Randy Bell
11 Aug 2017

Kingdom Life Principles

The Power of Restoration: How To Help a Defeated Believer

Remember Satan is a deceiver and like a lion hunting a herd of animals, will trick and separate a struggling and weak member from the group and pounce on them. So Peter warns us to, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” [1 Peter 5:8].

Also Hebrews 3:13 states, “…but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

Our best defense and safety is in close constant fellowship within the local church. Apart from the “herd” a believer is vulnerable to spiritual defeat.

The apostle Paul covers this principle in Galatians proving there was a great need of training for the disciples even 2000 years ago. And sorry to say, we have not learned much in our day. One good program that many churches are using is Rick Warren’s Celebrate Recovery which is a biblical and balanced program that helps people overcome their hurts, hang-ups, and habits.  It is based on the actual words of Jesus rather than psychological theory. This is the focus of full restoration.

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load. 6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.“ Galatians 6:1-10

When we speak of restoring a believer we are not talking about helping them to be born again—again! When you are truly converted you do not lose your salvation and have to get it again. What we are concerned about is the spiritually young, sickly, or wounded sheep that need mending. All the realities of the fruit of the Spirit are cut off from a sinning believer, so they need the joy of their relationship with God restored.

Therefore, we must have a plan of action to help a wounded or wandering sheep. Use these six steps to help others.

1/ Restoration is a process not a one-time confrontation. [Verses 1-2]
1/ Sometimes, new believers misunderstand what God wants and a simple Bible study will strengthen and move them to the narrow way. Acts 18:26 “So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.”

2/ But often the deception of the enemy has lodged more deeply into the wayward one, and the church must firmly confront and admonish him. 2 Thes. 3:14-15 makes this command, “And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

Trying to make a person ashamed is unpopular today. You will get a harsh response from the world and most Christians for even thinking of obeying God in this way. But so many claim the name of Jesus and shamelessly sin, and then have the guts to demand acceptance by the spiritual leaders of the local church. Please trust God that He knows what He is doing, obey His Word and trust the Holy Spirit to use you to bring conviction and restoration.

3/ If they will not listen to gentle but firm warnings, further steps must be taken. 1 Cor. 5:1-5: “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles–that a man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.”

“For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

Remember God is not mocked, and the church must act when members are sinning. If they are hypocrites, they need to be removed and not dirty God’s name. If they truly are believers this is the first tough-love step of restoration. The real Christian will fall under conviction and repent.

The phony will be content to live on in sin and be bitter toward the believers who try to restore him. 1 John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.”

4/ Then the restorers of the breach must begin their work. 2 Cor. 2:6-11 “This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

2/ When a believer sins against you, follow Matthew 18. [verses 1-2]
1/ Matthew 18:15-22  “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.”

2/ “But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'”

3/ “And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church.”

4/ “But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.  Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

5/ “Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”  Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'”

The normal person wants revenge when they are offended by someone. But, the Lord directs His narrow road followers to so love their enemies that they always privately speak to the one that sins against them. Remember this is personal, and dealing with intentional offenses, not a difference of opinion or taste. But, when sin is involved God demands all of us to not tolerate or ignore the sin, but lovingly confront and bring resolution by involving as many people as necessary. Sin must be repented of, not allowed to spread and poison others.

3/ When a leader needs correction make sure there are two or three witnesses first. [Verses 1-2]
1 Tim. 5:19 “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.” There is a great temptation on many modern day believers to crucify their pastor on the word of an accuser. Scripture is very clear, a leader is innocent until proven guilty by at least two unrelated witnesses who saw him doing wrong.

When that is true, scripture teaches, “Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear” 1 Tim. 5:20. Obviously, leaders are to be restored not fired, unless their sin is so shameful their presence would destroy the testimony of the church.

4/ Learn the warning signs to spiritual deception and failure. [Verses 7-8]
1/ Believers who keep changing churches and doctrines are in spiritual danger. Ephes. 4:14 “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,…”

Today many church people float from church to church, from one form of doctrine to another as they change churches. The confusion of fragmented scripture information leads to a misunderstanding of God’s Word, and spiritual consequences. This whole group of people are in danger of Satanic attack.

2/ Next, believers who do not make daily obedience a priority are in grave danger. 2 Tim. 3:6 “For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,…”

Spiritually inactive people who fill their heads with things like soap operas, immoral reality shows, supposed adult rated entertainment, fantasies and desires of better lives are in great danger. And believers who do not make an effort to daily confess and turn from sins are in danger of spiritual shipwreck.  Paul warned us in1 Tim. 1:19,  “…having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,…”

5/ Restoration demands that we help hold them up until they can walk again by themselves. [Verse 2]
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” It gets messy to be involved with defeated and hurting people. Crushed and hopeless people are broken and needing long-lasting care and tough love. Many failures and restarts have to happen for so many in our day.

To bear means to put your should under the weight of those defeated and relieve the pressure. Hold them up! This is what Christ commanded when He explained to all His followers how to “love your neighbor as yourself.” The investment of time, money, and personal involvement proves our love for Christ.

6/ Restoration may take years [ex. drug and alcohol abusers], so do not grow weary while doing good works. [Verse 9]

1 Cor. 13:8 “Love never fails.” Time always tests our commitment to love God by loving one another. But remember our focus and priority is to “especially” do good to the Christian because God is at work with His mighty Holy Spirit, empowering and building new desires in them to live in freedom from evil.

But the wicked cannot be changed through your love or willpower, they must be born again to have the mercy and grace of Jesus to become a new creation. If God is not at work in them, you must leave them in God’s hands, you are not greater than God, nor more loving then He is.

Jesus let the rich young ruler leave, He did not force him into rehab. Find out what God wants you to do, then do it. Come on, you do not force little old ladies across the street when they are not ready to go.

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Randy Bell
4 May 2016

Kingdom Life Principles, StraightTalk Articles

The Power Of Encouragement: How to Strengthen Believers

Guidelines For Maturing Believers – The Power of Encouragement

It is important that every believer actively participates in church gatherings by giving Biblical testimonies, making public confessions or sharing public exhortations reinforcing truth as stated in 1 Corinthians 14:24,25. Also to “…exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” Hebrews 3:13.

Remember, exhortation is “encouragement, entreaty to serve and please God” [Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary].

Joining together only for worship is a mistake, the scripture says we need to desperately and passionately plead with each other to stay on course and not give up in our obedience to Christ.

You can be deceived and tricked by the enemy like Adam and Eve, so listen to each others’ warnings. Football coaches take their jobs seriously and push their players to excel and stay focused on the game. Players that are leaders sound a lot like the coach. So, for the sake of eternity, we need to be even more motivated to focus and stay on the narrow road for the name of Jesus.

Here are seven principles to guide your ministry toward your fellow Christian.

1. An Exhortation Must be Based in Scripture by Giving Clear and Precise Steps of Action
“Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification:” [1 Thessalonians 4:1-3].

  • Clearly explain the truth of Christ’s teachings, then the steps [commandments] of how to “walk and please God.” Do not just share the emotions of an experience, specify scriptural principles instead.
  • Describe how all things, yes even what seems negative or hard, work together for good to conform us to Christ’s character.
  • Urge and encourage everyone to keep on taking the steps until full maturity is achieved

2. An Exhortation Must Assist Christians in Applying Scripture to Their Daily Lives
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is  the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit” 1 Thessalonians 4: 3-8.

  • This means you must base your exhortation on clearly understood interpretation of scripture. Do not stretch a scripture passage to fit your story.
  • Explain how to apply biblical principles to practical daily experiences.
  • Describe situations that allow them to learn specific character qualities.
  • Be careful, do not describe experiences or use examples that other believers would question, react to or be offended.

3. An Exhortation Must Encourage Other Believers to Full Spiritual Maturity
“But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that  you may lack nothing” [1 Thessalonians 4:9-12].

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24- 25)

“Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:3, 12-13).

  • Remember full maturity is when a person’s focus has turned from selfishness to agape [genuine] love [See STEP 7 in the Spiritual Growth Website].
  • Explain that maturity takes time and persistence, encourage them to not allow failure to define them.
  • Describe how to follow God’s wisdom and ways by using stories from people in the Bible.
  • Do not allow yourself to be discouraged if your exhortations do not seem to be helping people, they are!
  • Like a child growing up, a Christian’s spiritual growth takes a lot of time and encouragement.

4. An Exhortation Must Explain Truth With Clear Logical Reasoning
“…holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain” Titus 1:9-11.

“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer everyman”  (Colossians 4:6).

  • Explain God’s purposes clearly, soundly, and precisely.
  • Clarify the truth until it becomes reasonable to them.
  • Do not discuss unsettled matters.
  • Talking negatively about people or groups is wrong.

5. An Exhortation Must Bring Harmony Not Discord So That Spiritual Maturity Can Develop
“Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, (being of one accord, of one mind”  (Philippians 2:2).

“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4: 12-13).

  • Avoid words and expressions that are offensive or inappropriate.
  • Word your exhortation to avoid putting others in a bad light.
  • Do not use names without permission.

6. An Exhortation Must Demonstrate Humility – Not a Superior Attitude
“For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself” (Galatians 6:3).

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12). “Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (I Corinthians 10:12).

  • Your audience needs to feel encouraged, not crushed when you exhort them in a manner
  • Make sure you are not pointing fingers at anyone, use some of your own life only to explain past failure and Biblical steps to victory.
  • Do not make excuses for past failures.

7. An Exhortation must be Specific and to the Point – Not Rambling
“Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter (any) thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let they words be few” (Ecclesiastes 5:2).

“Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul” (Psalm 66:16). “Make known his deeds among the people…Talk ye of all his wondrous works.” (Psalm 105:1-2)

  • Be sure the Holy Spirit, not your human will or selfish desires, prompts your sharing.
  • Spend enough time choosing words that communicate the clearest message.
  • Determine who present will actually benefit from what you want to say.
  • If you use personal stories,  give the short version, and emphasize what the Lord taught you.

Remember my friend…
    Always speak loud enough so that all can plainly hear
    Your message has influence on the lives of others so choose your words wisely
    Your goal is to confirm the truth of God’s Word and encourage others
    Be concise and as brief as possible out of deference for others

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Randy Bell
10 Aug 2017

Kingdom Life Principles

The Power of Public Confessions: How To Strengthen Others

The great power of open confession is that it can bring conviction and repentance to others. There is no doubt that a public confession is always appropriate but not always required.  This is proven by the many true spiritual revivals that spontaneously included public confession of sin. As James states, “Confess your trespasses [sins] to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. (James 5:16)

But leaders need to be on guard for people who can destroy the Lord’s work by publicly sharing “profane and idle babblings”.  Paul cautioned Timothy, “…Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge” (1 Tim. 6:20).

And as people truly admit their wrong and desire to make things right the Law of God has clear instruction on how to make that happen. For example, if someone has taken or destroyed someone’s property God tells us “…then he shall confess the sin which he has committed. He shall make restitution for his trespass in full, plus one-fifth of it, and give it  to the one he has wronged.” (Numbers 5:7)

The Canadian Revival in the 1970’s saw waves of public confessions that led to many wrongs righted and people brought to true salvation. It was also true when spiritual awakening exploded  at Asbury College in Kentucky also in the 70’s. Restitution always follows confession when people are convicted by the Spirit of God.

When we speak of pastors and deacons, they should be required to make public confessions of sin, but each member of the church should prayerfully consider if his or her confession would edify everyone. Since we are members of Christ’s spiritual body every sin indirectly affects the spiritual condition of the church. The first-century church practiced public confessions and openly corrected one another.

Today people are not committed to spiritual purity or are afraid of being hated and judged. But hiding sin will bring judgment, and the church that downplays Christ’s directions for church purity grow in numbers and seem blessed. In contrast, the local church that dares to actually follow biblical purity is usually small and abandoned, deemed intolerant and harsh, or hypocritical judges.

When the leaders of the church harden their hearts and do not confess or repent then God will act to purify His church. But scripture speaks clearly, “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.” (1 Timothy 5:19) As scripture states sin must be attacked and fought against so all will fear the Lord and live upright.

When sin is practiced by believers or supposed believers, whether in ignorance or because of false teaching it still stirs Jesus to judge a local church. [See Revelation chapters two and three for details.] And Paul explains that sin affects others. “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”  (1 Corinthians 12:26)

This is serious business with God and Paul further commands a local church “Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

“I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do  with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” (1 Corinthians 5:6-13)

Well, the American culture judges the church that judges the one who claims to be a Christian when they remove “the evil person” from the local church membership. And even more alarming, many spiritual leaders ignore the scripture with the new tolerance of loving and accepting everybody. But then I am afraid that Jesus judges the popular churches that use false grace as the reason for such open tolerance. Be clear, we love the lost, but Christ demands change and confession of sin from all His real narrow road followers.

It is never inappropriate to make a confession as long as certain guidelines are followed.

1/ A confession needs to acknowledge the conviction of the Holy Spirit.  “Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one…” (John 8:9) “But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed;” (1 Corinthians 14:24) “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me;” (John 16:8)

2/ A confession needs to be very brief with just enough details that the church understands the nature of the sin. “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is  wise.” (Proverbs 10:19) “Let  your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” (Colossians 4:6) “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29)

3/ A confession needs to protect the reputation of others who may have been involved. “You sit and speak against your brother; You slander your own mother’s son. These things  you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; But I will rebuke you, And set them in order before your eyes.” (Psalm 50:20,21) “Whoever hides hatred has  lying lips, And whoever spreads slander is  a fool.” (Proverbs 10:18)

4/ A confession needs to be made with humility and remorse – avoid instructing others when you confess or explaining any solutions – leave this up to the leadership. “Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; My eye wastes away with grief, Yes, my soul and my body! For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.” (Psalm 31:9,10) “For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight—That You may be found just when You speak, And  blameless when You judge…Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.”

5/ A confession needs to be discreet – not defrauding by giving inappropriate details of evil. “For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.” (Ephesians 5:12) “And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.” (1 Timothy 5:13)

6/ A confession needs to end by seeking the forgiveness of the church, and the leaders of the church should lead the church to respond with a declaration of forgiveness. “But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us” (2 Corinthians 2:5-11)

REMEMBER, LOVE IS THE GOAL when the church gathers on Sunday or any time. Speaking to fellow believers in love is God’s will as the greatest thing because it fulfills His goal of building up others. The “one another commands” are to be practiced as Christians gather together as the body of Christ.  A good confession is the public practice of these one another commands, as long as you are speaking words of “edification and exhortation and comfort to men.” [1 Cor 14:3 (NKJV)]

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Randy Bell
7 Aug 2017

Kingdom Life Principles

The Power of Love: Learn To Love God and Others By Giving

The Old Testament law demanded that the people love God and one another. The law required the people to give a minimum 10% for tithes and then additional offerings to be brought to the Temple.

But today God demands the Christian to love SO MUCH MORE THAN THE LAW that they give sacrificially until it hurts. Jesus said to give up everything and give him 100%! This is all that stewardship means, becoming the business manager, or bank manager of God’s property. “Your” stuff is not yours to squander, and just flip God a dime whenever you feel like it. Grace is not a license to be greedy, irresponsible and/or selfish. Grace means to give more.

“You have heard… but I say…” Christ taught his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount, that what the Law required was not enough, but asked them “what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?” This teaching is essential!

Even C.S. Lewis gets to the heart of the matter when he says, “I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot because our charitable expenditure excludes them.”

Jesus asked his disciples multiple times “What do you do more than others?” He was referring to his new way of Christian life far exceeding the Jewish Law as a norm. He taught the Christians that the narrow way of Kingdom life always meant far exceeding the Law as their life style.

Even the Pharisees (the rabbis) carefully gave their 10% tithe even from the tiny income they received selling a few herbs from their gardens. He challenged them by saying, “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.”

But at least the Law forced the Jews to give a minimum of 10%, which is far less than love would ever do but far more than the average “Christian” in America gives toward God’s Kingdom.

The basics and minimums of the law are fundamental standards of education for the immature Christian… “Until the time when we were mature enough to respond freely in faith to the living God, we were carefully surrounded and protected by the Mosaic law. The law was like those Greek tutors, with which you are familiar, who escort children to school and protect them from danger or distraction, making sure the children will really get to the place they set out for.” [Gal 3:23-24 (MSG)]

Let me be clear, it is anti-Christian to use the Bible to disobey the law of God. If you do not tithe you break the law. Grace fulfills the law, PLUS MORE, it does not break it. If you give more than 10% you have fulfilled the law through love. You are not allowed to break the Law but fulfill it. “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”[Gal 5:14 (NKJV)]

[bctt tweet=”Let me be clear, it is anti-Christian to use the Bible to disobey the law of God.” username=”RandyMBell”]

Do this really, and there is no discussion!

We are to bring our love gifts to the local church. Your local church is responsible for orphans, widows, needy Christians, pastor wages, outreach, training up disciples, buildings, and facilities, etc. God gives loving Christians GREATER DEMANDS THAN the Jews ever were required by law. Let’s read the scripture below…

1/ This is just the weekly requirement for Christians to bring their gifts to the local church to give on Sunday for the needy brothers of the faith. We are told to so love fellow Christians that we need to give “as generously as we can,” bring it to the pastors, and allow them to spend it as they are led by God.

“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 Cor 16:2 (AMP)]

“Every Sunday each of you make an offering and put it in safekeeping. Be as generous as you can.” [1 Cor 16:2 (MSG)]

“And so it turned out that not a person among them was needy. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the price of the sale to the apostles and made an offering of it. The apostles then distributed it according to each person’s need.” [Acts 4:34-35 (MSG)]

Can you say your love for God and your fellow Christian is so real that you sacrifice this much when you give your offering on Sunday?

2/ This is the weekly requirement for Christians to bring their money to the local church to give on Sunday so the local church can take care of widows and orphans. “Take care of widows who are destitute.” [1 Tim 5:3 (MSG)]

“During this time, as the disciples were increasing in numbers by leaps and bounds, hard feelings developed among the Greek-speaking believers—”Hellenists”—toward the Hebrew-speaking believers because their widows were being discriminated against in the daily food lines.” [Acts 6:1 (MSG)]

“External religious worship [ religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.” [James 1:27 (AMP)]

Can you say that your love for widows and orphans is so real that you sacrifice this much when you give your offering on Sunday?

3/ This is just the weekly requirement to support the pastors financially. The wages for the pastor are to be double what the average wage is in the local church.This means the pastor is to be paid double what you think you deserve or need for your family, and God clearly says he deserves it. Most pastors will not demand this, nor even ask for it. Do not listen to their protests, just pay him what God’s Word has set for his salary.

“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” [1 Tim 5:17-18 (NKJV)]

“Give a bonus to leaders who do a good job, especially the ones who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 Scripture tells us, “Don’t muzzle a working ox,” and, “A worker deserves his pay.” [1 Tim 5:17-18 (MSG)]

Can you say your love for your God and His pastor is so real that you sacrifice this much when you give your offering on Sunday?

4/ This is the weekly requirement to reach the thousands of lost people in your community that are going straight to hell! There is a great cost for the church buildings, electric bill, heating, repairs, etc. so that a powerful presence of a worship and work center is kept up to gather, train and reach out to the lost. And it’s cost is as much or more money than your homes and castles. Who will pay the bills if you let others do it? How nice is the church property? Who will repair and maintain the needed cost if you do not? Is your castle nice, but God’s facilities shabby? Do you love your stuff more than God’s reputation?

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [Matt 28:19-20 (NKJV)]

Can you say your love for your neighbors is so real that you sacrifice this much when you give your offering on Sunday?

“You already have what you want! You’ve already become rich! You’ve become kings without us! I wish you really were kings so that we could be kings with you. As I see it, God has placed us apostles last in line, like people condemned to die. We have become a spectacle for people and angels to look at. We have given up our wisdom for Christ, but you have insight because of Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.

To this moment, we are hungry, thirsty, poorly dressed, roughly treated, and homeless. We wear ourselves out doing physical labor. When people verbally abuse us, we bless them. When people persecute us, we endure it. When our reputations are attacked, we remain courteous. Right now we have become garbage in the eyes of the world and trash in the sight of all people. 

I’m not writing this to make you feel ashamed but to instruct you as my dear children. You may have countless Christian guardians, but you don’t have many {spiritual} fathers. I became your father in the Christian life by telling you the Good News about Christ Jesus. So I encourage you to imitate me.” [1 Cor 4:8-16 (GW)]

Can you say your love for God is so real that you sacrifice this much as you live your life?

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