How to Prove that God is Real and Turn Your Financial Problems Around - Part 4
God commands us to give tithes and offerings, not so that the church organization may fatten itself and become rich, but so that there will be provision for others. The Church is a place of worship, but it is also to be a place of provision—physical provision as well as spiritual provision.
In the earliest days of the Church, deacons were appointed specifically to minister to the physical needs of people (Acts 6:1-6), while the apostles focused on ministry to the spiritual needs. Both are essential aspects of the life of God’s Church. Tithes and offerings provide the means for these ministries to exist and to continue.
*“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse ****so there will be enough food in my Temple. ***If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”—Malachi 3:10 (NLT)
So, God is not doing this for selfish reasons. He doesn’t need money for Himself, of course. He wants your tithes and offerings so that others may be fed—spiritually and physically. In God’s design, money that comes into the Church does not stay there. It finances the provision that flows out to feed the people.
A few years ago, Neville Johnson was visited by an angel of the Lord, who told him, “You do not understand that giving releases the anointing.” The angel went on to give scriptural proof to support this truth. You can listen to Neville describe this encounter in the YouTube video entitled, End Times Gods Way with Money // Neville Johnson. His account of this visitation begins at the 36 minute mark.
When God’s people are faithful to give, there is a supernatural release of anointing for ministries. Existing ministries are strengthened and revitalized, and new ministries are launched! Example after example is laid out for us in Scripture of unique and powerful ministries that were birthed and launched after God’s people gave generously in tithes and offerings.
In Exodus 35, God directed Moses to build a tabernacle and to launch ministries that the world had never seen before. All of this would be birthed by the giving of the people. At God’s direction, Moses took up an offering for the construction of the tabernacle. Immediately after the people obeyed God’s prompting and gave their offerings, God anointed Bezalel and Oholiab and launched them into ministry. And it was not just a new ministry for them. It was a new creative ministry, guided by the wisdom of God, that the world had never seen before!
“Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom and skill, with intelligence and understanding, and with knowledge in all [areas of] craftsmanship,*** to devise artistic designs to work in gold, silver, and bronze, and in the cutting of stones for setting and in the carving of wood, for work in every skilled craft. He has also put in Bezalel’s heart [the willingness] to teach [others the same skills], both he and Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. ***He has filled them with skill to do the work of an engraver, of a designer, and of an embroiderer, in blue, purple, and scarlet fabric, and in fine linen, and of a weaver; makers of every work and embroiderers of [excellent] designs.”—Exodus 35:30-35 (AMP)
These world-changing ministries continued and flourished as long as the offerings kept flowing.
“Bezalel and Oholiab, and every skilled person in whom the Lord has put ability and understanding to know how to do all the work in the construction of the sanctuary, shall work according to all that the Lord has commanded.”
“So Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person in whom the Lord had put ability, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to do the work.*** ****They received from Moses all the offerings which the Israelites had brought for the construction of the sanctuary, to prepare it for service. ****And they continued to bring him freewill (voluntary) offerings every morning. And all the skilled men who were doing all the work on the sanctuary came, each one from the work which he was doing, and they said to Moses, “The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the Lord commanded us to do.” So Moses issued a command, and it was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the sanctuary offering.” So the people were restrained from bringing anything more; ***for the material they had was sufficient and more than enough to do all the work.”—Exodus 36:1-7 (AMP)
This happened again in the days of King Joash and Jehoiada the priest:
“So at the king’s command they made a chest and set it outside by the gate of the house of the Lord.*** Then they made a proclamation in Judah and Jerusalem to bring in for the Lord the tax that Moses the servant of God imposed on Israel in the wilderness. All the officers and all the people rejoiced and brought their tax and dropped it into the chest until they had finished [and the chest was full]. It came about that whenever the Levites brought the chest to the king’s official, and whenever they saw that there was a large amount of money, the king’s secretary and the chief priest’s representative would come and empty the chest, and take it, and return it to its place. They did this day after day and collected a large amount of money. The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the Lord****; and they would hire masons and carpenters (craftsmen) and also those who worked in iron and bronze to repair and restore the house of the Lord.**** So the workmen labored, and the repair work progressed in their hands; and they restored and organized the house of God in accordance with its specifications and strengthened it. ***When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada; and it was [melted down and] made into utensils for the house of the Lord, utensils for ministering and for burnt offerings, and bowls and utensils of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord continually all the days of Jehoiada.”—2 Chronicles 24:8-14 (AMP)
When God’s people are obedient to give generously in tithes and offerings, anointings are released, existing ministries are strengthened and allowed to grow, and new creative ministries are launched that the world has never seen!
The book of Acts is a record of the remarkable and powerful ministries of the Apostles of Christ, but what is usually overlooked is that unprecedented giving on the part of God’s people was fueling these ministries and empowering them to increase in impact and outreach, changing the world forever:
“Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one [of them] claimed that anything belonging to him was [exclusively] his own, but everything was common property and for the use of all.*** And with great ability and power the apostles were continuously testifying to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace [God’s remarkable lovingkindness and favor and goodwill] rested richly upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them, and bringing the proceeds of the sales and placing the money down at the apostles’ feet.**** Then it was distributed to each as anyone had need.”—Acts 4:32-35 (AMP)*
In Acts 13, Barnabas and Saul were called into the ministry, anointed and released by the Church leadership. This was the launching of the unparalleled ministry of the Apostle Paul, but where had Barnabas and Saul been just prior to this? What had they been doing?
A severe world-wide famine had taken place. The disciples at Antioch decided to gather contributions and send relief to the believers in Judea. Guess who delivered these offerings to the believers in Judea? Barnabas and Saul. The next thing that we read about them is their anointing and release into ministry.
“So the disciples decided to send a contribution, each according to his individual ability, to the believers who lived in Judea. And this they did, sending the contribution to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.”—Acts 11:29-30 (AMP)
“Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.*** ***As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.”—Acts 13:1-3 (NKJV)
Wherever you find God’s people faithfully bringing tithes and offerings into God’s house, you find anointed ministries being launched and having life-changing impact on those to whom they are sent.
On the other hand, wherever you find God’s people withholding tithes and offerings, shortchanging God, and keeping the money for themselves, you find lack of adequate ministry to meet the needs that exist. In those places, needs may seem overwhelming. At the same time, ministry may be inadequate, lacking the will, the ability, and the manpower to address the needs that exist. Anointing for ministry seems to be lacking.
Which category does your church fall into?
Understanding this principle that giving releases God’s anointing for ministries, it is a sobering thought to wonder how many ministries, that God wanted to birth, never happened because people withheld the money that would have allowed God to launch them.
It’s not difficult to imagine this. All you have to do is look around at the churches who lack adequate children’s ministries, or youth ministries, or effective discipleship ministries, or ministries to populations of severe need in their communities.
What would have happened in Moses’ time, if God’s people have not given generously? Would there have been a tabernacle in the wilderness? Would there have been a Levite priesthood?
What if the early Church had not given so generously as it is recorded in the book of Acts? Would we even be reading about the Apostles’ ministry today?
Talk to almost any minister, and he will tell you of his vision for ministry that is so much greater than what he has the funds to accomplish.
How much more effectively could the Church share the message of Christ to a world that is dying without Him, if God’s people would only give the 10% that they owe to Him?
**Reference: **
Super Power Prayer with Timothy J Douglass Sr. (2020, January 16). End Times Gods Way with Money // Neville Johnson. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTLjbWO40LE