TEACHING

Don Atkin

GUIDELINES FOR SUPPORTING THE NEEDY

The price of food is soaring. The threat of hunger and malnutrition is growing. More than one billion people live on $1 a day or less. An effective and urgent response is needed. In 2000, world leaders took aim to reduce the proportion of hungry people by half by 2015.

The increasing availability of the Internet in Third World nations is resulting in multiplied requests for financial aid. The advent of Internet Cafes has opened a whole new world of possibilities, not only to those with genuine, often desperate needs, but also to the enterprising and the ambitious opportunists.

This is our challenge. We need the infrastructure that facilitates effectively functioning as a global body. We have come to an impasse through which only the kingdom of God may succeed.

The Holy Spirit is able to structure us to respond in righteous and practical ways. He is connecting us ~ not only for His glory, but for the common good of all. Feet are growing on the gospel ~ beautiful feet! The faithful and courageous are stepping up to the plate, not despising the days of small beginnings, and launching out with holistic ministry in response to Jesus’ model prayer,

Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. - Matthew 6:10.

The following guidelines contain some comprehensive implications which will connect practical aid to spiritual aim. These guidelines will also bring increasing understanding to those in the Third World who are making requests for financial aid.

I. OUR TESTIMONY SHOULD ACCOMPANY OUR GIVING.

"You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses unto Me." - Acts 1:8.

The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10). When we give our witness with our money, the glory for the giving is rightly placed, and there is a release of faith among the hearers.

Our testimony (witness of what Jesus is saying and/or doing) is a prophetic declaration that releases heaven into the earth realm. Jesus only did what He saw His Father doing (John 5:19). His spoken words were spirit and life (John 6:63). We are carriers of the Spirit. The kingdom of God is within us, and is given expression as we testify to what God is guiding us to do.

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT SHOULD GUIDE OUR GIVING.

You shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you. - Acts 2:38-39.

The very foundation of our testimony is our connection with the Father through the Holy Spirit. We see what the Father is doing, or hear what He is saying, and carry His liberating and life-giving words to others.

The Holy Spirit is in us for our own good, that we might walk in the Spirit and bear the fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit (anointing) is upon us for the good of others, that we might extend heaven’s atmosphere, and bring healing, deliverance and provision as He directs. The Holy Spirit is among us so that we may work together, and others may see Jesus in His multifaceted corporate expression.

Spirit-guided giving is far more than human charity. It is directly connected to kingdom expansion, because the Source is a greater focus than the substance.

III. PROPHETIC BLESSINGS ACCOMPANY OUR GIVING.

You are sons of the prophets . . . all the families of the earth shall be blessed. - Acts 3:24-25.

We are stewarding the trans-generational blessings of Abraham. This stewardship is not limited only to fellow-believers, but is to touch all the families of the earth. Money is a real attention-getter! The majority of hearts can be found in the midst of earthly treasures.

[This principle also operates in healing. Those who believe that healing is only for born-again believers miss the point. None of those whom Jesus healed were born again!]

Giving at God’s direction, accompanied by prophetic declarations, is one of the ways that God’s sons will demonstrate their glorious liberty and begin to set creation free from the bondage of corruption.

IV. ELIMINATING LACK IN THE BODY THROUGH OUR GIVING.

With great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked. - Acts 4:33-34a.

The believers, being of one heart and one soul was a contributing factor in eliminating lack. The testimony of the apostles was also huge. The powerful witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus released great grace upon them all.

There is a significant connection between prophetic testimony and the release of grace. In this case, there was (1) grace to part with valued material possessions, and (2) grace to give. This grace is to be a significant testimony of the community of faith in the midst of a world full of need and greed. There was also grace to trust God’s order:

They laid (the proceeds) at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. - Acts 4:35.

V. GOD REQUIRES TRUTHFULNESS IN GIVING.

Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit? - Acts 5:3.

The account of Ananias and Sapphira should strike fear into the hearts of any who would lie or manipulate in any way concerning the flow of finances or the way that we relate to His delegated authority.

Peter carried the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon him for the people. When Ananias and Sapphira lied to Peter, they were lying to the Holy Spirit! It cost them their lives. They had ownership and control of their possessions, and were not required to sell their property and give the proceeds. They could have given any part, and kept any part back. But they chose to give only part, but represent it as the whole.

Lying interrupts the flow of grace and destroys the testimony. Rebellion has the same negative effect. There is so much more to this than simply writing a check. God is looking into our hearts.

VI. GOD PROVIDES ORDERLY ADMINISTRATION FOR GIVING.

Seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. - Acts 6:3.

A. In our highly individualistic culture, with so many reserving the "right" to do their own thing, it is a significant challenge to simply and cheerfully bring our offerings and place them at the feet of those who are in authority. Apostles must honor the headship of Christ upon every individual. Individuals must honor the body and its God-ordained servant-leadership.

B. Apostles, and the elders whom they appoint, are carrying the testimony of Jesus, the spirit of prophecy. All believers are to become equipped for works of service, to also carry the testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophecy. Those who mature do so within the context of the body of Christ, and subject to the order of Christ.

C. Apostles, and the elders whom they appoint, are both demonstrating and proclaiming the kingdom of God. They are revealing in deed and word the authority and atmosphere of another world. Grace comes with the administration of giving. Witness releases grace to the recipients, that they may also receive the kingdom.

D. Jesus said, "We will always have the poor with us." There is a great need to envision people to come into the kingdom and rise up to their destiny as overcoming sons of God. Great discernment is needed for the righteous distribution of God’s resources.

E. "Co-dependence" is a popular word in the contemporary world of psychology. Improperly administrated financial aid can be a cause of co-dependence. We need an overhaul of our missions systems so that we teach people how to fish, and gradually stop giving them fish. Those appointed over this business must be of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.

F. The apostolic virtue of entrepreneurial creativity is needed to develop vision and resources in all nations. Master builders must lay the foundation of Jesus Christ in such a way that releases faith for businesses, industry, jobs and other self-sustaining ventures.

SUMMARY.

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. - James 1:27.

Here are some interesting thoughts on the above verse.

1. It instructs us to visit orphans and widows.

2. Everyone can obey, whether they have money to give or not.

3. We don’t need to travel to exercise pure and undefiled religion.

For many people, it is easier to write a check. While many could write more and larger checks, they still might miss the greater blessing if they fail to find some way to personally touch the lives of those who are less fortunate.

Acts records a lifestyle that the church needs to recover. We have drawn a few thoughts from the first six chapters. Paramount to their testimony are these key words:

1. Believers had received power (from on high)

2. The Holy Spirit was upon (as well as within and among) believers

3. Believers were agents of God’s prophetic blessings

4. Great grace was upon them all

5. Truthfulness was integral

6. God’s delegated authority was honored

These guidelines provide an elementary beginning place for responding to the opportunities that are at the door of the church. Meeting kingdom responsibility requires corresponding kingdom authority and accountability.

Whether we realize it or not, our "amen" accompanies our contributions to ministries. Therefore, the commendation of such ministries by brothers whom we know and trust is vital. This is now possible through the networking relationships of the global communion.

It is irresponsible to blindly give to unknown recipients. Sovereign God is able to connect everyone with someone, so that His divine guidance may be practically carried out within the framework of His body. We don’t have a single dollar to risk in unknown ventures.

We personally know people who recently returned from an African mission. They have all been "adopted" as "spiritual fathers" by some of the same African individuals. (Many fathers?) They all are being deluged with stories of desperate needs. We don’t doubt the needs. But, what is God saying?

My 93-year-old dad is deluged daily with mail requests for funds. He just cannot bring himself to throw away a stamped, return-address envelope. He is almost driven to return it, and is bound to include a check. One such request included a dime. Because they sent a dime, he feels that he must send them dollars!

I hate this kind of manipulation! It is rampant in what we call "church" today.

We need some guidelines. We need a starting place to bring purity and the purpose of God into this vital arena ~ without circumventing or even quenching the Holy Spirit.