Salvation is a relationship

 BY Argie Simonis

The word "know" has ended up having the simple  meaning of "I have some knowledge, albeit limited, about something." But the biblical meaning of this word is different:

"And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bore Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD." Gen. 4:1

Here we see that the word "know" has a much deeper meaning. It is not just intellectual knowledge, but a personal, intimate understanding. See how Jesus himself interprets eternal life:

"And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3

Eternal life is having an intimate, personal relationship with the Father and the Son. This intimate relationship with God is the real salvation. Of course we receive the forgiveness of our sins, but this is a by-product of our salvation package. Sin was an obstacle between God and us, so it had to be removed. This is what Jesus did on the Cross. But whoever sees salvation only as the forgiveness of sins and stops there, loses the true meaning of eternal life.

Instead of salvation being presented as the way to restore our broken relationship with God and our return to harmony with Him, the majority of the Church today presents salvation as the way to escape from the problems of this life and later from the judgement of hell. This I believe is the reason for the ineffectiveness of the Body of Christ today. There is more emphasis placed on evangelism, but not on discipleship. The Lord left a command to His disciples:

"Go you therefore, and teach all nations..." Μatt. 28:19

Jesus told them to make disciples, not just converts. A disciple is one who will multiply himself and make other disciples. Many people today people who have been born again, passively spend their lives waiting to die and go to the presence of the Lord. People who are saved with this kind of mentality, see the Lord simply as someone who helps them in times of crisis. They do not have this intimacy with Him that we have previously described. 

Jesus died for us out of love (John 3:16). A love with which he longed to have a deep relationship and fellowship with man.

Christianity is not just another religion. It is a deep, personal relationship with the Father and the Son.

Most people in the world that are far away from God, are so preoccupied with the hell they live every day that they do not think at all about their eternal future. They are fed up of religion. They are looking for something that will fill the void inside them. Only a deep and intimate relationship (eternal life) with the Father and the Son can do that. We have to tell them!

Our true nature

 BY Argie Simonis

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thes. 5:23

Have you ever thought about the convenience and luxury we have today because of technology?

All this is possible thanks to knowledge. Man has not created anything new. He simply discovered and applied the laws established by the Lord from the beginning of Creation. The law of aerodynamics, for example, existed before man discovered it. The same is true of communications, electricity, computers and a great number of other modern discoveries.

Although humanity has made such huge discoveries that have completely changed our way of life, it seems that we are lagging behind in some things compared to previous generations. Although our ancestors did not have all the modern comforts we enjoy today, they did have a peace and strength that is lacking in today's society. I believe this is because while our knowledge of the physical world has increased, our knowledge of spiritual things has decreased. In his arrogance, man believes that he can solve all the problems of life on his own. But there can be no peace in the world unless there is peace within us first.

There is a whole world that man, even with all his wisdom, ignores. This is the world of the spirit. And I am not talking only about the spiritual realm outside of us, but also about the spiritual existence that is within every human being. We are not evolved animals. We were created in the image and likeness of God:

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness... Gen. 1:26

We are spiritual beings. The solution to the problem of human bad behavior will not come with stricter laws, metal detectors, or social engineering. There is only one solution: Changing people's hearts and that is something only Jesus can do.

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

Unfortunately, many Christians have lost their spiritual orientation. Only a few know who they really are. The religious spirit has taught that as Christians we are sinners by nature, something that is in direct conflict with the Word of God.

It is true that we were all born sinners:

"Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." Psalms 51:5

and we had the nature of the devil working within us:

"Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." Eph. 2:2-3

But when we came to Christ and received salvation, we became new creations, new people in spirit:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2Cor. 5:17

This change  does not refer to your body. If you were a man before you accepted Christ, you are still a man after that. Your body has not changed. Also, your soul, that is, what we call your mental and emotional part (your mind, your will and your emotions), did not change automatically either. It can of course change through the renewal of the mind:

"And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Rom. 12:2

In the spirit, however, you became a brand new creature, a new kind of existence and there is no sinful nature left in you.

"In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," Eph. 1:13

The seal mentioned here has not only the meaning of the stamp, but also the meaning of protection, as in the sealing of food. Our born again spirit has on it the stamp of God and the full protection of the Holy Spirit. No sin can penetrate our spirit.

I know this may shock many of you who have been taught the theology of old nature versus new nature. Most Christians have been taught that after salvation, they are still the same in nature and live the rest of their lives striving to be sanctified and to keep this old sinful nature from manifesting. They believe that they have two natures. On one side the new nature in Christ and on the other the old, sinful nature that opposes the new. This is totaly schizophrenic and creates Christians who look nothing like Christ.

The apostle Paul addressed this issue in his letter to the Romans in chapter 6. In the previous chapters he had proved with strong arguments that God relates to us by grace through faith and a reasonable question that might arise is:

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" Rom. 6:1

Of course, Paul meant something different here and gave two reasons in this chapter, why Christians must live holy:

"God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Rom. 6:2

This is unfortunately something that many Christians are unaware of. They believe that they are alive to sin and that with much struggle, failure and frustration they fight against this sinful nature by trying to suspend it by remaining in sanctification for the rest of their lives.

But the Word of God teaches us something different. Paul said:

"Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" Rom. 6:3

And he continues:

"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should not serve sin." Rom. 6:6

"Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?" Rom. 6:16

Our old sinful nature is dead. It is gone, there is no more! This is not something that has to happen in the future or that has to happen over and over again. It is completed once and for all. If so, then why are Christians still sinning?

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." 1John 1:8

"We know that whoever is born of God sins not; but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked one touches him not." 1John 5:18

How do these 2 verses above that John himself writes harmonize together?

What we need to understand is that our nature has changed and the only reason we still sin is because we do not know these truths and have not renewed our minds with the Word of God:

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32

The truth you know, the truth that has been revealed to you is what will set you free.

Our minds are like computers in the sense that they can be programmed. And once they are programmed, they will continue to work as planned until we reprogram them. We were all born into sin, and our old sinful nature programmed our minds to be selfish, bitter, angry, and to have all these bad desires. When we are born again (John 3:3), we become completely new in our spirit. This old nature has changed completely as we read earlier in 2 Cor. 5:17. We are not even in the process of change. We are already as pure and perfect in spirit as Jesus is:

"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..." 1John 4:17

"But he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit." 1Cor. 6:17

"And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Eph. 4:24

Our sinful nature may be dead, but it left a carcass behind. This carcass is the carnal mind. It will continue to run as scheduled until we reprogram it. This reprogramming is what the Bible calls the renewal of the mind, as we read in Romans 12:2, and this is exactly how we achieve victory in our Christian life: When we know who we really are and what we have already received in Christ. As long as we see ourselves simply as old sinners saved by grace, we will continue to experience this daily conflict of holiness-sinfulness. But when we understand the real change that has occurred in our nature, this will be manifested in our actions in a quite effortless way.

We are what we think:

"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." Prov. 23:7

When we see ourselves as sinners, we behave accordingly. But when we see who we are in Christ, (who we are in our born-again spirits), we become like Him:

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD." 2Cor. 3:18

This is the fundamental revelation that changed our lives. We are spiritual beings who have a soul (will, mind and emotions) and live in a physical body. The core of our existence is our spirit and it is this spirit that has been changed radically and became like Jesus.

God is Spirit and relates to me based on who I am in the spirit:

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." John 4:24

I will close this message with a brief summary:

- I now worship God based on who I am in the spirit and not on who I am in my flesh (the way I feel or act). Now I understand how our holy God can truly love me, because in my born-again spirit, I am absolutely righteous and holy and my spirit is His work:

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them." Eph. 2:10

- I have discovered that I was redeemed from the Law because the Law was not created for a righteous man:

"Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for murderers,

For fornicators, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for enslavers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;" 1Τim. 1:9-10

In our born-again spirit, however, we have ceased to be all of the above, even though we walked in them for a while.

- The Law was given to show us our need for salvation, but it could not save us:

"Now we know that what things soever the law said, it said to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3:19-20

- But what the Law could not do, Jesus did:

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Rom. 8:3-4

- I am now the righteousness of God in Christ:

"For he has made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 2Cor. 5:21

This is my inheritance and it gives me a right and a share in what God is and what God has. God has given us power and authority and to the extent that we use it we see the corresponding results. We have truly experienced the wonderful works of God in our lives and are so grateful and excited about what the Lord has done and continues to do in our lives that we want to share it with you so the whole world can learn these truths.

This is the foundation of a series of messages

where I will deal with various religious taboos and wrong teachings that exist among christians and keep the Body of Christ in darkness and ignorance, preventing it from walking in the calling of the Lord.

To be continued ...

From Law to Grace

 BY Argie Simonis

The apostle Paul describes an important truth in his letter to the Galatians:

"And the law is not of faith: but, The man that does them shall live in them." Gal. 3:12

Let's combine this with what he said to the Romans:

"... whatever is not of faith is sin." Rom. 14:23

The conclusion here was a blasphemy for both the Pharisees of the day and the Christian legalists of today. It is a sin for a New Testament believer to try to have a relationship with God by trying to keep the Law of the Old Testament.

The Law itself is not a sin:

"What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid..." Rom. 7:7

But it is sin to try to use the law for justification with God. This was never the purpose of the law.

Under the Law, a person got what he deserved. Under faith, however, the New Testament believer receives grace because of what Jesus did for him. Any departure from faith, especially the return to the Old Testament Law, voids the work of Christ and is the worst sin of all:

"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." Gal. 2:21

Only our faith in Jesus unlocks the prison door from the guilt and condemnation of the Law. The Lord redeemed us at a very great price from the curse of the Law and we, as His children, must walk in the freedom He has given us and enjoy our lives with Him!

God's Finances - Part 4 - The power of partnership

 BY Argie Simonis

Today we will talk about the power of partnership and the rewards we can have when we become partners and financially support a ministry that spreads the good news of the Gospel. I encourage you to watch the first, second and third part of the series on this teaching.

Let's start with Paul's example when he writes to the Philippians:

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:19

This and the previous 5 verses (from v. 15) were written to people who partnered with Paul in the Gospel, supported his ministry financially and gave on a regular basis. We have spoken extensively in previous lessons that God does not rain money from heaven, but gives us the ability to acquire wealth, and the reason He does so is to establish His Kingdom on Earth:

"But you shall remember the LORD your God: for it is he that gives you power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as it is this day." Deut. 8:18

When we pray and ask God for guidance on how and where to give, we give the Lord access to personally intervene in our finances and you can be sure that He can take care of our financial needs much better than we can!

I would like to focus on something very specific. In Proverbs we read:

"A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men." Prov. 18:16

What does it mean when it says that our gifts will make room for us and bring us before great men?

I believe the Bible here describes a very important aspect of what happens when we become partners and supporters of a ministry.

Consider the example of King Solomon in 1 Kings chapter 10. The Bible tells us about Solomon, the wisest man on earth. When Solomon was given the opportunity to ask from God anything he wanted, he selflessly asked

wisdom to be a good king. God not only gave him what he asked for, but also gave him what he did not ask for, giving him long life and making him extremely rich. In fact, the Bible tells us that he was so rich that everything he had was made of gold and silver was not even used:

"And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon." 1Kings 10:21

Solomon's fame spread throughout the land, and in 1 Kings 10: 1-3, we read:

"And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.

And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bore spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.

And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not." 1Kings 10:1-3

The queen of Sheba was so impressed by Solomon's kingdom and wisdom that it actually took her breath away:

"And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,

And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up to the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her." 1Kings 10:4-5

When we continue reading:

"And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart." 1Kings 10:24

Solomon was the most famous man in the world in his day. He ruled the most powerful and prosperous kingdom and all the people of the earth asked for his attention so that they could learn from his wisdom, get his opinion and receive his favor. I'm sure others stood in front of him, but have you ever wondered why the Bible tells us only the story of the queen of Sheba? What opened the way for her to be able to hear Solomon? I ask this question because I think the waiting queue must have been very long. The answer is found in the verse from the Proverbs we read earlier:

"A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men." Prov. 18:16

Her gift was the one that opened the way and brought her in front of a great man. According to today's value of gold, the approximately 4.2 tons of gold (120 talents X 34kg / talent) gift equals to 230 million euros! And this is without counting the value of the precious stones, spices and other precious items that were included in the gift package.

So what did the queen of Sheba get from this? Everything she wanted and much more. In 1 Kings 10:13 we read:

"And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty.  So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants." 1Kings 10:13

The apostle Paul confirms the same:

"But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver." 2Cor. 9:6-7

With a little study I did on this, I estimate that the gift the queen gave to Solomon was about one-tenth of the king's annual income. So when we read that the king gave her out of his royal generosity, do you not think that the gift of the richest man on earth was greater than hers? I believe that when the queen left for her home, she left with more wealth, more wisdom and the favor of the greatest king on earth! Her gift opened the door to great blessings.

Here I will ask another question: Do you think that the queen of Sheba acted selfishly?

Do you think that all this wealth could have been given to the poor who really needed help instead of the richest man on earth?

I think this is a reasonable question. Remember what Judas, as the treasurer of Jesus, had said when the woman poured the myrrh on His feet and wiped it with her hair:

"Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?" John 12:5

"Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying has she kept this.

For the poor always you have with you; but me you have not always." John 12:7-8

Mary, the sister of Lazarus, gave the Lord a precious gift, which of course was very small comparing with the gift that the Lord gave her  resurrecting her brother.

I am sure that in the case of the queen of Sheba, such a large caravan carrying all these precious gifts, it was impossible to go unnoticed. It is very possible that this caravan passed through poor areas, but the queen understood a very important principle that still applies today in the supporting of a ministry:

Solomon did not need the queen's wealth, but she needed his wisdom and blessing, and her gift opened the door to what she needed. She probably left with more wealth than she brought and just think how much more blessing it could have been for the poor on her return journey. This is an excellent example of how things work in the Kingdom of God.

When you give to a ministry, you do not only bless the people who are touched by that ministry, but you start a supernatural flow in your finances and share in the anointing and blessing that is on that ministry. It is not bad to want the anointing that is on the life of a servant of God. The apostle Paul urges us to zealously seek spiritual gifts. I believe that my wife and I are moving in the anointing of the ministries we support because that is how God has set forth His spiritual laws. What we have prayed for is this:

"Lord, we want to be a part of it. We will sow in this person and in this ministry and in this way we will open a door that will allow the blessing that is upon them to flow to us as well."

You can begin to see these things happen in your life, as we have seen them happen in our lives, when you offer your gift in faith to the Lord.

The queen of Sheba needed something that her own people could not give her. So she went to the one who could, King Solomon. It was not just a selfish desire, but an important decision to be able to better fulfill her role as queen.

It is important to understand the power that exists in this type of partnership and then put that power to work in your favor. Pray to the Lord and ask Him to show you where to become partners.

I pray that the eyes of your mind will be enlightened and that with this teaching the Holy Spirit will bear witness to you.

The spread of the Gospel costs both in personal struggle and in money. In the ministry we do, we share the good news of the Gospel with you, as well as the revelations and experiences we have all these years walking with the Lord. If you are blessed by what we do, for those whom the Lord puts in your heart to support our ministry, I pray that the blessing and anointing that is on our lives will be released to you, our partners.

Amen!

Amazing Grace

  BY Argie Simonis

The letter to the Romans is Paul's masterpiece on the subject of God's Grace. If we really understand what it means to be under the Grace of God and not under the Law, we are freed from many bonds (guilt, self-blame, frustration, low self-esteem, unforgiveness and much more).

"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace.

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?" Rom. 6:14-16

If you have never asked yourself the same question Paul asks here:

"So what? Will we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace?", 

then you have not understood the true meaning of God's Grace.

Sin can not dominate us when we are under grace. Grace frees us from sin, while the Law strengthens sin:

"The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law." 1Cor. 15:56

If sin prevails over us, it is because we are under the Law. What we read in Romans 6:14 clearly shows that a true believer is not under the Law.

It is equally important to realize that Grace does not give us a liscence to sin, but frees us from sin and teaches us how to live godly lives:

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;" Titus 2:11-12

After we have been born again, our spirit becomes one with the Spirit of God, we become new creatures:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2Cor 5:17

The reason that the believer still continues to sin is the residues of our old selves (wrong way of thinking, bad habits, wrong feelings) that have remained in our unrenewed mind. That is why Paul writes:

"And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Rom. 12:2

Understanding our freedom from the Old Testament Law is a prerequisite for breaking the dominion of sin in our lives. The reason this happens is because the Law reinforced sin by creating guilt that brings condemnation and death:

"Now we know that what things soever the law said, it said to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3:19-20

The Law also brought the wrath of God against our sins

"Because the law works wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression." Rom. 4:15

But when we accept Christ's redemptive work for our sins, we no longer need to fear the wrath of God, because all His wrath has been put on Jesus. The wages of sin, which is death, has already been paid by our Lord on the Cross of Golgotha.

The Law was given for a very specific purpose:

"Why the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." Gal. 3:24-25

Knowing this, then, we are freed from the dominion of sin, even though as Christians we may continue to sin because we are still in the process of renewing our minds:

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1John. 1:8-9

But the great benefit we enjoy because of this gift of our Lord, His amazing Grace, is that we are no longer condemned and we do not feel separated from God because of our sins, but we are free to run to God for help instead of walking away from Him out of fear:

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

I will close the message with some food for thought:

"What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid."

This is the third time that Paul has asked this question (Romans 3:8; 6:1, and this verse). If no one ever comes up with this question, that is, if man can finally simply continue to live in sin, then we have not preached the Gospel as Paul did.

Amen!

God's Finances - Part 3 - When and where to give

  BY Argie Simonis

The Word of God has more to say about finances than about heaven and hell combined. Jesus said that trusting Him with our money is the least faith we can apply:

"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?" Luke 16:10-11

How do we do the greatest things if we can not do the least first?

In the previous message (part 2) we dealt with the application of God's Word for finances on two categories of people: The sowers and the eaters.

Here we will deal with when and where we should give. Before I get into the main topic I would like to mention something important. The reason many Christians are reluctant to offer financial assistance to Christian churches or ministries is the fact that they have often been manipulated or deceived through fundraisers by so-called "Christian" churches or ministries. My main concern  is not so much the distortion of the truth and the misrepresentation of God by these ministries. This is something that has happened and will continue to happen.

What really worries me is that these tactics work and many are the ones who are deceived. There are organizations that receive hundreds of millions a year through fraud and manipulation and it is something that clearly shows the immaturity and ignorance that exists on this area from the Body of Christ today.

I hope this course will bring revelation and help you to manage your finances with God's wisdom.

First I would like to point out that the motivation behind the gift is more important than the gift itself. This is exactly what Paul tells us here:

"And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing." 1Cor. 13:3

The reason you give is always more important than what or how much you give.

The salvation of a loved one, healing or any other blessing of God is not bought with money and if someone tries to convince you otherwise, keep away:

"But Peter said to him, Your money perish with you, because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money." Acts 8:20

Let's take a look at the example of the prophet Elijah and the widow:

"Arise, get you to Zarephath, which belongs to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain you." 1kings 17:9

It is true that the widow gave Elijah everything she had and that her needs were met supernaturally for many days. But the above verse says: "I commanded a widow there to sustain you." The Lord had commanded her to support Elijah. This widow gave everything she had  to help the man of God but by obeying the command of God her own needs were met as well.

In the book of Acts we read about Cornelius, the Roman centurion who was "A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always." Acts 10:2

His offering was just a manifestation of his faith and trust in the Lord.

It is true that when we give, the Lord will return us a hundredfold in this life:

"And Jesus answered and said, Truly I say to you, There is no man that has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,

But he shall receive an hundred times now in this time, houses, and brothers, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." Mark 10:29-30

Giving only to receive is the wrong motive. As 

I commented in the previous 2 messages on finances, God blesses us so that we can establish His kingdom (Deut. 8:18), give to those in need (Eph. 4:28) and abound in every good work (2Cor. 9:8). The Lord promises us to expect to receive when we give, but we must do so with the right attitude of heart, meaning that we expect to receive so that we can give more and become a greater blessing to those in need. It is purely a matter of priorities and that is why it is a greater blessing to give than to receive. When you receive you get your hands full, but when you give your soul gets full!

There has also been a misunderstanding about when to give. Many Christians give only after all their needs have been met. But the Bible teaches that our gifts should be among the first fruits we receive. This means that the first thing we do when we receive money is to honor the Lord by giving a portion of it to His work. There also is His promise:

"Honor the LORD with your substance, and with the first fruits of all your increase:

So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine." Prov. 3:9-10

There are also doctrines out there teaching that that we give only after a specific command of the Lord. Of course it is very important to listen to the voice of the Lord when He guides us to do this too, but that is not the only way.

The Word of God tells us:

"But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver." 2Cor. 9:6-7

How would parents feel if their children said they loved them only when they were told to say so? Parents definitely need to teach their children to say "Thank you" and "I love you" and guide them in this, but all parents long for the day when these answers will come out of their children's hearts spontaneously. Likewise, the Lord wants us to give joyfully and not under pressure.

So when we are forced to give or you are made to feel guilty if you do not give, this is the wrong time to give. Every time we give to someone who is manipulating us (whether it is a church or a ministry) we are actually rewarding this negative behavior and giving a vote of confidence to do it again.

As for now where to give, this is the easiest of all. Let's see what God's Word tells us:

"Who goes a warfare any time at his own charges? who plants a vineyard, and eats not of the fruit thereof? or who feeds a flock, and eats not of the milk of the flock?

Say I these things as a man? or said not the law the same also?

For it is written in the law of Moses, You shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the corn. Does God take care for oxen?

Or said he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that plows should plow in hope; and that he that threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.

If we have sown to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?" 1Cor. 9:7-11

"Let him that is taught in the word communicate to him that teaches in all good things." Gal. 6:6

When you go to Goody's to eat, for example, you are not going to pay the bill at Mac Donald's. You pay where you eat. Likewise, you give where you are spiritually fed.

"Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, said the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Μalachi 3:10

Many people use this verse to say that we should tithe in our local church and then any other offering we want to make may go to other ministries or charities. I totally agree with that as long as  your church is a real storehouse, a place where you keep your food or go to get food.

The local church is the backbone of God's work here on earth. A local church can feed you in a way that no other ministry can. Your shepherd can take care of you personally and even pick up the phone one night when you are in need . That's the place you will go to marry your children, there you will send them for help and advice. We need the fellowship of other believers and this is something that the local church can offer.

All these things of course would be true in a perfect world, but we all know that we do not live in a perfect world and not all local churches respond to their call. There are people who go to church every week and never get fed. They starve. So if you are in a dead church that does not nourish you spiritually, it is time to go and seek a living church where there is proper teaching, the Word of God is preached and the Spirit of God confirms the Word with revelation, healings and miracles, with people who become born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. You should support such churches and ministries with your financial offerings (tithes, offerings, donations).

Let's look at it from another point of view. By contributing our money to the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven, we are making the best investment of our lives. We turn something temporary that will eventually cease to exist (money) into something eternal that we will enjoy eternally in the presence of the Lord (eternal life).

The great comission the Lord leaves to His disciples is to make disciples in all nations "teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you..." Μatt. 28:20

The Gospel must be preached throughout the world but it has a cost, both in personal struggle and in money. Let us pray that the Lord will give wisdom and discernment to all of us in how to manage our finances, and when and where to give.

I hope you were blessed with this message. To be continued with the fourth and last part ...