Be a Tither!

'...Test me in this, says the Lord...' Malachi 3:10 NIV

It's estimated that less than one-tenth of all those who attend church give a tenth of their income to God's work, even though the Bible clearly teaches that the first tenth of all we earn belongs to God. 'A tithe of everything...is holy to the Lord.' (Leviticus 27:30 NIV) Today it is estimated that two-thirds of the church's income comes from people aged 69 or older. That's alarming! We need to teach our children the responsibility and rewards of tithing. Perhaps you think tithing only applied to those who lived under the Old Testament law, like the Pharisees. No, Jesus said, '...unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees... you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.' (Matthew 5:20 NIV) The tithe is a minimum; your love and faith should determine the maximum. Abraham paid tithes 600 years before the law (Genesis 14:20), then Jesus endorsed it saying we 'ought' to tithe (Matthew 23:23), and the writer to the Hebrews confirmed that it is still God's plan. (Hebrews 7:4-5) As believers, we are the spiritual seed of Abraham, and as such, his blessings have been promised to us. (Galatians 3:14) But if you want what Abraham had, you've got to do what Abraham did and he was the first man in Scripture to tithe! Giving God the first tenth of your income makes Him number one in your priorities. His Word says, 'Bring the whole tithe... Test Me in this...and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.' (Malachi 3:10 NIV) Do you want to walk in God's blessings? Become a tither!

Do Something!

'...Live purposefully...' Ephesians 5:15 AMP

Are you easily swayed by what others say and do, or do you have a plan and stick with it? Are you doing what you love, or just doing things out of mindless routine? Mark Twain said, 'The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation.' In other words, love what you do and do what you love! Many of us never get around to fulfilling God's purpose for our lives because we're so busy keeping everybody happy. This world is filled with people who think they know what you should be doing with your life. No, it's your life, and when you stand before God He won't ask anybody else about it except you! Are you courageous enough to follow your heart rather than the crowd? Are you focused, even when many voices try to draw you away from your purpose? An interesting phenomenon occurs when you have no strong convictions or clear purpose of your own; you tend to get irritated with those who do. The term 'whatever' seems to be especially popular these days. While we must always strive to live in harmony and to consider other people's feelings and viewpoint, God's Word condemns complacency, indifference and an unwillingness to stand up for what we know is right. We need to be intentional. We can't just stand around waiting to see what everyone else is going to do, then follow the crowd. There are basically two kinds of people: those who wait for something to happen, and those who make things happen. Don't say, 'I wish they would do something about this problem.' You are they! Do something!

Abraham (2)

'Now the Lord...said to Abram...' Genesis 12:1 NKJV

Abraham had the ability to hear God's voice. 'Now the Lord...said to Abram: 'Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you.' (Genesis 12:1 NKJV) Abraham couldn't turn to the Scriptures for guidance, and there were no prophets around to say, 'Thus saith the Lord.' Getting it right was critical. He was being called to leave his job, his home and his security. He needed to know that the voice he was hearing was truly God's voice. This leads us to conclude that Abraham had developed a relationship with the Lord, and building a relationship takes time, effort, sensitivity and commitment. Others may counsel you and confirm what God is telling you, but ultimately you must learn to hear from God for yourself. Nothing increases your confidence like knowing God has given you clear direction for your life. Author Gary Thomas says he and his wife prayed extensively about buying a house and gave God many opportunities to close the door. Five years later, when the house was worth considerably less than they paid for it, they asked God, 'Why didn't You stop us?' At that point God's Spirit whispered, 'Have you ever considered the possibility that I wanted you in that neighborhood to minister there, rather than to bolster your financial equity?' God didn't tell Abraham, 'Stay here, and I'll make you even richer.' No, He said, 'Get out.' Yes, he became rich. But does obedience obligate God to bless us in the way we think He should, or can it call us to sacrifice? Think about the Cross before you answer that one!

Abraham

'Now the Lord...said to Abram...' Genesis 12:1 NKJV

We can learn so much from the life of Abraham. For example, that God can call us at any time of life. Without protesting or postponing, Abraham said, 'Yes, Lord!' And his unquestioning obedience is a rebuke to those of us who say, 'I'm too old, leave it to the younger ones,' or 'I've earned the right to relax and take it easy; let others do the heavy lifting.' There's no retirement in the service of the King of Kings! He has the right to ask us for anything, and send us anywhere at any season of life. Even you mom who has three little ones screaming at you all the time. We have to have the heart of Abraham ready to do service. We also learn that God's plan brings fulfilment, but it's always greater than our own personal fulfilment. Abraham was called to populate the entire Middle East: 'I will make you...a great nation...I will bless you...make your name great, and you shall be a blessing.' (Genesis 12:2 NIV) You may be saying I can do that, it sounds like fun. But these words are a rebuke to those among us who seek to make a name for ourselves rather than allowing God to do it for us. In God's Kingdom you don't seek status, you earn it by being of service to others. Finally, we learn that God will treat others according to how they treat us. God told Abraham, 'I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you...' (Genesis 12:3 NKJV) When we are in God's will we don't have to promote or protect ourselves, God will do it for us. 'He permitted no man to do them wrong; yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes, saying, 'Do not touch My anointed ones...' (1 Chronicles 16:21-22 NKJV) Knowing that sets us free to go where God wants us to go and do what He wants us to do. Are you ready for the big time? I praying so as we move together church towards what God's heart is for us....

Is There Someone You Need to Forgive?

'...forgiving one another...even as Christ forgave you...' Colossians 3:13 NKJV

The greatest power you have over anyone who hurts you is the power of forgiveness. When you say, 'I forgive, and no longer hold it against you', both sides are set free from the negative bond that exists between you. But there's more: we also free ourselves from the burden of being the 'offended one'. As long as we don't forgive those who've wounded us we take them with us, or worse, carry them like an albatross around our neck. One of our great temptations is to cling in anger to our enemies, then define ourselves as being wounded by them. Forgiveness, therefore, not only liberates the other party, but it also liberates us! It's the way to true freedom. Now, forgiving doesn't always mean forgetting. Though we forgive somebody, the memory of what they did might stay with us a long time. We can carry it in our emotions as a scar, or even in our bodies as a physical sign. But forgiveness changes how we remember. It turns the curse into a blessing. When we forgive our parents for their divorce, our children for their lack of love, our friends for their unfaithfulness in times of need, our counsellors for their bad advice, or our boss for treating us unfairly, we no longer have to experience ourselves as the victims of events over which we have no control. Forgiveness allows us to take back our power and not let the events embitter, limit or destroy us. Is there someone you need to forgive? If so do it Today...

Your Work Matters to God

'Work...as...for the Lord...' Colossians 3:23 NLT

Dr Adrian Rogers said, 'God takes ordinary people and gives them power to do extraordinary things. Whether you put hub caps on tyres...key in data...dig ditches or wash dishes, Work...as...for the Lord...?(Colossians 3:23 NLT) Jesus' home was the cottage of a working man. Mending ploughs or mending souls, Jesus was doing God's work because people need houses and furniture. Knowing you're serving the Lord puts dignity in running a machine, servicing cars, carrying mail, painting houses, or cutting grass. Tell God, I'm doing this for you and I'll do it with all my might?... That kind of attitude puts a spring in your step... You're a priest of God...in full-time service, and if that doesn't ring your bell your clapper's broken!' As Leigh Priebe Kearney says, 'No job's perfect...there'll always be things you aren't thrilled about. See the big picture: find out where the company's heading and how you fit in. Reach out: ask what's important to your co-workers and how you can help them.' You can have almost anything you want, if you help enough other people get what they want. Remember the three Cs:

(1) Commitment. Workers who get ahead share a sense of commitment: they're fully engaged in their work.

(2) Control. They're proactive, not passive.

(3) Challenge. They see stressful situations as opportunities for growth. Don't wait for your ship to come in swim out to meet it! Management won't suddenly recognise your potential, pluck you from obscurity and rocket you to the top. Draft a plan, then talk to your boss. A game plan shows you're open to professional growth. Keep learning: talk to people from other departments, take classes, and tackle projects outside your comfort zone.

When Jesus Got Angry

Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, saying to them, "It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,' but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.' "
—Luke 19:45-46

We all have things that irritate us, and we display our anger in different ways. Yet research has proven that it is not good to be angry. One study found that bad-tempered people are three times more likely to have heart attacks. And a 2006 Harvard study revealed that 10 million men in the U.S. are so angry, they are sick. In fact, their disease has a name: Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED). They have a name for everything...lol

Having said all that, not all anger is bad. In my walk with Christ I have come to understand what that statement is saying. The Bible records a time when Jesus Christ, God incarnate, was angry. Very angry. After making His triumphal entry into Jerusalem with crowds cheering and palm branches waving, Jesus "went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, saying to them, ‘It is written, "My house is a house of prayer," but you have made it a "den of thieves" ' " (Luke 19:45-46).

Was Jesus having a temper tantrum? Hardly. You and I have tantrums, but Jesus wasn't. It was righteous indignation. He went into the temple. He took stock of the situation. And He overturned tables. Why such a display of anger? Because the people engaged in temple commerce were keeping others from God. Big deal to Jesus. They had a little racket going in which they found fault with the sacrificial animals the people brought in and then sold them an "approved" animal at an inflated price. And this made Jesus angry. God is angry when people stand in the way of sinners coming to know Him. God doesn't like it when we get in the way, and it happens all too often in the church. But the church is not supposed to be a museum for saints; it is supposed to be a hospital for sinners—a place for people to know God. So think about that the next time a visitor walks into Calvary at service time. Will you project what God wants and show them the need for Christ...or will just spout off your selfish nature.