Bring Unto the Lord
By: Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 08/20/2023
Foundation Scripture:Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering. Exodus 25:2 NKJV
1. Bring to the Lord a Free-Will Offering.
a. The Lord commanded Moses to tell the congregation of the children of Israel, to bring a free-will offering to the Lord—an offering brought with a willing heart (Exodus 25:2, 35:4-5,29).
b. The people obeyed and brought so much that they had more than enough to do the work of building the sanctuary, and more
(Exodus 36:6-7).
c. 2 Chronicles 31:4-5
d. Hezekiah commanded the people to bring all the overdue offerings that they were supposed to be bringing to the house of the Lord.
e. The children of Israel brought in abundance the first fruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the fields; and the tithe of all things, abundantly.
f. 2 Chronicles 31:9-10
g. When Hezekiah asked about the heaps, the chief priest replied, “Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the Lord has blessed His people; and that which is left is this great store.”
h. When we bring the Lord what He asks of us—our tithes and our generous offerings—He blesses us abundantly with more than enough, over and above.
2. Bring What You Have.
a. 1 Kings 17:1-16
b. The prophet Elijah prophesied a drought over the land, which affected everyone, including himself.
c. For a while, he remained by the brook Cherith, as instructed by the Lord, and ravens fed him bread and meat twice a day.
d. When the brook dried up, the Lord directed him to go to Zarephath, because He had commanded a widow there to sustain (provide for) him.
e. When he came to the gate of the city, he saw her gathering sticks to prepare a final meal for herself and her son.
f. Elijah called to her: “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.”
g. As she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.”
h. She explained to him that she had only enough for one more meal for herself and her son, after which they would surely die of starvation.
i. All she had left was only a handful of flour in the jar and a little oil in the bottle.
j. 1 Kings 17:13-16 AMPC — Elijah said to her, Fear not; go and do as you have said. But make me a little cake of [it] first and bring it to me, and afterward prepare some for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: The jar of meal shall not waste away or the bottle of oil fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth. 15 She did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of meal was not spent nor did the bottle of oil fail, according to the word which the Lord spoke through Elijah.
k. Because she brought what she had, in obedience to the Word of the Lord, He multiplied her resources and sustained her, her son, and Elijah through to the end of the famine.
l. Whatever we bring God, in faith and obedience, with a willing heart—He will bless.
3. Keep On Bringing.
a. 2 Kings 4:1-9
b. There was a widow of a son of the prophets, whose sons were about to be taken into slavery because of their debts and she cried out to Elisha for assistance.
c. He asked her what she had of value in her house, and she replied that she had nothing in the house except a small pot of oil.
d. He instructed her to borrow empty vessels from her neighbors—many vessels, not a few.
e. He told her to close the door—with only herself and her sons in the house—and pour the oil from her small vessel into the other bigger vessels.
f. Her sons kept bringing vessels to her and she kept pouring until they were all full.
g. When she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel,” and he replied, “There is not one left,” then the oil stopped multiplying.
h. As long as they kept bringing vessels, the oil kept pouring.
i. When she told Elijah, he told her, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons live on the rest.”
4. He Will Bless What You Bring.
a. Five thousand fed (Matthew 14:17-21).
b. The disciples wanted to send the crowd away to get their own food, but Jesus told them to feed them.
c. They replied that they had nothing but five loaves and two fish.
d. Jesus said, “Bring them here to Me.”
e. Then He ordered them to sit down, He took the five loaves and two fish, gave thanks, and blessed and broke the loaves and handed them to the disciples, who distributed them to the people.
f. About 5,000 men, plus women and children, all ate and were satisfied, with twelve baskets full left over.
g. Four thousand fed (Matthew 15:36-37).
h. Jesus did the same again with the seven loaves and a few small fish that they brought Him.
i. 4000 men, plus women and children, ate and were filled, with seven baskets of scraps left over.
j. Bring what you have to Jesus—even if you think it’s too small or not enough—so that He can bless it and multiply it, so that you can be abundantly supplied.
k. God can only bless what you bring Him, so give Him what you have in your hand.
l. Bring Him your tithes and your offerings—generously, with a glad and willing heart—and He will bless you, and your family, and make you a great blessing.
m. You will have enough to meet all your needs and more besides—so that you can give, and bless, and share with others.