Acts 1:3 – “…and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (NKJV).

 What are the key elements of accessing the kingdom of God; the “things pertaining to;” the keys to the treasure house? As we have stated previously there are at least four:

a. A word – from the Kingdom as revealed by the Holy Spirit to Believers.

b. A vision – of the way it will be in the final form. We must have eyes to see and ears to hear and a heart that understands (Matthew 13:13-16).

c. Faith – just a little. i.e. Peter walking on the water.

d. Confession – connecting the word of the kingdom to our world by positive faith statements and speaking. Jesus said, “If you believe and doubt not… If you say…” mountains will move for you.

As we have said before, much of the believer’s problem today is that we are not “seeing” and “hearing” and “believing” and we are not “saying.” We are not moving into the Kingdom to see and hear and we are not really believing it and speaking it or putting it into action. James tells us not to be “hearers of the word only …deceiving ourselves.” But to be “doers of the word.” We are to “activate the word.” But in order to activate the word we must see and hear the word.

Herein lies the problem as addressed by Isaiah (Isaiah 6) and quoted by both Jesus (Matthew 13) and Paul (Acts 28). We are not seeing, hearing, and understanding the word of God from His Kingdom to our heart.

Everyone has this “kingdom” available to see into (as Isaiah, Jesus, and Paul intimated) and it is “within you,” as Jesus pointed out but not everyone sees a word from God in this area – not even true believers in Jesus. Why is this?

Jesus and Isaiah both said that it was due to the “hardness of heart.” What does this mean? It means that we are not (1) conscious of this area that is within us, (2) we do not know how to operate from this area, or (3) we have allowed calluses to cover over this area making it not sensitive to the available word. Thus, God cannot “heal” us or help us because we cannot cooperate with His word which He intends to implant upon our heart.

As believers, our help comes in two important ways. First we can be “born again,” or “from above.” We then are given a new set of senses; spiritual senses with the ability to see spiritually, hear spiritually, and understand spiritually. This is vital. Jesus indicated this to Nicodemus, a teacher of the Old Testament that one “must be born again.”

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

So, the believer has a great advantage. We have a new ability.

But, secondly, the believer not only has new equipment, but we have a new “Helper.” We have the Holy Spirit who was given to indwell us, intercede for us to the Father, and reveal or interpret the word and will of the Father to us. The early church finally caught on to this when they quit “casting lots” for decisions and began to rely upon the Holy Spirit and the Word revealed and interpreted.

It seems that our work is mainly heart preparation – abiding in Christ – allowing the Word to abide in us – keeping a clean and pure heart. In other words, keeping the radio receptor of our heart “tuned in to the right station” and keeping it operational.

You can operate in the Kingdom of God by the grace of God. You can develop the ability to see, hear, and understand the word from the Kingdom of God. You can, then, by faith apply this word for powerful results. This is our main work.

Acts 1:1-3

“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after he through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (NKJV).

The Kingdom of God has been a personal pursuit of mine for many years and especially the last several months. I have asked several questions. Is it the same as the Kingdom of Heaven? Why is it important? What are the plural “things” of the Kingdom? Why are more people – believers – not operating in it? Why was it so important that this would be the 40 day teaching subject of Jesus? If it were that important would the devil want to keep us blind and deaf to its treasure?

1. Obviously, Jesus thought that the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God were important.

In Matthew 6:33 He made it a priority with a promise; “Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these other things will be added unto you.”

2. But what is it and where is it?

I believe it to be different than the Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom of Heaven is an external place. The Kingdom of God is an internal dimension. In Luke 17:20-21, Jesus told a group of Pharisees that the Kingdom of God was “within” them. If this is true then we ought to be able to seek it and access it while here on earth (Matthew 6:33).

3. Why is it important to us?

It appears to be a treasure house. In Matthew 6:33 the “other things added unto you” were not a reward for putting it first but as the place from which they come forth.

It was so valuable to Jesus that He operated totally in it:

He would withdraw to a quiet place to check the word of the Father in the Kingdom of God.

Before He chose the disciples

Before walking on water

Before raising Lazarus

Before doing mighty signs

Before the crucifixion

It was so important to Him that He said that He could nothing except for what he saw the Father doing (John 5:19). And where did He “see” the Father doing things? Was it not in this Kingdom?

4. What are the key elements of accessing the kingdom of God; the keys to the treasure house?

a. A word – from the Kingdom as revealed by the Holy Spirit to Believers.

b. A vision – of the way it will be in the final form. We must have eyes to see and ears to hear and a heart that understands (Matthew 13:13-16).

c. Faith – just a little. i.e. Peter walking on the water.

d. Confession – connecting the word of the kingdom to our world by positive faith statements and speaking. Jesus said, “If you believe and doubt not… If you say…” mountains will move for you.

Much of the believer’s problem today is that we are not “seeing” and “hearing” and “believing” and we are not “saying.”

5. An example of this principle is found in Roman’s 10:8-10 in regard to salvation.

In the passage we see that there is the “word” from the Kingdom and from God  (the Gospel). There is faith acting on a word in our heart. And there is the “saying” or confession.

6. The problem today is what Jesus mentioned in Matthew 13:13-15 as He quoted from Isaiah the prophet.

It is one of spiritual blindness, deafness, and lack of heart understanding. It was this way in Noah’s day, in the Old Testament days of Isaiah, when Jesus was on earth, and the Bible predicts that it will be that way when Jesus returns (“as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when the Son of Man returns”).

Conclusion:

God would have us be people who see and hear into His Kingdom –

To observe His Word

To believe His Word without doubt

To always seek His Word as a first priority

To confess His Word openly in our world

To “do” His Word

To proclaim His Word to a blind and deaf world

For in His Kingdom is His Word which is most important and most valuable. In it are treasures beyond compare available for those who will see, believe, say, and act.

Recently, national news focused on a pastor and his following who predicted the rapture to take place on May 21, 2010. Obviously, it did not happen but it did make us think about the time in which we live and end-time events.

Devastating tornadoes with murderous results have been noted all around America. “1000 year floods” have been observed. The Tsunami that rocked Japan and caused a nuclear disaster and loss of life made us think of earthquakes. And “earthquakes in diverse places” was mentioned even by Jesus as a mark of the end times.

But, are these things signs of the end? Or, are they just noticed more in our age of instant communication? Are they just normal consequential occurrences?

Like the pastor that missed the prediction, so, we too, will look rather foolish if we start setting a specific date for the return of Jesus, the rapture, or the end of time. Jesus said that only the Father in Heaven knew the day or the hour. For us to make a prediction is utter foolishness.

But, Jesus did say that, even though we do not know the specific date, we could observe practical signs that would show the discerning spiritually minded person that the time was drawing near.

He used the illustration of birth pangs growing in intensity as the delivery time drew near.

He used the illustration of natural seasonal signs as indication of the approaching season.

He did say that we could recognize the approaching time by subtle signs appearing here and there and with observable frequency.

No, we cannot know the specific date, but we can know when it is getting close.

I remember, as a boy, having an old-timer point out to me how one could know if rain or a storm was coming. He used a little mariner’s poem. It stuck with me and proved true nearly every time. It goes like this:

“Red sky in morning, sailors take warning.

Red sky in evening, sailors be leaving.”

(I did not learn until later that this was an actual atmospheric occurrence)

Likewise, when you see trees budding, you know that spring is just around the corner.

There are many natural signs regarding both the plant and animal kingdoms. We should not minimize the Biblical signs either. Jesus said that, just as one could observe atmospheric or horticultural signs, so we could observe spiritual, Biblical, or end-time signs. We would be wise to take note of them.

You may want to consider the material in my book Revelation Celebration as I list eighteen signs of the end times as backed up by Scripture. You can get the book by searching – Revelation Celebration on Amazon or by going to our website: www.signalhillfoundtion.org.

We cannot know the exact second that the curtains are going to part but we can know it is getting close if the stage is being set, the lights go down, and the music begins to play. We can know when it is getting close to “show time.”

Let us remember the admonishment of Scripture and our Lord, “Be ready for you know not what hour your Lord will come.” Be ready!

There is a way around the mess. It is a sound investment strategy but only for those who believe in God and His Word. It is a strategy that pays multiplied dividends now and for eternity. And, it goes against the grain of the common world system. It also requires faith – genuine faith – true faith.

If one will examine the Scriptures closely, he will find the secret to this investment strategy voiced by, none other than, Jesus Christ. I like to think of it as God’s heavenly investment program.

This investment strategy is found in many places in the Bible but I will confine our lesson to just a few pertinent Scriptures from the teaching of Jesus.

In Matthew 6 Jesus spoke of giving, praying, and fasting. In each of these segments He taught that these activities should be done sincerely and in “secret.” And the Father, who “sees in secret” would reward you openly.

In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said,

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

In Luke 6:38, Jesus taught,

“Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use it will be measured back to you.”

In Mark 10:23-30 we have Jesus teaching about how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. In the same context He told the disciples that those who had followed Him and given up things would receive a “hundredfold now in this time” and “in the age to come, eternal life.”

So, here are some of the issues before us:

First, many of us, who call ourselves believers and Christ followers have assumed that the really great Christian is to take a vow of poverty and look only toward the eternal reward. This, however, is not the teaching of Jesus. It is not “now” or “eternity,” it is both for the believer.

Secondly, we must make our vision be toward the kingdom of God and His righteousness. The Gentiles “seek” “things” as a first priority without the kingdom of God in mind. We are not to do that. Jesus does not teach that we are to live in poverty. He speaks of the “things” we need and the “things” the Gentiles seek as something the Father wants to have “added” to our life.

In the “rich young ruler” passage Jesus asks the man to go sell all he has, give to the poor, and come and follow Him. Jesus was asking him to change his vision and attitude. The change was to be a faith and trust change. He had been trusting in his own righteousness and ability and riches. Now, Jesus was asking him to trust God; to invest in the Bank of Heaven.

The Kingdom Investment Strategy is really very simple; give into the kingdom and let God return unto you. This is exactly what the world cannot accept – just like the rich young ruler. And it requires faith and trust in God. It is a refocusing upon your Heavenly Father as your source.

Like the rich young ruler, we have grown up thinking that we are our source, our job is our source, our spouse is our source, our inheritance is our source, our 401 K retirement plan is our source, or the government is our source. This is thinking like the “Gentiles” who “seek” these things. We are to live by a different strategy.

So, how are we to do it?

First, we are to rethink the “now” verses “eternity” issue. God wants to give it to us now as well as then.

Secondly, we are to develop a new attitude unlike that of the worldly-minded investors. We are to begin investing in the Bank of Heaven with Kingdom Investment Strategy.

Thirdly, we are to give. We are to get a word about where to give and how much to give and be obedient to the Holy Spirit in this matter, regardless of how “risky” it may seem.

Fourthly, we are to give by faith with the expectation that God will make good on the return of the investment. The Bible says that even a cup of water given in the name of Jesus garners a notice and a reward from God and pays dividends.

One of the most exciting challenges for any believer is to trust God in the area of finances. To observe God’s return on our investment is a great thing. I think God enjoys the process, too. In the book of Malachi, He throws down a challenge about giving tithes and offerings and says, “Prove me in this and see if I will not open up the Heavens and pour down upon you a blessing you will not be able to contain.”

Try The Kingdom Investment Strategy and see what God will do. It is a better investment strategy than any worldly financial advisor can offer.

Good Intentions – Disastrous Results

Many, many people throughout history have based faith actions on the wrong word. And as we have seen, a bad word can get planted on the heart as well as a good word – if not easier.

The opening up of the new world was delayed because people believed the expert’s word who proclaimed the earth to be flat! This sounds preposterous to us now. But mankind has been stifled by ignorance about the true word on a subject.

People have been slaughtered because of the promotion of a wrong word too. Millions of Jews were exterminated because followers of a German mad-man believed his word of Aryan superiority. German people, and especially the leadership of Nazi Germany, believed the word of Nazi psychiatrist Ernst Rudin perpetuating the 1933 Nazi sterilization law. This law led to the sterilization of 375,000 “unfit” Germans and set the stage for the Holocaust.

In another era, hundreds of men, women, and children followed religious cult leader, Jim Jones, like the Pied Piper, to Guyana and committed suicide because they acted by faith on his word. The news footage of the bloated bodies of men, women, and little children that lay dead in the hot sun spoke volumes concerning the power of words.

Every day young people base their hair styles, clothing purchases, and activities on words they receive from pop music, movies, and star’s endorsements or television commercial words and images. We are even living in a day when subliminal messages, or slightly hidden logo/words, influence people to make purchases.

I listened to a documentary recently on television regarding the affect of verbal abuse on the brain. Brain scans have revealed that the physical brain is severely affected by verbal abuse. Studies showed that adults who were verbally abused as children had dramatic differences within the structure of the brain, specifically in the area that divides the two halves of the brain. This difference that lasted on in to adult-hood affected neuro-transmission and resulted in reactive behavior. Words make a difference!

Seemingly innocent words, if not the best or proper words for our life, can have devastating results. There must be a screening process. There must be something by which we gauge the right word so that we can act by faith.

Everything Hinges On The Right Word

Just because one makes choices in life does not mean that success will follow. Making the right choices or faith choices based on the right logo/word is the key to success.

Sometimes this gets a little confusing when two good words from reliable sources are coming at you. So who do you believe? This can happen with political election decisions, conflicting decisions between parents, or the differences in religious dogma.

In the Old Testament there were two prophets, supposedly representing God; Hananiah and Jeremiah. Hananiah was prophesying a more pleasing prophecy regarding their victory over Babylon. Jeremiah was prophesying a warning regarding a harsh Babylonian captivity. The people chose the word of Hananiah. But they were wrong – dead wrong! Hananiah also received God’s personal word of judgment and died that very year.

God felt so strongly about a right and true word going forth that His prescription for a false prophet was stoning to death! The right word was absolutely essential for it affected those who based their faith and life upon it.

Know God’s Word And You Know His Will

A young woman who was desperately seeking God’s help in her own life asked the question in one of our seminars, “How do you know when you are acting upon God’s word on your heart?”

Others, who want to be in line with God’s word, have asked it another way: “How do you know God’s will?”

Oftentimes I have heard people conclude their prayer with, “if it be thy will.” Certainly these people are sincere. They are seeking to be humble. They do not, in any way, want to violate or disregard God’s will. But the truth is that they are praying from ignorance or habit as much as from humility.

You will struggle to find this type praying in the New Testament. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but thine be done.” But His prayer was from knowledge of the Father’s will, not ignorance of it. In the, so called, Model Prayer, Jesus said that we should pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. But there was no “if” involved.

It sounds humble to pray this way but it is the wrong way to pray. Can you imagine Jesus standing at the tomb of Lazarus saying, “Lazarus come forth if it be God’s will.” Or, “Man stretch forth your hand, if it be God’s will.”

One prominent characteristic mentioned time and again was that Jesus spoke with “authority,” not like the religious teachers.

Again, the principle is: get a word on your heart and act on it by faith. Jesus could respond with authority because He always acted from the Father’s word on His heart. That is why miracles happened. That is why miracles will still happen.

Knowing The Word And Acting By Faith Is Not Easy

If this experience was easy, everybody would be doing it and it would be so common as to not even be considered as something unusual. The road to the right word is straight and narrow and often requires effort and energy. Sometimes it requires patience and persistence. It is not for the lazy and insensitive person.

In Old Testament times, the prophet Elijah prayed for rain seven separate times. The first time or two nothing seemed to be happening. Then a little cloud appeared. Then it rained in abundance. Daniel prayed for twenty-one days. Jeremiah prayed for ten days. Jesus gave illustrations concerning asking, seeking, and knocking. He told parables about persistent individuals.

The proper word that comes to our heart has to come through many obstacles before it gets planted. Listen to the conversation that an angel had with Daniel as he prayed for many days.

“Then he continued, ‘Do not be afraid Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia” (Daniel 10:12-13, NIV).

Mixing Faith With The Word

As wonderful as is the Word of God, it will remain of little use unless it is activated by faith. Hearing and receiving or agreeing is not enough – it must be acted upon.

In Hebrews 4:2 in comparing the wandering Israelites in the wilderness to us, the writer says:

“For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them: but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it” (NKJV).

So, if we hear a good word or promise and do not mix it with faith, it will not profit us.

James says:

“…be does of the word and don’t be deceived” (1:21).

“…faith without works is dead” (2:17).

“…by works faith was made complete (perfect)” (2:22.

Today, the true believer in Jesus, has a Helper, as Jesus called Him, to help us know the right word on which to believe. I even think He Helps us to believe. This Helper is the resident Holy Spirit that indwells every believer. When we rely upon His guidance and respond by faith, we “profit,” as James said. And knowing the right word to base action upon and acting in faith upon this word is of great importance for life success.

We can be poor and depressed and miss the “source” issue. We can be rich and wanting nothing and miss the “source issue.”

We can fall under the spell of “self-sufficiency” or “government aid” or just stumble along in ignorance and unbelief.

The point is that “God” is to be our source. This, in no way overrules our own good work ethic, working hard to get ahead, providing for our loved ones, or diligently pursuing goals and dreams in responsible effort. Paul said, “He that will not work, let him not eat.” Jesus worked hard at ministry yet maintained the balance of trusting in His Source; His Heavenly Father.

It does not matter if one is poor or rich, there is still the issue of our “Source.” So, in whom or what are you trusting to sustain you? Many trust in government to provide for them; the government is their source. Some wives are trusting in their husbands to be their source and vice versa. Many are trusting in their “jobs” to be their source. Yet, these sources have proven to be faulty.

Many people have lost their spouses in divorce or death. Many have lost their jobs which they thought were secure. Many have lost their retirement funds due to the economy or scandal. I received notice in the mail the other day from the Social Security Administration, that at a certain date in the near future, the funds would be depleted.

The Lord told the Israelites of the Old Testament period to not trust in horses or chariots or look to the worldly governments as their source. Yet, like many of us, they turned away from the one true source that had the power of sustenance. He was the God who could create out of nothing, the God who created the gold and knew where it was located, the God who could make water come out of a rock in the desert and quail meat fly in fresh every day! He was the God that could deliver from the lion’s den and the fiery  furnace. He was the God that could part the Red Sea and cause the enemies to flee. He was even the God that could raise the dead.

If the Bible teaches us anything in all of its 66 books it has to be that God is the only true source we can ever really count upon. But do we really look to our source in faith? Or do we fret and worry because we envision a dark cloud?

Jesus taught that God knows the very hairs of our head and has them numbered. He said, “Do not worry.” He said that the God Source that clothed the flowers of the field and fed the little birds would also be your source. But do we really believe that – in actual day-to-day living? I think not. And maybe that is why we are not happier and rested and able to minister and serve with greater impact. We are too worried – even about things we only envision happening or things that we can’t even control anyway.

A poor man or a rich man can both fail to look to God as their source. A poor man can be blinded by his poverty and see only with eyes of pity. A rich man can be blinded by his riches and see only with eyes of pride.

We have a tendency to not think toward God as our source until we are depleted, backed into a corner, or threatened with our very lives. God, obviously, wants us to trust Him as our Source in a daily lifestyle through thick and thin, through good and bad, through poverty and in riches. But how hard it is – really – daily – to look to God as our source?

We often never know what is in a man or woman until they are cornered or “squeezed.” What comes out then is usually an indication of the direction and depth of their faith. I have sat at the pastor’s desk and listened to men I had known for years, who I thought were giants in their walk with God. I listened to them and watched them cry like little children because they had lost their job and didn’t know what they were going to do! Other times I have seen quiet, unassuming believers, truly lose a lot with little hope for good news, respond in the grandest of ways pointing to God as their Source.

Who or What is your Source? This is a good question to contemplate – especially for those who claim God as their source by faith. Our testimony as Believers in Christ either shines by this issue or is marred by the practical unbelief we display.

Examine your life. Imagine the things you have trusted in to sustain you to be taken away; your job, your health, your security, your dignity, your wealth, your bank account, your retirement funds, your spouse, or even your government. Imagine your house and all of your earthly possessions to be burned up, destroyed by flood, or swallowed by earthquake. Imagine a scam that depletes your savings and retirement fund. Imagine a disease that cripples you and does not allow you to work. Imagine it all evaporating in smoke. In the rubble, can you imagine a Source still there? Would you trust in God as your Source if all of your earthly sources were gone? If so, you are a true Believer.

The greater truth is that one day the lid will shut on the casket. Nothing we have trusted in on earth will sustain us then – nothing! That is why God is so important as our Source. He has not only provided for us along our life’s journey but He has provided Jesus Christ as our Source for eternal life.

Who or What is your Source?

One of the more immature things about the Christian life is to be ignorant of, naive’ about, or unbelieving toward the concept of enemies.

According to the Bible we have the world system, the devil and his evil spirits and even our own flesh battling against us. All the darkness of Hell wants to put out our light. It is truly a miracle that any of us can come to the point of salvation or continue on in any kind of significant relationship with God. So much is coming against us and wants to defeat us.

Jesus, in talking about the devil said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10).

Peter said, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

And, if you want to get even more practical, we have enemies in the physical sense. Gravity pulls on us all of our life. I am shorter now than when I was in college! Body cells die off through our lifetime. Germs and disease constantly peck at our door. If we don’t use them, our muscles will atrophy. If we stay out in the sun too long we burn and get skin cancer. If we eat the wrong food or not enough of the right foods we get weaker and prone to sickness. Besides these physical enemies there are political and governmental enemies that seek to diminish us. The Bible talks about world persecution that is coming upon believers – even a world dictator/ruler called the Antichrist!

The point I am making is that we should recognize that we have enemies.

Do not be naive’ or blind about this. Your survival is at stake!

But what are we to do?

First off, recognize that you are vulnerable and you need the Lord’s help. Read Ephesians 6 where Paul talks about putting on the “full armor” of God to be able to withstand the onslaught of the enemy. Read in the Old Testament where David fought the lion, the bear, and the giant. There you will discover his secret – the Lord’s help. Recognize that there is an enemy larger and more vicious than you but not larger than you and God.

I believe that there are too many baby Christians and naive’ believers today who stumble through life getting beat up by the enemies and they don’t seem to know who is doing it. We have enemies all around us! Wake up folks!

There is hope.

First, recognize that there are vicious enemies all around us – visible and invisible, who seek to maim or destroy us.

Secondly, realize your vulnerability. No one has ever been able to overcome all of these enemies – they are too powerful and too prolific.

Thirdly, receive the help offered by the Lord in the Scriptures – the “helmet of salvation,” the “shield of faith,” the “sword of the Spirit,” etc.

David proclaimed that it was the Lord who helped him defeat the most vicious animals of his day and the most feared military giant in the world.

We must understand that as much as we think people may like us and as much as we think we are kind and loving, there are enemies nipping at our heels and knocking at our door every day. We NEED the Lord and His ability or we will not make it.

Thanks be to God for His grace, mercy, strength and help!

“GIVE AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU: GOOD MEASURE, PRESSED DOWN, SHAKEN TOGETHER, AND RUNNING OVER WILL BE PUT INTO YOUR BOSOM. FOR WITH THE SAME MEASURE THAT YOU USE, IT WILL BE MEASURED BACK TO YOU.”

PRINCIPLES

1 . PERSONAL FAITH ACTION “YOU GIVE”

2 . THE DIRECTION OF OUR GIVING IS TO BE GODWARD AND MANWARD

(a woman left 3 million dollars to her cats)

3 . THE MEASURE OF RECEIVING IS RELATIVE TO THE GIVING

(as you measure so shall it be measured) (the farmer – I scoop out – God scoops in except that God has a bigger scoop)

4 . THE INTENT OF GIVING IS TO BE BY FAITH FROM THE HEART

(not from the head; the senses, feelings, emotions, fear, greed)

5 . THE METHOD OF GIVING IS TO BE SCRIPTURAL

SCRIPTURAL METHODS

· CONSISTENTLY (NOT SPORADICALLY)

· METHODICALLY (WEEK BY WEEK)

· PROPORTIONATELY (AS THE LORD HAS PROSPERED US- 1COR. 16:1,2)

“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”

· SPONTANEOUSLY (AS THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADS US)

· JOYFULLY (2 COR. 9:7)

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

6. GIVING GOD’S WAY HAS ITS REWARDS

7. FAILURE TO GIVE GOD’S WAY HAS ITS JUDGMENT

8. WE ARE MUCH LIKE GOD AND PLEASING TO GOD WHEN WE DEVELOP A GIVING ATTITUDE AND GIVING ACTIONS

This has to be one of the most difficult passages in the Scripture. I, for one, have struggled with it on many occasions and feel, deep down that it is not in my nature or ability to fulfill.

How are we to understand the reasoning behind it? Why was it such a blatant teaching of Jesus? What is the deeper meaning?

Here are some suggestions.

The outward and obvious is that we are to love as God loved and as Jesus served, even those who rejected Him. But still, that does not answer for me the deeper question. Is

God trying to test us? Is He seeking to hurt us and harm us and use us as a doormat for the ungodly? Are we really to be able to live above the common nature of man in this unreasonable realm?

I think there could be something deeper. Yes, the next two verses tell us that we are to be examples like the Heavenly Father, but it also says something else we often overlook – it has to do with the single word, “reward” found in the very next verse. In other words, here is an insight into how to receive a “reward.”

To me it is like a sacrifice. God watches to see what and how we sacrifice and responds accordingly.

We can offer thanks in an unthankful situation and it registers. We can begin giving before we have plenty and the reward is promised. We can offer the sacrifice of praise to God when something else is demanding our focus and it is a sacrifice accepted. We can turn the other cheek when we actually want to club someone and it registers. We can love our enemies when we really want to hate them and it gets noticed in Heaven. We can pray for those who spitefully use us and persecute us and it registers. Do you get the point? It is almost like God is giving us a template for sacrifice that can get reward.

I was prompted to think along these lines as I was reading in the last chapter of Job. It said,

“And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before” (Job42:10).

The trigger for unleashing the bounties of Heaven for Job was when he prayed for his persecutors! Could this also be what Jesus is getting at for us? Is it the sacrifice trigger that moves God to act? Is Jesus really setting up for us a method of being blessed and rewarded?

I think there is something here to consider.

Jesus did not appear very happy with his disciples and rebuked them for not being able to carry out the task. Jesus healed the boy.

The disciples asked him “Why could we not cast it out?”

“He said to them, ‘This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.’”

Several lessons are presented here:

1. We ought to be able to see mighty results from prayer and faith.
2. Obviously, there are degrees of difficulty in getting the things we desire in prayer.
3. Some things absolutely require “fasting.”

I think that most people have a very shallow view of fasting. To most, it is giving up food for a period of time.

It certainly could be going without food and that is the major idea in many situations. But it could be separation from a number of things.

Here is a new revelation I have had recently regarding this concept as referenced by Jesus and directed toward His disciples for the accomplishment of a mighty work.

First, what is the purpose of fasting? Some would see it as a sacrifice to God so that He would honor our request. Others would go a little deeper and understand that fasting brings us into discipline, which is another form of sacrifice to God to bring about results.

I think that there is a more practical meaning. To understand, all you have to do is exchange the word “fasting” for “focusing.”

According to Jesus in this context, fasting was part of the recipe to bring about the healing of the man’s son. He mentioned nothing about sacrifice to God.

Focus is a major element in getting results from your praying.

Jesus will elaborate in Mark 11 about the results of the withered fig tree to teach the disciples. Notice the concept of “focus” in that story.

Jesus focused on a fig tree. He spoke directly to the fig tree. The fig tree withered.

In his teaching the disciples regarding this incident, He told them they could accomplish the same thing, or cause a mountain to be plucked up and cast into the sea. But they must be focused and doubt not in their heart. In fact they were to be so focused that they too were to speak specifically to a situation and believe that it was already accomplished.

One of the major problems in powerful praying is lack of focus. We get distracted. We let doubt inter in. We do not see results as quickly as we want. We give up.

Focus is work. Doing without food so that our brain can concentrate is discipline.

I believe that most people, even if they did try to pray for something they earnestly desired, would not see it transpire because of distraction.

We are a distracted society. Food and business saps the energy from our mind and heart. We are “dull” most of the time.

Do you really desire something? Do you really want your prayers answered? Then you must concentrate and focus and never give in to distractions.

It could be that you pray correctly, say the right words, but have trouble making the faith connection because of distractions.

While growing up our children played school league basketball. We, and other parents followed them around the country supporting them in their games. I remember one parent who always yelled the same thing when one of our players went to the free throw line. He would yell, “Concentrate!”

Sometimes the opposing team and fans would try to distract the shooter, especially in a close game. So much of hitting the basket was about focus and concentration.

The player had to focus on the basket and concentrate all of their attention to the ball going in the hoop. Looking around or thinking about something else would elevate the prospects of a missed shot.

You could have unanswered prayers simply because you do not stay focused and determined. It could be that “this kind comes not out but by prayer and focus!”