The economy is affecting everyone, and that includes the church. Many churches and ministries find themselves falling short of their targeted budgets. It is important that God's people understand the reason for giving to the Lord.
There is a funny story of a pastor who said to his people, after they voted on a rather large budget, “I don't know where they will get the money for the budget.” After the service, the people came to him somewhat relieved. They said, “Pastor, we are sure glad you don't know where the money is coming from for the budget. For a moment we thought that you were going to ask us for it.”
The good news about giving is that God is the one who provides. The bad news (just kidding) is that he provides through his people. Therefore, it is important that we remind ourselves what giving to the Lord is all about. 2 Kings 4:42-44 will reveal some truths for giving. First, notice that the inspiration for giving is worship.
The inspiration for giving is worship (42a)
“Now a man came from Baal-shalishah, and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack.” (2 Kings 4:42a)
What the man brought to the man of God was an offering to the Lord. Throughout the scriptures God is constantly telling his people that giving is an act of worship. It is about giving God the preeminent place in our lives and that includes in our financial and material blessings. When we give to the Lord, we should do so out of love and adoration for the one who gave us everything. Second, notice that the vision for giving is people.
The vision for giving is people (42b-43)
Elisha the man of God gives direction for the offering. He says in the last part of verse 42, “Give them to the people that they may eat.” Again he says in verse 43, “Give them to the people that they may eat.” People are the vision for giving.
When God blesses his people, he expects his people to be a conduit of his blessings. That is, he wants to bless others through his people. When we give to the Lord, our focus should be blessing others. It must be people. I always tell people working on budgets for the church that we are stewards of people before we are stewards of finances. Finances of the church are for reaching people. Third, notice that the foundation for giving is faith.
The foundation for giving is faith (43-44)
“His attendant said, "What, will I set this before a hundred men?" But he said, "Give them to the people that they may eat, for thus says the Lord, 'They shall eat and have some left over.' " [44] So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord.”
There will always be those who don’t see things through faith. This is the case for Elisha’s servant. He could only see that the vision for the people was bigger that the budget. Fortunately, the man of God saw things through faith.
Notice his faith, “They shall eat and have some leftover.” What was the source of his faith? It was the promise of God. Notice verse 44, “So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord.”
Faith is the only way to please God. Faith trust God to reward those who seek him.
During these hard economic times, the church should rise to the occasion. What would the unbelieving world think if they saw that the most joyful time of God’s people worshiping together was the time of offering? They might believe the truth that we proclaim!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Are You Teachable?
Are you in a holding pattern with God? Are you are in God’s waiting room? Did it ever occur to you that God wants to teach you while you wait? I have learned from my own experiences that being teachable enables me to be an effective change agent for God. The key is being teachable.
If you are not teachable, it usually results in trying to change people and conditions in the wrong way. An Anglican Bishop wrote these words on his deathbed and had them engraved into his tombstone:
“When I was young and free, my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it, too, seemed immovable. As I grew in my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it. And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realized: If I had only changed my self first, then by example I would have changed my family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed my world.”
If you want to make a difference with the people around you, then you must allow God to make a difference in you. You must be teachable if God is going to use you to influence others.
One of the great examples in scripture of a teachable person was Joseph. He didn’t allow his hardships in life get him down. He had a dream from God and he learned to wait for God to bring that dream to fruition. God used the waiting period to draw Joseph closer to him and to build up his faith.
Don’t be surprised if God puts you in a holding pattern. He is probably trying to teach you some valuable lessons that will truly bring about change in the future. Let God work a change in you so that he can make a difference around you!
If you are not teachable, it usually results in trying to change people and conditions in the wrong way. An Anglican Bishop wrote these words on his deathbed and had them engraved into his tombstone:
“When I was young and free, my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it, too, seemed immovable. As I grew in my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it. And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realized: If I had only changed my self first, then by example I would have changed my family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed my world.”
If you want to make a difference with the people around you, then you must allow God to make a difference in you. You must be teachable if God is going to use you to influence others.
One of the great examples in scripture of a teachable person was Joseph. He didn’t allow his hardships in life get him down. He had a dream from God and he learned to wait for God to bring that dream to fruition. God used the waiting period to draw Joseph closer to him and to build up his faith.
Don’t be surprised if God puts you in a holding pattern. He is probably trying to teach you some valuable lessons that will truly bring about change in the future. Let God work a change in you so that he can make a difference around you!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
WOW!
Have you ever spent a hour praying with a group of people? Have you
ever been involved in a prayer meeting that after a hour you were
not ready to stop praying because the presence of Jesus was so real?
Many believers have never experienced prayer in this way. Once you do, you will never be the same. I encourage you to join me and the eight others who meet in room 100 in the Ed. Building on Wednesday nights at 6:00 pm.
We will also be having our first church-wide Fresh Encounter on March
28th at 6:00 pm. Come and taste the Lord in a fresh way through
corporate prayer.
ever been involved in a prayer meeting that after a hour you were
not ready to stop praying because the presence of Jesus was so real?
Many believers have never experienced prayer in this way. Once you do, you will never be the same. I encourage you to join me and the eight others who meet in room 100 in the Ed. Building on Wednesday nights at 6:00 pm.
We will also be having our first church-wide Fresh Encounter on March
28th at 6:00 pm. Come and taste the Lord in a fresh way through
corporate prayer.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Looking Past the Rubbish
One of the great tragedies in church work is the inability of some to look past the rubbish. They complain about every thing that is wrong with the church. It takes a great deal of prayer and focus to keep your eyes on the prize, which is Jesus Christ. If only God’s people could see things the way the Russian man did in this story by Michael Blakely:
“While I was attending graduate school in the early 1980s, I stopped for coffee in a Malibu, California, restaurant. Coming from a nonpolitical family, I knew nothing of political activists--but I met one that day in that restaurant.
He told everyone what a mess the United States had become. He ridiculed our government and our educational, industrial, and banking systems. He was on such a roll that he had everyone on his side except for two people: an old man and me. The activist shied away from me, seeing my Pepperdine hat, Ronald Reagan T-shirt, and Wall Street Journal. So he went after the old man.
As he approached, the old man continued slurping his soup and turned his back. The activist sat down at the old man's table and offered, "Mister, if you can tell me just one thing the United States has ever done for you, just one measly thing, I will leave you alone."
Finally, the old man looked up. He licked his spoon clean and set it down on the table. His red face indicated years of laboring in the sun. With a heavy Russian accent, he replied, "Ve hold zees truz to be self-evident, dat all men created equal, life, liberty, perzuit of happiness." Then he went back to the soup. The activist, defeated, could not argue against what the old man had experienced on both sides of Communism.”
We can all find something that is wrong, but it takes maturity to look for the things that are good and use them to build the kingdom of God.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus and the rubbish that you see all around will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.
“While I was attending graduate school in the early 1980s, I stopped for coffee in a Malibu, California, restaurant. Coming from a nonpolitical family, I knew nothing of political activists--but I met one that day in that restaurant.
He told everyone what a mess the United States had become. He ridiculed our government and our educational, industrial, and banking systems. He was on such a roll that he had everyone on his side except for two people: an old man and me. The activist shied away from me, seeing my Pepperdine hat, Ronald Reagan T-shirt, and Wall Street Journal. So he went after the old man.
As he approached, the old man continued slurping his soup and turned his back. The activist sat down at the old man's table and offered, "Mister, if you can tell me just one thing the United States has ever done for you, just one measly thing, I will leave you alone."
Finally, the old man looked up. He licked his spoon clean and set it down on the table. His red face indicated years of laboring in the sun. With a heavy Russian accent, he replied, "Ve hold zees truz to be self-evident, dat all men created equal, life, liberty, perzuit of happiness." Then he went back to the soup. The activist, defeated, could not argue against what the old man had experienced on both sides of Communism.”
We can all find something that is wrong, but it takes maturity to look for the things that are good and use them to build the kingdom of God.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus and the rubbish that you see all around will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Spiritual Leadership Lessons from Exodus
Spiritual leadership
1. Our availability and willingness to follow the Lord's leadership
and depend on the Lord's empowerment makes us spiritual leaders. Moses
learned that leading is about what God can do in and through us.
2. God may allow us short-term failure in leadership to build
character and dependence, and to reveal his power and glory. Moses did
exactly what the Lord told him and it made the situation worse for the
Israelites.
3. The key to leading people who are discouraged and won't follow is
to keep focused on the Lord and follow his leadership. Moses would
have to learn that following the Lord is the only way to be a
succesful spiritual leader.
4. God allows adversity so that he can multiply his miracles and
reveal his power and glory. God wants people to realize that he is Lord.
5. What may seem like aimless wondering in the wilderness could very
well be a part of God's plan. (Ex.14)
6. People will question leadership when the direction seems
detrimental to the cause. Don't give in to the naysayers, but allow
God to prove Himself. (Ex.14)
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