So I have been reading the book Change Your Words, Change Your Life by Joyce Meyer over the last couple of months. I have been taking it slow and really soaking in each chapter. I have learned so much from this book. One thing I really took to heart was to Speak God's word over my life. She has a whole list of things we should be speaking over our lives. I made note cards from the list and added a few to it. These will help me keep the word in front of me . The verses on my note cards give me hope because I know they are God's promises to me.
There was one whole chapter in the book devoted to complaining. This really hit home for me. I was always complaining. As soon as I read that chapter I made a commitment to stop complaining. Philippians 2:14 says, "Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves]." She said we think we are just complaining but we are in essence complaining against God. That was a huge eye opener for me. I was basically saying I don't trust Him by complaining. This is when I knew I had to stop! Now it seems I notice it more. I try to catch myself because I don't want to be that way.
So the last few weeks have been crazy at work. We have had people out and more than enough work. MY patience has worn thin on many days but I have remained strong. God has definitely gotten me through it. I have grown so much closer to Him. It is like nothing I've ever experienced before. I feel like He is growing me for something in the near future. I have never been more hungry for the Word, I can't get enough. In all of my free time I have been listening to Cd's, reading the word, and praying. It has been quite amazing what He has been showing me. (This was from July 8)
This past week (July 4th week) was the Southwest Believers Convention. I really wanted to go to this but since I couldn't I listened online every chance I got. I was so blessed by it. I can't wait to get all of the media from it in a few weeks so I can listen to the whole thing. Since it was raining here on the 4th of July I spent my entire day listening and all day Saturday. All of the pastors are so knowledgeable in the Word of God. I will post more about what I learned and what I will learn when I get all of the media from the convention.
So the Sunday following the 4th I listened to a message from Jesse Duplantis entitled Why Isn't My Giving Working? He goes into the different forms of giving. These include Tithe, First fruits, Alms, and Seed or Offering. I wasn't aware of all of the different types of giving nor their individual purposes. This was a revelation to me that I must share with you! The following paragraphs are what I got out of this message.
The Motivation for tithing is obedience. God told us to give the first 10% of His money back to Him so that He can bless us. Tithe is the divine connector to the Blessing. Genesis 1:28 shows us what God had originally planned for us. "And
God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the
earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God
and man]; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the
air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth." One of the things that I got out of the message was that tithing holds God to His promise to rebuke the devourer. Malachi 3:8-12 shows us what God says about tithing. When we tithe we are forming a wall between ourselves and the devil. The devil can't touch us because God is protecting us. This was such a revelation to me. I have read Malachi 3:11 many times but this was the first time this stood out.
"Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In what way do we rob or defraud You? [You have withheld your] tithes and offerings. You are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation. Bring
all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse,
that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the
Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour
you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And
I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he
shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine
drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts." (Malachi 3:8-12, AMP)
The Motivation of First fruits is generosity. First Fruits shows God your not in love with money. Basically first fruits is like when you get a raise at work and you give Him the first extra that comes in. So if I got a raise of $10.00 a week then I would give the first $10 to God. It shows Him that you are thankful for the extra blessing. Jesse said there are 31 references to the first fruits between both the Old and New Testaments. Here are just two examples.
"Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the first fruits of all your income; So shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine." (Proverbs 3:9-10)
"Now
if the first handful of dough offered as the first fruits [Abraham and
the patriarchs] is consecrated (holy), so is the whole mass [the nation
of Israel]; and if the root [Abraham] is consecrated (holy), so are the
branches." (Romans 11:16)
The motivation for Alms giving is compassion and sympathy. This is the only kind of giving that is given to man instead of God. Alms giving would be like giving to the poor. This is the type of giving that we do the most of. Alms giving is to be done in secrecy. Matthew 6:1 says, "TAKE CARE not to do your good deeds publicly or before men, in order to be seen by them; otherwise you will have no reward [reserved for and awaiting you] with and from your Father Who is in heaven." When we give to the poor God will bless us with the exact same amount that we gave. Remember though this is not to be the reason we give. Our motivation is compassion and sympathy not for what we can get.
The motivation for Seed or Offering is faith and reward. This is the giving where we go above and beyond what our tithe is. This is where the 30, 60, 100, or 1,000 fold is received. This type of giving is the quickest way to stop poverty and get out of debt. God never intended for us to be in poverty or debt. He wants us blessed so that we can bless others. We must sow our seeds into in fertile ground so that it can accomplish the impossible in life. Mark 4:8 talks about sowing the seed in fertile ground. "And other seed [of the same kind] fell into good (well-adapted) soil and brought fourth good grain, growing up and increasing, and yielded up to thirty times as much, and sixty times as much, and even a hundred times as much as had been sown." (Mark 4:8, AMP) If you read on to Mark 4:20 He talks about a hundred fold return. This type of giving to me is putting complete trust in God with our finances. I can trust Him with my finances and He will grow them and bless me so I can continue to bless others. It is really exciting!
One thing Jesse said, and I am so guilty of this, is you
cannot take the tithe, first fruits, or the seed and make it alms giving. You
change the purpose of the giving. Plus you open yourself up to the devourer. 2
Corinthians 9 talks about giving. It tells us how we should give and the
attitude we should have. Giving is one of my favorite things to do not because
I expect anything in return, but because it fills me with Joy. It is just so
fun!
Lately I have been pondering all of these different things. I really want a house, I want my car paid for, I would like a new job where I actually enjoy what I am doing, and a Godly husband. So many things at one time. I just have to stay focused on God and what His plan is for my life. I will eventually have all of these things and more. I know as long as I seek Him and obey then I will eventually have the desires of my heart. Just learning how to speak and have faith is helping. I am understanding so much more and I know my future is bright.
Well this post was probably all over the place but it has been a work in progress for the last few weeks. On another note I can't believe it is almost August. I haven't even had a vacation yet but I am working on that. Thanks for reading!
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