Wonderful Jesus!

Tag: Tithing

• Put it to the Test!

  Posted at 10:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on September 17, 2020

  1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 – “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. NKJV

  

  put-it-to-the-test_.mp3

  In this letter of 1 Thessalonians, Paul is full of advice. In actuality, his advice is more accurately called exhortations, or words of encouragement meant to push the believer into becoming more mature. The part that I want to look at today is, “test all things”.

  My husband shares the story of one of our first dates. He and I went to a pizza place to eat. When we placed our drink order, he asked for a beer. I didn’t say anything while the server was present, but afterwards I remarked on the fact that I was surprised he ordered a beer. To be perfectly honest, I told him that if a Christian friend of mine was to walk past us, I would be embarrassed. He said that he didn’t have to have the beer and that he wasn’t a drinker. Years later, when I mentioned this event, he said it was a test to see how I would respond in an uncomfortable situation. I can also honestly say that I never saw him drink beer again, so I can accept his explanation. He put me to the test, and I passed the test! One of many according to him! But I want you to know that I had some tests of my own!

  In life, we will find ourselves in many situations where we will have to put something to the test. During a courtship is a perfect time for testing. Having warm fuzzy feelings for an individual is great, but I can assure you that the feelings don’t last with the wrong person. It’s easy to take people at face value, when you think you are in love, but people can be pretentious. I can’t even begin to tell you how many people got married, only to later say, “I don’t know this person”! That advice was free!

  When looking into the word, there are a few things that we are to test, starting with ourselves! This test, according to the Vine’s is for the sake of “approving”. Paul is basically telling us that we get to give our approval of all things in this life. Many want us to believe that we should just take everything that happens, especially in the church, without having an opinion about them, but I don’t agree! And neither does Paul, for he said to test all things! When it comes to people, however, I think we should definitely understand what things we are testing!

  Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 2 Corinthians 13:5 – NKJV

  Isn’t it interesting that Paul encouraged us to examen ourselves so that we would know if Jesus was really in us! We all feel like we can tell if someone is saved or not. I’m certainly guilty of this opinion. Here, Paul is saying, “examine yourself”. You know if you are the real deal or not, for the proof really is in the pudding. In the faith isn’t talking about how you believe God for things, but if you are a member of His family. Put it to the test! I can tell you one thing, this pandemic is helping us to “examine” ourselves, rather we wanted to or not, to determine if we are in the faith!

  Another thing we can test is our spiritual leadership! Yes we can!

  But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 1 Timothy 3:10 – NKJV

  In the church, almost anybody can be a deacon, it seems, today. Years ago, I was attending a church, when a deacon said from the pulpit that Mary was not a virgin. On that note, I found another place to worship. We can’t just attend church because of our soul ties and connections. If the word isn’t being preached, and the leadership isn’t living a godly life, they have failed the most important test! Put them to the test! Jesus commended one of the churches in Revelation for this very thing:

  “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; Revelation 2:2 – NKJV

  This isn’t being judgmental, it’s testing them. Not with paper and pencil! Not by being judgmental! But watch their life and listen to what they say! If that person can’t hold up to the test of the word, then you should pray about your next steps. I have been blessed through the years to have some really good pastors, but I put them to the test, without them knowing it! So don’t be ridiculous in the testing! Had the congregants tested Jim Jones and people like him, they would have been spared a horrible end!

  Then there are spirits! There are so many spirits that we have to test them and see if they are from God or not!

  Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 – NKJV

  Yes! I believe in the gift of prophecy, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t test the spirits of the “prophets” or the spirits behind situations. Try the spirits! If it’s of God, it will stand the test, and if it’s not of God, then it won’t!

  God gives us permission to put Him to the test in the area of tithing:

  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10 – NKJV

  He is so confident in the blessing of the tithe that He said you could put Him to test with it! Go ahead and start tithing and see if He won’t bless you!

  And then there is the trying of the word! Everything that we are told that the word says, doesn’t necessarily mean that the word says it. This is where studying the word comes into play, to prove if what we are being taught is so:

  Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Acts 17:10-11 – NKJV

  Paul knew he was telling the truth, and yet he was impressed with the Bereans studying the scriptures to see if what he taught was true. I’m skeptical of people who get upset when they know people are checking out what they say in the word. One thing I love about the ministers I know, they get happy when they see or hear others studying the word. I can remember as a kid, that I saw Jim Jones throw the Bible on the floor. Ah! It’s time to leave! Why does this keep coming to my mind tonight? Is someone involved in a ministry that is questionable? If that’s you, put it to the test, and then do what God tells you to do!

  I have to close, but I leave you with the words of Solomon:

  All this I have proved by wisdom… Ecclesiastes 7:23 – NKJV

  Proving all things involves the wisdom of God. Whether you are testing a person’s character because you want to marry them, or testing yourself, wisdom from God will be your top priority. Don’t walk around thinking that you are being used by the devil when you privately “test’ something by the Spirit of God. Notice, I said privately! And as you seek wisdom from Him, He will help you to prove all things! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in encouragement, God’s Requirements, Prophecy, Prophetic, will of God | 0 Comments | Tagged bad leaders, Believer, Berea, blessings, church leaders, Dating, Marriage, Paul, prophecies, relationships, testing, Tithing, will of God, wisdom, word of God

• Yielding the Sword!

  Posted at 2:44 am by wonderfuljesus8, on August 8, 2020

  Ephesians 6:17 – “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;” NKJV

  yielding-the-sword_.mp3

  I trust you are getting encouraged in your walk with the Lord! The Word of God says that we are more than conquerors; therefore, the weapons against our adversary are fail proof when used in faith! Have you ever watched someone play a video game, or maybe you have played, and the battle called for warriors to use different weapons at different phases of the game? Or maybe you have no knowledge of video games, but understand real warfare. You understand that there are foot soldiers with guns, snipers with rifles, tanks with artillery, planes with bombs, all headed for the enemy to engage him in different ways. All important, all strategic, all deadly, but in different ways! That’s how our spiritual weapons are used; in different phases of the battle, for different attacks, but all are lethal against the adversary! I wrote a blog, this year, “Talk Back to the Enemy” that is a companion blog to today’s entry.

  Paul is writing about the full armor of God in this passage. I won’t address the armor in this blog, but I do want to address the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Typically speaking, a sword is a weapon of defense and the Word is definitely great for defending ourselves against the enemy; but it can also be an offensive weapon used to attack an opponent. Which ever position you find yourself in, even at this moment, the word will work!

  In Matthew, chapter 4, we find Jesus is being led into the wilderness. After forty days and nights of fasting, the devil comes for a visit. He didn’t send a demon this time. This was an assignment he took up.

  The first temptation was at Jesus’ physical need of food. He said to Jesus, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” This was a real temptation because Jesus was hungry. It was also an attack on Jesus’ identity as the Son of God. Jesus didn’t get into a long discourse with the devil. He simply replied, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'” Jesus’ weapon against the devil’s attempt to pull Him into the flesh after a forty day fast was countered with the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God!

  Then we see that the devil took him up into the holy city, and said, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you.'” We can see that Satan came with a counterattack at Jesus, using the Word against Him. That was pretty dumb to use the Word against the Living Word, but he did it. Jesus of course responded with a greater truth, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'” In other words, it is very true that angels would come to His rescue, but He knew it would be silly to test God’s faithfulness on a challenge from Satan.

  Lastly, Satan takes Jesus on an exceedingly high mountain and shows Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. Now he is trying to impress Jesus with his goods. He say to Jesus “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Jesus rebukes Satan by saying, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'”

  After these words of rebuke, the devil leaves, and angels came and ministered to Him. He whipped the devil with the Word and was victorious, not because He was the Son, but because of the effectiveness of the sword of the Spirit! It worked for Jesus, and it will work for us!

  I want to address something that was going on. During this time of temptation, Satan was trying to get Jesus to sin against God. The temptation wasn’t a sin, but had Jesus done either of these things, He would have sinned. When we are tempted, they are just temptations, but when we give in and do a thing, it becomes a sin. Learning to cut the devil off before he has a chance to get us to thinking about his proposal is key in maintaining our victory. The immediate weapon to use against a suggestion to sin, is the Word of God!

  • Consider an individual who is dating. The enemy tells that person some tired lies that he have used throughout the centuries with others. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t, but he’s had enough success that he still uses it. Recently my daughter told me this one that a young person shared with her, “Girl, you have to try it before you buy it!” How many times did my “girlfriends” tell me the same thing, decades ago. The only thing you get to try before you buy it is a car. Are we reducing our bodies to that of an automobile? You buy a house, you buy it first, then you move in; unless you rent to own. See the lie for what it is then use the word against sexual sin.
    • It is written, “Flee sexual immorality! And again it says “that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and I am not my own. Or have you not heard how Joseph, when approached by Potiphar’s wife refused her saying that he would not sin against God?” No devil, I will not do this thing for it is written, “You shall not commit adultery or fornication. So get out of here with your lies!”

  • Consider an individual who is struggling to make ends meet. The enemy tells that person, you should not be giving the church all of their money. You have been tithing (for all of two months) and things are worst. You have been giving to support the teens ministry, VBS, or pastoral support, but who is helping you?
    • It is written, “Bring the tithe in the storehouse…and I will open the window of heaven and pour you out a blessing you will not have room to receive. It is also written, “Give and it shall be given to you!” There is no way that I will stop being a financial blessing to my church for God has promised in His word, that the righteous are not forsaken and His seed is not begging for bread!” Now leave me alone!

  These are just examples that are common in the church. And they are lies that I have heard hundreds of times over the years that I have living for the Lord. Lies you have heard personally, or know others who have heard them. The Bible is filled with examples of people who have gone both ways: Eve, Samson and Judas believed the lies, Abraham, Noah, and Joseph did not! You don’t have to give in to the lies of the devil, just yield the sword of the Spirit at him and watch him hightail it out of your presence! Once you see it work, it may very well become your preferred weapon of attack!

  I believe I am finished with the weapons of our warfare blogs. I trust you have enjoyed reading them as much as I have enjoyed writing them. On wonderfuljesus.blog, it is my hope that you will always find encouraging, practical topics to keep you living a victorious life and falling in love with Jesus, over and over again! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Jesus, Satan, Spiritual warfare, the devil, weapons of warfare | 0 Comments | Tagged blessings, God, Jesus, sexual sin, Sin, Spiritual warfare, the devil, Tithing, Vic tory, Victorious Living, weapons of warfare, word of God

• The Christian and Social Justice

  Posted at 9:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on June 2, 2020

  Matthew 23:23 – “Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you give a tenth (tithe) of your mint and dill and cumin [focusing on minor matters], and have neglected the weightier [more important moral and spiritual] provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the [primary] things you ought to have done without neglecting the others. AMP

  

  All around America, and in other parts of the world, there is an outcry of racial injustice. People of every ethnic group are crying out for something to be done to balance the scales of justice for people of color. I mentioned before that I am not blogging for political reasons, and so I tend to not touch the issues surrounding our nation, but this time, I must blog because our lives, people of color, Black people, matter!

  Jesus spoke some really harsh words to the religious leaders of His day. He told them that they were majoring in the things that were minor, while ignoring the things that are important, and justice was the first thing He mentioned. In other words, He commended them for their religious duties, and rebuked them for not dealing with issues of justice.

  Justice means to “make right”. It is a relational term about people living in right relationship with God and with one another. Justice is rooted in the very nature of God Himself because He always does what is right! He is known to be faithful and just! Our very Constitution’s backbone is based on His just laws. And every thing that He is, love, holy, just…He expects from us!

  I have taught the Constitution of the United States in my classroom. As a veteran of the United States Navy, I have sworn to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, understanding that, if need be, with my life. But I am also a Black American! When I see what is happening to the greatest nation on the face of the earth, where we will spend millions for the right to bear arms, and ignore our pledge to “ensure domestic tranquility”, it’s disheartening. For domestic tranquility, peace in the land, can’t happen when it’s peace for some of the people and not all of the people.

  Christians fight against abortion, we fight against gay marriages, and we fight for our religious freedoms, and all too often, many of those same Christians will reply to “Black Lives Matter” by saying “Blue Lives Matter” or “All Lives Matter”. It’s insulting to think that in the slogan Black Lives Matter, there is a suggestion that, no one else matters, when in essence, it’s really saying: We know all lives matter, and we know the lives of policeman matter, but when are you going to start realizing that our lives matter, too!

  There is undeniably a set of rules for Whites, and another set of rules for everyone else. As of 2017, Christians make up over 31% of the world’s population. We are the largest group of people in the world, and yet, racism is still an issue in our world. We have yet to affect enough change upon our laws to ensure that Blacks, and other people of color, have the same protection and value for our lives as our white counterparts.

  The Christian is taught to love as Jesus loved us. We are taught that when we come into the kingdom, we are family. We are taught that greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. And yet, racism is still a major problem in the world. 1 out of every 3 people profess Christianity, and yet, people of color are still seen as substandard, expendable, human beings. This is hypocrisy at its max. And I know that Jesus is not pleased!

  Amongst the anguish, the riots, the looting, the pain, are the voices of some really great people of all color crying out against this injustice. Not just for George Floyd, or Christian Cooper, or my daughters’ classmates whose car windows were broken out while they were tazored repeatedly by the cops; but for all injustices that we, people of color, deal with on a daily basis. It’s just getting so old!

  Here’s the funny thing. I didn’t want to blog on this. I thought, “My readers are all over the world and several of my followers are white people. I am called to teach the word, not to be political, that’s my assignment.” And yet, this is the word, spoken clearly by our Savior! We are not to ignore justice!

  Until we can demonstrate our love for every nation of people, and have the same laws apply to us all, and stand against the injustices of humanity, irregardless of the color of our skin, then we are not demonstrating the values that I see in Jesus and His word. And if you find this offensive, then I would really rather not be followed by someone who sees me as okay as long as I am quiet about my race and the injustices that we have to deal with, day in and day out! Because for me and my family and loved ones, this is a matter of life and death. And we cannot afford to ignore it!

  If you are a Christian who truly believe the Word, then you cannot be passive about social justice. And neither can I! It’s time to pray for racism to be revealed and dealt within our society. It’s time to ask God to help us be a part of the solution, and not a part of the problem. If there is to be peace in America, then it’s time for there to be peace for all Americans! If there is to be world peace, it’s time for it to be available for everyone. We are His hands extended to a lost and racially biased world, and to change it, maybe it’s time for us to change! Wonderful Jesus!

  Note: This is my blog and I fully support the ideas and thoughts expressed in it! I also completely disagree with the violence and looting that is going on and am praying that it cease.

  Posted in Christian, Jesus, Social Justice | 9 Comments | Tagged Christian, George Floyd, hypocrisy, Jesus, love, protection, racism, Social Justice, Tithing, word of God

• Talk Back to the Enemy!

  Posted at 7:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on February 25, 2020

  Isaiah 36:7 – “But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the Lord our God,’ is it not He whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and said to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar’?”’ NKJV

  talk-back-to-the-enemy_.mp3

  I think I’ve mentioned before that this battle is one of the most detailed battles in the word, written in three different books of the Bible. The first thing I noticed, the first time I read this battle is that the Assyrians were nothing more than bullies! They spent the majority of their time throwing insults, hoping to intimidate the Israelites into submission. If there is one modus operandi of the devil, intimidation would get my vote as his specialty.

  Let’s look at a few of the insults hurled at the citizens of Judah:

  • What are you trusting in?
  • I heard you are making plans for a war, but they are mere words.
  • Are you trusting in the assistance of Egypt? He’s a broken reed and so are those who trust in him.
  • Are you trusting in God?
  • Didn’t Hezekiah take away His high places and altars and said you could only worship here in Jerusalem?
  • Come on, surrender and make a pledge and we will give you 2,000 horses, if you have men you can put on them!
  • Didn’t the Lord say to us, “Go up against this land, and destroy it!
  • Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you, he won’t be able to deliver you!

  And the insults continued on and on, with one intent, to intimidate the people of God. And the devil has been using this form of attack on the people of God for centuries; often times quite effectively.

  Today he would more likely say things like:

  • Do you really think God will heal you? He didn’t heal Brother So and So. As a matter of fact, he died.
  • Do you expect Jesus to come from heaven and marry you? You will be waiting until eternity.
  • Do you really think that by giving that church ten percent of your income, you are going to make it to the next paycheck and have more than enough? Are you stupid? You can’t pay your bills now!
  • Why would God want to use you? There is nothing special about you. Get real!
  • Don’t you dare go over and tell that person that! That wasn’t God. He is not talking to you. That’s you!
  • You think because you said that prayer that you are saved. That is so not true. If that’s all it took, everybody would be saved.
  • You are a worthless, low down, dirty, rotten sinner, and that’s all you will ever be. God can’t possibly love you!

  And the list can go on and on and on. And some nights, and some times in your head, it does! And it seems as if you can’t shut the lying, hateful words up and so you begin to feel tormented in your mind and in your spirit. And when you start thinking like that, he is being effective against you!

  Hezekiah’s advice to his people was not to respond. This makes sense, because this was not an individual battle, but a battle against the masses. And maybe, just maybe, it is good advice when the devil is using an actual person. But generally, I would say that now is the time to go on the attack!

  How? The same way Jesus went on the attack! With God’s word!

  • Every lying thought needs to be cast down! You need to open your mouth and declare that “by His stripes you are healed!” That you will live and not die and continue to declare the works of the Lord! He is your healer!
  • You need to take a firm grip on the word that says, “It is not good that man is alone!” God’s idea, not mine! So He will work it out! And until He brings you together, you will use your time and talents to promote His kingdom and trust that your future spouse is waging war on him also!
  • Bring all the tithes into my storehouse, God said, and He will rebuke the devourer. So devil, you are rebuked in Jesus’ Name! Wealth and riches are in your house and you are blessed!
  • God has plans, a purpose, an expected end for you to get to, and God will bring it to pass! Therefore you can trust in Him to direct you, lead you, guide you. And you can become the enemy’s worst nightmare.
  • God manifests Himself, by His Spirit, to His people that they might be encouraged. A word of knowledge is a gift of God. And at the very least, you will encourage your brother, or your sister, so you will share what has dropped in your spirit and trust God with the rest!
  • All those who call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved! You called! You are saved! You are redeemed of the Lord and are saying so, because He told you to!
  • You are loved by God! You are fearfully and wonderfully made. And equally as importantly, you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, not a low down dirty sinner. Satan is a liar, and the Father of lies and you are to resist every negative thought and comment and hide under the shadow of the Almighty God! You are His sheep and you only listen to your Shepherd, now put the devil behind you!

  You cannot be silent when the taunting, tormenting, intimidating spirits of the enemy come knocking at the door of your mind or your heart! You must make a decision to attack him with the only thing that works! God’s word! It worked for Jesus in the wilderness and it will work for you! This is your time for talking back! Get sassy with it! And let him know that you are not taking this mess anymore! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Battle plans, Believers, Christian, Spiritual warfare, Victorious Living | 2 Comments | Tagged Attitude, Believer, Christian, encouragement, Healing, Holy Spirit, Jesus, righteousness, Sinner, Spiritual warfare, Tithing, Victorious Living, victory, word of God

• Is tithing for the Believer?

  Posted at 3:48 am by wonderfuljesus8, on April 14, 2018

  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts; “And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the Lord of hosts.-Malachi 3:10-12

  There is much debate in the church world today about tithing: should we, or should we not? So I thought I would add my two cents worth to the debate. 

  In my opinion, only a non-tither is debating the issue because God promised that in tithing, we could put Him to the test and find Him faithful. And if you are a tither, and you have put Him to the test, then you know He is faithful and this is not an issue for you. However, if you tried it, was inconsistent with it, or did not bring “all” the tithe into the storehouse, than I can imagine your confusion on the topic. 

  I first heard the message of tithing when I was 16 years old. I remember thinking, I could really stand to be blessed, so if I ever get a job, I will tithe. From that day to this day, whenever I have wanted or needed a job, I got one and I have always tithed. And God has always provided for me.

  When I was in the military I began to feel lonely and desirous of a godly husband. I can still see me standing in the living room praying to the Lord about it, when these words flowed from my heart and lips: “Father, you promised me that if I would tithe that you would open the window of heaven for me and pour me out a blessing that I would not have room enough to receive. Well God! I’ve been faithful in my tithing and my giving, so where is my blessing?” Immediately, I heard in my spirit, “Call Wade!”

  Wade is my current husband of over 30 years. A marriage blessed beyond my wildest dreams. But at that time, he was also serving in the military and we had met once before in Sicily, in an airport about a year before this. Now, I can’t possibly give you all the details in this short post, but suffice it to say, God aided me in finding him. Actually, I went back to work that Monday and was talking casually with a fellow believer who (it so happened) knew him from a previous base. So I called, and the rest, as we say, is history. 

  Over the years we have seen God do some wonderful things in our lives, in our finances, and in the lives of our children; because we are tithers and have taught them to tithe. As a matter of fact, one of my criteria for a husband was for him to be a tither.

  Just this week, I was speaking with a new believer who works in the same building I work in. She asked me if she should tithe on the net or the gross? She asked me if it was ok to pay it in two installments? I told her how I tithe and what I believe the Bible teaches about tithing. She was excited to hear it and said she would start paying it correctly. I know she’ll be blessed because of it and because of her heart; but mainly because He promised!

  I can go on and on about the benefits of tithing that I have personally experienced over the decades of my tithing. If someone started preaching tomorrow that they heard a “word” from God and He does not expect us to tithe anymore, I would call him a lying spirit and continue to tithe. Even if I had at one time highly regarded him as a man of God.

  Should believers tithe? Only if they want to obey God and be blessed in the process. More in another post! Wonderful Jesus!

   

  Posted in Giving, testimony, Victorious Living | 0 Comments | Tagged Christian, Giving, testimony, Tithing

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