Our giving (time, gifts, resources) is the key to unlock the supernatural, the power of God. Paul’s final message to the church was that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).

In Matthew 6, Jesus talks about giving before prayer or fasting. But they are equally powerful.

Giving has the ability to bring forth:

1. A divine visitation – Cornelius was visited by the Holy Spirit because the Lord remembered his gifts to the poor (Acts 10:31).
2. Spiritual authority – The more we are willing to give to the Lord, the more spiritual authority & power God will entrust to us. If we can’t be trusted with worldly wealth, who will trust us with true riches? (Luke 16:11).
3. Miracles – When we make a choice to give, we will see the power of the miraculous released in our lives (John 6:9).
4. Open heavens – God opens the flood gates of heaven over your life when you give (Malachi 3:8-12).
5. Protection – He will protect that which concerns us in every area of our lives (Malachi 3:11).
6. Abundance – Our harvest is tied to our seed so we must give in order to see God’s supernatural abundance in our lives (2 Corinthians 9:6).
7. He will fight for you – When Mary broke a bottle of perfume on the feet of Jesus which was worth a whole year’s wages, Jesus came to her defense at once when Judas attacked her for doing what she did, by saying, “Leave her alone” (John 12:5-7).

God is calling us to give:

1. Secretly – We must give secretly without broadcasting it before men (Galatians 1:10). We must not announce our giving otherwise, we will only receive reward from men and not from God (Matthew 6:1-2).
2. Sacrificially – A widow sacrificially gave all she had and therefore gave more than those who gave out of their abundance. God is calling us to give even when it hurts and when we don’t have an abundance (Luke 21:1-3).
3. Willing – When we give under pressure, guilt and condemnation, there is no reward, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). We must give from a heart that is willing (Exodus 35:21-22).

There is power released into our lives when we give to the Lord and to others. Let us excel in the grace of giving as we do in faith, speech and knowledge.