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Devotional Email for Sep 4

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1 Corinthians 9:7 New International Version (NIV)
7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk?

Some people find it hard to give. They feel like it is some how unfair or just plain wrong for the Church to have money. A Pastor should not have to pay his own way. The Pastor should be able to receive a wage for his labor just as anyone else would receive a wage for their labor. You would never expect a soldier to pay for his own weapons, clothes, and transportation. God does not expect His people to have to do the same.

You do realize that it takes money to preach the gospel. Buildings must be paid for, salaries, electricity bills, landscaping, books, and materials, office supplies, Radio and television time, web sites, and much more. God expects you to play your part. You have a part to play in getting the Word of God around the world. You are the only person that can do your part. Hey, get in the flow of giving and receiving. Receive Gods best for your life.

1 Corinthians 9:8-10 New International Version (NIV)
8 Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.

We are talking about what is the right thing to do. Hey, if you believe for prosperity shouldn't your pastors and teachers be prosperous? In fact, you will find that as your Pastor prospers so does the whole congregation. You will find it flows from the head down through the body.

1 Corinthians 9:7-12 New International Version (NIV)
11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more?

Notice that it is a right for the Pastor to receive support from His congregation. Therefore, when you are giving to your Church do not do it grudgingly or from a selfish heart. Do it with love. Do it with love for God and love for God's work.

Now I know that some of you are saying "What about those Pastors that are in sin?" Jesus said, "You who are without sin, cast the first stone". Your Pastor is a human being. People will sin. In fact 1 John 1:8 says if we claim to be without sin, we are deceiving ourselves. So, just realize that you are never going to find a perfect Pastor. Find the Church were God wants you to be and stay there.

1 Corinthians 9:13-14 New International Version (NIV)
13 But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

God has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. Giving is matter of honor and a matter of love. Give because you love God, you love God's word, you love God's people, you love God's Pastors and Teachers. Get in on the flow of God's love.

Speak the Word: Father, I will do my part in giving to my Pastors and Teachers. I give my tithes and offerings to spread the love of God around the world.