SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
(Proverbs 4:5-6) (5) "Get wisdom, get understanding: Forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth." (6) "Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: Love her, and she shall keep thee."
(Proverbs 4:7-9) (7) "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom: And with all thy getting get understanding." (8) "Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her." (9) "She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee."
(Philippians 4:19) "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
Matthew 6:33 “but seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.(Psalm 37:21) "The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again."
(Prov. 14:23) “In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury poverty"
(Proverbs 21:20) "There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up."
(Proverbs 22:7) "The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender."
(Proverbs 8:20-21) (20) "I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:" (21) "that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures."
PREFACE SUMMARY
Dear reader, this message aims to understand the biblical law of sowing and reaping comprehensively. We explore the unlimited possibilities of Christians' understanding of tithing, including being in business and partnering with God. In this sermon, we will study the principles that will bless and enrich our spiritual and financial walk with Christ.
Beloved Saints, men, and women of great wealth have conducted seminars and authored books, crediting their accomplishments by trusting and giving a tithe of their increase to the work of God. As their faith increased, so did their wealth and financial accomplishments!
Beloved, the word speaks of putting God first by seeking his righteousness. If you do so, all the other things you need, such as kingdom blessings, shall be added.
Dear reader, the word in Proverbs, the fourth chapter, speaks of wisdom being the principal thing. The word "principal" used by the writer can be best described as being foremost, the first, the leading, such as an essential city or capital city, therefore, the most important or dominant.
Beloved, did you know that seeking Godly wisdom can change everything, including the power to turn your situation around?
Dear reader, Faith is the "currency" of God's kingdom, and it takes faith to receive and operate in the Godly principles that will fix your financial situation and help you eliminate debt from your balance sheet.
GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER
(Luke 6:38) "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."
Dear readers, we find in (Deuteronomy 14:23) Moses stated that the Lord's tithe was holy unto the Lord. Tithing was one of the ways to teach the people of Israel to prioritize God above everything else. The Bible emphasizes seeking God's righteousness first and assures us that all the other things we need, including kingdom blessings, shall be added unto us.
Last year, while in the USA, I received a notice that I had lost $1588.33 USD in the stock market. However, the other day, the Lord prompted me and my wife to buy a Stratocaster guitar for a church pastor while we were in the Philippines. The price was a little over $400.00 USD, which was way cheaper than it would cost in the US.
When we returned to our apartment, we noticed an email from Vanguard in the USA regarding our account. To our surprise, we discovered that our balance, which had been zero since last year, was now showing $1588.33 USD to the good.
Beloved reader, always prioritizes God in your life, and He will provide all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
PLAN AND SAVE FOR YOUR FUTURE
Dear reader, have you ever noticed a home located beside the highway that had the potential to be someone's dream home? However, because the owners were unprepared for unexpected events such as sickness or death in the family, they did not have the necessary funds to complete the project. Consequently, the unfinished home is now in ruins and will soon have to be torn down instead of contributing to the surrounding area.
(Matthew 6:19-21) (19) "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:" (20) "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:" (21) "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
In the informative verse listed in this column, we learn that our heart's desires are where we store our treasures. Therefore, we must ask ourselves whether we long for worldly amusements and attractions or hunger and thirst for righteousness.
(Galatians 5:7) "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?"
The scripture in Galatians 5:7 speaks about someone who started with good intentions but was not prepared for the enemy's attacks. Although they had made a good start in the faith, it wasn't enough to sustain them. They were in danger of falling for the legalistic practices of the heathen cultures around them.
Mixing the law with grace takes away our liberty and binds us. It implies that Jesus and His work of grace are insufficient and that He needs man's help to guard and fulfill it, placing us under obligation to the whole law. This approach violates the work of the Spirit of God and makes us focus on irrelevant things.
Beloved, mixing the law with grace prevents us from running the race Jesus set before us, causing us to become discouraged and take our eyes off the author and finisher of our faith. It can infect an entire church if not exposed for what it is. Therefore, we must be vigilant and discerning so that we do not fall into the trap of legalism.
AVOID UNNECESSARY DEBT
Dear readers, were you aware that falling into debt can limit your freedom? Regrettably, some assume they can purchase items on credit and delay payments until later. This may work fine for some, but what about unexpected emergencies arising out of nowhere? Your emergencies will not stop the persistent calls from creditors demanding their money.
Beloved Saints, I have learned from experience that easy credit now will cost you more later. I have also known that a person will pay more for borrowed money than the interest earned for saving it.
Dear friend, it's important not to burden your family by trying to keep up with your neighbors and living beyond your means. This applies not only to your financial life but also to your spiritual life. It's important to be true to yourself and not pretend to be someone you're not. You cannot give what you do not possess, and there are no shortcuts to spirituality.
The main theme in this message is to focus on what's important and stay true to yourself financially and spiritually. Don't compare yourself to others; instead, find contentment in where you are now.
DO NOT COSIGN ON A NOTE
(Proverbs 22:26-27) (26) "Be not thou one of them that strikes hands, or of them that are sureties for debts." (27) "If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee"
Dear readers, the above scriptures warn us not to be one of those who strike hands or become sureties for debts—the passage questions why one should lose even their bed if they have nothing to pay. Cosigning for someone's loan is a risk, especially for agreeing to pay someone else's debt.
The lender typically requires a cosigner because the original borrower has a poor credit history and is considered a bad credit risk. A cosigner puts their name on the loan and becomes the person borrowing the money.
I recall a truck driver who cosigned a loan for a friend to buy a new Dodge Ram truck worth $75000.00 US dollars. Although the friend had a thriving business, he had no credit history, so he needed a cosigner. The friend made the payments, but unfortunately, the truck driver had to sell his truck and quit his job, leaving him with only social security to live on.
The friend who borrowed the money stopped making the payments, and the truck was repossessed, leaving the truck driver with a bill to pay, which he could not. The businessman had used the truck for his work, causing it to have dents and scrapes, including a damaged rear bumper. The truck driver was forced to sell his house later to repay the debt.
The lesson here is that we cannot trust everyone, and the Bible instructs us not to be sureties for someone's debt other than our own. Unfortunately, the friend who borrowed the money portrayed himself as a man of God. However, we must always be careful and follow the Word, which states, "Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. (Proverbs 17:13 )
SEEK GODLY COUNCIL
(Proverbs 15: 22) "Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors, they are established.”
Dear reader, seeking financial advice from someone who doesn't make a living selling the very thing you're contemplating buying is essential. Before making any significant purchase like a house, car, or loan, praying about it and seeking guidance from Godly people is crucial.
However, some people avoid seeking counsel because they don't want to be told that their decision may be hasty and wrong. Such people must understand that salespeople have already sized them up and are likely to pressure them into making quick decisions, often leading to undesirable outcomes.
To achieve financial freedom, it's vital not to sign anything without checking the deal thoroughly. Don't let anyone pressure you to make quick and rash decisions you may regret later.
Lastly, many people in financial trouble may not work hard enough to maintain their lifestyle. They may be living beyond their means, spending money on unnecessary things like dining out instead of saving for a rainy day. This often makes them unable to meet their bills and payments for accessories like phones and cars. They may then try to come up with sad stories, hoping someone else will pay for them.
Remember, the worst deal in the world is often when you're rushed into signing, capitulating to a relentless salesman's pressure tactics. Take time to pray, and ask God if it fits your needs. The best offer in the world can wait and be unique, and it usually won't be as inviting once you've taken the time to consider it.
IN BUSINESS WITH GOD
Dear reader, as we end this message, let us, as God's children, acknowledge that we always have a choice between making excuses for not praying and practicing effectively. Unfortunately, we often take the easy route and lazily offer excuses for failing to communicate with God.
Saints of God, I have listed below some flimsy excuses that we use to justify our lack of prayer life. However, let me say from experience that no matter how hard or late we have worked, we always make time for what we want to do.
Here are some excuses we make:
1. We are tired.
2. We don't have time to pray or get sleepy while reading the Bible.
3. We blame the coldness or problems in our church family or the current times as reasons for neglecting our prayer life.
Beloved, do you remember the nursery rhyme, "Ole Mother Hubbard went to the cub bard to fetch Rover a bone, but when she got there, the cupboard was bare, and Ole Rover got none?" Could it be that our cupboard is bare?
Is the coldness of men's hearts dulling their sensitivity to hearing the voice of God? Do we have too many gods, such as our job, car, religion, spouse, etc., that consume our time and energy?
Continuing in the lifestyle that the Bible declares as sin will always bring guilt and condemnation, which will prevent us from praying to God. We all know who is the author of guilt and condemnation. (Isaiah 59:2) "Your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He will not hear."
Beloved, God says to those who are hungry to see the fire of God descend upon His Church today, "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
When we mean business with God, we will find that real praying is work that sometimes requires long hours, sleepless nights, heart-searching, and possible "house-cleaning" because Satan will fight every effort we make to touch the throne of God.
Beloved, there is a price to pay for the anointing, which is why the word states in (Matthew 22:14) that "many are called, but few are chosen."
Prayer is defined as denying self, which may require us to lay aside some of the things we like to give God preeminence. This will give him time to implant His burden in our hearts.
Here, in this divine intimacy, we will experience victory as we fully obey the Spirit's promptings. We must be ready to allow the Holy Spirit to control our life and ministry completely.
The old masters of the pulpit got their texts on their knees, soaked them with their tears, groaned over them with a travailing spirit, and warmed them with sincere prayer. This helped them deliver the message as a living thing, warm from God's heart, burning in the preacher's heart to make the listeners' hearts.
If we preach from the head, we will reach the head of our congregation, but if we preach from the heart, we will get their heart. There is no substitute for prayer when it comes to ministering to God's people.
In closing, let me say, especially with more than thirty-five years of ministry throughout the inner cities of America and some countries abroad, that we cannot tell this fast-paced half-stepping generation today with their indoctrinated progressive intellects what our God can do for them. If we want to see results and turn this nation around, we must live and demonstrate the Gospel of the Kingdom to a lost and hurting world!
God has chosen a remnant, and what little we do for Him in this dark, confused world could be illustrated by being in a dark room or cave attempting to find the door but to no avail because our eyes and brains are confused due to the darkness. However, I have some hope. Strike a match; that match's flicker and coming flame will bring hope out of despair. That is what we become when we let our light shine for the kingdom of God in a confused, dark world.
(Matthew 6:33) “but seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
WHEN WAS FOREVER DONE AWAY WITH?
(Numbers 18:18) “All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute forever: it is a covenant of salt forever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee.”
First fruit Offering to God
(Ephesians 4: 8) "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men."
Beloved, this scripture describes Christ's descent to the lowest level of hell and ascent to the highest heaven. Here, he presented the Old Testament saints in Abraham's bosom, also known as paradise, in their resurrected bodies as a first fruit offering to the Father. This is similar to how people bring the first fruits from their crops to the high priest for him to bless, after which they can harvest their fields.
Tithe in the Millennial Reign
(Zechariah 14: 17) "And it shall be that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the king, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
MY CONCLUSION
Beloved, the word of God states that we are both Kings and Priests of our God. As Kings, we need to have sound judgment. As Priests, we are called to willingly yield our bodies as a living sacrifice, our reasonable service to the Lord we represent here on earth.
God desires to use us to reach out to the needy and the culture around us with the good news that we serve a Risen Savior. He wants to use our hands and feet to do good works and to share His love with others. Sometimes, God will ask us to give out of our need to get us to where He can richly bless us. However, we should try the spirits and make sure it is the right one speaking to us.
We can know if it is the right spirit by listening to that still, small voice and ensuring no checks in our spirit. Beloved, it is essential to look for the peace of God to come upon us before we act on what someone says God wants us to give into their fund. If you try the spirits and have God's peace upon you, then by all means, give what comes into your heart and mind to share.
It has been proven repeatedly that we cannot out-give Almighty God. He owns everything and will open doors for us that we could never get open. Beloved, it is time to get past the Sanctuary of Worship and enter into a deep and meaningful relationship with Christ, who is not flesh and blood but an Eternal Being. Nothing should ever be allowed to replace being in His presence.
Our relationship with Him is the most important thing. People, places, and things, including family, are temporal and will come to an end. Our place in a direct relationship with Him will determine how much He can trust us in the world to come. Therefore, we need to go into a place of Holy Reverence for who He is and what He has done for us. We are called to be sons and daughters of the Most-High God.
I have some good news for those of you living in other countries who are constantly looking for someone to support your ministry or even run it for you, and you do not even know them or have ever met them. It can be found in the book of Corinthians in the third chapter. (1 Corinthians 3:21-23) It says everything is yours, whether people, places, or things. If we have a need, God has already provided everything to meet that need. All we have to do is believe and claim it, for the word says it is already ours. Therefore, we should not believe what we see but see what we think until it becomes a reality.
(1 Corinthians 3:21-23) (21) "Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;" (22) "Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;" (23) "And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's."
Beloved, this reminds us that if we are pursuing a career in ministry and have a need, God has already provided everything to meet that need. All we have to do is believe and claim it, for the scripture says it is already ours. Let's focus not on what we see but on what we think until it becomes a reality.
MY CLOSING PRAYER
Dear Lord, I am grateful for the blessings of life and believe that your Holy Spirit will enlighten those who take time out of their busy schedule to read this message, especially those seeking a closer relationship with you.
Father, I pray that you grant us a deeper understanding of the truths embedded in your word. Help us remember that we, as your children, make up your body on Earth and that when one member suffers, we all suffer.
Lord, as we begin our day, we need your daily bread, and we ask you to forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors. Please guide us to be reminded of your tender mercy, love, grace, and supreme sacrifice in becoming our sin substitute so that we may be free from the bonds of sin.
Precious Lord, help us to demonstrate to all who see us that we are indeed the body of Christ on Earth. In this time of unrest and confusion, may we always remember that you are a very present help in times of trouble.
Lord, as we journey through each day allotted unto us, may we be thankful and look around to observe your love in action through the hearts and minds of your people. Help us, Lord, to recognize your divine appointments and act upon the opportunities to exercise your unconditional love for our families, our friends, and even those who are not so friendly.
Dear Lord, Your word tells us that love begets love; therefore, if we sow love, we will reap love. Heavenly Father, help us express our love in ways that will bring change, enhance our relationships, including our marriages, and demonstrate your love to others, not expecting anything in return.
Blessed Lord, in times of despair, please remind us that you will be there for us even in trouble. Help us realize that in times of deep sorrow, your love will cover and strengthen us. In Jesus' mighty name Lord, we ask your guidance and blessings to be upon this humble prayer, Amen.
International Evangelist
Jerry W. Hulse Ph.D.
Miracle Life Church International
