Infinite Fellowship Ministries

Giving & Stewardship: Sermon By Minister Lelli Mandela

[Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings. Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving]. And God is able to make all grace (every favor and [earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]. As it is written, He [the benevolent person] scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice and goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever! 

And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity]. Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God. For the service that the ministering of this fund renders does not only fully supply what is lacking to the saints (God’s people), but it also overflows in many [cries of] thanksgiving to God. Because at [your] standing of the test of this ministry, they will glorify God for your loyalty and obedience to the Gospel of Christ which you confess, as well as for your generous-hearted liberality to them and to all [the other needy ones]. And they yearn for you while they pray for you, because of the surpassing measure of God’s grace (His favor and mercy and spiritual blessing which is shown forth) in you. Now thanks be to God for His Gift, [precious] beyond telling [His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift]! 

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

He has distributed freely [he has given to the poor and needy]; his righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) endures forever; his horn shall be exalted in honor. 

Psalm 112:9

But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.

1 Peter 3:15

And when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried away silver, gold, and clothing, and went and hid them [in the darkness]. Then they entered another tent and carried from there also and went and hid it. Then they said one to another, We are not doing right. This is a day of [glad] good news and we are silent and do not speak up! If we wait until daylight, some punishment will come upon us [for not reporting at once]. So now come, let us go and tell the king’s household. So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city. They told them, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and behold, there was neither sight nor sound of man there–only the horses and donkeys tied, and the tents as they were. Then the gatekeepers called out, and it was told to the king’s household within. 

2 Kings 7:8-11

Tithe is the foundation of giving. It is where giving starts (unto men).

Riches are a state of the mind and not of the wallet.

Go beyond the point of your giving ending in the Church. Impact people with what you have. Revelation is irrelevant without action.

If you do not impact people with what you have, your testimony is in vain. It starts in the Church. let no one among you lack anything, for the sake of the testimony.

We are resource creators and problem solvers. God wants us to have an abundance mindset.

When God allows you to lack something, He wants you to be the one to be a blessing to another lacking (as you are) in the future.

God is bringing you to a place of abundance, not just for you but for others. When you understand what abundance is, you won’t have a problem with giving.

When God blesses you with abundance, will you first think of your needs or the needs of others?

When God blesses you with abundance, will you be thankful for the miracle or will you be a miracle to another?

Know that you are an heir in the Kingdom. You do not have employee-access to the Kingdom. You have a son’s access in the Kingdom.

Is your giving able to give an account of your faith in the Gospel? (Reference: Isaiah 58)

You give to empower people not to empower yourself.

Fruitfulness will not come without empowerment.

The problem with many believers is that they are quick to eat the seed rather than putting the seed in the soil, investing time and energy in the seed.

Your tithe, first fruit and any kind of giving is a seed. You cannot get fruit or harvest in the future from something you have not planted.

God gives us things in seed form.

Giving enables you to convert what is raw into a finished product.

Your salary, pocket money, etc is a seed. How and where to invest it is up to you. You must understand where to invest it (right soil).

Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Genesis 1:28 (NKJV)

God created you to be an investor, not just a consumer. “…Be fruitful and multiply.” An investor will empower a society and a generation.

Do not consume the capital. Returns come after consistently investing for years. Do not wait to invest when you are far ahead in life.