That sounds like a great idea AW, and all the elders of the Church might see if there might be a way for the body to be more aware of needs within the body.
I was always a little let down when I would witness loads of money gathered for a passing evangelist or a singer and know people were walking away without rent or electric bills due. I know that there may be some to take advantage, and the Bible does say that if a person doen't work, they don't eat, but that doen't cover the ones that work hard, but are just weaker in the ability to cover themselves at certain times along the journey. That's where a helping hand could be an event that people remember for a lifetime, and produce thanksgiving and praise towards God. Even those that misuse may remember a time when they received charity and then have that be a turning point in life, their own day of visitation.
Proverbs 31:8-9 Speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitue. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Bro. Raphu
I also have many hispanic charasmatic friends, some who are believers, live on the borderline of FAITH, and they
always, and I do mean
constantly, have some kind of financial need.
And as a Christian, I understand why they have the need, they simply are not good stewards, with the money the Lord entrusts to them.
They drive cars, that they can't afford, their wives, wear and display jewelry, they have stereos and the large TV's, as for giving to the Lords work, they can't because they are financially strapped, but they do dine out and seem to enjoy all the pay per view sports that can be purchased on the staellite TV service.
I ask my self, aren't they embarassed to constrantly bringing up their needs when there are others less fortunate than themselves, who are in real need.
I shared this once before, one fellow who had a large home landscape service, who lost it do to a water shortage a few years back, had just purchased a new home and a new Chevy Corvette, when most of his clients dropped his service as a result of ordinances preventing homeowners from watering their yards (this was 15 yrs ago more or less) he lost everything.
I remember him, crying at prayer meetings, we would have at the christian owned company I worked at, which hired him to help him out financially, even though he had no particular skills, the owner a Christian who had a heart to help, those who were of the household of faith, would hire as many as he could afford to keep on the payroll, as short term employees.
Well, it so happened that after several mnonths of working the company landed a government contract, and retained this brother (Iam referring tio above), on a prevailing rate wage (approx $25 for laborers).
One day as I was speaking to this brother, he seemed very cheerfull and exited as he had, had a prophetess in his church tell him, he was going to win the lottery, he said he could hardly wait.
Next thing I found out he was buying 150-200 dollars worth of lottery tickets per week since, as he put it; " I can't win unless I play.
Its heart breaking to see this kind of faith charasmatics exhibit, when they ask for prayer for financial needs, what they don't need is money, what they need is prayer,
1. In order to see the evil of living in the flesh, (and living as thou their is no accountability, is living in the flesh) since those that live unto themselves, cannot please God.
and,
2. That God is not interested in their money, he is interested in their wellbeing, both physically and spiritually.
If God keeps his servants poor (and I am speaking of them that labor for Him) he does it for a reason, and instead of complaining (not that you are) they ought to rejoice counting themselves worthy of serving the living God.
It is enough that He promises to care for them, living by Faith, should be easier than by sight, with money in ones pocket, or in the bank. But it isn't in this day and age, because there atre to many things to buy.
Many in the charasmatic movement equate money with spiritual blessings, when in fact their is no biblical association of these two.
I see money as a stumbling object for true fellowship with the Lord.
By your own testimony God has met all your needs during the 15 years you have served Him, Praise Him!
Money blinds a person to see himself being able to provide for himself, when we should see all that we have and need to live, is God himself,
In my own life unless I restrain myself, I have a tendency to trust in money instead of him (I think this is the way with all men), instead of trusting Him, we trust the money we earn(which is a fantasy, if one stops to think about it, it is only backerd by the Fed Gov, and it (the Gov. is as good as bankrupt), when we should be trusting His Word.
Man does not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Mat 4:4, Lk 4:4)
It is important to keep His Word in the right perspective to walk closely with the Lord, the verse which reminds me is;
James 4
4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
This is what walking in the spirit means to me.
And I share it with who ever considers themselves to be spiritual, because I know these Words are true.
God Bless,
Petro
