DON'T GIVE ON CREDIT

Give from what you have, not an offering that you think is sacrifical.

Remember that Jesus was, and is, and forever will be your sacrifice. He become poor, so that you might be rich so don't try to give from your lack when you really don't have to. You don't need to prove yourself to God! Trying to show God your faith by giving a very large offering when you have other financial obligations or giving up to the last dollar you own may sound good to your mind but it is not necessary. Remember, the earth is Lord's and fulness thereof so giving back to God what He already owns can not be that impressive to the Creator of the Universe. The God kind of faith pleases God, when God sees His Word coming up from one of His dearly beloved children He smiles. Speaking God's Word in the midst of contrary circumstances is right, but trying to stretch yourself financially beyond your budget is not wise. Our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ died to set you free, this freedom is going to come from your accurrate knowledge of His Holy Word. The more you understand about God's System of prosperity you will see that it is not based upon your large amount of offerings but rather your understanding of His principles. The road to God's prosperity is not your giving, but rather your production of God's Word living through you.

3 John 2-4
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. KJV

Don’t give on credit, give from what you have, that your abundance might be a supply of someone else’s want and their abundance might be a supply of your want.

2 Corinthians 8:12-15
12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. KJV

If someone believes that God has prompted them to give a certain amount of money to some person, or some program, or a certain event, they can always try the spirit (prompting, voice, or thought) to judge whether it is truly from God, or not.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. KJV

In today’s society this must be discussed simply because the Word of God has given us some very clear instructions concerning our giving, but many think that giving is God’s decision, not theirs. We all believe that God is a big God and has infinite resources therefore the term, ‘Where God guides He also provides’, is very popular and true. The challenge comes from knowing when it is God, or when is it just you, or worst another spirit that is working against you rather than for you.

Just because you receive a thought about giving to someone, or some church, or some ministry program the thought alone does not qualify as being from God. Especially if you really don’t have the money to give because the money was owed to something else or someone else.

For example: If you told your daughter to go do something wouldn’t you also give her the necessary tools (resources) to do it. If you asked your wife to go to the store two miles away, wouldn’t she expect transportation and shopping money. I think so. Would you expect her to go to the store by faith without the resources believing someone will pick her up and take her home and also give her the money as she shops? No, I hope you are not that kind of a husband because if you are, you are definitely not acting as her provider.

1 Timothy 5:8
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel (unbeliever). KJV

God specifically told the husband to provide for his wife, his children and all those in his household according to the verse we just read. If you send her out of your house with no provision, wouldn’t you look unusual to your fellowman? Would that be a good witness to your neighbors of how you are a wonderful Christian that acts just like Jesus?. The answer is no! Would your walk of so called faith will cause some to stumble, certainly those who do not understand what you are doing? Yes, your very own wife and children would question your actions. It would seem unfair and unorthodox to ask such a thing of the very person you love, who is trying to help your family. It doesn’t sound right primarily because it is not right. Notice the practical wisdom of God spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 14:28-30

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. KJV

Jesus told us to count up the cost before we step out and do something that has consequences. The intention given by the scripture example implies that if you don’t have enough to finish the task at hand, please for God’s sake, don’t do it because those watching your lifestyle will mock you. If you are Christ’s representative on this earth don’t you think that mocking you is the exact same thing as mocking God. Why, do this to yourself and your Lord Jesus Christ. What I am saying is keep your priorities in line with God’s Word. Work, save and spend your money on what you can afford right now. Use your God given faith to change things in your life so that you increase financially by the consistency of good money management. The better you become at saving money, it only makes good godly sense that you will be in the blessed position of giving more also. The faith walk should not be contrary to sound biblical principles but rather your faith should enhance them.

1 John 5:7-8
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. KJV

The Holy Spirit of God always agrees with the principles of God. Yes, always! I know there are a lot of things in the Holy Word of God and there are a lot of things you can hear by the Spirit of God, but I assure you that the Word of God written within the pages of the Holy Bible is your sure foundation. Use the Word of God to follow the Spirit of God, not vice-versa. It may be dangerous to follow a prompting (or voice, or thought) without the scripture backup to support it. This would be like building a house on sand instead of a foundation upon the rock.- Matthew 7:24-27

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. KJV

It is more to this then just giving, the more to it is giving God’s Way. Giving God’s Way means you decide what you will give, not someone else. Notice 2 Corinthians 9:7

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. KJV

I know a lot of people and preachers that will tell you that God told them to give a certain amount and afterwards they really received a big harvest in return. I will say, yes and Amen. Praise the Lord. Brother or sister in Christ I believe God can do that but if we are to teach that experience as sound doctrine we need biblical proof that God wants me to follow your example. Specifically speaking, we are call to follow God’s Principles according to His Word, His Way and His Doctrine alone. We never want to lead a life based on the experiences of others. We seek to live our life based solely upon the Word of God. The biblical examples of when someone needed money was always addressed with a natural action in specific obedience to the Word of God spoken by the man of God that produced a supernatural harvest without increasing the burden on the person in need. Remember the debt of the widow woman in the Old Testament in 2 Kings 4:1-7

1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.
2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.
3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.
4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.
6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.
7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest. KJV

Notice in that story even though her situation was desperate, the Man of God never told her how much to get, nor did he mention anything about her giving to someone else first to supply her need. He only instructed her on the principle and believed that she would be wise enough to finish the transaction. If she chose to do something different with the provision she would of ended up back in the same mess again. Yes, the miracle happened but more importantly she got the blessing from obeying the Words of the Man of God and she will keep the blessing if she continues to obey the Word of God spoken by the Man of God. Remember when Elijah need provision for food, he was told something by God in 1 Kings 17:2-6

2 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. KJV

Notice that the Lord was very specific about where to go. As soon as the Prophet went to the exact place the provision was there. Thus, he obeyed the Word of God first to receive the provision of God secondly. This happened again with the Prophet in 1 Kings 17:7-15 were the Lord mentioned that He had commanded a widow woman to sustain him. When the Prophet obeyed the Word of God, the partial provision was already there and Man of God spoke the miracle of God into existence because he knew exactly what was needed for the provision of that family.

1 Kings 17:7-15
7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.
15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days KJV

Due notice that the provision was limited to what she had left in the house. This is because the principles of God are set up to increase what you have, not give you something totally different than what you started with. Remember, in God's Kingdom each seed still produces after it's kind.- Genesis 1:12

And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. KJV

In the New Testament we will examine the methods of Jesus with the temple tax recorded in Matthew 17:24-27

24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. KJV

This shows us that they had a need for some additional money. We can see that Jesus did not take up an offering for His tax money. No, instead He purposely pointed Peter back to something he was familiar with. Fishing, then Jesus used a word of wisdom to describe what would happen with the first fish that Peter caught. Since Jesus used the term ‘first’ it could be easily surmised that Peter caught more than one fish. People don't usually mention the connection with labor from this verse because the miraculous often preaches better. Angela and I, on the other hand, will emphasize the practical side of this instruction. Jesus told Peter go work for the money. The Lord had already blessed Peter with the knowledge of how to fish and when Peter does it in God’s Grace it will produce a greater harvest (return). Peter profited by fishing, whether by eating or selling. He also profited by the money found in the mouth of the first fish. However, most importantly Peter profited from obeying God's Word, His personal instruction to Peter, which blessed the Lord also because Peter obeyed His Word. If Peter didn't use his faith in God's Instructions to do what he was told, he would of never experienced that miracle. I want you to see that the miracle didn't happen, it was purposely instigated. Why didn't Jesus just have someone bring them the money as the Son of God that option is possible? It is primarily because the Lord believes in labor. Jesus used the principles mankind is familiar with upon the earth to teach man on the earth that you can keep doing what you are used to doing and make more money. This is typically how God's Kingdom works. The Lord can move in the supernatural but He chooses to put His super on our natural. This is a balanced practical approach to financial stewardship that the Body of Christ can follow. The poor live off of hand-outs. To desire to live that way as a born-again Christian is secretly confessing that you don't want to work.

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.- Proverbs 20:4 KJV

God can not violate His own Word that endorses working. To work is of God, to not work is ungodly! Never be so absorbed with seeing a miracle that you despise God's natural laws and principles. Money increases with good stewardship, and money will always diminish if you have bad stewardship. Good stewardship is God's Way and there is no law that can stand against it. The Lord desires to teach you how to be a good steward, His purpose is never to make you rich simply so you will have more money to give to others. Friend, the Holy Bible teaches that if you are not faithful handling a little money (for yourself) who will give you more (for another).- Luke 16:10-12

10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? KJV

Another New Testament example is found when Jesus ministered to the multitude in John 6:9-13

9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. KJV

We will point out again that Jesus did not choose in this particular instant to have food show up from outside the group. Why not? One reason may be that God knows the evilness of man's heart. If a person shows up with a whole lot of food at the exact time when the people were hungry he or she would of stolen the crowd. Generally, people will pick food over preaching if they are hungry. Hey, we are where we are. No matter how spiritual the preacher is, people are content to be food minded if they are hungry. Our modern day remedy is to keep the people feed before they come to the meeting and if the meeting goes to long give the people a lunch break. Amen! That is if you want to keep people in the meeting. People don't usually stay focused long enough if food is present to get the full understanding of the message. Even Jesus stopped His teaching in order to satisfy the hunger of the crowd. Jesus instead took what was available in the crowd, increased it (stretched it, multiplied it, duplicated it) to meet the needs of the people. Again the principle of His super on our natural created the miracles. Don't think that Jesus did a miracle apart from men, no, on the contrary Jesus performed a miracle on man's natural provision. Jesus was not looking for a hand out to meet His needs, He was looking to hand back to men what one man gave Him. He increases the works of our hands. Don’t over look the very obvious fact that Jesus and the disciples worked along with the miracle. They did not all sit down and wait for the Heavenly Father to do something spectacular. Instead, they served and watched God bless the works of their hands as they were working God’s Word. Jesus can do an unlimited amount of miracles apart from men, but He chooses to do miracles with men upon the earth.

We then, as workers together with him (Christ), beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.-2 Corinthians 6:1 KJV

And

28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.-Colossians 1:28-29 KJV

And

8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.-1 Corinthians 3:8-9 KJV

Please don't believe that Jesus needs to humble you first by testing you to give your last penny before He can pour out a great financial blessing to you. No way, what you should believe is that you will grow great. This growth will be with the knowledge of God’s Word and obedience to His instructions for your life. The Lord will increase you as you increase your understanding of His Ways. Generally speaking when you start improving on your natural job, your pay should increase with your performance. Similarly if you start selling your products to more people, you are working more and that extra work should show-up in additional pay. The more popular the actor the more money they demand. The better the athlete the better they get paid. The larger the minister (or ministry) the more potential they have to generate wealth. God loves everyone the same, it is simply a matter of ability, influence and potential. The larger the influence the greater the potential for financial growth. The better the ability, the better the payment for that ability. Notice even in the life of King David his greatest amount of wealth was when he finished his ministry, not when he started.

1 Chronicles 11:7-9
7 And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David.
8 And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.
9 So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him. KJV

The word of God teaches increase only, not decrease to increase later, then decrease again to increase some more. No, increase only because you understand that you invest your time and abilities to increase your financial portfolio. You fellow believer start believing God to increase your abilities and strengthen (enhance) the abilities you presently have. The Lord prefers a steady growth of increase, not a financial roller coaster. Let the world system go up and down while you believe God to be financially stable. The faith of God was used in the Old Testament just like it is used in the New Testament so don’t think the godly financial principles shown to us in the Old Testament are now obsolete because we are under a New Covenant.

Proverbs 12:14
A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him. KJV

Genesis 39:2-3
2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. KJV

Psalm 1:2-3
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. KJV

Psalm 128:1-2
1 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. KJV

Proverbs 14:23
In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury. KJV

Ephesians 4:29
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. KJV

Notice how all of these verses point to labor and speak of working in a positive manner. Have we become so wise in our modern day society that our current revelation about the interpretation of God’s Word exceeded the Old Testament. No my friend, good working habit coupled with good saving habits will always yield increase in your life just like it spoken of in Proverbs 13:11

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase. KJV

This one verse couples those two foundational truths together; gathering is saving and laboring is working. This is God’s proven way of increase referred to in Psalm 115:13-16

13 He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.
14 The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
15 Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.
16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. KJV

The Lord is telling His people if you only listen to My Principles in the Word of God, they (His Principles) will guide you into good financial practices and those practices will make you prosper. Remember Deuteronomy 8:18

But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. KJV

God gives us the power (ability) to get wealth and we do our part of working in His Ability, His Wisdom, His Grace for the end result of prosperity. The teaching that your giving alone will make you rich is not sound doctrine, and leaving out the essential part of your financial stewardship is erroneous. Your responsibility of sound financial planning by living within your budget and closely monitored spending habits is critical to your future success. Anyone telling you otherwise is not really being honest with you or they are only telling you half the story. If you give believing that God will do something supernatural in the future to rescue you from your unwise financial decisions you my friend are deceived. Many people give because they have a present day need but what does the scripture say about such giving. According to 2 Corinthians 9:7

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. KJV

God’s Word does not endorse such actions, that kind of giving is unscriptural. Giving of your necessity rather than of your abundance could really hurt you financially solely because you are outside the protection of God’s Word. I know this message may not be popular but it is biblically sound and that is all I am asking of you, my friend. Be sound in your doctrine about giving and that knowledge will make you sound in your financial decisions. This understanding will keep you from just giving from thought but rather giving on purpose as taught in 2 Corinthians 9:7.

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. KJV

And

2 Corinthians 8:12-14
12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

And

1 Corinthians 16:1-2
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. KJV

Notice in all those New Testaments writing from the Apostle Paul he stated the exact same principle we discussed in this message.

1. You decide what you will give, You purpose in your heart, not God, not the preacher, and not another family member, but you.

2. You should give of what you have in your possession, you should not give, or pledge a gift that you don’t have right now.

3. You should be giving from your saving account of abundance. If you need to create an offering account that you fill-up with money then by all means do it.

Giving on credit means giving an offering over your means because you believe that will guarantee you a rich future. Your giving should not be based upon you, because that would be a lack of love. Your now financial position should be blessed enough that even if this offering did not come back to you until you get to heaven you will still have adequate future provision. Now faith is! Mixing the future and now is how people stumble, mingled seeds don’t produce. Only harmonious substances like faith, hope and love produce a bountiful harvest. If God has a harvest coming to you in the near future do you believe that God would change His mind because you don’t do everything right. God is not so legal (demanding) that He would keep blessing from you because you didn’t give your last penny. I believe God loves you so much that He would freely give you His grace simply because your heart was right in His sight. No my friend God loves you He is not counting on you to do something great so that He can bless you. Our Heavenly Father God has already given us Jesus what amount of money can compare to that. And if Jesus wasn’t enough He gave us His Precious Holy Spirit, so these gifts only opened the door to our thought life that God can and will give us much more as we grow in the grace and revelation of His Operation. Remember the Words of Jesus

Matthew 6:30-33
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. KJV

In conclusion let me say, I firmly believe in giving and I also believe in sowing financial seed. My point is to give God’s Way according to the Word of God, not according to man’s persuasion. I believe that every, yes every, seed you sow your Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ will help orchestrate the proper harvest in due season. Your part is to first give (sowed seed) with the proper motive of love following God’s Way of Peace because you have it to sow. You would have initiated the type of harvest you will receive because you are following God’s Principles. When you sow in peace you shall reap a harvest in peace also. It wouldn’t be just for God to say no harvest when you follow His Word, but if you don’t follow His Principles you really don’t know what kind of harvest you shall reap, if any. Doing God’s Word with a honest and good heart with patience will always yield fruit according to Mark 4:20

And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. KJV

And Luke 8:15

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. KJV

Growing financially is a process that typically takes time, be patient. Those who win the lottery historically do not keep riches, because they never learn how to acquire wealth. We as children of God must learn the basic principles of how to be a Godly stewards first to fully appreciate what God's desire is for handling wealth upon the earth. I believe in prosperity and I also believe in provision but I strongly believe that obtaining either one without God's heart is unprofitable for man. Please, my fellow believer, do not ever think that because you didn’t do something exactly right according to the Word of God that it will automatically nullify God's blessing coming your way. Just purpose to follow God's Word on a consistent basis to be blessed of the Lord Jesus Christ and Father God. The Lord desires to bless you and it is His will to increase you by giving you a harvest on your seed sown toward His Kingdom. However, don't try to put God's Ways into a new system of principles based upon what you think will happen. Don't give on credit, stay with the principle if you have it to give and you can take joy in this offering then give. You can't measure the exact time of harvest for every seed you sow into God's Kingdom. Therefore, stay with the original principles of God’s Word sow in faith, sow in joy and sow from your extra and let that seed determine your harvest according to God's Word, not your actions. Know that if you firmly believe that your actions of giving will cause you to be rich, you probably also favor works over grace. We preach grace and we believe if you receive your increase through God's grace over your good works, then you will be more likely to give God all the glory due His Name. Amen!

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.-2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV

Let every Christian decide in their mind to give, not of dread and not based on your current need because that would demand an immediate harvest and have added pressure which could discourage your heart before God, God desires a happy giver who already has more than enough to give. - Eric and Angela’s interpretation of 2 Corinthians 9:7 My faith friend we love you and desire that you be burden free by just keeping your giving simple. Believer let God bless you in this ease of giving, not of your works, but rather of His Grace.

Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.- Romans 12:9 KJV

In His Love, Eric & Angela Foster

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