HOUSE OF PRAYER OR DEN OF ROBBERS?

Matthew 21:13 (ESV) — 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

Do you remember the context of this verse? When Jesus went into the temple and overturned the tables of the money changers... those who were selling the animals needed for sacrifices instead of treating the Lord's temple with respect and awe?

Is it possible that Jesus is saying the same things about our churches today? Each week when we gather together, is Jesus saying "‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers."? Sure we are not selling animals in the sanctuary to be used as sacrifices unto God but are we praying like we should be? Are we robbing God somehow?

What are some of the ways that we may be robbing God? How about our motives when we gather? Are we gathering for His glory or for our wants? Are we stealing the attention that is due Him because we want people to notice us and give us what we want? 

Another way is rebelling against Him. If we are obedient to Him, not only are we blessed for doing so but so are those around us. For example, Luke 5:3–4 (ESV) — 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Jesus taught the crowd while He was in Peter's boat. Notice that Jesus did not dismiss the crowd when He finished teaching. He just turned to Peter and said “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Peter did as Jesus said and they caught so many fish that the boat began to sink. What a miraculous catch! But understand this... if Peter had disobeyed Jesus and not gone fishing, he would have robbed Jesus of the opportunity to show His power to all who were watching. Jesus wants to work through you. Don't rob Him of that opportunity.

One more way that we may be robbing God is through our giving. Malachi 3:8–12 (ESV) — 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.

The next time you gather with your church family, ask yourself "Am I really trying to communicate with God through prayer today? Am I doing anything that would rob God of anything that belongs to Him?"

IS CHRISTMAS NOT THE RIGHT TIME? OR IS IT?

In 2015, I will be taking two teams to the Philippines to preach and teach the gospel plus offer medical camps on the second trip through a partnership with the hospital in Davao City. This task is great and requires lots of resources. I am so thankful to everyone who partners with us. 

I am often challenged by some of my friends about the way we think about things such as “Why do we do things the way we do them?” or “Why do we believe that?”. Last night, one of my friends told me last night that “Christmas is not a real good time to be trying to raise funds…” Is Christmas not a good time for raising money for a mission trip… or is it?

WHAT IS CHRISTMAS? 
Many, if not most, people think about Christmas trees with lights and ornaments plus lots of presents under the tree. I remember a time in a K-mart store that a woman was showing her little boy a manger scene and she said something like “Look at that Christmas scene.” The little boy was confused and looked up at his mom and asked, “But where is Santa Claus?”

The true meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus as announced in Luke 1:30 (ESV)  And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33  and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

So if it is His birthday, shouldn’t we be focused on Him and what He would want us to do? Think about His words in Luke 19:10 (ESV)  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”. Or how about His words in Acts 1:8 (ESV)  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”?

I know you have seen the “WWJD” bracelets signifying “What Would Jesus Do?” but how about these questions:

WWJHMD?
“What Would Jesus Have Me Do?” Think about the original question in this post, “Is Christmas not a good time for raising money for a mission trip… or is it?” If Jesus came to “seek and to save the lost.” and we are the body of Christ, shouldn’t we be doing what He has been doing all along? Should we stop supporting missions in December so we can spend lots of money on material things?

How about these verses? Luke 2:10 (ESV)  And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. The angel told the shepherds not to be afraid because he brought them what? “good news of great joy”! And what is that “good news”? The Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

So “What Would Jesus Have Me Do?” Simple, stay focused on what He was focused on. Seeking and saving the lost.

HMTDWH?
Another question to consider is “How Much Time Do We Have?” Look at the international news stories and you will quickly recognize that we are much closer to the end of time as we know it than we have ever been before. Do we have enough time to take December off?

Ephesians 5:15 (ESV)  Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16  making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Paul said we need to make the best use of time. Time is going by very quickly as if you hadn’t noticed. The next trip is in the spring and the second is in late summer. It won’t be long for it’s time to minister.

WAYWTD?
Last question for you in this post. “What Are You Willing To Do?” Are you willing to support a mission trip like ours as a gift this Christmas? A gift that sharing the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ? If so, visit www.gofundme.com/hmd2p8 and make your donation of any size. Some are giving so much a month. Whatever you give, thank you for helping us spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas.

HOW TO BECOME A GIVER

In the last several years, I have been blessed to work with giving people... people who set a great example in front of me. People who have been showing me how to be more giving. Based upon what the Bible says and what I have seen in these generous people, here are some steps you can take to become a more giving person.

1. SUBMIT YOURSELF AND ALL THAT YOU "OWN" TO GOD. 

• Matthew 22:37 (ESV)  And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 
• If you love God with all of your heart, all of your soul and with all of your mind, then you are not focusing on yourself, you are focusing on God. 
• If you are focusing on God, then you will recognize His authority over your life as well as the fact that He is the One who has blessed you.

2. STUDY GOD'S WORD AND OBEY WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT GIVING. 

• 2 Corinthians 9:6 (ESV)  The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 
• If you are holding your money with a tight fist, it is true that it is harder for any to get out but it is also harder for any more to get in. This principle is taught in the last phrase of this next verse as well.
• Luke 6:38 (ESV)  give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” 

3. RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT GOD HAS BEEN TAKING CARE OF YOU.

• Matthew 6:31 (ESV)  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 
• God knows what you need and He will take care of you if you put your trust and faith in Him. 
• The answer in all of this is in verse 33... "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness". If you will focus on serving Him, He will take care of you.

4. SYSTEMATICALLY DECIDE WHAT TO GIVE.

• 2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV)  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 
• "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart" means that you have planned out what to give instead of waiting until you get to church and seeing what is in your wallet that you can let go of.
• The ultimate goal is to not only give the 10% of your income each time you get paid but to give above and beyond that amount because the tenth belongs to God already. 
• Malachi 3:8 (ESV)  Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 

5. SET ASIDE WHAT YOU ARE TO GIVE BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE.

• 1 Corinthians 16:2 (ESV)  On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. 
• Paul told the church to give based upon how they prospered. As your income fluctuates, your giving will as well if you are giving a percentage each week instead of a set amount. For example, if you give a set amount like $20 each week but your paycheck ranges anywhere from $200 a week to $400 a week, then you are holding back on God and your church.
• In the Old Testament, there is a principle called "first fruits" which means that you give God what is His first before you do anything else. That is how we should handle our finances. Whatever comes in, we should determine how much we are to give to God through our local church and then pay our bills and make our purchases.
• Exodus 23:19 (KJV)  The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk. 

6. SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE SO THAT YOU CAN BE MORE GENEROUS.

• Luke 12:16 (ESV)  And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17  and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18  And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19  And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20  But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21  So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” 
• This man was truly blessed with a bountiful harvest but instead of trying to use it as way to help others in need, he focused on himself and how he could benefit from it all.
• Notice the fact that God called him a fool because he laid "up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
• It is not wrong to have stuff, just make sure that your stuff doesn't have you.

I want to close this post with a great illustration for us to follow...

• Jonathan Edwards, the seventeenth-century theologian and pastor, set an excellent example when it came to his salary. At the beginning of his career, Edwards determined how much money he would need to live reasonably on. This sum covered his necessities and comforts. At the end of his life, having become very successful, Edwards continued to live on the determined sum from his early years as a pastor. It was not his standard of living that increased, but his standard of giving.
• Randy Alcorn says "God doesn't prosper us to increase our living standard, but to increase our giving standard."

WILL YOU ACCEPT THIS CHALLENGE?

As we get older, we see things differently than we used to, don't we? We start realizing the changes in our thoughts and in our wants. Often times the things that seemed so important before are not that important any more and some things that we took for granted before mean so much to us now.

In this post, I want to talk to you about money. In an article in Christianity Today, Dave Ramsey said "The statistics of pain are getting worse every year," Ramsey told Christianity Today. "We have more people getting behind on credit cards, more people filing bankruptcy, more people in foreclosure right now than we've ever had in this nation." Some other comments that show how serious this is would "American consumers are simultaneously earning record income while accumulating record debt." and "The median U.S. home price surged $22,500 last year to $206,600, and some Americans borrowed to the hilt on that increased equity simply to spend extra money on a big-screen television or dream vacation." Plus there is Dave's famous line ""A whole bunch of us got all this stuff we really didn't want with money we really didn't have to impress people we really didn't like," which really makes you think, doesn't it?

See if any of this sounds familiar?

• You are sitting in a restaurant looking at your bill and notice that your drink costs almost as much as your meal. 
• You are going into a store with the intentions of buying a couple of items but while you are there, you start looking around and buy a whole cart full of stuff you really don't even need.
• You are filling your car up with gas but instead of paying at the pump, you decide to pay inside... which leads you to buying a drink and snack that you weren't planning on buying.
• You buy something with your credit card with the plans of paying it off at the end of the month but then decide to use that money for something else.

WILL YOU ACCEPT THIS CHALLENGE?

For the next 30 days, pay very close attention to where your money is going. Track every penny. Each day, write down how much you spent and what you spent it on. Then put that purchase in a category like "FOOD", "FUEL", "CLOTHING", "ENTERTAINMENT", etc.

Here is why I challenge you to this task. Many Christians are not giving to their churches like they should and one of the reasons that they don't is they don't think they can afford to give to their church. But if you accept this challenge, you may notice that you are spending a great of money on things that you could easily spend less on. 

If you want to be obedient to God, your giving to the church must be done properly. In an article entitled "What If The Church Tithed?", you will find these two statements:

• Tithers make up only 10-25 percent of a normal congregation. 
• Only 5 percent of the U.S. tithes, with 80 percent of Americans only giving 2 percent of their income. 

If these statements are true, then only one person out of every four is a tither so the other three are either not giving as much as they should or not giving at all. If only 5% of Americans are tithing, is it any wonder why our nation is in the shape that it is in? As as nation, we are robbing God.

Malachi 3:8 (ESV)  Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9  You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10  Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 

As part of this challenge, ask yourself this question too. "Where am I losing my money each month?" For example, total up the amount of interest you are paying on your credit cards each month. That's money you are just throwing away every day. Doesn't that make you sick? Or how about these questions...

• Why do we spend $1.50 buying a 20 oz. soft drink at the store when we can buy 2-liter soft drink for the same price?
• When we eat out, why do we have to spend extra money buying a bigger meal that we know we can't eat all of it?
• Why do we waste so much food? Do you cook a big meal, put leftovers in the fridge only to throw them away in a couple of days?
• Why do we have gym memberships if we are not going? One article I read said that only 18% of the people who joined a gym use their membership on a regular basis.

I believe if you accept this challenge, you will find plenty of ways to adapt your spending so that you can begin tithing to your church. Don't rob God any more. Be a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:6 (ESV)  The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.