FLIPPING THE TABLES FOR THE SAKE OF LOVE

 

What's your heart condition?

Matthew 21:12 [ Cleansing the Temple ] And Jesus entered the temple [grounds] and drove out [with force] all who were buying and selling [birds and animals for sacrifice] in the temple area, and He turned over the tables of the moneychangers [who made a profit exchanging foreign money for temple coinage] and the chairs of those who were selling doves [for sacrifice].

 

In Levitical Law, sacrificing an animal was the atonement for sin.  Amidst all the Old Testament laws, God – who is always the same even says Exodus 25:2

“Tell the children of Israel to take an offering for Me. From every man whose heart moves him [to give willingly] you shall take My offering.  Giving has always been about the condition of the heart.  Religion loves to taint what God made pure – so giving has been one of the most controversial issues in the church since the beginning.

 

We’ve all been tainted by the preachers that send out the message - if you want to be saved, send money.  If you want to be blessed, send money.  I liken the sale of the animals at the temple like a convenient ATM machine; if you forgot to bring your sacrificial gift, buy a dove now for $29.99 and be healed.  It's not about doing it in front of people to look righteous; it's about your heart with God. It brings it back to that giving out of obligation how, that's not how God wants you to give.  Jesus paid the highest price!  He paid with his life and all he's asking us to do is to take care of his flock.  To take care of his flock cost money so if we can appreciate that immense sacrifice, and honor the vision he has for the church and give out of a grateful heart with just our money how much more would it be to give with our entire lives?  Liken it to when someone has a birthday you didn’t plan for – how you don’t know what to buy them because you don’t know their tastes very well, you don’t have the time to shop, or you simply forgot so you flippantly write a check or get some lousy gift card just to be sure you have SOMETHING… doesn’t it feel better when you have taken the time to think about and plan out what to give, and when it’s received, it’s received well?  That is how giving is with God – unlike people – he sees our heart like an x-ray and knows in which condition we’re giving.  

In times of giving, I think people have trouble understanding what they're giving for.  Do we need to start flashing pictures of the children that we’re feeding, the lives that we’re changing, the things that are going on in the kingdom - for them to understand and see what exactly every single dollar is being used for?  Your giving is not used to buy a beautiful lake house, it's not being used for ridiculous expenses and riches; it's being used to change lives. You feel good when you give to the March of Dimes, you feel good when you give to St. Jude's because you know it's going for a specific cause; so when your heart is in the giving, a Joy and satisfaction comes.  Knowing that you're giving towards the souls of the kingdom and that your giving is going into all eternity; it's not temporal it's not temporary, it's permanent and it will last forever.  It's a gift that keeps expanding and growing and never ceases I pray that the whole entire church body will have a revelation of where their seed needs to go and that revelation will just break their heart and cause them to start giving more.  Think about it this way.  Convert the dollars you normally give into something visual -  such as a loaf of bread for the youth ministry to be feeding the children and then as you feel your giving was good then next week, give enough to buy two loaves and three loaves and four loaves etc.

 

I think by and large, the church body has seen giving is a big black hole and they don't REALLY understand it.  It's hard to give with a cheerful heart when all you think you're doing is paying the light bill.  I'll be the first to admit I've given out of religious obligation, I've given out of fear of being cursed, I've given out of need and I've given out of love, and I choose to believe that none of that seed has ever been wasted - regardless of the heart condition that I gave and knowing how much I've given; I still believe for my 100 fold, because God's grace is sufficient for me and Jesus is blood covers all.  And really, honestly, if you’re concerned about the father of the house having expensive and elaborate things, then you need to get yourself back in the word and discover for yourself that Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the Lord brings [true] riches, And He adds no sorrow to it [for it comes as a blessing from God].

Church, it’s time to get back to giving like in the book of Acts.  There was NO NEED!  Acts 4:32-36  Sharing among Believers 32 Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one [of them] claimed that anything belonging to him was [exclusively] his own, but everything was common property and for the use of all. 33 And with great ability and power the apostles were continuously testifying to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace [God’s remarkable lovingkindness and favor and goodwill] rested richly upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them, and bringing the proceeds of the sales 35 and placing the money down at the apostles’ feet. Then it was distributed to each as anyone had need36 Now Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus, who was surnamed [g]Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field belonging to him and brought the money and set it at the apostles’ feet.

Can you even begin to imagine what kind of revival would come, what life would come to your brothers and sisters in the Lord if we did what this early church did?  If your neighbor were in need of a car and you had an extra – and GAVE it without obligation or payment?  Would you ever sell a home, or Land to help? What an act of love it would be if all of us could act like the early church.  IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE!  When the body of Christ finally rises up and can stop being so selfish – the WORLD will start seeing our light more brightly! 

What if we were all so financially healed that when we see a non-believer in need that we generously give, just to be an act of love?  The world is selfish – BUT OUR GOD IS A GENEROUS GOD.  It’s time for us church – to stand up and declare – I am going to live my life debt free; I am going to be a generous giver.  It’s time we started aligning ourselves with the vision God has for the world instead of self-seeking to get all we can get.  We were not given a poverty spirit.  In your giving declare – I am prosperous!  I was blessed – so now I can be a blessing.

Father God – I declare over all the people reading this a REPENTANT HEART, a REPENTANT MIND, a REPENTANT SPIRIT.  Father in the name of Jesus I COMMAND souls to LINE UP with the WORD OF GOD and KNOW their TRUE IDENTITY as BELIEVERS.  We walk NOT according to our flesh but in the spirit.  Forgive us for our selfishness.  Thank you for gracing us to change and be renewed in our mindsets.  Thank you for freeing us from the bondages of oppression so that we can be GENEROUS JUST LIKE OUR DADDY!  Lead us not into the temptation of stealing your seed God.  I declare today that we as a body REFUSE to participate any longer with the spirit of the world.  In Jesus name – Open up your storehouses and see the kingdom of heaven flow like it has never done before.  Because we believe in the name of Jesus WE ARE BLESSED!

John 14:15

“If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.

John 14:31

but so that the world may know [without any doubt] that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father has commanded Me [and act in full agreement with Him]. Get up, let us go from here.

John 15:17

This [is what] I command you: that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another.

Matthew 22:36-40Amplified Bible (AMP)36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 And Jesus replied to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’ 40 The whole Law and the [writings of the] Prophets depend on these two commandments.”

 

 

 

 

Breaking the cycle of the lie – falling in love.

Psalm 34New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Lord, a Provider and Deliverer.

A Psalm of David when he ^[a]feigned madness before ^[b]Abimelech, who drove him away and he departed.

34 I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

² My soul will make its boast in the Lord;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.
³ O magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

⁴ I sought the Lord, and He answered me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
⁵ They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces will never be ashamed.
⁶ This ^[c]poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
And saved him out of all his troubles.
⁷ The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them.

⁸ O taste and see that the Lord is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
⁹ O fear the Lord, you His saints;
For to those who fear Him there is no want.
¹⁰ The young lions do lack and suffer hunger;
But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.
¹¹ Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
¹² Who is the man who desires life
And loves length of days that he may see good?
¹³ Keep your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking deceit.
¹⁴ Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

¹⁵ The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
And His ears are open to their cry.
¹⁶ The face of the Lord is against evildoers,
To cut off the memory of them from the earth.
¹⁷ The righteous cry, and the Lord hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
¹⁸ The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are ^[d]crushed in spirit.

¹⁹ Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.
²⁰ He keeps all his bones,
Not one of them is broken.
²¹ Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous will be ^[e]condemned.
²² The Lord redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who take refuge in Him will be ^[f]condemned

1 Corinthians 13:7

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 John 4:18 [Full Chapter]

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

1 John 2:5

but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:

John 8:39-47 ³⁹ They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, ⁴⁰ but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. ⁴¹ You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” ⁴² Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. ⁴³ Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. ⁴⁴ You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ⁴⁵ But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. ⁴⁶ Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? ⁴⁷ Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

Numbers 23:19
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
2 Corinthians 10:5English Standard Version (ESV) ⁵ We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Why do we have such a hard time believing in God, believing his word and truth and in his promises?  In the world we live in, there are so many lies we take on when we don’t know the word of truth.  Anything that doesn’t line up with the word is a lie.  Unfortunately, for a lot of believers, following God is hard because of the lies we believe.  Satan is the great deceiver, and the lies of the world that have molded our thinking and the way we see have debased our minds.  Jesus is the king of kings and the lord of Lords.  There is nothing greater than him on earth.  Not our finances, not our children, not our time – nothing.  There is nothing that should be in the way of an ultimate relationship with the lover of our souls – Jesus.  He is perfect love; and in his love there should be no fear.  No fear of speaking his name in public, no fear of following him, no fear of giving, no fear in believing; No fear.  On this journey we call life, we are deceived.  We are deceived in our thinking, deceived in our minds, deceived in our believing.  Deceived mostly into thinking God is lying.  Did God offer you a promise that hasn’t come true yet?  Did you fall into the trap of thinking It was a lie – that you’re not worth the time it would take to finish that promise?  I want you to know right now that in Jesus there are no lies.  He has never lied, nor will he ever lie.  He has always told the truth.  He is perfect love and we have got to stop doubting that his promises are true.  God wrote this book called the bible so that we could read and stand on his truth.  When seasons come where we need to battle and battle hard, the victory will come a lot sooner when we press in and pray and believe the truth of God’s word.  He is a breakthrough God – His battles are always victorious and there is nothing that can outshine the power of God’s word.  So that doctor gave you a diagnosis of cancer – God’s word says – I will live and not die (Psalm 118:17), I was healed on the cross over 2,000 years ago (1 Peter 2:24).  What about the bill that came in the mail that you couldn’t afford?  The Lord is our provider.  What are you thinking of right now that you doubt God about?  He’s not like that person you know who promises to do something for you and then forgets, has not going to tell you one thing and then change his mind.  He is and always has been, faithful, trustworthy, keeping his promises to the thousandth generation.   It’s time to call doubt out of our lives and remove it from our relationship with God.  He is our redeemer and has many and glorious things planned out for our lives.  Jobs, families, relationships – these are the things that are a desire of his heart for you.  He's not just a missionary in a foreign country; he is with you and in you and working to clear out all the clutter of previous history.  He WILL bring you to completion in him – and he’s not opposed to using means that confound your mind to do so.  Let him be who he says he is and work all things together for your good.  You may not be satisfied with where you are today but it’s not where you’re going to finish.  As the psalm above says in verse 16 “The face of the Lord is against evildoers” Romans 8:7English Standard Version (ESV) ⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Perhaps there is a war going on in your own house that you weren’t aware of – your mind against the mind of Christ.  When we walk in love, we walk in belief - Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Isn’t the greatest commandment to Love God, and one another?  So if we say we love God but don't believe his truth, can we honestly say that we really believe in God?  Can we honestly say that we really love God?  NO!  We can fool man, but we can’t fool God.  He knows our thoughts, he knows our hearts (Psalm 139:2) He knows when we sit and when we stand, he knows when we lie down and when we rise up again, so doesn’t he also know when we think that something he said, won’t come to pass?  He is intimate with us – can we be intimate with him?  Lay ourselves bare on his throne and expose our hearts and minds?  Like Psalms 139:1 says – Search my heart – Search me and know me.  What is this asking?  It’s saying – God – you know me more intimately than I know myself – search me – ask him to show you your flaws, and when he points them out, ask for his help in healing them.  What do you have to lose?  Absolutely nothing; because God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.  Hebrews 11:6  And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

I hope I have left you with something.  I believe in faith that I have deposited something in your spirit that has stirred you to get to know Him more.  My desire is to see everyone have a much more loving and intimate relationship with the amazing God I serve.  But it takes two.  He is forever and always calling after you; forever and always loving you.  There is nothing that has ever separated you from his love.  Return to your first love Jesus and open your heart, soul and mind to him.  He is your treasure to behold and your healer and deliverer.

Father God I just PRAISE you for your goodness and lovingkindness towards me.  Thank you God for delivering me from every lie and sin.  I thank you God for healing my mind, soul and body.  Put inside me a soul that makes its boast in you with all honesty, sincerity and intimacy.  Let me be who you desired me to be – I surrender it all to you right now in Jesus name.  Abolish my doubts, and uproot seeds of doubt that I have planted and renew my mind.  Help me to know how to stand on your word of truth.  I declare that I believe in you and everything you say.  Satan I bind you from lying to me.  God, Help me to know you more and show me how to walk in love and absolute belief in your truth.  Forgive me for my sin of unbelief.  In Jesus name Amen

See also - Deuteronomy 30:2