Part 1
13/04/18 10:04
I look at the churches and lives of those in other countries, other countries being those outside of U.S. and Canada, and I see tyranny. I also see people willing to give up their families, their lives, their money, and anything else to spread the Gospel of Christ. When I read the Bible, no studying needed just a mere read, this is what I get from Scripture.
Y’shua made it very clear that following Him may bring tyranny, loss of loved ones, loss of money, loss of things, even the loss of our very life; and that one must weigh the cost of following Him.
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it”
(Luke 14:28)
I want to point out just a few of many verses that what I’m talking about when I say “An American Gospel”
I recently heard of a woman who was given the choice between following Christ or being able to see her daughter any more. In America, this seems like an unspeakable choice; but it’s happening today and we were told this choice may have to be made.
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.”
(Luke 14:26)
Christ, soon heading to the cross, said we must be willing to do the same. As He gave up His life for the lives of others, we must do the same. This is not talking about a true life death, or only those who give their lives would be His disciple. Christ is talking about losing our manner of life for the spreading of the Gospel so that others could have eternal life.
And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple
(Luke 14:27)
I often use the term, and many pastors do, we must be WILLING to give up all. Yet, that’s really not the terminology used. Christ said those who do not give up everything cannot be my disciples. You see, Christ want’s all - not part.
those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples
(Luke 14:33)
We see Christ counseling a rich young ruler who asks about obtaining eternal life. Y’shua starts going through the Ten Commandments that deal with our love for man. Before He could finish, the young man interrupts Him and says He’s been doing them since His youth. Y’shua said, “One thing you lack”; which was the last Commandment which was not said yet - coveting. He tells this young man to sell it all, give it to the poor, and follow Him. Yet the man walked away sad. The coveting of things is not just buying all kinds of things, but it’s a refusal to give up what you all ready have for the Kingdom of God.
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me
(Mark 10:21)
Afterward, Y’shua said it’s easier to get a camel through an eye of a needle than to get a rich man into heaven. It’s funny that even in the poverty of a fisherman, they wondered how a man could make it to heaven. This means, even in their poverty, the fishermen saw themselves as rich. Y’shua said that with God all things are possible. Peter then makes a statement about all them giving up all in order to follow the Messiah. Jesus is quoted as saying, whoever gives up all will receive a hundredfold in this world. Actually, there is much more said, but we’re coming back to that in a moment.
The problem comes down to that, while the Bible says one thing, and the lives of the disciples showed what Christ said; and those in other countries live lives that are worthy of, and according to, the Gospel, we in America believe we have a totally different gospel.
When talking to Americans about these Scriptural teachings and the much more on the same subject, they feel they should not have to give up. When shown in Scripture that we are commanded to give up for the poor, they automatically run to the far end and argue that God does not want us living in a cardboard box. They feel that it’s a bad witness to give so much until we may be in poverty ourselves; which actually says they believe they can out give God. American’s feel that we should not have to make a choice between God and family or things. All may not say this, some do, but our lives portray it. We make up so many excuses for why we don’t have to give up. Yet, we see that John said:
“Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same”
(Luke 3:11)
This is not a unique teaching. Isaiah taught that we should not spend money on that which is not food. In other words, if it's not what we need in life, why are we wasting our money on it? When we read the New Testament, we see this is not just an Old Testament teaching. In fact, right after this statement, he talks about the covenant which is to come; Christ
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare
(Isaiah 55:2)
Speaking of this being a New Testament principle. Paul stated that we need to work so that we have something to share with those in need.
Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
(Ephesians 4:28)
Paul also taught this principle to the Corinthians. Unlike those of us in America, Paul, and the disciples did not teach one thing and live another; as we see, in Acts, they gave all and supplied those in need. In that process, they did not lack for anything.
At the present time, your plenty will supply what they need so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written:“The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little
(2 Corinthians 8:14-15)
I went from a 155 pound 6’4” skinny guy to just over 200 pounds of muscle - from spending too much time in the gym. Then, I go from just over 200 pounds and went back to about 185 pounds of normal. I often looked at the small pudge of a belly and told my wife that I would like to get my old stomach back. It was not for anything worthy of God but was a vanity issue. The other morning, I got up and looked down at little pudgy and the first thought that hit my head is, “that is proof that I eat too much, and do too little for the Kingdom of God”.
We in America don’t look at it like this, yet does it matter how we look at it or God? God said that fulness of food, and a waste of time, while there are those in need, is a sin.
Truly, this was the sin of your sister Sodom: pride, a full measure of food, and the comforts of wealth in peace, were seen in her and her daughters, and she gave no help to the poor or to those in need.
(Ezekiel 16:49)
I’ve often heard the statement that America is looking more like Sodom; yet, we’ve looked like Sodom for quite some time. Why else are we called a harlot in Revelation 17?
Their respect for a man's position is a witness against them, and their sin is open to the view of all; like that of Sodom, it is not covered. A curse on their soul! for the measure of their sin is full
(Isaiah 3:9)
Like Laodicea, in Revelation 2, America has reached this level of prosperity, yet we covet it to ourselves - but we still think we are rich. Like the young ruler, we refuse to give up what we got. Instead, we make excuses on why we “believe” we should not have to. As long as we give our tithes and go to church on sunday, we feel satisfied that we’ve done our duty as good christians.
Everything to do with our willingness to deny ourselves to help others has to do with the love principles of God. God gave up all so we could have. God made it clear, in the Old Testament, that He was not concerned about the offerings that were given: He is more concerned about our walk with Him. Christ, in the New Testament, made the very same type of statement. “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God
(Luke 11:42)
We’ve been reading about the justice and love of God, which is through our giving of our extra money. By a mere reading of Scripture, we see it’s also by our sacrifice of our time for the service to the Kingdom of God.
In Matthew 25, Y’shua tells us we are to serve those who are in need. This is only just; as we were served by Him. This service was for those in need of our extra money and in need of our extra time. He said, when we do it to one of these in need, we are actually doing it to Him - wow, what a blessing: we get to serve Him - but we tend to look at it as a chore.
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me
(Matthew 25:40)
At the same time, He said he will divide those christians who gave from those who did not. And those who were too selfish and loved their things and time too much to give up will be cast into Hell.
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
(Matthew 25:41)
I admit it’s a tough thing. What faith it must take to give and possibly not have for retirement. What sacrifice it must be to give up our time. Yet, in America, we tend to distance ourselves from those in the world. We have our little click, our sunday morning social club and the members of it.
Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous
(Luke 14:12-14)
The hoarding of things is a principle that is the exact opposite of that which was taught by Christ. He tells a story of a man who received bountifully, and in his bounty, he decided to store it up for a type of retirement; where he could take life easy, eat, drink, and be happy. Yet, this is seen as foolish to God.
The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops. ’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? ’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God
(Luke 12:16-21)
We’ve gotten so spoiled, we believe there is just no way that God would want us poor. Yet, Christ gives a blessing for those who are poor - the Kingdom of God.
Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh
(Luke 6:20-21)
Yeah, but what about that passage that you talked about earlier, that one that says we will receive one hundred fold. Denominations, pastors, and professing christians in America constantly pull Scripture from context to support the life they want to live. This is one of those passages. There are two accounts of this comment being made; we’ll start with the one in Mark 10.
So Jesus answered and said,
“ Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time (that’s where they stop)—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first
(Mark 10:29-31)
The prosperity message likes to point to the houses and lands. If Christ was talking about us actually owning multiple houses and lands, what does it mean for mothers and fathers? Am I to actually believe that if I give up my mother for the Gospel, I will receive many mothers? How could that be? I’m only born to one - raised by one. This is a Spiritual principle and must be understood as that. This passage is actually easily explained by two others:
But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “ Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “ Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother
(Matthew 12:48-50)
Those who will need to give up their family will gain so much more in the family of God.
Now the multitude of those who believed was of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common
(Acts 4:32)
The Kingdom principle of God is that the body of Christ is as one operating body. If one member hurts, we should all hurt. At the same time, all through Scripture we see a call to keep only what we need and give the rest to those in need. And if a time would arise that we ourselves are in need, those who had plenty would help us. A few verses later, we see that many sold their homes and land to put into the funds for the body. I’m most assured that not all did this. Yet, we also read that the apostles went from house to house “breaking bread”, which is not communion because they were eating meat. As we read in verse 32, none considered anything they had as their own. Therefore, they all had an abundance of land and homes; because they all shared.
I’m sure someone is saying, I don’t believe that’s what it meant. Can you show me, in Scripture, where it means anything else? Can you show me any follower of Christ that gave a different life?
The prosperity teachers try to point to Abraham, Job, and David. I agree they were very wealthy. Yet, can we really compare our faith, charity, lives to theirs. Scripture says if we can’t be trusted with little, we can’t be trusted with lots.
In the Matthew account of the hundredfold return Christ said:
Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first
(Matthew 19:28-30)
He first says, in the regeneration - not His but ours; because He’s talking about the disciples sitting on the twelve thrones. The statement is clear that it’s at the end that we receive one hundred fold and eternal life - of course.
Notice this and think, the disciples will judge the twelve tribes of Israel. For those who know and understand Scripture, Israel, being the seed of Abraham, was God’s FIRST FRUITS. In other words, they were just the beginning; because we are now circumcised in the heart and are also Israel. So, they will judge us. Now, look at the lives of the 12 disciples, what they wrote of how we are supposed to live, in the New Testament; and think - they are going to judge us. Can we really say our life compares to theirs in the building of the Kingdom of God?
Some may still be saying, I don’t believe it that way. Ok. Let’s say Y’shua is talking about us receiving a hundredfold now - even though all His teachings were against the hoarding of things. See, there’s the point. All through the Gospel and New Testament, we are warned to stay away from the lust of things of this world and commanded to give our abundance to those in need; yet, we want to take this one little verse and say it means the opposite. Even so, if God gave back one hundred fold now, where is the command to keep it, hang on to it, not give it away?
God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
(2 Corinthians 9:8-10)
In other words, He - who is God, who supplies their need - which is through our charitable giving - will also supply us for that good work of giving - which then enlarges our harvest of righteousness. We always say God provides, yet without people to offer, who’s to do the work for God? Yes, he can bring food with the raven; but how much better is the love shown through man?
11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us, your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
(2 Corinthians 9:8-13)
I’ve even been personally told that a poor Christian is a bad witness to the non-believer. Where is that in Scripture? The lack of love is a poor witness. And this Scripture makes it very clear that it’s the love shown, through the care of someones need, that we give and THAT is a witness. In fact, it specifically says that it's through our charitable giving, and not hoarding up for ourselves a bunch of needless worldly junk, that is the big witness to the unbeliever; because it accompanies our confession of the Gospel of Christ. What kind of witness is a Christian who has much? It’s believed that it’s evidence that God gives to those who follow Him. Is that why we want to follow God? If your following God for what He will give you, your following for the wrong reason.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person
(1 John 3:16-17)
Part 2
Y’shua made it very clear that following Him may bring tyranny, loss of loved ones, loss of money, loss of things, even the loss of our very life; and that one must weigh the cost of following Him.
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it”
(Luke 14:28)
I want to point out just a few of many verses that what I’m talking about when I say “An American Gospel”
I recently heard of a woman who was given the choice between following Christ or being able to see her daughter any more. In America, this seems like an unspeakable choice; but it’s happening today and we were told this choice may have to be made.
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.”
(Luke 14:26)
Christ, soon heading to the cross, said we must be willing to do the same. As He gave up His life for the lives of others, we must do the same. This is not talking about a true life death, or only those who give their lives would be His disciple. Christ is talking about losing our manner of life for the spreading of the Gospel so that others could have eternal life.
And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple
(Luke 14:27)
I often use the term, and many pastors do, we must be WILLING to give up all. Yet, that’s really not the terminology used. Christ said those who do not give up everything cannot be my disciples. You see, Christ want’s all - not part.
those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples
(Luke 14:33)
We see Christ counseling a rich young ruler who asks about obtaining eternal life. Y’shua starts going through the Ten Commandments that deal with our love for man. Before He could finish, the young man interrupts Him and says He’s been doing them since His youth. Y’shua said, “One thing you lack”; which was the last Commandment which was not said yet - coveting. He tells this young man to sell it all, give it to the poor, and follow Him. Yet the man walked away sad. The coveting of things is not just buying all kinds of things, but it’s a refusal to give up what you all ready have for the Kingdom of God.
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me
(Mark 10:21)
Afterward, Y’shua said it’s easier to get a camel through an eye of a needle than to get a rich man into heaven. It’s funny that even in the poverty of a fisherman, they wondered how a man could make it to heaven. This means, even in their poverty, the fishermen saw themselves as rich. Y’shua said that with God all things are possible. Peter then makes a statement about all them giving up all in order to follow the Messiah. Jesus is quoted as saying, whoever gives up all will receive a hundredfold in this world. Actually, there is much more said, but we’re coming back to that in a moment.
The problem comes down to that, while the Bible says one thing, and the lives of the disciples showed what Christ said; and those in other countries live lives that are worthy of, and according to, the Gospel, we in America believe we have a totally different gospel.
When talking to Americans about these Scriptural teachings and the much more on the same subject, they feel they should not have to give up. When shown in Scripture that we are commanded to give up for the poor, they automatically run to the far end and argue that God does not want us living in a cardboard box. They feel that it’s a bad witness to give so much until we may be in poverty ourselves; which actually says they believe they can out give God. American’s feel that we should not have to make a choice between God and family or things. All may not say this, some do, but our lives portray it. We make up so many excuses for why we don’t have to give up. Yet, we see that John said:
“Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same”
(Luke 3:11)
This is not a unique teaching. Isaiah taught that we should not spend money on that which is not food. In other words, if it's not what we need in life, why are we wasting our money on it? When we read the New Testament, we see this is not just an Old Testament teaching. In fact, right after this statement, he talks about the covenant which is to come; Christ
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare
(Isaiah 55:2)
Speaking of this being a New Testament principle. Paul stated that we need to work so that we have something to share with those in need.
Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
(Ephesians 4:28)
Paul also taught this principle to the Corinthians. Unlike those of us in America, Paul, and the disciples did not teach one thing and live another; as we see, in Acts, they gave all and supplied those in need. In that process, they did not lack for anything.
At the present time, your plenty will supply what they need so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written:“The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little
(2 Corinthians 8:14-15)
I went from a 155 pound 6’4” skinny guy to just over 200 pounds of muscle - from spending too much time in the gym. Then, I go from just over 200 pounds and went back to about 185 pounds of normal. I often looked at the small pudge of a belly and told my wife that I would like to get my old stomach back. It was not for anything worthy of God but was a vanity issue. The other morning, I got up and looked down at little pudgy and the first thought that hit my head is, “that is proof that I eat too much, and do too little for the Kingdom of God”.
We in America don’t look at it like this, yet does it matter how we look at it or God? God said that fulness of food, and a waste of time, while there are those in need, is a sin.
Truly, this was the sin of your sister Sodom: pride, a full measure of food, and the comforts of wealth in peace, were seen in her and her daughters, and she gave no help to the poor or to those in need.
(Ezekiel 16:49)
I’ve often heard the statement that America is looking more like Sodom; yet, we’ve looked like Sodom for quite some time. Why else are we called a harlot in Revelation 17?
Their respect for a man's position is a witness against them, and their sin is open to the view of all; like that of Sodom, it is not covered. A curse on their soul! for the measure of their sin is full
(Isaiah 3:9)
Like Laodicea, in Revelation 2, America has reached this level of prosperity, yet we covet it to ourselves - but we still think we are rich. Like the young ruler, we refuse to give up what we got. Instead, we make excuses on why we “believe” we should not have to. As long as we give our tithes and go to church on sunday, we feel satisfied that we’ve done our duty as good christians.
Everything to do with our willingness to deny ourselves to help others has to do with the love principles of God. God gave up all so we could have. God made it clear, in the Old Testament, that He was not concerned about the offerings that were given: He is more concerned about our walk with Him. Christ, in the New Testament, made the very same type of statement. “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God
(Luke 11:42)
We’ve been reading about the justice and love of God, which is through our giving of our extra money. By a mere reading of Scripture, we see it’s also by our sacrifice of our time for the service to the Kingdom of God.
In Matthew 25, Y’shua tells us we are to serve those who are in need. This is only just; as we were served by Him. This service was for those in need of our extra money and in need of our extra time. He said, when we do it to one of these in need, we are actually doing it to Him - wow, what a blessing: we get to serve Him - but we tend to look at it as a chore.
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me
(Matthew 25:40)
At the same time, He said he will divide those christians who gave from those who did not. And those who were too selfish and loved their things and time too much to give up will be cast into Hell.
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
(Matthew 25:41)
I admit it’s a tough thing. What faith it must take to give and possibly not have for retirement. What sacrifice it must be to give up our time. Yet, in America, we tend to distance ourselves from those in the world. We have our little click, our sunday morning social club and the members of it.
Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous
(Luke 14:12-14)
The hoarding of things is a principle that is the exact opposite of that which was taught by Christ. He tells a story of a man who received bountifully, and in his bounty, he decided to store it up for a type of retirement; where he could take life easy, eat, drink, and be happy. Yet, this is seen as foolish to God.
The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops. ’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? ’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God
(Luke 12:16-21)
We’ve gotten so spoiled, we believe there is just no way that God would want us poor. Yet, Christ gives a blessing for those who are poor - the Kingdom of God.
Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh
(Luke 6:20-21)
Yeah, but what about that passage that you talked about earlier, that one that says we will receive one hundred fold. Denominations, pastors, and professing christians in America constantly pull Scripture from context to support the life they want to live. This is one of those passages. There are two accounts of this comment being made; we’ll start with the one in Mark 10.
So Jesus answered and said,
“ Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time (that’s where they stop)—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first
(Mark 10:29-31)
The prosperity message likes to point to the houses and lands. If Christ was talking about us actually owning multiple houses and lands, what does it mean for mothers and fathers? Am I to actually believe that if I give up my mother for the Gospel, I will receive many mothers? How could that be? I’m only born to one - raised by one. This is a Spiritual principle and must be understood as that. This passage is actually easily explained by two others:
But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “ Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “ Here are My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother
(Matthew 12:48-50)
Those who will need to give up their family will gain so much more in the family of God.
Now the multitude of those who believed was of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common
(Acts 4:32)
The Kingdom principle of God is that the body of Christ is as one operating body. If one member hurts, we should all hurt. At the same time, all through Scripture we see a call to keep only what we need and give the rest to those in need. And if a time would arise that we ourselves are in need, those who had plenty would help us. A few verses later, we see that many sold their homes and land to put into the funds for the body. I’m most assured that not all did this. Yet, we also read that the apostles went from house to house “breaking bread”, which is not communion because they were eating meat. As we read in verse 32, none considered anything they had as their own. Therefore, they all had an abundance of land and homes; because they all shared.
I’m sure someone is saying, I don’t believe that’s what it meant. Can you show me, in Scripture, where it means anything else? Can you show me any follower of Christ that gave a different life?
The prosperity teachers try to point to Abraham, Job, and David. I agree they were very wealthy. Yet, can we really compare our faith, charity, lives to theirs. Scripture says if we can’t be trusted with little, we can’t be trusted with lots.
In the Matthew account of the hundredfold return Christ said:
Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first
(Matthew 19:28-30)
He first says, in the regeneration - not His but ours; because He’s talking about the disciples sitting on the twelve thrones. The statement is clear that it’s at the end that we receive one hundred fold and eternal life - of course.
Notice this and think, the disciples will judge the twelve tribes of Israel. For those who know and understand Scripture, Israel, being the seed of Abraham, was God’s FIRST FRUITS. In other words, they were just the beginning; because we are now circumcised in the heart and are also Israel. So, they will judge us. Now, look at the lives of the 12 disciples, what they wrote of how we are supposed to live, in the New Testament; and think - they are going to judge us. Can we really say our life compares to theirs in the building of the Kingdom of God?
Some may still be saying, I don’t believe it that way. Ok. Let’s say Y’shua is talking about us receiving a hundredfold now - even though all His teachings were against the hoarding of things. See, there’s the point. All through the Gospel and New Testament, we are warned to stay away from the lust of things of this world and commanded to give our abundance to those in need; yet, we want to take this one little verse and say it means the opposite. Even so, if God gave back one hundred fold now, where is the command to keep it, hang on to it, not give it away?
God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
(2 Corinthians 9:8-10)
In other words, He - who is God, who supplies their need - which is through our charitable giving - will also supply us for that good work of giving - which then enlarges our harvest of righteousness. We always say God provides, yet without people to offer, who’s to do the work for God? Yes, he can bring food with the raven; but how much better is the love shown through man?
11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us, your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
(2 Corinthians 9:8-13)
I’ve even been personally told that a poor Christian is a bad witness to the non-believer. Where is that in Scripture? The lack of love is a poor witness. And this Scripture makes it very clear that it’s the love shown, through the care of someones need, that we give and THAT is a witness. In fact, it specifically says that it's through our charitable giving, and not hoarding up for ourselves a bunch of needless worldly junk, that is the big witness to the unbeliever; because it accompanies our confession of the Gospel of Christ. What kind of witness is a Christian who has much? It’s believed that it’s evidence that God gives to those who follow Him. Is that why we want to follow God? If your following God for what He will give you, your following for the wrong reason.
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person
(1 John 3:16-17)
Part 2