Who do we serve, GOD or mammon?
Do not confuse the Source with the resource.
It is written by THE SPIRIT in Malachi chapter 3:
6 “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
FATHER is totally reliable and trustworthy in keeping HIS Word toward us. Man can and does change based upon the circumstances and perception. FATHER operates in Truth and reality.
7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My Statutes and have not kept them. Return to ME, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
Believers easily forget the past, but FATHER doesn’t. The children of Israel asked how to correct their path away from righteousness. FATHER answers:
8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing ME. But you say, ‘How have we robbed YOU?’ In your tithes and contributions.
Has FATHER changed HIS Mind about tithes and contributions? No, HE does not change! What happens when we rationalize away this statute? The next verse tells us:
9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing ME, the whole nation of you.
For those of us who walk in The Fear of THE LORD, we choose to embrace this revelation of the tithe and offering. Yes, FATHER forgives us of our past failures in this area so we must not dwell on the past. As we mature in this area, we will repent and walk in this statute.
10 Bring the full tithe into the Storehouse, that there may be food in MY House. And thereby put ME to the test, says the LORD of Hosts, if I will not open the Windows of Heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
Are you willing to put Our Heavenly Father to the test of HIS Word? HE is committed to meeting our needs if we become joyful givers. Contributions (offerings above the tithe) establish desire versus duty.
11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of Hosts.
What does a devourer do? He consumes your resources so that you are lacking to the point of becoming desperate. He steals, kills, and destroys those who have not placed their full trust in THE LORD.
What will people around you see?
12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of Hosts.
The Holy Spirit will guide you in your giving if you submit to Him. It is a challenge in discerning where to give. What storehouse qualifies to receive your tithes and offerings? Let The Holy Spirit guide you in these matters.
The enemy is very subtle, especially in the area of finances. The Kingdom coming to this earth will be financed by those who are fully submitted to walking according to The Word of THE LORD. The adversary knows this and that is why he spends so much time and effort to devour the finances of the believers. He promotes fear and uncertainty in the minds of the believers, hoping to deter them from giving.
Jesus spoke in Mark chapter 16:
14 Later Jesus appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
15 And He said to them, “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Jesus did not say “come ye into the church building, then …”. He said “Go ye”. This is one reason we help the Kids In Need. We are going into the schools and ministering hope to those kids. We are also ministering to the teachers and staff of FATHER’S goodness and Love. These are the front lines of “Go ye”.