Tuesday, December 4, 2018

December 4 Thought for the day...the cost of impacting the world


Having served as a "televangelist" for 30 + years, I heard all the criticism, took all the abuse and ridicule for everyone's fundraising style. The media lumped us all into the same category, charlatans, frauds, people wanting to steal from old ladies. I would gladly take anything anyone wanted to dish out because I knew my heart was pure, and I would do whatever it took to see people come to Jesus and grow in their relationship with Him. There is a genuine cost to do ministry. The "love of money" is the root of all kinds of evil, and because of that, we need to learn how to be generous to make the work possible...

"...certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance." Luke 8:2,3

One of the signs of those who were true followers of Jesus, those who were closest to Him is they had generous hearts. The word used here, "provided" can be translated ministered to or served. I want to get back to this in a moment. While in our church, it is my call and anointing to lead this exciting work with each of the Pastors, staff, Elders, and volunteers, leading in their roles. Every person who gives through their tithes (being 10% of your income) and offerings (those gifts beyond the tithe) is equally called and anointed for their ministry to support financially. Every person who is delivered, saved, healed, restored, or encouraged, every family we touch through our outreaches, each nation that has been impacted through our missionaries, every family that is restored and turned around is all done because there have been the finances to make it all happen. I never want you to think because you are not the Pastor that you aren't impacting lives. Your faithfulness every week is changing the world! Those who are faithful in giving will be rewarded as greatly as those of us whom they make possible to be on the front lines every day.

Allow me to get back to the "provided!" It is a picture of wait staff who painstaking, diligently works hard to meet the needs, through service, of the customers. They did it honorably and gaining the highest value from serving this way. This was the attitude that the women listed here had. They felt it was the purpose, the God-given assignment to make sure Jesus was supplied with all He needed to keep changing the world! The verb tense means they did it regularly and consistently. They were faithful, someone Jesus could count on!

The word "substance" means out of their goods, possessions, properties, and material goods. Luke is telling us they simply supplied all Jesus needed to feel free to be who He was without concern for his personal or the group's corporate needs. Luke points them out because their hearts of giving made them valuable partners in the ministry of Jesus.

Every scripture is important and valuable. Generally, when I talk about money, people get quiet, offended, shy, or the mature ones get excited about what God can do through them. Luke pointed these women out because everything Jesus did came back to be a blessing to them. Every life that was touched, they took part. Your faithfulness through "providing" your "substance" is affecting more people than you can imagine, lives are being changed because of you. Thank you for faithfully giving. If you are part of my church, I am especially grateful. For the others who read these posts daily, whatever church you are investing your tithes and offerings, thank you on behalf of your service to Christ. Together we are changing the world.

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