Financial Prosperity by the first

Apostles

Dearest folks... It is noteworthy that when the New Testament of the Bible is studied

from a down to earth (where we are) point of view with the help of the Holy Spirit who

interacted closely with these early apostles and inspired the writings, we understand

the central place financial prosperity had in the ministry of our Lord Jesus

Christ. It is taught and mentioned specifically in many instances, and many instructions

given to close associates in personal letters (Letters of apostle Paul to Timothy and

Titus) could never be carried out without hard currency.

It will be my job in this issue to bring all these to our attention, as well as accounts of

believers in Acts prospering financially from the gospel being preached to them, and a

working partnership in the gospel a church had with the apostle Paul which ensured they

were always in the heart of the apostle

wherever he preached the gospel, were

imparted with the divine graces that

existed in his life, the abundant fruit of

his ministry was credited to them also,

and because of this stewardship, God

always made sure they were abundantly

supplied financially. This is very

important, so that we would be

complete and entire, lacking nothing

in our faith as regards God’s

intentions when we bring our

petitions before Him which I believe

we will discuss in another Salt &

Light issue.

We understand that the early Apostles were all Israelites (the natural seed of Abraham),

and well versed in the Holy scriptures delivered by Moses and the prophets which

outlined God’s desire to prosper His people very explicitly and without any

misunderstanding such that we would actually need help to misinterpret them... To

these early apostles the reality of God’s intentions was not even an issue...

there was no misunderstanding in their minds as to where poverty and lack came from.

Some in the church have regarded the Old Testament scriptures as not completely

relevant to us now, which is sad because as we will see, the early apostles relied

heavily on the OT scriptures and frequently quoted from them. They didn’t have

the New Testament scriptures completely available to them... they were living the New

Testament. We would rob ourselves most pitifully if we discount the glorious promises

God gave to Israel which we who were former gentiles without God in the world can now

partake in to a greater degree (Hebrews 8:6), through our membership in the Body of

our Lord Jesus Christ, the church, the pillar and ground of the truth. Our Lord Jesus

very explicitly stated that He has not come to destroy the Law, or the prophets,

but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17), which is not to say we need to go sacrificing lambs

without blemish; our sacrifice has already been completed for us, Whom we have faith in

to perfect us, even our Lord Jesus Christ, our perfect sacrifice and Great High Priest after

the order of Melchizedek.

If we consider apostle Peter, a well to do fisherman (he owned his own boat [Luke 5:3],

had a house large enough for both his mother-in-law and wife to live in [Matthew 8:14],

gasped together with the other disciples when Jesus said if you are rich, you can’t enter

the kingdom of God [Mark 10:25 & 26], and then relaxed when Jesus clarified that it is

those who trust in riches He was referring to... Another piece of evidence that Peter was

indeed wealthy was because his immediate question after that according to the gospel of

Matthew was “...Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed you; what shall we have

therefore?” [Matt 19:27] Jesus was very explicit about the very material rewards

for discipleship that we would receive a 100 times as much as what we have

given up or in other words sown now in this time and in the world to

come eternal life, but was also very explicitly clear about the fact that these would

come with persecutions... people not wanting to carry their crosses and follow Jesus but

wanting these blessings would get jealous... you and the folks with good hearts that

know the Lord will do it for them as well because they are walking in the same steps of

faithful Abraham (Romans 4:12) would be ecstatic at your new blessings but the rest

would be grieved (Psalm 112:10)...

“...Jesus said, Truly I tell you, there is no one who has given up and left house or

brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for My sake and for the

Gospel’s who will not receive a hundred times as much now in this time—houses

and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in

the age to come, eternal life.” – Mark 10:29 & 30

How much clearer can that get... we can’t possibly misinterpret that...

The Apostle Peter experienced some of the greatest financial miracles performed by our

Lord to name a few:

The miraculous catch of fish he had ever had in his career on Jesus’ very simple but

partially obeyed instructions (Jesus said he should let down the nets for a catch but he

was tired from a long night of fishing and catching nothing, had washed his nets and just

wanted to go home, thought what does this Rabbi know about fishing anyway, and

decided to let down the net, just one net, that rotten old one he didn’t need to wash

which is why it began to break, and he had to ask for help from his partners to haul all

that fish in, and cried depart from me for I am a sinful man because he knew very well

what he had done [Revelation Courtesy of brother Copeland]. At the Master’s

command, every fish in the Galilee congregated around that boat and jostled

to get into that net because of the Master’s use of that dominion over all the

earth He gave us originally, and which we still have and are meant to use! [Luke

5:4 – 6/ Genesis 1:26]). How much would they have prospered financially from the sale

of all that fish?

Old Tax collector Matthew’s employees or some other Tax collector demanding tax from

Peter, and our Lord Jesus miraculously providing from a fish’s mouth... money enough to

pay both Peter’s and our Lord’s Tax [Matt 17:27]. You see folks, God has ways and

means to provide for us we do not have any idea about. I have had money appear

mysteriously in my bank account which my wife will bear witness to.

Peter walked closely with our Lord over the whole course of His ministry on earth and

personally witnessed the multiplication of the loaves and five fishes to feed upwards of

5,000 people, personally witnessed Jesus being transfigured on the mount together with

James and John, and actually saw Moses and Elijah... men they had only read about

from child-hood; witnessed the healing and wholeness of the woman with the issue of

blood (Which included a financial blessing because the Word of God explicitly states that

sickness led her to poverty, she spent all she had, and was nothing bettered but rather

grew worse. Jesus could not have made her whole as the Word says if He had not

restored her financial status before the sickness... further to this the Greek word for

peace there is `eirene` which means “security, safety, prosperity, felicity”. The

Hebrew equivalent is ‘shalom’, which is an all-inclusive word meaning

completeness, soundness, welfare, health, prosperity, nothing missing, nothing

broken... we don’t know exactly how He did it, He could have instructed Judas to give

her some money, or even better, what I believe He did, that He Blessed her, empowered

her to prosper financially).

Peter witnessed the raising of Jairus’ (the ruler of the synagogue who were wealthy men

by Israeli standards of those times) daughter from the dead [It is worth a thought but do

you think Jesus had his heart after raising his little girl... and his finances... It is clear

from scripture that Jesus certainly had Mary Magdalene’s, Joanna’s the wife of Chuza

(Herod’s steward), Susanna’s and many others who ministered to Him from their

substance (Luke 8:2&3)]...

Peter a fisherman who knew very well that it was physically impossible for water to hold

a full grown man walking upright on top of it, saw Jesus do this, and immediately knew

by revelation he could as well at the Master’s Word, stepped out of the boat boldly and

began to do just that but began to sink after a few steps through doubt and unbelief

creeping in but was caught by the Master... he actually walked back to the boat

with Jesus at his side... on water...

Do you think these guys would have ever doubted God’s intentions concerning

them financially, or the need to treat it exhaustively in the scriptural teachings... they

were teachers of God’s righteousness obtained by faith in Jesus Christ, because they

knew a man or woman abiding in the teachings would as a matter of cause

prosper financially through the Kingdom of God without excessive effort on their part,

which is why the great apostle of Love, John wrote in his letter to Gaius [3 John 2-kjv],

“Beloved, I pray above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even

as your soul prospers” (Bear in mind that at the time of writing [about AD 90], this

was an old apostle not a novice, who had watched the ministry of Jesus probably more

closely than anyone else. His together with Peter’s careers as fishermen stopped

abruptly on Jesus’ call and for the rest of their lives we don’t have any records of them

ever taking up the profession again (except for one catch shortly after the Lord’s

crucifixion at which time they caught nothing). How did they survive financially for

the 3 yrs of Jesus’ ministry and afterwards? How was Peter able to maintain his

household all that time without earning money? His question to Jesus indicated

that he had left quite a lot to follow Jesus as His disciple... Jesus took care of all

their financial needs on earth during His ministry, and continued to do so after

He ascended back to the Father through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the

Kingdom of God. They got into that 100fold flow and never lacked a mite... we

do have scriptural record that not one believer in the church lacked anything [Acts 4:32

– 35], all was laid at the apostle’s feet and shared as everyone had need).

The apostle John’s witness to Gaius revealed the fact that we can only prosper in our

health, financial prosperity, in our relationships and every other way to the

degree that we prosper in our souls which consists of our minds, will and

emotions... Our souls’ prosperity based on the knowledge of God’s Word. This is why

apostle Peter wrote in his second epistle to us:

“Simon Peter, a servant and apostle (special messenger) of Jesus Christ, to those who

have received (obtained an equal privilege of) like precious faith with ourselves

in and through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace (God’s

favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual

prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts)

be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of

God and of Jesus our Lord. For His divine power has bestowed upon us all

things (would you regard finances as a thing, Jesus certainly does) that [are

requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of

Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue). By means of these

He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great

promises [specific reference to the OT as the NT had not yet been fully

compiled], so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay

(rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and

greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature. For this very reason,

adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in

exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy),

and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence), And in [exercising]

knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop]

steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop]

godliness (piety), And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in

[exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love. For as these qualities are

yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or

unfruitful unto the [full, personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the

Anointed One). For whoever lacks these qualities is blind, [spiritually] short-sighted,

seeing only what is near to him, and has become oblivious [to the fact] that he was

cleansed from his old sins. Because of this, brethren, be all the more solicitous and

eager to make sure (to ratify, to strengthen, to make steadfast) your calling and

election; for if you do this, you will never stumble or fall. Thus there will be

richly and abundantly provided for you entry into the eternal kingdom of

our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”. – 2 Peter 1:1-11 amp

The Greek word for abundantly in the KJV is `plousios` which means abundantly,

richly as accurately conveyed by the amplified version of the Bible. The word `Richly`

according to Noah Webster means “With riches; with opulence; with abundance of

goods or estate; with ample funds...Gaily, splendidly, magnificently, as richly

dressed, richly ornamented”; and the word `abundantly` means “Fully, amply,

plentifully, in a sufficient degree”.

At which point, and how did poverty or lack enter into the picture in relation to

the divine nature of our God we have inherited? Some talk about this new

prosperity gospel as if it is something human beings made up to suit themselves... The

only wise Rich God came down to our level to raise us up to His level, of His own

volition... how could we have possibly conceived poverty and lack in that? I will have

you know without any equivocations that the poverty gospel came from the

very pit of hell I tell you... dreamed up and thought of from the bowels of satan

himself originating from the pitiful religious bondage men subjected themselves under...

You will only find poverty associated with religion in many eastern religions, and this

crept into Christianity through Roman Catholism as men began to try to bend the Word

of God to fit their carnality and desire to control the populace to the point that the Word

of God was not in a language the majority of peoples could understand [Latin], was only

available to a select few of the priesthood who then decided it was too holy for normal

everyday reading so lets keep it locked away!

This situation of events was prophesied by the apostle Paul in his first letter to Timothy

[1 Timothy 4:1 -3] “...The Holy Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter

times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing

spirits and doctrines that demons teach, Through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars

whose consciences are seared (cauterized), Who forbid people to marry and

[teach them] to abstain from [certain kinds of] foods which God

created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and have [an

increasingly] knowledge of the truth”. Does this sound familiar? Was and is this not still

taught in Roman Catholism, Religious Orthodox nationalistic churches and Islam,

predominant expressions of religion that have raped and plagued this continent and

surrounding regions to this very day, depriving people of the life of God, having a form

of godliness but denying the power thereof... controlling people’s lives till they are

hurt and disillusioned and think they want nothing to do with God... not realising that

the precious love of the blessed God and His true church is their life and

peace... apostle Paul wrote, from such turn away. Thank God for Martin Luther... and

for us all who God has charged with the responsibility for what happens to this continent.

Let me also categorically point out that there are many Catholics, Lutherans,

Episcopalians etc that will put the most vivacious Pentecostal Charismatics to shame with

their visible witness of the expression of Christ’s love in all its purity... and religion was

created by man, and all Christian organisations including Pentecostal begin to

get religious when they stop depending on God, and create doctrines and

systems to make their lives more explainable without depending on God’s

Word. When you think you no longer need to live by faith,

religion is the result.

In the early days not that long after our Lord Jesus ascended, It is written of the church

in Antioch [Acts 11:22 – 30] (Modern day Turkey [We need to win this country back to

God], and not that far off from Tarsus where apostle Paul originally came from. Antioch

was to become a base for his ministry to most of Europe), that:

“...they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what grace (favor)

God was bestowing upon them, he was full of joy; and he continuously exhorted

(warned, urged, and encouraged) them all to cleave unto and remain faithful to and

devoted to the Lord with [resolute and steady] purpose of heart. For he was a good man

[good in himself and also at once for the good and the advantage of other people], full of

and controlled by the Holy Spirit and full of faith (of his belief that Jesus is the Messiah,

through Whom we obtain eternal salvation). And a large company was added to the

Lord. [Barnabas] went on to Tarsus to hunt for Saul (apostle Paul). And when he had

found him, he brought him back to Antioch. For a whole year they assembled together

with and were guests of the church and instructed a large number of people; and in

Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. And during these days prophets

(inspired teachers and interpreters of the divine will and purpose) came down from

Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and prophesied

through the [Holy] Spirit that a great and severe famine would come upon the

whole world. And this did occur during the reign of Claudius [A secular

recorded historical fact]. So the disciples resolved to send relief, each

according to his individual ability [in proportion as he had prospered], to the

brethren who lived in Judea. And so they did, sending [their contributions] to the elders

by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.”

There can be no misunderstanding here that this was hard currency and material

substance being contributed for the relief of the saints in Judea, and this was being

stewarded by Barnabas and Saul. We should also note that these were believers

giving, prospering and increasing in a time of straitened economic

circumstances... in a recession... a severe famine that had come upon the whole

world. They were continually being abundantly supplied, not from the limited earthly

resources available but from God’s kingdom which is never in recession. I can personally

testify of God’s ample provision during this so-called time of recession commensurate

and even above my level of soul prosperity and faith. If you look for and watch the DVDs

`Finger of God`, and `Mama Heidi`, you would discover a missionary to

Mozambique called Heidi Baker, whom many have personally witnessed and can

testify of God miraculously multiplying food to feed many just like the 5 loaves and 2

fishes... hundreds of people from one pot of food... gooey spaghetti... cooked by the

Spirit of God Himself ... amongst other mind jolting miraculous signs and wonders

accompanying her ministry... while sharing this testimony in Joseph Prince’s church in

Singapore, she asked the congregation to look at their fingers... which is more

complicated for God to make... their fingers or spaghetti ... She would be in Glasgow

on Tuesday, the 24th of this month and my wife and I together with a couple of friends

are going to get an impartation . Folks... It’s time we let go of unbelief and

disobedience and go full hog for God, understanding that His provision always follows

our obedience and doesn’t come before...

Further to this, later on in the apostle Paul’s career, he specifically instructed his sons in

the faith Timothy, and Titus accordingly concerning financial help for widows and other

groups in need:

“...Let no one be put on the roll of widows [who are to receive church

support]”....”If any believing woman or believing man has [relatives or persons in the

household who are] widows, let him relieve them; let the church not be burdened [with

them], so that it may [be free to] assist those who are truly widows (those who are

all alone and are dependent). Let the elders who perform the duties of their office well

be considered doubly worthy of honor [and of adequate financial support]...” (1

Timothy 5:9, 16&17); and to Titus “...This message is most trustworthy, and concerning

these things I want you to insist steadfastly, so that those who have believed in (trusted

in, relied on) God may be careful to apply themselves to honourable occupations and

to doing good, for such things are [not only] excellent and right [in themselves], but

[they are] good and profitable for the people”...notice the relationship

between an honourable occupation and doing good, and let

us be fully aware that we cannot even help ourselves not to talk of other believers

through funding the gospel by depending on government welfare cheques as some

do....”...Do your utmost to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that

they want for (lack) nothing. And let our own [people really] learn to apply

themselves to good deeds (to honest labor and honourable employment)”...and

the reason is..., “so that they may be able to meet necessary demands whenever

the occasion may require and not be living idle and uncultivated and unfruitful

lives...” (Titus 3:8, 13 & 14)

Further to this, we know from this great apostle... Paul, in his letter to the church in

Philippi (Modern day Greece) that they partnered with him in the ministry financially and

as a result partook in the grace that was established in his life and prospered

accordingly:

“...I was made very happy in the Lord that now you have revived your interest in

my welfare after so long a time; you were indeed thinking of me, but you had no

opportunity to show it. Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I

have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or

disquieted) in whatever state I am. I know how to be abased and live humbly

in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty

and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the

secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency

and enough to spare or going without and being in want. I have strength for all things in

Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him

Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. But

it was right and commendable and noble of you to contribute for my needs and to share

my difficulties with me. And you Philippians yourselves well know that in the early days

of the Gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church (assembly) entered into

partnership with me and opened up [a debit and credit] account in giving and

receiving except you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent [me contributions]

for my needs, not only once but a second time. Not that I seek and am eager for

[your] gift, but I do seek and am eager for the fruit which increases to your

credit [the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to

your account]. But I have [your full payment] and more; I have everything I

need and am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you

sent me. [They are the] fragrant odor of an offering and sacrifice which God welcomes

and in which He delights. And my God (the God of my apostleship) will liberally

supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ

Jesus.” [Philippians 4:10 -19]

(My wife and I are partners in the ministry of several great present day apostles,

prophets, teachers, and Evangelists to include Kenneth Copeland, Jerry Savelle, Creflo

Dollar, Benny Hinn, and Morris Cerrullo, and have and are enjoying the grace of God in

these mens' lives, and would really encourage you to do the same. Start where you are

financially even if it is only £1 you can give. Give this consistently every month and

pray for these men every day together with your church leadership as

discussed in a previous Salt & Light issue, and God will increase you so you can

also increase your giving.)

Apostle Paul taught extensively on Financial Prosperity probably in AD 55 – 56 in his

letters to the Church in Corinth (present day Greece, some distance from Athens); in his

first letter, identifying the purpose for savings accounts [not for a rainy day, if you

remain in faith, that day will never come, you will always be abundantly supplied;

besides we are to expect financial increase not rainy days...], and then how to

increase financially in the Kingdom of God in his second letter:

“Now concerning the money contributed for [the relief of] the saints (God’s people): you

are to do the same as I directed the churches of Galatia to do. On the first [day] of each

week, let each one of you [personally] put aside something and save it up

as he has prospered [in proportion to what he is given], so that no collections

will need to be taken after I come.” – 1 Corinthians 16:1&2

“We want to tell you further, brethren, about the grace (the favor and spiritual

blessing) of God which has been evident in the churches of Macedonia [arousing in

them the desire to give alms]; For in the midst of an ordeal of severe tribulation, their

abundance of joy and their depth of poverty (Which was their current reality as opposed

to God’s intentions for them) [together] have overflowed in wealth of

lavish generosity on their part. For, as I can bear witness, [they gave]

according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability; and [they did it]

voluntarily, Begging us most insistently for the favor and the fellowship of

contributing in this ministration for [the relief and support of] the saints [in

Jerusalem]. Nor [was this gift of theirs merely the contribution] that we expected, but

first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His agents] by the will of

God [entirely disregarding their personal interests, they gave as much

as they possibly could, having put themselves at our disposal to be

directed by the will of God]—So much so that we have urged Titus that as he began

it, he should also complete this beneficient and gracious contribution among you [the

church at Corinth]. Now as you abound and excel and are at the front in everything—in

faith, in expressing yourselves, in knowledge, in all zeal, and in your love for us—[see to

it that you come to the front now and] abound and excel in this

gracious work [of almsgiving] also. I give this not as an

order [to dictate to you], but to prove, by [pointing out]

the zeal of others, the sincerity of your [own] love also.”

...it is clear that up to this point he has been writing about finances, hard currency, then

writing on he explicitly states... “For you are becoming

progressively acquainted with and recognizing more

strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ

(His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved

favor and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was

[so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very]

poor, in order that by His poverty you might become

enriched (abundantly supplied)”....apostle Paul was referring to our

Lord Jesus’ sojourn on earth here down on our level without having committed any sin,

paid the ultimate price for our sin on the cross his poverty. If our Lord Jesus’ status on

earth which we have proved as anything but poverty is being referred to here as

poverty, then try to imagine what rich from God’s perspective would be! Writing

on apostle Paul then goes “...[It is then] my counsel and my opinion in this matter that I

give [you when I say]: It is profitable and fitting for you [now to complete the

enterprise] which more than a year ago you not only began, but were the first to wish to

do anything [about contributions for the relief of the saints in Jerusalem]. So now finish

doing it, that your [enthusiastic] readiness in desiring it may be equalled by your

completion of it according to your ability and means. For if the [eager] readiness to

give is there, then it is acceptable and welcomed in proportion to what a

person has, not according to what he does not have. For it is not [intended] that

other people be eased and relieved [of their responsibility] and you be burdened and

suffer [unfairly], But to have equality [share and share alike], your surplus over

necessity at the present time going to meet their want and to equalize the difference

created by it, so that [at some other time] their surplus in turn may be given to supply

your want. Thus there may be equality, As it is written, He who gathered

much had nothing over, and he who gathered little did not lack. [Exodus 16:18

– The apostles always depended on and quoted OT scriptures frequently] But thanks be

to God Who planted the same earnest zeal and care for you in the heart of Titus. For he

not only welcomed and responded to our appeal, but was himself so keen in his

enthusiasm and interest in you that he is going to you of his own accord. But we are

sending along with him that brother whose praise in the Gospel ministry [is spread]

throughout all the churches; And more than that, he has been appointed by the churches

to travel as our companion in regard to this bountiful contribution which we are

administering for the glory of the Lord Himself and [to show] our eager readiness [as

Christians to help one another]. [For] we are on our guard, intending that no

one should find anything for which to blame us in regard to our administration

of this large contribution [Some things never change do they, in the

accusations of corruption against preachers of the gospel...]. For we take thought

beforehand and aim to be honest and absolutely above suspicion, not only in

the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men. Moreover, along with them we

are sending our brother, whom we have often put to the test and have found him

zealous (devoted and earnest) in many matters, but who is now more [eagerly] earnest

than ever because of [his] absolute confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my colleague

and shares my work in your service; and as for the [other two] brethren, they are the

[special] messengers of the churches, a credit and glory to Christ (the Messiah). Show to

these men, therefore, in the sight of the churches, the reality and plain truth of your

love (your affection, goodwill, and benevolence) and what [good reasons] I had for

boasting about and being proud of you. Now about the offering that is [to be made] for

the saints (God’s people in Jerusalem), it is quite superfluous that I should write you;

For I am well acquainted with your willingness (your readiness and your eagerness to

promote it) and I have proudly told about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that

Achaia (most of Greece) has been prepared since last year for this contribution; and

[consequently] your enthusiasm has stimulated the majority of

them”...Why would these Christians be so eager to give money, especially in a time of

famine if they didn’t have some understanding through apostle Paul’s teaching, and

experienced the results; what many Christians today don’t know anything about... from

our natural understanding, they should have been more motivated to hoard what they

had for their own families and not strive to contribute and feed people they didn’t even

know personally... the only connection being their joint membership in the Body of our

Lord Jesus Christ ...” Still, I am sending the brethren [on to you], lest our pride in you

should be made an empty boast in this particular case, and so that you may be all ready,

as I told them you would be; Lest, if [any] Macedonians should come with me and find

you unprepared [for this generosity], we, to say nothing of yourselves, be humiliated for

our being so confident. That is why I thought it necessary to urge these brethren to go

to you before I do and make arrangements in advance for this bountiful, promised

gift of yours, so that it may be ready, not as an extortion [wrung out of you] but as a

generous and willing gift. [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly

will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously

[that blessings may come to someone] will also reap

generously and with blessings” (We understand that he

has been writing about finances all this time, and so

when he says sow and reap, he is talking about sowing

finances as a farmer would sow seed, and reaping

finances as a farmer would reap the harvest of that seed

sown; and blessings would qualify for all the good

earthly material things we would consider good i.e. cars,

houses, clothes etc as promised by our Lord Jesus in

Matthew 6). Writing on he states, “...Let each one [give] as he has made up

his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or

sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure

in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a

cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving]” quoting

from the OT again (Proverbs 22:9). Writing on he states, “...And God is able to

make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come

to you in abundance [overflowing quantity – Noah Webster

Dictionary]” ...and the reason is... “...so that you may always and under all

circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to

require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and

charitable donation]. As it is written...” he quotes OT again “...He [the benevolent

person] scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice and

goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever! (Psalm

112:9)” lest we say but apostle Paul, I don’t have anything to give, he quotes the OT

again and writes “...And [God] Who provides seed for the sower” ...some of

us have been hoarding, or even worse eating our seed through fear of not having

enough instead of sowing for increase and the love of the gospel as the Spirit of God

instructs... “...and bread for eating will also provide and multiply

your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of

your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness,

kindness, and charity]

(Isaiah 55:10; Hosea

10:12]. Thus you

will be enriched

in all things and

in every way” and

the reason is, “so that

you can be generous,

and [your generosity as it

is] administered by us will

bring forth thanksgiving to

God. For the service that

the ministering of this

fund renders does not

only fully supply what is

lacking to the saints

(God’s people), but it also overflows in many [cries of] thanksgiving to God. Because at

[your] standing of the test of this ministry, they will glorify God for your loyalty and

obedience to the Gospel of Christ which you confess, as well as for your generous-

hearted liberality to them and to all [the other needy ones]. And they yearn for you

while they pray for you, because of the surpassing measure of God’s grace (His favor

and mercy and spiritual blessing which is shown forth) in you. Now thanks be to God

for His Gift, [precious] beyond telling [His indescribable, inexpressible, free

Gift]!”

This is the full gist folks which we need to completely understand and walk in,

disregarding the lies of the enemy which had most stealthily crept into the church, and

which still exists in the hearts of many believers to this very day, who believe God does

not want them to have anything, and through this the expansion of the teaching of the

gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is hindered... This is it right where we are... right

where we understand... all laid out in the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus

Christ, and in the Words of His prophet.

“Therefore thus says the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: My

house shall be built in it, says the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon

Jerusalem. Cry yet, saying, Thus says the LORD of hosts; My cities through

prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet

comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.” – Zechariah 1:16 & 17 KJV

Your brother in the patience of Christ,

Temisan

“...You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavour?

Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as

worthless. You are the light of the world-like a city on a hilltop that cannot be

hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is

placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same

way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise

your heavenly Father...” – Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:13 – 16) New Living

Translation