T H E P L A N

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." [Jeremiah 29:11 NIV]

AUGUST 12, 2003 [This word concerns how God is going to change giving and financing in His Church in the coming move of His Spirit. I received it on August 6, 2003.]

When the Old Ways Stop Working

Before God does something new in the Church, there is a time of famine, of drying up of the old ways, the ways of ministry that used to work that cropped up and developed in the previous move of God. They stop working; they've been wrung dry. It is part of God's plan.

Divine Dissatisfaction

God allows a dissatisfaction with those teachings, and often opens eyes to how they have been overused, stretched too far, or unfortunately, abused. The old ways lose their shine, and where we once practiced them with confidence, we now no longer have faith in them.

After the eye-opening comes, an indignation about the falseness in the old teachings and methods often follows. Or a disappointment and sadness. Sometimes a disillusionment. This is the point when some believers either choose to press in to God for the next thing on His agenda, or they allow themselves to fall away (Jn 6:66). If they persevere in God, a hunger begins to grow to find what's true, what works.

Old Wine and the Dregs of Its Financing

God grants new revelation in these times to those who are willing to pay the price for radical change, who are willing to abandon the old ways for the new wine.

It's not news that God will no longer pour His Spirit into yesterday's church structures. What I'm sensing for the coming move is that God will not pour out His Spirit into new structures that hold to financing and fund-raising methods of the past. "Prosperity teaching" as it has become will fall out of favor. Ministry finances being funneled to the five-fold will cease. Fleshly doctrines and methods of giving will be upset and overturned.

God's People Will Learn Discernment

God will reveal and restore the true apostolic grace of giving to His people, and they will no longer be deceived and milked of their hard-earned money. God will give them discernment. He will teach them once again how to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd about to whom and how much to give. They will not be fooled. They will try those who call themselves "ministers of the Gospel" and find some false (Rev 2:2).

Some ministers formerly called of God will forsake their true calling and, like the rich young ruler, turn away sad because they cannot give up the snare of earthly security. But those who are willing to meet God outside the camp, putting behind them not only the false religious system, but also its economy, will find a new way of living and ministering by faith. They will lay down their perks to take up their cross. They will find the secret of being content in any and every situation (Php 4:11-12).

God's people will awaken from their slumber, shake off their stupor, and arise from the paralysis induced by the poison of false doctrine. Once the scales of deception have fallen from their eyes, they will no longer be subject to the manipulations of the past.

A New Day of Giving

A new day will dawn in the Church where the light of true giving will shine, dispelling the shadows of former days. Those who abandon the old to embrace the new will die a death to self, yet be freed from not only the deceitfulness of wealth, but the stronghold of Mammon and debt.

Their prosperity will be a true prosperity, based not on the "more (money), Lord" disease, nor the empty mirage of the "American Dream." But these spiritual newbies will go so far as to renounce their earthly heritage to become full citizens of the heavenly Kingdom with all the rights and privileges of its economy. They will not say, "More for me," but the byword on their lips will be "EQUALITY!"

As the move from using credit cards to debit cards has occurred in the natural, so shall a "heavenly debit system" be established (Php 4:15 AMP). No longer will the plea be made, "Meet MY needs," but the cry will go forth, "Meet THEIR needs!" Let the transactions begin!

Once again, the believers will share all things in common. Yes, there will be sacrificial giving. But it will not be giving to the minister in a fifteen-hundred-dollar suit, for the day is coming when "he who gives to the rich will SURELY come to poverty" (Pr 22:16). It will be giving to those in true need. And many will glorify God because of it.

The Tide of Finances

Finances will sweep the Body like the tide on the seashore -- at once providing plenty on the coasts of the east, only to be swept back to the coasts of the west. Wherever there is need, that is where the waves will break. "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever" (2Co 9:9). The loaves will come rolling in (Ecc 11:1).

And there will be an outbreak of joy and hilarity, for the Lord will lavish His love on cheerful givers. There will be such grace on the Church that the world will remark in wonder. It will soften their hearts. And the service we perform in supplying the needs of God's people will overflow in many expressions of thanks to God and blessing to His people (2Co 9:12). The joy of the Lord will be our strength, and He will strengthen us to do all things through Christ. The gospel shall go forth to all nations. Financing the Final Harvest

The finances required to fund the final harvest will indeed come in, for the wealth of the sinner will be released when the sinners finally see how we love one another. For God so loved the world that He gave. And we will love as we lay down our lives. Those who have increased their wealth by interest and usury will give it to those who will be kind to the poor (Pr 28:8).

And those who have named the Name of Christ and yet withheld their hand from the poor while they have clothed themselves in finery and gold will find that they have only fattened themselves for the day of slaughter. "Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire." Suck in your breath and wail, for misery has come upon you. (Jas 5:1-3)

But those who have abandoned the old to give not a tithe, but their all, will find themselves free from the bondages of this world, and free in the Spirit to do as He wills. They will be translated, and they will not receive the mark of the beast, for they shall already be dead to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1Jn 2:16).

So worship the Lord and put the old ways behind you. Seek the Lord as to how to give, and He will begin to show you the new ways of His Spirit and will set you free from the bondages of the past. Seek Him and His glory in all you do, and He will pour out His Spirit in a new way for a new day, for the financial release of the Lord God Almighty has come.

Lee Howard
God's Plan Ministries
www.Gods-Plan.org