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FAITH.012
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1992-10-03
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FAITH PRINCIPLES No.12.
FAITH FOR FINANCE
It is vitally essential to develop an effective life of faith in
the realm of finance. The only challenge to prove God in the whole
Bible is regarding money - Malachi 3:10, "Bring the tithes into the
storehouse ... and PROVE NE NOW, if I will not open the windows of
heaven and pour you out a blessing, there shall not he room enough
to receive it."
If faith is not expressed in the matter of money, it is likely that
it will be weak and underdeveloped in other areas as well.
1. DEALING WITH THE POVERTY SYNDROME
A. Some have the idea that it is spiritual to be poor. Humility
has nothing to do with finance.
B. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 declares that it is the "love" of money, not
money itself, which is evil. It is very often "loved" or
"coveted" by those who do not have it.
C. Poverty has nothing to do with economics. It is a spiritual
condition, ie Money and wealth are not necessarily bound
together.
D. Poverty is part of the curse of the law - Deut. 28: 15-19,
38-45.
E. Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law - Galatians
3:13-14, Ps. 105: 37, 2 Cor. 8:9.
Through His poverty Jesus bore our poverty as much as sin and
sickness.
F. Christians who deny God's provision for then are a liability
on the Gospel.
G- The believer must express faith to appropriate it as in
Salvation. The Abrahamic Covenant and Abundant life - John
10:10.
H. The poverty syndrome is often a "fear of failure".
2. WEALTH COMES FROM GOD
A. The ability to have every need met does not necessarily mean
that there will be great resources laid up in the bank. In
fact the opposite is probably truer. Note Matt. 6:19-20. The
abundant life means that there is no limitation to anything we
need to do, Phil. 4:19 says that provision for every need
comes from God. God is our source!
B. Deut. 8:18, Ps. 24:1, and 50:10-12.
C. Poverty, like sickness, comes from Satan's work - John 10:10,
Job I & 2.
3. GOD'S FINANCIAL WILL FOR HIS PEOPLE
A. Abraham ... the land could not hear his flocks for abundance
- Gen. 13:6
B. Job ... wealthy to start with ... his latter end was blessed
much more. Job 42:12.
C. Solomon... Blessed with abundance. 1 Kings 3:13, 10:14-15
D. David... was enabled to give for the building of the
temple more than four billion dollars of gold and silver
at 1982 values,
E. Even without the release of large amounts of finance, we
are enabled to live in God's resources in every time of
need:
a) Widow of Zarapheth ... 1 Kings 17.
b) Prophet's widow - oil stopped only when vessels
stopped. 11 Kings 4.
c) Feeding of 5000 and 4000 ... At least 20,000 would
have been fed. ie 4000 per loaf with more than 2
baskets per loaf left over. ie After giving there was
more left than they had to start with.
F. Deuteronomy 28:1-14; 3 John v 2; 2 Corinthians 9:8;
Psalm 112:3; Mark 10:28-30.
4. PRINCIPLES OF PERSONAL PROSPERITY
A. The release of God's financial blessing is tied to the
principles of tithing.
a) Giving to God is an act of faith which opens us to
God's resources.
b) Israelis gave at least 28% of their income to
God's word. The Lord's tithe was for the support
of the Levites- The second tithe was mainly for
sacrifices. The third tithe was for the
distribution to the poor.
c) Proper giving is far more than merely returning to
God the one tenth that is His. Malachi 3:8-11,
"and offerings". Proverbs 3:9-10, "firstfruits".
2 Corinthians 9:10; Prov. 11:24-25; Luke 6:38.
d) Without the covering of tithing which is our part
of a covenant with God, we are exposed to the
destroyer and cursed with a curse.
e) To avoid tithing is called "theft from God".
f) Tithing establishes the Lordship of God in our
lives.
g) The tithe belongs to the local Church (storehouse)
and is not designated.
h) With what measure you give ... Mark 10:28-30; Luke
6:38; 1 Cor. 9:6.
i) Abraham had a revelation of God as possessor of
heaven and earth and immediately gave tithes - 430
years before the law came in. Gen. 14.
B. Jesus bore the curse against our labour, with the
crown of thorns upon His head. Genesis 3:17-19.
C. Seed Faith releases miracles.
a) 1 Kings 17. The widow fed Elijah FIRST, then her
needs were met during the whole famine.
b) The boy gave his lunch to Jesu@ then ho was fed
with miracle bread. John 6:9.
D. a) Being rich is not the answer to being poor. Being
faithful with God's resources is! God will
increase your seed sown if you return your surplus
to the work of God. 2 Cor. 9:8 - "abound unto
every good work".
b) The rich fool - covetousness is keeping God's flow
for yourself. Luke 12:21.
E. Accept prosperity as your Heritage. An attitude
of unbelief or a concept of poverty will cut off
God's supply.
F. Express gratitude for past provision. Deut.
28:47-48, Phil. 4:19.
G. Live in God's supply and not your own resources.
luke 6:38, shall "men" give unto you.
G. a) The secret is not to consider our resources, but our
Source. Rom. 14:14-20.
b) Expect God to meet needs out of:
i) Better management of your resources
ii) increase from known sources
iii) From unexpected sources - ie money from the fish's
mouth
iv) Perfect timing of circumstances
H. Be diligent in labour. "If any will not work, neither
shall he eat" 2 Thess. 3:10.
5. THE POWER OF GIVING SEED FAITH
(Recommended reading "The Miracle of Seed Faith" by Oral
Roberts.)
A. 2 Corinthians chapter nine is all about finance and
God's blessing. There are three levels of God's
provision available to us if we will act in faith and
give liberally and cheerfully. Note v 6-7.
a) BREAD FOR YOUR FOOD. This is the basic
covenant level of Matthew 6:33. It requires
no expressed faith on our part. It is
subsistence level and is that applied to
those on the receiving end of the covenant
only.
b) MULTIPLY YOUR SEED SOWN.
i) This is the plan of God for us. When we
plant our seed, it will produce a harvest
relative to the size of our planting.
ii) God's provision is "according to His riches"
- not out of them. Phil. 4:19.
iii) It is based on multiplication not addition.
God can only multiply what we've sown. It we
fail to plant our seed, there will be no
harvest.
c) INCREASE THE FRUITS OF YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS,
i) This is the result of giving to God in faith.
Not only is there a return for our personal
needs, but also a spiritual breakthrough.
ii) Two of the prime results of giving freely to
God are:
a softened heart toward God
an increased vision of His purposes
iii) Giving breaks the bondage of materialism and
delivers us from covetousness which God abhors
(Ps. 10:3), and the "love of money which is the
root of all evil" (1 Tim. 6:10).
B. a) Seed-time and Harvest are irrevocable principles
with God as long as the earth stands. Gen. 8:22.
This is further emphasised by Paul Galatians 6:7.
b) Jesus spoke often of faith as a "mustard seed". A seed
must be planted. If we are believing for financial
release, then we need to plant finance. Notice how
Jesus tied receiving to giving--Luke 6:38.
c) A rejected opportunity to give is a lost opportunity to
receive.
d) God planted His Seed-Faith when He "gave" His Son.
John 3:16. As a result He has reaped a harvest of sons
- the blood-washed multitude. Rev. 7:9.
6. AVOIDING PROBLEMS
A. Some ministers have sought to raise funds by promising "blessing" to
people if they will give a certain amount to their ministries. This is
a nefarious practice.
B. The tithe and offering belongs to the local Church. Giving to various
ministries must only be over and above our first responsibilities.
C. Learn whatsoever state you are in therewith to be content - Phil.
4:11-12.
D. Seed-sowing requires time for a harvest- Galatians 6:9 - Never Give UP!!
E. Seek first the Kingdom of God - Matt. 6:33.
F. Realise that God (and not a technique) is your Source.
G. Don't eat your seed. Stewardship of God's resources is the key to
continued prosperity.
7. PRINCIPLES OF CHURCH PROSPERITY
A. The Church that is mean will always be lean. A Church can only give to
the poor, to missions and its ministry. God will tie a Church's income
and budget to its treatment of the servants of God in its midst.
In Israel a workforce of 603,550 supported 22,000 Levites, ie they had
access to almost 3 times the national average wage. Each Levite was
supported by 28 Israelites. Numbers 1:47, 3:43.
1
B. The Church must operate in faith. Its budget must never be out of
its resources only, but out of its believing God for increase.
8. THE TRANSFER OF WEALTH
Israel coming out of Egypt is a type of the End-time Church preparing to
leave the world and having the resources of the world transfered to it
for the purposes of World Evangelism.
Ex. 12:33-36. Note Ps. 105:37; Is. 60:5, 11; Job 27:16-17; Prov. 28:8;
Ecc. 2:26.