Preachers Beg money in the Name of God and to support Ministry!

By Shaila Touchton Jesus didn't beg for money or demand that people to support Him financially. When Jesus commissioned his disciples to go into the world and make disciples he never sent them to go make wealth on the side by asking support from the disciples or people they preach. Jesus never said promote the gospel by tricks. All he said Go ye and Preach the Gospel without expecting material profit. True preaching of Gospel don’t need marketing strategies, advertisement of men, it is simply preaching with Gods power unto salvation and conviction. Pastors/Preachers often live a wealthier lifestyle than their congregation. These Pastors have rich life styles having big mansions and properties, Armani suits, and luxury cars, luxurious vacation trips etc. and some even have Jets to fly wherever they want . I am not against tithing if any wants to give. I'm simply saying that most of the money given to ministries today is not used wisely or honestly. Most of the church Ministries today are preaching only to make money. Church ministry have become like a Business. If you listen to most of preachers nowadays you might think that all it takes to please God is money. Romans 16:18 reminds us that For such as these are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 1.The most misquotes verses they use is Proverbs 3: 9 : , “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. First fruit was a ceremonial act for the nation of Israel designed to acknowledge and thank God for delivering them from their captivity in Egypt and giving them the land flowing with milk and honey. The firstborn animals were dedicated in remembrance of God taking all the firstborns of men and animals in Egypt. All firstborn males belonged to God, but depending on the species, they could sacrifice. First fruits is not tithing as many pastors and false prophets describe . In Prov. 3:9" Honour the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops", it specifically says first fruit of your CROPS NOT WAGES OR Salaries. Deut. 18:1-5 " the Levitical priesthood; indeed those who are of the tribe of Levi are to have no land allotted to them or any inheritance with Israel. they shall live on the food presented to the LORD for that is their inheritance...You are to give them the first fruit of your corn, new wine olive oil and the first wool shearing of your sheep"Tthe emphasis here is on agricultural produce not wages or salaries of workers. Pastors in the new testament are free to own land and to work in their lands. Only priest in the order of Levi are not qualified to own properties. Pastors are not priests in the order of Levi. So they do not possess any right, legal or biblical to demand first fruits from their congregations, and at the same time own properties. Leviticus 23:9, However,the LORD demanded that Israel while bringing the first fruit should declare "...the you shall declare before the LORD your God "'My father was a wandering Aramean and he went down to Egypt with a few people...and now I bring the first fruit of the soil that the LORD have given me. This scripture also emphasizes the produce of the land and not wages. It is also important to note that pastors are not the same as priests under the Levitical priesthood. They are not the sons of Levi. The Law only recognizes the sons of Levi as the beneficiaries of the first fruit. HONOUR God with our first Fruits. What is this then? The way to honor God is to dedicate ALL to him. Dedication does not mean that we MUST bring it to the church or give it to a pastor. Otherwise God would have used a direct word give to pastors or Evangelists or bring it to church. Everything belongs to God. God is the creator and owner of everything. When Everything belong to God, we should no longer see only a portion as being the first fruit. Under the Melchizedecian priesthood that we now operate, everything belong to God. It was in the Levitical priesthood that first fruits and tithes belong to God. The Old Testament anticipated when God said to his people at Sinai, “You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”3 Isaiah says that a time will come when “You shall be called the priests of the Lord, they shall speak to you as the ministers of our God.”4 Christ is the High Priest who ends all priesthood. In 1 Peter 2:5, it says to believers that “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. We also can give our first fruits in our homes and families and dedicate everything directly to God not necessary it should be through pastors or any mediums. We have direct access to Christ. We have to truly love the Lord and are earnestly seek and be transformed into the Image of Christ (Romans 12:1-2); we are to honour God first in our family and first in your lives. In the Old Testament, only the high priest could enter into the Holy of Holies. Today, we have the privilege of direct access to God through Christ. We can come boldly unto the throne of grace. According to Ephesians, it is because of Christ that “we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.” We belong to holy priesthood we offer up spiritual sacrifices wholly acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. In Romans 12:1, we are to offer our lives as “living sacrifices,” in Philippians 2:17, “a sacrificial offering of faith,” in Philippians 4:18, the “services of love as a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.” In Hebrews 13:15, the spiritual sacrifice is praise and thanksgiving. Under the Law, sacrifices (animal, grain, burnt offerings, etc.) were required by God for the forgiveness of sin and for “covering” or “blessing” (Genesis 3:21; Genesis 4:4-5; Genesis 8:20-21; Genesis 22:10-13; Leviticus 4:35; Leviticus 5:10). Jesus Christ became the final Passover Lamb when He shed His Redeeming Blood for His elect, rendering these ceremonial sacrifices null and void (John 1:29; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Timothy 2:5-6). There is no need or reason for any Christian to offer any sacrifice. 2.God loves a cheerful giver” 2 Corinthians 9:7. Here Everything we have is given to us by God ( John 1:16). God wants us to Love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength andto Love our neighbor as ourself. For God so loved the world that He gave himself for the world. we are saved because our God so generously gave (John 3:16) As His children, we are to be “the light of the world as it says in Matthew 5:14.When we trust God and honor Him by generously giving our heart, time, treasure, families and talent, we are truly letting our light shine before men, and our goodness will reflect radiantly on our Father in heaven. God doesn’t require material money. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:10). People who have a love for money lack the godliness and contentment. Jesus also said Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven . . . Woe to you rich, for you have received your consolation. (Luke 6:20) Matthew 6:20-21: But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Look at Psalm 50:12-15:“If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all its fullness are mine. Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows (your obligations) to the Most High. And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will glorify Me.” God doesn’t want 10% of your money. He wants 100% of your heart. Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” 3. Become a Partner by giving money to spread gospels to other nations: The Bible tells us to boldly and humbly, and without fear or shame need proclaim the Word of Truth. Its not necessary it should be done through ministry. Charity begins at home. Peter and Paul both state that if we are going to follow Christ, we are going to be persecuted severely. Paul was persecuted so intensely that at one point that he even despaired of life itself (2 Corinthians 1:8-9). God's call to everyone through the which is salvation through Jesus Christ to repent and believe in Jesus(Acts 17:30). Some are called to Gods work from their Mothers womb like the prophet Jeremiah (Jer 1:5), John the Baptist (Luke 1:15), and the apostle Paul (Gal 1:15–16). Before they were born, each of these men were marked out by God to preach His word. We are called and chosen and no amount of marketing will win people to Christ. We may get people to say the words “Jesus is Lord” but as it says in Mat 7:22-23 He will say to many “I never knew you”. The only thing we are called to do is Love God and Love others. We don’t need to be like the world to reach the world….using the worlds marketing tactics to “win souls for God”. The Word of God and his love, mercy, grace and POWER is enough to reach the world with our example.Gods ways are higher than mans way. All Christians, as believers, have been "called unto the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1Cor. 1:9). This verse never say to become financial partner with church or Pastor or Ministry. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared us to do and not contributing money to ministry. The bible says repent and believe on the Lord Jesus, be baptised for the forgiveness of sins and you will be saved. It never says become a member or partner of ministry. “GO, MAKE DISCIPLES, BAPTISE AND TEACH”. Theses commands apply to every Christian. We don’t have to be a Missionary or an Evangelist to preach and make disciples of Christ. If God has saved you from your sin, He has called you to serve Him in some way in accordance with your gifts , abilities and talents. One can share the Gospel to their friends, families, lost souls, Start a praying for everyone ,pray for others who are sick ,Feed the hungry, cast out demons ,heal the sick ,help the needy , take care of the Homeless, touching lives with Gods love not necessary it should be done with the church or through ministries or through pastors or missionaries. Everyone can do this. God made salvation available to all. Salvation is available for all men, not just a select few. Jesus died for everyone (Hebrews 2:9; John 3:16). God wants all to come to know the truth (I Timothy 2:4).It’s the people who rebel and reject Gods call. When we seek God and his righteousness, He will lead us to touch lives through the holy spirit. God would bless anyone who puts God in his life, obey the laws and his commandments and avoid sin. Sadly, men of us only want blessings without submitting ourselves to the ways of God, not seeking kingdom of God and his righteousness embracing holiness. Jesus is the light that leads to abundant life. Some greedy Preachers justify themselves by saying “Even say God’s blessings are gifts but it costs to conduct meetings, conferences, run a church, pay for the staff, make CDs,books,maintaining websites etc”. One don’t have to sow into a ministry to be blessed since God has already blessed in Jesus Christ. In Christ we are holy and blameless, we are accepted, forgiven, redeemed through the Blood of Jesus Christ and we have the seal of the promise of the Holy Spirit. We must Give First priority to God and His Kingdom, then everything we need will follow us and God shall supply all our needs. We must not run after money. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 1:3) The wicked pastors encourage money. On the other hand Proverbs 11:18 says The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. John 16 says that the Holy Spirit was sent in order to “convict the world” of “sin, righteousness, and judgment.” This itself is evangelism. "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." -James 4:4 God doesn’t need any cheap marketing techniques,entertainment etc .God expects all believers to have no fellowship with with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them according to Ephesians 5:11.These Ministers or preachers don't truly care about winning souls to Christ but care about the praise of men. 4.Sow a Seed into a Ministry: Sow your seed and you will get back 100 fold”, “Sow your seed and you will be debt free”, “Sow your seed and you will be healed”, “ sow your seed your business will prosper” is the heart cry of many money hungry ministries. According to these pastors interpretation, the seed is money. I heard a preacher say on TV“Sow your seed of 1000$ and you will receive the blessings of Pentecost”. The Holy spirit is free. The Holy Spirit is Not for Sale. Healings and Miracles are Not for Sale and neither these things can be bought by money. Jesus commanded His disciples to “Heal the sick, drive out demons and work miracles” for free. But these money hungry preachers they do everything for money. Isaiah 56:11 says: They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, they seek their own gain. These pastors often forget, and neglect and they pick and choose which verse to manipulate and deceive others. Jesus said “Sell your possessions and give to the poor”, you will not hear anyone preaching on that. Jesus teaching was on Giving to the poor, widows and needy not Giving to a Preacher because there was no Church during the time of Jesus Christ. But the scriptures says in Luke 8:11: The seed is the word of God. The Kingdom of God is not about profit but it is about Love, seeking God in everything and putting God First above everything. This is what he says in Romans 12:1 :I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. In Mark 4:14-20 The sower sows the Word of God …..where the word is sown; but when they have heard, satan comes immediately, and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts… In this passage when we read carefully here it is clear that the seed is the Word of God, not money. Galatians 6:7-9 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap….for he that sows to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting Even ministers have to be fed the word, which is every believers duty, to encourage and assist one another. It was NOT to support one person with money to pay for all sorts of material comforts, having a comfortable, easy life. Jesus did not have the man sow coins into the soil, because that would not have produced anything. He used live seed, which he said represented the Word of God. All through the teachings of Jesus…. the “seed” mentioned represents the Word of God, NOT money. To teach that it represents money is pure heretical. Jesus was poor. The apostles were poor. They gave everything and they all suffered and died. They did not live preaching money, or giving to get back…..they preached the kingdom of God not the kingdom of money ,they preached a spiritual kingdom. They also taught that if one would just seek first the kingdom of God, and its righteousness, then ALL things would be added to you as needed. Many preachers just quote Proverb 3:9, “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” There are 8 verses before Proverb 3:9, which command the Christian believer to keep God's Laws, loving mercy and truth, trust the Lord with all thine heart, fear God and depart from evil. Pastors exploits the Gospel for their own greedy gain. 1st Timothy 5:8 warns that failing to provide for one's own family makes a man WORSE than an unsaved heathen. A father should always provide for his family first, which includes paying down all debts before tithing. In todays world, every family struggles for finance in the midst of unemployment, sickness, economic recession, high expenditures, poor wages. How can struggling families tithe these hungry pastors? Did God said to ignore the family needs and give it to Pastors or present ourselves as living sacrifice to God? God never intended for us to give money to support padded pews, plush carpeting, stained-glass windows, giant projection entertainments screens, mega churches, and annual travel vacation trips ,church staff etc Jesus said to go sell your possessions and give to the poor. Luke 12:33, “Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.” We foolishly think that our nation is generous and helping other nations.In reality we citizens of America is in massive debts and living on credit cards ,living cheque to cheque. The poor and the middle class are always affected . we're losing our homes, jobs, zero savings and tremendous increase in debts to survive but pastors are still getting rich by deceiving others with false doctrines and lies. God never intended for our children to struggle in poverty; while our pastor leaves a wealth of fortune to his own children. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." —Mathew 23:23. What do the scriptures say about such preachers Jeremiah 6:13:"For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is greedy for gain, And from the prophet even to the priest Everyone deals falsely. 2 Peter 2:3In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed. 2 Peter 2:14 Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed. Jude 1:16 These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage. James 3:1 says Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.