SCRIPTURAL READING : Gen 1:2: Jer 4:23: Job 10:23: 1 Cor 14:40: 1 Tim 3:15 : Acts 21:23: 1 Tim 1:8,9: Heb 13: 17: Rom 14:12: Lk 16:2: Math 12:36: 1Pet 4:5:
Salutations beloved brethren in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus. Listen! I know that the issue of money has been talked over and over! But that should not stop us from talking about it again! Now, the cardinal question which we are faced with is: Is it a time to receive money?( 2 Kings 5:26). Or is it a time to receive a revelation of God's provision ( Phi 4:19). See? Which should come first in your life as a believer?
Now notice! You need to be careful who promises to give you money! You may receive as many have received money for betrayal of the cause of Christ! ( Mk 14:11). See? Remember, in the words of the Preacher, money ( under the sun) answereth all things ( Eccl 10:19). See?
Indeed, it can buy anything under the sun. In times of old and even now, it has the power to buy a fellow human being to make a bondslave( Gen 17:27). See? It is so tempting to misuse it in the name of God or in disguise of the message of the hour! One can perish with his money!( Acts 8:20). The Bible warns sternly: For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. ( 1Tim 6:10). See?
Do you see the difference between money as a medium of exchange and it is needed for daily living and the love of it, on the other hand? You need to pay attention to what the Bible really condemns on the matter of money. See?
For especially ministers, the love of money can become your graveyard if you don't pray to God for a revelation of his provision. You also need to understand the lawful process and principles of financial management according to the word of God, of your own ministry and the church, including missions. Right!
THE REVELATION OF THE PROVISION OF GOD:
Dear friends, it is very important that every believer should be conversant on the sure, certain and abundant provision of God not only for life sustainance of his servants and children, but also providing resources needed to accomplish his work. God cares! ( 1Pet 5:7). He has a provided way to meet all your needs, both physical and spiritual. He is Jehovah-Jire ( Gen 22:8, 14). Nothing is left to chance!
The scripture says: Then earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein( Psa 24:1). He has cattle upon a thousand hills ( Psa 50:10). See? So, what is the matter with the so-called believers of today? Why don't you trust in the provision of God? God is faithful, and he keeps all his promises! And as for the ministers, you certainly must have been told that, when God assigns you his work or sends you on missions of his work, he sure will take care of you! Now you must understand this: Money will come! It will surely be added unto you( Matt 6:33). See? All you need to do is have the knowledge that, before money comes, you must design and have in place ( as a preparation) , order , lawful process , legitimacy , accountability procedures and structures for the money that will be deposited in your hands or account. See? You, as steward of the resources of God that are committed to your hands, must know that, one day, you will be called to give an account of how you utilised those resources! ( Lk 16:2). See? So, you need to be prepared to handle it very well. That is it!
A THIEF:
My dear brother, once you have a revelation of the provision of God, you will stop chasing after money! Instead, you will seek God and his righteousness!( Matt 6:33)! You will also understand that once money comes, it must be utilised for the purpose it was sent for. Anything outside that will certainly put you into trouble! And you should not allow that to happen!
Notice! After your daily welfare needs and overhead costs have been duly met, where do you put the rest of that money? In the case of the prophet of the age, he gave us an example. Once his family needs and so forth had been taken care of, the rest of it he put into foreign missions. This money was used for spreading the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is in line with the core aspect in the Kingdom of God, which is evangelism. It is critical for the church to understand that it exists on earthl mainly for the purpose of winning souls to Christ! See? That is where really a big portion of your resources should be channelled to. Correctly!
Not simply to pocket it, and misallocate it to satisfy personal and selfish lifestyles, and share with cronies, in dishonest, corrupt or self-serving activities. This amounts to theft of money! That is simply wrong!
Look at what is written of Judas Iscariot: Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.( Jn 12:4-6). See? He was a hypocrite, a thief, pretending to care for the poor( an act of benevolence), yet in actual fact, his heart was for love of money! He surely perished with it! And how many have the same spirit of Judas Iscariot, even among those who claim to believe and follow, the Message of the hour? And how can anyone claim to believe the Message of the hour and do such a thing? Is it not the Judas Iscariot spirit has reproduced itself at the end times? It is hard to say, but the evidence is overwhelming, and it is calling for someone to cry against it! Exactly!
ROBBERY :
It is written! The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.( Prov 21:7).
It is sad to note that the love for money by many men of God has gone to extremes! Of course, we have seen what is happening in the traditional churches, Catholic and Protestants. We are aware of the life of opulence and lavish styles of their church leaders, beginning with the Pope of Rome himself! We all know what the Bible had spoken about how Babylon had merchandise of valuable minerals, like gold, silver, precious stones and pearls, and so forth ! She also traded in slaves and souls! ( Rev 18:10-13). Think of it!
The church leaders live deliciously, in most cases at the expense of the poor, faithful followers. See? Her daughters, including what has come to be called, Pentecostalism are no different! They are part of the Laodicea Church age, religious spirit that is mainly burdened for wealth and riches, other than standing for the pure unadulterated word of the living God, that could save many souls in their churches ( Rev 3:17). See?
Have we not witnessed where even some Pentecostal pastors use force and threats to extort money from their followers! They threaten with curses if they refuse to give them the money they want! And where does all that money go which they receive in millions in their bank accounts? God has rebuked them as wreched, miserable, poor and blind, and naked ! ( Rev 3:17). See? The most pitiful thing, is they don't know that they are in that horrible spiritual condition !
A CURSE :
It is written! Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.( Zech 5:3). Dear brethren, there is a curse that follows those who steal money or funds that they have fraudulently got from the hands of the faithful people of goodwill. Those who have been deceived to contribute their hard earned savings for what should have been the right cause, but have been misapproriated to serve only personal interests and syndicates!
To conclude , remember we saw this when we were in them denominations! The next question now is: What is the current situation among the believers of the Endtime Message? Our cardinal question still remains: Is it time to receive money( 2 Kings 5:26). See? Are you permitted by the word of God to simply spend all your efforts and energies chasing for money, and no matter how you get,so long as you get it? Do you have a revelation of the provision of God for your all your needs ? ( Phi 4:19). See? As a message believer, are you fully aware of the risks and consequences of getting wages in unrighteousness ? ( 2 Pet 2:15). It pays to be careful ! To be continued.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you . Amen . One more soul .
Pastor Charles Obwoon
