UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES ON GIVING (PART 9)

MAY 16TH

TEXT: Hosea 12:13 King James Version (KJV)

13.   And by a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.

2 Chronicles 20:20 King James Version (KJV)

20.  And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

 A careful look at the scriptures for today will reveal to you that your establishment is tied to your believe in God, but your prosperity is tied to the prophet you honour. When you honour a prophet of God you activate the supernatural that stirs up others to also honour you. Jesus said he who gives to a prophet in the name of a prophet will get a prophet’s reward.

Beloved, please realise that if this principles I am sharing with you are from God then there is no way you can ignore them and get the result meant for those who obey. It remains a proven fact that God is no respecter of anybody, and that is why when those who are not Christians obey the principles in the word of God, it works for them.

Many of us know that as at present, the richest man in Africa and one of the richest in the world is Aliko Dangote. He does not speak in tongues like many fire brand Christians do, but at a point in his life he was careful to honour the servants of God and he his prosperity today is a confirmation of the reward of that honour he gave to Arch Bishop Benson Idahosa, Dr T L Osborn and his wife. It was said that Dr T L Osborn and his wife had arrived late at the airport when the flight from Benin to Lagos was already full and no one was willing to give away their seat for them to travel with that plane to Lagos so they can catch their flight back to the US that night.

It was said that after much appeal from Arch Bishop Idahosa, it was Aliko Dangote and his assistant who stood up to give away their seats. In response to that the Arch Bishop said something like, “Wherever you go, nations will stand for you”. Today, nations are literally standing for him because a prophet of God said so.  

When the widow of Zarephath honoured Elijah the man of God, she terminated the power of lack and all through the famine of three and half years her oil did not run dry nor the flour. She had a miraculous provision (1 Kings 17:10-16).

When the Shunammite woman and her husband honoured Elisha the prophet of God, an hopeless case of barrenness was terminated and she was blessed with a child within a year time (2 Kings 4:8-17).

There are blessings you cannot know until you activate the blessing that comes from honouring God’s servants. You can have your lost hopes and dreams restored in an amazing ways if you will obey God to do the unusual.  

HYMN - IN THE GARDEN

MAY 15TH

TEXT: MATTHEW 20:28; MATTHEW 28:5-9; JOHN 20; ROMANS 5:6,10,11

Memory Verse: Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news; “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he said these things to her. (John 20:18)

It was in 1912 that music publisher Dr. Adam Geibel asked author and composer C. Austin Miles to write a hymn text that would be “sympathetic in tone, breathing tenderness in every line; one that would bring hope to the hopeless, rest for the weary, and downy pillows to dying beds.” Mr. Miles has left the following account of the writing of this hymn:

One day in April 1912, I was seated in the dark room, where I kept my photographic equipment and organ. I drew my Bible towards m; it opened at my favourite chapter, John 20- whether by chance or inspiration let each reader decide. That meeting of Jesus and Mary had lost none of its power and charm.

As I read it that day, I seemed to be part of the scene, I became a silent witness to that dramatic moment in Mary’s life, when she knelt before her Lord, and cried, “Rabboni”.

My hands were resting on the Bible while I stared at the light blue wall. As the light faded, I seemed to be standing at the entrance of a garden, looking down a gently winding path, shaded by olive branches. A woman in white, with head bowed, hand clasping her throat, as if to choke back her sobs, walked slowly into the shadows. It was Mary. As she came to the tomb, upon which she placed her hand, she bent over to look in, and hurriedly away.

John, in flowing robe, appeared, looking at the tomb; then came peter, who entered the tomb, followed slowly by John.

As they departed, Mary reappeared; leaning her head upon her arm at the tomb, she wept. Turning herself, she saw Jesus standing, so did i. I knew it was He. She knelt before him, with arms outstretched and looking into his face cried, “Rabboni!” I awakened in sun light, gripping the Bible, with muscles tense and nerves vibrating. Under the inspiration of this vision, I wrote as quickly as the words could form the poem exactly as it has since appeared. That same evening I wrote the music.

                I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses; and the voices I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses.

                He speaks, and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing; and the melody that He gave to me within my heart ringing.

                I’d stay in the garden with Hum tho the night around me be falling, but he bids me go-thru the voice of woe, His voice to me is calling.

                Refrain: And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own, and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.

ACTION POINT: Let your mind join Mary and the disciples in the garden when Christ first appeared to them following His resurrection. Respond as did Mary-“Rabboni” (my Master). Carry this musical truth throughout the day.

TAKEN FROM “AMAZING GRACE; 366 INSPIRING HYMN STORIES FOR DAILY DEVOTION”

UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES ON GIVING (PART 8)

MAY 14TH

TEXT: 2 Chronicles 20:20 King James Version (KJV)

20.  And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

When a man is truly determined to be blessed, he will do everything to obey the full counsel in God’s word. The scripture tells us that the people of God perish due to lack of knowledge. There are many fasting and praying trusting God for glorious answers to their prayer but nothing significant is happening because they refuse to understand and obey the full counsel of God in his word. By your believe in God you are established as a child of God on your way to heaven but it is by your believe in His prophets that you prosper.

I see the need to spend more time on this not because personal benefit but because many of God’s people are perishing for lack of knowledge. I need you to understand that God is no respecter of anybody, even ministers of the gospel like me are not exempted. 

As a servant of God, until I recognised and humbled myself to obey God as touching this principle of honouring the servants of God over my life, a lot of things where on a stand still. Nothing significant was happening in my life, family and ministry. But when I began to honour those ministers who have been a blessing over my life through words, actions and the act of giving to them, not just their ministry, things began to change in my favour. Doors began to open and I began to see both honour and results like never before.

Who are the persons speaking over your life? Have you done anything to let them know you appreciate them? Do they see themselves as a prophet over your life?

It is easy for a good number of Christians to give to the church but only a few understand the principles embedded in the scriptures calling our attention to honour the servants of God.

Again, Jesus made it clear in Matthew 10:17 that you can only get a prophet’s reward by honouring a prophet of God. And it is a prophet’s reward because after you have honoured him, you position yourself for a prophetic blessing. Hosea 12:13 makes us realise that a nation, a family or group of people can be delivered through the ministry of a prophet. This is a divine order that no amount of debate and defence that you try to put up against it will be strong enough to change the efficacy of this principle of God.

If you discover that not much is happening in your life, then it is time to check to see if you have been faithful in activating God’s favour over your life through a deliberate action to honour God’s prophets. God has something glorious for your life, do all you can to activate your blessings. Shalom!

UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES ON GIVING (PART 7)

MAY 13TH

TEXT: 2 Chronicles 20:20 King James Version (KJV)

20.   And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

On the issue of giving, there are many believers who give to the church but are indifferent about honouring God’s servant. There are some who on purpose stop the church and others from honouring the servant of God due to their personal sentiments. When people do that they fail to realise that they are cutting off honour from their lives in various ways. The word of the Lord tells us to consider a leader who rule well, worthy of double honour, with strong emphasis on those who labour in the word and doctrine (1 Tim 5:17). When people deny a servant of God his due honour, they terminate the reward, blessings or prosperity that comes with such honour from their lives.

There are some blessings you cannot enter into until you learn to honour, hold in high esteem the servant of God. Our text made it clear that your prosperity is tied to the place of a prophet in your life. Who is speaking over your life? 

In Matthew 10:14, Jesus made the people realise that when they honour a prophet in the name of a prophet, they will get a prophet’s reward.  When you have done what is required of you and yet things are working against you, a prophetic declaration from the servant of God you honour will make the difference for you.

It is true that we are all of a royal priesthood, but don’t deceive yourself, God has positioned certain persons and given them the authority to speak as His mouthpiece. When they speak things begin to happen. This is why the word of God in Hosea 12:13 says, “And  by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.”

So I ask again, who do you recognise as a prophet over your life and destiny? If you have one he will know you by the way you honour him and you will know him by the way the decree from his lips turn things around in your favour.

If you truly wish to have strange lifting beyond your abilities, then connect and hold in high esteem the ministry of God’s servant over your life. 

UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES ON GIVING (PART 5)

MAY 11TH

TEXT: Acts 4:32-37 King James Version (KJV)

32. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

33. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

34. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

35. And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

36. And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

37. Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

When our giving enters into a higher level in our walk with God, we will begin to see cooperate response that will produce awesome results.

In the church, some times it is hard to see the practical manifestation of Christian giving simply because many of us are so selfish and self-centred. One distinguishing factor between the early church and most churches today is found in our text. It tells us that the believers were so much of one accord that no one said what he possessed was his (Acts 4:32).

 When they chose to live like this, the next verse tells us that great grace was upon them all (verse 33). As you read on to verse 34, you will find out that whenever a church begin to operate at this level of giving, they are able to destroy the hold of poverty and lack from their lives.

 This is the level of giving were people are willing to give their personal possessions for the work of the kingdom of God. It tells us that they sold lands and houses and brought the money to the house of God and made it available for the work of God.

 Unfortunately, many preachers use the expression in this passage (verse 35) laid “…them down at the apostles’ feet” as a ploy to enrich themselves. To tell us that this is not talking about giving to enrich a minister, the next two verses tells us of Jose also called Barnabas who is a minister of God, he being a Levite who was suppose to receive offerings on behalf of God also laying down the money from the sales of his own land at the apostles’ feet. 

 When a body of believers get to this level of giving, not even the ministers are excerpted. everyone in one accord key into the move of God to meet the need of the work and this is were great grace is given to them to walk in greater power and glory. It will amaze you that in such a place they do not record normal testimonies.

There are very strange breakthroughs associated with cooperate passion to give. Let’s not be satisfied with the individual level. Let’s grow together until we see the move of God at a cooperate level and we will begin to see the move of God in amazing ways.  

UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES ON GIVING (PART 4)

MAY 10TH 

TEXT: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 King James Version (KJV)

9.   Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10.  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11.  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

The word of God bears record of many who changed their lives and the destinies of many generations by their obedience to the word of God as touching the principles of giving. Among such dangerous givers are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and others. Let’s consider them one after the other.

Genesis 14:17-20, Abraham gave tithe and in Hebrews the word of God bears record that the tithe he gave led to the consecration of his great grandson Levi as a priest unto God. Is that not amazing? He gave to the priest of God and generations after it was recorded in the favour of one of his great grandsons. The release of the tithe he paid enacted a covenant between the unborn great grandson and God Almighty.  By one simple act of obedience,  Levi became consecrated to God. Abraham was such a dangerous giver that he was willing to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God (see Genesis 22:1-12 ) and he encountered God as the provider, Jehovah Jirah.

Genesis 26 it was recorded that Isaac paid tithe in a time of great famine and in response to that the Lord blessed him with an hundred fold blessing. The scripture records that he grew until he became very great (Gen. 26:12-13).

Jacob entered into a covenant with God by promising to give God a tithe (Gen. 28:20-22) and in Gen. 30:43 it was recorded that he increased exceedingly. 

THE BIG BOY MENTALITY

MAY 9TH

TEXT: Mark 10:15

15.  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

Sometimes it seems strange to some to show a strong desperation for God especially in the presence of others. They believe they have grown spiritually and should be able to handle every situation, and as such nobody should know they are losing it. But they are very wrong because even Jesus who always had everything under control, wept (John 11:35)

CONTEMPLATION

When people come before the Lord with a preconceived idea and philosophy of acceptable conduct in worship, they give little or no room for the Holy Spirit to do what He intends to do in their lives. If you are too conscious of your class and standing among men, it will become a problem for you to sincerely bow in worship to the Lord. Many don’t want to be labelled a fanatic, so they shut their hearts to the leading of the Holy Spirit. As the Lord spoke with His disciples He made them to understand that we can only access the kingdom when we become like a child (Mark 10:15). Has it been a problem for you to sing, clap and dance in public worship? Do you feel embarrassed to kneel down or prostrate before God? If you do not know how to honour and reverence Him in public, you may not know how much harm you have done to yourself.

“ Before we got that title or position, we were sincere worshippers. But not long after we were blessed with this lifting, we assumed the Big Boys status. This is what somebody called “the deacon posture.” Have you observed that most deacons and church elders assume a particular posture in church that seems to confine them to a very formal role in worship? This is also applicable to many pastors.” FFPW p125.

Don’t cut short your glory and honour, remember God is the reason why you worship.

PRACTICAL ISSUES

The greatest privilege any mortal can have is for the Almighty to call you “son,” don’t trade it for anything.

If you are truly His, your spirit will easily cry out after God (See Romans 8:15) if this is not happening, it is possible you do not know Him or it may be you are backsliding. Do something about it.