Financial Understanding For The Remnant Body
(Part Two)
Submitted by Clay Sikes
October 22nd, 2004

God is moving His body to financial increase during this hour. I further believe that God is forming a "glorious Church without spot or wrinkle;" a Church in which the material needs of the people are met (John 10:10). Material lack, as with sickness, spiritual deficiency, etc., is at odds with the words "without spot or wrinkle." While some will determine this word to be about money; the truth is it is about obedience and stepping into destiny - material blessing simply being a by-product.

Some will never accept that God desires to materially bless His people. To some extent, I understand how this conclusion has been arrived at, especially in context to the abuses of the 'Prosperity Message' so often taught on Christian TV and many churches. With that said, I believe this to be a word for those who have ears to hear. We will deal with "traditions" that are keeping many of God's anointed and appointed from attaining their destiny.

God is unveiling His financial plan for His people in these end times. Much has been revealed about heart condition, and our being DEAD TO MONEY in order to see a material release in our lives. "God is looking for a few dead men!" In Part One of "Financial Understanding For The Remnant Body" we examined the difference between 'entitlement' and 'expectation,' seeing how the subtle affairs of the heart restrain the hand of God. As our hearts meld toward the plan of God, with little or no thought for ourselves, we begin to sense an empowerment as the eye of faith begins to peer into the realm of the miraculous. Galatians 4:1-7 speaks to the revelation of the maturation required to walk in our divine inheritance upon the earth. There is a "time set by the Father."

When maturation has occurred, God will direct us to a position from which His blessing can flow. The placement or positioning, and the spiritual sensitivity to get there, is the crux of this word.

Many are being prompted to 'the position of beginning,' the place of God's origin that will launch exponential growth. Some are being called to jobs; some to business and business opportunities, but wrestle with the idea that these urges are from God. Some in full time ministry are being called 'out.' Some church leaders are being shown ways to earn income away from church. Some who have worked 9 to 5 jobs are being given ideas for self-employment, and still other Christian businessmen are being shown ways to create extraordinary wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18).

It is important from the outset to mention, "God will not lead a man to financial success, if that success would take him to hell." Abundance will come in proportion to man's ability to handle it. If mammon is a factor, God directed growth will not happen! Again, understanding Galatians 4:1-7 is a strong testament to this statement.

Some erroneously think that the "love of money" lies only with the rich. Awaken to the fact that the "love of money" is not unique to rich, poor, saved, or unsaved. A 'needy' man can chase money just like a 'greedy man;' a saved man just like an unsaved one! The bible, in admonishing us not to do this, doesn't distinguish between the two (Matthew 6:32). Chasing money will impede the hand of God in the area of provision - When we start, God stops! When we stop, God starts! When we simply 'ALLOW GOD' in the area of finances, 'HE WILL!' Rest and obedience are keys to entering into this Kingdom method of receiving (Isaiah 30:15). "Rest" in this context is not necessarily the absence of activity, but rather the complete absence of activity outside the boundaries of the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Many Christians look down their religious noses at those who have been materially blessed, smugly thinking they posses some super spiritual superiority in their poverty. BE CAREFUL WITH THIS JUDGMENT; IT CAN STOP GOD'S INTENDED FAVOR IN YOUR LIFE! Likewise, some who have been blessed think they have arrived. This too is dangerous!

In review, two factors must be initiated to govern the flow of God's financial increase - heart condition (dead to money) and physical position (the physical place of God's appointment - Acts 17:26). While being dead to money is fairly well understood by the Body of Christ, the physical positioning can test our traditional thoughts.

Many understand scripture that states "the traditions of men" block God's ability to speak to us, yet remain bound by the high wall of their own self-imposed mental barriers. Much of this plagues the remnant Body, which God so desires to bring into material blessing. As an example, and I think a good one, some who have escaped the Babylonian system fail to discern that 'the system' from which they seek deliverance, is not simply a church building or organized religion. While these are certainly limbs from the tree, it is not the root of the problem. The root is our own preconceived mindsets or traditions. Often our traditions will bind us to our comfort zones as to potential places of provision. Similar to those who have suffered spousal abuse but refuse to leave, are many Christians in their place of provision - "They take a licking and keep on ticking!"

Another major detriment to moving into God's ordered position can be found in 2 Kings 5. Naaman almost missed his blessing because of his unwillingness to accept simplicity. Our unwillingness to accept the simplicity of God's Way can keep us locked into financial oppression.

The ultimate form of Babylon is ME doing my own thing apart from the leading of the Holy Spirit. What keeps even the Holy Spirit from being able to minister to me IS MY INTERPRETATION OF THE WAY THINGS SHOULD BE IN MY LIFE. My hard-core resistance to anything outside of my comfort zone is my greatest enemy to moving into the higher realm of God's provision.

In ministry many have left the one-man-show only to establish it again in their living rooms in cell groups and home church. They have traded one form of religion for another. Another lie, which is a holdover from the old 'system,' is that "full time" ministers do not work, but will be provided for by the Body of Christ. It is time to awakened to this lie and stop placing your financial burden on others. The apostle Paul worked at times and so should most of the Body of Christ (Acts 18:1-3). There are obvious exceptions, and this admonishment is not to those individuals.

In business, we must also be careful to avoid the one-man-show; the "me thing." It is important to note that much of God's objective in business is more about people than money. Partnering in business ventures has been somewhat foreign to me, but seems to be the crux of what God is doing now. What I have seen is a trade off of sorts in which those bringing money are SPIRITUALLY blessed, and those bringing spiritual understanding are MATERIALLY blessed. I am not advocating this because it happened to me, but do think it is worth a look! It is important to note, "Blessing" will be accompanied by "Purpose." Again, do not let your religious mind tie this "purpose" to something "churchy." God provision to you can serve many God directed purposes: It can be to reinvest, bless your children, pay your debts, buy a new house, fund an orphanage in Haiti, or any other purpose under the sun (SON) that God reveals.

This will step on some toes, but some of us have become lazy. Our sense of 'entitlement' has us sitting around doing as little as possible. It is time to get to work, doing what the Father has provided for us to do. As Arthur Burt has said for years, "WHERE THE APPOINTMENT IS THE PROVISION IS." Until we break free of the old mindset (traditions), the walls of containment will keep us materially impoverished. Every vision requires provision. 'Hard work' is an alien thought to many Christians, yet scripture says something different.

"Work hard….As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people" (Ephesians 6:6,7).

"Whatever you do, do well" (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

"Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically" (Romans 12:11).

"Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich" (Proverbs 10:4).

" Hard work means prosperity; only fools idle away their time" (Proverbs 12:11).

Many in "full time ministry" are short on work ethic, yet long on antagonizing the Body for more money. This is wrong! Still others, who have left the 'church system,' stay at home to pray, read their bibles, write, and other super spiritual activities. Some take donations from their small cell groups, or are supported by their families. Please awaken to this lie - you will not fulfill your call in this languishing state. Recognize that though you have left the system the system can remain in you.

With several of man's stoutest traditions now "REVEALED," we are free to initiate the essence of this teaching - God's spiritual appointment to a specific physical positioning. Physical positioning is that place of beginning. For me, it was God's assignment to help someone else out of debt, while at the time, barely able to feed my family. As is the case with Kingdom dynamics, what you have the greatest need of will often present itself (first) IN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SOW. Said differently, specific need requires specific seed. This physical positioning can be deeds, places, people, and even opportunities to mention a few. Bottom line, its about obedience!

As an observation, not necessarily "thus says the Lord," it appears that a place of false positioning will always precede the true place of God's appointment. This false position will present itself when our needs in a particular area seem to be greatest. This false position will greatly appeal to our flesh, is always wrapped in religious cloth, and is instigated by the spirit of anti-Christ. If we fall for it, and I did, God will use it to truly reveal our motives. The cost for this miscue can be costly in terms of money and time.

I personally believe that most physical positioning begins with connections to people. As the circumstances of life (ministry, business, or otherwise) place us in the path of others, we need to be spiritually sensitive to what God may be saying in making the connection. Obviously, everyone we come in contact with is not a divine connection, but sensitivity to this aspect of our spiritual life will allow us to discern those who are. Again, here is where our religiosity must come into check: Some who we think ARE AREN'T, and some who we think AREN'T ARE.

Several years ago I felt I heard the Lord say, "The Army of God is now beginning to make strategy for VICTORY; the primary focus of this strategy involves unifying the Body and joining the parts that are suppose to be JOINED. We must work to properly discern and join the Body properly... This is not a joining for the sake of joining, but rather a fitting of the parts that are CALLED to be joined." Victory, destiny, and empowerment are in the CONNECTIONS; first to Him, then to those appointed by Him. These appointments will reveal God's purpose.

As these spiritual connections take place, the inevitable result will be testimony (Revelation 12:11). The testimony will be sufficiency, and even abundance to the point of provision being available for vision.

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