TFT – MATTHEW CHAPTER 10

FREELY, FREELY

A timeless truth is included in Jesus’ instructions to His disciples in Matthew chapter 10. He sent His disciples out to preach and to heal. He instructed them to conduct their ministry according to this principle: “Freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).

It is the nature of God to give. “Every good thing given and ever perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (James 1:17).

Our forbears, Adam and Eve, received an adequate covering that was freely given them by God. The history of Israel gives testimony to God’s abundant and ongoing provision of undeserved blessings. The full measure of God’s desire and capacity to give has been revealed in the person of Jesus Christ: “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace” (John 1:16). He is the “indescribable gift” freely given by God (2 Corinthians 9:15).

The Apostle Paul asked the Corinthians: “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). What’s the answer? Nothing! The first inclination of need for a Savior was given to us by God. The faith that worked to unite us to God through Christ was freely given us (Ephesians 2:8). The indwelling Spirit, forgiveness, redemption, justification, regeneration—these have all been freely given to us. He has freely given to us “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3). The good works we do “were prepared beforehand so that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10)! All that we are or ever hope to be we owe it all to Thee! From beginning to end the life of the believer gives testimony to God’s amazing capacity to freely give and is “to the praise of the glory of His grace!”

The world operates according to a different principle—the barter system of reciprocal giving (i.e.“I’ll scratch your back if you’ll scratch mine”; Cf. Luke 12:12-14). Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give, than to receive” (Acts 20:38), but the world has that turned around. Taking and getting come natural to us. Some even portend to offer religious benefits for profit (Cf. Acts 8:18-21; Titus 1:11). And much of what happens in the name of Christ fails to measure up to the “freely give” principle. To freely give is to give (and forgive) not demanding or expecting anything in return. It is to give “before God” governed by a desire to please Him (Matthew 6:1-4). God freely gives because it is His nature to give. The believer freely gives because the Spirit indwells him. And to the extent that He is filled with the Spirit he will give in God-like manner.

The Spirit is at work to conform us to the image of the Son. He fills us with God’s love and sends us out into this needy world. He would have us to think and act like Jesus. Jesus gave freely His all in life and then He gave that too. That same attitude is to govern our lives (Philippians 2:3-5). God is glorified in it! Taking and getting rule the day. But when God’s children freely give it reflects upon Him from which all blessings flow. They are mere “channels of blessing, conduits through whom God can make Himself known. Gifts given in freely in Jesus’ Name honor the source of the blessings!

1 John 3:16-17, “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?”

2 Corinthians 8:7-9, “But just as you abound in everything…see that you abound in this gracious work also. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so you though His poverty might become rich.”

FREELY, FREELY

God forgave my sin in Jesus' name.
I've been born again in Jesus' name
And in Jesus' name I come to you
To share his love as he told me to.

He said 'Freely, freely you have received--freely, freely give.
Go in my name, and because you believe others will know that I live.

All pow'r is giv'n in Jesus' name
in earth and heav'n in Jesus name
And in Jesus' name I come to you
To share his pow'r as he told me to.

He said 'Freely, freely you have received--freely, freely give.
Go in my name, and because you believe others will know that I live.

Pastor Jerry