise that we will give thatamount if He provides it sometime during the year. Second, wemust never assume that the promise is ours -- the promise isGod’s. And third, we must understand that the promise we makeis not to God, but from Him. Faith-Promise is not telling Godwhat you will give, but rather asking God what He would haveyou to give by faith in His supply.God is always 100% faithful to His promises. The key to FaithPromise giving is hearing from God. That is what these dailydevotionals are about – listening for the amount that God promises to give to us so that we, in turn, can give to missions. FaithPromise Missions Conference is a time for us to hear from Godand affirm our faith in Him by making a commitment.QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:1) How are vv. 6-8 related? How do they relate to Faith-Promisegiving? How do these verses play-out in your life?2) How does John 16:24 relate to Faith-Promise? Philippians1:6? Matthew 10:29-31?3) In what way does giving by faith, based on the promises ofGod, change your attitude about Faith-Promise?
DAY FOURRead: 2 Corinthians 9:12-15DAY ONERead: 2 Corinthians 8:1-52 Corinthians 9:15, reveals that the indescribable gift of God’sSon to us is the foundation of our Faith-Promise. Our FaithPromise commitment shows that we love God and those whomGod loves – the missionary and the lost.In today’s text, Paul explains what Faith-Promise giving is allabout. The churches in Macedonia were weak and poor, yet theydistinguished themselves by begging for opportunities to give andthen giving out of their poverty far more than anyone could expect.This attitude is the foundation for Faith-Promise giving.Before we ask what our Faith-Promise will be, we must ask whatour Faith-Promise will do. Though participating in FaithPromise, we experience the privilege of being instruments ofGod’s grace. Second Corinthians 9:12-15 reminds us that FaithPromise is an experiment in faith that supplies the needs of themissionary and causes everyone touched by our gift to thank andglorify God. Our participation in Faith-Promise also shows oursubjection to the Gospel and our gratitude for God’s unspeakable gift to us.Giving to God’s kingdom work is far too important to be simplya duty. Through Jesus, God gave us righteousness for our sinand riches for our poverty. Our Faith-Promise proves that theGospel is at work in our lives.QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:1) Do you consider Faith-Promise as a duty, a privilege, or both?Why?2) Have you been praying about your Faith-Promise? Whatamount are you now thinking about? As you have studiedGod’s Word and prayed, has God stretched your faith? (refer toDay 1, Question 3)3) How have you given to missions in the past? Will your giving change this year? In what way(s)?Northsidebaptistlakeland.comFaith-Promise does not begin with the question, “How much can Iafford to give?” But rather, “How much will I allow God to givethrough me?”The proper understanding of Faith-Promise revolves around thefact that we are stewards who own nothing yet control everything.As stewards, we hold all that we have in trust for God. It was thissingle revelation that sparked the giving of the Macedonian Christians. They first gave themselves to God. They didn’t give only apart of their lives and possessions, they gave everything. They understood they belonged entirely to God; therefore, they gladly gaveeverything to God.As you consider your faith promise commitment, tell God thatnothing is off limits to Him, it is all His already, and ask God tomake the behavior of the Macedonians real in your life.QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:1) How does understanding that God owns it all change your perspective on Faith-Promise giving?2) How does changing the question from, “How much should Igive?” to “How much does God want me to give stretch yourfaith?3) After prayer, study, and reflection, write down a preliminaryFaith-Promise commitment and keep this figure in reserve untilyou complete the next four daily devotionals.
A FIVE-DAY FAITH-PROMISE DEVOTIONALGUIDEDAY FIVERead: Philippians 4:10-17It is both the privilege and the duty of the Christian to sendmissionaries by means of generous financial gifs. In ways beyond all human understanding of logic or of math, God takesour gifs, multiplies them, uses them, and repays the giver withblessing. This is what Faith-Promise is all about.C.T. Studd was a pioneer missionary to China and India, before dyingon the mission field in Africa in 1931. Studd believed in the providenceof God to supply missionary expenses. He practiced what he preachedby giving away to missions the vast fortune he inherited upon his father’s death. It was Studd who wrote, “Only one life, twill soon be past,only what’s done for Christ will last.” This was the guiding principle ofC.T. Studd’s life. As today’s text reminds us, Faith-Promise is all abouteternity and our heavenly “bank” account (see v. 17).Your Faith-Promise for missions holds the potential to have agreater impact on your spiritual life than any other event thisyear. Faith-Promise is not designed to replace your normal giving, but to increase it and, in increasing your giving, to expandyour faith. The Faith-Promise is about money, but it is aboutmore than money. Faith-Promise is essentially about yourheart.The Faith-Promise concept has been used in many churchesover the years. Of the 23 churches in the United States with thelargest mission budgets, 20 (almost 90%) utilize this program.More importantly, God has used the Faith-Promise strategy toturn believers’ hearts to Himself.I pray that God will use this five-day devotional guide to instruct your mind and touch your heart regarding the biblicalconcept of Faith-Promise missions giving and your involvement in it.Pastor DanLike C.T. Studd, we who participate in Faith-Promise also believe in aprovidential and promise-keeping God. Remember, Faith-Promise is nottelling God what you will give, but asking God what He would haveyou to give. Faith-Promise is not based on our promise to God, butGod’s promise to us; not our faithfulness in keeping our promise, butGod’s faithfulness in keeping His promise. Faith-Promise is not apromise to God, but a promise from God that He will supply. When wehear what God promises to give through us, we must believe and act byfaith.The amount God wants you to give is up to Him. How God suppliesthis promised amount is also up to Him. Just as God is not limited inHis resources, He is not restricted in the sources He may choose to supply His promise. However, we should be aware that God has used thefollowing avenues as conduits for His supply in the past:1) From unusual or unexpected sources of income (be aware that this isgiven to you, but it is not for you)2) By giving you creative ways to generate additional income3) Though money-saving and/or cost-cutting changes in your life-style4) Giving to Faith-Promise out of your abundance (savings, sale of appreciable holdings and valuables, etc.)QUESTION FOR REFLECTION:Northsidebaptistlakeland.com1) What is the amount God has promised to supply to you? If you arenot sure, will you prayerfully repeat the study?
year. Faith-Promise is not designed to replace your normal giv-ing, but to increase it and, in increasing your giving, to expand your faith. The Faith-Promise is about money, but it is about more than money. Faith-Promise is essentially about your heart. The Faith-Promise concept has been used in many churches over the years.
