World Evangelism Podcast

Embracing God’s Boundless Love and Grace

W. Austin Gardner Season 1 Episode 37

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What if the key to a deeper relationship with God lies in understanding the essence of gratitude and sacrificial giving? Discover the timeless wisdom from the lives of Noah and David, as we unpack how acknowledging God's sovereignty and generosity can transform your faith journey. In our latest episode, we explore the profound truths of offering back to God what He has graciously given us, drawing from biblical passages such as 1 Chronicles 29 and Genesis 8. Learn how David’s and Noah’s acts of giving signify their recognition that everything—riches, honor, and strength—all originate from God.

Join us as we discuss God's acceptance of our sacrifices through Jesus Christ, with insights from Ephesians 5:2 and 2 Corinthians 5:17. We emphasize that our acceptance by God is not earned by our deeds but given through His boundless grace and love. This episode is a heartfelt reminder that our spiritual journey should be marked not by guilt or pressure, but by embracing the magnificent love that God has so richly bestowed upon us. Let the stories of Noah and David inspire you to cultivate gratitude and a deeper connection with God in your everyday life.

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W. Austin Gardner:

you know, noah gave what was valuable to him, what had been with him for a year, what he had learned to come and love. Most likely, and that's the same truth giving what is valuable to you to God, because God gave it to you first, is the most significant truth we could probably learn. It says in 1 Chronicles 29, 12,. David was realizing that exact same truth. And David says both riches and honor come of thee, God, you're the one that gives me riches and honor. You rule over all. It's in your hand, god, to give power and might. It's in your hand to make great and give strength. So David and Noah both recognized that all of it was from God, by God, through God, to God, for God. It is all about God. It says in 1 Chronicles 29, 14,. But who am I and what is my people that we should be able to offer, so willing after this sort? And here's what I really want you to pay attention to, and here's what I really want you to pay attention to, for all things come of thee and of thine own. Have we given thee? When I give an offering to God, I am actually giving to God what God has given to me. God gave to me and I give back to God. Many people don't want to recognize that. They want to think I made the money, I earned the stuff, it's my power and they're not recognizing God.

W. Austin Gardner:

You know the story in the book of Exodus when Israel leaves Egypt, god will cause the Egyptians to give great riches to the Israelites as they leave. They will literally, literally take everything, all the riches that Egypt has, and they will later use those to build his tabernacle and to build service and do service for him. God accepted the sacrifice. God accepted the sacrifice. It says in Genesis 8, 21, I will not again curse the ground from any more for man's sake. The Lord smelled the sweet savor. And the Lord said in his heart I will not again curse man for anymore for man's sake. For the imagination of man, man's heart is evil from his youth. The Lord smelled the sweet savor. He accepted the sacrifice. That's a picture of what he does when he accepts Jesus Christ as our sacrifice.

W. Austin Gardner:

The Bible says in Ephesians 5, 2,. Walk in love, as God also has loved us and has given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet, smelling savor. You and I can never please God on our own. It's a great study to do in the Bible in Christ, in 2 Corinthians, 5, 17,. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. In Ephesians, chapter one and verse six, to the praise and the glory of his grace, where he hath made us accepted in the beloved. It's all about what God does for us in grace and saving us and giving us Jesus. It's not about what you do. It's not about putting pressure on you, not about making you feel guilty. It's about accepting the magnificent, wonderful love of Jesus that he has so richly bestowed on us.