I need advice about something. I don't know how many of you are familiar with the TV Evangelist, Paula White. Anyhow, I have been watching her for a few months now. This week she has been talking about giving of First Fruits to God. I believe that it is true, that if you give your best to God that he will abundantly bless you. I have not worked over a year because I have a one year old at home and my husband works. We are struggling financially but talked about giving one days pay towards our first fruits offering to GOD. Though we could use this money, we decided it would be the right thing to do and make this small sacrifice. Anyhow, it seems that since we decided to do this, all kinds of financial drama has happened. I am not talking about good things either. I am asking for your prayers to trust that God will carry me through this even though the temptation is great to hold on to this money that we could use. Do you think that satan is trying to discourage us by bringing all this drama our way? Do you think that God is testing us to see if we will make the right decision? I know this may be trivial to some, but I am nervous to do so. Thanks for your advice and prayers ~~lani
I need your prayers and advice
- Thread starter jduhduh33
- Start date
Coconut
Member
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2005
- Messages
- 4,663
I looked up Paula`s message on Firstfruits, because I am unfamiliar with her ministry, and her teaching. For anyone who needs to read that particular message for reference, to help answer lani`s question you can find it here: http://www.paulawhite.org/freshfruits.html
To be honest, I don`t know how it is that Paula, being a teacher of the Word, can base this principle of first fruits on Romans 11:16 “For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches” That is teaching a principle based on a scripture that is taken completely out of context. Every prosperity teacher I`ve come across, either draws from old covenant laws, and/or takes scripture out of context to
teach this doctrine.
The only new covenant commandment that addresses our giving is found in
2Co 9:7 ; Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Sister, if you want to give back to God, do it because Christ in you has stirred your heart to compassion for another child of God, wether you give money, bake a cake for a neighbor, offer your time to babysit another weary mothers child, you have given to Him ("as He says whatever you have done for the least , you have done for Me") Be led of the Spirit, and not of necessity born of fear of being cursed, or seeking to be blessed with prosperity.
Some of the most Godly men and women I have come across have lived for years in (financial) poverty, and can offer a greater testimony of Gods abundant provision, and care, more than all the prosperity teachers put together. That is true blessing and riches! amen.
"Do you think that God is testing us to see if we will make the right decision?"
Not at all, financial hardships are as any other hardship in our Christian walk, they are needful to teach us absolute dependance on Christ. God bless you and make you a blessing in whatever He calls you to do in His kingdom for the glory of GOD!
[For all those TV evangelists out there I have only one message, Jesus taught to give to the poor, not to take from them. It is a shame and a disgrace to the name you bear to be lining your pockets with filthy lucre at the expense of the poor saints, while using the Word of God to guilt them into doing so. If I seem harsh, it is because prosperity teaching makes me sick to the core of my soul, as I believe it does Christs. amen.]
To be honest, I don`t know how it is that Paula, being a teacher of the Word, can base this principle of first fruits on Romans 11:16 “For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches” That is teaching a principle based on a scripture that is taken completely out of context. Every prosperity teacher I`ve come across, either draws from old covenant laws, and/or takes scripture out of context to
teach this doctrine.
The only new covenant commandment that addresses our giving is found in
2Co 9:7 ; Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Sister, if you want to give back to God, do it because Christ in you has stirred your heart to compassion for another child of God, wether you give money, bake a cake for a neighbor, offer your time to babysit another weary mothers child, you have given to Him ("as He says whatever you have done for the least , you have done for Me") Be led of the Spirit, and not of necessity born of fear of being cursed, or seeking to be blessed with prosperity.
Some of the most Godly men and women I have come across have lived for years in (financial) poverty, and can offer a greater testimony of Gods abundant provision, and care, more than all the prosperity teachers put together. That is true blessing and riches! amen.
"Do you think that God is testing us to see if we will make the right decision?"
Not at all, financial hardships are as any other hardship in our Christian walk, they are needful to teach us absolute dependance on Christ. God bless you and make you a blessing in whatever He calls you to do in His kingdom for the glory of GOD!
[For all those TV evangelists out there I have only one message, Jesus taught to give to the poor, not to take from them. It is a shame and a disgrace to the name you bear to be lining your pockets with filthy lucre at the expense of the poor saints, while using the Word of God to guilt them into doing so. If I seem harsh, it is because prosperity teaching makes me sick to the core of my soul, as I believe it does Christs. amen.]
jduhduh33, I am upset for your situation, and I hope that you can forgive Paula White for misleading you. Please prayerfully consider the the advice that Coconut has given you concerning giving to the Lord.
Matthew 19:23&24
23*Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 I say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
Now the prosperity teachers say God wants to make us rich with worldly goods and money. If this were true, than in light of what Jesus said to His disciples, God wants to make it hard for us to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Now I don't know about y'all but I ain't buyin' it.
Now I also have a message for all you prosperity preachers out there, whether you are on TV, radio, platform or street corner. We are ( the body of Christ) no longer impressed with your bag of trinkets. I suggest first REPENT! Than go and study God's Word and get in the presence of our Lord, Jesus the Christ and when and only when He gives you something to say or teach to us( the body of Christ), please by all means come and share. Until then please keep it zipped.
Warning To all you Moneychangers( changing money from our hands to your pockets)! Bling-Bling preachers, teachers and deceivers out there better wake up, wise up and straighten up. Jesus the Christ has a way of dealin' with your kind and it isn't pleasant.
John 2:13-17
13*And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14*and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15*and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; 16*and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.
17*And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
Matthew 19:23&24
23*Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 I say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
Now the prosperity teachers say God wants to make us rich with worldly goods and money. If this were true, than in light of what Jesus said to His disciples, God wants to make it hard for us to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Now I don't know about y'all but I ain't buyin' it.
Now I also have a message for all you prosperity preachers out there, whether you are on TV, radio, platform or street corner. We are ( the body of Christ) no longer impressed with your bag of trinkets. I suggest first REPENT! Than go and study God's Word and get in the presence of our Lord, Jesus the Christ and when and only when He gives you something to say or teach to us( the body of Christ), please by all means come and share. Until then please keep it zipped.
Warning To all you Moneychangers( changing money from our hands to your pockets)! Bling-Bling preachers, teachers and deceivers out there better wake up, wise up and straighten up. Jesus the Christ has a way of dealin' with your kind and it isn't pleasant.
John 2:13-17
13*And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14*and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15*and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; 16*and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.
17*And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
hello,
the only thing i go by, in terms of money and resorece giving, in the bible is about giving ten percent of what you earn. i strongly advise doing this because it is instructed in the bible.
as to 'first fruits', anything other than giving your first ten percent, i would only ever do if you feel led to by the Holy spirit.
if you ever feel condemmed throughout this situation, remember that it is only the devil who condems and therfore, you need to dismiss the thought.
i would only go by what i feel convicted to do, trust God;
'do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition and thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in christ Jesus.'
philipians 4 v6-7
listen carefully to the Holy spirit, and press on with what you feel God is telling you to do. dismiss what condemns you.
i will also pray.
Jesu bless you
the only thing i go by, in terms of money and resorece giving, in the bible is about giving ten percent of what you earn. i strongly advise doing this because it is instructed in the bible.
as to 'first fruits', anything other than giving your first ten percent, i would only ever do if you feel led to by the Holy spirit.
if you ever feel condemmed throughout this situation, remember that it is only the devil who condems and therfore, you need to dismiss the thought.
i would only go by what i feel convicted to do, trust God;
'do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition and thanksgiving, present your requests to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in christ Jesus.'
philipians 4 v6-7
listen carefully to the Holy spirit, and press on with what you feel God is telling you to do. dismiss what condemns you.
i will also pray.
Jesu bless you
