If Your Robbing God, Your Robbing Yourself

August 2007 Dear Brethren
Greetings in the most wonderful name of Jesus, our soon coming king. There was a man in the middle of the ocean, his boat tipped over and he was on the verge of drowning. A helicopter flew over the boat. The pilot shouted take the life preserver and I'll pull you up. The man said no. The pilot thought he was crazy and asked him why wouldn't he take the preserver. His reply was I am waiting for God's help. The man of course ended up drowning. The story isn't true, but in reality God uses people to help. At this point in our ministry we desperately need a financial miracle. We are up against the red sea like Moses, for the first time in 20 years. Moses was praying, asking God for help when the Lord told Moses to stop praying and do something. Then the Lord said to Moses, Why are you crying out, praying to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water. (Exodus 14:15-16A).

I talked to God like Moses did, and He told me to do something I didn't want to do, and that's tell you about our crisis. I had to do the same thing last year when God told me to call up some saints and ask them if they would give me (personally) enough money to buy a car. That request didn't go into a newsletter like this one is for ministerial finances. But I must tell you, everyone God told me to call in regard to money gave liberally; and I know God is and will return back bountiful blessings to my brothers and sisters.

Please don't get me wrong, I thank God for every dollar that has come in, they add up. All of you who have given whether much or little are appreciated.

I believe totally the word of God. I believe if one does what the scriptures say to do then the blessings at God's timing will come. Some of my favorite scriptures that I believe will come to pass both to me personally and for the ministry are:
1. One man gives freely, yet gains even more Proverbs 11:24a.
2. A generous man will prosper; He who refuses others will himself be refused. Proverb11: 25 3. He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest amasses it for another who will be kind to the poor (Proverbs 28:8).

It's just a matter of time before God releases to me personally and the ministry hugh sums of money. Why? Because both myself and the ministry have obeyed the first 2 scriptures and that entitles us to receive wealth from those that have gotten their money by charging ungodly interest.

The following is a teaching that the Lord told me to do. Again, I didn't want to write this because it has to do with money. However, it is all scriptural and I hope that you hear what God is saying. And if you need to apply some of it or all of it to your life, do it by faith and you will be blessed beyond measure.

One goes to church to worship God. Our worship doesn't end after the song service is over; tithes and offerings are a continued form of worshipping the Lord. If you are saved and aren't tithing and giving an offering you are under a curse for robbing God (Malachi 3:8-10). Your tithes go to the church you attend. Over the years we've had people send their tithes to us because they haven't found a church. They have been spiritually fed through our newsletters and web-site. Once one establishes him or herself in a church the tithe must stay there. The tithe is 10%.

Your blessings don't come from tithing they come from your offerings. Why do I say that? Because the tithe is automatically Gods'. A tithe of everything from the land whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees belongs to the Lord, it is holy to the Lord (Lev. 27:30). If some one doesn't give the tenth to the Lord and sells it, (grain or fruit from the trees) they must add a fifth of the value to it. (Lev. 27:31) These are the commandments the Lord gave Moses on Mt. Sinai for the Israelites.

Nehemiah talks about the tithe and offering in Nehemiah 10:37. He tells us the Levites receive the tithes then they take a tenth of the tithes and bring it to the house of God to the storerooms of the treasury. Then all the people including the Levites are to bring their offerings of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms, for they will not neglect the house of God. By not tithing and giving offerings one has neglected the house of God.

Abram before God changed his name to Abraham (Genesis 17:5) attacked 4 kings who had captured his relatives and their possessions. He defeated them and recovered all the goods and possessions. He then met Melchizedek (a type of Jesus Christ) a priest of God Most High, and voluntarily gave him a tenth of everything.

Tithing is also talked about in the New Testament. Jesus was talking to the teachers of the law and said, you give a tenth of your spices: mint, dill and cumin (Matthew 23:33). In Luke 18:11-12 the Pharisee boasts that he is not like other men. I fast once a week and give a tenth of all I get.

The following is about offerings:
The great King David whose heart was after God said this about his giving to the work of the Lord (building God's temple). I am giving over and above everything I have provided for this Holy Temple (1Chronicles 29:3). He gave his own treasure of Gold and Silver, and then the leaders gave willingly (1Chronicles 29:6). Then the people who saw the leaders give willing, also gave freely and whole heartedly to the Lord. David the King also rejoiced greatly (1 Chronicles 29:9). Then David prayed to the Lord, who am I and who are my people that we should be able to give so generously as this? Everything comes from you and we have only given what has come from your hand (1 Chronicles 29:14). Then he adds to his prayer, keep the desire in the hearts of your people forever and their hearts loyal to you (1Chronicles 29:18). The desire David is talking about forever is the sacrificial offering which he also did towards the work of the Lord

If your heart isn't willing to give sacrificially, ask God to change your heart with his hand. That's where the blessings are! They are toward one who has a willing heart to provide sacrificially for those who are doing the Kingdom's work..

Moses told the Israelites the Lord has commanded from what you have take an offering for the Lord (Exodus 35:4&5). Whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord. And every wise hearted among you shall come and do all the Lord hath commanded (Exodus 35:10). Not everybody gave and those that didn't missed their blessing. But those who did were involved in the work of the Lord. In the New Testament the Apostle Paul speaks very clearly about sacrificial offerings. Paul tells the Philippian Church that there was only one church that took care of my needs in my early days of giving and receiving. They gave and received from the Lord. He says, again and again you gave when I was in need. He goes on to say, I'm not looking for a gift, but what can be credited to your account. The gifts are a sweet smelling fragrance offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:15-19). The reason the needs of the Philippian Church were met was because they went above and beyond to take care of the man that was preaching the Gospel.

The Bible says in Philippians 4:6, In everything make your requests known to the Lord. Would you do it in asking Him what amount of sacrificial offering to send us at this time? If you'll do that, and you obey the amount that he says, you'll not believe what the Lord will do for you because of your obedience to him.

By faith, please make out your tax-deductible check to The Masters Hand Christian Fellowship. I have faith that you will answer our hearts cry.

Serving the King together,
Brother Joseph

P.S. Don't forget to keep our meetings in prayer; your prayers are making a difference.