I don’t normally do this and discuss things in a negative manner towards other preachers.  But I was about to post up some audio on Kingdom financial issues when it comes to giving, tithing, receiving, etc.  As I was going to do this I heard a new message from Todd Bentley’s Podcast and was a little disheartened.

I hope it comes across that it’s not Todd that I’m trying to “come against” but this style of ministry that I thought I left when I removed myself from the Word Of Faith teachings.  Todd does have responsibility because he is the one speaking here, and I have submitted this link to his ministry so that he would have a chance to see it and respond if he feels it’s at all necessary.  But my main purpose for doing this is to help the believers not fall for this kind of false doctrine from anybody, Todd was just the person I heard doing it last so I’m just using him as an example.  And I want to start a discussion with you about giving and issues of money as it relates to the Kingdom.

I don’t want to step out of line and I don’t know if this is the "right" thing to do or the way to do it.  So I think we should talk about that too.  Should we call this kind of stuff out, or just let it slide, or is there something in between that is suitable?

So many people are huckstered into giving to a ministry because they feel guilty, ashamed, or that they may miss out on an opportunity to receive blessing (or “anointing”), or sometimes it’s just purely out of the possibility of getting that return payment from God that they’re promised from the preacher.

This audio is from a message I heard last week on Todd Bentley’s podcast, and to be honest it literally made me feel sick.  I’m not a huge follower of Todd Bentley’s ministry but I do have respect for his work and preaching of the gospel.  I’ve listened to about 10 or more of his messages over time, so maybe I’m not qualified to speak on this.  But, regardless, this just made me sit back and tilt my head.

My initial thoughts were, “I thought I was done with this kind of garbage when I stopped listening to Word of Faith guys…”  When I was introduced to the prophetic movement I was relieved to know that there was a genuine strand of humilty and authenticity out there.  It’s been a real long time since I’ve heard anything like this from someone I liked.

I debated with myself whether I should put this up or not because I didn’t want to be one of those guys that just pointed out the flaws and bad doctrine of other people.  But after seeking a bit of council I’ve decided it could be a good thing and we could possibly talk about stuff like this openly…and from both sides of the coin.  I know Todd Bentley is a pretty popular preacher so I’m sure some people might not like this post.  But I would encourage everybody that has an opinion to post it.  Maybe I’m wrong in thinking this is against the principles of the gospel.  If I am, I want to know and I’m willing to be corrected.  But from my perspective, this may help set some people free from the guilt and shame that some preachers use to get worldly wealth.

Here are some of my personal notes regarding this teaching with the minute and second placing in the audio so you can reference it (linked below the notes):

- 5:30 Todd opens this message with a trance he was involved in.  In it he sees this “angel of finance” and then he’s taken up to heaven and see’s himself in a “treasure room.”  In this treasure room he sees himself stuffing his pockets with gold coins and then he asks the Lord “What am I doing?”, and the Lord responds “You’re getting the offering”.  It’s odd that in this trance Todd had, he was stuffing these gold coins (the  offering) in his pockets.  And just a few minutes later in the audio, it’s actually happening to him during the message [starting at 10:50].  It seems that people are actually coming up and putting money into his pockets.  He’s actually, personally, literally, GETTING the offering. 

- 6:32 Todd mentions something he calls “Sowing in the glory”, where he says that in a time of anointing, that’s when you want to sow…into that anointing.  And he says “That’s what I want - I want that” [Can’t buy the anointing, *BUT* I’m sowing into that."  This is crazy to me!  To think that our financial giving has any impact on the Lord when it comes to His presence!  The anointing is the Holy Spirit of God, it’s not some magic power, it’s simply the very presence of God and to think that a little piece of paper with some man’s face on it will influence God into giving us His presence is horrible.  Maybe this is a good practice for Todd, it’s never a bad idea to give, regardless of the time or the “anointing”, but to suggest this as a practice to the fold is sloppy.  At the VERY minimum it puts it into the mind of believers that aren’t strong enough in their walk that money is somehow related to the presence of God.  Todd knows this is what it sounds like because he mentions it in the middle.  What’s the “but” for?  But what?  Can’t buy the presence of God…but what??  Please, don’t stop, exactly how does any amount of paper of any value somehow trump or get added to the very blood of Jesus….but what??!

- 7:40 He keeps going and again says, “You can’t buy the anointing, BUT…"“.  And then says in regards to a story where he is giving to another minister that he was going to, “Sow it into the man…because there’s something in the man that I WANT”.  “I don’t give for money, I want the glory”,  “I’m reaping a 100 fold of glory realm”
Even though he says “but”, he’s still insinuating that somehow a financial gift to another minister will release the presence of God into our lives.  What it really sounds like is that he’s setting up the people to give to him…and that’s exactly what happens.  To me, and I may be wrong, but it’s as if he’s telling us this story of how he did something so we would feel comfortable or find some benefit in doing the same to him.
  He then mentions that he received a sign of the impartation.  God said in regards to gold dust appearing that it was “A sign that you received an impartation…that it showed up.”  So apparently we’re getting the success that the transaction went through.  We know that we shouldn’t offer up lambs, sheep and goats anymore on top of the altar of God, but a few dollars is an acceptable transaction.

- 9:15 Now Todd begins to speak of another meeting previous to this one and mentions that during the message, “All of the sudden people got up.”  and started to give, that there was “No official call for offering." and that one man gave “3 times over the course of the evening.”  He then goes on to say that “Everybody was getting money.”  It would’ve been great if this meant all the saints were giving to each other, one in abundance was giving to another in lack so that nobody was without…but unfortunately I have the feeling that instead of the giving being horizontal, it was from the seats to the pulpit and back.

- 10:50 Then, if nothing but a lack of taste, it seems that a person is coming up trying to give to Todd and he says, “Use this pocket”.   Is this really a demonstration of the Kingdom of God?  Do we really expect that when Todd sits down here that Jesus gives him a high five and says “I really liked the pocket part, that was good.”  I mean, come on…it’s completely embarassing to see such a highly honored man resort to such a tacky level.  But this is part of the vision where Todd saw himself stuff the offering in his pocket.  He’s literally getting the offering. Imagine that.

- 11:50 Here Todd gives a story of an unbeliever getting born again during a meeting where gold starts to show up.  If anything was good out of all this, it would’ve been this.

- 12:14 And again he says, “I’ve got back pockets too.”  Still, I’m just imagining Jesus standing in the streets of Capernaum saying “Hey don’t worry, my friends have money bags too”.  And if we don’t picture Jesus doing this, why would we do it and let other ministers get away with it?

- 13:55 Now Todd begins to give instructions and a plea to give saying, “People are giving already”,  “You may end up giving 2 or 3 times”.  And then he says, “The tithe doesn’t bring us into the blessing.” and suggests that maybe we’ve been “Tithing for years but we’re still not blessed.” and insinuates that it’s because we’re stuck at giving our tithe and not stretching to give that offering. 
    What’s our blessing?  Is it a financial gain or is it the freedom and access to live in the Kingdom of God through Jesus’ death and ressurection?  Our blessings aren’t given in porportion to our tithe or our offering…it started with God and it ends with God, there is nothing we can give to put God in debt to us. 

- 14:50 Now Todd references Acts where there was a “Culture of giving and revival…nor was there anyone AMONG Them who lacked”.  This again is not at all what’s going on here.  From what I could tell, and I could be wrong and would love to be corrected, but this wasn’t horizontal giving among the saints, it was from the believers to one man/ministry.  Instead wouldn’t it be great if we found out the needs of the body and instead of giving our resources to fund programs and salaries that we actually helped the body when it lacked.  I’m sure there were people in that meeting that needed help financially, wouldn’t it have been awesome if all the believer’s needs were met before giving to the ministry? 

- 15:00 Here again Todd is now instructing the people to “Consider above and beyond your tithe an offering, and sow into the midst of this glory realm…there’s something happening today.”  To me, it seems that he simply sets up the people with these stories and experiences only to give them a reference when it’s time to give to him.  If that’s not what it is, that’s exactly what it sounds like to everybody else…the only people who buy (pardon the pun) into it are the ones that actually believe that they can purchase the Kingdom of God.

- 15:28 Now Todd get’s into classic TBN mode, “It may be that $1000 seed that you need to sow this morning.  It may be that $500 seed that you need to sow this morning.”  “Go above and beyond your tithe.”

- 15:53 More…“I’m doing the offering right in the midst of my message and at any moment during the message you want to keep giving, you just keep coming…I’ve got lots more pockets.

- 16:08 Blah, blah blah…“I’m just telling you right now that God wants to bring a realm of financial breakthrough and blessing here in this place, in this church”

- 16:30 Now the classic…“We can take credit card, but don’t be empty handed.  I think this is a realm in which you need to get involved, somewhere or another, you need to make a demand on heaven…”  To think that any man of God would instruct the children of God to borrow from the world and go into debt to give into God’s Kingdom is about the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.  Again, I heard this all the time in the Word of Faith camp, and I still hear it other places but it just drives me through the roof.  PEOPLE OF GOD, please don’t fall for this. It’s like God telling the people of Israel to go back into Egypt and ask the Pharaoh if they could borrow some money to give towards the construction of the gold cherubim that sit on top of the ark of the covenant because they ran out of gold.  It’s not necessary or even sane to think God would want us to go into debt to give any kind of gift to Him.  We’ve stepped out of bondage into freedom, why would we want to go back?

- 17:15 Again with the pockets… “This pocket here”

- 17:30 “We’ve got the treasure room open this morning.  We’re not just receiving an offering right now.  All morning is an offering.  The treasure room is open and you’re just sowing, and giving, go above and beyond, let’s give radically”  “There’s something of God’s glory being released right now in the realm of finances and giving, we need to get involved.”

- 18:08 More suggestions in hearing God for the giving opportunity..“Be open to God speaking to you a second time and say ‘I want you to sow again’", “That one man gave 3 times, according to what the Spirit of God told him, $300,000 the next day, he said ‘This stuff works’, it showed up out of nowhere.”

- 19:20 “Let’s keep the baskets here because I want people to just give and give and give again.  And just have that opportunity to bring your….”

HERE IS THE ACTUAL AUDIO Download MP3

You can listen to the full message on Todd Bentley’s podcast, go to http://www.freshfire.ca for more info

Why doesn’t  Acts 8:18-23 come up to mind here??

    18 When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given when the apostles placed their hands upon people’s heads, he offered money to buy this power. 19 "Let me have this power, too," he exclaimed, "so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!"
    20 But Peter replied, "May your money perish with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! 21 You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Turn from your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, 23 for I can see that you are full of bitterness and held captive by sin."

How is what Todd was doing and suggestion any differen than what Simon was rebuked for?

Todd mentions a Spirit of supernatural giving.  You know what I think would’ve been supernatural giving?  If out of nowhere and without suggesting, the people of God would start fulfilling the lack within the body of Christ.

I would love for a preacher to practice what he preaches and instead of trying to convince the people to stretch there faith and give and place a demand on heaven that instead,  they themselves would stretch their faith and place a demand on heaven by NOT asking for an offering.  THAT would be faith…to really trust God that He could move on the people of God to give to the ministers of the Gospel without suggestion.

Listen people, we have to stop falling for this junk.  If we didn’t buy into it, it wouldn’t be happening.  Unfortunately this has been going on for years and years even before Jesus’ day, and I’m sure it won’t stop until it’s all said and done. 

Let’s take this back to Christianity 101.  If we want to give financially to God, how do we do it?  Well, here’s one way…remember the story of the goats and sheep?  When Jesus said “when I was hungry, you fed me.  When I was thirsty you gave me drink.”  and the people said, when did we do this?  What was His response?  “When you did it to the least of these, you did it unto me.”  Wouldn’t it stand to reason then if we wanted to REALLY give to God that we would find the “least of these”?  This is what Jesus was talking about in the parable of the unfaithful steward in Luke 16:1-18, this is why Jesus says that the children of this world are wiser than the children of light.

I’m just really dissapointed to hear this from Todd Bentley.  It sound’s no different than the horrid mess coming out of the mouth of people like Mike Murdock, we don’t fall for it from him (at least I hope not, although he’s still on TV so I guess it’s still working on some), why should we with someone even of the stature of Todd Bentley

Originally, before I even heard this message, I was going to put up these messages from a relatively unknown minister of the Gospel, Gary Carpenter.  Ironically enough he ministers out of the Mecca of the Word of Faith message in Tulsa, Oklahoma.   His message on finances and the Kingdom of God is something I’ve never heard anywhere else, it will truly, truly set you free.  After listening to Todd’s message above, please listen to a few of these short mini-messages , you’ll probably laugh out loud at the simplicity of it all:

Gary Carpenter Short Money Teaching #1 (Stream) Download
Gary Carpenter Short Money Teaching #2 Download
Gary Carpenter Short Money Teaching #3 Download
Gary Carpenter Short Money Teaching #4 Download

For more of Gary Carpenter’s mesages about Kingdom Finances, which I highly recommend, go here:
http://www.garycarpenter.org/KingdomFinances.html

Now seriously, I would love to open up a discussion on these things.  Was Todd out of line?  Am I?  What should our response be if any?  This is so prevelant in the church these days, I would love to just have some real honest discussion on the matter.

Feel free…and I apologize if I’ve offended anyone, it’s not my intent, I just want people to freely live in the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 17:25b-26: "What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?  26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free."

The last article I wrote was a little controversial, especially in the audience of the American church. 
I felt there should be a follow up with some of the more apparent oppositions or hesitations that the article was met with.

First and foremost, I should make this clarification.  When I said that you may need to quit your job, I didn’t necessarily mean that you had to stop working.  It’s more intended towards the people that are career driven instead of Kingdom driven.  Those that are trying to climb up the ladder, trying to obtain the American Dream instead of the Kingdom of God. 

The way God built this in me was that when I originally thought about quitting my job, I thought I was just going to get another one that was “christian based”.  Then all of the sudden the Lord changed directions on me and told me never to enter the “career world mindset” again.  All of the sudden, I was completely content on sacking groceries, flipping burgers, or being a janitor.  My identity no longer came from my job or career, it was that I was a Kingdom servant ready to make my life as liquid as possible so I could do what Jesus wanted me to do at the drop of the dime.

With that being said, on to some specific objections:

-It’s Not My Calling:
  The complete premise of this site is to awaken all believers that we are all called to follow after Jesus with all of our energy.  I personally believe there isn’t a call to live for the world and for God.  It’s one or the other.  Hint: One way to find out which world you’re living for - look at where your money goes. Is it more invested in the things of this world – cars, houses, toys, etc – than the things of God?   Your heart is where your treasure is…if all your treasures are here in this earth, your heart resides there and will die with it.  Also, your heart is where you expend most of your energy…do you spend more energy on the matters of the Kingdom, or the matters of this world?
 

-You May Quit Your Job, But You’ll Just Rely On Other People And Their Jobs:
    It’s thought that if you stop working at your job/career that you’ll automatically start to mooch and suck off of other people that actually DO have jobs.  You’re not supposed to stop working and start living off of charity.  You’re supposed to start living off of faith, truly living within the premise of Matthew 6:33.  You may not be able to drop everything and run now, but you can certainly walk towards that and begin to greatly reduce your need for income by getting rid of the materialism fat that sits around us all.
    Some people with jobs will give you things.  It’s just what happens.  But our hope and faith doesn’t rest on those things.  We trust in the one that can multiply the loaves of bread and get money out of a fish’s mouth.  Our provision isn’t based on our income or the income of those around us.

-If I Leave My Job, Who Will Witness To My Coworkers?
    Actually, you leaving your job/career will give you more of an opportunity to witness and share the true gospel (freedom from the ways of this world – including financially) to your coworkers than you just being a bump on a log waiting and hoping for someone to ask you “What makes you different?” (Which, rarely happens.).
    You quitting your job and telling your family, friends, and coworkers what you’re doing will open up a complete field of gospel opportunity.  This is how it will happen:

“Why are you quitting your job?”
YOUR RESPONSE: I realized I was living and spending most of my time on a world that was broken and headed for a dead end.  All the things I’ve been working for is a false sense of security.  Jesus said, if we seek first His Kingdom everything we will need will be provided for us.  He’s offered me an eternal Kingdom that is not subject to the ways of this world.  I’d rather live for that.

“But, how will you pay for —–”
YOUR RESPONSE: Jesus told us to trust in our Father in heaven for the things we need.  I am trusting Him and I’m walking in faith that He will uphold His word. 

    Do you see that?  You’re not just giving them the run of the mill “Jesus loves you” speech.  Your actually, in real life, by your actions, preaching to them the gospel…which is “Repent, trade your ways for God’s ways because His ways are better.  And guess what? The Kingdom, God’s way of doing things, is here right now, available to us on this earth if we turn to Him.  That’s what I’m doing”
    And then they are completely captivated by your boldness and craziness to actually BELIEVE what Jesus said. 
    You want an opportunity to share the gospel with your coworkers?  Tell them you’re quitting to become a missionary….there’s your door.  You won’t believe the way they will open up and give you ways to tell them about the love of Jesus!

    And if that doesn’t work, maybe one of those street preachers will be able to share the gospel with them when they get gas before they go to work :-).
Your coworkers aren’t an excuse to not serve Jesus with your entire life.  If you’ve done your job and shared the gospel with them in honesty and they haven’t turned to God, it’s time to dust off your shoes and go to the next harvest field.

-How Are You Going To Feed the poor without money?
   The same way Jesus did.  He and the disciple’s clearly didn’t have enough money to buy food for the 5000+ people.  What did He do?  He blessed what He had, and expected His Father in heaven, who is rich beyond anything this world can offer, to fulfill the need.  We don’t need money people!!!! We need faith.  To take what we do have to the world and trust that our Father will meet what we have in the natural and make it SUPERnatural.

    Doesn’t that sound a lot more fun than the mundane, day in day out, 8-5? 

 READ PART 1 HERE

[TAGS]quit my job,Jesus,ministry,street preaching,witnessing,evangelism,gospel,preacher,christian,christianity[/TAGS]

    The question is bound to come up for any believer (hopefully).  In order to fulfill my calling in Jesus, do I need to quit my full time job?

As controversial as it is, I still don’t back down from my statement on my front page, that there is no such thing as a part-time christian.  I believe every follower of Jesus is supposed to serve Him full time.

With that being said, I believe we are all in a process of becoming who we are called to be in Christ.  One person may be at one point on their path while another somewhere else.  So it’s not appropriate to force where you are in your path on other people.  I often tell people that I wasn’t in a position to do what I’m doing now a year and a half ago, it’s all been a process.

So, in that light, read this as motivation and an encouragement to live FULLY for Jesus.

(more…)

    You wouldn’t know it by hearing most preachers on T.V. today.  But the truth is, God doesn’t need your money.  Remember, God’s city is made out of pure gold, and owns all the cattle on a thousand hills.  So what does man made money have to do with it?  Especially since Jesus specifically said you can’t serve God and mammon.

    I’ve got news for you.  God doesn’t need your money.  He just needs you.  It’s so much easier for people to write a check and think that they’ve done the will of God for their lives than it is to actually live for Him.  If Jesus could multiply loaves of bread and find provision in a fish’s mouth, why then do you think it’s necessary that He needs your finances?  The Kingdom of God isn’t hindered because of lack of finances, it’s hindered because of a lack of workers.

He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Luke 10:2

    Did you notice that?  He didn’t say “Pray for finances.”  Remember, provision wasn’t an issue for Jesus (ever read Matthew 6?) .  The problem here is workers!  The workers in the Kingdom are few, meaning less than they should be!  But you take a look at the churches today and most are packed with people.  The problem is that they are consumers of the gospel instead of propagators of it. 

    There are too many Christians waiting until they get enough _________ (fill in the blank with the typical excuse: money, experience, time, knowledge, etc.)  All the while, God is desperately wanting workers for His Kingdom.  And as I mention on the front page, He wants and needs full-time workers.

    Don’t wait until you have enough!  God is your provision.  Just step out and go, make an effort, even if your wrong, at least you’re trying.  A brother named Ryan Lawson once told me in an email, “Anything worth doing, is worth doing your worst.”

    God needs workers!!!! As another brother Mike Slayden tells me, “God wants your availability more than your ability.   If you are available, He’ll make you able.”

    Someone needs to tell you.  No excuse is good enough not to serve God with your entire life.  Any excuse is an idol that is keeping you from your destiny.

    There is a brother in Georgia ( Ryan Lawson ) who has been quite inspirational and encouraging to me over the past year.  He and his team walks in the real power of the gospel and you can read all about it here: http://kingdompoweronthestreet.blogspot.com It’s some of the most exciting things to read.  Makes you want to go out and get your own stories for yourself . 

    I went to his church website today and stumbled across his podcasts and listened to this message.  I think it fits quite perfectly with the theme of this website, be offended, and enjoy -

http://www.ngca.org/resources/audio/RyanLawson_For_The_Love_Of_Money.mp3

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. I say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye Matt 19:23-24

    I was driving down the road the other day and this thought came to me.  Why is it that so many American Christians are working and striving so hard to become rich when Jesus specifically says it’s very hard for a rich person to enter into the Kingdom?  It’s like we’re trying to set ourselves up for failure and make it more difficult.

    Every Sunday the church is filled with proclamations of income increases, promotions, and other money related prayers.  I think we spend more time worrying about money and the acquisition of it than we do worrying about the work of the Kingdom of God.

    We are deliberately making it difficult to enter the Kingdom.  Jesus is telling us all throughout the gospels, don’t live for this world, don’t live according to this world’s standards, don’t love the things of this world, but it seems to me that is exactly what the majority of the church is doing.

    The reason why Jesus said it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom is because “rich people” don’t think they need to rely on God for their provision.  They’ve proved to themselves that they are the ones that are responsible for what they have and what they will get.  When Jesus asks a rich person how to feed 5,000 people he  immediately looks in his pocket to see if he has enough money.

    The Kingdom of God operates differently than the world.  The Kingdom of God is not “heaven” after you die.  It is God’s way of doing things, and Jesus came to the earth to proclaim that God’s way of doing things was here on the earth now.  And in order to enter into the Kingdom, or God’s way of doing things, you must be born again, or from above.  We were born once into the ways of this world, we must be born again into the ways of the Kingdom.
 
    So, when we are “rich” it makes it hard to enter into the way God does things because it goes against everything we’ve known.  Thinking that when there is a need, provision is based on finances.  When there is sickness thinking the only hope lies in a pill or hospital.  Jesus came to demonstrate what the Kingdom of God looks like and how it operates, and it is supreme over this world.  That is why Jesus did the miracles, calmed the storms, walked on water, etc, it’s because He wasn’t operating according to the ways of this world, He was operating according to the ways of God, His Kingdom, and He demonstrated it.

    When we build our own kingdoms, with our own hard work and sweat, we protect it more and we have more pride in it and in ourselves.  So it becomes offensivee when someone attempts to take those things away, even if it’s Jesus.

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
Luke 18:22-24

    I’m not going to tell you that Jesus isn’t asking you to sell everything you have.  I think Jesus is telling all of us to forsake all that we have and follow after Him (Luke 14:25-35), even our earthly possessions and plans.  Instead of thinking this verse is for someone else, imagine Jesus is talking directly to you right this very second.  How do you respond to this request?  Will you give it all or will you walk away sad.
 
    Really take a minute and think about how your heart responds to the question.  Is there an offense there?  If there is, begin to pray that God will take away that offense so you can fully serve Him.

    What if there isn’t offense in your heart?  Then you just need to obey it.  Begin the process of getting free from the bonds of this world and let God teach you how to follow after Him according to Luke 14:25-35.  Don’t be lukewarm in this area, be red hot with fire because the Lord spits the lukewarm out!  Obey this verse with great zeal and allow God to reveal His Kingdom to you.

    I’m sure some of you are saying…”Wait a minute, I’m not rich!”  Who are you comparing yourself to?  Your neighbor?  Let’s put this in proper perspective:

 
    Whether you consider yourself rich or not, Luke 14:25-35 still applies to you.
 
    Just like everything else in the Kingdom of God, if you want to be truly rich, you must give everything away.  In order to live, you must die. 
In order to be free, you must be bound to Jesus.

    What is holding you back?  Are you waiting until you have enough money to serve God and do the things He wants you to do?  Who’s will is coming first in that relationship, your’s or God’s?  God wants the first of everything, why do we always try to give Him the left overs?  We tend to wait until we’re done with our lives before we let Him use it.  He needs strong young people with life serving in His Kingdom.

    I just recently wrote about not being able to serve God and money at the same time.  It’s a pretty difficult concept, one I’m still trying to sort out myself.  Not to mention how it goes against the grain to an obscene degree.  Especially when you read Matthew 6:25-34 and actually try to walk it out!

    Let me tell you what being free from the bonds of money ISN’T.  It ISN’T having a lot of money saved up in the bank account, or having stock here and there just "in case" something happens you have the safety net of what some consider "financial security".  This may be a shock.  If you think being free from money means that you have a lot of it, that still reveals you are still in the bonds of it.  Anytime money is a measure of anything reveals that we are still living according to this world.  (It’s ok to have money in those terms, but the measure of it, whether a litle or a lot, cannot determine how you will live according to the Kingdom)

    Am I perfect in this?  By all means no!  But I am letting God work this out of me, remember, IT’S A PROCESS! 

    There is a lot of teaching (Good teaching) in the church about being good stewards of the things God gives you, money included if not foremost.  These are good teachings, but these teachings still keep you in bondage to money.  Thinking that you aren’t truly free unless you have a proper emergency fund, life/health/auto insurance, retirement funds, etc.  Money is still the master in these teachings.

    There are too many Christians who let money dictate whether they will/or to what extent they can serve God in their lives.  “I can’t do [*insert christian activity here*] because I have to work.”  Well, why do you have to work?  “I have bills to pay.”  Well, get rid of the bills!!  It’s really that simple.  Start by reducing your need for income.  This may require selling your car and getting something cheaper, something you can PAY FOR.  It may require selling your house (if you have a house payment/rent, it is probably your most demanding financial commitment), start thinking of ways to get out of it.  Yeah, these aren’t normal things to think about, it will require some creativity, but if we are going to be free from money, we really need to be free from it.  There is a lot we can do on our part to start to accomplish that.  Getting rid of all the fluff is a great place to start!

    Don’t let not having enough money (saved or income) keep you from serving the Lord according to His word.

    Have you ever looked at Jesus’ financial situation?  How did Jesus get His needs met?  Remember the tax bill that had to be paid (Matthew 17:27)?  What about the 5,000 hungry people:

"Jesus soon saw a great crowd of people climbing the hill, looking for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, "Philip, where can we buy bread to feed all these people?" 6 He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. "
John 6:5-6

    Did you read that?  Jesus asked Philip KNOWING that He was going to feed them supernaturally!  It was a trick question to see where Philip’s mind was.  Was it on the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of this world?

"7 Philip replied, "It would take a small fortune to feed them!" 8 Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. 9 "There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?"
John 6:7-9

    What was Philip’s first response to the test?  He was thinking according to the world and not the Kingdom of God.  He looked and measured it by how much money they had.  They couldn’t meet the need because they didn’t have the required funds.

    I wonder if sometimes Jesus asks us questions like that to test us?  I wonder how dissapointed He is after 2000 years His followers still have a tough time believing Him and walking in His Kingdom.

    Here’s what would happen in today’s scenario if we had such a drastic financial need as feeding 5,000+ people.  We would reach into our pockets to check for cash.  If we didn’t have the money there we’d look at how much money we had in our checking account.  If the money wasn’t there we’d look at our credit card balances.  If we didn’t have enough there we’d take out a loan from the bank.  When do we decide to trust God?  When do we let the Kingdom of God operate in our lives?

    It’s so difficult in these days to think according to the Kingdom of God because we have so many safety nets to fall back on.  There isn’t any need to “trust God”, when you have a bank down the street who is willing to loan you the money at a mere 10% interest.  It almost looks stupid to wait on God.  Your on your knees seeking God for provision for your need and your family is looking at you like an idiot,  “Just use your credit card.”  It looks foolish to “go without” when it’s so easy to just "go get it".

    Matthew 6:33 says to seek the Kingdom of God FIRST, not as a last resort.  Seeking the Kingdom should be your life blood, it should be all you do.  The promise is that if you are seeking the Kingdom first all your needs will come to you. 

"Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
John 6:27

    My message pretty much won’t change around here.  It’s simply, put your entire life into living for God and His will.  What I put on this website is just fuel for the fire.

    The problem is that I think we (as Christians) hear that so much that we think that just because we hear it we are actually living it out (it’s the doer of the word that is blessed, not just the ones that hear it).  As Christian Americans specifically, we need to wake up and get real with God and stop thinking that just because we go to church every Sunday, and maybe even volunteer or do a weekend mission trip that we are actually doing what Jesus called us to do.  Living according to Luke 14:25-35 requires everything from you.  It’s not how to fit doing "God’s work" into our current lifestyle, it is turning our lifestyle into nothing but His work.

    In the verse above Jesus is talking to some of the people that just witnessed the multiplying of the 5 loaves of bread.  The next morning they went across the sea to chase after Jesus, which you think would be a good thing, but Jesus actually rebuked them.  Jesus knew their motives, just like He knows ours.  He says:

"The truth is, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you saw the miraculous sign.”
John 6:26

    Take this verse and put it into today’s Americanized Christianity.  So many of us seek Jesus, not because of wanting to be in His presence and glory, but because He “feeds” us.  He “feeds” our lifestyle, or He “feeds” our principles for living, or He “feeds” our banks with money. 

    This doesn’t sit well for the current prosperity message that many of the prominent preachers are speaking of today.  Yes, God wants us to prosper, but not so we can build our own kingdom, it’s so we can build His.  If we mature from the prosperity message to the PROVISION message we would be much better off.  Provision for doing the will of God full time.  Not prosperity for our friends and neighbors to admire.  God’s supernatural prosperity is given to continue in His will without relying on the ways of this world.

    To many of us are seeking God’s PRESENTS instead of His PRESENCE.

    Jesus tells us here not to work for the food that will just spoil on us.  He said instead to seek and work for the true and eternal food that will never perish that only He can give.  He is literally telling us not to expend energy on the things that won’t last.  Yet, what do we spend so much of our time on?  Maintaining material things that is destined to come to an end.

    Remember, Jesus also said:

 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal."
Matt 6:19

    Why can’t we simply take Jesus at His word and do what He says?  It’s hard that’s why!!!  We’ve been so conditioned, even in the church, to store up treasures here on earth.  Even in the church world a blessed life is measured by your house, car, and job.  We’ve lost touch of the true Kingdom of God that Jesus demonstrated and gave us freely.

    We need to get real and figure out what Jesus really wants from us.  How do we change from working for things that spoil and go bad on us, to seeking after the eternal things that Jesus wants and promises to give us?  We just start.  Wherever you are, you just start by making a decision to lay down the things we are working for that will just rust and corrode and learn to pick up the will of God and receive the things He wants to give instead of these poor manmade substitutes.

 "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."
Luke 16:13

    This is just one of those verses that I used to conveniently quickly read through without giving it much thought. What’s worse is that I hardly ever remember reading the 2 verses after it (which I will get to in a minute).

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