Financial Prosperity by the first Apostles
Dearest folks... It is noteworthy that when the New Testament of the Bible is studied from a down to earth (where we are) point of view with the help of the Holy Spirit who interacted closely with these early apostles and inspired the writings, we understand the central place financial prosperity had in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is taught and mentioned specifically in many instances, and many instructions given to close associates in personal letters (Letters of apostle Paul to Timothy and Titus) could never be carried out without hard currency.
It will be my job in this issue to bring all these to our attention, as well as accounts of believers in Acts prospering financially from the gospel being preached to them, and a working partnership in the gospel a church had with the apostle Paul which ensured they were always in the heart of the apostle wherever he preached the gospel, were imparted with the divine graces that existed in his life, the abundant fruit of his ministry was credited to them also, and because of this stewardship, God always made sure they were abundantly supplied financially. This is very important, so that we would be complete and entire, lacking nothing in our faith as regards God’s intentions when we bring our petitions before Him which I believe we will discuss in another Salt & Light issue.
We understand that the early Apostles were all Israelites (the natural seed of Abraham), and well versed in the Holy scriptures delivered by Moses and the prophets which outlined God’s desire to prosper His people very explicitly and without any misunderstanding such that we would actually need help to misinterpret them... To these early apostles the reality of God’s intentions was not even an issue... there was no misunderstanding in their minds as to where poverty and lack came from.
Some in the church have regarded the Old Testament scriptures as not completely relevant to us now, which is sad because as we will see, the early apostles relied heavily on the OT scriptures and frequently quoted from them. They didn’t have the New Testament scriptures completely available to them... they were living the New Testament. We would rob ourselves most pitifully if we discount the glorious promises God gave to Israel which we who were former gentiles without God in the world can now
partake in to a greater degree (Hebrews 8:6), through our membership in the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, the church, the pillar and ground of the truth. Our Lord Jesus very explicitly stated that He has not come to destroy the Law, or the prophets, but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17), which is not to say we need to go sacrificing lambs without blemish; our sacrifice has already been completed for us, Whom we have faith in to perfect us, even our Lord Jesus Christ, our perfect sacrifice and Great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek.
If we consider apostle Peter, a well to do fisherman (he owned his own boat [Luke 5:3], had a house large enough for both his mother-in-law and wife to live in [Matthew 8:14], gasped together with the other disciples when Jesus said if you are rich, you can’t enter the kingdom of God [Mark 10:25 & 26], and then relaxed when Jesus clarified that it is those who trust in riches He was referring to... Another piece of evidence that Peter was indeed wealthy was because his immediate question after that according to the gospel of Matthew was “...Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed you; what shall we have therefore?” [Matt 19:27] Jesus was very explicit about the very material rewards for discipleship that we would receive a 100 times as much as what we have given up or in other words sown
now in this time
and in the world to
come eternal life, but was also very explicitly clear about the fact that these would come with persecutions... people not wanting to carry their crosses and follow Jesus but wanting these blessings would get jealous... you and the folks with good hearts that know the Lord will do it for them as well because they are walking in the same steps of faithful Abraham (Romans 4:12) would be ecstatic at your new blessings but the rest would be grieved (Psalm 112:10)...
“...Jesus said,
Truly
I tell you, there is no one who has given up and left house or
brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for My sake and for the Gospel’s who will not receive a hundred times as much now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.” – Mark 10:29 & 30
How much clearer can that get... we can’t possibly misinterpret that...
The Apostle Peter experienced some of the greatest financial miracles performed by our Lord to name a few:
The miraculous catch of fish he had ever had in his career on Jesus’ very simple but partially obeyed instructions (Jesus said he should let down the nets for a catch but he was tired from a long night of fishing and catching nothing, had washed his nets and just wanted to go home, thought what does this Rabbi know about fishing anyway, and decided to let down the net, just one net, that rotten old one he didn’t need to wash which is why it began to break, and he had to ask for help from his partners to haul all
that fish in, and cried depart from me for I am a sinful man because he knew very well what he had done [Revelation Courtesy of brother Copeland]. At the Master’s command,
every fish in the Galilee congregated around that boat and
jostled
to get into that net because of the Master’s use of that dominion over all the earth He gave us originally, and which we still have and are meant to use! [Luke 5:4 – 6/ Genesis 1:26]). How much would they have prospered financially from the sale of all that fish?
Old Tax collector Matthew’s employees or some other Tax collector demanding tax from Peter, and our Lord Jesus miraculously providing from a fish’s mouth... money enough to pay both Peter’s and our Lord’s Tax [Matt 17:27]. You see folks, God has ways and means to provide for us we do not have any idea about. I have had money appear mysteriously in my bank account which my wife will bear witness to.
Peter walked closely with our Lord over the whole course of His ministry on earth and personally witnessed the multiplication of the loaves and five fishes to feed upwards of 5,000 people, personally witnessed Jesus being transfigured on the mount together with James and John, and actually saw Moses and Elijah... men they had only read about from child-hood; witnessed the healing and wholeness of the woman with the issue of blood (Which included a financial blessing because the Word of God explicitly states that sickness led her to poverty, she spent all she had, and was nothing bettered but rather grew worse. Jesus could not have made her whole as the Word says if He had not restored her financial status before the sickness... further to this the Greek word for peace there is `eirene` which means “security, safety, prosperity, felicity”. The Hebrew equivalent is ‘shalom’, which is an all-inclusive word meaning completeness, soundness, welfare, health, prosperity, nothing missing, nothing broken... we don’t know exactly how He did it, He could have instructed Judas to give her some money, or even better, what I believe He did, that He Blessed her, empowered her to prosper financially).
Peter witnessed the raising of Jairus’ (the ruler of the synagogue who were wealthy men by Israeli standards of those times) daughter from the dead [It is worth a thought but do you think Jesus had his heart after raising his little girl... and his finances... It is clear from scripture that Jesus certainly had Mary Magdalene’s, Joanna’s the wife of Chuza (Herod’s steward), Susanna’s and many others who ministered to Him from their substance (Luke 8:2&3)]...
Peter a fisherman who knew very well that it was physically impossible for water to hold a full grown man walking upright on top of it, saw Jesus do this, and immediately knew by revelation he could as well at the Master’s Word, stepped out of the boat boldly and began to do just that but began to sink after a few steps through doubt and unbelief creeping in but was caught by the Master... he actually walked back to the boat with Jesus at his side... on water...
Do you think these guys would have ever doubted God’s intentions concerning them financially, or the need to treat it exhaustively in the scriptural teachings... they were teachers of God’s righteousness obtained by faith in Jesus Christ, because they knew a man or woman abiding in the teachings would
as a matter of cause
prosper financially through the Kingdom of God without excessive effort on their part, which is why the great apostle of Love, John wrote in his letter to Gaius [3 John 2-kjv], “Beloved, I pray above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers” (Bear in mind that at the time of writing [about AD 90], this was an old apostle not a novice, who had watched the ministry of Jesus probably more closely than anyone else. His together with Peter’s careers as fishermen stopped abruptly on Jesus’ call and for the rest of their lives we don’t have any records of them ever taking up the profession again (except for one catch shortly after the Lord’s crucifixion at which time they caught nothing). How did they survive financially for the 3 yrs of Jesus’ ministry and afterwards? How was Peter able to maintain his household all that time without earning money? His question to Jesus indicated that he had left quite a lot to follow Jesus as His disciple... Jesus took care of all their financial needs on earth during His ministry, and continued to do so after He ascended back to the Father through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Kingdom of God. They got into that 100fold flow and never lacked a mite... we do have scriptural record that not one believer in the church lacked anything [Acts 4:32 – 35], all was laid at the apostle’s feet and shared as everyone had need).
The apostle John’s witness to Gaius revealed the fact that we can only prosper in our health, financial prosperity, in our relationships and every other way
degree
to the
that we prosper in our souls which consists of our minds, will and
emotions... Our souls’ prosperity based on the knowledge of God’s Word. This is why apostle Peter wrote in his second epistle to us:
“Simon Peter, a servant and apostle (special messenger) of Jesus Christ, to those who have received (obtained an equal privilege of) like precious faith with ourselves in and through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace (God’s favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being,
all
necessary good,
all
spiritual
prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. For His divine power
things
has bestowed upon us all
(would you regard finances as a thing, Jesus certainly does) that [are
requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue). By means of these
has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises [specific reference to the OT as the NT had not yet been fully He
compiled], so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and
greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature. For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises],
employ every effort
in
exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence), And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety), And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love. For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [full, personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). For whoever lacks these qualities is blind, [spiritually] short-sighted, seeing only what is near to him, and has become oblivious [to the fact] that he was cleansed from his old sins. Because of this, brethren, be all the more solicitous and eager to make sure (to ratify, to strengthen, to make steadfast) your calling and election; for if you do this, you will never stumble or fall. Thus there will be
richly and abundantly provided for you entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”. – 2 Peter 1:1-11 amp
The Greek word for abundantly in the KJV is `plousios` which means abundantly, richly as accurately conveyed by the amplified version of the Bible. The word `Richly` according to Noah Webster means “With riches; with opulence; with abundance of goods or estate; with ample funds...Gaily, splendidly, magnificently, as richly dressed, richly ornamented”; and the word `abundantly` means “Fully, amply, plentifully, in a sufficient degree”.
At which point, and how did poverty or lack enter into the picture in relation to the divine nature of our God we have inherited? Some talk about this new prosperity gospel as if it is something human beings made up to suit themselves... The only wise Rich God came down to our level to raise us up to His level, of His own volition... how could we have possibly conceived poverty and lack in that? I will have you know without any equivocations that the poverty gospel came from the very pit of hell I tell you... dreamed up and thought of from the bowels of satan himself originating from the pitiful religious bondage men subjected themselves under... You will only find poverty associated with religion in many eastern religions, and this crept into Christianity through Roman Catholism as men began to try to bend the Word of God to fit their carnality and desire to control the populace to the point that the Word of God was not in a language the majority of peoples could understand [Latin], was only available to a select few of the priesthood who then decided it was too holy for normal everyday reading so lets keep it locked away!
This situation of events was prophesied by the apostle Paul in his first letter to Timothy [1 Timothy 4:1 -3] “...The Holy Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach, Through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars
forbid people to marry and abstain from [certain kinds of] foods which God
whose consciences are seared (cauterized), Who [teach them] to
created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and have [an increasingly] knowledge of the truth”. Does this sound familiar? Was and is this not still taught in Roman Catholism, Religious Orthodox nationalistic churches and Islam, predominant expressions of religion that have raped and plagued this continent and surrounding regions to this very day, depriving people of the life of God, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof... controlling people’s lives till they are hurt and disillusioned and think they want nothing to do with God... not realising that the precious love of the blessed God and His true church is their life and peace... apostle Paul wrote, from such turn away. Thank God for Martin Luther... and for us all who God has charged with the responsibility for what happens to this continent.
Let me also categorically point out that there are many Catholics, Lutherans, Episcopalians etc that will put the most vivacious Pentecostal Charismatics to shame with their visible witness of the expression of Christ’s love in all its purity... and religion was created by man, and all Christian organisations including Pentecostal begin to get religious when they stop depending on God, and create doctrines and systems to make their lives more explainable without depending on God’s
When you think you no longer need to live by faith, religion is the result. Word.
In the early days not that long after our Lord Jesus ascended, It is written of the church in Antioch [Acts 11:22 – 30] (Modern day Turkey [We need to win this country back to God], and not that far off from Tarsus where apostle Paul originally came from. Antioch was to become a base for his ministry to most of Europe), that:
“...they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what grace (favor) God was bestowing upon them, he was full of joy; and he continuously exhorted (warned, urged, and encouraged) them all to cleave unto and remain faithful to and devoted to the Lord with [resolute and steady] purpose of heart. For he was a good man [good in himself and also at once for the good and the advantage of other people], full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit and full of faith (of his belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation). And a large company was added to the Lord. [Barnabas] went on to Tarsus to hunt for Saul (apostle Paul). And when he had found him, he brought him back to Antioch. For a whole year they assembled together with and were guests of the church and instructed a large number of people; and in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. And during these days prophets (inspired teachers and interpreters of the divine will and purpose) came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and prophesied through the [Holy] Spirit that a great and severe famine would come upon the whole world. And this did occur during the reign of Claudius
recorded historical fact].
[A secular
So the disciples resolved to send relief, each
according to his individual ability [in proportion as he had prospered], to the brethren who lived in Judea. And so they did, sending [their contributions] to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.”
There can be no misunderstanding here that this was hard currency and material substance being contributed for the relief of the saints in Judea, and this was being stewarded by Barnabas and Saul. We should also note that these were believers giving, prospering and increasing in a time of straitened economic circumstances... in a recession... a severe famine that had come upon the whole world. They were continually being abundantly supplied, not from the limited earthly resources available but from God’s kingdom which is never in recession. I can personally testify of God’s ample provision during this so-called time of recession commensurate and even above my level of soul prosperity and faith. If you look for and watch the DVDs `Finger of God`, and `Mama Heidi`, you would discover a missionary to Mozambique called Heidi Baker, whom many have personally witnessed and can testify of God miraculously multiplying food to feed many just like the 5 loaves and 2 fishes... hundreds of people from one pot of food... gooey spaghetti... cooked by the Spirit of God Himself ... amongst other mind jolting miraculous signs and wonders accompanying her ministry... while sharing this testimony in Joseph Prince’s church in Singapore, she asked the congregation to look at their fingers... which is more complicated for God to make... their fingers or spaghetti ... She would be in Glasgow on Tuesday, the 24th of this month and my wife and I together with a couple of friends are going to get an impartation . Folks... It’s time we let go of unbelief and disobedience and go full hog for God, understanding that His provision always follows our obedience and doesn’t come before...
Further to this, later on in the apostle Paul’s career, he specifically instructed his sons in the faith Timothy, and Titus accordingly concerning financial help for widows and other groups in need:
“...Let no one be put on the roll of widows [who are to receive church support]”....”If any believing woman or believing man has [relatives or persons in the household who are] widows, let him relieve them; let the church not be burdened [with them], so that it may [be free to] assist those who are truly widows (those who are all alone and are dependent). Let the elders who perform the duties of their office well be considered doubly worthy of honor [and of adequate financial support]...” (1 Timothy 5:9, 16&17); and to Titus “...This message is most trustworthy, and concerning these things I want you to insist steadfastly, so that those who have believed in (trusted in, relied on) God may be careful to apply themselves to honourable occupations and to doing good, for such things are [not only] excellent and right [in themselves], but [they are] good and profitable for the people”...notice
the relationship between an honourable occupation and doing good, and let us be fully aware that we cannot even help ourselves not to talk of other believers through funding the gospel by depending on government welfare cheques as some
do....”...Do your utmost to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they want for (lack) nothing. And let our own [people really] learn to apply themselves to good deeds (to honest labor and honourable employment)”...and the reason is..., “so that they may be able to meet necessary demands whenever the occasion may require and not be living idle and uncultivated and unfruitful lives...” (Titus 3:8, 13 & 14)
Further to this, we know from this great apostle... Paul, in his letter to the church in Philippi (Modern day Greece) that they partnered with him in the ministry financially and as a result partook in the grace that was established in his life and prospered accordingly:
“...I was made very happy in the Lord that now you have revived your interest in my welfare after so long a time; you were indeed thinking of me, but you had no opportunity to show it. Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or
I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the disquieted) in whatever state I am.
secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want. I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. But it was right and commendable and noble of you to contribute for my needs and to share my difficulties with me. And you Philippians yourselves well know that in the early days of the Gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church (assembly) entered into partnership with me and opened up [a debit and credit] account in giving
receiving
and
except you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent [me contributions]
for my needs, not only once but a second time. Not that I seek and am eager for
your credit [the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account]. But I have [your full payment] and more; I have everything I [your] gift, but I do seek and am eager for the fruit which increases to
need and am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent me. [They are the] fragrant odor of an offering and sacrifice which God welcomes
my God (the God of my apostleship) will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ and in which He delights. And Jesus.” [Philippians 4:10 -19]
(My wife and I are partners in the ministry of several great present day apostles, prophets, teachers, and Evangelists to include Kenneth Copeland, Jerry Savelle, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, and Morris Cerrullo, and have and are enjoying the grace of God in
these mens' lives, and would really encourage you to do the same. Start where you are financially even if it is only £1 you can give. Give this consistently every month and pray for these men every day together with your church leadership as discussed in a previous Salt & Light issue, and God will increase you so you can also increase your giving.)
Apostle Paul taught extensively on Financial Prosperity probably in AD 55 – 56 in his letters to the Church in Corinth (present day Greece, some distance from Athens); in his first letter, identifying the purpose for savings accounts [not for a rainy day, if you remain in faith, that day will never come, you will always be abundantly supplied; besides we are to expect financial increase not rainy days...], and then how to increase financially in the Kingdom of God in his second letter:
“Now concerning the money contributed for [the relief of] the saints (God’s people): you are to do the same as I directed the churches of Galatia to do. On the first [day] of each week, let each one of you [personally] put aside something and
save it up
as he has prospered [in proportion to what he is given], so that no collections will need to be taken after I come.” – 1 Corinthians 16:1&2
“We want to tell you further, brethren, about the grace (the favor and spiritual blessing) of God which has been evident in the churches of Macedonia [arousing in them the desire to give alms]; For in the midst of an ordeal of severe tribulation, their abundance of joy and their depth of poverty (Which was their current reality as opposed to God’s intentions for them) [together]
lavish generosity
have overflowed in wealth of
on their part. For, as I can bear witness, [they gave]
according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability; and [they did it] voluntarily, Begging us most insistently for the favor and the fellowship of contributing in this ministration for [the relief and support of] the saints [in Jerusalem]. Nor [was this gift of theirs merely the contribution] that we expected, but
first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His agents] by the will of God [entirely disregarding their personal interests, they gave as much as they possibly could, having put themselves at our disposal to be directed by the will of God]—So much so that we have urged Titus that as he began it, he should also complete this beneficient and gracious contribution among you [the church at Corinth]. Now as you abound and excel and are at the front in everything—in faith, in expressing yourselves, in knowledge, in all zeal, and in your love for us—[see to
abound and excel in this gracious work [of almsgiving] also. I give this not as an order [to dictate to you], but to prove, by [pointing out] the zeal of others, the sincerity of your [own] love also.” it that you come to the front now and]
...it is clear that up to this point he has been writing about finances, hard currency, then
“For you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognizing more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favor and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied)”....apostle Paul was referring to our writing
on
he
explicitly
states...
Lord Jesus’ sojourn on earth here down on our level without having committed any sin, paid the ultimate price for our sin on the cross his poverty. If our Lord Jesus’ status on earth which we have proved as anything but poverty is being referred to here as poverty, then try to imagine what rich from God’s perspective would be! Writing on apostle Paul then goes “...[It is then] my counsel and my opinion in this matter that I give [you when I say]: It is profitable and fitting for you [now to complete the enterprise] which more than a year ago you not only began, but were the first to wish to do anything [about contributions for the relief of the saints in Jerusalem]. So now finish doing it, that your [enthusiastic] readiness in desiring it may be equalled by your completion of it according to your ability and means. For if the [eager] readiness to give is there, then it is acceptable and welcomed
in proportion
to what a
person has, not according to what he does not have. For it is not [intended] that other people be eased and relieved [of their responsibility] and you be burdened and suffer [unfairly], But to have equality [share and share alike], your surplus over necessity at the present time going to meet their want and to equalize the difference created by it, so that [at some other time] their surplus in turn may be given to supply your want. Thus there may be equality,
As it is written,
He who gathered
much had nothing over, and he who gathered little did not lack. [Exodus 16:18 – The apostles always depended on and quoted OT scriptures frequently] But thanks be to God Who planted the same earnest zeal and care for you in the heart of Titus. For he not only welcomed and responded to our appeal, but was himself so keen in his enthusiasm and interest in you that he is going to you of his own accord. But we are sending along with him that brother whose praise in the Gospel ministry [is spread] throughout all the churches; And more than that, he has been appointed by the churches to travel as our companion in regard to this bountiful contribution which we are administering for the glory of the Lord Himself and [to show] our eager readiness [as Christians to help one another]. [For] we are on our guard, intending that no one should find anything for which to blame us in regard to our administration of this
large contribution
[Some things never change do they, in the
accusations of corruption against preachers of the gospel...]. For we take thought beforehand and aim to be honest and absolutely above suspicion, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men. Moreover, along with them we are sending our brother, whom we have often put to the test and have found him zealous (devoted and earnest) in many matters, but who is now more [eagerly] earnest
than ever because of [his] absolute confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my colleague and shares my work in your service; and as for the [other two] brethren, they are the [special] messengers of the churches, a credit and glory to Christ (the Messiah). Show to these men, therefore, in the sight of the churches, the reality and plain truth of your love (your affection, goodwill, and benevolence) and what [good reasons] I had for boasting about and being proud of you. Now about the offering that is [to be made] for the saints (God’s people in Jerusalem), it is quite superfluous that I should write you; For I am well acquainted with your willingness (your readiness and your eagerness to promote it) and I have proudly told about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia (most of Greece) has been prepared since last year for this contribution; and [consequently]
your
enthusiasm
has
stimulated
the
majority
of
them”...Why would these Christians be so eager to give money, especially in a time of famine if they didn’t have some understanding through apostle Paul’s teaching, and experienced the results; what many Christians today don’t know anything about... from our natural understanding, they should have been more motivated to hoard what they had for their own families and not strive to contribute and feed people they didn’t even know personally... the only connection being their joint membership in the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ ...” Still, I am sending the brethren [on to you], lest our pride in you should be made an empty boast in this particular case, and so that you may be all ready, as I told them you would be; Lest, if [any] Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared [for this generosity], we, to say nothing of yourselves, be humiliated for our being so confident. That is why I thought it necessary to urge these brethren to go to you before I do and make arrangements in advance for this
bountiful, promised
gift of yours, so that it may be ready, not as an extortion [wrung out of you] but as a generous and willing gift. [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly
he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings” (We understand that he has been writing about finances all this time, and so when he says sow and reap, he is talking about sowing finances as a farmer would sow seed, and reaping finances as a farmer would reap the harvest of that seed sown; and blessings would qualify for all the good earthly material things we would consider good i.e. cars, houses, clothes etc as promised by our Lord Jesus in Matthew 6). Writing on he states, “...Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and
in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving]” quoting
God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come from the OT again (Proverbs 22:9). Writing on he states, “...And
to you in abundance
[overflowing
quantity
–
Noah
Webster
Dictionary]” ...and the reason is... “...so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]. As it is written...” he quotes OT again “...He [the benevolent person] scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice and goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever! (Psalm 112:9)” lest we say but apostle Paul, I don’t have anything to give, he quotes the OT again and writes “...And [God] Who
provides seed for the sower” ...some of
us have been hoarding, or even worse eating our seed through fear of not having enough instead of sowing for increase and the love of the gospel as the Spirit of God
will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, instructs... “...and bread for eating
kindness, and charity] (Isaiah 55:10; Hosea
you will be enriched in all things and in every way” and 10:12].
Thus
the reason is, “so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God. For the service that the ministering of this fund renders does not only fully supply what is lacking to the saints (God’s people), but it also overflows in many [cries of] thanksgiving to God. Because at [your] standing of the test of this ministry, they will glorify God for your loyalty and obedience to the Gospel of Christ which you confess, as well as for your generoushearted liberality to them and to all [the other needy ones]. And they yearn for you while they pray for you, because of the surpassing measure of God’s grace (His favor and mercy and spiritual blessing which is shown forth) in you. Now thanks be to God for His Gift, [precious] beyond telling [His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift]!”
This is the full gist folks which we need to completely understand and walk in, disregarding the lies of the enemy which had most stealthily crept into the church, and which still exists in the hearts of many believers to this very day, who believe God does not want them to have anything, and through this the expansion of the teaching of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is hindered... This is it right where we are... right
where we understand... all laid out in the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Words of His prophet.
“Therefore thus says the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: My house shall be built in it, says the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. Cry yet, saying, Thus says the LORD of hosts;
My cities through
prosperity shall yet be spread abroad;
and the LORD shall yet
comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.” – Zechariah 1:16 & 17 KJV
Your brother in the patience of Christ, Temisan
“...You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavour? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world-like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father...” – Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:13 – 16) New Living Translation