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1 July 2007
Running with the Winners
REBEKAH - Winning When Others Ask for Help
Key Verses: Genesis 24:10-27 (click)
+ The winners in life are Givers!
+ Rebekah would say this to us: "Little did I know that my little (mundane) act of kindness could bless so many people, including my family!"
+ Yes, it determined Rebekah's destiny. She became the great (X many times) grandmother of Jesus.
1. Start Giving
- (it helps us to) Respond to the Purpose of God
+ Giving is the fundamental call of the Christian faith
+ Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
+ Jesus Himself gave so unconditionally.
+ Jesus Himself gave so unconditionally.
+ Acts 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
+ One who receives, receives and receives without giving out is like:
> A Tadpole -> Big head, small body
> The Dead Sea -> No output of its salt, only input
+ When we give, we grow, gain and our hearts enlarge.
+ 100k Blessings -> You think you are going to bless strangers? God says you are going to bless Angels (who will bless us back)! God's program is US.
+ ***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.
2. Second Mile Giving
- Releases the Power of God
+ Rebekah willingly offered to water the servant's camels
- Releases the Power of God
+ Rebekah willingly offered to water the servant's camels> 1 camel needs 20 gallons of water
> His 20 camels then need 400 gallons
> This will require Rebekah to carry water to and fro, between the source and the camels, for 2 hours!
+ Rebekah did something way beyond expectation.
+ Matthew 5:38-41 "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
+ 'Second Mile Forgiveness':
Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
+ 1st mile -> Out of Duty
2nd mile -> Out of Own Willingness
3rd mile -> Out of Love
3. Sacrificial Giving
- Reveals the Person of God
+ Not easy for Rebekah to go (she had never seen Isaac before, to think about marrying him? How is his family really like? etc). But she said 'I'll go'.
+ (In book of Hosea) Hosea was asked to marry Gomer, a prostitute. Even when Gomer sinned against Hosea and committed adultery again and again, Hosea sought his wife to forgive and reconcile with her.
Hosea -> Reveals the Person of God to her (and God's heart)
Gomer -> Represents the condition of the Israelites who had been unfaithful to God repeatedly
Some of us cannot give, because we have not received the love of God to the fullest extent.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
God has already given, would you receive today?
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