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Ministries
of the Holy Spirit 3
The Ministry of
Giving
by
Pastor John Hamel
"Having then
gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether
prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or
ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth,
on teaching; 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 12:6-8)
We have now come to
our next to the last lesson concerning the Ministries of the Holy Spirit,
the Ministry of Giving.
In our next and final lesson we will talk
about recognizing the call to full time Ministry.
Every member of the
Body of Christ is instructed in the Word of God to pay tithes, offerings and to help the poor with their
giving. (Malachi 3:8-10; Matthew 6:1-3; Luke 11:41; 1Corinthians
9:1-15; 2Corinthians 9:1-15; 1Timothy 5:18; Hebrews 7:8,
etc.)
There are, however,
individuals who have a supernatural endowment from the Holy Spirit in the
realm of giving. These individuals are blessed in one or both of two
areas. Some are equipped by the Holy Spirit to gather and to disperse
great personal wealth.
Others are not necessarily endowed to gather
personal wealth but they are anointed with the wisdom that it takes to
properly disperse wealth that comes from sources apart from
themselves. Whether you are gifted in one or both of these two areas,
the Bible has something very specific to say about how you operate in this
Ministry.
Allow me, please,
to remind you here that the Ministry of Giving is a full-fledged Ministry
set in the Church by Almighty God Himself. It is as vital and
necessary a Ministry as all other Ministries and Offices covered in this
series of web studies. This Ministry requires the consecration of a
skilled, tested and proven Minister who is determined to never fall victim
to misappropriation, pride or manipulation. (Deuteronomy 8:2,4,16; Exodus
16:4; 20:20; Psalm 66:10-12; Romans 5:1-5; James 1:1-7; 1Peter 1:6,7, etc.)
If you are called
in this area and do not believe that misappropriation, pride or
manipulation are areas that could ever threaten you, you are the one, above
all others, who needs to exercise caution here. You are already
listening to Satan’s lies. Once he convinces you that this could not
happen to you, he’s got you right where he wants you. You are not
going to withstand him in this area. That’s exactly what he’s looking
for.
All Ministers of the Gospel must remember who they are apart
from Christ in order to effectively operate in who they are because of
Christ.
Let us now look at
two keys to effectively operating in this calling.
Recognize
the Importance of Giving with Simplicity
"…he that giveth,
let him do it with simplicity." (Romans 12:8)
The Greek word for
“simplicity” in this verse is “haplotes.”
It means “to give without dissimulation or self-seeking.”
To give without
dissimulation would mean to give without pretense, hypocrisy, disguise or
concealing hidden, impure motives. Individuals bring a curse upon
themselves who pervert this God-given Ministry, using it to manipulate
others and for self promotion. (Deuteronomy 28:15-68)
The motive for
operating in this Ministry must come from a pure heart. A heart that
truly desires to see God’s Covenant fulfilled in the Earth. (Deuteronomy 8:18; 1Timothy 1:5; 2Timothy 2:22; 1Peter 1:22)
I once served as
the Pastor of a Church just outside of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Lord
sent a man called to this Ministry, instructing him to help us get the work
established. He started out by giving generous offerings, asking
nothing in return.
One day he called me to his home and began to talk
to me about a new building, sound system and other needed Ministry items,
including a motor home for my wife and myself to travel comfortably to
other preaching engagements. Then he dropped “the bomb.”
This Brother
ignorantly began to explain to me that tithing is not for the New Testament
Church. He told me if I would simply stop teaching on tithing, he
would see to it that everything he promised would be provided and
more.
Well, to make a long story short, I explained to him that I am
not a prostitute. I am a Preacher. My services are not for
sale. I went God’s way, the tithing way, and he went another, the
manipulative way. I saw him about one year later and he literally
looked as if he had aged fifteen to twenty years. He was rapidly
dying from the inside out because the devil was controlling him and his
Ministry calling. The last time I heard of him, his wife had left him
for another man and he was involved illegally with another local Pastor who
had gone to jail for real estate fraud.
This was an
individual who started out loving God and the Bible and was truly gifted in
his area. I am unsure of what his previous involvement with other
Ministries was but there is one thing I am sure of. The Holy Spirit
was testing him and proving him, giving him an opportunity to give into this
Ministry with simplicity and without dissimulation. He flunked his
test and went to the rear of the class. I passed mine and got a front
row seat.
Almighty God had gifted this individual with the ability to
acquire and to disperse wealth. His Ministry was to make him a burden
bearer but in his pride and ignorance, he became a burden. His Ministry was a weapon and a tool for
the Holy Spirit, but he became a weapon and a tool for Satan. The
Holy Spirit sent him to protect me but in the end I had to protect myself
from him. He failed his test.
Adam and Eve ended
up in deception because they ignored the “simplicity” of God’s instruction
to them. (2Corinthians 11:3) This individual ended up in deception because
he, too, ignored the “simplicity” of God’s instruction to him. The
Apostle Paul said that he always conducted himself with “simplicity” and
with Godly sincerity. (1Corinthians 1:12)
Whether you are
called to the Ministry of Giving or you are a layperson paying tithes and
offerings, you should always give with simplicity. Never
misappropriate your giving by making a public display of yourself in it or
by using it to manipulate the Pastor, the Evangelist or anyone else.
(Matthew 6:3,4)
Giving to be seen of men or for any wrong reason can
cost you your reputation, your anointing, your health or your life.
Whatever the Holy Spirit tells you to give, just release it and allow Him
to bless you for it. Whatever you give may leave your hand but it will
never leave your life. It simply goes off into your future.
There it is multiplied and waits to be returned to you in order that you
may continue in the Ministry of Giving. (Luke 6:38; 2Corinthians 9:6;
Philippians 4:14-19)
Trust God! Give with simplicity.
Invest
in the Absolute Gospel Not the Social Gospel
In the Old
Testament when someone died mourners would gather together and feast for
days, oftentimes spending money that was intended for the poor on the
funeral and the funeral guests. (2Samuel 3:35; Jeremiah 16:17; Ezekial 24:17;
Hosea 9:4) Moses, the lawgiver and leader of Israel, by inspiration of
the Holy Spirit forbad Israel to do this.
The people had to be able to go before the Priest when giving tithes and
offerings and verbally state that they had used none of their tithes and
offerings for funeral expenses or mourners feasts.
"Then thou shalt say before the Lord thy God, I have brought away
the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the
Levite… I HAVE NOT EATEN THEREOF IN MY MOURNING, NEITHER HAVE I TAKEN
AWAY OUGHT THEREOF FOR ANY UNCLEAN USE, NOR GIVEN
OUGHT THEREOF FOR THE DEAD: but I have hearkened to the voice of the Lord
my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me."
(Deuteronomy 26:13,14)
Even as individuals
under the Old Testament were forbidden to use
their tithes and offerings on behalf of the physically dead, Believers
under the New Covenant are not to use their tithes and offerings for that
which is “spiritually” dead. The Apostle Paul made it perfectly clear
that Christians should never involve themselves with, let alone give their
money to, religions that worship idols or statues. (1Corinthians 8:4-13;
10:18-28)
The world’s largest
religious denomination has misled many good Christians into doing this,
contrary to the command of God. Money that God intends to be used for
seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19:10) and destroying
the works of Satan (1John 3:8) is being used to build cathedrals and to
purchase mansions, real estate and artwork worldwide.
Although we may
agree with where this denomination stands on the Lordship of Jesus Christ
and on other moral issues, we cannot agree with the way that money intended
for preaching the Gospel is being hoarded and dammed up.
However, religious
denominations that worship statues and idols and hoard wealth are not the
only ones who are being wrongly financed by Believers. There are many
Evangelical groups who themselves do not preach the absolute Gospel,
choosing rather to preach the social Gospel. The difference between
the absolute Gospel and the social Gospel is as follows.
The absolute
Gospel builds upon the Virgin Birth, the sinless life, the sacrificial
death, burial, resurrection, ascension and return of the Lord Jesus
Christ. The absolute Gospel also builds on all Five-Fold Ministry
Offices, major and Foundational Doctrines of Christ and all nine
supernatural Gifts of the Holy Spirit. (1Corinthians 12:8-11; Ephesians
8:4-13; Hebrews 6:1-3) See our JHM
Online Bible Training Centre.
On the other hand,
the social Gospel builds upon psychology, sociology, modernism, believing
anything you want as long as you are sincere, raffle tickets, bingo,
etc. This is spiritual death and nowhere in the Scripture are we ever
instructed to support it financially or to expect a return on our giving if
we do. Those who insist on financing religion, unscriptural
tradition or the social Gospel will regret it, not only in this life, but
at the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ as well. (Matthew 15:9; 2Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10)
A Pastor in a city
where I was also a Pastor had the biggest Church in that community.
He built a new sanctuary, a huge resource center and other beautiful
buildings. He drew many wealthy, Born Again people to his
services. I actually knew many of his people. They were sweet
people and I loved them. They were all faithful tithe payers and
offering givers, yet they had no idea in the world that their Pastor denied
the Virgin Birth of Jesus and believed that abortion was a matter of
individual choice.
He denied the Baptism with the Holy Spirit for
today and his people were ignorant or confused concerning just about every
Doctrine of the Bible. I know because they would often come to me for
counsel. Of course, I would have to send them back to their own
Pastor. I do not want other Pastors confusing my sheep and I will not
become entangled in counseling other Pastor’s sheep.
In spite of this
Pastor’s unbelief and cult-like belief system, Christians gave him plenty
of money assuming that because he was prospering that God just had to be in
it. Little did they realize that Satan is the god of this world
(2Corinthians 4:4) and he can cause religion, tradition
and cults to prosper solely for the purpose of deceiving God’s
people.
When Moses went up
to the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments, his brother Aaron decided
to become the leader. He was able to gather all the people together,
taking up huge offerings of gold. He fashioned a molten calf out of
solid gold and everybody got naked and had a party. (Exodus 32:1-6)
However, just because Aaron could draw a crowd and take up huge offerings
did not mean that God was backing him up.
As a matter of fact, God
called Aaron and Israel’s action
“corruption,” telling Moses that the people who did it were “stiff-necked”
and that He was going to wipe them all out and start over with Moses.
Fortunately, Moses was able to talk God out of it. (Exodus 32:7-14)
The moral of the
story is this. Just because someone can draw huge crowds, raise big
money, put up a huge sanctuary and pave a parking lot does not mean that
God is in it.
Christians are commanded to pay tithes and
offerings only where the absolute Gospel of Jesus Christ is being
preached.
This is equally as true with the Ministry of Giving. Believers are commanded to bring their tithes and offerings into the “storehouse.”
(Malachi 3:10)
The “storehouse” is where the absolute
Gospel is being preached, without excuse.
Those who are called to the
Ministry of Giving in particular must have their spiritual senses exercised
to the degree where they easily recognize the difference between religious
tradition and the whole counsel of God. (Hebrews 5:12-14)
Givers must be grounded in both
Foundational Doctrines of Christ and Major Bible Doctrines, enabling them to readily discern
true works of God from false works.
People called to the Ministry of
Giving, along with all true Believers, must be grounded in the Inspiration
of Scripture, the Trinity, the Deity of Jesus Christ, the
Fall and
Redemption of Man, Ordinances of the Church, the Baptism with the Holy
Spirit, Sanctification, Holiness, the Mission of the Church,
9 Spiritual Gifts, Ministry Gifts, Ministry
Offices, Divine Healing, the Believer’s
Authority, the Rapture and Second Coming of Christ, the
Final Judgments,
Heaven, Hell, the
Doctrine of Repentance, the Doctrine of
Faith, the Doctrine
of Baptisms, the Laying on of
Hands, the Three
Resurrections, Eternal Judgment,
etc.
Jesus said investing into religious
tradition is abortive. (Matthew 15:9)
Those called to the Ministry of Giving,
along with all Believers, are commanded to support only the absolute Gospel with their
giving. (Mark 16:15-20)
Be Blessed … John
and Barbara Hamel
How
to Be Born Again (Receive Christ as Your Savior)
How
to Receive The Holy Spirit & Power
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