Sunday, August 19, 2007

My efforts to Tithe brought on the attack by Elaine Davenport ( Tuesday, August 21, 2007)

Hebrews 10:35-38

Do not let this happy trust in the Lord die away, no matter what happens. Remember your reward! You need to keep on patiently doing God's will if you want Him to do for you all that He has promised. His coming will not be delayed much longer. And those whose faith has made them good in God's sight must live by faith, trusting Him in everything. Otherwise, if they shrink back, God will have no pleasure in them.


When I started going to church, my finances were horrible. I had no extra monies. Although I had attended church most of my life, I had never tithed and didn't intend to. I thought it was only for rich people. It just did not make sense to me to give God one tenth of my7 money. After my bills were paid for many years, I didn't even have one tenth left over. That was a joke. No one had ever shown me Malachi Three verses eight through twelve, or it might have at least pricked my conscience. Let's take a look at it:

Dare a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me! And you say, "How do we rob you?" In tithes and in offerings.
9
You are indeed accursed, for you, the whole nation, rob me.
10
3 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, That there may be food in my house, and try me in this, says the LORD of hosts: Shall I not open for you the floodgates of heaven, to pour down blessing upon you without measure?
11
For your sake I will forbid the locust to destroy your crops; And the vine in the field will not be barren, says the LORD of hosts.
12
Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land, says the LORD of hosts.


When I began to reconnect with God it wasn't because of my finances. The challenges that I faced were in so many areas. I listened with great interest as the ministers explained about the tithing, the offerings, the Blessing and God's will for my life. I decided to give more than I planned and to work my way up to tithing. Finally, I was able to tithe after many months of hearing the Word of God, building my faith, Trusting God and prayer. After a few months a major crisis developed and it was financial. My only recourse was to pray. I was in faith but it was clearly an attack by the enemy that I had not seen coming. I did not draw back. The problem was not only eliminated but it was also remedied and removed. I got the VICTORY. However, the truth of the matter is that my Victory had been won many years ago by Jesus, I just needed to have the actual physical manifestation of it. Some might wonder if my life changed after I tithed. I can truthfully say that it did in a powerful way. Instead of having fewer discretionary funds, I have more and all of my needs are always met.

Don't let the enemy prevent you from understanding God's will for your life.

Faith is to be shared by Elaine Davenport (Monday, August 20, 2007)

Psalms 40:1-3

I waited patiently for God to help me; then He listened and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out from the bog and the mire, and set my feet on a hard, firm path and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, of praises to our God. Now many will hear of the glorious things He did for me, and stand in awe before the Lord, and put their trust in Him.


I'm not so popular in my family. Not like I was when I was in the world. I'm not surrounded in my family bu unbelief. That's what makes it such a challenge. I'm surrounded by a lot of belief.

I heard Hillary Clinton say that she doesn't wear her faith on her sleeve.

I don't deal in politics and it is likely that I won't even know who I am going to vote for until minutes before I go into the voting booth when I consult with God about it.


I guess wearing your faith on your sleeves means you keep it very private. That was the old way. It was the way that6 I and many others were raised. We were raised that only ministers or Sunday school teachers could be expected to want to engage you in a conversation about God. That was the protocol and that protocol was respected. I understand it.

Now this is 2007, and we have much more revelation. There are believers who still stick to the theory that their faith is a private matter. I won't bother them. However, we all have a mandate from God and it's in the bible since that's our Covenant, our instruction manual, our rulebook and Jesus is clear:

GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE. - Mark 16:15

So, if my family anyone that knows me expects me to be quiet about my faith; it's not going to happen. I'm going to preach the Gospel and I'm never going to stop. The good news is the gospel and it's good for me that my family is EXPECTING me to talk about it when they see me.

The Enemy wants you to stay home on Sundays by Elaine Davenport (Sunday, August 19, 2007)

Romans 10:17 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain
[A Public Domain Bible] [KJV at Zondervan] [Zondervan]

17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.


THE MESSAGE BIBLE GIVES GREAT FOOD FOR THOUGHT WHEN IT SAYS:

Romans 10:17 (The Message)
The Message (MSG)

Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
[The Message at Navpress] [NavPress]

14-17But how can people call for help if they don't know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if they haven't heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if nobody tells them? And how is anyone going to tell them, unless someone is sent to do it? That's why Scripture exclaims,

A sight to take your breath away.
Grand processions of people
telling all the good things of God.
But not everybody is ready for this, ready to see and hear and act. Isaiah asked what we all ask at one time or another: "Does anyone care, God? Is anyone listening and believing a word of it?" The point is: Before you trust, you have to listen. But unless Christ's Word is preached, there's nothing to listen to.


I have been obedient in ministering to my brother regarding his salvation; I've trusted God. After a few years out of the blue; he called with what I detected was a sense of urgency and said: "I'm going to church with you this coming Sunday." I said: "Okay." I was pleased but calm. I called him back and this is what I said to him:

NOW THE ENEMY WILL DO EVERYTHING THAT HE CAN TO KEEP YOU FROM COMING TO CHURCH. THE GREATEST THING THAT HE WILL DO IS TO CONVINCE YOU THAT IT IS YOUR IDEA.

He then said:

I DON"T CARE, I'M COMING.

This went on for 3 weeks. He never came. However, I have great joy because he's reaching out to God. My prayer is that his spirit man will rise up and take ascendancy.

Yet.

God is faithful and I am patient and the enemy is a defeated foe.


Next, I was recently discipling a friend of mine. She said she really wanted to come to church. Of course when the big day came, I couldn't find her. I'm patient and I know that she is a child of God and that she will walk in the Blessing and disciple many or satan wouldn't try so hard to block her destined path.

You may have encountered these problems as well. The enemy picked the wrong people to try to block because I will cover them in prayer and trust God to deliver them.
I have great joy over this and I am in covenant. So no matter what it looks like; Satan can't steal it.