Blast from the Past #1

     Some will remember the old Monday challenges that I use to write for our Frontline School of Supernatural Ministry. I will be adding appropriate ones (revised and sometimes expanded) to the blog from time to time under the title "Blast from the Past." For those of you that read them before, you can see how your progress has been in the area of challenge - please share in the blog. For those who haven't read them, it will provide a challenge for your spiritual walk - please share in the blog.

   In verses 7 and 8 of Romans 13 it says, "Render therefore to all their due; taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." Basically, I heard Holy Spirit saying from this passage that I am to be paid up (or in the process of paying up) to meet my earthly obligations to earthly authorities, but never to be paid up in loving others because my heavenly obligation to love is never paid off or finished....it should always be an open account that I deposit into continually. My savings account of love should never be closed out and my mortgage of love should never be paid off.

  Then I was reminded of a passage in the Old Testament which added even more light. Malachi 3:8-12 says, "Will a man rob God? Yet, you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. 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 vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," says the Lord of Hosts; "and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land," says the Lord of Hosts.

  It is a serious matter to rob earthly authorities by not meeting my obligations to them, but to rob God by not giving to Him means that I am not showing Him love (which is what I am always to owe others, especially God because of who He is and what He has done so generously for me). It can even cause a curse on personal finances or an entire national economy (v9). When the man or woman of God is generous with their "love gifts" to God's Kingdom, or the Body is generous to the Kingdom economy, then overflowing blessing is the norm (v10b and 12), and the curse is cancelled (v11). If we seek Holy Spirit for the gift of faith to be generous in our giving, He will supply the faith that is needed, and, quite often, the very gift to give!

  So....hit me back with some feedback on this post.....speak up....speak out......