Wednesday, 26 November 2008

• Using the right Scriptures

  Over the weekend, God revealed to me that I've been using the wrong scripture when praying over my tithes.

  The first time I've ever heard that was when JesseD was talking about Hurricane Katrina.. JDM resides in New Orleans, and his house and ministry building were completely unaffected by the hurricane, whereas another pastor came to JD after the disaster and told JD how he lost everything. The pastor even used scripture. Then JD said the scripture the pastor used was a protection on him and his family.. not his belongings. So he used the wrong scripture - thank God he and his family are fine, but he lost all his stuff.

  So for the past little while, I've been praying for my tithes according to Phil. 4:19 - "My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus". Everytime I prayed my tithes with that verse, it just didn't sit well with me - then God showed me this weekend. All my needs are already met.. but because all I ask for is my needs to be met, they are always met. What does that mean?

  Thank God that He meets all my needs, but if my needs are always met, where's the abundance so I can give to others?? God is an abundant God.. that I know; Abraham got an abundance of animals and money after he followed God, Joseph was incredibly wealthy and was a blessing to others, Job got double what he lost after he took his authority over the devil, Solomon had tonnes of riches given to him when he was still walking with the Lord....

  Let's take a look at 2 scriptures: Psalm 23:1,5 and Malachi 3:10

  Ps 23

  1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.         
  5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

  The reason why you don't want is because your cup is running over. Think about it, if you have a glass, and you keep pouring water to the point that it overflows, would you keep wanting more? Not really.. you just want to give it away because you don't have room to receive it all!

  Sure, Christians always say that God is supposed to be your satisfaction that's why you should not be in want. But there's nothing wrong with wanting an abundance so that you can be a blessing to others.

  Let's look at Malachi 3:10

  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
  That there may be food in My house,
  And try Me now in this,”
  Says the LORD of hosts,
  
  “ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven 
  And pour out for you such blessing
  That there will not be room enough to receive it."

  When we give tithes, God is supposed to pour out a blessing from heaven that we don't have room to receive it! Doesn't that just tell you what God's like? He's an abundant God! So why would you ever limit God by just meeting your needs? Isn't that kind of selfish? To meet only your needs instead of pouring out a blessing onto you so that you can give it away to meet other people's needs...!

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