What excuse has been made for not giving? The fact that many of us have been exploited by the false prophets of the prosperity movement, in no way negates our responsibility to give as God has commanded. So, it’s time to get over the past. We should consider repenting for our own sins that caused us to support such greedy wolves, and take personal accountability to give, give, give.
Have you judged the LORD’s servants and made that your excuse for not helping?
“The principal hindrance to the advancement of the kingdom of God is greed. It is the chief obstacle to heaven-sent revival. It seems that when the back of greed is broken, the human spirit soars into regions of unselfishness. I believe that it is safe to say there can be no continuous revival without ‘hilarious’ giving. And I fear no contradiction: wherever there is ‘hilarious’ giving there will soon be revival!” — O.S. Hawkins, U.S. Baptist pastor
Nothing to give? Why?
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21
After all, God sees our hearts and our expenditures.
The LORD saw when we knew someone had a need and yet we didn’t help (Proverbs 24:10-12). See 1 John 3:16-18 and James 2:14-17.
We must become honest and understand that God saw when money was spent on frivolous things and the work of the Gospel was not put as a priority (1 Corinthians 9:1-14; Galatians 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:17-18).
Our Almighty Judge sees all the monies squandered on creature comforts by those who claim to know and love Him. He sees all and will judge each of us accordingly (Proverbs 15:3; Matthew 25:40-46).
“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” Titus 1:16
The most important work of Christ goes undone due to the withholding of the very ones who claim to be saved. How deluded this generation!
Is it any wonder that Jesus told us that there are only a “few” that are only a few who are on that narrow road that lead to Heaven? (Matthew 7:13-14) Are we going to choose to give up our lives in this world to gain it eternally with Christ?
“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” John 12:25
You see, if your money isn’t given over to God, it’s because your heart and life are not given over to Him. Go on from here continuing to deceive yourself if you will, but it will be to your own eternal demise if you do.
The nail-scarred risen Savior says that one must give his “all” to be His “disciple”:
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33
If Christ is truly reigning in our lives, He has our hearts, our ears, and all, otherwise, we are His very “enemies”:
“But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.” Luke 19:27
Just why would someone spend most all their money on their self? Why does the very ONE who allowed those resources to come into our hands get a mere token tip instead of the very FIRST portion of honor? That’s what the Pharisees did – they merely tipped God and Jesus said their giving was not honored (Mark 12:38-41). The LORD did not honor their token tipping and He doesn’t honor ours – “For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” (Mark 12:44) Jesus taught that the woman who gave all was honored by God but not the rich who claimed to be God’s children and merely tipped His work.
Early church example of giving:
“Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: 30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” Acts 11:29-30
James Kevin Smith writes:
“What portion does a slave own of what belongs to his master? The yield of the property belongs to the property owner. Stewards only tend the matters of their master. They do not own that which their master has intrusted to them.”
What shall you take with you?
“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” 1 Timothy 6:7-8
Tipping God to make ones conscience feel better is a self-serving cover up and a sin.
Are you honoring God? Truly want to know?
“Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10
Is it time to get real with the LORD and truly “honour” Him? Is it time to get your checkbook out and be a blessing to someone in need and a ministry work of Christ?
It was the religionists who shunned the man in need as they passed by and saw him in need (Luke 10:29-37). This means that their religious profession was all they had – they did not have salvation. Regrettably, there is no change today (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The vast majority of those who claim to be saved today, do nothing to help others with the financial substance that God Himself put in their hands and will be judged for this evil refusal. The earliest followers of Christ had much less materially but didn’t need a message like this. They were truly saved – truly given over to the LORD – and therefore took the initiative and sold what they didn’t need to give to others who lacked and for Christ’s work to be spread/furthered (Acts 2:44-48; 4:34-35). Be not deceived: The LORD is watching what we are doing.
*** IF you don’t give to the work of the ministry, it’s because HIS work and HE mean nothing to you. You spend money to embellish yourself with unneeded things but neglect HIS work. This reveals who you truly love. The point is, many give out of LOVE for self and this fleeting world. They find is so very easy to bless self and why? Because self is king not the Savior. Our giving to self and the things of self that self doesn’t even need, shows us that we don’t truly love Jesus but love self and this sinful world (1 John 2:15; James 4:4). What did Jesus say to Laodicea? (Rev. 3:15-16) We love self and that’s why we give to self, self, self. See 1 John 3:18 and Titus 1:16.
Do you really care that Christ’s sheep are fed?
Do YOU care if souls are won into God’s kingdom?
If so, what are YOU personally doing about it? What are you doing to help this happen?
Didn’t Jesus tell us that our bank statement/check register reveals where our heart truly is? (Matthew 6:19-21)
THIS is the real test given in Scripture as to whether or not we are truly given over to the LORD, or not!
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21
Abiding
Safety in Wise Counsel [podcast]

“Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.” Proverbs 20:18
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” Psalms 37:23
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Psalms 90:12
“Safety” in wise counsel from God’s wisdom, Word, and including at times with the help of His beloved saints.
“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14
“The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.” Proverbs 21:31
“For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.” Proverbs 24:6
Caprice means a sudden and unaccountable change of mood or behavior.
“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” James 3:13-18
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Articles
“Let Brotherly Love Continue” [podcast]

“Let Brotherly Love Continue.” Hebrews 13:1
“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Ephesians 5:2
1 John 4
God Is Love
“7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”
1 Corinthians 13
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”
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Articles
5 Aspects of the Mind of Christ [podcast]

5 Components of the Mind of Christ from Philippians 2
- Jesus Christ made Himself of no reputation.
- He took upon Him the form of a servant.
- He was made in the likeness of men.
- He humbled Himself.
- He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Philippians 2:2-10
“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
At Gethsemane the death before the cross, before His death on the cross occurred.
“Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42
“He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:8
Living in the mind, the disposition of Christ means you are truly following Him.
As Christ’s disciple, your devotion, your love is first to Him, then to your neighbor, not self (Matthew 22:37-39). You are commanded by the Savior to set self aside and to lift others above yourself—to prefer, to put God and others first. Those who do so, experience true freedom, liberty.
Being one with Christ, who gave all to save you, means your life is over—you now live to serve the LORD and others, not self (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3).
Have you poured prayerfully over Philippians 2:3-5 today? If you will begin every day this week pouring prayerfully over this passage, asking the LORD to internalize it in your heart, God will begin to deeply instill the very “mind of Christ” into your innermost disposition.
Part of the dying…. IS GOD calling us to Himself, to forsake this world, including the attempt to save an unrepentant nation long in rebellion against Him – America?
Prayer: LORD, I want to walk in the disposition You walked in on earth. I will esteem You and others above myself. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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