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Click on the picture to download the actual health care bill.

There are many people who are greatly troubled by the new health care reform bill passed by our Congress. It doesn’t matter what side of the political spectrum you fall on, concern still runs high. Some believe that the health care bill does not go far enough to protect those who are uninsured, others believe that the burden upon the American system will be too great causing an overall collapse, and there are those who leaves that this move towards socialized medicine is a precursor to the end of the traditional American life.

Any of these arguments may be true or true in part and, as a citizen of the United States of America, it is our right, privilege, and duty to vote our conscience when the time comes. There is however, a higher calling then being an American. That is the privilege of being a Christian. One day the heavens and the earth will pass away and all that will remain is the kingdom of God. Republican, Democrat, Green party, Libertarian, Socialist, and any other political affiliation or ideology that one may profess will no longer matter on that great day when Jesus Christ returns for his bride.

As a Christian there are some things we need to come to really understand and accept. The following are a few of them:

1 – There are some things that must happen for the plan of God to come to pass, and many of these things are unpleasant. Matthew 24:6-7 tells us that there will be wars and rumors of wars, but then it says, “See that you are not troubled; for all the things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” These things must come to pass and they must occur prior to the actual end of time. Matthew then goes on to say, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilence, and earthquakes in various places.” None of these things are pleasant, but all of them must happen. If we as the body of Christ do not settle in our minds that these things will happen and fact must happen in order for the second coming of Christ to occur then our remaining years upon this earth will be ones of frustration, anxiety, and fear none of which are of God. If the people of God are going to be strong and do exploits as Daniel 11:32 tells us then we cannot operate outside of the power of God. So, we must understand and accept that these things are going to happen.

2 – There will be the revelation of the Antichrist and false prophet. Revelations 13:11 says, “then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.” This is in reference to the false prophet and we see in verse 12 that the false prophet gives credibility to the antichrist, “and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.”
I know Christians who spend time and energy trying to figure out ways to halt the revelation of the Antichrist and false prophet. You cannot stop this revelation from occurring. If anything in Scripture is accurate then this point in Scripture is accurate. No matter what your view is regarding when Christ is returning (pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, or post-tribulation) the revelation of the Antichrist and false prophet must come to pass for all to be fulfilled.

3 – There will be those who are martyred because they will not worship the beast/antichrist. Revelations 13:15 tells us, “He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.” There will be those who will not worship the beast and they will be martyred.
When speaking of the great harlot, Babylon the Great, the writer John says, “I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.” John was amazed by the site he saw which tells us that his vision was intense. This was a big deal. It was not something that anyone would desire to be a part of, but it will take place.
This is tough language, but until the body of Christ accepts this as the predetermined reality by virtue of biblical prophecy we will be sidetracked by the cares of this world instead of being focused on the Father’s business. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. He did not come to save his own life, but to give it. Our focus cannot effectively be on the preservation of life as we know it and on the Father’s business at the same time. We must make a choice.

4 – The power of the Antichrist and false prophet will not continue forever. Their power will last for seven years at most. Many biblical scholars interpret the Scripture to say that the first 3 1/2 years of their time of power will be peaceful, but the second 3 1/2 years will be the time of turmoil for the people of God. No matter how you look at it their authority will be cut off in a relatively short time.
We do know how their authority ends. The Scripture reveals that Jesus Christ will return and defeat the forces of the Antichrist with the power of his Word. We also know what the final end of the antichrist will be. Revelations 20:1-2 says, “then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the Dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a 1000 years.” This is a passage of Scripture that I am in the habit of reading to the devil. My father taught me that and I will teach it to my sons. I know where he’s going and so does he. Satan loses.

5 – This is the hope of the Christian as an individual and as a whole…the hope of the church. While fearing these things may be the natural response to this spiritual reality, it is completely counterproductive. It is like a person who is guaranteed that they will win the lottery being afraid of the reading of the numbers. A person assured of their win may be nervous, but it is a nervousness stemming from their excitement versus their fear.
First Corinthians 15:51-52 says, “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed.”
This is what we’re looking for, what we’re waiting for, what we are longing for, and what we are praying for. All of these things must occur, but the ultimate outcome is the rapture of the church, the eternal punishment of the devil and his angels, and the church living eternally with Christ. A short time of trouble in exchange for eternity in Heaven seems to me to be an incredible opportunity.

6 – We have an obligation to comfort one another. First Thessalonians 4:16-18 says, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an Archangel, and with the trump of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” If we are speculating about the worst-case scenarios, strategizing about how to stop the progression of prophecy, or spreading fear by speaking doubt into the lives of those around then we are not following the mandate of Scripture.
I won’t take the space to explain each part of this, but the job of the church is to build, uplift, and encourage itself, the body of Christ as a whole, and the world around it. We are commanded to comfort one another by talking about the second coming of Jesus Christ and the rapture of the church.

Am I saying that this bill is a major step toward the Second Coming of Christ? Not necessarily. I am saying that while some (myself at times) become emotionally attached to a political or social ideal, there is a much greater picture which as a Christian, must be our primary focus. If you can’t think about the health care issue without losing your righteous influence in the lives of people who disagree with you on the subject…drop health care and pick up the Word.

So what should the response of the Christian be to the health-care bill passed by Congress?
It should be:

1 – Be always in prayer for our leaders and for their voting decisions
2 – When the time comes, vote your conscience
3 – Allow your Christianity to guide your politics and DON’T allow your politics to influence your Christianity
4 – Understand and become comfortable with the reality that there will be things (both good and bad) that must take place in order for the plan of God to be acted out (this may or may not be one of them)
5 – Refuse to spread fear and only speak in faith. This doesn’t mean, “Don’t have any conversations in which you disagree with the other party.”, but remember your influence in the realms of the Spirit is far more important than convincing them of your position on health care
6 – Encourage all in the revelation of salvation through Christ and His imminent return

God Rewards Those Who Diligently Seek For Him

Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

The first man and woman to live on this earth had no problem believing in God. God created them and placed them on this earth in a garden where they enjoyed a perfect world. But sin came into their lives and with it a division was experienced between them and God. The fellowship they had enjoyed with God was no longer experienced. The intimacy of a daily conversation with God eventually became a faded memory. But the longing to have a relationship with God never left their minds and spirits. The early inhabitants of this earth knew of the power of God, and they wanted His power and presence to make a difference in their lives, even though they were sinners.

The Bible records the beginnings of humanity reaching out to God while living in sin this way:

Genesis 4:25-26 (NCV)

25 Adam had sexual relations with his wife Eve again, and she gave birth to a son. She named him Seth and said, “God has given me another child. He will take the place of Abel, who was killed by Cain.” 26 Seth also had a son, and they named him Enosh. At that time people began to pray to the Lord.
[1]
But just like today, not everyone on earth at that time prayed to God. Some chose to reject God and His Word to them. Eventually whole groups of people became ignorant about the Creator from the stand point of having a personal relationship with Him. But they were surrounded with evidence that God existed.

Everywhere they looked they could see evidence about the existence of God. As they looked at the stars of the heavens, something in them responded to what they saw with an affirmation that God existed. As they observed the way the earth produced crops in response to rain, the vastness of the ocean, the movement of snakes upon the ground, the flight of birds in the air, and the seasons of life, they couldn’t help but come to the conclusion there was a God who was the author of all things. Creation itself was simply too intricate, wonderful, organized, and complex to not have divine origins.
In their hearts they longed to know the God who brought all of this into being.

A man named Paul spoke about the Creator, this searching of humanity for a relationship with God, the possibility of each person having a relationship with God, and the fact we are sustained by the power of God on a daily basis.

Acts 17:26-28a (NIV)

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28′For in him we live and move and have our being.’

This belief that God exits has caused many people to turn to God for help in life. They have discovered the limits of friendships. They have found family to be ineffective even though they knew they were loved. They observed that the governments of the world cannot produce or provide what is needed. The medical field is a blessing to humanity but there are many things they do not understand or have ability to deal with. Many people have discovered human relationships, including marriage, cannot answer all the needs of the very people involved in them.

The wisdom and power needed to solve the issues of life for humanity cannot be found in any aspect of creation itself. The only source of wisdom and power to solve the issues of life for humanity is the Creator Himself.

Somewhere in your life you are going to come up against an obstacle in your health, the direction of your life, the morality of your choices, and the very battle for your soul, where you will need the touch of the divine. Sooner or later you are going to realize you need the wisdom of God, you need the power of God, if you are going to experience a difference in your life.

The Bible declares Jesus is God with a human form. When news about the wisdom and power of Jesus became published in the area where he was helping people, hope came into the hearts of those with desperate needs.

Jesus has the wisdom and power to make a difference when the medical profession has reached its limits.

Mark 5:25-29 (NIV)

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

This woman believed in God, but she also believed God would make a difference in her life. And she was rewarded for her faith.

There were people in the Bible who trusted in the wisdom and power of God to give them direction in life.

Judges 6:36-40 (NIV)
Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised- 37 look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” 38 And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.

39 Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew.” 40 That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

After this demonstration from God that God was involved in the future of Gideon, this man trusted God to give him victory over the massive armies of the enemy with a very small army under his own command.

This man believed in God, but he also believed the wisdom and power of God would make a difference in his life. And he was rewarded for his faith.

A king in the Bible named David fell into sin at times in his life. He lied, he committed adultery, and he murdered.

But David believed in God, and he had faith God could make a difference in his sinful life and heart.

Psalm 51:1-11 (NIV)

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts ;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;   wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

At times parents have come to the end of their resources for help with the problems found in the lives of their children. Sometimes those problems involve the evil spirits which are found in our world. Sometimes children are overcome with demons, and the only cure which will work is found in the wisdom and power of God.

Matthew 15:21-28 (NIV)

21Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.”

23Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

25The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

26He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”

27″Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

28Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

This woman believed in God, and that God would make a difference in her child’s life. And God rewarded her faith.

If you want eternal life, you must believe God exists, and that He will reward those who diligently seek Him for eternal life.

Jesus told us what to do if we want the reward of eternal life and salvation from sins, instead of experiencing eternal death due to our sins. The effort of doing whatever it takes to be saved is more important than working for physical food, because our souls are eternal.

John 6:27-29 (NIV)
27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

28Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

29Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Jesus was speaking about himself in this teaching about obtaining eternal life.

Other places in the Bible tell us to believe on Jesus Christ for salvation.

Acts 16:25-33 (NIV)
25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. 27The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.

The short phrase “Believe in the Lord Jesus” carries the thought of believing everything about Jesus which is true according to the Bible.

Jesus is God made known to humanity through a human body. Jesus lived a sinless life. Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins and to set us free from the power of sin in our lives. Jesus was buried after he died, but he rose from the dead three days later, and is alive today. Jesus will forgive us for our sins if we ask him to. The Bible calls this the Good News about Jesus because it is God’s answer for sin and God’s way of providing eternal life for us.

Believing these truths is the only thing that will work if we want eternal life.

When we believe in Jesus, there is a right response to this message. Our faith in these truths will cause us to do whatever Jesus said we should do.

Jesus said repentance and remission of sins were to be preached in his name in all the world.

Putting our faith in Jesus requires us to turn from all that is sinful. If we are truly sorry for the sins in our lives, we will change our lives. The Biblical term for this is to repent. We must repent from lying, from immoral lifestyles, from getting drunk, from sexual sins, from perverted thoughts, from idolatry, from occult activities, and jealousy if we want eternal life. We cannot fill our eyes, ears, and minds with nudity, profane speech, and other forms of ungodly living through our entertainment, reading material, and recreation if we believe on Jesus.

All who believe in Jesus are to be baptized in his name for the remission of their sins. Jesus commanded this, the apostles preached it, and all who truly believe in Jesus will have no problem with this command or obedience to it.

I have no doubt you believe God exists because you have joined us today in this church setting. But do you believe God will reward you for diligently, or earnestly, seeking Him for the answers you need?

Do you believe God will help you with whatever it is you need Him for?

Do you need healing for your body? Do you need direction in your life? Do you need forgiveness for sin? Does your child need to be set free from the demons of meth, depression, or alcohol? Do you need God to help you with your finances?

God is real. God exits. And God will help you with whatever it is that you need Him for in life. As you sincerely, as you diligently, seek for God’s wisdom and power to be active in your situation, you will experience healing, direction, salvation, and help from God.

[1]  The Holy Bible : New Century Version , Containing the Old and New Testaments. Dallas, TX : Word Bibles, 1991

Mark 8:31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

How should a Christian relate to Good Friday? I get this question every year. There are many different traditions in the world and understanding where we fit is important.

The Catholic church has many rituals participated in on this day as do several other major religious groups. Where do we fit in?

I hope to answer these questions in the following video. It is a short explanation of Good Friday and where we fit.

I pray it is a blessing to you.

Legacy Praise Team

Legacy will be participating in the fundraiser being held on Kona Pier on Saturday the 27th (This Saturday). Sonlight Ministries has put the program together and asked us to be a part.
The event will begin at 10:30 AM and conclude at 6 PM. Legacy will be playing and singing between 1:30 & 2:00 PM. If you would like to support your praise team, enjoy a time of fellowship, and help the people of Haiti…join us. We would love to see you there!

Matthew 4:18-19 (KJV)

18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. [1]

When those who belong to Jesus hear his voice speaking to them, they follow him. There is a response to what He calls us to do and become. Following Jesus involves more than simply walking with him. Following Jesus also involves becoming a disciple of Jesus and becoming like Jesus.

John 10:27 (KJV)

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: [2]

If we are going to follow Jesus, nothing else can be more important in life.

Matthew 19:16-21 (KJV)

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. [3]

Following Jesus involves self denial and death on a daily basis. It is not enough to have begun well. We must also continue well in the present. Past accomplishments are not enough, nor are well intentions concerning the future. We only have today to deny ourselves and follow Jesus.

Luke 9:23 (KJV)

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. [4]

Those who truly serve Jesus are those who follow him. This serving Jesus and following him will lead to an eternal destiny with Jesus and honor from the heavenly Father.

John 12:26 (KJV)

26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
[5]
When we follow Jesus it is natural to want others to follow him also, and we will speak to others about Jesus.

John 1:43-45 (KJV)

43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. 44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. [6]

Those who follow Jesus understand that there are sacrifices to be made, and priorities to be set, as they follow Jesus.

Matthew 8:18-22 (KJV)

18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. 19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
[7]
Those who follow Jesus make mistakes at times. But this does not mean God rejects them or His call upon their lives. Jesus still has a plan for those he calls to follow him even when they fall short of where they would like to be, have deep regrets, and thoughts about going back to what they were doing before Jesus put his call upon their lives.

After Peter was called to follow Jesus he did his best to do it right. The night Jesus was betrayed Peter had a sword in his hand to fight in defense of the Lord. Yet hours later he was cursing as he denied being a follower of Jesus. The Bible says Peter went out into the night and wept bitterly after his denial of Jesus. Deep regret flooded over his spirit due to what he had done.

After Jesus was crucified Peter went back to fishing. He went back to the old familiar ways he had known before he started following Jesus. Others joined Peter in his fishing expedition. Peter was destined to be a man of influence. At that moment he was influencing others to think about going back to the old ways. The Lord did not let Peter and the others go far in their return to the old ways. He met them on the seaside, revealed himself to them, and renewed his call upon their lives. He did this in a very personal way with Peter.

John 21:15-19 (KJV)

15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. 19 † This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.[8]

Jesus wants you to follow him until the day you die. Don’t let mistakes of the past and regrets about yesterday keep you from re-committing your self to following Jesus. He still has a plan for those he called to follow him, even though they may have stumbled in the process.

[1]  The Holy Bible : King James Version. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995

[2]  The Holy Bible : King James Version. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995

[3]  The Holy Bible : King James Version. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995

[4]  The Holy Bible : King James Version. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995

[5]  The Holy Bible : King James Version. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995

[6]  The Holy Bible : King James Version. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995

[7]  The Holy Bible : King James Version. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995

†  A Greek word occurs that is not directly translated in the King James Version.

Greek Strongs: 1161

[8]  The Holy Bible : King James Version. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995

God's Promises are Yes and Amen. That means it’s Guaranteed

For the past several weeks Legacy has been conducting an exercise in the realms of spiritual authority. If you have been to Legacy at any time, you know that it takes us just moments to receive God’s tithes and our offerings. For the past few weeks however, we have been taking a little bit longer. Not long enough to make anyone uncomfortable or to put anyone under pressure to give, but a little longer because of the experiment that we are conducting. We are putting God to the test.

There is a promise in Scripture, a covenant between God and Is people. This covenant is in the realm of finance. God said, “If you give unto me what I require then I will give unto you what you require. I will supply your needs.” When we don’t give to God what He asks of us, He says, “You have stolen from me.” The Scripture reference is Malachi 3:6. We know that the curse of the law has been fulfilled in Christ. Since the curse related to tithing did not come into place until the law, the curse related to tithing is no longer in effect, but the blessing related to obedience has never been repealed. This allows us the ability to enjoy the promises related to tithing while still being free from the curse of the law. To fear the curse is to make the sacrifice of Christ ineffective.

At Legacy we’ve been taking time during our tithe and offering section of the service to speak about the promise. Malachi 3:10 says, “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the line failed to bear fruit for you in the field,’ says the Lord of hosts.”
God said if you bring the tithe into my house, I will pour blessing into your life. This is the only promise where He tells us to prove Him or test Him. There are two things that we need to recognize.

- First, this is a promise made by God. I did not write the book, you did not write the book, God wrote the book. It is His promise in His words.
- Second, the challenge is His. I have not challenged God, you have not challenged God, God has challenged God. Our part is to believe and participate. His part is to bring forth the blessing when we obey.

During each offering at Legacy we pray simple prayer saying, “God, there are people here who are giving out of plenty. You have blessed them, and they have been good stewards of what you’ve given, and they give out of thanks, obedience, and faith. Thank you for these and continue to bless them. There are other people however, who are giving out of lack. They do not have enough and struggle to make ends meet. Still they give. They give out of obedience, out of thanks for what you have provided, and they give in faith. Your Word has given us the privilege of putting you to the test and we do that right now. God, we put you to the test as we bring your tithe and our offering before you. In Jesus name, fulfill Your promise.”

God is proving Himself faithful to His Word! Each week for the past three weeks we’ve received reports of people receiving job offers, receiving unanticipated financial blessings, and having jobs stabilize when they thought for sure they were going to be let go. I received a call today with two more testimonies of God’s awesome power at work. He is proving Himself. Are you trusting Him? Are you participating in His plan? Are you putting Him to the test? If you are not, the only one losing is you. There are not many things one can count on in this world, but the promises of God are always, “Yes and amen, to the glory of God through us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)

In this time of global economic uncertainty, the only certainty to be found is in Christ. Jesus fulfilled the law causing the penalty of the law to no longer be in effect, but our failure to experience the blessing of obedience can only be linked to our decision to participate in His plan or not. Participate and see the salvation of the Lord!

God has given a special gift of encouragement to some members in the family of God.

Romans 12:1-8 (NIV)

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Every believer should offer the whole of their lives to God as an act of worship. Part of this “spiritual act of worship” is discovering the gifts God has placed in us, and using them to bring Him glory as we serve God by ministering to each other.

The world promotes selfishness and the mindset of being a master over others. But when we offer the whole of our lives to God as a spiritual act of worship, we discover his good, pleasing, and perfect will for our lives involves selfless serving of others with the gifts God has given us.

In order for us to exercise our gifts and minister to others, we must discover the gifts God has given us, and be realistic about ourselves. When we are honest about our gifts we will know our abilities and limitations. These gifts are not the result of intense prayers, or something to be received from God when we have reached a certain level of spiritual maturity. These gifts are resident within each of us as part of God’s plan for our lives, and His equipping us to fulfill that plan.

For this reason Paul urges us to be humble in exercising our gifts. We should never have exaggerated ideas of our own importance. Neither should we belittle and demean ourselves, failing to accept and appreciate the value of the way God has created and gifted us. God is wise in his distributing of gifts, and for this reason we should not be envious of others. Rather, we should realize that each person is unique and that we all have an important function to perform for our Lord. We should be happy with the placeGod has appointed to us in the Body, and we should seek to exercise our gifts with all the strength that God supplies.

One clue in discovering your gift is observing what God has enabled you to do and the desires you have in life. The gifts of prophecy and teaching involve communication skills and a lack of fear about having others focus on you. In order for you to contribute to the needs of others with finances you must have financial resources at your disposal. If you have more than enough money to meet your own needs, and you have the freedom to make decisions concerning the disbursement of those funds, you may have the gift of contributing towards the needs of others. Those with this gift need to exercise it with generosity. If you possess management skills, God will use you in a position of leadership.

In this list of gifts Paul mentions encouragement. All of us can and should be encouraging others. But it appears that God has given some people a gift of encouragement, and this gift is of great value in helping others discover and develop their own gifts.

Let’s look in scripture at a man who had this gift and see this gift in action through his life.

When most of us hear the name Joseph we think of parental favoritism, sibling rivalry, slavery, reversal of circumstances, famine, and restored relationships concerning a son of Jacob. Or when we hear the name Joseph we may think of the story about the birth of Jesus, and the man God chose to raise His only begotten Son on this earth. But there is another man named Joseph found in scripture which had a great impact on the New Testament church. You probably know him best by the name the apostles gave him after they observed his ministry. This man was from Cyprus. He was of the tribe of Levi. He was a generous and kind man, not afraid to do something others would not do.

Although he was a Levite, the first mention of this man in scripture depicts him selling land and giving the apostles the proceeds, even though the Levites had no land given to them by inheritance. This indicates an investment surrendered for the good of others.
In this Biblical account concerning his generous gift we find the new name the apostles gave to Joseph.

Acts 4:36-37 (NIV)

36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Joseph saw that some people had financial needs, and he wanted to encourage them in a tangible way. People with the gift of encouragement notice what is going on in the lives of others, and seek to stand by their side in a tangible manner when help is needed. When exercised, the gift of encouragement does more than speak in a soothing manner. It takes action and gets involved regardless of personal expense. Because he was gifted with encouragement, the apostles renamed Joseph. Throughout the rest of scripture this man is called Barnabas.

After Saul was converted to becoming a believer, it was Barnabas who stood alongside him when others were rejecting Saul. Barnabas saw a man who had a ministry to develop and a place to fulfill in the body of Christ. When others doubted the honesty of Saul, Barnabas let Saul know he believed him. Barnabas was willing to use his influence in the church and his access to the apostles to further the ministry of a man others did not accept. He personally got involved as he encouraged Saul’s ministry. Barnabas linked his life with Paul’s life. At a time when Saul felt alone, Barnabas let him know he was not alone. Barnabas had his own ministry. Acts 13:1 lists Barnabas among others who are identified as prophets and teachers in the New Testament church. Barnabas fearlessly linked his ministry with that of another man who was being viewed through skeptical eyes, and he encouraged Saul.

Acts 9:26-28 (NIV)

26When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

Barnabas had a sister named Mary whose home was used to further the ministry of the New Testament church. In fact, some believe it was her home which was used for the last supper the Lord had with his apostles before he was betrayed by Judas.

The reason her home is considered for this credit is the curious mention of a certain young man who ended up naked the night Jesus was betrayed.

Mark 14:48-51 (NIV)
48″Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” 50Then everyone deserted him and fled.

51A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

Only Mark tells of this incident. No other New Testament writer ever mentions this event. Many believe that this young man was Mark himself. It is thought that Mark became aware Jesus and the apostles were leaving the house, and he simply wrapped himself in the sheet he was resting in to follow them into the garden. He quickly lost this impromptu apparel when those who seized Jesus sought to lay hands on him also.

The home of Mary, the sister of Barnabas, was the place of prayer when Peter was thrown into prison. It was her home Peter went to when he was delivered from prison. Evidently he knew where the church would be gathered. Mary was very involved in hosting various ministers and church meetings in her home.

Acts 12:1-12 (NIV)

1It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 3When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
5So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

6The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

8Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

11Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.”

12When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.

With this account of an event in Peter’s life we discover another name for Mark was John.

If it is true that the home of Mark is where the last supper was held, this means Mark was exposed to the ministry of Jesus and the apostles through the hospitality and godly involvement of his mother in the lives of these men. We know for a fact that this relative of Barnabas had prayer meetings happening in her home, and the apostles were familiar with her residence.

It only stands natural that a young man with this exposure and familiarity with apostles, prophets, and teachers would find himself involved in their ministries. With an uncle like Barnabas encouraging you it would be hard to not go along with them if the opportunity presented itself to simply be a helper.

And this is exactly what Mark, or if you prefer John, did.

Acts 13:1-5 (NIV)

1In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

4The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

Mark at this point was no longer following the apostles at a distance wrapped in bed sheets, he was part of the team. He was sailing with uncle Barnabas the encourager back to Cyprus, the home town area of Barnabas. He no doubt looked forward to seeing relatives in Cyprus. Mark at this point was enjoying close association with the new rising star apostle, Paul.

But sometimes even though you have an encourager who is helping you discover and develop your ministry, you may be tempted to lay aside your ministry for a while when you discover that the ministry is work. This is what Mark did part way through the first missionary journey of Barnabas and Paul. The helper of Barnabas and Paul quit and did not continue working with them. And for this decision on Mark’s part, Paul did not want Mark to join them on a second missionary journey. Barnabas, on the other hand, wanted to give Mark a second chance. This disagreement caused Paul and Barnabas to go different directions with their ministries.

Acts 15:36-38 (NIV)

36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.

39They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

Sadly, no mention is found again in scripture where Barnabas and Paul worked together as the Holy Spirit had directed them.

But notice where the encourager took a young minister who had fallen out of favor with an elder. Barnabas took Mark with him to Cyprus where a group of relatives would surround them for a while. We are never told what happened in Cyprus to Mark under the leadership, influence, and encouragement of Barnabas, but the result was a developed ministry in the life of Mark.

The ministry of Mark became so effective that in time Paul no longer shunned Mark, but instead desired his companionship in ministry. In fact, Paul came to the place he promoted the ministry of Mark.

Colossians 4:10 (AMP)

10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner wishes to be remembered to you, as does Mark the relative of Barnabas. You received instructions concerning him; if he comes to you give him a [hearty] welcome.

2 Timothy 4:9-11 (NIV)

9Do your best to come to me quickly, 10for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

The prophet and teacher had another gift he was faithful to exercise. He had the gift of encouraging.

At personal expense, he used his finances to encourage others when they had needs.
Barnabas stood by Saul when the rest of the church in Jerusalem shunned him.
One of the greatest apostles and missionaries who has ever lived was touched by the encouragement of Barnabas. Paul also wrote numerous books in the New Testament.

Barnabas continued to invest himself into the life and ministry of his nephew Mark, even when other elders thought him a quitter. Mark also is an author of a New Testament book in the Bible.

As an encourager Barnabas made room for the development of other men’s ministries.

I find it interesting that although Barnabas and Paul went different directions over the issue of including Mark on a second missionary journey, and they never worked again together that we know of, when Barnabas was done influencing the ministry of Mark there was a reconciliation between Mark and Paul.

How easy it would have been for Barnabas to poison Mark against Paul, or to allow the hurt of being rejected to fester in the heart of Mark. But I don’t see either of these things happening as Barnabas took Mark with him to Cyprus for a special time of encouragement.

Are you someone who notices when another person needs a boost in life, and you have the means to make a difference? It could be that you have the gift of encouragement.

I doubt Barnabas knew when he began investing his resources and life into Saul and Mark that their ministries and pens would be so used by God as they were. I think he simply wanted to encourage them to do all they could for God, and to develop their ministries to their fullest potential.

If you have the gift of encouragement, be liberal with your encouragement. Who knows what the results may be?