Word of the Week | Don't Hold Back on God
On this week’s radio broadcast, Chief Apostle H.C. Gunn taught listeners about: “The Death and Burial of ASAP” -- part of a two-part series.
The message leaves us with the questions: How is our giving and what is our motive in giving?
“The Death and Burial of ASAP” refers to the death of Ananias (A) and Sapphira (SAP), because they sold their possessions, but kept back a part of the price from the apostle and, of course, from God ( Acts 5:1-11). They thought they could lie as most people do to the pastor, not realizing that they lied to the Holy Ghost, who can see our intent. Because of this, we know through the word in Acts that they were DEAD WRONG.
And just like ASAP there are more ways that we are holding back from God that we need to let die right now. There were three messages taught by our leader and ministers during recent services at The Body of Christ. Inc., leading up to “The Death and Burial of ASAP,” that can show
us where we are dead wrong in holding back on God, which includes not being on our watch, not being spiritually focused and not being a willing and grateful giver. Read more about ASAP in an upcoming "Watch Letter" blog post at https://www.thebodyofchristinc.com/watchletter.
The first message, taught out of Nehemiah Chapter 4, reminded the saints to get back on the wall. The call is to get back on our watch, and back in place so God can move on our behalf and we can accomplish his will. Though the work was mocked and attempts were made to stop the work in Nehemiah, the laborers building the wall made their prayers to God and continued together -- some worked, some watched, but all were armed for battle. That’s how we have to be saints in order to defeat the ploys of the adversary.
Which leads us to the second message that focused on the scripture “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” - James 1:22. You have to be proactive, and “add feet to your faith,” says Chief Apostle H.C. Gunn, who also told us we must be spiritually focused. With spiritual focus, you can do the things God is calling you to do. You can come higher, but when that focus is lacking, and you don’t stay on the wall, you will rob God in many ways and curse yourself.
Message three started off in 2 Kings 4 where there was a widow woman that had a need. She didn’t have anyone else to call, but she knew -- just like most people know today -- who was following God for real. She called the man of God, the prophet Elisha, and he gave her some instructions, which she followed. Yet, despite her situation changing and her needs being met, this widow woman had nothing for God nor his people. When you’re unwilling God will use somebody else to do his will.
“And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where [was] a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And [so] it was, [that] as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this [is] a holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.” - 2 Kings 4:8-10
This next portion of 2 Kings 4 is the example of God using somebody else, and this woman was called great in the word. She earned this title because she did not have an agenda and didn’t want anything from the prophet. She wanted to take care of God’s messenger because she recognized God in him. She gave honor where it was due. Just think of the time period where a woman in those days had little influence, but recognizing what God was doing she, in essence, told her husband with confidence “we have to sow, we have to give, we have to make room for God.”
In turn, the man of God asked what this woman needed him to petition God for on her behalf. She still didn’t look for any reward because she was content amongst her own people. The prophet's servant noted that the woman and her husband being older longed for a child, and the prophet blessed them with a word from God so that the woman conceived.
As the word came forth we were taken to Malachi 3. We were taught about the importance of tithing, and sowing seeds, and doing right by the household of faith, lest we be cursed through robbing God. Saints, we are called to give, as there is more that is required of us. We have been taught more and are therefore responsible for more.
People today are always pressing for their blessings and saying I need the prophet, the pastor, or whoever God is using to give me a word, and they have nothing in turn for God nor his people. The great woman in 2 Kings 4 didn’t seek a word or a blessing, but through her care and willingness for God and his people, the word and gift of God came.
Sometimes you don’t even know you have a need, but God has a mind to bless you when you get spiritually focused when you get back on the wall, when you’re not a counterfeit giver, and when you refuse to be like ASAP.
“But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.” - Acts 5:3-4.
Give willingly and unselfishly! Check your motives!
And don’t hold back good from whom it’s
DUE!
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