Living to give : a prophetic word for Christians' finances

LivingtoGive

APropheticWordforChristians'Finances

byJerrySavelle

Contents

Introduction

1Seed-Conscious—NotNeed-Conscious

2TheRealPurposeofGiving

3BenefitsofGodlyGiving

4GivingasaLifestyle

5WhyOfferings?

References

Introduction

Recently Iwas invited to take part in aweek-long believers' convention. ThefirsttimeIcametotheplatformtospeak,Ihadtoadmittotheaudience:

"I have no idea what I'm going to be ministering during the course of thesemeetings.IonlyknowwhatI'mgoingtospeakabouttodayBut,inprayingaboutthisconvention,IwastoldbytheLord:

"'Iwantyoutogoprepared,prayedup,sensitivetotheHolyGhost.Don'ttrytoprearrangestudynotesormakedetailedoutlines.JustbeavailabletospeakwhatIamgoingtolayonyourheart.'

"ThentheLordspokesomethinginmyspiritwhichIamtosharewithyouthisfirstday.Hesaid,'Iwantyoutospeakwithapropheticutterance.Iwantyouto

prepareMypeopleforwhatitistocomeinthedaysahead.'"

What I spoke to those faithful believers in that series ofmeetings is thebasicmessage which I have condensed into book form to share with you in thesepages.IpraythatitwillspeaktoyouasitdidtothosewhohearditasIbroughtitforthunderthedirectionandinspirationoftheHolySpirit.IamconvincedthatitisamessageofGodforthesedaysonthevitalsubjectofgiving.

Just before the meetings began, Brother Kenneth Copeland asked each of usinvolvedtosharewhatwefeltGodwassayingtous.Thatisnotatallunusualinthis typesituation.Yet it isalwaysamazing tometoseehowseveralspeakerscancometogether tominister inameeting,noneof themknowingbeforehandwhattheothershaveontheirhearts,andhowinvariablytherewillbeoneclearmessage or theme brought forth by all. To me that is added evidence of thepresenceandmovementofGod'sSpiritinourmidst.

InourdiscussionofwhatwefeltledoftheSpirittosharewithourlisteners,wekept hearing certain keywords and phrases repeated again and again.One ofthesephraseswas"demonstrationof theSpirit."Wetook that tomean that theSpiritoftheLordwasgoingtomanifestHimselfinanewandpowerfulwayinthosemeetings.

Thatprovedtobethecasebeyondashadowofadoubt.

Everyone in attendance came away knowing that he or she had been in thepresenceoftheLord.

In my talks I was led of the Spirit, step by step, day by day, to deliver theimportantmessage theLordwasrevealing tomyheart.TheApostlePauloncewrote to theRomanChristians, telling them,"Idesire to come toyou that Imight impart toyouaspiritualgift." (Rom.1:11.)That's theway Iwent tothatmeeting,with theGod-motivated intention of sharing a spiritual giftwiththose who would be willing to open their hearts and minds to hear what theSpiritissayingtothechurchesinthesecrucialtimes.ThatsameSpirit-instilledmessageistheonewhichIwillbesharingwithyouinthesefewchapters.

ItismysincereprayerthatGodwillbemagnifiedinwhatyouread.Ialsopraythat you and every other personwho reads this bookwill see Jesus on everypage. I ask theheavenlyFather to anointmeas I deliver thismessage, and toanointyouasyoureceiveit.IthanktheLordthatHehasgivenusaccesstothe

deepthingsofGod,theabilitytounderstandmysteries.IpraiseHimthatHehasfilleduswiththeveryRevealerofallmysteries,theHolySpiritHimself.Finally,Ipray thatyouwilldrawfromthisbooktherevelation, instruction, inspirationanddirection—thespiritualgift—thattheHolySpiritwantstoimparttoyousoyouwillbeblessedandinturnbecomeablessingtomanyothers.LikePaul,Ithank theLordupon every remembranceof you, and I pray thatGod's richestblessingwillbeyoursinabundance.

1

Seed-Conscious,NotNeed-Conscious

SometimeagoIwasscheduledtoflytoTulsa,Oklahoma,tospeakinameeting.BeforeIlefthome,ItriedtotalktotheLordaboutsomecriticalneedsinmylifeandministry.InsteadofansweringthewayIhadexpected,Hetoldme,"WhenyougettoTulsa,Iwantyoutogiveawayyourvan."Idroppedthesubject.

Ontheplane,IagainapproachedtheLordaboutmypressingsituation:"Father,IreallyneedtotalktoYouaboutmyneeds,"ItoldHim."Itjustseemstheyhavebecomeoverwhelming."

AgaintheLordspoketomeandsaid,"WhenyougettoTulsa,Iwantyoutogiveawayyourvan."SoagainIdroppedthesubject.

A while later, I got into a conversation with Meadowlark Lemon who wastravelingwithme.Wewere looking at some sports articles inUSATodayanddiscussingthem.Then,inaquietmoment,Ioncemoretookupmy"case"withtheLord:"Father,duringthisMeetinginTulsa,Iamgoingtohavealittletimebetweenservices,andIreallyneedtotalktoYouaboutmyneeds."

OncemoretherecameHisresponse,"WhenyougettoTulsa,Iwantyoutogiveaway your van."But this timeHewent on: "Also, there are five preachers inTulsawhohavebecomediscouragedandareabouttogiveuptheministry.

Iwantyoutogiveeachofthemasuitofclothes."SooncemoreIdecidednottocontinuethediscussion.

Finally,Ijustcouldn'tholdbackanylonger.IsaidtotheLord:"Father,I'vejustgottotalktoYou!Youknowwe'vebeenbuildingourinternationalheadquarters

in FortWorth this year.We havemoved into them, but there are still lots ofthingsweneed.Moreland,forinstance,andmorebuildings.Butwejustdon'thavethemoneytogetwhatweneed...."

"When you get to Tulsa, Iwant you to give away your van and five suits ofclothes."

Itwasthenthatitfinallyhitmewhatwashappening.

EverytimeItriedtotalktoGodaboutmyneed,Hetalkedtomeaboutseed.

Nowthat'snotdeep.AschildrenofGodallofusshouldunderstandit.Weareseed-planting people. But, if you are likeme, you have probably noticed thatoverthepastcoupleofyearsyourneedshavegrownlargerandlarger.Youmustbewondering,asIwasonthatplane,whereintheworldthemoneyisgoingtocomefromtomeetthosesteadilyincreasingobligations.

IbelievetheLordshowedmetheanswertothatimportantquestionwhileIwasin that airplane on my way to Tulsa.What He revealed to me is what I amsharingwithyounowinthisbook.Aftertellingmeseveraltimestogive,whenallIwantedtotalkaboutwasreceiving,theLordtoldme:"Inthedaystocome,theneedsoftheBodyofChristaregoingtobecomesogreatthat,inthenatural,theywillappeartobeimpossibletomeet.ButIamtellingyounow:don'twaituntil then to get busy sowing seed into theKingdom, because your needs arealready enormous. Don't wait until you get an answer to your present needsbeforeyoubegintoprepareforyourfutureneeds."

ThenHemadeastatementthatsuddenlyputthewholesubjectintoperspectiveforme:"Youmustbecomeseed-conscious,notneed-conscious."

BecomingSeed-Minded

IfyouandIaregoingtosuccessfullydealwiththeissuesoflifeonGod'slevel,thenwearegoingtohavetogetHisviewpointandperspective.WearegoingtohavetolearntooperatethewayGodoperates.WemustlearntothinkandactthewayourheavenlyFatherthinksandacts.

That'swhyHeshowedmethateverytimeItriedtotalktoHimaboutansweringmy need, He spoke to me about planting seed: the Lord will only discusssolutions,notproblems.

OurFatheriswellawarethat theneedsoftheBodyofChristaregrowingatatremendousrateeveryyear.HerealizesthattheentireChurchisconsumedwithneeds.Iknowthat,personally,IhaveneverhadsomanyneedsinmywholelifeasIhavebeenexperiencingthepastyearorso.I'mworkinghardernowthanIever have before. It almost seems that the harder I work, the more needs Iproduce.Everytimemyfaithgrows,myneedgrowsrightalongwithit.

Thesameistrueofyou:everytimeyourfaithreachesanew,higherdimension,sodoestheneedthatfaithventureproduces.Whatittooktokeepyougoinglastyearisnotnearlyenoughtokeepyouafloatthisyear.Why?Becauseyourneedsincrease as your faith, yourministry and your sphere of influence grows andexpands.That'snatural.

Thedangerinallofthisotherwisehealthygrowthandexpansionisthatifwearenotcareful,wewillbecomeneed-oriented.

That'swhatIbelievethedevilistryingtodototheBodyofChristtoday:makeusneed-conscious.Hedoesn'tsomuchplacenewneedsuponus;theycomeasanatural resultofourgrowth, expansionandoutreach.Thedeeperwepenetrateinto enemy territory, the more resistance we meet from our enemy and thegreaterourneedforlargerandlargeramountsofsupplies.Soouradversary,thedevil,seeinghecan'tstopouradvance,setsintocauseusproblems.Hebeginsthrowing up obstacles in our paths, setting "booby traps," laying ambushes,sniping away at us from all sides—doing his best to disrupt our vital supplylines.

In short, Satan is going all out to pressure us into taking our minds off ourobjectivesandgoals,andfocusingthemonourproblems.

InourChristianbattle,youandImustnotbecomeneed-oriented.Ifwedo,wewillgiveintopressureandbecomediscouraged.Ifwekeepourattentionandoureyestrainedonourseeminglyimpossibleneeds,wewillbetemptedtogiveupthefightandquit.That'sexactlywhattheenemywantsustodo.

OurNeedsAreProvided—Already

Thereisawayoutofthissituation:HisnameisJesus.

OurLord had needswhenHewalked this earth givingHis life inministry toothers.OnetimeHewaspreparingtoenterJerusalem.Yourememberthestory,

howHe sent two of His disciples ahead into the city. He told them that in acertainplacetheywouldfindayoungcolt,whichnomanhadeverridden.TheyweretountiethecoltandbringitbacktoHim.Ifanybodyaskedwhattheyweredoing taking theanimal, theywere toanswer, ...theLordhathneedof him...(Mark11:3).

So we see from this statement that Jesus did have needs. But was His mindcentered on His needs? Does God in heaven spend His time pondering andworryingovertheneedsofHischildren,HisChurch,ortheworld?

WhathastheLordsaidtousaboutourneeds?HasHejusttoldusto"grinandbearit"untilwe"allgettoheaven"

where we won't have any more needs? Or has He indicated that there is ananswertoourneeds,hereandnow?

IrememberwhenBrotherKennethCopelandfirstcame tomyhometownandbeganpreachingthemessagewhichwastorevolutionizemylife.Itwasbrand-new to me then. I had never heard anything like it. But I believed it, and Iwantedtoknowmoreaboutit.

Sometimelater,IwastalkingwithBrotherCopelandandItoldhim:"Ibelieveyourmessage,andI'mdoingallIknowtodotoputitintopracticeinmylife.Iunderstand how some thingswork in theKingdom ofGod. I understand howhealing comes, and that.But there is one thing I don't understand: I just don'tknowhowyoutalkGodintomeetingyourneeds."

IwillneverforgetwhatBrotherCopelandtoldmethatday.Hesaid:"Jerry,GodhasalreadydoneallHeisgoingtodoaboutyourneeds."

"You'rekidding!"Ianswered."He'snotgoingtoleavemeinthismess,isHe?"

ThatwasnotwhatBrotherCopelandmeant.Hewasn'tsayingthatGodwasnotgoing to do anything about my situation. What he meant was that God hadalreadydoneeverythingnecessarytomeetmyeveryneed.

Jesusdoesnothavetohangonthecrossanddie,overandoveragain,everytimesomebodyneedstobesaved.

Godhas alreadymet theneed for salvationof allmankind, forever.He is just

waiting for each individual person to receive by faith what He has alreadyprovidedbygrace.

Thesameistrueofallourphysicalandmaterialneeds.

Godhasalreadymadeprovisionforoursalvationfrompoverty,lackandwant,justasHehasalreadymadeprovisionforoursalvationfromsinanddeath.Thisprovisionwas paid for by the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of ourLordandSavior,JesusChrist,Whonowsitsat therighthandof the throneofGodwhere...heeverlivethtomakeintercessionfor(us)...(Heb.7:25).ButtheactualtermsofthisprovisionwerespelledoutlongagointheOldTestament.

TheBlessingsoftheCovenant

Anditshallcometopass,ifthoushalthearkendiligentlyuntothevoiceofthe Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which Icommandtheethisday,thattheLordthyGodwillsettheeonhighaboveallnations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, andovertakethee,ifthoushalthearkenuntothevoiceoftheLordthyGod.

Blessedshaltthoubeinthecity,andblessedshaltthoubeinthefield.

Blessedshallbethefruitofthybody,andthefruitof thyground,andthefruitofthycattle,theincreaseofthykine,andtheflocksofthysheep.

Blessedshallbethybasketandthystore.

Blessedshaltthoubewhenthoucomestin,andblessedshaltthoubewhenthougoestout.

TheLordshallcausethineenemiesthatriseupagainst theetobesmittenbefore thy face: they shallcomeout against thee oneway, and fleebeforetheesevenways.

TheLordshallcommandtheblessingupontheeinthystorehouses,andinall that thou settest thine handunto; and he shall bless thee in the landwhichtheLordthyGodgiveththee.

TheLordshallestablishtheeanholypeopleuntohimself,ashehathswornuntothee,ifthoushaltkeepthecommandmentsof theLordthyGod,and

walkinhisways.

AndallpeopleoftheearthshallseethatthouartcalledbythenameoftheLord,andtheyshallbeafraidofthee.

AndtheLordshallmaketheeplenteousingoods,in thefruitof thybody,and in the fruit of thy cattle,and in the fruit of thy ground, in the landwhichtheLordswareuntothyfatherstogivethee.

TheLordshallopenuntotheehisgoodtreasure,theheaventogivetherainuntothylandinhisseason,andtoblessalltheworkofthinehand:andthoushaltlenduntomanynations,andthoushaltnotborrow.

AndtheLordshallmaketheethehead,andnotthetail;andthoushaltbeabove only, and thou shaltnot be beneath; if that thou hearken unto thecommandments of theLord thyGod,which I command thee this day, toobserveandtodothem:AndthoushaltnotgoasidefromanyofthewordswhichIcommandtheethisday,totherighthand,ortotheleft,togoafterothergodstoservethem.

Deuteronomy28:1-14

Noticeverse11:"TheLordshallmaketheeplenteousingoods...."Let'sreadit in the New International Version: The Lord will grant you abundantprosperity....

Now, according to the Covenant, what does God think about our needs?ObviouslyHeisdeeplyinterestedinusandourcircumstancesoflife.Infact,HeissodeeplyconcernedthatHehasmadeprovisionforallofourearthlyneeds.HetoldthechildrenofIsraelthatiftheywouldlistentoHisWordandwalkinfaithfulobediencetoHim,Hewouldseetoit thatallkindsofblessingswouldcomeuponthemandovertakethem.Oneofthoseblessingswasthattheywouldbemade"plenteousingoods."

Well,whathappenstoyourneedsifyouaremade"plenteousingoods,"ifyouhave"abundantprosperity"?

Yourneedsaremet.Notonlyareyourneedsmet,youhaveenoughleftovertohelpothersinneed.

TheLivingBibletranslatesverse11:"TheLordwillgiveyouanabundanceofgoodthings...."TheRevisedStandardVersionsays:...theLordwillmakeyouaboundinprosperity....

InthispassagetheLordistellingusthatifweobeyHim,wewillbesoblessedthatwewon'thavetoborrowfromothers;instead,wewilllendtomany.Inverse13HehaspromisedusthatifweareobedienttoHim,wewillbe

"the head, and not the tail,...above only,...and not...beneath."The LivingBiblesays,"...youshallalwayshavetheupperhand."Ilikethat.

NowthosearetheblessingsoftheCovenantwhichGodmadewithHispeople,thedescendantsofAbraham.

Do you recall what the Apostle Paul said about us Christians?And if ye beChrist's, then are yeAbraham'sseed, and heirs according to the promise(Gal.3:29).Whatpromiseishetalkingabouthere?ThepromisethatGodwillmeetoureveryneed—spiritual,physicalandmaterial.

WesingaboutourwonderfulCovenantwiththeLord.

WejoyfullyproclaimandconfessthattheblessingsofAbrahamareours.Well,if that is true, thenwehaveeveryright toexpectGodtomakeusplenteousingoods.Iamnottheonewhomadethatpromise,norwasitPaul,orevenMoses;itwasGodHimself.

Godhaspromisedtomakeyouandme"plenteousingoods."Butthatdoesnotmean that we are to seek after "all these things"; we're not, we are to...seek...first thekingdomofGod, andhis righteousness... (Matt. 6:33).Wearenotto"pursue"prosperity;butthenwedon'thaveto.

TheCovenantpromisesusthatifwehearkendiligentlyuntotheLordourGodand faithfully serveHim, all these blessingswill "pursue" us; theywill comeuponusandovertakeus.

No,I'mnotseekingorpursuinggoodsorabundanceorprosperity.Myeyesareon the Creator, not creation. I am seeking first theKingdom ofGod andHisrighteousness,knowingthatasIdo,allthesethingsIneedwillbeaddedtomeaswell.

Many critics of this message say that we preach and practice the pursuit ofprosperity,aseekingafter"things."

If that were so, it would be a terrible indictment. But it's not so.We are notpursuing goods, nor are we teaching others to pursue them. What we arepreachingandpracticingisthepursuitofGod.ButwealsoknowandtestifytothefactthattheLordhaspromisedthatasweseekHimandHisrighteousnessHewillgiveusanaboundingprosperity.WeexpecttheLordtokeepHisWord.Weexpecttobeblessed,tobemadeprosperous,tohaveallofourneedsmet,to"havetheupperhand,"asTheLivingBiblesays.

Iwantthatkindoflife.Whataboutyou?I'mtiredofbeingthetail;Iwanttobethehead.I'mtiredofbeingonthebottom;Iwanttobeontop.I'mtiredofbeingthe underdog; I want to have the upper hand. And all of that is part of theCovenantbetweenmyGodandme.

So,we knowwhatGod thinks of our needs.He has seen them and hasmadeabundantprovisionforthem.HehaspromisedinHisWordtoseetoit thatwehaveplentyforourownneedsandenoughleftovertomeettheneedsofothers.

AccordingtotheCovenant,abundanceisourheritageastheseedofAbraham.His blessing is our blessing. And what blessing did God pronounce uponAbraham?

AndIwillmakeoftheeagreatnation,andIwillblessthee,andmakethynamegreat;andthoushaltbeablessing.

AndIwillblessthemthatblessthee,andcursehimthatcurseththee:andintheeshallallfamiliesoftheearthbeblessed.

Genesis12:2,3

This is the heritage of the saints: to be blessed, and to be a blessing to allfamilies(nations)oftheearth.

TheCurseoftheCovenant

Butitshallcometopass,ifthouwiltnothearkenuntothevoiceoftheLordthyGod, to observe todoallhis commandments andhis statuteswhich Icommand thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and

overtakethee.

Deuteronomy28:15

NoticethatthisversestateswhatwillhappenifyouandIarenotobedienttotheLord.TheCovenant includesacurseaswellasablessing.To the faithfulandobedient God promises blessings beyond measure, but to the unfaithful anddisobedientHepromisesevenmoreabundantcurses.Inverses15-68(asectionseveraltimeslongerthanthatoftheblessing!),eachofthesecurses—includingpoverty,lackandwant—isspelledoutinfulldetail:

Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and withgladnessofheart,fortheabundanceofallthings;

ThereforeshaltthouservethineenemieswhichtheLordshallsendagainstthee,inhunger,andinthirst,andinnakedness,andinwantofallthings:...

Deuteronomy28:47,48

FromthesepassagesitseemsclearthatifapersonisnothavinghisneedsmetbytheLord,thenhemustbeservinghisenemies—hemustbeoperatingunderthecurseoftheCovenant.

Ifyourneedsareneverfullymet,ifyouarecontinuallystrugglingwiththesamebasicneedsallthetime,thereiseveryreasontoconcludethatyouareoperatingunder the curse rather than under the blessings of God's Covenant with Hispeople.

Now notice that I did not say that having needs is a curse. That is not true,becauseweallhaveneeds;Ihaveasmanyasyoudo,maybemore.Isaidthathavingcontinuallyunfulfilledneedsisastrongindicationofoperatingunderthecurse.

The New Testament clearly declares that as Christians you and I have beenredeemedfromthecurse:Christhathredeemedusfromthecurseofthelaw,beingmadeacurse forus... (Gal. 3:13). Jesus said thatHe did not come toabolishtheLawortheprophets,buttofulfill.WequalifyfortheblessingoftheCovenant,notthecurse.Theblessingof theCovenant includes themeetingofallourneeds.Therefore,ifwehaveconstant,unfulfilledneeds,thenitlogicallyfollowsthatsomethingmustbewrong.

That'swhyIsay:asbelievers,itisacursenottohaveourneedsmet.

God'sKnowledgeofOurNeeds

"ButthatistheOldCovenant,"yousay."WhatabouttheNewCovenant?"

In theNewTestament, Jesus toldus, ...yourFatherknowethwhat things yehaveneedof,beforeyeaskhim(Matt.6:8).Lateron,GodspokethroughtheApostle Paul, assuring us thatHewill supply all our need according toHisriches inglorybyChristJesus. (Phil.4:19.)Sowhenwegobefore theLordaboutourneeds,wearenotspringingonHimsomethingHeisnotawareof.

Healreadyknowswhatourneedsarebeforeweask.WhattheLordshowedmeinallthisisthefactthatwhenwespendhoursandhoursinprayer,dayafterday,goingintogreatdetailaboutoureveryneed,wearewastingHistimeandours.

Well,ifthatisnotthewaywearetogototheLordaboutourneeds,howshouldweapproachHim?Hebrews4:16givesus theanswer:Letusthereforecomeboldlyuntothethroneofgrace,thatwemayobtainmercy,andfindgracetohelpintimeofneed.

What isGod tellingus?He is saying: "Dearlybeloved, I knowall aboutyourneedsbeforeyoucometoMe.IhavepromisedtosupplyallyourneedaccordingtoMyrichesinglorybyChristJesus.Don'tfret,don'tworryorstrain;justcometoMeandfreelyreceiveallthatIhavegivenyouinChrist."

So we see God's attitude about our needs. He is not need-oriented, and Hedoesn'twantustobe.TocomebeforeHimandspendhoursdiscussingourneedsistoputtheemphasisonthewrongthing.ItisalsoinsultingtotheLord,becauseweareactingasthoughHeisunwillingtomeetourneedsasHehaspromised,orthatHeisnotaware,thatwehaveto"inform"Himofwhatisgoingonandwhatneedstobedoneaboutit.

God'sProvisionforMeetingNeeds

What about supplying those needs? It is fine to say thatGod knowswhatweneedbeforeweask,andthatHeiswillingtoprovidewhatweneedaccordingtoHisrichesinglorybyChristJesus,buthowdowegetHimtodowhatHesaysHeiswillingtodo?

Thinkaboutthisforamoment:ifwearenottowasteGod'stimeorourstalkingaboutourneeds,whatarewetotalktotheLordabout?Ibelieveyouknowtheansweralready.TheLordissaying,"Nowthatwe'vegotyourneedsoutoftheway,let'stalkaboutseeds."NowthatisasubjectthatourheavenlyFatherwilldiscussalldaylong.

Yousee,Godisnotneed-oriented,Heisseed-oriented.IkepttellingGodaboutmyneed,andHekepttalkingtomeaboutmyseed.IwantedtofocusonwhatIdidnothave,GodwantedtofocusonwhatIdidhave.

That'sthewayGodalwaysworks.

InEphesians4:28Paulwrites:Lethimthatstolestealnomore:butratherlethim labour,workingwithhishands the thingwhich is good, that hemayhavetogivetohimthatneedeth.SohereistheprimaryreasonyouandIaretowork—sothatwewillhaveseedtosow.

Whenmostpeoplewanttoknowwhatyourprofessionis,theywillask,"Whatdoyoudoforaliving?""Whatdoyoudoforaliving" isnotwhatGod thinksabout our "labour." God says that we don't work for a living, we work for agiving.

Canyouimaginebeingblessedsoabundantly,beingsoprosperous,soplenteousingoods,thatyourentirewageorsalarywasseedtobeinvestedinthelivesofothers?

ThepointIammakingisthatGodisnotneed-conscious;Heisseed-conscious.When God had "needs" of His own, He fulfilled those needs by giving. He"needed"theredemptionofmankind;He"needed"afamily.SowhatdidHedo?Heplantedaseed;HegaveJesus.

OurLordtoldusplainly: ...Exceptacornofwheat fall intothegroundanddie,itabidethalone:butifitdie,itbringethforthmuchfruit(John12:24).GodsowedHis

"Seed,"HisonlySonJesus,intotheearth,andreapedinreturnaharvestofsonsanddaughters.Heplantedthebestseedheavenhadtooffer,notworthlessseed.Hedidn't look for someold,decrepit,worn-outangel touseas seed, someonewhowasnolongerneeded.No,HechoseandplantedtheverybestHehad.AndHe reaped the best of all harvests, human souls. TheLord got that familyHe

wanted—us!

Godisseed-conscious.SoHe'snotgoingtotalktousverylongaboutourneeds,asrealandvitalastheymaybe.Afterall,Heknowsallaboutthembeforeweask.

InsteadHehasmadeprovisionforthemeetingofeverylastoneofourneeds.Heinvites us to come boldly toHis throne of grace to obtainmercy and to findgraceinourtimeofneed.Aswedo,Hewilltalktousaboutseed.

LeadershipGiving

NowIwanttotellyouwhatGodinhisgracehasdoneforthechurchesinMacedonia.

Though theyhavebeengoing throughmuch troubleandhard times, theyhavemixedtheirwonderfuljoywiththeirdeeppoverty,and theresulthasbeenanoverflowofgivingtoothers.

2Corinthians8:1,2TLB

So we see here the result of being seed-minded rather than need-minded: anoverflowofgivingtoothers.

Theygavenotonlywhattheycouldafford,butfarmore;andIcantestifythattheydiditbecausetheywantedto,notbecauseofnaggingonmypart.

TheybeggedustotakethemoneysotheycouldshareinthejoyofhelpingtheChristiansinJerusalem.


These people inMacedoniawere in deep need themselves. Paul indicates thattheywereindirepoverty.

Yet theanswer theycameupwithwasnot toholdontoeverything theycould,norto"bombardheaven'sgates"

with their needs. Instead, they beggedPaul to allow them to give tomeet theneedsofthesaintsinJerusalem.

Ifyouwereapastor,wouldn'tyoulovetohaveacongregationwhobeggedyoutotaketheirmoneyfortheworkoftheLord?

Bestofall,theywentbeyondourhighesthopes,fortheirfirstactionwastodedicatethemselvestotheLordandtous,forwhateverdirectionGodmightgivetothemthroughus.

They were so enthusiastic about it that we have urged Titus, whoencouragedyourgivinginthefirstplace,tovisityouandencourageyoutocompleteyourshareinthisministryofgiving.

Youpeoplethereareleadersinsomanyways—youhavesomuchfaith,somanygoodpreachers,somuchlearning,somuchenthusiasm,somuchloveforus.NowIwantyoutobeleadersalsointhespiritofcheerfulgiving.

2Corinthians8:5-7TLB

Itistimeforustobecomeleadersinthespiritofcheerfulgiving.

If there is any one thing which has impressed me about Kenneth and GloriaCopelandduringthetwentyyearsIhaveworkedwiththem,itistheirleadershipingiving.Itisthereasontheyaresoblessed.Manypeopledon'tseewhatgoesoninthebackgroundoftheirministry,behindthescenesoftheirpersonallives.Idon'tseeitall,ofcourse,butIdoprobablyseemorethanmostpeople.AndIcantestify that the Copelands are wonderful examples of leaders in the spirit ofcheerfulgiving.

Now that is a virtue I havehad to learngraduallyover a longperiodof time.WhenIfirststartedoutintheministry,Iwasnotblessedwiththeunderstandingofthisprinciple.

IwillneverforgetthefirsttimeBrotherCopelandaskedmetocometohisroomand pray with him. That was way back in 1972. After two or three days ofmeetingfortimesofintenseprayer,BrotherCopelandannounced,

"TheLordhastoldmethatinorderforustolaunchintothistelevisionministry,Iamtogiveawaymyairplane."

NowsinceIrememberedthatwehadflowntothatmeetinginthatveryplane,myfirstquestionwas:"Howarewegoingtogethome?"

Nowthatwasrealseed-consciousnessonmypart.YoucanseewhatlevelIwasoperatingon.AllIcouldthinkaboutwasourneed.ButIsoonlearnedbetter,andsocanyou.

Thepoint is thatBrotherCopelandwas seed-conscious—Iwasn't. Iwasneed-conscious.

But then Brother Copeland went a step further. He announced that since theengines had a lot of flight time on them, hewas going to have them repairedbeforehegavetheairplaneaway.

Ithoughttomyself,"That'scrazy,letthemanyougiveittodothat."Forthelifeof me I couldn't figure why anyone would spend several thousand dollars torepairaplanehewasabouttogiveaway.ThenIdiscoveredthereasoningbehindthataction.

BrotherCopelandexplained, "The reason Iwant toput thisplane in first-classconditionisbecausebygivingitawayIamplantingaseed,andIdon'twanttoreapaworn-outplaneinreturn."

Nowwhenmost of us are called upon to give away someof our possessions,suchasclothing,weusuallygothroughourclosetsandpickouteverythingwedon'tlike:whateverisworn,outofstyle,misfitting,uncomfortable,unbecomingor justplainugly.Whatasacrifice! Ifyoudo that,doyouknowwhatyouaregoingtogetinreturnforeacholdcast-offgarmentyougive?Anabundantreturnofexactlythesamethings!

Ifyouand I are tobe leaders ingiving,wemustgive thewayGodgives;wemustgivethebest.Thenthebestwillcomebacktous,inmultipliedform.ThatisalessonIlearnedfromtheCopelands.Isawtheirexampleandtheresultsitproduced,andIdecidedtofollowthatexample.

Iamnotgivingyouanorder;Iamnotsayingyoumustdoit,butothersareeagerforit.Thisisonewaytoprovethatyourloveisreal,thatitgoesbeyondmerewords.

2Corinthians8:8TLB

In the hard times in which you and I are now living, people need a goodexample. In these days when there are so many ministries failing, so many

churches cutting back or shutting down, so many believers becomingdiscouraged, being sidetracked anddroppingout, there aremultitudes beggingfor someone to stand up and provide them an example and a model. Thatexample and model should be us, the saints of God who are the leaders incheerfulgiving.

FinishWhatYouStarted

YouknowhowfullofloveandkindnessourLordJesuswas:thoughhewassoveryrich,yettohelpyouhebecamesoverypoor,sothatbybeingpoorhecouldmakeyourich.

Iwanttosuggestthatyoufinishwhatyoustarted...ayearago....


Nowthatspeakstomanypeopleinchurchestoday.

ManyChristians began to live by the principles ofGod'sWord, but then theycameunderpressurefromtheworld,fromSatanandfromthosewhoopposethismessage. They were deceived into giving up on sowing and reaping. Thedeceptionisnotinteachingpeoplehowtogive;itistalkingthemoutofgiving.

IamnotgoingtobemisleadbyanyonewhoclaimsthatthisBiblicalprincipledoesnotwork.IamgoingtokeepondoingwhatIhavebeenpracticingfortwodecades.IamgoingtofinishwhatIstartedtwentyyearsago.

Iwanttosuggesttoyouthatyoualso"finishwhatyoustarted."Youmayhavecomeintothisrevelationsometimeago.Maybeyoubegantoprosperandgrow,onlytobecomedisillusionedanddiscouragedbytheabusesyousawwithinthemovementandthecriticismyouheardaboutitfromwithout.YoumayhavebeentemptedtogiveupanddecidethatperhapsitisnotGod'swillforyoutoprosperafter all. You may have allowed certain negative reports and personalexperiencestoturnyouawayfrombelievinginandpracticingGod'sabundance.YoumayhaveturnedbacktowardtheoldbeliefthatGod'swillforHischildrenispoverty,lackandwant.

Ifso,Ibelieveitistimetore-evaluateyoursituation.

Completewhatyoubegansowell.Finishwhatyoustarted.

Having started the ball rolling so enthusiastically, you should carry thisprojectthroughtocompletionjustasgladly,givingwhateveryoucanoutofwhateveryouhave.

Letyourenthusiastic idea at the start be equalledby yourrealistic actionnow.

2Corinthians8:11TLB

Don'teverloseyourenthusiasmforgivingandplantingseeds.ThegreatestjoysyouwilleverexperienceinyourlifewillcomeinseeingGodblessyousoyoucanblesssomeoneelse.

That'salsothereasonthedevildoesn'twantyoutoprosper.Becauseifyoudon't,youcan'tbeablessingtoanybodyelse.Wemustquitbeingneed-consciousandbecomeseed-conscious.

NeedsAreReallyOpportunitiestoProsperLetmeclosethischapterwithonefinalillustrationfromscripture:

And Elijah the Tishbite, whowas of the inhabitants of Gilead, said untoAhab,AstheLordGodofIsraelliveth,beforewhomIstand,thereshallnotbedewnorraintheseyears,butaccordingtomyword.

AndthewordoftheLordcameuntohim,saying,Gettheehence,andturntheeeastward,andhidethyselfbythebrookCherith,thatisbeforeJordan.

Anditshallbe,thatthoushaltdrinkofthebrook;andIhavecommandedtheravenstofeedtheethere.

And it came topass after awhile, that thebrookdried up, because therehadbeennorainintheland.

And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee toZarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I havecommandedawidowwomantheretosustainthee.

1Kings17:1-4,7-9

Notice what the Lord said to the prophet in both these instances: "I have

commanded.. .the ravens to feed thee...a widow woman there to sustainthee...."Past tense.TheLordhadalreadymadeprovisionforElijahbeforeHesent him on hisway. In the case of thewidow, even beforeGod commandedElijah togo toZarephath,Hehadalreadygiven thewomanorders tomeethisneeds.

Sohearoseandwent toZarephath.Andwhenhecame to thegateof thecity,behold,thewidowwomanwastheregatheringofsticks:andhecalledtoher,andsaid,Fetchme,Ipraythee,alittlewaterinavessel,thatImaydrink.

Andasshewasgoingtofetchit,hecalledtoher,andsaid,Bringme,Ipraythee,amorselofbreadinthinehand.

Andshesaid,AstheLordthyGodliveth,Ihavenotacake,butanhandfulofmeal inabarrel,andalittleoil inacruse:and,behold,Iamgatheringtwosticks,thatImaygoinanddressitformeandmyson,thatwemayeatit,anddie.

AndElijahsaiduntoher,Fearnot;goanddoasthouhastsaid:butmakemethereofalittlecakefirst,andbringituntome,andaftermakefortheeandforthyson.

For thussaith theLordGodofIsrael,Thebarrelofmealshallnotwaste,neither shall thecruseofoil fail,until theday that theLord sendeth rainupontheearth.

1Kings17:10-14

So this woman had already been instructed to care for the prophet.When hearrived,heaskedhertofeedhim.

Butshewasnotseed-conscious.Shewasneed-conscious.

She said to him: "Oh, but you don't understand, prophet. I only have a fewprovisionswhichmysonandIareabouttoeatandthendie."

That'swhatmanypeoplearesayingtoday.ButthatisnotwhatGodsaysaboutoursituation.

I onceheardMikeMurdock, adynamicminister andmusician,make apotentstatementwhichIthinkbearsrepeating.Hesaid:"EverytimeGodgivesyouanopportunity to give, He is also giving you an opportunity to increase yourincome."

Inthiscase,theLordwasgivingthiswomananopportunitytogivebecauseHewantedhertohaveanopportunitytohaveherneedsmet.Butbecauseshewasso need-conscious, she couldn't recognize the wonderful opportunity that wasbeingofferedher.

Everyoneofushasneeds.Greatneeds.Pressingneeds.AndtheLordhasmanyopportunitiesforustogivesowecanhavethoseneedsmet.Butifwearelikethis poor widow, if we are need-conscious, we will not recognize thoseopportunitiesforwhattheyreallyare,opportunitiestoreapanabundantharvest.

The prophet told that poorwoman to feed him first, promising her that if shewoulddoso,thenherprovisionsofmealandoilwouldnotrunoutuntilthedaythefaminewasover.Washetellingthetruth?

Andshewentanddidaccording to the sayingofElijah: and she, andhe,andherhouse,dideatmanydays.

And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail,accordingtothewordoftheLord,whichhespakebyElijah.

1Kings17:15,16

IbelieveGodisgivingusanopportunityrightnowtoprepareourselvesforwhatliesaheaddowntheroad,iscommandingustokeepplantingseeds,assuringusthat ifwedo,our resourceswill not fail during thehard times to come.He istellingustobecomeseed-consciousratherthanneed-conscious.

PrayerofCommitment

IftheLordhasspokentoyourheartthroughthepagesofthischapter,repeatthisprayerofcommitmenttoHimoutloud,rightnow:

"Father;IthankYouthatYouknowallaboutmyneedsbeforeIeverbringthemtoYou.IthankYouthatIdon'thavetowasteYourtimeorminediscussingthem,begging You to meet them. I will not spend all my time talking about, or

worryingaboutmyneeds.InsteadIwilltrustthemtoYou,knowingthattheyareunderYourcontrol.

"Lord,IcommitmyselfandmyresourcesuntoYou.ItrustYoutomeetmyeveryneedasYouhavepromised inYourWord.No longerwill Ibeneed-conscious,butIwillbeseed-conscious.IwillrememberthatIamaseed-planter.

"Because I am a seed of Abraham and an heir to YourCovenant, You havepromisedtoprosperme,toblessmeandtomakemetobeablessingtoothers.Youhavepromised that if Iwillgive toYourworkandYourworkers,YouwillmultiplymymealandoilsothatImayliveandnotdie,butratheraboundsoImaybeabletogivetoeverygoodwork.

"IthankYou,Lord,thatIserveaCovenant-giving,Covenant-keepingGod.Youhavepromised tosupplymyneedsaccording toYour riches inglorybyChristJesus.Therefore,IsubmitmyneedstoYoubyplantingseedsintoYourKingdom.

IlookforYoutoreturnthemtomeinanabundantharvest,forthesakeofYourKingdom.

"ForallthesepreciouspromisesandwonderfulblessingsIgiveYouthanksandpraise,inJesus'name.Amen."

2

TheRealPurposeofGiving

Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, andknowledge,andinalldiligence,andinyourlovetous,seethatyeaboundinthisgracealso.

2Corinthians8:7

NotethatinthispassagePaulstatesthathewouldlikeforChristiansto"aboundingrace."Thegraceheisspeakingofhereisthegraceofgiving(NIV).InTheLivingBibleversionwhichweexaminedinChapter1,thisexpressioniscalled"thespiritofcheerfulgiving."

Remember that these early Christians were going through "much trouble and

hardtimes."YouandIshouldbeabletorelatetothatsituation.Infact,soshouldeveryChristian.Ifyouaregoingthrough"muchtroubleandhardtimes,"youareingoodcompany.IhaveoftensaidthatSatanattacksChristiansonlytwotimes:when they have done somethingwrong, andwhen they have done somethingright.

Many believers get all upsetwhen things gowrong, especiallywhen they aretrying so hard to do right. They somehow have the mistaken idea that their"doinggood"oughttoinsurethemagainstthings"goingbad."Itdoesn't.

Itcertainlydidn'tforPaulandthefirst-centuryChristians.

Sometimes you and I will have the most trouble not because we are doingwrong, but precisely becausewe are doing right. The "going" has not alwaysbeensmoothinmylife.Thereasonthefirstpartofmylifewasn'tsmoothgoingisbecauseIwasoutofthewillofGod.ButevennowthatIaminthecenterofGod'swill,thingsarenotalwayssmoothoreasy.ButtheLordalwayssuppliesthepowerandgraceandeverythingelseweneed tocome through the troubleandhardtimes.Thattooispartoftheheritageofthesaints.

But remember that the result of the trouble and hard times which the EarlyChurch was going through was an overflow of giving to others. That is animportantprincipleforustolearntoday.

Inmyowncase,Irealizedalongtimeagothatthequickestwaytogetmyownneedsmetistogetinvolvedinmeetingtheneedsofsomeoneelse.

ThePurposeforGod'sBlessings

I remember an incident that took place some years ago which illustrates thispoint. I had been invited by a small church inWest Texas to come and helpdedicate their new building.While I was there, the pastor said he wanted toreceiveanofferingformeandmywife,Carolyn.

Hesaid,"NowIdon'twantthistogointoyourministry;itwillbeforyoutwopersonallyinappreciationofyourworkfortheLordandasanexpressionofourgratitudeforwhatyouhavedoneforusinthischurch."

Theofferingturnedouttobeathousanddollars.

Normally,all theofferingsgodirectly to theministry. Iamonasetsalary justlike everyone else in the organization. Carolyn and I have to live within ourincomejustasyoudo.Sonaturallyitwasagreatjoyandblessingtobeabletobringinsomeextracashjustforourownuse.

Infact, inmymindIalreadyhadthatmoneyspentonseveralthingswereallyneeded.

Butwhen I got home from thatmeeting, Carolynmetme at the door saying,"Jerry, there is a couple in townwho are being evicted from their house.Themoversaresettingthemandtheirchildrenandtheirfurnitureoutonthesidewalkrightnow.Theyhavenomoneyandnoplace tomove.Theydon'tknowwhatthey'regoingtodo.Theyneedathousanddollars."

"Well,itjustsohappensthatIhaveathousanddollarsonme,"Ireplied."Whendotheyneedit?"

"Rightnow!"

Sowegot inour car anddroveover to the couple's house.The childrenweresittingoutintheyard.Themanandhiswifewereloadingfurnitureintoatrailer.Itwasaboutoneo'clockinthemorning,andtheyhadnoideawheretheyweregoing.Theyhadnomoneyandnoplacetoevenspendthenight.

ThentheLordspoketomeandsaid,"ThisisthereasonIgaveyouthatthousanddollars.ThisiswhereIwantittogo.Thatmoneywillkeepthisfamilyintheirhome."

Iwanttotellyousomething.OfallthethingsIcouldhaveboughtformyselformy family with that thousand dollars, nothing could have brought me morehappinessthanthatwhichIreceivedinbeingtheinstrumentofGodtohelpthatfamilyintheirtimeofneed.Thereisnomomentarythrillonearththatcanevercomparewiththedeep,abidingjoyofknowingthatGodhasrichlyblessedyouso you can be a blessing to others and prevent amisfortune or catastrophe intheirlives.

Because of our willingness to pass on the blessings which God had freelybestoweduponus,thatfamilywasabletostayintheirhome.AndGodbegantoblessthemandmakethemtobeablessingtoourministryasaresult.

Theyarepartnersinouroutreach.Theysowseedintoourministryallthetime.

That is the real purpose of God's giving to us: to bless us and to make uschannelsofHisblessingtoothers.

That is alsowhyour giving is a grace—a free andundeservedgift fromGod.Because,aswehaveseen,anopportunitytogivetohelpothersinneedisreallyanopportunitytohaveourownneedsmet.

ReapingWhatYouSow

WhatamIsaying?Thatwearegoingtohavetostopbeingneed-consciousandbecomeseed-conscious.

If, like the Macedonian believers, you are in deep poverty, if you are goingthrough much trouble and hard times, the devil will try to tell you that youcannotaffordtogive.Ifyoubelievethatlie,andrefusetogivetomeettheneedsofothersandofGod'swork,youwillcutyourselfoff fromtheverysourceofyourownsupply.

If youhave great needs, never let Satan convince you that you can't afford togive.Inordertoreceive,youmustgive;toreap,youmustsow.Andremember,youarenotaloneoruniqueinthisrespect.ThisistrueofeveryChristian.

ThepastfewyearsCarolynandIhaveprobablybeenunderthegreatestfinancialpressure of our entire married life. Because of all the ministry projects andpersonal undertakings we have been involved in, we have had tremendousfinancial needs and obligations. At the time I delivered this message in thatbelievers' convention, for example, we were involved in building a clinic inKenya,buildingournewheadquartersinFortWorth,constructinganewhome—besides, amongmany other concerns, preparing for thewedding of our oldestdaughter.

ButGodhasbroughtus through these andmanyother crucial times.The firstphaseoftheclinicwascompletedandbegantreating,ontheaverage,125peopleaday.Theheadquartershasbeenbuilt.Weareinournewhome.

Andourdaughterisnowhappilymarriedandsettledintohernewlife.

SoIhaveneeds—personal,professional,financialandspiritual—justasyoudo.

But Ihave found thatGod is faithful;Healwaysmeetsmyneeds.Usually thewayHedoesthatisbydirectingmyattentionawayfrommyownneedstothoseofothers.Insteadoftalkingaboutmyneed,hespeakstomeaboutmyseed.Hekeepstellingmetogive.

Isay,"Lord,Ihaveaneed."

Hesays,"Plantaseed."

IamconvincedthatthisisthewayHeisdealingwithyoutoo.Butyouhavetobecarefulandnotallowthedevilorotherpeopletotalkyououtofyourgiving.Becausethatisthewayyoureap,bysowing.Now,Iknowyouhaveheardthatfor years and years. Virtually every Christian church I know of preaches thatsamebiblicalprinciple:

"Whatsoeveramansoweth,thatshallhealsoreap."

EverytrueChristianleaderknowsthatwereapwhatwesow.ThesebelieverstowhomPaulwaswritingknewittoo.Buttheyhadtobestirredupaboutit.

CarryThroughtoCompletion

In2Corinthians8:10,11(TLB)PaulwrotetothechurchinCorinth:

Iwanttosuggestthatyoufinishwhatyoustartedtodoayearago,foryouwere not only the first topropose this idea, but the first to begin doingsomethingaboutit.

Having started the ball rolling so enthusiastically, you should carry thisprojectthroughtocompletionjustasgladly,givingwhateveryoucanoutofwhateveryouhave.Let your enthusiastic idea at the start be equalledbyyourrealisticactionnow.

Now that may describe your situation. You may have begun givingenthusiastically.Youmayhavestartedtheballrollingwell.Butnowyouneedtobe stirred up to keep the ball rolling, to finish what you started, to let yourenthusiasticideaatthestartbeequalledbyyourrealisticactionnow.

Satan'sPurposeinOpposingtheSpiritofCheerfulGiving

Don't letadversecircumstances,outsidepressureornegativecriticismpressureyou into giving up on your giving. Remember, the Bible teaches that if youwithholdyour seed, itwill tend topoverty. (Prov.11:24.)That isexactlywhatSatanis tryingtodototheBodyofChrist today: togetChristianstowithholdtheir seed.He is trying tousepublicministry scandals todisturb, distress anddiscouragebelieverssotheywillwithholdtheirgivingtotheLord'swork.

NowIamnot ignoring thescandals,noramI saying that there isnoabuseordishonestyorextremismintheministry.Thesethingsalwaysexistinanygoodeffortormovement.Butthereisalsotruthintheministry.Butthedevilwillnotcallattentiontothetruthorthegood,hewillalwaysdwellonthelies,thedeceitand thewrong.Hedoes that inorder tocastdoubtand tobringdisruptionanddiscouragement.Hewants theBody ofChrist to retreat from their position ofgodly prosperity and power, to draw back into the preaching and practice ofthedoctrineofpoverty.

Satan'srealgoalandpurposeis torendertheChurchofJesusChristweakandineffective,unabletodoanythingbecauseitdoesn'thaveanythingtodoitwith.HewantstokeepitpoorsoitcanneverreachthenationsoftheworldwiththeGospel. The last thing Satan wants is for the Church to prosper because heknowsthatifitdoes,itwillpublishtheGoodNewsofJesusChristthroughoutthe entire world. And that would spell the end for him and his kingdom ofdarkness.

God'sPlantoThwartSatan

Doyou remember that theBible says that the loveofmoney is the rootofallevil?(1Tim.6:10.)Well,thatistrue.ButitisSatan,nottheChurch,whoisinlove with money. He is the one who hoards it up for selfish purposes, notChristians.Satan'sprimaryplanandgoal is toaccumulateall thewealthoftheworld sohe cankeep it away from theChurch.Why?Becauseheknows thatChristianswilluseriches,nottosatisfytheirownselfish,carnaldesires,buttofinancethespreadandgrowthofGod'sKingdom.

But God has already taken Satan's scheme into consideration and has madeprovisionforit.Hehasdeclaredthatthewealthofthesinner(theonethedevil

"prospers") has been laid up for the just. (Prov. 13:22.) If we are faithful ingivingtoseeGod'swilldoneonthisearth,Hehaspromisedto"transfer"tous

thosefundscollectedandhoardedbySatanandhisfollowers.That'spartoftheamazing plan of God—to thwart Satan's scheme for world conquest anddominionbytakinghisownevilresourcesandusingthemtofinancethegreatestrevivaltheearthhaseverknown.OthedepthoftherichesbothofthewisdomandtheknowledgeofGod!..

(Rom.11:33).

SowinginAdversity

...givingwhateveryoucanoutofwhateveryouhave....

Ifyouarereallyeagertogive, then it isn't importanthowmuchyougive.Godwantsyoutogivewhatyouhave,notwhatyouhaven't.


IfweintheBodyofChristwaitforconditionstogetjustrightbeforewegive,wewillneversow.Andwithoutsowingtherewillneverbeaharvest.No, liketheearlybelievers,youand Imust learn togiveoutofourpoverty, to sow inadversity,toplantseedsinthemidstofourtrouble.

Ecclesiastes11:4 tellsus:Hethatobserveththewindshallnot sow;andhethat regardeth the clouds shall not reap. The good farmer doesn't wait forperfectconditions.

Ifhedid,hewouldneversownorreapaharvest.HehastoexercisefaithinGodandfaithintheseedheplants,evenwhentheyaresownunderlessthanperfectconditions.Whatevertheprevailingcircumstances,heisfaithfultosowhisseed,expectingthatseedtodowhatitiscapableofdoing,whatitisprogrammedtodo—to reproduce bountifully after its own kind.He trusts in the never-failingmiracleofthelife-principleofsowingandreaping.

PaultoldtheChristiansinCorinththat theMacedonianshadgivenoutof theirpoverty.Healsosaid that theyhadmixedjoywith theirgiving.Theygavenotonlywhat theycouldafford,butmuchmore.He testified that theydid so,notbecausehehadnaggedthemtogivegenerously,butbecausetheywantedto.Heemphasizedthattheyevenwentsofarastobeghimtotaketheirfreewillgiftsandofferings,sotheycouldshareinthejoyofhelpingtheirbrothersandsistersinJerusalem.(2Cor.8:3,4TLB.)

Best of all, Paul noted, theywent beyondhis highest hopes because they firstgaveofthemselvestotheLord.

ThenPaul reminds theCorinthians that they toohadpromised togive. In fact,theyhadbeensoenthusiasticaboutitthatPaulwasnowsendingTitustothemtoencourage them to completewhat theyhadbegun.Hecalled to their attentionhow many leaders there were in their midst, how much faith they had, howknowledgeabletheywere,howmuchlovetheyhaddisplayedforhimandhowmuchenthusiasmtheyhadshownfortheworkoftheLord.Thenheconcludedbyurging them tobe"leadersalso in the spirit of cheerful giving." (2Cor.8:5-7.)AsIhavenoted,IbelievethatinthedaystocomeGodisgoingtoraiseup leaders in our midst who have this same "spirit of cheerful giving." Thereason He is going to do that is so His people can have good examples andmodelstoshowthemhowtobeblessedandhowtobecomeablessingtomany,manyothers.

BlessedToBeaBlessing

IrealizethatIreallydon'tevenneedtomentionthistoyou,abouthelpingGod'speople.

ForIknowhoweageryouaretodoit,andIhaveboastedtothefriendsinMacedonia thatyouwereready to sendanoffering a year ago. In fact, itwasthisenthusiasmofyoursthatstirredupmanyofthemtobeginhelping.

ButIamsendingthesemenjust tobesure thatyoureallyareready,as Itold themyouwouldbe,withyourmoney all collected; I don'twant it toturnoutthatthistimeIwaswronginmyboastingaboutyou.

I would be very much ashamed—and so would you—if some of theseMacedonianpeople comewithme, only to find that you still aren't readyafterallIhavetoldthem!


HerePaulissayingtothebelieversinCorinththathehasboastedofthemtotheMacedonians,emphasizinghoweagertheyweretogivetohelpGod'speople.

HeevensaysthatitwastheirenthusiasmthathadmotivatedtheMacedonianstomake their generous freewill gift.NowPaulwants tomake sure thatwhenhe

comes to collect the Corinthians' offering, it will be there because they havefollowedthroughontheirgoodintentionsandfulfilledtheirpromise.Hewantstomakesurethattheyhavefinishedwhattheystarted.

SoIhaveaskedtheseotherbrotherstoarriveaheadofmetoseethat thegiftyoupromisedisonhandandwaiting.Iwantittobearealgiftandnotlookasifitwerebeinggivenunderpressure.

Butrememberthis—ifyougivelittle,youwillgetlittle.Afarmerwhoplantsjustafewseedswillgetonlyasmallcrop,butifheplantsmuch,hewillreapmuch.

Every onemust make up his ownmind as to howmuch he should give.Don'tforceanyonetogivemorethanhereallywantsto,forcheerfulgiversaretheonesGodprizes.

God is able tomake it up to you by giving you everything you need andmore,sothattherewillnotonlybeenoughforyourownneeds,butplentyleftovertogivejoyfullytoothers.


Notice: Paul says that if we give, God will give us everything we need, andmore, sowewill have enough for our ownneeds and plenty left over to givejoyfullytomeettheneedsofothers.

That'sthewayGodalwaysoperates.ThatiswhatHetoldAbrahaminthefirstplace:"ServeandobeyMe,andyouwillbeblessed,andwillbeablessingtoeveryoneelse."Yousee,God'sCovenantwithus is twofold. IfwearewillingandobedienttoHim,Hehaspromised:first,toblessuspersonally,and,second,tomakeustobeablessingtomany,manyothers.

ThismeansthatasGod'sblessingscomeuponandovertakeus,thenweareabletopassthoseblessingsontomeettheneedsaroundus.WearenottobeselfishwithGod'sblessings.Theyaregiventoussowecanbeablessingtoothersinneed.

Sothen,theexpression"tobeablessing"actuallymeanstobeaninstrumentofGod's divine favor. As I illustrated, it is such a blessing to be chosen toadminister God's divine favor in the life of another person, preventing

misfortune or catastrophe. There is no greater joy known to man. HowwonderfullyGodhasalreadyblessedus,simplybychoosingandanointingustoserveasHisinstrumentsofblessingtotheworld.

Theproblemisthatsomanypeopledonotunderstandthisprinciple.Theythinkthey should be blessed ofGod for their own sake alone, just to get their ownneedsmet.

Theyareonlytoohappytohearthattheywillhaveplentyleftover—butforthewrongreason;theythinkitistobeusedtosatisfytheirownselfishdesires.Aswehaveseen,thatisnotGod'splanandpurposeinblessingus.

It is selfishandunscriptural toprayandexpectGod toprovide just enough tomeetourownpersonalneeds.ItisevenmoreselfishandunscripturaltoprayandexpectGodtoprovideuswealthandrichestoconsumeuponourownlusts.

IfyouandIaregoingtobetotallyunselfishandtrulyscriptural,wemustdesire,prayandexpecttoreceivefromGodnotonlyenoughtomeetourownneeds,butplentyleftoversothatwecangivejoyfullytohelpsomebodyelse.ThatisGod'splan.ThatistheCovenant.

ThePurposeofProsperity

Ibelievewearegoingtohavetoraiseourlevelofthinkingwhereprosperityisconcerned.ToomanyofusarenotyetonGod'slevelofthought.ToshowyouwhatImean,let'slookatthatscripturewhichpromisesusthatthewealthofthesinner is laid up for the just. That sounds like a marvelous promise to thebeliever—and it is—but let'sexamine the firstpartof thatverse:Agoodmanleaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of thesinnerislaidupforthejust.

Proverbs13:22

NowGod'sideaofprosperityisnotjustourhavingabareminimum,justenoughto meet our own needs. To God we are not fully prosperous until we haveenoughtomeetourcurrentneeds,plentytogivetomeettheneedsofothers,andthenontopofthatenoughleftovertoleaveaninheritancefortwosucceedinggenerations!

Now I surely don't mean to imply that I have reached that level of divine

prosperityyet.Ihaven't.FewChristianshave.Butthatdoesn'tmeanthatitisnotavailable to us. I believe God wants to raise up some modern-day, NewTestamentAbrahams.Peoplewhoareblessed,andwhocanbeablessingto"allthefamiliesoftheearth."Whynot?Iftheheavyweightboxingchampionoftheworldcangointoaringandearntwenty-twomilliondollarsinninetyseconds,thensurelyGodcanfindwaysofsupplyingHischildrenwithenoughrichestoblessmillionsofpeoplearoundtheglobe.

Butisn'titamazingthataprominentsportsfigurecan"earn"millionsofdollarsayear,andbemadetolookgoodintheheadlines.Butifapreachergetsevensomuchasafinenewcar,hegets"headlines"ofaverydifferentsort!

But thatreallydoesn'tmatter.Theimportant thingis thatmoreandmoreofusaregoingtobeblessedandprosperedoftheLordinthedaystocome.ThatisallpartofGod'soverallplanforthesalvationoftheworld.Heisgoingto"transfer"someofthewealthofthesinnertosomeofus(therighteous)sowecanhavethemeans to publish this Gospel throughout all the world—as He has expresslycommandedustodo.Mark16:15says,Goyeintoall theworld,andpreachthegospeltoeverycreature.

Therearemillionsofpeoplewhoareyettoheartheold,oldstory.AndyouandIareresponsibleforgettingittothem.Godwantsustoprosper.Hewantsustobeblessed.Ofcourse,Hedoesn'twantustoallowmoneytocomebetweenusandHim.Butatthesametime,Hedoesn'twantustogetthemistakenideathatitisimpossible to have money and still serve Him. Abraham had riches, and heservedtheLordfaithfully.SodidIsaac.

SodidseveralothersinScripture.

Yes,theBibledoeswarnusaboutallowingmaterialgoodstointerferewithourspirituality.TheBibledoessaythatprosperitydestroysfools.(Prov.1:32.)Butyou and I are not supposed to be fools,we are supposed to bewise sons anddaughtersofGod.Aschildrenof theKing,weought tohave senseenough toknowhowtohandleourFather'sestate.

Fools are destroyedbyprosperity.But you and I have access to themind andwisdom of God. We don't have to be foolish with prosperity and thus bedestroyedbyit.WecanuseitwiselyforGod'spurposes.

And the Bible indicates that if we are seed-minded rather than need-minded,

GodcantrustustohandleHisgoods,knowingthattheywillbedirectedtothosewhoneedthemmost.Heknowsthatwecanbetrustedtomeetourownneeds,andthentogoonandgivegenerouslytomeettheneedsofthosearoundus.

LookatwhatPaulsaysaboutGod'spurposeinprosperingus:

ForGod,whogivesseedtothefarmertoplant,andlateron,goodcropstoharvestandeat,willgiveyoumoreandmoreseedtoplantandwillmakeitgrowsothatyoucangiveawaymoreandmorefruitfromyourharvest.

Yes,Godwillgiveyoumuchsothatyoucangiveawaymuch....


GiveAwayandBecomeRicher

There is that scattereth, andyet increaseth; and there is thatwithholdethmorethanismeet,butittendethtopoverty.

The liberal soul shall bemade fat: andhe thatwatereth shall bewateredalsohimself.

Proverbs11:24,25

ThispassageissoimportanttoourstudythatIwouldliketolookatitinthreemodern versions: the New International Version, The Living Bible and theRevisedStandardVersion:

Onemangives freely,yetgainsevenmore;anotherwithholdsunduly,butcomestopoverty.

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself berefreshed.

Proverbs11:24,25Niv

Itispossibletogiveawayandbecomericher!Itisalsopossibletoholdontoo tightly and lose everything. Yes, the liberal man shall be rich! Bywateringothers,hewatershimself.

Proverbs11:24,25TLB

Onemangives freely,yetgrowsall thericher;anotherwithholdswhatheshouldgive,andonlysufferswant.

Aliberalmanwillbeenriched,andonewhowaterswillhimselfbewatered.

Proverbs11:24,25RSV

You see, all thiswe are hearing these days about dishonesty and fraud in themediaministryisanattempttogetustofallfortheliethatwehadbetterstopgiving.

Everydaywehearvoicesthattellus:"Timesarehard.Youcan'taffordtogive.Everything is shaky.You'dbetterhangon towhatyouhave left, becausewhoknowswhatisgoingtohappendowntheroad.Theeconomyisbad,thedollarisdown,banksareclosingrightandleft,theDowJonesisfalling."

All this is designed by the devil to frighten and upset us, to scare us intowithholding what we know we should give. The devil is trying to convincepeoplethatwithholdingduringhardtimesis"smartbusiness."

TheBibledoesn't say it is smart, it says it is"dangerous business." It leads topoverty. It can cause us to lose everything. Remember: it is the one whorefreshesothers,whoishimselfrefreshed.

NoticetheTheLivingBibleversionofverse24.Iloveit.

Itsaysthatitispossibletogiveawayandbecomericher!

Now,manypeopledon'tunderstandthatprinciple.

Butitworks.Iknowitdoes,becauseIhaveexperiencedtheresultsofitinmyownlife.LetmeshowyouwhatImean.

NotlongagoGodtoldmetogiveawaymyairplane.

(Actually I'vegivenaway severalplanesused inmyministry,but this story isjustaboutoneparticularplanewhichtheLordinstructedmetoplantasseedintoanotherministry.)IgaveittothemantheLordindicatedshouldreceiveit.

AfewdayslaterIcamebackhomeandwasmetbyanairplanedealerwhosaidtome,"JerryI'dliketomakeyouanofferonthatplaneofyours.I'vegotaniceonethatisjustabitlargerandnicerthanwhatyou'reflyingnow."

BeforeIcouldanswer,hewenton:"Youknowwhat thisplane isworth.Well,I'mgoingtoknocksixtythousanddollarsoffthepurchasepricerightupfront.

Then I'mgoing togiveyou fifty thousanddollarsmore foryourpresentplanethanwhatyoucansell it for.Soactually I'mgoing to takeyouroldplaneandallowyoumorethanahundred-thousand-dollardiscountonthelargerone."

Thatwaswonderful. Therewas just one problem, of course. I had just givenawaymyplanethenightbefore.

SoIlistenedverypolitelytotheman'soffer.Thenheaskedme,"Whatdoyouthinkofthedeal?"

"Well,that'saverygenerousoffer,"Itoldhim."Ireallyappreciateit.Butthereisjustoneproblem."

"What'sthat?"hewantedtoknow.

"Ijustgavemyplaneaway."

Nowthismanwasnotabeliever,sohereallydidn'tunderstandmuchaboutthisspiritualprincipleofgivingandreceiving,sowingandreaping.

"You're lying,"hereplied."Hereyouareapreacher,andyou're lying.Nobodygivesawayanairplane."

"Idid,"Ianswered.

"Yeah,well,I'mintheairplanebusiness,andI'veneverheardofsuchathing."

"Thatmaybe," I responded,"but Idid itanyway. In fact, that'showIgot thatplaneinthefirstplace;somebodygaveit tome.Igaveawayanotherone,andthensomeonegavemethatone."

"Idon'tunderstandthat,"themanmuttered."Nobodygoesaroundgivingawayairplanes."

"Oh,yes,someofusdo,"Iassuredhim."There'sawholebunchofusaroundthecountrywhodothatverything.That'showwelive—wegive."

Themanwalkedaway,shakinghisheadinwonderanddisbelief.

TheChoiceIsYours

Butnoticethatnotonlydoesthispassagesaythatitispossibletogiveawayandgrow richer, it also says that it is possible to hold on too tightly and loseeverything.That'ssortofthe"flipside"oftheequation.

Well, if that is so, I think itwouldbewise tobea "liberal soul."Because theBiblesaysthatitistheliberalmanwhowillbeenriched.

Now that does notmean that you and I are to go "hogwild" and give awayeverythingweown,underthefalseimpressionthatwearegoingtoimmediatelygetitallbackahundredtimesover!No,Iamnottellingyoutodothat.

ButIamtellingyouthatitwouldbegoodtostartgivingtotheLord'sworkasHeleadsandinstructsyoutogive—wisely.

LearntolistentothevoiceoftheLord,andthendowhatHetellsyoutodointhisareaofgiving.

Oryoucanlistentothedevil.Ifyoudo,hewilltellyouthattimesarehardandgetting harder. He will warn you that you'd better hold back on giving until"thingsgetbetter."

Soyouhaveachoice:youcanchoosetolistentotheLordortothedevil.

Isn'titamazinghowtheLordisalwaysgivinguschoices?IntheOldTestament,He told the children of Israel that He was setting before them blessing orcursing,andthatitwastheirdecisionwhichtheywouldchoose.

ButHealsourgedthemtochooselife,sothattheyandtheirfamiliesmightlive.

IbelievethatisthechoiceGodissettingbeforeyouandmetoday.AndIbelieveHeisurgingustochooselife,sothatweandourfamiliesmightlivethroughthedifficultdayswhichlieaheadofusall.

Thechoiceisyours.Iurgeyoutochooselife.

TheDecisionIsCrucial

Myfriend,IsincerelybelievethattheSpiritofGodissayingtoHisChurchthattherearesometroubleddaysahead.Hardtimesarecoming.Theworldisnotyetthroughbeingshaken.

But the Lord says that you and I can rule and reign, regardless of thecircumstancesoflife.Godhaspromisedthatwhateverliesaheadfortheworld,you and I can not only survive, but even grow richer.We can have the upperhand.Hehasmadeprovisionforustodojustthat.How?

Hehascalledustobecomeseed-mindedinsteadofneed-minded.

3

BenefitsofGodlyGiving

Castthybreaduponthewaters:forthoushaltfinditaftermanydays.

Giveaportion to seven,andalso toeight: for thouknowest notwhat evilshallbeupontheearth.

If thecloudsbe fullofrain, theyempty themselvesupontheearth:and ifthetreefalltowardthesouth,or towardthenorth, intheplacewherethetreefalleth,thereitshallbe.

Hethatobserveththewindshallnotsow;andhethatregardeththecloudsshallnotreap.

Andthouknowestnotwhat isthewayofthespirit,norhowthebonesdogrow in thewombofher that iswith child: even so thouknowestnot theworksofGodwhomakethall.

Inthemorningsowthyseed,and intheeveningwithholdnot thinehand:forthouknowestnotwhethershallprosper,eitherthisorthat,orwhethertheybothshallbealikegood.

Ecclesiastes11:1-6

This passage of Scripture is so important to a full and clear understanding ofgodlygiving, that Iwould like for us to read it again, this time inThe LivingBibletranslation:Givegenerously,foryourgiftswillreturntoyoulater.

Divideyourgiftsamongmany,forinthedaysaheadyouyourselfmayneedmuchhelp.

Whenthecloudsareheavy,therainscomedown;whenatreefalls,whethersouthornorth,thedieiscast,forthereitlies.

Ifyouwaitforperfectconditions,youwillnevergetanythingdone.

God's ways are as mysterious as the pathway of the wind, and as themanner inwhich a human spirit is infused into the little body of a babywhileitisyetinitsmother'swomb.'

Keeponsowingyourseed,foryouneverknowwhichwillgrow—perhapsitallwill.

Nowinthispassageweseeavitalprincipleofgodlygiving:"Givegenerously,foryourgiftswillreturntoyoulater."

Nowsomepeoplemaysay,"Ijustdon'tbelievethat."

Well,whetherthisprincipleisbelievedornotdoesnotchangethetruthofit.Itjustaffectswhetherornotitworksforyou.

There is a little slogangoingaround thesedays,whichyoumayhave seenonbumperstickers:"Godsaidit,Ibelieveit,thatsettlesit!"Thetruthis,ifGodhassaidit,itisalreadysettled,whetheryouorIoranybodyelsebelievesitornot.Ourbelievingitistoouradvantage.

God'sMysteriousWays

Youmightsay tome,"I justdon'tunderstandhowIcangiveawaysomethingandexpectGodtogiveitbacktome."

Iknowyoudon'tunderstandthat.NeitherdoI.That'swhatthispassagemeans

whenitsaysthat"God'swaysareasmysteriousasthepathwayofthewind,andasthemannerinwhichahumanspiritisinfusedintothelittlebodyofababywhile it is yet in itsmother'swomb." Of course,we don't understandhowsuchthingshappen;wejustknowtheydo.

ItisnotnecessarythatweunderstandGod'sprinciplestobenefitfromthem:wemustsimplylearnthem,believethem,andactuponthem.

Forexample,wedon'tknowhowseedsbringforthplantsorfruit.Wejustknowtheydo,sowesowseedsintotheground,patientlytendandnurturethem,andthenreapanabundantharvestfromthem.That'swhatGodexpectsustodowiththegoodseedofHisWord.

Idon'tunderstandhowtheLordcantellmetoplantaseed-giftintheministryofanother man of God, and then provide me in return a generous gift fromsomeoneelsewholivesinCalifornia,someoneIdon'tevenknow!ImaybeinIllinois,andthenextthingyouknowImeetsomeonefromCaliforniawhohasbeensenttherebytheLordfortheexpresspurposeofsowingaseed-giftintomylifeandministry.

Idon'tknowhowthatsortofthinghappens,Ijustknowitdoes.Timeandtimeagain.

Asforthisparticularincident,IwasinachurchinthestateofIllinoisforaseriesofmeetings.IpreachedsevensermonswithoutreceivingasingleofferingformyministrybecausetheLordspoketomeandtoldmenottoacceptanoffering.

"Youknow,Father,"IpointedouttoHim,"Idohaveabudgettomeet."

Butstill,Iwasobedient.IdidasIwastoldtodo.

Preachedallweek longwithout receivinganoffering,After themeetingswereover,Ilefttown.

OnmywaybackhometoTexas, Istopped tospeakataFullGospelBusinessMen'sbanquet.AsIbegantopreparefortheservice,theLordagainspoketomeandsaid,"Don'ttakeanofferinghereeither."

Fromthere,Iwasscheduledtodrivetherestofthewayhome.Afterawhile,Istoppedoffthefreewaytohavelunch.Iwalkedintoarestaurantandlookedfor

aplacetositdown.NowIdidn'twalkincarryingahugeBibleorwearingasignproclaiming that I was Jerry Savelle, "the great man of God." I wasn't evenwearingasuitandtie.Ihadoncomfortable,travelingclotheslikeeveryoneelsethere.

Now you must realize that this was a good 15 years ago, and not too manypeoplehadeverheardofme.ButafterIhadsatdownandorderedmymeal,anelderlycouplegotupfromtheirtable,cameover,andpolitelytappedmeontheshoulder.

"Youdon'tknowus,butweknowwhoyouare,"theytoldme."Weweresittingovertheretalkingaboutyoubeforeyoucameinawhileago."

Then the lady toldme, "I said tomyhusband, 'Why, that's JerrySavelle rightthere,isn'tit?Andhesaid,'Youknow,Ibelieveitis.'"

TheywentontotellmethatbeforeIhadenteredtheroom,theLordhadspokentothemaboutgivingmeanoffering.Theyhadalreadydecidedtomailittomeatmy office in FortWorth as soon as they got back home.But theLord toldthem that would be too late. Just then, they saw me walk in. The Lordimmediatelyinstructedthemtogivetheofferingtomeinperson,rightthenandthere.

That generous offering was more than enough to cover the expenses of thatmeetingwithsomeleftover.

Now Idon't knowhowGoddoes thatkindof thing. I don't understand it, butthat's notmy responsibility.My responsibility is to plant the seed. It isGod'sresponsibilitytomeettheneed.

IfyouandIbecomeneed-conscious,wewon'tbeseed-conscious. Ifweget tothinkingwehavesomanyneedswejustcan'taffordtoplantseeds,wewillsoonberight. Ifwedon't sowin timeofneed, thoseneedsaregoing to increasesomuchwe reallywon't have anything to sow, and therefore nothing to harvest.Remembertheprinciple:

"Withholdingmorethanisrighttendstopoverty."

Itisourjobtosowseeds,God'sjobtomeetneeds.

ButnoticethattheBiblesaysonlythatourgodlygiftswillcomebacktous;itdoesn'tsayhoworwhen.IwishIcouldtellyouhowandwhenyourgiftwillbereturned to you inmultiplied form. I don't know. If God givesme aword ofwisdomforyou,Iwillletyouknow,ofcourse.

Butuntilsuchtime,allIcandoispassontoyouthespiritualprinciple:"Godlygivingresultsinabundantreceiving."

Howmuch timewill elapse betweenour sowing and reaping, I simplydonotknow.ButIdoknowonething:thetimebetweensowingandreapingisthemostimportant andexciting inour lives; it becomesagreat adventure in faith.Thesecret is to sow faithfully, generously and regularly, so that we can expect acontinualflowofgodlygiftsinreturn.

DivideYourGifts

Notice that verse 2 of the passage from Ecclesiastes 11 (TLB) says,"Divideyourgiftsamongmany,forinthedaysaheadyouyourselfmayneedhelp."

What isGod saying to us here?He is trying to prepare us for the future, forwhatever may be coming down the road. If things are tough now, if we arehavingahardtimemakingitthroughthesedays,thenhowwillweeverbeabletofaceevenworsetimestocome?

From all indications,world conditions are not going to improve in the future;they are going to continue toworsen.But that doesn'tmean that theBody ofChristhastobeovercomebytheworldanditsfailingeconomicandsocialorder.Justbecausetheworld'ssystemisfailing,thereisnoreasonthattheChurchofJesusChristmustgounder.Ifanything,thefailureoftheworld'ssystemshouldherald the greatest resurgence and revival of the Church in the history ofmankind.

I believe that what God really desires is, when the world is at its worst, theChurch is to be at its best. The world's darkest hour will be the Church'sbrightesthour.

ThatiswhattheprophetIsaiahwasreferringtowhenhetoldthepeopleofhisday:

Arise,shine; forthy light iscome,andthegloryof theLord isrisenupon

thee.

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness thepeople:buttheLordshallariseuponthee,andhisgloryshallbeseenuponthee.

AndtheGentilesshallcometothylight,andkingstothebrightnessofthyrising.

Isaiah60:1-3

But the days aheadwill not be our brightest hour if wewithhold our giving.WithoutsowingintoGod'sKingdom,wewillendupasdarkastheworld.TheLordhasinstructedusto"divide"ourgifts—tosowthem—

amongmany,sowewillhave"muchhelp"inthedaystocome.

Remember:God'swaysarenotman'sways;inthatsense,theyare"mysterious."Keeponsowing,foryouneverknowwhichofyourseedswillgrowandproduceanabundantharvest.Maybetheyallwill.

Youmayhaveplantedandsowed,dayinanddayout,forweeksorevenmonths,withnoapparentresults.Don'tgetdiscouraged.Howdoyouknowthattodayisnottheappointeddayofharvest?Howdoyouknowthatthenextseedyousowisnottheveryonethatwillcausealltheotherseedstocometofruition?

Divideyourseedamongmany,andthenexpecttoharvesta"many-fold"returnonyoursowing.

BeConsistentinGiving

Some time ago, I was talking to the international director of our ministry inAfrica.Wewerediscussingthebattleroyalwehadgonethroughinthatland.Ateverystep,wehadtobattlecorruptionandopposition.ButGodhadtoldustogointothatareaandpulldownthestrongholdsofSatan,andthatwasexactlywhatweintendedtodo,troublesornotroubles.

Ourloyalworkerslivedunderconstantthreat,inturmoilandstress,twenty-fourhours aday,withnever amoment to relax.Theywerenever able to let downtheir guard for an instant. The warfare they were engaged in was not only

spiritualbutalsonatural.

Somepeopleweresoopposedtotheministry,theyhadactuallyhiredassassinstokillthemembersofourstaff.

Butdespitethedangers,obstaclesandoppositionfrombothmanandSatan,wejust kept on planting seeds into that outreach, week after week, month aftermonth. After nine longmonths of seeming failure, we finally began to see areturnonourinvestmentinthosepreciousAfricanlives.Nowmydirectortellsmethatheandhisstaffcanhardlycontaintheirjoybecauseeverydaybringsanew victory over the forces of evil and darkness. All the seed we had beenfaithfullyandconsistentlyplantingsuddenlybegantogrowandproducefruitfortheKingdomofGod.

So don't become discouraged and quit sowing. Don't stop planting seed justbecauseyoudon'tseeanyimmediateresults.

Don'tbelikethemanwhoheardthatGodrewardsthetither.Hebegantotithefaithfully,butwhenhedidn'tseeanyreturnsonhistitheswithinthreeweeks,Heconcludedthatitdidn'tworkandstoppedgiving.Helosteverythinghehadsownbecausehegaveuptoosoon.Heexpectedtoharvestassoonasheplanted.

Don'tmakethatmistake.Keepplantingthoseseeds.

Youwillreap"indueseason."(Gal.6:9.)TheLawofRefreshing

There is that scattereth, andyet increaseth; and there is thatwithholdethmorethanismeet,butittendethtopoverty.

The liberal soul shall bemade fat: andhe thatwatereth shall bewateredalsohimself.

Proverbs11:24,25

Remember,theNewInternationalVersiontranslatesverse25ofthispassage:Agenerous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself berefreshed.

Now this conceptwas not thought up by a few preacherswho go around thecountry preaching prosperity.Modern-day man didn't write these words; they

werewrittencenturiesagounder the inspirationof theHolySpirit.This isnotmyplanandpromise,itisGod'splanandpromise.

The concept is simple: God has decreed that the personwho refreshes othersthroughhisgift-givingwillhimselfbesimilarlyrefreshed.Verse24intheNewInternationalVersion states that it is possible to give freely andyet gain evenmore.Giving is alwaysa refreshment, and thosewho refreshotherswith theirmaterialgoodswillthemselvesberefreshedbytheLord.

If you will refresh others, God will see to it that you are refreshed. If yourattitudeis"nobodyevergivesmeanything,"thenyoushouldknowwhythatistrueinyourlife.It'sbecauseyoudon'tgiveanythingtoanybodyelse.

Youarereapingwhatyousow.

Somepeopletellme,"Well,whenIneedmoney,Idon'tgive,Ijustwork,work,work."

IalsobelievethatChristiansoughttowork.Godbelievesthattoo.Infact,itwasHisidea.TheBibleclearlyteachesthisspiritualprinciple.InFirstTimothy5:8Paulwentsofarastosaythat...ifanyprovidenotforhisown,andspeciallyfor thoseofhisownhouse,hehathdenied the faith,and isworse thananinfidel.InSecondThessalonians3:10hewrites:Forevenwhenwewerewithyou,thiswecommandedyou,thatifanywouldnot

work,neithershouldheeat.Finally,inFirstThessalonians4:11,12(NIV),Paulremindshisreaders:Makeityourambitiontoleadaquietlife,tomindyourownbusinessandtoworkwithyourhands,justaswetoldyou,sothatyourdaily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not bedependentonanybody.

ButtheBiblealsoindicatesthatthereasonweshouldworkissowewillnotbedependentuponothers,butwillhaveseedtosowinthelivesofthoseaboutusinneed. As we have already noted, as Christians, you and I do not work for aliving,weworkforagiving.

This passage in Proverbs assures us that it is possible to give away and growricher. Theworld doesn't understand that principle. They say it is impossible.But Jesus said that what is impossible withman is possible withGod. (Luke18:27.)Theworldsaystogetallyoucan,andthenholdontoit.Godsaysjust

theopposite;Hesaystogive.

Ifyouwillkeepongiving,faithfullyandconsistently,torefreshothers,theLordwillseetoitthatyouarerefreshedinturn.Hehaspromisedit.Iurgeyoutoactonthatwordofpromise.

SevenResultsofGodlyGiving

Bringyeallthetithesintothestorehouse,that theremaybemeat inminehouse,andprovemenowherewith,saiththeLordofhosts,ifIwillnotopenyouthewindowsofheaven,andpouryououtablessing,thatthereshallnotberoomenoughtoreceiveit.

Malachi3:10

In this familiar passage, the Lord has revealed to us seven results of godlygiving.Let'slookatthemoneatatime:

1.GivingreleasesourfaithinthefaithfulnessofGod.

Did you know that giving is an act of faith?When we give of our materialmeans,especiallywhatweneedtoliveon,itreleasesourfaithinGodandinHisabsolutefaithfulness.Ifwedidn'tbelievethatGodisfaithfultoHisWord,whichpromises to reward us richly for our giving, then we would be tempted towithholdourgiftsforourownuse.

Perhaps that'swhy somanyChristians hold back fromgiving freely: they areafraidoflosingwhattheygiveaway,whattheyneedsodesperately.Theyhaveno real faith that God will keep His Word and meet their every need, inaccordancewithHisrichesinglory,asHehaspromised.(Phil.4:19.)

2.GivingestablishesGod'sCovenantinourlives.

TheCovenantwhichGodmadewithAbrahamintheOldTestamentalsoappliestoustoday.Wehaveseenthatbecauseofhisfaith,AbrahamwaspromisedbyGodthatHewouldblesshim,andmakehimtobeablessingto"allfamiliesoftheearth."Theseblessingsalsowerepronouncedupontheseed(theoffspring)ofAbrahamforever.WesawthatbecauseofwhatJesusChristhasdoneforus,youandI,asseed(offspring)ofAbraham,havebeenfreedfromthecurseoftheLawandrestoredtoourrightfulpositionassonsanddaughtersofGod.Assuch,

weareheirstothepromisesmadetoAbraham,heirstotheCovenant.

ThewayyouandIestablish(orratify)theCovenantinourownindividuallivesis by acting upon the provisions of it. By our faithful, obedient giving, inresponsetoGod'scommand,weactivatetheprovisionsofthatCovenantwhichguaranteesthatwewillbeblessedwiththesameblessingGodpouredoutuponourspiritualancestor,Abraham.

TherearemanychildrenofGodwhoarenotenjoyingCovenantprivilegesandprovision.ThereasonisbecausetheyareignorantoftheirCovenant,orelsetheyareafraidtoestablishitintheirownlivesbyfreelygiving.Ihopethatyouarelearningnottobeoneofthosepeople.TheCovenantworkedforAbrahaminhisday,anditwillworkforyoutooinyourtime.

3.Givinglinksustothehighestauthorityintheuniverse.

GodhaspromisedthatwhenwegiveofourtithesandofferingstoHimandHiswork, He will open to us the windows of heaven and pour us out such anabundant blessing that we won't be able to contain it. Notice Who does thepouring out: God Himself.We don't have to look to men to meet our needs,though God will use people in that role; but it will be God Himself Whoundertakes to bless us and to make us to become a blessing to many, manyothers.

Our giving puts us into contact andCovenantwith theSupremePower of theUniverse,Whocannotandwillnotfail.

4.GivingreleasesthepowerofGodonourbehalf.

Aswehavesaid,Godhaspromisedthatwhenwetithe,Hewilldosomethingforus in return.Oneof the thingsHedoes is toopen thewindowsofheavenandpourusout ablessing in abundance.TheNewInternationalVersion translatesthisverse:

"Bring thewhole tithe into the storehouse, that theremay be food inmyhouse.Testmeinthis,"saystheLordAlmighty,"andseeifIwillnotthrowopenthefloodgatesofheavenandpouryououtsomuchblessingthatyouwillnothaveroomenoughforit."

Thus,itisclearthat,byourgiving,thepowerofGodisreleasedonourbehalf.

Ourgivingliterallyopenstousthefloodgatesofheaven.

5.GivingenlargesourcapacitytoreceivefromGod.

Isn'tthiswhattheLordissayingtousinMalachi3:10?

ThatifwewillbringthewholetitheintoHisstorehouse,andputHimtothetestinourgiving,Hewillpourusoutanoverflowingblessing?Whytheoverflow?Sowewillhavenotonlyenoughforourownneeds,butplentyleftovertogivetoothers. (2Cor.9:11TLB.)Thebestpart is that, aswecontinue togive,wecontinuetoincreaseinourabilitytoreceive.Themorewegive,thegreaterourreturn.Thegreaterourreturn,thelargerourtithe.Thelargerourtithe,thelargerourreturn.

It just keeps growing and growing, in an ever-increasing cycle of giving,receivingandblessing—forourselvesandformanyothers.

Nowdon't get the idea thatwe give just to get.That's awrong emphasis.Wedon'treallygivetoget, insteadwegettogive.Wehavesaidthatweworkandinvestsowewillreapanabundantharvest,thatistrue.Butwedothat,notsowewill have an abundance of things to fulfillour selfish desires, but sowewillhaveseedtoinvestinGod'sworkandgivetootherstomeettheirneeds.

Nordowegiveoutofasenseofobligation.Instead,wegivebecausewewanttogive—becausewesincerelywanttobeablessingtoothers,justasmuchaswewanttobeblessed.

ManyyearsagoIheardOralRobertssaythathehadlongagogottenoutoftherealmofobligationandintotherealmoffaith.Hesaidthatthetitheisnotadebtweowe,butaseedwesow.I likethatconcept:"Freelywehavereceived,sofreelywegive."

Thebestpartofthatconceptisthatitdoesn'tendthere.Themorefreelywegive,themore freely we receive; but the opposite is also true, themore freely wereceive, the more freely we give: . .not grudgingly, or of necessity (out ofobligation):forGodlovethacheerfulgiver(2Cor.9:7).

ThereasonGodlovesacheerfulgiverisbecauseHeHimselfisacheerfulgiver.TheBibleteachesusthatGodtakespleasureintheprosperity(well-being)ofHisservants.(Ps.35:27.)ItalsoteachesusthatGodislove.(1John4:16.)And

lovegives.IfyouandIlovetogive,itisbecausewearethesonsanddaughtersofourheavenlyFather,Whoseverynatureisthatofselfless,lovinggiving.

GivingiswhatChristianityisallabout.IfChristianswereactinglikeChristians,therewouldbenoneedsintheBodyofChrist.IfeverybelieverwentthroughhisdayaskingtheLordtoshowhimwheretoplantseedintoHiswork,theresultswould be staggering. Every need could bemet.And the return on that givingwould produce such an abundant harvest that we would have the means topublishtheGospelaroundtheworldtothosewhohavenotyetheard.

Canyou imagine the impacton thisworld ifGod'speoplebecame truly seed-consciousinsteadofneed-conscious?Itwouldincreaseourabilitytoreceivesogreatly thatwewould ultimately be able to finance the greatest revival in thehistoryoftheChurch!

6.GivingincreasesourcapacitytoreceivemoreofGodHimself

Therewasa certainman inCaesarea calledCornelius, a centurion of thebandcalledtheItalianband.

Adevoutman,andonethatfearedGodwithallhishouse,whichgavemuchalmstothepeople,andprayedtoGodalway.

HesawinavisionevidentlyabouttheninthhourofthedayanangelofGodcomingintohim,andsayinguntohim,Cornelius.

Andwhenhelookedonhim,hewasafraid,andsaid,Whatisit,Lord?Andhesaiduntohim,Thyprayersand thinealmsarecomeup foramemorialbefore

God.

Acts10:1-4

The Living Bible translation of verse 4 says, ..."Yourprayers and charitieshavenotgoneunnoticedbyGod!"

You remember that we have said that God prizes cheerful givers. BecauseCorneliuswassuchacheerfulgiver,hisgivingdidnotgounnoticedbytheLord.

Whatwastheresultofthisman'sgiving?

BecausehewasobedientandsentforSimonPeter,ashewasinstructedbytheangeloftheLord,CorneliusandhiswholehouseholdreceivedtheSpiritoftheLivingGod.

Theywere the firstGentiles to be granted the salvation of theLord.But theywerenotthelast,notbyanymeans.

Godusedthisfaithfulmantousherinanewmovement,thecomingoftheHolySpirituponallGentiles.

That tells me that my giving, like that of Cornelius, enlarges my capacity toreceivenotonlymorefromGod,butalsomoreofGod.

OurgivingrevealsthatwewantmorefromGodandmoreofGodinourlives.Italsoshowsthatwearewillingtotakesomethingthatbelongstousandinvestitfreely intoGod'sKingdom.Thataction indicates toGod thatweare ready forgreater authority and responsibility. It also provides us the capacity to receivemorefromHimandofHim.

7.Givingincreasesthefruitsofourrighteousness.

Now he that ministereth seed to the sower bothminister bread for yourfood, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of yourrighteousness.

2Corinthians9:10

Inthisversewearetoldthatourgivingresultsinanincreaseinthefruitsofourrighteousness.Whatarethe"fruitsofrighteousness"?

And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect ofrighteousnessquietnessandassuranceforever.

Andmypeopleshalldwellinapeaceablehabitation,andinsuredwellings,andinquietrestingplaces.

Isaiah32:17,18

Inournextchapter,wewillbelookingindetailatthefourfruitsofrighteousnesswhich are increased by our giving. Right now, just let me point out that thispassage simply means that when we give to the Lord and His work, Heguaranteesusfreedomfromfear,anxiety,worry,stress,unrestandlossofsleep.Instead we live in peace and assurance, in peaceable habitations, in suredwellings,inquietrestingplaces.

Westilldon'tknowhoworwhenourpromisedreturnwillbemanifested,butweknowitwillbe.WewaitontheLordinquietnessofspiritandassuranceofheartbecauseweknow thatHe is"faithfulwhohaspromised." (Heb. 11:11.)Weremain in complete calm and tranquility because, like the prophet Isaiah, weknow that this is the inheritance of the servants of the Lord, and that ourrighteousnessisofHim.(Is.54:17.)

God'sSolutionforNeed

Andtherewasafamineintheland,besidethefirstfaminethatwasinthedaysofAbraham....

AndtheLordappeareduntohim(Isaac),andsaid,GonotdownintoEgypt;dwellinthelandwhichIshalltelltheeof:

Sojourn in this land,andIwillbewith thee,andwillbless thee; foruntothee,anduntothyseed,Iwillgiveallthesecountries,andIwillperformtheoathwhich I sware unto Abraham thy father;Then Isaac sowed in thatland,andreceivedinthesameyearanhundredfold:andtheLordblessedhim.

Genesis26:1-3,12

Herewe see thatwhilemany otherswere seeking refuge from the famine byfleeingtoEgypt,IsaacwasinstructedbytheLordtostayinthelandandsowinthemidst of famine. The result of his obediencewas a hundredfold return onwhathesowed.

ThatisGod'ssolutiontofinancialfamine.Nottowithhold,buttogive,tosowintimeofadversity.OnceagainweseethatGodisseed-minded,notneed-minded.IbelievethatisthewayyouandIaregoingtocomeoutofourfinancialcrisis:byremaininginthelandofpromiseandfaithfullysowingintimeoffamine.

Do you remember the incident that took place at the table during the LastSupper? Jesus knew that Judaswasmaking plans to betrayHim to the Jews.Duringthemeal,Heturnedtohimandsaid,"Whatyoumustdo,doquickly."(John13:27.)Thedisciplesheardthisexchangebetweenthem,butthoughtthatsinceJudaskeptthemoneybag,Jesuswasinstructinghimtogoandgivemoneytosomeoneinneed.ObviouslyJesushadareputationforgiving.

ThatisthekindofreputationtheLordwantsyouandmetohaveasHischildren.Hehaspromisedthatasweremain"intheland"(inHimandinHisWordandwill),Hewillprovideforusamultipliedreturn,abountifulblessing, ifwearefaithfulandobedientenoughtocontinuetosowintimeoffamine.

4

GivingasaLifestyle

AswesawseveraltimesinChapter3,theLordpromisesusinMalachi3:10thatifwewillbefaithfulinourtithesandofferings,Hewillopentousthewindowsofheavenandpourusoutanabundantblessing.

OnetranslatorofthispassagehastheLordsaying,Iwillopenthewindowsofheaven for you and pour out blessings for you until you shall say, It isenough!(Lamsa)

NowIdon'tknowaboutyou,butIhaven'tyetbeensoblessedbytheLordthatIhavehadtoshout,"StopLord,that'senough!"

Wealsosawthat in theNewInternationalVersion theexpression"windowsofheaven" is translatedas"floodgatesofheaven."CanyouimagineGodliterallyfloodinguswithblessings?

NowIknowsomethingaboutwhatitisliketobeflooded,completelyinundated.Several years ago my family and I were the victims of a flash flood in ourneighborhood. It rained so hard it was almost unbelievable. The wind wasblowinglikeinahurricane.Itforcedtheraintofallatananglesothatitcameright through the cracks around the windows and doors in our house. Therainwaterstartedrunningdownthewallsandsoakingthefurnitureandcarpets,soIrantogetamop.

ThewaterwascominginfasterthanIcouldcleanitup.Ikepttryingtosweepandmopuptherisingwater,butitwasnouse;Icouldn'tcontainit.FinallyIgotso tired and frustrated that I just sat down on the floor, in all that water andruinedcarpet,andbegantolaugh.

AsIsatthere,soakingwet,laughingtomyselfatmyownexpense,Ithoughtofthe verse about God opening the floodgates, of heaven and pouring out ablessing in such abundance that it could not be contained. Suddenly the Lordspoketomeandsaid,"NowthisishowIwantMyblessingstocomedownuponyou."Igotthemessage.

NowIwantyoutogetit—andtheblessingsthatgowithit.

ImustadmitthatIdon'tknowmanypeoplewhohaveyetbeenblessedsomuchthat they have had to shout, "It is enough!" But that doesn't mean that suchblessingsarenotavailabletousasChristians.GodhassaidthatHewillprovideafloodofblessingsforthoseofuswhowillbefaithfulinourtithingandgiving.I believe it isGod'swill and desire to bless uswith just such an overflowingabundancebecauseit ispartofHisplanforreachingthewholeworldwiththeGospelofJesusChrist.

GivingIsaLifestyle—NotanExperimentWhentheLordtoldthechildrenofIsraelto"prove"

Him,to"putHimtothetest"inthisareaofgiving,Hedidnotmeanthattobeaone-timeincident.HemeantthatiftheywerecontinuallyfaithfultoHimintheirtithing and giving,Hewould be continually faithful to them inHis abundant,overflowingprovisionfortheirneeds.

WhatGod is asking us to do is tomake godly giving a lifestyle—not just anexperiment.Manypeopletrythisprincipleforafewweeks,theniftheydon'tseeimmediate results, they decide it doesn't work, and give up. When theoverflowing blessing doesn't appear instantly, they quit giving. They don'tunderstandthatthisisalifestyletobeadoptedandmaintained.

Several years ago Iwrote a book entitledGiving: theEssence of Living. Thattitlesaysitall.That'swhatlivingisallabout—giving.Alotofpeoplelivetheirwholelives"onthetake,"alwaystryingtogetsomethingfornothing.Thatisnotthe lifestyle Jesus introduced into thisworld. TheChristian lifestyle is one ofgiving.

JesustoldHisdisciples:Greaterlovehathnomanthanthis,thataman laydownhis life forhis friends (John15:13).Now the expression "lay downhislife," in thisverse,doesnotalwaysmean todie.To"laydownyour life" foranotherpersonmeanstoputtheotherperson'swill,desireandwell-beingaheadofyourown.Todothat,youdon'tnecessarilyhavetodiephysically.Yousimplyhavetobewillingtodedicateyourlifetoworkingforthatperson'swelfareandbenefit, rather than for your own. Jesus says that kind of unselfish giving ofoneselfisthegreatestloveknowntoman.ItisthelifestylewhichHeintroduced,displayedandmodeledforus,anditisthekindoflifestyleHecallsustoadopt.

RememberwhentherichyoungrulercametoJesusaskingwhathehadtodotoinherit eternal life? Jesus told him to go and sell everything he had, give themoneytothepoor,andthencomeandfollowHimasHisdisciple.

What was He introducing to that young man? A new lifestyle, a lifestyle ofgiving.

Jesuswasn'ttellingthatyoungfellow:"I'msorry,Ican'thelpyoubecauseyou'rerich.Yousee,youmustbepoorinordertoentertheKingdomofHeaven."No,Hewasn't saying that at all. Hedid say that it is hard for thosewho trust inriches to enter theKingdomofGod. (Mark 10:24.)Butwhy is that?Becausetheirtrustisintheirwealth,notintheOneWhoprovidedthatwealth.

Alsonotice thatJesusdidnotsay that it is impossible for the rich toenter theKingdom, only that it is hard. I know many rich people who are having nodifficulty at all in serving God. They simply trust in Him instead of in theirriches. No matter how rich a person becomes, there are always situations,circumstancesandinfluencesbeyondthepowerofmoneytocontrol.Noone,nomatterhowwealthy,isimmunetotheneedfortheLivingGod.

Jesus taught a lifestyle of giving.Many people, evenmanyChristians, do notunderstandthissimpletruth.

ThatisthereasonIambringingtheBodyofChristthisimportantwordfromtheLord.Mypurposeinpreachingthismessageinthatconventionandinpublishingitinthisbookisnottotellanyonehowto"getrichquick"!IfanyonereceivesthismessageandthinksthatwhatIampreachingis"allyouhavetodoisgiveandGodwillmakeyourich,"heisverymuchmistaken.Iamnottalkingaboutgetting,Iamtalkingaboutgiving—aboutanentirelifestyleofgiving.

LongagoImadethedecisionthatIamgoingtoservetheLordwhetherornotIevergetanybetteroff financially. If Ineverseea financialmiracle, if Ineverhaveabetter car, if Ineverget anicerhouse, if I amneverprosperedonebitmore than I am today, I am still going to serve the Lord. Whatever theconsequences,Iwillcontinueto"laydownmylife"forHimandforthesakeofHis Kingdom and people. Why? Because I am motivated, not by a love forthings,butbyaconsumingloveforGodandthecreaturesmadeinHisimage.

But Jesus has said that those who seek first the Kingdom of God and HisrighteousnesswillberewardedbytheLord.Allthethingstheyneed(notallthethingstheylustafter)willbeaddedtothem.

For thepast twentyyears Ihavebeenseeking theLordandHisKingdomandrighteousness,andforthepasttwentyyearsIhavebeenblessedbyGod.Ican'thelpitifIamblessed.EverywhereIgo,thereisagodlyblessingjustwaitingto"comeonme." Is thatsostrange,sohard tobelieve?Afterall,didn't theLordsaythatifwewerefaithful,Hisblessingswouldpursueusandovertakeus?

God'sPromisestotheGiver

InseveralpassagesintheBible,theLordhasmadepreciouspromisestothoseofuswhoaregodlygivers—thosewhoobeyHiscommandments,bringtheirtithesand offerings into the storehouse, and give in otherways as directed byGod.Let's look at three of these promises:1.God's blessingswill come on us andovertakeus.

Anditshallcometopass,ifthoushalthearkendiligentlyuntothevoiceofthe Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which Icommandtheethisday,thattheLordthyGodwillsettheeonhighaboveallnations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, andovertakethee,ifthoushalthearkenuntothevoiceoftheLordthyGod.

Deuteronomy28:1,2

AwhilebackIwasoutjoggingandasIcameuponandpassedbyan80-year-oldmanthesignificanceofthispassagesuddenlystruckme.InthesamewaythatIovertook that elderly man, so the blessings of the Lord will come upon andovertakeus—ifwearecarefultoobeythewillandWordoftheLord.

2.Godwillrebukethedevourerforoursakes.

AndIwill rebuke thedevourerforyoursakes,andheshallnotdestroythefruitsofyourground;neithershallyourvinecastherfruitbeforethetimeinthefield,saiththeLordofhosts.

Malachi3:11

AccordingtotheNewTestament,youandIhavethepowerandauthoritytocastout demons. (Mark 16:17.) We have discovered that this is an effective andpowerful way to keep Satan and his demons from taking from us the health,wealth and blessingsChrist died to provide for us, our rightful inheritance asheirsofGodandjoint-heirswithChrist.

WeknowtoothatJesushasdelegatedtousthepowerandauthoritytobindandlooseonearth.(Mark16:19.)Thisisalsoatremendousblessingandprivilege.

Butasmarvelousasthoseblessingsare,hereinthisOldTestamentpassageGodassuresusthatifwewillbefaithfulinourtithesandofferings,HeHimselfwillrebukethedevourer(Satan)forus,foroursakes.InChapter3wesawthatitisourgivingwhichreleasesthemightypowerofGodonourbehalf.Herenowweseeexactlywhatthatpowerdoesforus:itfreesusfromthepowerofSatanandprotectsusagainsthisattemptstosteal,killanddestroy...IfGodbeforus,whocanbeagainstus?(Rom.8:31).

3.Godwillincreaseourstorehouseofseed.

ForGod,whogivesseedtothefarmertoplant,andlateron,goodcropstoharvestandeat,willgiveyoumoreandmoreseedtoplantandwillmakeitgrowsothatyoucangiveawaymoreandmorefruitfromyourharvest.

2Corinthians9:10TLB

HerePaulassuresusthatifwefollowaconsistentlifestyleofgiving,theLordwillseetoitthatourstorehouseofseediscontinuallyreplenished.Why?Sowewill havemore andmore seed to invest to producemore andmore fruit. Forwhatpurpose?Sowecanliveinluxuryandeasewhiletherestoftheworldgoeshungry?

No!Sowewill havemore andmore fruit to give away, tomeet the needs ofothers.

That's the Christian lifestyle: giving and receiving, being blessed to be ablessing,prosperingforthesakeofallthoseinneed.

Increasing the Fruits of Righteousness Remember in the last chapter, wediscussedapromiseoftheLordtothosebelieverswhogive:ourgivingresultsinan increase in the fruits of our righteousness according toSecondCorinthians9:10:

Now he that ministereth seed to the sower bothminister bread for yourfood, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of yourrighteousness.

InIsaiah32:17and28weseeatleastfour"fruitsofrighteousness."

And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect ofrighteousnessquietnessandassuranceforever.

Andmypeopleshalldwellinapeaceablehabitation,andinsuredwellings,andinquietrestingplaces.

Let'slookatthisimportantpassageintheNewInternationalVersion:

Thefruitofrighteousnesswillbepeace;theeffectofrighteousnesswillbequietnessandconfidenceforever.

My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, inundisturbedplacesofrest.

Isaiah32:17,18NIV

1.Peace

AsyouandIbecomefaithfulandconsistentgodlygivers,ourlifestyleofgivingactually begins to create an atmosphere of peace in us and around us. This isparticularly true, andespecially important,during timesof adversity,when theeconomy is bad, when things are falling apart.When "all hell breaks loose,"peoplewillnaturallybedrawntothosewhomanifestthe"peaceofGod."

ThispeacewillcomeuponusandovertakeusbecausewearelinkedtotheGod

ofallpeaceandarelivinginharmonywithHim.

2.Quietness

Whenhe(theLord)givethquietness,whothencanmaketrouble?....

Job34:29

According to Isaiah, 32:17,18one "effect" of the righteousness is quietnessofspirit.

If there has ever been a time in the history of the Church when peopleeverywherehaveneededandhungeredforquietnessofspirit,itisnow.Withallthe turmoil, harassment and adversity that the Body of Christ has recentlyexperienced,whatawonderfulblessingitwouldbetopossessquietnessofspirit.

WiththisGod-givensenseofquietness,youandIcanliedownatnightknowingthatallofourneedsarebeingprovidedforus.Wecanbeateaseinourmindsandhearts.Notjustoccasionally.Notjustwhenthingsaregoingwell,whentheeconomy is on the upswing,when the stockmarket is rising, but at all times,regardlessofouroutwardcircumstances.

3.Confidence

And this is the confidence thatwe have in him, that, if we ask any thingaccording to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us,whatsoeverweask,weknow thatwehave thepetitions thatwedesired ofhim.

1John5:14,15

Andhavingthisconfidence,IknowthatIshallabideandcontinue....

Philippians1:25

AlthoughIhaveneeds,justaseveryoneelsedoes,Ialsohavesomethingthatnoteveryone else possesses a sense of confidence. Confidence in the Lord, andconfidence inmy ownwell-being.Despitemy problems, I am still absolutelyconvincedthatGodwillmeetmyneedsinaccordancewithHisrichesinglory

throughJesusChristmyLord.

Many times Imeetotherpeoplewhoare experiencingneed, and I sympathizewiththembecauseIknowwhatitistobeinthatsituation.OftenIwillgivetothembecause I know their need is great and thepressure is getting to them. Ialsoknow thatbygiving to themIam takingaction toward fulfillingmyownlack.Ihaveadeep-seatedconfidenceinmygiving,becauseIampersuadedthattheLordwillreturnmygifttomesomehow,someway,becauseHeisfaithful.SobygivingIamactuallyhelpingtomeetbothofourneeds,theotherperson'sandmyown.

4.Assurance

...whereof,hehathgivenassuranceuntoallmen....

Acts17:31

I don't knowhowmany timesCarolyn and I have had a great need, and thenreceived from the Lord the very amount necessary to meet that obligation.Almostinvariably,beforewecouldusethatmoneytosettleourdebt,wewouldcome into contact with someone else whose financial need was even morepressing than ours with one difference. We would realize that we knewsomething the other persondidn't know.Weknewhow to believe and receivefromtheLord;heorshedidn't.

Many are the times we have given away to someone else what we ourselvesdesperately needed. How could we do that? How could we put the needs ofothersaheadofourown?Wecoulddo thatonlybecausewehadaGod-givenassurance that bymeeting the needs of others,wewere guaranteeing that ourownneedswouldbemetbytheLord.

CarolynandIknow thatGodwillmeetourneeds.Weare fullypersuaded.Hehasdoneitforussomanytimesbefore,howcouldweeverdoubtHim?

JoyComesFromGiving

Theythatsowintearsshallreapinjoy.

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless

comeagainwithrejoicing,bringinghissheaveswithhim.

Psalm126:5,6

Asweseeinthispassage,thereisaspecialjoythatcomesonlyfromsowingandreaping. That is why the Lord tells us that He "prizes" a cheerful giver.Continual,overflowingjoyissupposedtobetheidentifyingcharacteristicoftheonewhomakesalifestyleofgiving.

Thatjoyisnotonlyablessing,itisalsoapowerfulweaponforspiritualwarfare.

A number of years ago, the Lord gaveme amessage for theBody ofChrist.AfterIbegantopreachit,peoplehearditandrespondedtoitsowellthatitwasrecordedoncassetteandvideotapeandpublishedinbookform.IthasbeenthemostpopularandmostwidelyappreciatedmessageIhaveeverpresented.

Thetitleofthatmessageissimple:"IfSatanCan'tStealYourJoy,HeCan'tKeepYourGoods."Themessageyouarereadingrightnowissortofasequeltothatone.Isupposethisonecouldbeentitled,"JoyII."Theemphasisofthismessageisassimpleasitstitle:wemusthavethejoyof theLordifweare tohaveandkeeptheblessingsofGod—

especially in times of economic crisis, such as thosewe are now facing on aworldwidescale.

Nehemiah8:10declares: ...the joyof theLord isyourstrength.Without thestrengthofjoy,manybelieverswillfailinthehardtimeswhichlieahead.

RightnowtwentypercentoftheBodyofChristiscarryingeightypercentoftheloadoftheChurch.TwentypercentofGod'speoplearedoingmostofthegiving,while the other eighty percent are doing very little or nothing at all. Thatsituationmust change, becausewhen hard times descend upon us, only thosewhowillhavepreparedthemselveswillovercome.Onlytheywillknowhowtowinoutoveradversity,howtocomethroughhardshipvictoriously—bysowingintimeoffamine.

The only survivors ofSatan's attackwill be thosewhose strength comes fromandrestsuponadeep,abidingjoyoftheLord.

As giving becomes a lifestyle, the greater the peace, quietness, confidence,

assuranceandjoythatgowithit.

YouReapWhatYouSow

Ifyouarenothappywithyourlife,youhavenoonetoblamebutyourself.Yourlifetodayconsistsofwhatyousowedinthepast.Ifyoudon'tlikeyourcrop,digitupandplantsomethingelse.Ifyoudon'twantcrabgrassinyouryard,youdigitupandplantBermudagrassthere.Dothesamethinginyourlife.

Youwerenotborntobepoor,anymorethantheearthwascreatedtobringforthweeds, thornsand thistles.Like theearth itself,youwerecreated toproduceagood harvest of fine fruit—for yourself and for many others. If you are notenjoying"thefruitsofyourlabor,"thencheckyourseed.Replaceyourold,badseedwithnew,goodseed.

Remember:whatyousowtodayiswhatyouwillreaptomorrow.

IamaclosefriendofCharlesCapps,oneof themostdynamicteachersofourtime.Wehavebeenfriendsforanumberofyearsnow.HeandIusedtopreachtogetheralot,particularlyalloverArkansaswhereCharleslives.Ihavestayedinhishomeonseveraloccasions.

Charles lives on a large farm out in the country, not far from Little Rock,Arkansas.Hehasbeenafarmermostofhis life.Every timeIwouldgo tohishome,Inoticedthathehadcottongrowingeverywhere.Infact,thenarrowpieceofgroundwherewe landedourairplane layrightdownthemiddleofacottonpatch.Wheneverwelandedortookoff,therewascottongrowingonbothsidesoftheairstrip.

ButthenonetimeIwenthomewithCharlesandthefirstthingInoticedwasthattherewasnocotton. Instead, theentireplacewascoveredwithsoybeans.So IaskedCharles,"Whathappenedtothecotton?"

"I didn't plant any,"was his simple answer. End of conversation.Charles is amanoffewwords.

Oneyeartherewascotton,thenextyeartherewasn't.

WhenIaskedwhytherewasnocotton,hetoldmeallthetruthIneededtoknow:therewasnocottonbecausehehadn'tplantedcottonthatyear!Andobviously,if

youdon'tplantcottonseed,youdon'traisecotton.EvenIcouldfigurethatout.

I could have asked himwhere all the soybeans had come from, but I alreadyknewwhathewouldsay:"Iplantedthem."Sure.Youwantsoybeans,youplantsoybeans.Simple.

Thesameistrueinyourlifeandmine.Whatweplantiswhatweget.Whatwesow,thatshallwealsoreap.

That'sabasicspiritualprinciple.

Afarmer'ssuccessdependsentirelyuponhissowinggoodseedandreapinggoodcrops.Intheverysameway,theharvestinourlivesdependstotallyuponwhatwesow.That'swhySatanfightssohardagainstthepreachingofthismessage.HeknowsitlinksyoutoGod'ssystemofprosperity.

God has declared, in the book of Genesis, that as long as the earth remains,seedtimeandharvestwillnotcease.

(Gen.8:22.)Theearthitselfoperatesonthisprinciple.

Everythingwedoonthisplanetdependsuponthatonecentralrule.That'showtheearthispopulated,byseedtimeandharvest.Whateverthefieldofendeavor—finances,agriculture,industry,medicine,education,ministry—itallworksonthe same fundamental principle thatwhat is sown (invested) iswhat is reaped(produced).

That'showwegrowspiritually:byplantingseeds.Wegiveanditisgiventous.Wegivelove,andlovecomesbacktous.Weshowourselvestobefriendly,andwereapfriends.Wegiveunderstandingtoothers,andwereceiveunderstanding.Welistentoothers,andinturntheylistentous.Wegiveouttheknowledgewehavegained,andGodincreasesthatknowledge.

That'swhyIsaythatitisfoolishandwrongforapersontosaythathewillstartgiving to God as soon as the Lord has made him rich. That is like a personexpectingafireplacetogiveoffheatbeforehethrowsinanywoodforittoburn.That'sgoingatlifebackwards.

Weallknowthattogetwaterfromapump,wemustfirstprimethepump.Wemustpourintolife,ifweexpecttogetanythingoutofit.

At this time in your life, youmay be going out sowing in tears, butGod haspromisedthatyouwillreturnjoyfullybearingyoursheaveswithyou.

If youwant to prosper inmind, body and spirit, then learn to sowgenerouslyinto the lives of others.Whoever you are,whatever your desired harvest, youwillreapjustwhatyousow.

SowGoodSeeds

Be not deceived; God is notmocked: forwhatsoever aman soweth, thatshallhealsoreap.

Forhethatsowethtohisfleshshallofthefleshreapcorruption;buthethatsowethtotheSpiritshalloftheSpiritreaplifeeverlasting.

Andletusnotbewearyinwelldoing:forindueseasonweshallreap,ifwefaintnot.

Galatians6:7-9

Notice the first part of verse 7. Itwarns us about being deceived. It is highlyimportantthatwenotallowanybodytodeceiveusintothinkingthatwecanreap(receive) anything that we have not first sowed (invested in faithfully andconsistently).ThePhillips translationof the next part of this verse says that aman'sharvestinlifedependsentirelyonthatwhichhesows.Verse9counselsusnot tobecomewearyinoursowing,becauseifwekeepituplongenough,wewillreap.

Ofcourse,allthisisbasedontheassumptionthatwearesowinggoodseed.Ourharvestwillbewhateverwesow;thereforewemustbecarefulaboutthekindofseedweplant.Ifwewanthealth,wemustsowseedsofhealth.

Ifwewant prosperity,wemust sow seeds of prosperity. Ifwewant love,wemustsowseedsoflove.

Goodcropsaretheresultofgoodseedplantedingoodsoil.

BeNotWeary; Instead,BeDisciplined Several years ago, I began to realizethatIwasnotinthesamephysicalconditionIhadbeeninwhenIwasyounger.As a young man I never had to worry about my weight because I could eat

anything and everything Iwanted and still not gain anounce.But somewherearoundage34or35IbegantonoticethatIwasputtingonalittleweight.IhadalreadyrecognizedthatIwasn'tasenergeticasIusedtobe.Igottiredquickerand had less energy. I also had to admit that I was developing a good-sized"sparetire"aroundthemiddle,andIdidn'tlikeit.

I happened tohave agood friendwhowas a formerMr.Universe.Of course,unlikeme,hewasallmuscle.SoImadeupmymindthatIwasgoingtolethimputmeonaregimenofdietandexercisetobuildmeupphysically.SoIaskedthis guy to come tomy house and get me started on a good physical fitnessprogram.

BeforehearrivedIwentdowntownandboughtmyselfacoupleofjoggingsuitsandsomerunningshoesandeverythingIthoughtIwouldneedtogetinshape.ThenIclearedoutmygaragetomakeroomforallthatnewfitnessequipmentIwasgoingtobuyanduse.

So"Mr.Universe"arrivedbyplaneandIwentouttotheairporttowelcomehim.Rightawaywesetinonmynewfitnessprogram.Thefirstdayweworkedoutreallyhard—anditfeltgreat.Icouldhardlywaitforthenextday.Ihadthebestofintentions.Iwasgoingtogetupbrightandearlyat5:30everymorningandstartworkingout.

Ofcourse,youknowwhathappened.ThenextmorningIwassostiffandsore,Icouldhardlymoveamuscle,muchlessspringoutofbed"rarin'togo."Itwasn'tlongatallbefore"thenewhadwornoff"thatidea.ButIkeptitupforthreeorfourdays.ThenIwentintoshowoffmynewphysiquetoCarolyn.Iassumedmybest"Mr.

Universe"poseandaskedher,"Well,doyouseeanydifference?"

"Inwhat?"sheasked.

"Inme,"Ianswered."Inmyphysique."

"No."

Naturallythathurtmyfeelings,andmypride.IthoughtthatwithallthathealthyeatingandsweatandhardworksurelyImustlooklikeSupermanbythattime.

Ashort time later I againwent to theairport, this time to seemymuscle-manfriendoffonajet.CanyouguesswhatIdidassoonashewasonhiswayhome?That's right, I stopped off at the nearest Mexican food place and stuffed mymouthwithtacos,enchiladasandguacamole!

Whathappened?Igot"wearyinwelldoing."Igaveupandwentrightbacktomyoldundisciplined,unhealthylifestyle.

Butthenlateron,myconsciencegottobotheringme.

SoafewmonthslaterIwentbackonmydietandexerciseprogram.ThistimeIdidn'tcallmyfriendtocomegetmestarted.Ijustdiditonmyowninitiative.Itlastedaboutaweek.

OnceagainIgot"wearyinwelldoing"andquit.

Despitemygoodintentions, inspiteofallmycherishedhopesanddreamsforphysicalself-improvement,theplaintruthisthatIwasjusttooundisciplinedtostickwithitlongenoughtoseeanypositiveresults.SoIgaveupandquit.

It'sthesamewiththelifestyleofgiving.It'seasytomakeallkindsofresolutionsabout being a faithful, consistent giver. You can even start tithing and givingregularly.But ifyou'renotcareful, thefirst thingyouknow,you'llstartaskingyourselfifmaybeyouweren'talittlefoolish.You'llgettowonderingifitreallyworks.

Well,theendofthatstoryaboutmyweightandexerciseprogramisthis:Ihavesincegoneonasensibleprogram,onethatIcanlivewithandkeepup.Idoeatrightnow,andIexerciseregularlyandwisely.Why?Whathappened?Ifinallytookauthorityovermyownbody.Ilearnedthebestandmostdifficultexerciseinthewholeworld:theexerciseofself-discipline!

Don'tbesoquicktogiveup.GiveastheSpiritoftheLorddirectsyouandmakeityourlifestyle.BesensitivetoHisleadinganddowhatHetellsyou.Obedienceopensthedoortomiracles.

Finally don't lose heart or become discouraged.Don't become "weary inwelldoing."Instead,bedisciplined.

Keep on sowing those seeds into the work of God. The Lord Himself has

promisedthatyouwillreap,ifyou"faintnot."

Keepsowing.Itwon'talwaysbeeasy,buttheresultswillbewellworthit.

5

WhyOfferings?

In the last two chapters we talked about the benefits of godly giving, theincreasedfruitsofrighteousnessandthejoywhichthatgivingproduces.Wesawwhat our giving does: it releases our faith inGod's faithfulness; it establishesGod'sCovenant inour lives; it linksus toGodand releasesHispoweronourbehalf; it enlarges our capacity to receivemore fromGod and ofGod; and itincreasesourfruitsofrighteousnesswhichincludepeace,quietness,confidenceandassurance;anditbringsusjoy.

Nowallthatiswonderful.Itistrulymarvelous.AndIthankandpraiseGodforallofit.ButImustpointoutthatallofthesethingsareprimarilyconcernedwithwhatourfaithful,obedient,godlygivingdoesforus.NowinthislastchapterIwould like to focus a bit on what our giving does for others, for the LordHimselfandforHisministry.

In the past fewyears, Satan has had a hey day.He haswreaked havoc in theChurch.He has tried to destroy the credibility of theministry.Because of thelackofaccountabilityinsomeministries,muchofthenon-Christianworldhatesandmistrustsus.

TheLordhas revealed something tome about thiswhole affairwhichHehasinstructedmetobringtotheattentionofChristianseverywhere.Hehasshownme that avery similar situationexisted in thepast.Hecorrected that situationandthentoldthepeoplewhattodotorestoreHistempletoitsformerrighteousstate.

Through this revelation, I believe the Lord has shown me His answer andsolutiontoourcurrentministrycrisis.

It is thisanswerandsolutionwhichInowwant tosharewithyouaswe labortogether with all the saints to restore order, dignity and honor to God's holytemple,theChurchofJesusChrist.

ThePurposeofOfferings

Iwouldliketobeginbytalkingaboutofferings,realofferings.

FurthermoreDavidthekingsaiduntoallthecongregation....

...becauseIhavesetmyaffectiontothehouseofmyGod,

Ihaveofmineownpropergood,ofgoldandsilver,whichIhavegiventothehouseofmyGod,overandaboveallthatIhavepreparedfortheholyhouse,Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seventhousandtalentsofrefinedsilver,tooverlaythewallsofthehouseswithal:The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for allmanner of work to bemadeby the hands of artificers. And who then iswillingtoconsecratehisservicethisdayuntotheLord?

Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and thecaptainsofthousandsandofhundreds,withtherulersoftheking'swork,offeredwillingly,Andgavefortheserviceof thehouseofGodofgoldfivethousandtalentsandtenthousanddrams,andofsilvertenthousandtalents,andofbrasseighteenthousandtalents,andonehundredthousandtalentsofiron.

AndtheywithwhompreciousstoneswerefoundgavethemtothetreasureofthehouseoftheLord....

Thenthepeoplerejoiced,forthattheyofferedwillingly,becausewithperfecthearttheyofferedwillingly

totheLord:andDavidthekingalsorejoicedwithgreatjoy.

1Chronicles29:1,3-9

InthispassagewereadthatDavidtookupanofferingwhichwastheequivalentof415.5millionAmericandollars!Andover100millionof thatamountcamedirectlyfromDavidpersonally.

WhenitcametimetostartcollectinggoodsforthebuildingofthetempleoftheLord,David stood in front of the people of Israel and announced that hewasgoing to takeupanofferingand thathewasgoing togive the first88million

dollars.Thenheaddedanother14milliontowhathehadalreadypledged.

Afterwardshechallengedtherestofthenationtojoinwithhim,andtheygaveover200milliondollarsmore.

ThiswasjustfromthepeopleofGod;nooutsiderswereinvolved.1

1 The figures in this section were taken from the center cross reference oftheKingJamesBiblepublishedbyRoyalPublishers.

WhatdoyouthinkwouldhappentotheChurchofJesusChristifGodHimselfwere to supernaturally bless us with wealth beyond our wildest imagination?Whatdoyouthinkournextofferingwouldbelike?PossiblywecouldbeattheofferingreceivedbyDavid.

Butno, theBodyofChrist is satisfiedwith justbarelymaking it through life,thencomplainingbecausesomeoneelseintheBodyisbeingblessedmorethantheyare.Allthatmustchange.BecausewehavegottogetthisGospelouttotheuttermostpartof theearth.Todo that, theremustbeadramaticchange in thefinancialconditionoftheChurchoftheLivingGod!

Paul wrote to the Philippians: I know how to be abased... (Phil. 4:12). Butnotice thathe saidheknewhow to be abased, hedidn't sayhe alwayswas inthat condition.He didn't say that it wasGod'swill for him to be abased.WeknowthiswasnotGod'swillforPaulbecausetheapostlegoesoninthatsameversetosay,

...andIknowhowtoabound....

WhenyouandIlearnhowtouseourfaithwhileweareabased,then,likePaul,wecanbetrustedbyGodtoabound.

Atonetimeoranotherwehaveallbeenabased.Eachoneofushashadsomelimitation imposed upon us. Every Christian alive has had some restrictionplaceduponhisorherlife.ThroughouttheagesSatanhastriedhisbesttoabase,limit,andrestricttheBodyofChrist.But,likePaul,wehavelearnedtokeepourfaithgoingrightinthemiddleofthosetimesoftrialandtribulation.

Paulsaidthatheknewhowtobeabased,andhowtoabound.ThisisthelessontheChurchofJesusChristneedstolearntoday.

NowyouandIhavebothbeenthroughourtimesofbeingabased.Thequestionis:arewereadytoabound?

Weknowwhat it is tobepoor,buthavewecome to thepointyet thatwearereadytobeprospered?

InHisWord,Godhas promised to pour out overflowingblessingsupon thosewhoknowhowtokeeptheirfaithintimesofadversity;thosewhowillnotgiveup and quit at the first sign of trouble, hardship or opposition; thosewho areseed-minded,notneed-minded.

TheMotivationforGiving

AndMosesspakeuntoallthecongregationofthechildrenofIsrael,saying,ThisisthethingwhichtheLordcommanded,saying,

TakeyefromamongyouanofferinguntotheLord:whosoeverisofawillingheart, let himbring it, anofferingof theLord;gold, and silver, andbrass,Andblue,andpurple,andscarlet,andfinelinen,andgoats'hair,

Andrams'skinsdyedred,andbadgers'skins,andshittimwood,

Andoilforthelight,andspicesforanointingoil,andforthesweetincense,

Andonyxstones,andstonestobesetfortheephod,andforthebreastplate,

Andeverywiseheartedamongyoushallcome,andmakeall that theLordhathcommanded.

Exodus35:4-10

Noticeinverse5thatwhenitcomestimetobringanofferingtotheLord,itis"whosoeverisofawillingheart"whoistomakethatoffering.Noticealsoinverse10thatitis"everywiseheartedamongyou"whoistoldtoyieldtotheLord'scommandtobringofferingsintoHishouse.

And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from thepresenceofMoses.

Andtheycame,everyonewhoseheart stirredhimup,andeveryonewhom

hisspiritmadewilling,andtheybroughttheLord'sofferingtotheworkofthetabernacleofthecongregation,andforallhisservice,andfortheholygarments.

Exodus35:20,21

God spoke, the people heard, theywerewise, and theywere stirred up.As aresult, they brought offerings. That is an important sequence of events, onewhichweshouldnoteandremember.

Andtheycame,bothmenandwomen,asmanyaswerewillinghearted,andbroughtbracelets,andearrings,and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold:andeverymanthatofferedofferedanofferingofgolduntotheLord.

Exodus35:22

Noticethatonlythosewhowere"willinghearted"broughtanoffering.

And all thewomen thatwerewisehearteddid spinwith their hands, andbrought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and ofscarlet,andoffinelinen.

Exodus35:25

Also note that it was those who were "wise hearted" who worked with theirhandsinordertohavefinegoodstobringasanofferingtotheworkoftheLord.

ThechildrenofIsraelbroughtawillingofferingunto theLord,everymanandwoman,whoseheartmadethemwillingtobringforallmannerofwork,whichtheLordhadcommandedtobemadebythehandofMoses.

Exodus35:29

Againitisemphasizedthatthiswasa"willingofferinguntotheLord,"madebythose"whoseheartmadethemwillingtobring."

It seems clear enough from this passage thatGoddesires that our offerings toHimbemade fromawillingheart, awiseheart, aheartwhichdesires togivefreelyandabundantly.

TheResultofOffering

And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, cameeverymanfromhisworkwhichtheymade;

And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more thanenoughfortheserviceofthework,whichtheLordcommandedtomake.

And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimedthroughoutthecamp,saying,Letneithermannorwomanmakeanymoreworkfortheofferingofthesanctuary.Sothepeoplewererestrainedfrombringing.

For the stuff they hadwas sufficient for all thework tomake it, and toomuch.

Exodus36:4-7

Asadirectresultofthepeople'sbeingstirreduptomakeafreewillofferingtotheworkof theLord, therewassuchanoutpouringofgifts thatMoseshad tocommand the people to stop bringing. They had already brought enough, andevenmorethancouldeverbeused.

Whenwasthelasttimeyourchurchwassostirreduptomakeanofferingthatsomuchwas received therewasmore thancouldpossiblybeused?Yet IbelievethisisexactlywhattheLorddesirestohappen.

God has awork going on today, just asHe did in the days ofMoses and thechildrenofIsrael.Justasinthosedays,HeisbuildingHistemple.Despitealltheflaws,abusesand failureswhichsurroundus,Godhasn'tbecomediscouraged.Hehasn'tgivenupandquit.Hisworkgoeson.ItisevenmoreimportanttodaythanitwasinOldTestamenttimes.InExodusHewaserectingaphysicaltempleofstoneandmortar.TodayHeisbuildingalivingtemple—theChurch,theBodyofChrist.

SatanhasopposedtheworkoftheLordateverystage.

Heisstillopposingittoday,justashedidinthedaysofMosesandSolomonandEzra.ReadyourBible—SatanhastriedtostoptheworkofGodforthousandsofyears.YettheLordalwaysemergesvictorious,andHewillcontinuetodosoin

ourday,despitescandal,accusation,ridiculeandunbelief.

TheNeedforOffering

Satan cannot stop anything the Lord is doing.All he can do is distractGod'speople. In the days ofMoses, therewas awork going on, the building of thetabernacle.TheLordcommanded thepeople tobring theirofferings, and theirheartswerestirredtorespond.

Ibelievethereneedstobeanewstirringintheheartsoftheindividualmembersof the Body of Christ in this crucial hour. Each one of us needs to becomewilling-heartedandwise-heartedenoughtogivegenerouslyandsacrificiallytocompletetheworkwhichhasalreadybeenstarted.

Therearemillionsoflivestobetouchedandchanged.

TherearemillionsofpeoplearoundtheglobewhostillneedtoheartheGospelandbe saved.Therearemanywhoneed to receive thehealingpowerofGod.ThisworkoftheLordmustgoon.Wecannotsitbackandletthedeviltalkusout of giving just because there have been misfortunes, problems, sins andscandalsintheChristianministry.

The people ofGodmust have their hearts stirred so theywillwillingly bringtheirofferingstotheLordforHisservice.InMoses'day,thepeoplebroughtsomuchtheyhadtobetoldtostop,thattherewasalreadymorethancouldbeused.IwishtoGodeverychurchinAmericahadthisproblem!Ilookforwardtothedaythissortofthingisaweeklyoccurrence.

Thesepeopleweren'tgivingtoMoses;theyweregivingtotheworkoftheLord.Yourgiftisnotmadetoanycertainmanorwomanorlocalchurchortelevisionministry, it ismade toGodHimself. If thepersonorgroupreceivingyourgiftturnsouttobedishonest,unreliableorimmoral,thatisnotyourfault,norshoulditaffectyourgiving.JustasktheLordwhattodoaboutyourgifts,wheretheyshouldcontinuetogoforthesakeofbuildingHisKingdomonearth.

PreparationfortheOffering

Noticeverse2ofthatpassageinFirstChronicles29.

Davidtoldthepeople,Ihavepreparedwithallmymightforthehouseofmy

God....

Friend,youandIhavegottobepreparedintheshorttimewhichislefttous.Wemustbepreparedtoplantourseed-giftsintothecrucialworkoftheLord.

Noticeverse3:Moreover,...IhavesetmyaffectiontothehouseofmyGod....Thatisthekeytogodlygiving:tosetouraffectionstothehouseofGod.

InColossians3:2theApostlePaultellsus:Setyouraffectiononthingsabove,notonthingsontheearth.

The"things thatareabove"refer to the thingsofGod, the thingsof theSpirit.The"thingsontheearth"refertomaterialwealthandriches,carnaldesires.

IfyouandIwilldowhatDaviddid,ifwewillpreparewithallourmightfortheLord'shouse,andsetouraffectionsonthethingsofGod,thenourheartswillbemadewillingandwise.WewillgivefreelyandgenerouslybecausewewillwanttohaveapartinthebuildingofGod'sholyKingdom.

TheJoyofOffering

NoticewhathappenedbecauseDavidandthepeopleofIsraelsettheiraffectionson the things of the Lord: Then the people rejoiced, for that they offeredwillingly,becausewithperfecthearttheyofferedwillinglytotheLord:andDavidthekingalsorejoicedwithgreatjoy.

1Chronicles29:9

Thesepeoplehadjustgiventheequivalentof415.5

millionsdollarstotheworkoftheLord,andinsteadofbeingangry,worriedanddespondenttheywererejoicing!

TwiceinthisoneversetheBiblesaysthattheywererejoicingbecausetheyhadgivenwillingly.

Obviously,tothesepeoplegivingtotheLordwasnotachore,aburden,adutyoranobligation,itwasa"greatjoy"!

Well,itwouldseemthattheBodyofChristhasalongwaytogoyet,doesn'tit?

Canweallhonestlysaythatwehavegottento theplace inourChristian livesthat giving has truly become a "great joy"?And yet that is exactlywhat it issupposed to be, what it is meant to be, what it was designed by God to be.Givingistheessenceofliving,theveryreasonforourbeing.

Godlygivingisajoy!

God'sCleansingofHisTemple

Hezekiahwastwenty-fiveyearsoldwhenhebecamethekingofJudah,andhereignedtwenty-nineyears,inJerusalem....

HisreignwasagoodoneintheLord'sopinion,justashisancestorDavid'shadbeen.

Intheveryfirstmonthofthefirstyearofhisreign,hereopenedthedoorsoftheTempleandrepairedthem.

HesummonedthepriestsandLevitestomeethimattheopenspaceeastoftheTemple,andaddressedthemthus:

"Listentome,youLevites.SanctifyyourselvesandsanctifytheTempleoftheLordGodofyourancestors—cleanallthedebrisfromtheholyplace.

Forourfathershavecommittedadeepsinbefore theLordourGod;theyabandonedtheLordandhisTempleandturnedtheirbacksonit....

"ButnowIwanttomakeacovenantwiththeLordGodofIsraelsothathisfierceangerwill turnaway fromus.Mychildren,don'tneglect yourdutiesanylonger,fortheLordhaschosenyoutoministertohim...."

TheyinturnsummonedtheirfellowLevitesandsanctifiedthemselves,andbegantocleanupandsanctify theTemple,as theking(whowasspeakingfortheLord)hadcommandedthem.

2Chronicles29:1-6,10,11,15TLB

Noticethefirst thingthatHezekiahdidwhenhebecameking.Hesawthat theworkoftheLordhadbeensuffering.Herecognizedthatthespiritualleadershipofthenationhadfallendownonitsjob.HerealizedthatthetempleoftheLord

neededtobecleansedandrepaired.HeunderstoodthatthepriestsandLevites,thespiritualleaders,neededtobepurged.AndheimmediatelysetintocarryoutthewilloftheLord.

Isubmit toyouthat inourdaythesamekindof thinghasbeengoingon.TheworkoftheLordhassuffered,thespiritualleadershiphasnotliveduptoitsdutyandresponsibilityandhighcalling.ThetempleoftheLord(theBodyofChrist)is in dire need of cleansing and "repair." The leaders of God's people havebecome filled with filthiness and "debris" and are in need of cleansing andsanctifying.

But I also submit to you that God has already begun this work. There is acleansing and sanctifying process taking place right now in the Church. TheLordhastakenituponHimselftobringaboutacleansingbythewashingofthewaterof theWord, thatHemightsanctifyuntoHimselfaholypeople, thatwemightbecomeaChurchwithoutspot,wrinkleorblemish.

Whetheryouareyetawareofitornot,thereisacleansingoftheChurchgoingonrightnow.Thereisapurgingofthespiritualleadershiptakingplace.

Noticeverse10inwhichKingHezekiahsaysthatheismakinganewcovenantwith theLord soHewill turnaway from thepeopleHis fierceanger.Then inverse 11 he says,"Children, don't neglect your duties any longer, for theLord has chosen you to minister to him.... " In other words, he is saying,"Ministers,don'tbenegligentanylonger."Ibelievethatistheprimaryproblemwiththespiritualleadershiptoday.Theyhavebeenneglectingtheirduties.Theproblemisnotreallysomuchalackofsincerityorvision.Itissimplyalackofconsistencyanddiligence.

NoticealsowhattheLevitesdidinresponsetothewordoftheLordwhichtheyreceivedthroughHezekiah:

"TheyinturnsummonedtheirfellowLevitesandsanctifiedthemselves,andbegan to sanctify and clean up the Temple...." (v. 15.) There are a lot ofpreachers and Christian teachers who are now getting on their knees andrepenting.Astheydo,theyareabletobegintoleadthepeopleintoathoroughcleansingoftheChurch.

Thespiritualleadershipofourdayispurgingitself,gettingridofnegligenceandinconsistency,returningtotheLordandHisservice.

OnceagaintheLordiscleansingHistemple.

EncouragetheMinistry

HezekiahnoworganizedthepriestsandLevitesintoservicecorps....

Inaddition,herequiredthepeopleinJerusalemtobringtheirtithestothepriestsandLevites,sothattheywouldn'tneedotheremploymentbutcouldapplythemselvesfullytotheirdutiesasrequiredinthelawofGod.

The people responded immediately and generously with the first of theircropsandgrain,newwine,oliveoil,money,andeverythingelse—atitheofall they owned, as required by law to be given to the Lord their God.Everythingwaslaidoutingreatpiles.

The people who had moved to Judah from the northern tribes and thepeople of Judah living in theprovinces also brought in the tithes of theircattleandsheep,andbroughtatitheof thededicatedthingstogivetotheLord,andpiledthemupingreatheaps.

The first of these tithes arrived in June, and thepiles continued to growuntilOctober.

WhenHezekiahandhisofficialscameandsaw thesehugepiles,howtheyblessedtheLordandpraisedhispeople!

2Chronicles31:2,4-8TLB

Hereweseethatdespitewhathadgoneoninthepast,thekingcommandedthepeopletoonceagaingivegenerouslytothoseintheLord'sservice.ThepeopleknewwhathadbeentheconditionofthetempleandthestateofaffairsamongGod's servants, yet theygavewillingly and joyfully into theLord'swork.Theresultwassuchanoverflowingabundantofferingthatitwaspiledupinheaps.

Notice the King James Version of verse 4:Moreover he commanded thepeople that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and theLevites,thattheymightbeencouragedinthelawoftheLord.

Friend, it is time for thepeopleofGod toonce againgive to theworkof theLordsothatHisministersmightbeencouraged.Fortoolongnowtheministry

hasbeenunderattack.Peoplehavebecomesuspiciousanddistrustfulandhavewithheld their tithesandgifts.Asa result,manyministriesofallkindsandallsizeshave suffered tremendous financial setbacks andhardships. It is time forthepeopleofGodtoencourageHisministers.

IthankGodthatinthemidstofthesetroubledtimesmypartnershavenotquitonme.Oh,Ialwaysneedmoreofthemandmorefromthem.ButIamthankfulthattheonesIdohavearefaithfulandloyal.Mylittle"Gideon'sarmy"hasdonewonders,andIpraiseandthanktheLordforgivingthemtome.Theyhavestuckbymeandmyministry"throughthickandthin."ButthatiswhatallChristiansneedtodointhesedemandingtimes.

Theministershavemademistakes,justasthepriestsandLevitesdidinthedaysofKingHezekiah.Butnow,itistimetoencouragethem,astheIsraelitesdidinresponsetothewordoftheLordgiventothemthroughtheirking.

ThatisthesamewordoftheLordwhichIamnowbringingtoyouthroughthisbook.

I am convinced that Satan is not going towin, because theBody ofChrist isgoing to rally.They are going to once again givewholehearted support to theLord'sworkandHisservants.

ThemessageyouhavereadinthesepageshasbeenapropheticwordfromtheLord.Itismyprayer:

1.thatyouwill takeit toheartanddoyourpartbygivingnotonlyyour tithesbutalsogenerousofferings,

2.thatyouwill"divideyourgiftsamongmany,"

3.thatyouwillbefaithfulinsupportingyourlocalchurch,and

4. that you will go beyond all that and give to encourage home and foreignmissions, radio and televisionministries, and any other outreaches which theLordlaysuponyourheart.

ClosingPrayer

"Father,inthenameoftheLordJesusChrist,IhavedeliveredYourWordunder

theunctionoftheHolySpirit.IhavetoldYourpeoplewhatYouinstructedmetotellthem.IhavegiventhemthepropheticmessageYoulaiduponmyheart.

"IthankYou,Father,thatYouwillconfirmYourWordwithsigns following.Lettherebeastirringintheheartsofthepeople.Givethem,Ipray,awillingmindand heart. May what has been presented in these pages break through theconfusionanddisorder,andfocustheeyesofYourpeoplebackonJesusandontheworkthatYouhavesetbeforeus.Itmustbefinished.

Itmustbecarriedthroughtocompletion.

"Lord,weagreetogetherthattherewillbeachange.InsteadoftwentypercentoftheChurch carrying eighty percent of the load, everymember of the Body ofChristwillbedoinghisorherpart, both in the local churchand in theotherministrieswhichYouhaveraisedup.Everygoodworkwillgo forthandeveryministerwillfulfillthevisionYouhavegiven.

"Now,Lord,asYourpeoplebegintogiveonceagainintoYourwork,usethosegiftstoencouragetheministry.Wehavebeenrefreshed,nowhelpus torefreshYourministersandservants.Asweplantourseed,weareexpectingthefruitsofrighteousness tobe increased inus so thatwe canwalk forth in this world inpeace,quietness,confidenceandassurance.Andaswegive,weexpectourjoytoincrease.Wedon'tknowhowYouwillsupplyoureveryneed,butweknowYouwill.AndwethankYouforit,inJesus'mightyname.Amen."

References

HolyBible:NewInternationalVersion(NIV).Copyright©

1973, 1978, 1984 by the New York International Bible Society. Used bypermissionofZondervanBiblepublishers.

TheKingJamesVersion,RoyalPublishers,Nashville,TN.

The Living Bible (TLB). Copyright © 1971 owned by assignment by IllinoisRegionalBankN.A.(astrustee).

UsedbypermissionofTyndaleHousePublishers,Inc.,Wheaton,IL60189.Allrightsreserved.

TheNewTestamentinModernEnglish,RevisedEdition.

Copyright©1958,1959,1960,1972byJ.B.Phillips.

MacmillianPublishingCompany.

TheRevisedStandardVersionoftheBible.NewTestamentsectioncopyright©1946, Old Testament section copyright © 1952 by Division of ChristianEducationoftheNationalCounciloftheChurchesofChristintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.

The Holy Bible: From the Ancient Eastern Text (Lamsa), George M. Lamsa.Copyright©1933,1957byA.J.HolmonCo.,Philadelphia,PA.Harper&Row,PublishersInc.

BooksbyJerrySavelle

DrawnbyHisLove

EnergizingYourFaith

EstablishedHeart

TheForceofJoy

GivingBirthtoaMiracle

If Satan Can't Steal Your Joy, He Can't Keep Your Goods Sharing JesusEffectively

TheSpiritofMight

VictoryandSuccessAreYours

YouCanHaveAbundantLife

Dr. Jerry J. Savelle is a noted author, evangelist, and teacher who travelsextensivelythroughouttheUnitedStates,Canada,andoverseas.Heispresidentof JerrySavelleMinistries, aministry ofmanyoutreaches devoted tomeeting

theneedsofbelieversallovertheworld.

Well-known for his balanced Biblical teaching, Dr. Savelle has conductedseminars,crusadesandconventionengagements foranumberofyears.By thedirection of the Holy Spirit, he now holds meetings in local churches andfellowships across theUnited States.He is being used to help bridge the gapbetweenthetravelingministryandthelocalchurch.Inthesemeetingsheisableto encourage and assist pastors in perfecting the saints for the work of theministry. He is in great demand today because of his inspiring message ofvictoryand faithandhisaccurateandentertaining illustrations fromtheBible.HeteachestheuncompromisingWordofGodwithapowerandanauthoritythatisexciting,butwithalovethatdeliversthemessagedirectlytothespiritman.

When Jerrywas 12 years old,God spoke to his heart as hewaswatching thehealing ministry of Oral Roberts on television. God told Jerry that He wascallinghimintotheministry.Someyearslater,JerrymadeJesusChristtheLordofhislifeandsincethattimehasbeenmovinginthelightofthatcalling.

Dr. Savelle is the founder of Overcoming Faith Churches of Kenya, and themissionsoutreachofhisministryextendstoover27differentcountriesaroundtheworld.HisministryalsodeliversthepowerfulmessageofGod'sWordacrosstheUnitedStatesthroughtheJSMPrisonMinistryOutreach.

Dr. Savelle has authored a number of books and has an extensive cassetteteaching tapeministry.Nearly 300,000 books and tapes are distributed aroundtheworldeachyearthroughJerrySavelleMinistries.

TableofContentsIntroduction1Seed-Conscious—NotNeed-Conscious2TheRealPurposeofGiving3BenefitsofGodlyGiving4GivingasaLifestyle5WhyOfferings?References.1

Living to give : a prophetic word for Christians' finances

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