Why Should It Matter How We Give?

IT MATTER HOW WE GIVE?

That’s a great question. We should know what Jesus’ teachings are for the New Testament church so that we can live holy and be without blame before Him in love. If one doctrine is corrupted, then another one will. That’s usually how things work in the spiritual realm.

In my early years in ministry, I attended a worldwide church, the teachings of which set me free in so many areas. However, there were other declarations that I sensed weren’t supported by Scripture. This caused me to be confused about how to handle certain issues.



What would a believer do if this were the case?

Bring it up to God the Father in prayer. If no direction is provided, go to a fellow believer you can confide in. Do additional study to make sure you have your spiritual ducks in order. Approach someone in leadership to discuss the matter if they’re approachable.

If you find yourself in this scenario, which I’m sure many believers have found themselves, this is an awkward place to be. If you stay in said church, you’re condoning whatever happens there. If you leave and other members are aware of your highly regarded spiritual walk, some will be confused, wondering why you’re no longer there. No church is perfect or one hundred percent correct in its theology. With that said, here’s a question to consider.



What are the characteristics of a church where God shows up and the teachings help the assembly of the saints grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ?

I have an article to read that will help us in this regard.



WHAT IS A SPIRIT-FILLED CHURCH AND THEIR BELIEFS?

A Spirit-filled church is one that is focused on the work of the Holy Spirit in its members and in the world. It is a church that seeks to be led by the Spirit and empowered by the Spirit to fulfill God’s mission in the world. The Spirit-filled church is committed to the centrality of the Holy Spirit in its life and ministry.

The Spirit-filled church believes that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and is present in the world today. It believes that the Spirit is working to bring about the will of God in the world and that we can cooperate with the Spirit’s work in our lives and in our churches. It believes that the Spirit empowers us to be witnesses of the gospel, to be agents of healing, and to serve as channels of God’s grace.

The Spirit-filled church believes that the Spirit’s presence is best experienced in corporate worship. The church seeks to create an atmosphere of worship that is Spirit-filled and Spirit-led. It strives to create a sense of openness to the Spirit’s work in the lives of its members. It also seeks to create an atmosphere of joy and celebration that is open to the Spirit’s presence.

The Spirit-filled church believes that the Spirit is the source of spiritual gifts such as prophecy, speaking in tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. The church seeks to foster an atmosphere of openness to the Spirit’s work in the lives of its members and encourages them to use their spiritual gifts in ministry.

The Spirit-filled Church believes in the power of prayer. It seeks to create an atmosphere of prayer that is open to the Spirit’s work. It encourages its members to pray for God’s will to be done in the world and for the Spirit’s power to be released in their lives.

The Spirit-filled church believes that the Spirit is at work in the world and in the church. It believes that the Spirit is active in the world today and that we can be part of the Spirit’s work. The church seeks to be a witness to the Spirit’s activity and to cooperate with the Spirit’s mission in the world.

The Spirit-filled church believes that the Spirit brings unity to the church. It believes that the Spirit unites the church in fellowship, service, and worship. The church seeks to be a living example of unity in the Spirit and a witness to the power of the Spirit in the world.

The Spirit-filled church believes that the Spirit is the source of spiritual discernment. It believes that the Spirit can help us discern between good and evil and can guide us in making wise decisions. The church seeks to be open to the Spirit’s guidance in its life and ministry.

The Spirit-filled church believes that the Spirit brings joy, peace, and hope. It believes that the Spirit is the source of joy and peace in our lives and that the Spirit can bring hope to those who are struggling. The church seeks to be a beacon of hope and a source of joy and peace in the world.

The Spirit-filled church is a church that seeks to be led by the Spirit and empowered by the Spirit to fulfill God’s mission in the world. It is a church that seeks to be open to the Spirit’s work in its life and ministry and to be a witness to the power of the Spirit in the world. 81

This is an essential read regarding how important the ministry of the Holy Spirit is in the corporate anointing of the assembling of the saints and the individual anointing of each believer. If a person doesn’t have the Spirit indwelling their body, then His ministry will be of no effect. I went to church for years and heard about the Holy Spirit but never experienced His presence and guidance.



Have you ever experienced God’s supernatural love, joy, and peace?

This is all about the highest form of giving, the sacrifice of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross, paying the debt of sin and canceling it, thus allowing those who repent of their sins to God the Father and believe in Christ to receive another member of the Trinity called the Holy Spirit, who will come to reside within and provide a new nature, an assurance of eternal life, and inner resources (spiritual blessings) so that the God they believe in will no longer be just a hope but a close friend that they can count on in their everyday lives.



Would you like God the Holy Spirit to come into your life?

If you do, please repeat the following words either silently or out loud.

I acknowledge that I’ve sinned in many areas, such as: slandering others; having sexual relations outside of marriage; being jealous; having participated in alcohol or drug abuse; having sex with others of the same gender; having committed adultery; having taken money from others in a deceitful manner; having committed rape; having engaged in pedophilia, having committed murder, etc.

I don’t want to continue in these mental, verbal, or overt sins. I need a new nature.

I believe in you, Jesus Christ, as one of the members of the Trinity, who pre-existed time, came to the earth, and took on the form of a man, being born of a virgin (no sin nature); God incarnate (God come in the flesh); deity (possessing a divine nature); lived a sinless life; listened to and obeyed the directives of His Father; went to the cross and paid for the penalty of and forgave the sins of the whole world; rose from the dead after three days, never to die again, walked the earth in His resurrection body for forty days witnessing to over five hundred people; and ascended into heaven to be seated at the right hand of God the Father.

If you said this prayer, then you’ve become a new person. God has come into your life and will begin to show Himself to you at various times and in different ways. Congratulations. Your spiritual journey has begun.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this study as much as I’ve had the opportunity to write about it. Regardless of your view, I interpreted the many verses using commentaries, lexicons, handbooks, etc. Hopefully, you’ll be aware of both sides of the coin regarding the protocols for financial giving in the New Testament church, and be able to determine which one is supported by Scripture, and incorporate it into your spiritual walk.

2 Corinthians 8:5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. NASB

No matter what situation comes before us, may we be like the believers in the church of Macedonia, who were asked to give financially for the support of the believers in the church at Jerusalem. What they did was first give themselves to the Lord, i.e., they sought out His will. God moved them to this, or that it was to be traced to [His] direction and providence.82 Likewise, may we seek God’s guidance in approving the manner of giving financially as believers in the body of Christ.



By the way, any money received from the sale of any of my books will go toward providing resources for different charitable ministries. Thank you for your support.



Endnotes

81Jonas Clark. “What is a Spirit-filled church and their beliefs?” 15 January 2025

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82Barnes’ Notes.