#Giving #Receiving #Blessing You cannot receive Gods blessing by giving to a rich religious leader. Many people in religion especially the poor masses in CHRISTIAN religion has been taught that by giving to their priest or pastor a.k.a man of God, they will receive Gods blessing and their business will prosper. Therefore they end up fattening their leaders and thinning themselves, the rich leaders get richer and the poor members get poorer. The purpose of giving among Gods people is for equality; But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us— see that you abound in this grace also...For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich...For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.” (II Corinthians 8:7, 9, 12-15 NKJV) • Jesus never looks or lives bigger or richer than His disciples, in fact, when they came to arrest Him the soldiers cant identify Jesus in the midst of His disciples (Read Jn 18:1-9), yet He had a treasurer. Unlike todays most ministers milking the flock and fattening themselves in the name of giving to receive Gods blessing. > Jesus says, And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. (Luke 22:25-27 NKJV) • Every giving in the New Testament is to the poor and its reward from God is not in the now: + And He[Jesus] said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses...Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:15, 32-34 NKJV) + Then He[Jesus] also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:12-14 NKJV) + Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common...Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. (Acts 4:32, 34-35 NKJV) + And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do. (Galatians 2:9-10 NKJV) + True church never give to be rich in this world; But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (I Timothy 6:9-10 NKJV) + We are already rich by the blessing of God, Blessings are on the head of the righteous...The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it...For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich...Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?...For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Prov 10:6, 22. 2Cor 8:9. Jas 2:5. Rom 8:14-17) • Even in the Old Testament it is wrong to give to the rich; ...he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty. (Prov 22:16) > Giving to the rich is like bribing to receive a favour: Bribery! • Giving has its natural reward, which is of men and not of God, its called sowing and reaping; Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6:38 KJV) + If you give to the poor ministers and children of God, their reward will come upon you; He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophets reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous mans reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. (Matthew 10:41-42 KJV) + If you give to men, men shall in return give to you, meaning givers never lack; Be not deceived; God is not mocked [as in the case of Ananias and his wife in Acts 5] : for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption [in this corrupt world]; but he that soweth to the Spirit [to the poor who cannot give back to him, as Jesus taught] shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:7-10 KJV). • If your due season is only in this present world, whatever you reap is corruption, it doesnt last. > Theres a reward that follows giving but it doesnt get any blessing from God, for we are already blessed by God through Jesus Christ; Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3 KJV). Its by faith in Christ Jesus that we all received blessings of God. Our giving is that their may be equality among us. • Money cannot buy the blessing of God: And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. (Acts 8:18-23 KJV) > Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money; no wonder Peter also said to the crippled beggar who gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. (Acts 3:5-6 KJV) • The Name of Jesus of Nazareth is greater than wealth and money, you cant have that name and lack any good thing; And he[Jesus] said unto them[disciples], When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. (Luke 22:35 KJV) > If you are truly saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, you will never lack; ...for a worker is worthy of his food...Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” (Matt 10:10. Heb 13:5) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen! (Phil 4:19-20)
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 15:02:37 +0000
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