“NOW LETS PASS THAT PLATE AND I DONT WANT TO HEAR ANY CHANGE!”

I had a friend that i really loved alot and when he would get too drunk and flip through the tv channels if he saw a televangelist he always quipped “NOW LETS PASS THAT PLATE AND I DONT WANT TO HEAR ANY CHANGE!”  I know people tend to get upset when others mock our churches, but sometimes it’s God trying to get our attention.

Some churches preach that you wont be blessed if you don’t bless their ministries by sending them a check, that God wont hear your prayer, or that if you do tithe ten percent of your income to their church that God will supply all your needs and you will be prosperous and wealthy.

Jesus died on a cross and provided for every bit of our righteousness. If we could never tithe a dime, but we believe in Him, we can still get into heaven and be blessed, even if we have never tithed at all. Remember at the crucifixion there was another man on a cross? it doesn’t say he ever tithed, got baptized in water, opened up an organization to help people, or did any miracles. He did none of that, instead he confessed his sin and asked Jesus to remember him. He didnt do that other stuff because he was dying on a cross. Jesus said to him, today you shall be with me in paradise! Let us never forget that our salvation and blessings are because of what Jesus did when He died on the cross for us.

the law says in part about tithing:
And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord.    Lev 27:32

Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe.   Num 18:26

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

I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts.    Isaiah 45:13

And there is this thing in the Old Testament:
Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.       Isaiah 43:23

For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.  I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.  If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.      Psalms 50:10-12

… if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Gal 5:18

What the new testament says about giving to the church is:

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

If you want to tithe, please don’t do it because you feel its a requirement, “Christ Jesus is the end of the law to all who believe”  Besides that if we really call Him Lord, we will soon come to realize that the whole checkbook is His anyway, not just ten percent! Jesus wants to direct us in everything we do with the money He provides for us, not just in what we give to the church but everything.

There is the part where Jesus says if we give it will be given unto us, and it will, but i have seen Christians that come to God as if saying, I gave you ten bucks last week and now i want my hundredfold, i will keep bugging you (petitioning) until i get it! If your child felt forced to give you part of his check every week eventually he would only resent you. But if while you were out shopping your son gave his change to a charity for the poor just because he wanted to be like you, or bought socks for homeless children because it was a joy to help them, wouldn’t that be something different entirely? Wouldn’t you want to give more seed to that sower?

But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.  But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.      Luke 11:41-42

Many ministered to Jesus of their substance but never once does it say He asked for a donation to his ministry. People that preach prosperity doctrines tell people to seek the things of this world, better houses and cars and toys. Can we, for the joy of following Jesus, lay aside all our wants and seeming needs, and say:

But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.         1 Tim 6:6-8

Can we say that maybe these teachers are wrong when they teach us to work so hard memorizing and repeating scriptures and claiming worldly things we see and want? and do they make us feel guilty or faithless if we don’t follow them and try to acquire the worlds goods?
as paul said,

“Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.      1 Tim 6:5
“supposing that gain is godliness”

Here is a description of the early church, the church that was ablaze with the Holy Spirit and in love with the Son of God:

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;  How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.  For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;  Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.  And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 2 Cor 8:1-5

“their deep poverty”

If we let money and the pursuit of wealth become large in our lives we risk being the man that turned away from Jesus:

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Matt 19:21-22

If Jesus told you to sell everything right now and give it to the poor, would you? If He said, all your days down here will be spent being poor but always having your needs met, but that He would never leave you nor forsake you, would you follow Him in that?
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.      1 John 2:15-17

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Heb 13:5

How will we see the miracle of the 5,000 loaves if we never get down to our last loaf? We  often never seek the Lord so much as when we have no other recourse, and He is always faithful.

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.    Deut 31:6

Can we get back to how it was when we were first saved, we began in the Spirit, Jesus the Quickening Spirit sending His word to us with great love, His very personal word, day by day. We didn’t get saved because we memorized some scriptures.

If you did just memorize some scriptures and follow some good ideas, that won’t help you on that day when Jesus stands up to judge the people,

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.   Matt 7:22-23
“I never knew you”

when we seek the kingdom of God and the face of Jesus, and His will in our lives, we enter into a relationship with Him, we get to know Him.

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.  For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.  But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.     Luke 12:29-31

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matt 11:28-30

Some people have said that we can pursue wealth because Jesus said the love of money is the root of all evil and they don’t love money.

Let’s see if we love money to any extent, lets have a Holy Spirit fire drill.

Some preach that the church will get raptured before great tribulation, some preach that we will have tribulation and then get raptured. If Jesus doesn’t come for His church before tribulation we will have to walk with through perilous times. It says in the bible that saints will suffer persecution John 16:33 , and it doesn’t say: “except those in America”.

In the book of revelation it says of a time soon coming,
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.    Rev 13:16-17

 Jesus met a young man who was wealthy:
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.    Matt 19:21-22
Jesus said this expecting him to do so, right then, just give it all up.

For our fire drill, I challenge you to try one day without using money. Think about a day when no man can buy or sell without losing their soul. On that day you’d wake up in the morning and have to leave your home, because if you make your mortgage payment, you are buying. You cannot sell your home, because that is selling. You’d just have to walk away from it. Where will you go?

How will you convince your family that they must walk away from it all with you? If they have spent years in the luxury of the worlds goods, they may put up an argument, they may choose to stay behind. With whoever of your family that is willing to go with you, you can get into your car but realize that when it is out of gas you will have to abandon it somewhere because you cannot buy gas, that is buying. You begin to get hungry but cannot stop at the mini market for coffee and a snack, no more hazelnut lattes, you cannot go to your favorite restaurant, the grocery store costs money also, what will you eat?

Well, you say, this is nonsense, I will be prepared when that day comes, it isn’t here yet. Ok, but  how about if we get some oil in those lamps now so that we aren’t foolish virgins. How about if we let Jesus show us what He can do, let Him pry our hearts from the worlds system and goods now.

Let Him show us that He really did lead the children of Israel in the desert for forty years, but some turned back in their hearts to Egypt and it is not His will that any should perish without coming to repentance. I am not saying to you, sell all, give it up today, I do not know Jesus’ will for you, I am saying, ask Jesus what He would have you to do. Ask Him to get you ready for that day. I am not saying out of fear you should go buy enormous quantities of food and bury them somewhere, only God knows the day and hour, what if the day where we cannot buy or sell is two months after all your food spoils? I am just saying ask Jesus what He would have you to do. Test His answer by the written word of God.

Search the scriptures, pray for His guidance:
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: Acts 17:27

Here is a mention of the walk in the wilderness and what caught my eye is that in verse 10, it says “they did not know His ways”.
Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,  Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:  When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.  Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.  So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;    Heb 3:7-14

We have time right now to let Him show us His ways.

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;  That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.   1 Tim 6:17-19

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Rev 3:14-22

To endure in times that are so hard as not being able to buy or sell we will need true riches, we will need love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:               Gal 5:22-23

Jesus is the only One that has these things.

“I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire…“
We can get His gold, but it is tried in the fire. Silver is refined by making it so hot all the impurities rise to the surface and then you skim off the dross, leaving refined silver that is beautiful. My grandpa used to make jewelry and I have seen this done. I imagine that the silver may have thought at the time that my grandpa was trying to kill it, but he wasn’t, he was purifying it so it would shine even brighter and be even stronger.

Before Jesus died for our sins this was the Word to the old testament church that was become dross and needed purifying:
How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.  Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:  Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.  Therefore saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:  And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:  And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. Isaiah 1:21-26

If you choose to let Jesus refine you like silver or want His gold tried in the fire, here are some things to know that may be helpful..

There is a story of three men that refused to bow before the idol of the king and they risked their lives by remaining steadfast to the Living God:
Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?  Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.    Dan 3:14-18
verse 17,” our God is able…he will deliver us”
verse 18 “But if not…”
They were willing to die if God did not deliver them.

Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.  Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.     Dan 3:22-25

Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea. Isaiah 24:15

Sometimes it is like being in a hot fire when the Lord refines us.  Sometimes He leads us right into huge storms of life. I heard a story about how when a very bad storm comes up an eagle will fly very high to the top of it and then he can soar on those incredible winds. He doesn’t stay in the middle of it fighting it.

I was explaining this one day while standing up on my bus ride to a person and I lifted my arms to demonstrate the eagle just spreading his wings. When I did this I had that feeling that I might fall or crash if I just spread my wings and trusted that the winds would carry me, (the bus was going fast and bumpy). And that reminded me that little children do fall down when they are learning to walk for the first time. They have to get used to that foreign feeling of balance and walking upright, they are afraid at first. Its ok to try and fall down. Jesus won’t push us out of the nest until we are ready, and when He does it might be scary at first, we might in terror begin to plunge straight down, but then in pure amazement and joy, we discover that we can fly. Trusting Jesus is like learning to fly.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Spread your wings a little to be able to see that even if we go through times where we have no money, or even a home of our own, God is faithful to care for us through it all.

And as Corrie Ten Boom once said, we should hold on to our earthly possessions very loosely so God doesn’t have to pry our fingers off of them when He takes them from us.