Faith Offering!

Hebrews 11:4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

A gift is much more honorable to be received when it comes from the heart than out of obligation. I hate during the holidays when hour upon hour is given to shopping trying to figure what to get for those you feel obligated to give to. I rather give spontaneously when I happen to discover something that would really be a blessing to someone I love and I give it from my heart. When it comes to church I have been in so many meetings where there is such a pressure made to give, that you give it out of obligation rather than from your heart. I love my current church because the offering is not taken openly but privately where people deposit their offering in a box in the back at their own discretion. Church leaders fear of not having enough rather than trusting God and therefore using gimmicks to manipulate people just like any business does in the world to earn sales has brought severe judgment to the house of God here in America. See God does not need our money He needs our heart, He does not need our religious observations He needs our faith.

2 Corinthians 9:7-8 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”t 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

The exchange of goods in the kingdoms of this world operate through a money system, the exchange of goods in the Kingdom of God operates through a Faith system. So now that we are citizens of the kingdom of God money is now just a symbol of our faith. Our offering is no longer just an animal sacrifice, we have become the offering of God. That means everything we own is given to God for His purposes. The tithe is just a portion of what God has given us to be given to the storehouse, the primary place where we are feed spiritually, but all our resources are to be given for His purposes.

Many of us excuse our lack of involvement to the time we spend at work and our inability to give to others to the bills we have to pay. Our job is not our primary source of income, it is a mission field, it is the place God wants to use us to establish His Kingdom. God is our provider and promoter. If we are working with God in the advancement of His Kingdom He will reward us. Philippians 4:19 says that "all my needs are met according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

This does not excuse us of living carelessly. For the bible says we are to be good stewards (1 Cor. 4:2). Our lack of faithfulness with His resources bounds us to poverty. For if we are faithful over little He says He will give us much (Lk 16:10). For whatsoever a man sows he will reap (Gal. 6:7). The issue of money is dealt with more than anything else in the bible. It is the first hurdle we must jump over if we are going to please God. Are we going to continue to be bound to the limitations of this sinful world or are we going to enjoy the abundant life of walking by Faith and enjoying the unlimited resources of Heaven?

Restoring a home can be rather expensive, depending on how it has deteriorated. It is usually cheaper to buy a new house than fix up an old one. The earth seems beyond repair, that it would be easier to abandon (as the left behind series suggests). But, Acts 3:21 says "Jesus is seated in Heaven until the restoration of all things." God is not going to start over as He did with Noah, He is restoring the Earth to it's origin, (as it was in the beginning). It is going to be expensive way beyond what money can buy it is going to take extraordinary faith that will release supernatural miracles of provision and good works. Romans 3:23 says All of creation is groaning (natural disasters) for the manifestations of the sons and daughters of God, it is time we walk in God's authority and stop letting money hold us back from answering His call. For we cannot serve God and mammon (Matt. 6:24)?

Challenge: Let's repent for not being good stewards of God's resources and letting money serve as the deciding factor of what we do or don't do? Let's ask God to remove fear of not having enough and walk by Faith so that we can grab hold of all that God has promised us. Write down during prayer what God has called you to restore on this earth and begin seeking Him for strategy on how to bring this to pass.