For thousands of years, God’s people have been burdened to build monuments for men. There is a shift in seasons underway that will stop the merchandising of God’s people. In the new season financial freedom is being released and the needs of believers are being met. Learn how God’s prosperity operates in his kingdom.
Introducing Kingdom Finances
Look at riches like God looks at them. He does not consider worldly possessions in his concept of riches. Believers in Smyrna were poor in this world, but they were described by God’s word as rich (Revelation 2:9). They were rich in Christ and the graces of the Spirit. Believers in Laodicea thought they were rich but they were described as “wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked” (Revelation 3:17).
Giving to get rich would be works, but only believing is the works of the believer. “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent” (John 6:29). It is grace that works. “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Believers believe the finished work of the cross.
Sin has consequences, and righteousness has consequences. You cannot stop the flow in the supernatural realm. God started everything. He loved the world so much that he gave his best, his only begotten Son (John 3:16). God is love and it is love that motivates him, not the potential of reward. The more of God’s love a believer has, the more he/she will be like God and give the best. As believers are led by the Spirit in what, when, and where to give, their giving is in the supernatural realm. When it is in the natural realm the enemy can stop it. When giving is supernatural, it starts a supernatural flow that cannot be stopped.
In the New Testament, believers are under grace rather than the Old Testament law. If believers are held in bondage under the law with respect to giving, they are being set up for failure. Giving is not the way for them to prosper. The law used rules and regulations, but the Spirit of grace brings freedom. If believers are released to give by the Spirit and out of love, prosperity cannot be stopped.
All gold and silver belong to God. He is releasing finances into the hands of those kingdom leaders who will advance the kingdom of God, giving all glory to God. They will not take God’s gold or his glory for themselves. These leaders serve as channels for God’s kingdom finances to convey his blessings to others. Kingdom finances move by the Spirit. The channel determines neither where the finances come from nor where they go. It is the Spirit who reveals both the source and destination of the finances. Therefore, the person serving as a channel must be led by the Spirit in accessing and distributing the finances.
Prosperity Comes by Grace
People are born again by grace. “By grace, you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). All of God’s blessings come by grace. Salvation, prosperity, and healing come by grace.
It takes the power of God’s grace to prosper people, but many ministers claim that giving prospers them. Consider the example in the image in which the horse is the power of grace and the harness and reins are faith. When a person is born again, his/her cart is filled with salvation, prosperity, and healing. Then he/she can distribute from the cart whatever is needed, including testifying about Jesus, praying for others to be healed, and giving money to others. Do not get the horse before the cart. Prosperity does not come by giving but by grace. It is a perversion of the scriptures to think that God’s prosperity comes from works or salvation comes from works. Giving is an overflow of the blessings given by God to the individual.
As a person is blessed by God, he/she can sow into the lives of others and reap a harvest. “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). Be a conduit of God’s blessings.
Old Testament Legalism
In the scriptures, tithes were used for ministers, fellowship, the comfort of the people, and the support of the poor. Ministers were dependent on the people they served.
- Numbers 18:24-28 The first part of the tithe was given to the Levites
- Deuteronomy 14:22-29 The remainder of the tithe was eaten by the owners and used to support the poor.
Offerings were used to construct buildings for worship and meet special needs of the people.
- Exodus 25:1-9 The Israelites brought offerings of materials for the tabernacle.
- 1 Chronicles 29:6-8 The leaders of Israel gave willingly toward the work on the temple.
Many ministers try to put people back under the law in the area of finances, ignoring God’s grace. They use the Old Testament concept of robbing God of tithes and offerings to condemn people and make them feel guilty if they do not tithe and give offerings as the ministers desire.
Today, tithes are used in many ways that are inconsistent with scriptural principles. They are used to finance large ministries with little support for the poor and other ministries.
New Testament Generosity
The New Testament describes a time of abundance in which all believers had their needs met. “For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need” (Acts 4:34-35). The apostles served as conduits for finances in the kingdom. The abundance among believers was not attributed to a great amount of wealth but to the proper distribution of wealth. As kingdom finances are used properly, the time of abundance will be restored to the body of Christ.
Believers are encouraged to give generously. The apostle Paul wrote extensively about only one offering (2 Corinthians 9). The offering was designated for the saints in Jerusalem rather than for his own ministry. Paul served as a conduit for kingdom finances. These finances would be distributed so as to fully meet the needs of the saints. “For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God” (2 Corinthians 9:12). This example is a standard for the effective administration of offerings today. First, the contributors are led by the Spirit and are blessed with an abundant harvest. They contributed to the offering as they purposed in their heart. Second, the finances are used for the purposes identified by the Spirit of God. Third, the finances are effectively distributed so that the needs of the saints are fully met. It’s time for major changes in how finances are gathered and distributed in the kingdom of God.
Study Questions
#1 How can you use God’s blessings to bless others?
#2 How has the body of Christ been misinformed about kingdom finances?
#3 What are the impacts of false teachings about kingdom finances?
#4 How can you live prosperously?
#5 How could you help others understand kingdom prosperity and prosper?