THE FOUNDATION OF GIVING 2H

“A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven (that is, he that continues to do my will). Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Matthew 7:18-23, KJV

Why did Jesus reject them? Because they were busy posting wood, hay and stubble. Do you delight to do the will of God? Iniquity is so easy to commit; it sounds big but it is actually the beginning of every sin. Iniquity comes from the Hebrew word, “avon” (pronounced “aw-vone”) which simply means to turn away from light. The light is the revealed will of God which is the Bible, the Constitution. Once you turn away from the revealed will of God, away from light, you will miss the mark inevitably. The Greek word for sin is “hamartia” which simply means to miss the mark, so iniquity is nothing but the beginning of any sin. Until you turn away from the light, you will not miss the mark.

We need to return to the cross which is the divine prescription. The Church needs to make one hundred and eighty degrees return and break away from erroneous theologies – raising members instead of disciples and raising workers instead of worshippers; this is very erroneous; substituting the cross for any other thing. The symbol of comprehensive dominion over darkness remains the cross. Let’s return to the cross.

Ponder on these:

• What God purpose are you really serving? Nobody can answer this for you.
• Are you living for him or are you just doing your thing, imposing your will on the will of God?
• What materials are you sending up? Is it gold, silver, precious stone or wood, hay, stubble?
• Where is your treasure?
• Are you a worker or a worshipper?
• Are you a Cain or an Abel? The two people who first worshipped God are Cain and Abel. God accepted Abel and rejected Cain. Why? Cain gave God reject just like any average person out there. Abel, however, gave worshipfully. Correct giving must be full of love for God. Any giving that is not born out of worship is hay, wood, stubble.
• Are you a Mary or a Martha? Mary was a worshipper while Martha was a worker. Jesus approved of Mary, the true worshipper.
• Are you a John or a Judas? The heart of Judas was never right; he was an idolater. He rebuked Mary when she was anointing the feet of Jesus with an expensive oil. It is easy to be an idolater and still be following Christ. Judas was a typical example. His heart was never for the poor. There was perversion in his heart. You cannot be a true worshipper if there is any perversion in your heart. The spirit of perversion will pervert everything. Today, even in the Church, praise and worship have been perverted. Christians dance and sing worldly music in the Church. They have left Egypt but Egypt has refused to leave them.
• Are you an Elisha or a Gahazi. Elisha rejected gifts from Naaman the leper, Gehazi could not understand this. He saw an ‘opportunity’ and went surreptitiously to collect the ‘opportunity’. He explored the ‘opportunity’ but collected leprosy in return. The end result of most of the things a lot of people pursue today is leprosy. May you never pursue what will deliver leprosy to you in the name of Jesus.

TO BE CONTINUED.