How Do We Apply “The Law” Of God As A New Testament Believer?
The question is often asked regarding the Law, “Which parts apply to us in the New Testament?” That has been an ongoing debate since Jesus said, “I am the Law of Moses or rather the fulfillment of the Law.”
What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” Romans 7:7
To understand what we mean by fulfilled the law, we must define the terms, law, and fulfill. To fulfill something means to bring it to completion or to achieve something sought after or desired. We often think of fulfilling an obligation such as requirements in a contract or even raising a child. When a pharmacist fills a prescription they have fulfilled the obligation given when a prescription was presented.
The Meaning of “The Law.”
The term law in the Bible means different things to different people. Generally, it refers to the Sinai Covenant given to Moses. Thus, the Law of Moses may refer to the Ten Commandments, or it can mean the Books of Moses. The first five Books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy are known as the Torah, Law, Pentateuch, The Five or the Books of Moses.
But specifically, we are referring to the Mosaic covenant given at Siani consisting of the Ten Commandments, the 613 rules and laws in Leviticus, Numbers, and Exodus, and the Civil and Ceremonial Law. These were the components given to Moses by Yahweh to Israel that told them how to live before God and each other.
The Three Parts of The Law
1- The Civil Law- This is the part that dealt with penalties when someone broke a law and what would be done when someone had a disease like leprosy. Presenting oneself to the priest after being outside the camp for a specified period of time or being stoned to death for murder or even adultery are some things covered under the Civil law.
The Civil law was completed or fulfilled in Jesus. He took away the punishment for our sins, and He is our healer and High priest. The Sabbath and breaking the Sabbath were also handled here. Once again Jesus fulfilled the Sabbath. The Sabbath as the seventh day was given to Jews at Sinai. But Jesus said every day was a Sabbath and it was about resting in Him.
Mark 2:27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. The idea of the Sabbath was for resting in what God had accomplished in creation. It pointed to when we would rest in Christ. The children of Israel rebelled and God would not allow them to enter the place of rest represented by the Promised Land.
Regarding the Sabbath. Matthew 12:8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
2- Ceremonial Law- This part of the law is the one we most often think of outside of the Ten Commandments. It contains all of the offerings, feasts, sacrifices, and the priesthood. It outlines the tabernacle or temple furniture and clothes for the priests. It also prescribes how the priests were ordained and set apart, their duties, and those of the Levites living among the tribes.
The Lord prescribed how sin would be atoned for. Everything in the Ceremonial Law pointed to and was completely fulfilled by Jesus and was abolished or no longer necessary.
For then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once and for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself Hebrews 9:26
Hebrews 10:10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.
There is no more need for sacrifice since Jesus laid down his life once for all people, Jews, and Gentiles. Therefore we are also not under obligation to celebrate the feasts but we can. Jesus has fulfilled Passover, Firstfruits, Unleavened Bread, and Pentecost. Everything in the ceremonial law pointed to Jesus was made complete in him.
Circumcision- Circumcision is a sign of the covenant given to Abraham and his seed forever. It is not for the Gentiles, although we can be circumcised for health purposes.
Genesis 17:10-12 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring.
Acts 15:5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”
Acts 15:19-20 “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.
The council in Jerusalem, led by James (Jacob) decided that circumcision was not mandatory for gentiles to be followers of Christ. He refers to the law of Moses being preached. Circumcision was not part of the Law of Moses. The only food they said for gentiles to avoid was that strangled or offered to idols. There is no mention of the kosher laws.
Kosher Laws
The kosher dietary laws were given specifically to Israel to separate them from the nations. The Gentiles often offered unclean animals to their gods and God forbade such sacrifice and therefore they were not allowed to eat them. Ceratin animals like pigs, catfish, and shrimp were among those considered unedible for Jews.
Matthew 15:11 The food you put into your mouth doesn't make you unclean and unfit to worship God. The bad words that come out of your mouth are what make you unclean."
Jesus was telling them that the food you eat does not defile you or make you unholy but your Words.
Before the Mosaic law, there was the Noahide law.
Genesis 9:3-4 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. 4 But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.
Again the kosher laws were given to Israel and were not meant for the nations and Jesus told us that food doesn't make us unclean.
Moral Law
This is the ten commandments given to Moses. You shall have no other God, respect God’s name, no idols, and Sabbath rest. This is how we love God.
Matthew 22:36-40 Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Jesus took the Mosaic Law to a higher level. Matthew 5:21 You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’ Verse 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
Matthew 5:28-29 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Jesus raised the bar on the law. He said your thoughts can cause you to sin. Looking at someone with anger or lust was the same as sinning, but Jesus made a way of escape through the cross.
How Did He fulfill?
Jesus used many stories called parables to teach us about the Kingdom of God. So, when Jesus said He came to fulfill the law and prophets and that He didn’t come to abolish it, everything was completed in Him. In other words, there is no more stoning to death as a penalty for breaking laws, the Sabbath was made for man to rest in Him, there's is no more sacrifice, etc.
Jesus became our High Priest and entered into the Holy place once and for all times.
The prophets were called to be keepers of the covenant and call the people back to God. When they rebelled and sinned by turning to idolatry God would punish them. The prophets spoke about the heart and spirit of the law. They pointed to Jesus and His completed work that give access to the Father.
The Father loved Israel and His heart was to teach them about sin and holiness and to be separated from the nations. The same is true for believers. We are to be salt and light. Since the Mosaic law was fulfilled in Christ, we are still under the moral law but we are not saved by keeping the law but by Grace.
What Did Jesus Mean By The Term “Restore All Things?”
What Did Jesus Mean By the Term ‘Restore All Things?’
In Matthew 17:9-13, the disciples ask Jesus some critical questions as they leave the Mount of Transfiguration. They had just seen Moses and Elijah and Jesus reminded them not to tell anyone. Then they ask about Elijah coming before the Messiah.
And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. Matthew 17: 10-11
We must understand what is going on in these verses. The key to understanding is to ask, “Why is Elijah returning before the Messiah?” What is meant by the question, “Restore All Things?”
One thing I must say in the beginning is that Christians do not believe in or practice reincarnation. We expect that when Christ returns believers will be raised from the dead and receive a new, glorified body. The Old Testament righteous will be resurrected also at some point. See Daniel 12.
So, we ask “Is Jesus saying that Elijah will actually return? But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. Matthew 17:12 What did Jesus mean that Elijah had come and many didn’t recognize him?
Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. Matthew 17:13. So Jesus was referring to John the Baptist and his ministry. John was misunderstood because he preached a hard repentance message and the religious leaders could not tolerate him. Ultimately he was martyred at the hand of a false King and his wife because John spoke out against the adultery that took place between them.
John was very radical indeed, perhaps more so than any other prophet before or after. He was in fact Jesus’ cousin and was considered to be the forerunner or the one who prepared the way for Jesus, the Messiah. But, what does that mean? It was the work of John to preach repentance so the people would turn toward God and be ready to receive what Jesus would teach and do.
What did John restore? There were so many things that were lost at that time, we have to begin with the work of Elijah. To say that John was Elijah is not to say Elijah came back but that the same spirit that rested on him has returned. It was a spirit of repentance and it required people to turn to God with their hearts and not their minds.
To repent is to forsake one’s sins. In those days people obeyed the law but they were far from God. The religious leaders were more interested in keeping every letter of the law and didn't care if someone was hungry on the Sabbath or was sick and needed their prayers.
But, Jesus mentioned something about restoring all things. That actually sounds like something only He could do. To understand what Elijah did we need to return to 1 Kings 18:37 which reads Answer me, Lord, answer me, so that this people may know that You, Lord, are God, and that You have turned their heart back.”
The words “You have turned their hearts back” speak of a repentant heart or one that has turned back to God. Then why did the prophet in Malachi say that Elijah would restore children to their fathers (parents) and visa versa? Because the younger generations' hearts were turned away from the older ones and perhaps even God.
They came to God in their own way but grew apart because each generation is different than the previous one. That is quite obvious today. When a generation becomes disconnected from another we see many areas that become separated from God and what He expects. In Elijah’s day, the people had turned to Baal and Ashteroth. There were a few that hadn’t. The younger people followed after Jezebel’s gods while the older one’s for the most part, probably continued to serve God.
But we don’t know. But we do know Eliaj is supposed to restore all things and that didn’t take place with John. Christians have been waiting for Jesus’ return for over 2,000 years. John began the process that Elijah and all of the prophets had begun.
Is Elijah Returning Before Jesus Returns?
As I previously discussed it is not Elijah that is returning but the Holy Spirit will be operating and manifesting the same way as He did in Eijah’s day. He will be calling on people to repent, and accept now we come to the Father through Jesus. But, you can still say Elijah will precede the Lord’s return. The Holy Spirit is already working the hearts and lives of many to bring restoration as Jesus promised.
Many are bringing restoration to parents and their children, and many, who are prodigals and have gone the ways of the world or sought a different Jesus than the one true and living Jesus, son of God. But estranged relationships are not all that needs restoring.
Restoration of ‘All” Things?
When Jesus told His disciples that Elijah would come and set things right he meant what He said. Jesus said all things would be restored. Now, that is a lot. How will it be restored before Messiah’s return? I thought that was His job. Perfect peace and tranquility is the picture of the Millenial kingdom of the earth under Jesus’ rule.
But, Jesus promised restoration before He returned and so we should expect it. How will it be accomplished is the subject of another day. But for now, let’s look at what needs restoring. Since the fall of our parents, Adam and Eve in the garden, everything has been lost and God has been bringing restoration.
The entire story of the Bible through today is God’s story of restoration. We see it at the end of teh Book of Revelation where there’s a river and trees for healing and cities of jewels and gold. That all sounds a lot like Eden to me.
What Needs Restoring?
The earth
Mankind
The nations
Families
Relationships
Businesses
Health
Governments
Finances
Israel
Our total being
One of the fastest-growing areas of ministry is in the area of deliverance and inner healing. That’s because when we come to Jesus we are a mess. Many think that we get cleaned up immediately and we are supposed to be perfect when we are still full of a lifetime of open doors to junk and stuff that was meant to destroy us.
Money and health are also at the top of the list. Our food helps determine whether we will be healthy or not. More and more people are turning to organic food without preservatives. Then we see more people cutting back on spending and saving more.
We see many groups attempt to bring world peace, which is not working. They struggle to provide a cleaner earth and often it goes too far in the wrong direction. Individual lives and families are destroyed every day by bad choices.
Now we live in a nation where teaching the principles of the Bible is wrong and not accepted. More and more people are turning away from God to try to fix the world’s problems with the world’s tools.
To see anything restored we have to follow the pattern outlined in God’s word. Since everything was destroyed by sin, only the fix to sin can restore it. That of course is Jesus.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, Malachi 4:5
Elijah's spirit is to bring people back to God through prayer and repentance and filling them with the Word of God. This is set to occur before the great and terrible day of the Lord which is still future, I believe.
That is why there is a need for preparation before the great and terrible day of the Lord. Otherwise, He will have to smite the earth with a curse. The people must return to God and allow Him to begin restoring all things before it’s too late.
What needs restoring in your life? Now is the hour to get rid of bitterness, idolatry, and many other areas of bondage that keep you from living ready and prepared for the return of the King. Surrender and repent and renounce those areas that are unyielded to Jesus. That is the work of Elijah now.
Prayer Points Regarding the Gaza/Israel
Prayer Points Regarding the Gaza/Israel War
Psalm 67 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you! The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!
Once again, we see the world's nations in turmoil and evil running rampant as the nations continue to rage and wars and rumors of wars grow in intensity. The Feast of Tabernacles surprise terroristic attack by Hamas upon innocent Israeli civilians is being hailed as the worst killing of Jewish people since the Yom Kippur War of 1973.
Horrific pictures and videos detailing this group's rape, butchering, and slaughter of babies, children, and women have circled the globe, and most people agree that it was barbaric. Yet, many are rallying around the ‘Palestinian cause’ and using this attack to say they are fighting for freedom. However, the Hamas terror group and Hezbollah in Lebanon have one goal: Annihilating Israel as a nation and the death of all Jewish persons.
They are not feeding and clothing their people with monies sent via Qatar and Iran. Instead, their goal is to attack and drive Israel off the map. Before I list some prayer points regarding the people and nations on both sides, let me remind you that many do not believe Israel has a right to exist and, therefore, believe it is their duty to wipe them off of the earth.
Psalm 83 ESV O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! For behold, your enemies make an uproar, those who hate you have raised their heads. They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones. They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”
For they conspire with one accord; against you, they make a covenant—the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites, Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Asshur also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot.
The often-named Pslam 83 war is described here. Some say it was fulfilled, and others say it’s entirely futuristic. It seems that has been repeated at various times with some of the nations listed, but perhaps never before has it been more possible for so many nations that hate Israel to call for her destruction. Without attempting to figure out who these nations are today, suffice it to say that many nations are saying, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”
So, how should we pray? Should we call for the utter destruction of the nations that are calling for Israel’s destruction? Asaph continues this Psalm by asking God to bring shame on their faces so that they recognize He alone is God. (my paraphrase)
Some Psalms call for militant stand on behalf of God to destroy our enemies. But, as New Testament believers, we are called to pray for a person or group of people to repent and turn from sinful practices and towards Yeshua, Isa, Yesu, Yassu, or Jesus as most know Him. In other words, we no longer wish our enemies ill will but pray for their salvation, peace, hope, and joy in Jesus.
We see evil every day, but we recognize that we are in a spiritual battle, and the battle is undoubtedly more significant when it comes to the salvation of Israel.
Pray for the Salvation of Israel Romans 10:1 ESV Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.
Pray the Jewish people will recognize Jesus as their deliverer. Romans 11:26 NKJV And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem Psalm 122:7-9 NIV: "May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels."
Pray for the salvation of the Palestinian Arabs, Gazan,s and West Bank.
For God’s grace and mercy for people on both sides.
For the God of Hope to bring hope, peace, and joy, Romans 15:13
For deliverance from wicked and evil men and the patience of Christ to be directed to people’s hearts. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
Restoration of Israel and grafting in of the nations as part of the One New Man: Amos 9:11-15 and Ephesians 2: 15.
Recognize that the ekklesia or church is not complete with Jewish believers and is incomplete without all nations, including Arabs and others that oppose Israel.
Protection of innocent lives.
There are so many prayer points that I could fill up a book. But, while peace, safety, joy, and hope are necessary points, if we do not pray for salvation and peace from the Prince of Peace, true and lasting peace will not be met. Many lives hang in the balance, and we need to diligently seek the Lord these days.
We must hasten to complete our assignments for the Kingdom of God as the days grow dark on the one hand and His return is near. I do not believe that this war is the war to end all wars or will lead to Armageddon or such, but it is undoubtedly a major wake-up call for all who will heed Jesus’ warnings to be ready.
Two More Signs You May Be Dealing With A Mammon Spirit
Go here to read my earlier article entitled “Five Signs You May Be Dealing With A Mammon Spirit to refresh what I said. Because so many have read and enjoyed that article that I am expanding that blog to an ebook. Meanwhile, I have discovered two more signs that you might be dealing with a mammon spirit.
We could come up with ten, twenty, or more signs, but fall under a specific category that I covers in these seven signs. A poverty mentality is part of the mammon debacle that we don’t always consider. Being poor is not the problem, as we will see, and neither is having property, wealth, and possessions.
Poverty Mindset
You do not have to be poor or in poverty to have a poverty mindset. Many wealthy, rich, and well-to-do people live with a poverty mindset. As the name implies, it is a mindset or attitude towards money, wealth, and possessions.
According to Alanweiss.com, “A poverty mentality is one that influences behaviors consistent with beliefs that money shouldn’t be spent, opportunities are limited, any risk at all is dangerous, any success is temporary and non-replicable, and generally remaining in the back of the pack is safest.” In other words, you have a mindset of staying poor or, as the quotes stated, in the back.
You do not have a mindset of getting ahead or acquiring wealth. You may even see money as evil and try to get by without using it. But this mindset can lead to some of the other signs also. You may have money and wealth in some cases, but the decisions you make are the same ones that a poor and impoverished person would make.
I have identified three areas I will discuss regarding this mindset: 1-Hoarding, 2- Having money and being stingy or ungenerous, and 3- poor stewardship.
Hoarding
I have seen it and, to a degree, lived it. Yes, I admit I stockpiled things, and I really don’t know why. My mother could do the same, so maybe I inherited it. We have seen the reality TV show where people lived in filth and squalor, had little or no food, and hardly paid their bills.
Those are the extremes. Many people live through hard times, such as the Great Depression, which marks their lifestyle for the rest of their lives. They have memories of growing up with very little and having to scrape and fight for food, clothing, and other basic necessities. Some people don’t grow up that way, but through life experiences, they think that they will not do without storing up large quantities of food or even toilet paper.
Ten years go by, and they have so much stuff put aside that it has begun to deteriorate and rot. They never have any intention of sharing, and sadly they never deal with the outdated stuff. They just buy more and more. This is also poor stewardship,, as we will see.
Stockpiling stuff does no one any good and can be selfish. I think God wants us to put it aside. People have always done that in anticipation of hard times. But you have to rotate food and other things with shelf life. Also, Jesus would expect His people to have a little extra for someone unable to store up, whether they lack the financial means or the place to store it.
Being Stingy And Ungenerous With Money
We think of stingy people, and we often associate them with someone with little or no money or no source of income. Then some grew up rough and maintained that mindset their entire adult lives. However, stinginess with money is often found among the wealthy and those with a lot of money.
Not all wealthy people are ungenerous, but I have seen repeatedly that many wealthy people will not give to the poor or support charitable needs. Instead, they tend to put more money into stocks, bonds, and other investments. In other words, like most people, the mindset is, “What’s in it for me?”
In the Kingdom of God, we sow and reap. The sowing is the investing. We reap blessings from God because we are generous. This is what Jesus taught in the New Testament: generosity. Being generous requires us to be stewards, so we have to be careful and not throw our money into a sinking hole.
Poor Stewardship
This is a subject we don’t talk about enough. Some people just give stuff away and don’t think about who or where they give it. Others never help anyone. Being a good steward is something else Jesus talked about a lot. Remember the unjust steward?
Most Christians forget that God owns it all and we are just stewards. That means we are in charge and responsible until He returns. There is a reckoning coming, and we will give an accounting of how we handled what was entrusted to us. That is why He said in the New Testament that He would give more to those who demonstrate He can trust them.
A poor steward is a result of not understanding who the actual owner is and not appreciating what God entrusted to each of us. It can be a poverty mindset. Remember poverty minded people just want to ride in the back seat and never move forward. You can have millions of dollars and be a poor steward.
Not Trusting God (Depending On Money)
People say, “Money talks.” Yes, it does, and the message it sends is that you can get what you want (and need) with money. Bribery and extortion are some ways people use money to get what they want, whether they need it or not. Ironically, our money has “In God, we trust” printed on it.
People commonly misquote the Bible by saying, “Money is the root of all evil,” but it actually reads, “The Love of money is the root of all evil.” Yes, the love of money and not God cause many to go headlong down the wide gate of the world system. This is because they trust in money and not God.
God is our provider. Money is one of the ways we can obtain goods and services. In other terms, people used precious metals and jewels. Earlier, people bartered for what they needed. Some people still do this. When you do not have money to pay for a service, you can offer your services or something you have of value.
We say we go to work to pay the bills since most people receive compensation for work in the form of money. But, in reality, we go to work to serve, and God compensates us through service credits. We call these service credits money. Unfortunately, so many people complain about their jobs and never realize they are servants.
We get up and go to work by faith. It takes faith to believe the employer will make good and pay us. Then we pay our bills, buy food and then have fun. But do we ever ask God what He wants us to do with the money He has provided through a job or business?
We put more trust in money, which shows our lack of generosity in giving into the Kingdom of God. Christians tend to be the worst at tipping servers. But, it is a reflection of how we view money. The server is serving you. They receive a modest hourly wage and rely on tips for most of their pay. If their service is top-notch, why do we not reward outstanding service?
We sometimes throw God a tip on Sunday morning at church, though. We treat Him worse than the server. Yet, He owns it all, and we should be willing to give it all back if He asks us to.
Anything you put before God is idolatry, including money!
The Solution
I know that money and wealth are touchy subjects. I also know that Jesus spoke about it a lot because it reflects how we view God. The answer to freedom from mammon begins with recognizing that He owns it all and we are just stewards. Also, we need to acknowledge that we are servants in the kingdom of God.
So, we can’t serve God and money. Who will you serve?
Five Signs You May Be Dealing With A Mammon Spirit
Jesus talked a lot about provision, money, wealth, and its effect on the kingdom lifestyle. He talked about putting God first and storing up treasure in heaven. He also talked a lot about serving and helping others from a love relationship with Him and the Father. When it came to dealing with storing up earthly riches, Jesus talked about a spirit called Mammon.
Matthew 6:24 “no one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” NASB
What Is Mammon?
The Greek word " mamonas " means wealth, riches, possessions, or property. Having land, houses, cars, and other possessions is by no means bad. It takes those things to live. But the question is ‘Do they own you, or do you own them?’ Does the money work for you, or do you work for money? In other words, it is true what the scripture says ‘The love of money is the root of all evil,’ 1 Timothy 6:10
I am not here to judge or tear anyone down but rather to help you look at your heart and examine it as I have and allow the Holy Spirit to bring freedom in how you handle money and finances. Everything we have belongs to God, and we are just stewards. However, if we get into debt or can’t pay bills or buy food, etc., we tend to stress and worry. This is not healthy, nor is it part of God’s plan.
Matthew 6: 26, “ Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?”
Birds, Birds, and More Birds
I’ve noticed since spring, an abundance of birds on and around the property where we are located. I have watched them, and they get closer and closer to where we sit outside. There is a barbed wire near that area, and they come and sit and watch us and sing. Most recently, I have seen a goldfinch land and perch there. Most people WhenSuch a beautiful creature and a reminder that God orders their steps. Then there are sparrows, wrens, chickadees, crows, cardinals, blackbirds, bluebirds, larks, robins, and geese. The geese stop off in the field and, without fear, eat and lay and move about until they are done, and the leader honks, and they follow in perfect formation.
Not only are these birds taken care of by our Father in Heaven, but they seem to know that they are safe around here. Even the geese know when to stop and leave. I have also seen a few doves, and they are marvelous birds. Every bird has a function and purpose and is part of God’s plan. Don’t you think he has a role, purpose, and plan for you and me?
Whatever stage you are at on the journey in the kingdom, we must always consider how we handle money and ‘riches’. This reflects how we view God and His kingdom. We are so accustomed to borrowing money for nearly everything around us. Amazon, Target, and all major retailers each offer their own credit card or line of credit. At some point, we have to quit being slaves to debt and be free as we were meant to be with the resources God has provided us.
I have five things that signal you may be under the influence of the spirit we call mammon (mamonas) or riches.
Worry And Anxiety Over Money
Concern is not the same as worry, but it can lead to it when we obsess over money and constantly figure out ways to make more money. That leads to stress, anxiety, insomnia, and a whole host of psychological and physical problems. When this happens, then you are working for money, and not the other way around. In addition, a lack of trust in God’s provision leads to anxiety.
Money Mismanagement
I know people, and I have been one myself, who never have money because they simply cannot handle or manage money well. They make good money, but they are always broke. They don’t tithe or give into the kingdom, they never save or invest, and they spend beyond their means. This leads to worry and other problems.
Impulse Buying
Have you ever gone shopping and walked into the store, and before you found the first item on your list, your cart was half full of stuff you don’t need? Are you one that watches infomercials and purchases the latest fashion or nifty, trending items? Those impulse buying habits will keep you broke, and with a lot of stuff you have no use for and probably never will.
Greed
You probably want to skip past this, thinking that it only applies to the super-rich when it can apply to anyone, especially the super-poor. Greed is like cancer that is never satisfied. I have seen poor people go to thrift stores or even ministries that offer free items, and they just can’t be satisfied with a few items. Often, they are worse than those loaded with many.
Greedy people have a thirst and hunger for money and possessions that cannot be quenched. Shopping addictions are also a form of this monster.
Bondage of Debt
I have already mentioned that the Bible says that the borrower is the slave to the lender. Proverbs 22:7. But also, the Bible tells us that the wicked borrow and do not pay back. Psalm 37:21 Nasb. So many people have a mortgage, two car notes, and credit card debt.
When they do borrow, most people can’t seem to help themselves and get too much house and too expensive a car for their income. So they don’t plan ahead. So, God is our provider, but he also gives us wisdom. He is not a genie in a bottle or a vending machine.
When we come into the Kingdom of God, we work for Him. He owns everything, and we are stewards. He provides for us as he sees first. Money is just one means to obtain the goods and services we need to live. The job is not the only way in which God provides. Kingdom-minded people must learn to live a kingdom lifestyle and not be controlled by riches or wealth. Jesus told us to lay up treasure in heaven.
One final thought: God is all about multiplication, but He likes to use what we have. Elisha used a widow’s oil to help her get her miracle. It multiplied, and she sold it to pay her debts. Have you set money aside so that God can multiply?
If you identify with any one of these areas, then come out of agreement and come into God’s plan for provision and let your money work for you.