Why Do You Serve or Give to God?

 

This people draw near unto Me with their mouth and honour me with their lips; but their hearts are far from Me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men -Matthew 15:8-9.

 Men's actions, important as they may be, are outward and could often not reflect their true intentions. A man doing ‘good deeds’ may not necessarily mean that he is a good person.

God is as much concerned with our motives as with our actions. As a matter of fact, He will examine your heart, first and foremost, above your actions.

Actions can be deceptive. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but God examines the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

Character, and not necessarily 'results' in one's ministry, reveals the heart of a man. One may deceive people for some time, but you cannot deceive everyone all the time and self-deception is the most dangerous lie. Character is like truth, you cannot bury it for too long. Ultimately, it will resurrect!

Many people give the example of Cornelius as a person whose “giving to the things of God” was what brought him favour with God and exposed him to the message of salvation. Let us check this story closely. It is recorded in Acts chapter 10.

The question is, was Cornelius' “giving” done with the aim of “receiving some financial or spiritual blessing” from God or was it based on his attitude (disposition of heart) toward God?

Let us first see the verses that describe the character of the man. I would be using the Amplified version for emphasis:

Now [living] in Caesarea, there was a man whose name was Cornelius, a centurion (captain) of what was then the Italian Regiment… a devout man, who venerated God and treated Him with reverential obedience as did all his household, and he gave much alms to the poor and prayed continually to God -Verse 1, 3, AMP

And they said, Cornelius, a centurion (captain) who is just and upright and in right standing with God, being God-fearing and obedient and well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, has been instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house, and he has received in answer to prayer a warning to listen to and to act upon what you have to say -Verse 22, AMP

And he said Cornelius your prayer has being heard and harkened to, and your donation to the poor have been known and preserved before God [so that he heeds and is about to help you - Verse 31, AMP

In the first two of the passages above the character and disposition of Cornelius' heart towards God and people are described. Here we see that Cornelius was devout, he venerated God and treated Him with reverential obedience. It was on the basis of this mindset or attitude that he “gave much alms to the poor and prayed continually to God. Cornelius' objective was not to “sow seed for a harvest” but to worship God. He was a wealthy and very influential man and was most likely not “sowing” money for more money. He had a heart for God. His heart, which was the foundation for his giving, got God's attention.

Peter in judging the 'Cornelius' episode declared:

..."In truth, I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him -Act 10:34-35, NKJV.

Secondly, there are many things that happen naturally. God gives rain to the just and the unjust as well. There are blessings that will naturally fall on all men whether they are righteous or wicked. If you sow, you will reap, whether you expect to reap or not.

There are women who have thrown fresh tomato waste at the back of their kitchens, and because that backyard had good soil to grow plants, the tomato seeds germinated, began to grow and produce fruit right in that backyard. It did not matter if the women were wicked or righteous. Results do not necessarily always prove a man or woman to be of God or sent by Him.

It is the characteristic of false men of God that the things they do “in the name of God” are for self-gain and aggrandisement. Their god is their belly. Consequently, they have become swindlers using trickery and sometimes fetish means to blindfold and fleece unsuspecting and ignorant people.

But is it not also true that, beyond ignorance, the “bless me” culture in the church has equally developed a spirit of greed among many people that makes them easy prey for gimmickry?

Recently in a meeting, as I was speaking along the lines of biblical giving and receiving and mentioned some of the gimmicks of these men, a lady exclaimed in Pidgin English, “Hey! Dis people don take us chop mugu!” A euphemism for “These people have fooled and swindled us”.

Indeed, God really “helped” Cornelius. He was devoted to God, he gave alms to the poor, but the most important thing was missing in his life, his soul was not redeemed. God's action was 'in answer to prayer;' and if asking Peter to take the Gospel of salvation to this man, then that must have been his constant request or desire: That God should save his soul.

God ordered the gospel to be brought to Cornelius and his household. Cornelius never approached God flaunting his giving or tithing credentials, as a reason for which God ought to bless him.

Cornelius did not serve God for what he could get from God in material terms, nor was he giving so that he would reap a financial blessing. Such an attitude often comes from a 'lack-mentality'. We need this, so we need to sow that! People now approach God as though He owes them something that He must pay!

In contrast to Cornelius' attitude is that of the Pharisees, full of themselves and their assumed closeness to God (Matt 6:2, 5, 7, 16; 15:8-9):

Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God I thank You that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all I possess'. And the tax collector standing afar off, would not so as much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast saying' 'God be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other, for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted  -Luke 18:10.

 Did you notice, Jesus said that the Pharisee “prayed with himself?” “Father-God I'm a faithful tither. You must bless me". You, who? No! We are recipients God's mercy and grace; we have been engrafted into a covenant through the blood of Jesus Christ, in which God has obligated Himself to our well-being, to bless us. And we are blessed!

When the Philippians sent an offering to the Apostle Paul, God supplying their own needs was not what was on their minds, but care for Paul. They considered Paul's needs and out of their own necessity they gave. They were neither mandated nor cajoled to sow a “prophets offering”.

Also, Paul received their gift because he had their well-being in mind, “that it would abound to their account”. This was mutual love in action: The grace of giving and receiving.

E. W. Kenyon aptly defined grace as “love in action.” The Philippians gave with the heart to bless Paul, not for themselves to reap a harvest, and Paul received from them so that they would be blessed and have much more.

Philippians 4:19 is a prayer by Paul in response to the generous attitude of the Philippians, who out of their own necessity gave out of love and not because they were needy (and they were) or desired a “breakthrough”.

Giving is God's character. “He gave His only begotten Son”. His Son gave His life and sent us the Holy Spirit. The first and foremost thing God gave us is His life (Himself). Then when we have freely and willingly embraced Him, He withholds nothing from us.

He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus and given us all things that pertain to life and godliness not because we give tithes and offerings (normal or special), but because of what Christ has accomplished. He made that choice on His own because He loved us.

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? -Romans 8:32.

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust -2 Peter 1:3-4.

You cannot cajole or bribe God. To attempt to bribe God is to ridicule His integrity and for a person to want to purchase His gifts is to violate His character.

God is light and in Him is no darkness at all... neither is there any shadow of turning in Him (1 John 1:5; James 1:17).

 God is not for sale, nor His gifts, graces and blessings. They can neither be bought nor sold. The anointing is not for sale, nor ministry gifts, callings and bishoprics available to the highest bidder. He is not into trade by batter (or by cash).

The kingdom of God is not for sale. Anyone who trades God's gifting, offices, anointing, or healing and deliverance is a criminal. 'Selling' the gifts of God to you, he places a curse both on himself and upon his clients (actually victims) that purchase from him.

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money -Acts 8:18-20.

These men are “clouds without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withers, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots (Jude 12). 

They are all about “results” but zero on “fruit”; they promise heaven on earth, instead they produce a parched earth and barrenness in the lives of people that follow and venerate them. “Papa”, Daddy, Yes sir! Yes, sir!” But it is all emptiness.

We have a situation today where all manner of prayers, special anointing and 'anointed products' are up for grabs “for a special offering (or faith-seed) of N10,000.” There are special prayers that will not be said unless a certain amount of money is 'sown' or an 'offering' befitting the status of the 'man of God' is first delivered. The bigger the “seed” the more readily available the “man of God” will be, and the more 'powerful' the prayers.

Meanwhile, those that do not have the requisite cash are left in limbo. Such do not qualify for special prayers. The 'bishop' will not visit their homes. He has more important engagements. Lesser mortals can visit those poor ones. The “gold coin” is in the mouth of the big fish.

But it is a curse to think that the gifts of God may be purchased with money. A dear sister once told me of a case in her church. A young man told her that he was going to become a deacon within that year. And she asked him, “How will that be?” He replied that all he needed to do was to “pay his dues”. He did, and he was made a deacon that year.

Child of God, God's health, wealth, and wisdom are your privileges. His gifts, His graces and all that Christ has fully paid for and made available belong to you even if you do not have a dime. Trading and merchandising gifts, callings and the blessings of God with money is not a kingdom principle. In the kingdom,

Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find; knock and the door shall be opened unto you. For he that asks, receives; he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks, the door will be opened -Matthew 7:7-11.

In the kingdom, your relationship is with the Father-God, not with a godfather who you have to “settle” (pay off) to protect or help you prosper. Leadership ought not to be for sale.

Today many people give only with the expectation that they would some time or somehow receive from those to whom they have given. “Today I scratch your back, tomorrow you scratch mine”.

But Jesus says, if you give only to those from whom you expect to receive, what thank have you? Even the heathen (sinners) do that. (Luke 6:32-34). In other words, there should be a difference between the reasons we give and the reasons unbelievers do. Ours should be much more altruistic.

Jesus often used earthly or natural illustrations to explain the principles of the kingdom. He did this to help people understand His message, but we build doctrines around the illustrations and dump the kingdom principles.

Simply Saved

Over the years as a Christian, I have had the privilege of sharing my faith with several people on a one-on-one basis. 

(By the way, if you are a Christian, I believe there is a degree of joy and level of maturity in the faith you may never experience, except in the regular practice of sharing your faith with others. However, you need to be filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit to be an effective witness. The Holy Spirit makes the Word you speak alive. He is the one that brings conviction to a person’s heart- See Acts 1:8; Mk 16:15-20). 

Usually, after establishing a friendly rapport with the person I want to share the gospel with, I would want to find out if the person is a Christian. I could ask if he was a Christian, otherwise, I could ask, “If you were to die now are you sure of where you would be going?” In many cases, some would say, “Yes I'm going to heaven. I'm a Christian because I go to church and I do not do bad things.” Some others would hinge their assurance on a 'Christian' pedigree. Saying, “Since my parents are Christians, I am a Christian also.” 

Such statements might be socially and religiously acceptable, but God’s Word, which is the final authority on issues of the Christian faith, does not agree with such positions. The Bible is very clear about how a person can become a Christian or a child of God.

As simply as possible, I would kindly try to explain that, from the Biblical perspective, salvation has nothing to do with one’s personal goodness or holiness, or our parentage. 

Salvation is not based on Christ plus your good works, but faith in Christ alone. Becoming a Christian or being saved from sin is wholly a function of the redemptive work of Christ. That is, of what Christ did for us from the cross to the throne.  

And so God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favour and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through Christ Jesus. God saved you by his special favour when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it -Eph 4:7-9, NLT.

The Bible likens becoming a child of God to a rebirth, “They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan—this rebirth comes from God (John 1:13 NLT). Or as another translation puts it, “They were not God’s children by nature or because of any human desires. God himself was the one who made them his children” (CEV).

Birth is usually the product of someone’s seed (sperm). The word of God is likened to such a seed that is capable of reproducing life:

Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’ 1 Peter 1:23-25

“Now this is the word, which by the gospel is preached.” Becoming a child of God is through the incorruptible seed of the Word of God. The seed of man is corruptible and subject to fading away. Also is its offspring. But the seed of God abides forever. 

Salvation is about God’s unmerited favour.

Let us suppose that you get to the gates of heaven and are asked why you should be granted entry. If you said that your reason is that you go to church and you do not do bad things, you are indirectly saying that the blood of Christ is not necessary or adequate for your salvation. As a result, you will be liable to split hell wide open. Without Christ and Christ alone, no one can be saved. Not even the Pope! Salvation is God’s unmerited favour. It is a gift to humanity.

The word to save is derived from an Old Testament Hebrew word that carries the connotation of help, healing, deliverance, prosperity, victory, and rescue and to defend, to free or to bring succour, and to save. It is used in different contexts to carry these meanings. The New Testament Greek equivalent carries the same connotation. 

There is an interesting narrative in the Bible that buttresses this point. It is an event recorded in Acts chapter 3. Peter and John went to the Temple at the time of prayer. At the temple gate called Beautiful, they meet a man lame from birth, a beggar who asked them for alms. Peter responds, ‘we do not have silver or gold, but we give you what we have,’ “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” The man was healed and it caused no small stir. 

What I want you to pick out in this story is the statement Peter made, “Why look so intently at us as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk” (v12). Furthermore, he states that it is “His (Jesus') name and faith in His name that made this man strong… faith through His name has given him this perfect soundness” (v16). 

Peter is saying here, ‘it is not through our (Peter and John) power, goodness or holiness that this man got healed, but through the name of Jesus and faith in His name.’ 

You can only depend on “the incredible wealth of God's favour and kindness towards us”, and believe in the name of Jesus for your salvation, help, healing, deliverance, prosperity, victory, and rescue; to defend you, to free and bring you succour, and to save you. Because,

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved -Acts 4:12.

One of the lies Satan tells believers, especially if they have sinned, is that they are not worthy to receive anything from God. You may not be worthy in yourself (none of us is), but you are worthy in Christ to receive the benefits and privileges of salvation.  

It is “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life -Titus 3:5-7. 

This is what it means to be simply saved. The way you received forgiveness for your sin is the same way you receive victory, healing, deliverance, help, and prosperity; it is through faith in His name. 

Another falsehood the devil perpetrates is the situation in which lots of people are made to purchase all sorts of bands- armbands, leg bands, amulets, holy water and other paraphernalia to get breakthroughs in their lives in the name of resisting the devil or causing witches and wizards to die. 

Through covetousness, they make merchandise of God’s people demanding various sums of money or payments for various types of prayers and blessings.

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not -2 Peter 2:3, KJV.

But you cannot purchase the gifts or blessings of God with money.

But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! -Acts 8:20.

There is simplicity in Christ from which you must not be derailed unto peril.

But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! -1 Cor 11:3-4

They subject people to all manner of doctrines and prayers inspired by demons and cause suspicion, strife and enmity between people and their neighbours, friends, co-workers and even family members and loved ones, who in the long run loose the peace of God and allow demons into their lives and homes. Let us be careful, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Cor 14:33). 

Concerning them who preach another gospel apart from the gospel of God’s grace, Paul says:

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed -Gal 1:8-9.

It is time to run the devil out of your life and the lives of your loved ones, in the name of Jesus, and through faith in His name. Be simply healed. Be simply helped. Be simply delivered. Be simply prospered. Claim your victory in Christ Jesus. Be simply saved.

If you are not born again, I would say it a thousand times -God is not counting your sins against you because Christ has paid for your sins. (see 2 Cor 5:19) Simply have faith in that Wonderful Name, Jesus, for your salvation and the forgiveness of your sins.

 

The Essence of Salvation

What is the essence of salvation? What is the reason for the New Birth? The primary purpose of salvation is not to miss hell. That is a by-product. 

The essence of the new birth is that we would have eternal life. Eternal life is not going to heaven or living forever, though it has those benefits or elements. Eternal life is the God-Life; it is having an intimate knowledge and relationship with God as His very own child, which is manifested in you being like Christ in this life, bringing glory to the Father. 

God is love (See 1 John 4:7,16). Knowing and having God is knowing and having love.

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent -John 17:3.

Eternal life is having the life of God in you, or better still, God Himself living in you, such that you are complete in Him. Nothing missing! Nothing broken! Complete in Him!  

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power -Col 2:9-10.

Do you have eternal life, or are you just playing church and practising Christian religion or Pentecostal religiosity? It is time to get LIFE and live it. Let no man entangle you again with any yoke of bondage. 

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage -Gal 5:1. 

The gospel is simple. It is the power of God unto salvation (help, healing, deliverance, prosperity, victory, and rescue, defence, freedom, and succour). Salvation from God through Jesus Christ is full, free and simple. 

Romans 1:16-17 states:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” 

 

How You Can Receive Salvation

Salvation is a gift from God. What do you do when you are offered a gift? Either you receive (accept) it or refuse (reject) it. Romans 10:9-10 states, how you can receive salvation: 

 The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

First you must sincerely believe (have faith in) God’s Word (testimony) in your heart. 

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures -1 Cor 14:2-4.

Secondly, you must confess the Lord Jesus. The word ‘confess’ is from the compound Greek Word ‘homologeo’ which means the same word. It implies to assent, i.e. covenant, and acknowledge: confess or profess; confession is made, give thanks, promise. 

It implies that with your mouth you acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus over your life and with gratitude give your covenant promise in agreement with God’s Word that Jesus is (your) Lord. Your heart and speech should be in agreement with the Word of God concerning Jesus Christ, and His promises.

 

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