an impact-full message by rev John Avanzini,preacher of biblical economics.
First we have to understand one basic truth,that is not all offerings offered to God are accepted.Just because the church has accepted it dosent means that God accepts it,although the church will make it to good use.
The bible clearly gave us many examples of offering begin rejected by God.
Genesis 4:3-5 Cain's offering was rejected by God.Looking at the amplified version of the bible,God rejected Cain's offering because the fruits that he offered were too ripe,that it wouldn't last another day.While Abel gave God the firstborn of his flock.So God has no respect to Cain's offering.(Give the best to God,and then he will multiply the best,and it will be better in the coming ones!)
Malachi 1:6-10 The priest offered polluted foods and blind animals.God clearly states that he has no pleasure in the offering offered.
1 sam 15 , 2 sam 24:18-20 , 1 king 29 : 14-16 are more examples.
Rev John Avanzini said this specific thing in the message that if we reefer to the King James version bible regarding prosperity,the translation would be either wrong or incorrect.It was because during the time,it was poverty,and they couldn't understand the abundance that God wants to give to us.They don't that common people may prosper,making lots of silly translation.
an example : the force of the gentiles shall be converted to you,which the actual is the wealth of the gentiles! I mean who wants the force of the gentiles,i rather have star wars then.
many priest took vows of begin poverty.The truth is if a leader is poor,then how can it's member be any richer?
A man cannot take you where he's never been!
in fact God promised us in ecclesiastes 5:18 - 19 that we have full employment promise and the portion of property in this world.Just imagine anything on earth.We actually have our names on it!
7 steps to an acceptable offering
1)to give willingly
2 corint 9:7 God loves a cheerful giver.He wants us to be excited!Some churches name their offering time as opportunity for prosperity!
Offering is to get money for God's people,not from God's people!
matt 19 21-22 Jesus asked the rich ruler to sell what he has with him,not everything he has to give to the poor.To show him where his faith is.
exodus 35:4 onwards Moses ask the people to give willingly,and people start to give .He then had to stop them for giving.The people simply gave too much!
2)Give what you have,not what you don't
2 cor 8:12 according to a man has,not don't have!
the things that we have = cash,cheques material things
the things we don't have = debts,bills,rental ... etc
If we let the things we don't have to decide our offering,here comes a hole for the devil to sneak in.And God will not receive it,for he desires the best!
The church of macedonia gave more that they can afford,and God multiplied it back!
If you ask God to bless you for you to settle ur debts and only you give,i guess you have to stand and wait forever.
3)how would you use the money that God blesses you?
If we have the wrong intention,God will not multiply it!
When the blessings come,we should set apart the tithe and offering for that amount of money that we have received for God.
Many people ask,can i spend the rest of the money,getting shoes,bags and etc..In fact in the bible 1 cor 9:7-11 we have the right to enjoy.So it's fine to pamper yourself with bags,cloths and even cars or houses.
That's not all about it.God wants us to save a portion of money into the bank too.Check out Deut 28:1-5 ,where the baskets reefers what u use daily and the storehouse as your bank account!
God wants us to have a retirement plan!
4)Believe that God will multiply the offering !
Many people give with this in mind,that if i give 200 ringgit this month,i am still able to survive with a less of 200 ringgit of cash.In fact this is the hinderance that blocks God's multiplication,as we have no expectation that God will bless us!If we ourself close the door of blessings,how would then God bless us?plant offering and not burry it!
All we need is to change our mindsets when we give!
Heb 11:1 faith is the substance (raw material)
5)giving to a good ground ministry
we don't give to need we lend to the need.For if we give,God multiplies,but the bible says that when we give to the needy,we are lending to God.
If we wants a quick harvest,then we have to live on bean-sprouts.If we wait a little longer then there will be carrots!
Mark 4:1-20 seeds sowed on different grounds.These seeds are referring to churches in this case who gave the wrong teachings.
6)significance of the offering
Are the offerings that we place before God significant to us? Mark 12:41 Although the woman gave only 2 small cooper coins,compared to the rich people who put in large sacks of money,the money was all she has,for the bills,for her food.It means all to her! If your offering does not moves you,never expect it to move God!
1 king 17 : 9 -11 The prophet ask her to bring him water,which is very precious to the people because it is famine!It was valuable to everyone,but something has more precious than water to her.The piece of bread that she has,which is the last meal for her dying son.And she gave it to God.Different people has different valuables.What is yours? *think* and give it to God!
7)Ask and Litsen
Isiah 48 : 17 God is ready to teach us how to profit.One of the most important things in buisness is to be at the right place,in the right time.And God is ready to teach us!
we always likes things said by the preacher about situations on " : there's someone here who has cancer and God wants to heal you now." or even " : God wants to give a double portion of impartation to the people in the congregation. " but what it the preacher says " : someone in the congregation is to give a hundred thousand.I would like that person who has the stirring to stand up now." people will start thinking ( he must be wanting to get our money ! ) in fact ....
God have several things for us to combine to lead us on how much our offering should be
John 16 : 22 -24 ask God on how much our offering should be
God might also speak through the person who conduct tithes and offerings. 1 cor 8 : 1 -5 in the new living translation says : best of all,the went beyond our highest hopes for their first action was to dedicate themselves to the Lord and to us for what ever direction God may give them through us.
*be-careful of king james version as the translation in finance area is not exact the point of its original.
Col 3 : 15 let the peace of God rule in your heart !
additional stuffs.
Jesus was rich on earth,not poor.
2 answers for this.
1)everything on heaven was rich,and even he had the whole world,there's no way to compare in heaven,that makes him poor.
2)He was crowned on the crown of thorns.In genesis,when poverty came to the world after Adam and Eve had sinned,thorns birth forth.He was crowned as the poorest man of earth for us!
*i typed it out myself after listening to the word,might be grammar mistake everywhere,sorry ya
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