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IT'S ALL ABOUT LOVE
"If you have been blessed by this ministry, then why not be a blessing to this ministry"
Let's Talk About Money
Prosperity can be both a blessing and a curse. While it ca be a sign of God's blessing to those who follow Him, it carries with it the potential for moral and spiritual decline. Prosperous people are tempted to become self-sufficient and proud - to take God for granted. In our prosperity we must not forget that God is the source of our blessings.
"For the love of money, is the root of all evil."
Some people even preach the gospel for filthy lucre's sake or for the sake of money. You can't serve both God and mammon(riches), for you will either love the one and hate the other. Don't allow money rule or control your life... use your money to change lives. Your life does not consist in the abundance of your possessions ... God blesses us to be a blessing to others.
There is a lot of concern about giving money to churches/ministries these days because of a misapplication and misunderstanding of certain key scriptures related to this subject, but this is also a convenient excuse for those who want to disobey the principle of tithing and giving offerings to support the life of the community of believers. We want to take this time to help you understand God's purpose and our responsibility in giving, so that you will not be robbed of the blessings that God has promised for those who walk in obedience to His Word.
It is interesting to note that those who say they don't agree with the principle of tithes and offerings, also do not give anything to support other people at all and are totally inconsistent in their view of giving, simply because they are stingy, greedy and uncaring about others. The New Testament believers were the total opposite of this and went and sold their possessions and laid them at the Apostles feet for them to distribute according as members of the community of faith had a need. For the spiritually mature and enlightened, you realize that we are called to help support one another in the community of faith not only spiritually, but physically as well.
God's Promise - (Old Testament)
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this , "says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgate of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10)
This was an admonition to the priest who had corrupted themselves by not bringing the tithes into the storehouse. It was not intended as a rebuke of the people who gave, but a rebuke to those who received the tithes from the people and were not using it for the purpose outlined by God. These priests were in effect robbing God. You need to find out the truth about where you give your tithes and offerings, as we would not have you to be ignorant. Please don't allow the abuse and misuse of this ordinance by men and women who love money more than people to rob you of your blessing.
What's A Tithe?
- Tithe - is a tenth or 10% of your gross income or increase.
"When you have finished setting aside the tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied" - (Duet 26:12).
Jesus Teaching - New Testament
... Then He said unto them, " Give unto Ceasar what is Ceasar's and give unto God what belongs to Him". ( Matthew 22:21). In this scripture Jesus avoided the trap set by the Pharisees, by showing that we have dual citizenship (1 Peter 2:17). Our citizenship in our nation requires that we pay money for the services and benefits we receive; our citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven requires no less.
What About Offerings?
Offerings are given to support the community of faith in it's outreach efforts to the local community so that we can impact our world with the love of Christ. The key is to give willingly, not grudgingly and not out of necessity for God loves a cheerful giver.
The Apostle's Teaching
"And selling their possessions and goods they gave to anyone as they had need" - (Acts 2:42-47)
"Do you remember what the Scriptures say about this? "Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough." (2 Cor. 8:15). This is in reference to Exodus 16:18.
Taking Care of One Another
We should do good things with our money, just like the Good Samaritan in Luke Chapter 10 and the Apostles in the Book of Acts Chapter 2. Here are four principles that should govern our giving...
- Your willingness to give cheerfully is more important than the amount you give.
- You should strive to fulfill your financial requirements.
- If you give to others in need, they will, in turn help you when you are in need.
- You should give out of a response to Christ, not for anything you can get out of it.
How you give reflects your devotion to Christ and His Body, the Church. For how can you love God whom you have not seen, and not love your brother who you see everyday? Let's love people... not money.
What is the Purpose of Tithes and Offerings?
To support the life of the community of faith, so that those who have little will not have too little, those who have much will not have too much, and that the gospel of the Kingdom can be preached to all nations. We invest our funds in people, not buildings and our members enjoy several benefits related to their financial security.
We do not use tithes to pay for buildings, buy cars for preachers or as a money making business. People are our business and we would rather build lives than buildings. All of our ministers are bi-vocational and receive 10% of tithe and offerings to help provide for their food, clothing and shelter. Tithe and offerings are not used to make ministers rich or enjoy a life-style above that of the rest of God's people.
Walk In Obedience, Break The Curse
If you are not being financially repsonsible to God, it's no wonder you're not able to be financially repsonsible to those around you. It's easy to know beleivers who are ot tithing, they are the ones always borrwing money from other people. Just as to see their credit report it will tell the story. You see if you are broke, not only can't you be a blessing to someone else, you can't even be a blessing to yourself and your own family.
Most people who do not tithe are in debt and have bad credit and don't want to tithe because they are broke... this is the result of not walking in obedience. God cannot protect what you have not given Him, so the devourer is eating up what you try to keep for yourself. Some of you reading this right now are not tithing into your local church and I understand why since they are all about paying for buildings, clothes, cars, airplanes etc... but after reading this, you no longer have an excuse. If you are ready to stop rebelling against God and turn your financial destiny around then... walk in obedience to the Word of God. Come into agreement with God's Word and start a generational blessing you for and your entire househlod.
Financial Breakdown
- 10% for Ministry Savings
- 10% Jurisdictioanl Bishop
- 10% for Cell Church Leadership
- 70% for Community Life and Outreach
Links
Ambassador Covenant Partnership
Ambassador Covenant Partner are individuals who partner with us spiritually through prayer and financially through regular giving of at least $10.00 a month cash, check, money or online to help us fulfill our mandate of "restoring worship and rebuilding lives with the Word of God" through global evangelism and discipleship. Partner with us today by sending your check/money payable to:
Amazing Grace Ministries
P.O. Box 741689
Riverdale, GA 30274
click here to send your offering online through PayPal using our email address info@agministries.net
