FASTING AND PRAYER ALONE WILL NOT END POVERTY
Malachi 3:8-12 (AMPC)
“8 Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In what way do we rob or defraud You? [You have withheld your] tithes and offerings.
9 You are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation. [Lev. 26:14-17.]
10 Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. [Mal. 2:2.]
11 And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.”
Dear people of God, I was at a prayer meeting recently where the person leading the prayer told the congregation to pick up poverty from the ground and throw it away. We all obeyed even though in my heart I knew it takes more than that to end poverty in one’s life.
A renowned pastor in Nigeria once gave his testimony of how a number of years ago as a new convert to Christianity, God Almighty and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ miraculously healed him of tuberculosis.
This pastor then shortly after this miracle incident went into fasting and prayer to God asking to be shown the key to prosperity.
At the end of the 3 days of fasting and prayer, he heard God’s voice speak to him saying, “My son, my covenant of prosperity does not respond to fasting and does not respond to prayer. When you play your part, then I am committed.”
Today, having obeyed the Lord’s command, this pastor is one of the richest in the entire world.
What was God telling this pastor at that time? Pay your tithes, pay your first-fruits and contribute financially to kingdom projects to aid the spread of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Today, a number of ignorant people, some Christians inclusive, are blaming this pastor for having so much wealth and claiming he is siphoning money from the members of the church to fund his lifestyle.
Those who say such things without having their facts are offending God because God has commanded as follows in Exodus 23:1, “YOU SHALL not repeat or raise a false report; you shall not join with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.”
Those who understand the ways of God also understand that God cannot violate His Word. God has made it clear that He watches over His Word to perform it – Jeremiah 1:12.
I ask you, dear friend, for a God Who has unlimited power, knowledge and resources at His disposal to do anything, can you think of one promise God can make that He would not be able to fulfil? Absolutely none!
Therefore, when God says you should end the curse in your life, pay your tithes and offerings to Him, try Him and see if He would not open the windows of Heaven to pour out a blessing on you that your room cannot contain it, you should simply take God at His Word and obey.
God’s covenant of prosperity with His children, those who obey His commandments, is seen in today’s lead Holy Bible text and the terms of the covenant are clearly spelt out therein.
I tell you, dear friend, a genuine, God-fearing Christian cannot prosper in this life in a righteous labour (paid employment or self-employment) without obeying God’s commandment to pay tithes. It cannot happen.
Abraham our father in faith paid tithe to Melchizedek and when you meditatively analyse God’s Word in Hebrews 7:1-8 (AMPC), you would realize particularly in verse 8 that Abraham actually paid tithes to the Lord Jesus Christ because He, Jesus Christ, is the only Man Who lives forever!
So for those who say Jesus never collected tithes, this Scripture text is proof that He did. For those who say Jesus never spoke about tithes, the Bible texts in Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42 and Luke 18:12 show that He did.
Let Christians stop telling lies and belittling God by going to BEG someone for money and claiming they were led by God’s Holy Spirit. How can you shine as the light of Christ to non-Christians you should be preaching to when you run to them for financial assistance?
How do you want them to see your God you tell them can do all things and yet you are swimming in poverty because of your own disobedience?
Let Christians stop blaming their employers, fathers, mothers, relatives, uncles, siblings, spouses and even their governments for their financial difficulties.
Let Christians simply obey God’s commandments in Malachi 3:10-12 and see whether or not God would hearken and do His own side of the covenant.
I know my God because He has always proven Himself in my life. He will do exactly what His Word says and bless you for paying tithes.
All you have to do is obey and you will prosper.
May the good Lord bless you as you heed His Word today, act on it and share with others in Jesus’ Most Precious Name, Amen.
Gabriel Ama
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