Leadworship - Paul Baloche
Wednesday, October 24th, 2007Here’s a great article by Paul Baloche on worship.
Rick R.
Blogged with Flock
Archive for October, 2007
Sowing and Reaping?
Monday, October 22nd, 2007We’ve heard it a million times – “Just sow into my ministry and you will reap a bountiful harvest; 30, 60 or 100 fold.” It is scriptural, isn’t it?! So why hasn’t it worked? Oh, maybe it has a time or two, but what is the key? Why doesn’t this perfectly scriptural principle of sowing and reaping work all the time for everyone?
One thing we can be sure of – it isn’t God’s fault! So where does the problem lie?
As we listened yesterday to a commentator bashing the sowing/reaping preachers, I began to mull this over and decided it was time to step up and put in my two cents worth.
We have actually experienced this principle of sowing and reaping in the financial arena many times. BUT not always. Hmm . . .
Before I start on what I think is at least a partial answer to this seeming contradiction, it’s important to remember that the Bible teaches us over and over that “truth” is what sets us free. Perhaps some of our famous Bible teachers and preachers haven’t been telling us the whole truth. Maybe they themselves don’t know about some other important principles that govern our finances and that need to be understood and instituted before the principle of sowing and reaping.
Almost 10 years ago we had the privilege of meeting Craig Hill, founder of Family Foundations International. We were impressed when we heard his appeal for the offering. Instead of appealing to emotion and laying on a “guilt trip” like so many preachers do, he simply stated what the offering was going to be used for and asked that we seek the direction of the Holy Spirit in what He wanted us to give. Not only that, but spouses were to seek the Lord together and come into agreement about what that amount was to be. Wow, this was a different message than we were hearing from others and it was in perfect alignment with what we already believed.
Later we had the privilege of translating Craig’s book, Wealth, Riches and Money into Portuguese. In that process, we learned that there is a sequence of principles in operation in the area of finances. Unless we understand and incorporate these principles into our financial lives, we will never see the 3rd or 5th or 6th principle fully operational in the way God intends it.
There are several principles, according to Craig Hill and co-author Earl Pitts that come before the principle of sowing and reaping in this sequence. The first is the principle of “sparrow faith” which has been taught in a few circles and is not a new concept. This principle can be summed up this way: “God is my source of provision and I don’t need to DO anything to twist His arm to provide for me.” Note: this does not mean I can just sit around and expect Him to drop provision from the heavens. Sparrows don’t need to worry about their provision; it is just there for them provided by their heavenly Father. The basis for this principle comes from Matthew 6:25-33.
Although God is the source, He opens up channels of provision. Those channels could be any number of things such as; job, parents, investments, dividends, gifts from others, odd jobs, etc. So our part in this “sparrow faith” principle is to trust in the Lord, seek Him about what channels He wants to use and do the work necessary to put feet to our faith.
The second principle that needs to be in place before that of sowing and reaping is the principle of the tithe. When we understand that the tithe is “holy” and that it belongs to the Lord and we are just administrators of it, we will never again touch the tithe for ourselves. You may wonder about my use of the word “holy” but all that means is simply “set apart” or “reserved” and it can be compared to a sign placed on a chair saying, “reserved for the organist”. It simply means that no one else can use that chair because it has been set apart for a specific purpose. That is what “holy” means. So the tithe is “set apart” or “reserved” for God’s use. The word, “tithe” literally means 10% so that is the amount of the tithe. Anything beyond that is “giving”. Craig Hill and Earl Pitts point out several very interesting things about the tithe.
First of all, although it is an Old Testament term, when it is mentioned in Malachi 3:6-10 it is prefaced by verse 6 which says, “For I am the Lord, I do not change . . .” This would imply that the tithe is an ancient path – one of the ways of God, a principle that is timeless and that was actually established by God before the Old Testament law. In fact, it was established about 430 years before the law. (See Hebrews 7:4-8) As such, there is no reason to imagine that the tithe would be any different under the New Testament.
The tithe according to Craig and Earl is an act of spiritual warfare. It is a declaration to the spirit of Mammon that we do not trust in money, but rather in the living God who provides our needs (the principle of sparrow faith). By returning to God His portion (the tithe) we are saying to the Mammon spirit, “I don’t love you or serve you. I am taking 10% of what I use as a medium of exchange for buying and selling, and I am releasing it to God.”
In their book, Craig and Earl point out many other details about the tithe as well as going into great detail about how to be faithful stewards, how to establish and close your circle (your budget), taking responsibility for debt and becoming a spiritual eunuch in the financial arena. At the end of the book, the principle of sowing and reaping is finally explained. I will explore that aspect as well as others in future postings.
If you’d like a copy of Wealth, Riches and Money, you can purchase it through Family Foundations International or you can send an email and I can get it for you. Suggested donation cost is $15.00 plus shipping.
Unfit to Worship God
Tuesday, October 16th, 2007
But the words that come out of your mouth come from your heart. And they are what make you unfit to worship God. Out of your heart come evil thoughts, murder, unfaithfulness in marriage, vulgar deeds, stealing, telling lies, and insulting others. These are what make you unclean. Eating without washing your hands will not make you unfit to worship God.
Matthew 15:18-20 CEV
When I saw this phrase, highlighted above, I was taken aback. I thought “Wait a minute, that’s not what other translations say!” so I checked and sure enough the word translated “unfit to worship” is normally translated “defiled” - unfit for worship, unclean, contaminated, dirty. So I came to the conclusion that these things make us unfit according to Old Testament standards.
So what are some of the things Jesus the son of God said that make us unfit?
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Words that come out of your mouth which come from your heart.
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Evil thoughts
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murder
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unfaithfulness in marriage (Adultery)
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vulgar deeds (Sexual immorality)
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stealing
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telling lies
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insulting others (Slander, complaining, dishonoring)
There are other lists in other places in the Bible, but I would like to just comment on these. I have seen others, and have been guilty myself of trying to enter into worship to the Lord Almighty with a defiled heart - unfit for worship. How many people sitting in pews, or even standing up in front are guilty of this? Perhaps 100 percent at one time or another. Thank God that He has given us the means by which we can be purified and undefiled, and FIT FOR WORSHIP:
The whole chapter of Hebrews 10 speaks of this. Look at these verses:
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:19-25 NIV
Praise God it is through the once for all sacrifice of Jesus’ blood that we can be made able to approach the living God in worship. So if any of these issues cause you to feel guilt, please take care of them through Jesus’ help and blood, and go Worship the Lord FIT FOR WORSHIP!
Justice!
Monday, October 15th, 2007Last week I had the experience of being called up for jury duty. It was my first time in my life that I have ever been in the states when summoned. I was surprised and shocked to be selected, for I was sitting on the back row and they had said that the twelve members would be selected starting at the begining rows. Even though I was only an alternate I had to sit through the whole week of testimony and deliberations.
While I can not go into details about the trial, I can say that it was a highly emotional, sad, and tragic criminal trial in which the defendant lost not only his family, but also his freedom for a long time to come. It was good to see our justice system in America in action, and to realize that our freedom is valuable only because of the system of checks and counterbalances which we have in place in our laws.
The minute those balances become overbalanced in any way - we risk losing more and more of our freedom. Think about it as we hear politicians vying for more and more power, and more and more government. Think about it as you go to the polls. Remember, in Texas, there are some important issues to vote on November 6. Early voting starts next week. While we will not be voting on any elected officials, there are some important Texas Constitutional changes that will be voted on. You can go to www.freemarket.org for a free non-partisan voter’s guide on these issues.
