Lesson 3: The God That Gives

Key Scripture:   “For God so loved the world, that he gave…” (John 3:16).

Ravi Zachariah in A Life of Integrity tells a simple parable that makes an excellent point.

A prosperous man was making a long journey. In his bag he packed all his valuable jewels and money. A thief started to follow him, pretending to be a friend, and waiting for the opportunity to steal the wealthy man’s riches.

The rich man was aware of the man’s motives and thought of a plan. Each night as he would stop at a local hotel he would invite the thief to share the room.

Once inside the rich man would say, “Here is a towel. You go and wash up for the night.”

While the thief took his shower the rich man hid his treasures.

When the thief returned to the room, the rich man would go and bath. While away, the thief searched frantically for the riches. He looked in the rich man’s luggage, searched the closet, drawers, under the bed, between the mattresses, and under the rich man’s pillow. The treasure could not be found.

At the end of the journey, the rich man boarded a train to go home. He called out to the thief, “I know why you have been following me. You’ve been trying to steal my treasures. Each night you have looked in my bags, searched the closet, rummaged through the drawers. You’ve looked under my bed, between the mattress, and even under my pillow. The one place you never looked was under your own pillow. The treasure was closer than you thought!”

The treasures or gifts that we need or want in life are sometimes closer than we think. They are found in the Word of God and come from the God that gives.

The God that Gave

God gave His own blood for the church of God:

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

And it’s the gift that keeps on giving.

The God that Gives

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father…who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17-18, NIV).

“If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts [gifts that are to their advantage] to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!” (Luke 11:13, AMP).

Our God gives for our greatest advantage.

God Gives Life

“Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things” (Acts 17:25).

“For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world” (John 6:33).

God Gives Eternal Life

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. So no one can take them from me” (John 10:28-29, NLT).

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

God Gives Abundant life

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

God Gives the Holy Ghost

“Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water” (John 4:10).

“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:13).

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

God Gives Revelation

“Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God” (1 Corinthians 2:12, AMP).

God Gives Rewards

“Be loyally faithful unto death [even if you must die for it], and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10, AMP).

God Gives Healing

“Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6).

God Gives Peace

“I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27-28, NLT).

God Gives Wisdom

“Give me wisdom and knowledge to rule them properly, for who is able to govern this great nation of yours?” God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for personal wealth and honor or the death of your enemies or even a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people, I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. And I will also give you riches, wealth, and honor such as no other king has ever had before you or will ever have again!” (2 Chronicles 1:10-13, NLT).

“If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him” (James 1:5, AMP).

God Gives Understanding

“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Psalms 119:130).

“For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy” (Ecclesiastes 2:26).

God Gives Grace

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

God Gives Our Desires

“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” (Psalms 37:4-5).

God Gives His Word

“In his goodness he chose to make us his own children by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his choice possession” (James 1:17-18, NLT).

God Gives Spiritual Gifts

“Therefore it is said, When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive [He led a train of vanquished foes] and He bestowed gifts on men. [Psalms 68:18.]” (Ephesians 4:8, AMP).

“God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well” (Romans 12:6, NLT).

“Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all” (1 Corinthians 12:4-5, NLT).