Title: offering which God accepts and the offerings which God does not accept.

Genesis 4:3-7 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 So the LORD said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.
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In todays Scripture, it says the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering.

1. Why did God not respect Cains offering? God does not respect the things of the earth. That is why we must offer our body as a living sacrifice to God. If we do not offer ourselves as living sacrifices, God does not respect our offerings. Romans 12:1-2, 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Not being conformed to this world and being transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God; this is presenting our bodies a living sacrifice to God. Anything we offer to God with the thoughts of the flesh whose end is death, whatever we may offer, is a dead sacrifice. That is why God said that to be carnally minded is death and to be spiritually minded is life and peace. If we offer God the blind as a sacrifice and the lame and sick, God would not accept it.

Malachi 1:8, 8 And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably? Says the LORD of hosts. We might face the tragedy of closing the door of the temple of God if we offer wrong worship to God. Malachi 1:10, 10 Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you, Says the LORD of hosts, Nor will I accept an offering from your hands. If the doors of the temple of God are shut, then the life of the saints of God comes to end. The house of God is where the name of God is and is where the eyes of God is and is where the heart of God is. 1 Kings 9:3, 3 And the LORD said to him: I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. If the doors of such house of God are shut, then we cannot meet God nor our prayers can be reached to the throne of God and more over, we cannot make eye contacts with God, right? To us, Shutting the doors of the house of God is like the punishment which Adam received after he disobeyed the Word of God and he was kicked out from the Garden of Eden. Where did the river of life where the tree of life is begin? It says in the Scripture there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east.

Ezekiel 47:1-12, 1 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side. 3 And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. 4 Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. 5 Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. 6 He said to me, Son of man, have you seen this? Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river. 7 When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. 8 Then he said to me: This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. 9 And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. 10 It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. 11 But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. 12 Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine. 2. We have to know correctly about the rules of observing The feast of Harvest.

Our church keeps today as the Feast of Harvest and our thanksgiving of harvest must become the worship and offering which God respects. Each of you should check yourselves and your offerings. The feast of Harvest is one of the three Great Feasts of the children of Israel together with the Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles and the time to keep this feast is around the end of May to early June. It was the

thanksgiving service for the spring harvest which the people offered to God commemorating the season of barley harvest. It was kept after 7 weeks from the Passover, it was also called as the Feast of Weeks and the Pentecost. The Passover or the Feast of Tabernacles are kept for 7 days, but the Feast of Harvest is only kept for one day. Either in Exodus 23:16 or in 34:22, the Scripture is mentioning about the Feast of Harvest, but there is no detailed instructions as how to keep the Feast, but in Deuteronomy and in Leviticus, the Bible records the detailed instructions as how to observe this Feast. Deuteronomy 16:9-12, 9 You shall count seven weeks for yourself; begin to count the seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain. 10 Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the LORD your God blesses you. 11 You shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are among you, at the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. 12 And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes. When we keep the Feast of the Harvest, we should give the Lord our God as He blesses us with the tribute of a freewill offering from our hand. This means each of us should count the blessings which we have received from God. To keep the Feast of Harvest today, have each of you counted the blessings which you received from God? Are you thinking only the blessings to be received in the future and not even thinking about the blessings youve already received? That is why your heart becomes stingy before God and does not open to God. God is telling us to count the received blessings and the tribute of a freewill offering from our hand.

We did not get sick last night and still alive at this moment; this is the received blessing. Your children are growing healthy, is this not one of your received blessings? Whether you business is going well or not, running your own business itself is a blessing received from God, isnt it? If your business is running slow, then that is not because you are doing something wrong, but it is because God is planning something. With words only, we say our business is Gods business and when the business is running slow, we worry as if it is our own business; this is why God is laughing. What would you say if God asks you, this is my business and I will run it. Why do you worry so much? Still, there are so many of you who think your business is your own business and not Gods business. God will test you until you realize this business is Gods business. We shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD our God with the tribute of a freewill offering from our hand, which we shall give as the LORD your God blesses us. A man of great strength should carry a huge bag of rice, he should not come with a small bag of flour, right? As it is stated in Revelation 1:14 and in Jeremiah 17:10, His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. MENE,[d] MENE, TEKEL,[e] UPHARSIN You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting. You are very weighty in the worldly matters, but concerning Me, you are too light. If we receive such sentence, then we get to be divided just like the king Belshazzar. (Daniel 5:25-31)

Also, God said, You shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are among you, at the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. 12 And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes. The Levites are religious leaders, then why did God said we should rejoice together with them? Because they do not have their inheritance they do not have money to observe the feast, that is why God is telling us to bring them home and celebrate the Feast together with them. This is Gods loving kindness. When did I say the Feast of Harvest is? Please think about it deeply. Not only the first Sunday of July is the Feast of Harvest, but we should made every day the Feast of Harvest. Soon, Anna Kim who has been with us for quite a while is returning home in Korea. And whenever one of our fellow believers goes back to Korea or leaves us for some reason, or even if there is no such event, I often treat our fellow believers. Why? Because God said, You shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are among you, at the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. 12 And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes. Our church does not give me allowance for doing such thing, but because it is the command of God, I take it as the everlasting life and obey Gods command. I will keep doing this thing until our saints of God reach the mature state that they keep the Feast of Harvest properly acceptable to God. As it is stated in Deuteronomy 15:10, 10 You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this

thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand.

The Feast of Harvest is also called as the Tow first-fruits and we call it the Tow first-fruits because we offer the first fruits of barley harvest to God. However, if we offer God the first fruits of barley only, then what meaning does this harvest have? To make it the true Tow first-fruits, we must offer our first fruits of souls to God and it becomes the Tow first-fruits which God accepts with joy. First of all, we should check if our soul is the first fruit which is ripened properly to offer to God and secondly, we should offer the fruit of soul which we evangelize and make fruits to God. If there are still some of you who have not harvested the fruits of soul then I hope you think deeply about what you should do on this day of feast. Actually, the children of Israel harvested the first crop of barley and offered it as thanksgiving offering of God and kept the Feast of Harvest, but the true feast of harvest should become the feast that we offer the first fruits of soul to God. 1 Corinthians 15:20, 20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. As we are attached to this Jeus, we too become the first fruits of resurrection and offer God our first fruits. And God is saying to us to make so many souls who do not know Christ the first fruits of resurrection, how many souls have you harvested and brought them today? We should keep the Feast of Harvest knowing such spiritual meanings which it possesses , but if some of you are worrying about offerings, then you are far from the will of God. God said to us to be thankful. Colossians 3:15, 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

If we are the ones who are called for the peace, then we should be thankful. This Scripture shows us that peace and thanksgiving is never unrelated. To anyone who does not have thanks, what peace would come? Look at the life of the Apostle Paul which was filled with unceasing thanksgiving as it walked the path of pain and agony. Although Paul had physical pains and agonies, his soul was always filled with joy. You may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers, this is the ideology of Paul .

3 John 1:2, 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I rejoiced greatly We must know correctly the target of thanksgiving. Colossians 1:3, 3 We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith Colossians 1:12, 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Here, God is clearly showing that the target of thanksgiving is the Father. If the Passover is the feast of past that commemorates the sacrifice of Jesus as the sacrificial lamb of the Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles is the feast of the future that gives thanks for our souls being harvested and stored in the warehouse of heaven, then the Feast of Harvest is the feast of the present which gives thanks for the present harvest and grace we have received from God. We must give thanks to God for todays grace. Proverbs 27:1, 1 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. 2 Let another

James 4:14, 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 1 Corinthians 7:31, 31 and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away. Once again, as God commanded us, please give thanks to God according to the blessings which God blesses you with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand. Offer with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand means we should think about our situation before we offer. 1) We should give thanks to God after thinking about our financial situation and strength. 2) We should think about the strength of our health as we offer thanksgiving to God. Is there anything more valuable than health? Is there a greater wealth than being in health? If only you are in health you can make money and you can come to church and serve God. I hope you give thanks to God for your health. Health is truly a great asset, a great strength and a great wealth.

3) We should think about the strength of knowledge, too. If we are educated more than others then instead of stiffening your neck, you should dedicate more of your knowledge to church and the work of God. 4) We should think about the strength of our skills as we give thanks. 5) Among these strengths you have, the greatest strength and the strength which God rejoices in most it faith. If you have the strength of faith, then you should give thanks to God. As it is stated in Romans 14;23, 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Whatever from our life, if it is not from faith, then it is sin. The question is not that who has more or less, not who is wealthier or poorer. The question is who can move the heart of God.

The strength that moves the heart of God is faith. Please believe that only the riches of faith can move the heart of God.

We must offer the prayers of faith and receive the Word of God by faith and serve God and keep our faith by faith. When we do that, Gods heart is moved and all things, even the things that did not go well your way, will go well and problems will be solved, I believe.

Please believe that if you are rich in faith then you are happier than anyone else. While Other do not know God and cannot believe in God, we are the ones who have seen, touched and heard God. How happy are we!

Some might ask, How come you are so happy all the time? Why? Because I have a strong background. What is your background?

God who created the universe and all things in it is my Father. When I teach this fact correctly, for this is too great to believe, no one can believe it. If I say my father owns a convenience store, then they would believe it.

3. God promises that He will show His salvation to those who give thanksgiving.

Psalm 50:23, 23 Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.

We have so many problems that we need to be saved from, right? We should be saved from poverty, from diseases and business depression, right?

If so, then I hope you offer praise that glorifies God. God is saying, | 23 Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God. Showing the salvation of God means God will reveal the positive proof of His salvation.

God said 15 You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty); Exodus 23:15, 15 You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty);

For God said none shall appear before Me empty, it is important that we offer God according to our financial strength, but it is even more important that we follow our strength of faith as we offer.

2 Corinthians 8:3-5 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency that we would receive[a] the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

I bless you with the name of the Lord you all become the living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God by giving thanks to God according to your strength of faith and according to your ability and beyond your ability, according to your freewill and you all become the seeds of the living hope to whom God shows His salvation. I bless you with the name of the Lord.