I once was listening to Kenneth Copeland , an american preacher, who hosts a Christian show titled: 'Believers Voice of Victory'. On the day I was watching his show, he said something about partnership that I will never forget; here is what he said:
' When you make the decision to support a ministry financially, make sure that you pray about it before deciding yourself.'
And that's true. You should let God guide you with your Tithes, because there are so many 'so called' ministries that are not preaching the gospel of Jesus.
Tithing and all other forms of financial partnerships are similar to planting a seed in a soil. If you plant something, you should also ensure yourself that you are planting in the right soil.
There are people who have financially supported 'fake' ministries, in other words they have not planted in the right soil. The Bible mentions that Tithes should be brought in the House of God, not in a House that excludes God and His word.
How do you know that a ministry is from God? Here are few points to look at:
1. The ministry is focused on promoting God, His Word and His Kingdom:
Scripture of reference: Matthew 6:33
Please be careful, some gatherings are not churches anymore. A church should get her inspiration from the Bible which is considered as the primary written will of God. A church should focus on promoting God; unfortunately some gatherings refer more to men than they refer to God's word. In some cases they have excluded the Bible and only draw inspiration from words written by men. A gathering of human that exclude the Bible, that focuses on promoting the prophet more than God is no longer a Christian gathering. Those gatherings are equal to 'New Age' meetings led by spiritual gurus.
There is nothing wrong with Christian books, blogs and articles. However, they should not become the primary written reference. The Bible is.
I heard people promoting books written by their pastors while saying stuff like: 'Buy this book and you won't even need a Bible'
What?!
2. The Holy Ghost is allowed to manifest Himself:
Scripture of reference: John 16:7
Mark 3:28-30
Do not be trumped, the experiences of the Holy Ghost were not just reserved for the Ancient Church. The Holy Ghost is still present and wants to work with the Church.
3. Miracles are done in Jesus Name:
Scripture of reference: Mark 16:17
In case you did not know, sorcerers can also make 'miracles' but God is more powerful than them. Pay attention that when miracles are being done; they must be accomplished in the Name of Jesus. Anything else is outsourced from the devil. Be careful.
4. Jesus is the only Savior:
Scripture of reference: John 3:16
Some 'gatherings' have been so trumped to confuse men as God. As a result, they no longer believe that salvation comes through Jesus alone.
Also, when preaching the gospel to the lost ,the church should clearly say:
'That Jesus is the Son of God,
born of a virgin,
He lived blameless as a man,
He came to save the world,
No human actions can save our souls,
All human regardless of race, culture or sex can receive salvation,
He died at the cross for our sins,
He came back to life after three days,
The lost has to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior with their mouth confession by confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior and by believing that He died for their sins and that He came back to life three days after his death.
Salvation is a FREE gift, (The church should not sell it)
He left us with a mandate to preach the good news,
He shall return for His church.
Any other method to preach the gospel could be devious and should be scrutinized. Notice that there is no involvement of 'men's promotions' when preaching the gospel. The lost are NOT coming to a man, they are coming to God.
5. There is a desire for Outreach:
Scripture of reference: Matthew 28:16-20
Jesus has left us the great commission: 'go and be on preach the good news'. A church should constantly promotes programs to evangelize the lost and help the needy.
6. God told his believer to leave but...:
This is the last case scenario, where God convinces a believer to leave a congregation and join another one. When God speaks that way there is a reason ...but if the believer refuses to listen and keep supporting a ministry that God does not want him to support or be part of, then he/she is living in disobedience.
There are a lot of great clubs using human wisdom to solve problems, however we should not confuse them with churches where Jesus should be the focus.
If you are in a church holding the first 5 characteristics, you are in the right otherwise, I pray that the Holy Ghost leads you to the right place.
God Bless you.
' When you make the decision to support a ministry financially, make sure that you pray about it before deciding yourself.'
And that's true. You should let God guide you with your Tithes, because there are so many 'so called' ministries that are not preaching the gospel of Jesus.
Tithing and all other forms of financial partnerships are similar to planting a seed in a soil. If you plant something, you should also ensure yourself that you are planting in the right soil.
There are people who have financially supported 'fake' ministries, in other words they have not planted in the right soil. The Bible mentions that Tithes should be brought in the House of God, not in a House that excludes God and His word.
How do you know that a ministry is from God? Here are few points to look at:
1. The ministry is focused on promoting God, His Word and His Kingdom:
Scripture of reference: Matthew 6:33
Please be careful, some gatherings are not churches anymore. A church should get her inspiration from the Bible which is considered as the primary written will of God. A church should focus on promoting God; unfortunately some gatherings refer more to men than they refer to God's word. In some cases they have excluded the Bible and only draw inspiration from words written by men. A gathering of human that exclude the Bible, that focuses on promoting the prophet more than God is no longer a Christian gathering. Those gatherings are equal to 'New Age' meetings led by spiritual gurus.
There is nothing wrong with Christian books, blogs and articles. However, they should not become the primary written reference. The Bible is.
I heard people promoting books written by their pastors while saying stuff like: 'Buy this book and you won't even need a Bible'
What?!
2. The Holy Ghost is allowed to manifest Himself:
Scripture of reference: John 16:7
Mark 3:28-30
Do not be trumped, the experiences of the Holy Ghost were not just reserved for the Ancient Church. The Holy Ghost is still present and wants to work with the Church.
3. Miracles are done in Jesus Name:
Scripture of reference: Mark 16:17
In case you did not know, sorcerers can also make 'miracles' but God is more powerful than them. Pay attention that when miracles are being done; they must be accomplished in the Name of Jesus. Anything else is outsourced from the devil. Be careful.
4. Jesus is the only Savior:
Scripture of reference: John 3:16
Some 'gatherings' have been so trumped to confuse men as God. As a result, they no longer believe that salvation comes through Jesus alone.
Also, when preaching the gospel to the lost ,the church should clearly say:
'That Jesus is the Son of God,
born of a virgin,
He lived blameless as a man,
He came to save the world,
No human actions can save our souls,
All human regardless of race, culture or sex can receive salvation,
He died at the cross for our sins,
He came back to life after three days,
The lost has to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior with their mouth confession by confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior and by believing that He died for their sins and that He came back to life three days after his death.
Salvation is a FREE gift, (The church should not sell it)
He left us with a mandate to preach the good news,
He shall return for His church.
Any other method to preach the gospel could be devious and should be scrutinized. Notice that there is no involvement of 'men's promotions' when preaching the gospel. The lost are NOT coming to a man, they are coming to God.
5. There is a desire for Outreach:
Scripture of reference: Matthew 28:16-20
Jesus has left us the great commission: 'go and be on preach the good news'. A church should constantly promotes programs to evangelize the lost and help the needy.
6. God told his believer to leave but...:
This is the last case scenario, where God convinces a believer to leave a congregation and join another one. When God speaks that way there is a reason ...but if the believer refuses to listen and keep supporting a ministry that God does not want him to support or be part of, then he/she is living in disobedience.
There are a lot of great clubs using human wisdom to solve problems, however we should not confuse them with churches where Jesus should be the focus.
If you are in a church holding the first 5 characteristics, you are in the right otherwise, I pray that the Holy Ghost leads you to the right place.
God Bless you.