Having the Gift of Administration automatically makes me a steward; one who looks after things and people. My family are people; the most special and important to me than anything thing or anyone else in the world. To me every person Christian or non-Christian, should have that same opinion. Unfortunately such is not the case. In 1 Timothy 5:8, Paul; says, “if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” Pretty cut and dried to me . . .

God has blest us with many blessings in the world. Life in itself is His greatest gift followed by salvation. Yet, with these gifts and many more, comes the responsibility of looking after them. The first thing that God told Adam to do was work. He told him to name all the animals in the world. Then, after the fall he told him that he would work and toil. Part of “work” is maintaining, growing, and developing the things that we are responsible for. One of those “things” is family; perhaps the most important destiny in our lives. “To whom much is given, much is required.” There is no question that we have been given plenty which includes family, especially in our culture and society.

The bible says that we are to leave our children’s children and inheritance. Yet, I find in our culture too many senior citizens who believe that spending their own money that they have “worked so hard for” seems to be a rite of old age and retirement. Again, we see people putting their “treasures in the pleasures” and not into heavenly things. We need to stop here and define the word “family.” Although I believe the scripture in Timothy that Paul was referring to one’s literal family, in today’s culture the members of our church, and indeed the members of the body of Christ are all “family.” Therefore, perhaps a better solution for seniors would be to go on missions trips and combine pleasure with purpose. Perhaps going back to school to re-train in the things of God for the benefit of “family” (in the broadest sense of the word) is more in tune than the narcissistic desire of “retiring” to play golf. Ironically, in spite of the world wide crises of needs, (food, clothing, water, education, spiritual etc. etc.) it seems to me that many people in this world, young and old alike, don’t have enough to do and are bored. If many of the retires of the world would cut their golf games in half and shut the T.V. off, and got busy helping with the needs of the world, than the world might be a better place to live. Point being, “how does a Christian retire??” If young people would stop “hanging out” in some sort of state of bored existence thinking that the world owes them a living, and get busy helping others and helping to solve the world’s problems, then wouldn’t the world be a better place to live?

As parents, we are commanded to raise our children in Christian homes with Christian influences and teaching. “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6) What greater responsibility in life is there than this? Personally, I cannot think of anything more serious and important that this commandment. This rule is not restricted to financially blessings. Indeed, that is the problem with many parents in our society. There is too much emphasis on material blessings and not on the emotional and nurturing needs of children. Parents are spending too much time making money for a certain high level of standard of living, but what their children really need is them and their time. Often the biggest regret of the businessman is that he did not spend enough time with his kids. Family responsibility is one of the greatest calls if not the greatest that any person can have in life.

Go to lifeposter.ca for more thoughts on this subject.

If you are walking with God you should experience a greater level of healing and prosperity than the world around you.

Why aren’t many Christians experiencing that?

In the dark ages, the church embraced the Greek philosophy of Asceticism which is defined as a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from various worldly pleasures, often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals. This spirit of poverty entered the church under the rule of Constantine in the 300 A.D. era who took this Greek mind set and added it to the Jewish or Christian mind set. Eventually this Greek thinking over took the church. The Greeks believed that the whole world was divided into two equal parts; the material world and the spiritual world. They were in balance and if you had more of one then you had less of the other. Therefore to “be more spiritual” a person had to give up the material. Therefore, wealth was considered an enemy of the spiritual (ie. God) world. In short, “If you want to get closer to God get more miserable.” This false theology was further perpetuated by the monks in the fourteenth century.

Today, we still see the remandments of this in our churches. There are still Christians that feel that poverty is next to Godliness and that money and wealth is sin. As you will discover, through scriptures and through the renewing of your own mind, NOTHING could be further from the truth.

Christians have been told to not pray for healing. Preachers have said that God may have sent that sickness as a blessing or to teach you something. In short, Christians have been taught unbelief. The church told people a lie: “God doesn’t heal anymore so stop trusting God for healing and prosperity.” Since Christians were told to stop trusting God for healing, they stopped trusting God for healing! The result of that unbelief was infirmity. That concept has been essentially brain-washed into many church people ironically by the church! Most of us have had that drilled into us – “Don’t trust God for healing; don’t trust God for finances,” Jesus could not even heal in his own home town because of unbelief.  (Matt. 13:58) That is still common in many churches today. However, God is calling us back to His Word an His truth. If we accept Him and His ways then we have a right too expect healing and prosperity.

II Peter 1:3 says that when Jesus died on the cross, His shed blood purchased “all things pertaining to life and godliness;” that includes healing and prosperity. Derek Prince said that “everything you will ever need in time or eternity whether spiritual or physical, financial or material, emotional or relational, has been provided in that one sacrifice.”

Just like Egypt in the days of Moses, the world lives under the curse! However, the blood of Jesus completely and utterly broke the power of the curse for you! Jesus’ perfect sacrifice has broken the curse of sin and the released the blessing of God. The Lord’s blessing in Deut. 7 says that health is part of that blessing. That is the level of blessing that God wants for you. Gal 3:13 -14 sums it best: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”

So how do we meet our healer and provider?

1. We lay hold to the full work of Jesus by faith; we used faith when we asked Jesus to become our Lord and saviour.
2. Then, the anointing is released and the curse is broken.

How do we exercise faith?

1. By Faith, we thank God that Jesus took upon himself ALL of the evil Satan intended for us.
2. By Faith, we believe God’s blessing is our portion; healing, provision, peace etc.
3. By Faith; we choose to reject discouragement and fear.
4. By Faith, we ask God for His strategy to overcome.

What many Christians do not understand is that after you have done all of the above, Satan still comes to inflict the curse. That is what he does; he goes around seeking who he can steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10) That is his job. Our job is to stand against him and to enter into the blessings. There is a battle to do that! We need to “war” to enter into the fullness of the promises. We accept infirmity to easily when it comes; “Oh, I must be catching a cold.” So we first proclaim that to our friends, then after when we have the symptoms, we take the medicine, then a few days later when things are not better, we think as a last resort that we might want to pray! Start praying at the first sign of sickness by rebuking the devil off of you! When we accept what Satan is giving us we are rolling out the red carpet and welcoming it. We need to remind the devil that he has no place in you. You need to battle for the blessing!

The same applies for finances. Choose not to be part of any depressions and/or recessions. Instead, say “God supplies all of my needs according to his riches in glory.”  (Phil 4:19) Blind Bartimaeous and the woman with the blood disease were both healed because they fought and pushed through for their healing. Jesus said that their determination to resist infirmity and press through for healing was a picture of faith!

How do we fight for the blessing?

Rev. 12:11 says “we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony.” The key then is the words that we speak, so be careful what you say. I know of a lady who is in a wheel chair and said one day, “I’m going to be in this wheel chair for the rest of my life and you had better get used to it. “ Guess what? She still is and always will be until she changes her confession. Your testimony (confession) is what overcomes the enemy. Whenever Satan comes around, begin to testify about what Jesus has done! When he arrives with sickness, then tell him that it is written that “Jesus took my sickness and disease.” That is what Jesus did when he was tempted; He put Satan in his place by the words He spoke. Speak forth God’s decree…. “It is written . . .”

Speak to the enemy and tell him: “Satan I resist you in the Name of Jesus and I command you and your spirits of infirmity to leave for it is written that by his stripes I am healed and I resist you, and you will flee from me now!”  (James 4:7)

So be encouraged to fight the battle for healing and for finances.

If you are too worn down and lack the strength to fight anymore, or you can’t see the strategy, then use plan B and go to a doctor. That is OK, but not God’s best. Jesus said that “he that is sick needs a physician.”

Confess the Word of God over your health and your finances. “It is written . . .” and then proclaim God’s Word over your situations.

The bible teaches that we are to be in this world, but not part of it. Our place, our “home” is really in heaven. We are just here for a span of time; or as the book of James says, “even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”  (James 4:14) However, we are here in this world and part of an earthly society. Consequently, there are certain rules and responsibilities that we must adhere to. We hear a great deal these days about our, “rights”, but little is mentioned about our responsibilities.

In our society our responsibilities include: voting, paying taxes and following the laws of our land. Every time we have an election I am appalled at the indifference that people have for the election process; one that my grandfather fought for (Vimy Ridge and the Somme.) We live in a country where freedom is taken for granted. Perhaps if people traveled more to other nations they might realize how impoverished other countries are especially those under dictator regimes. It is the duty of every citizen to become aware of election issues and cast their vote!

In Matthew 22:22 Jesus said to “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and render unto God what is God’s.” In other words, we need to render our taxes unto the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper. It never ceases to amaze me how it has become a totally acceptable practice is our society to cheat on our income taxes; to the point where if you don’t cheat, you are dumb! After all, “everybody does it!” Well, not everybody does do that! I don’t! I remember when I lived in Banff, it was a commonly held idea that the best job in town was to be a waiter or waitress because of the earning potential of gratuities which did not have to be reported on ones income tax. Excuse me?! Yes, tips do have to be reported; but our society says we are to cheat as much as possible. This has become so entrenched in our society that people honesty do not regard it as fraudulent crime; which is exactly what it is. My, how far we have strayed from God’s law.

Another fraudulent crime in today’s business world is for the small businessman to charge personal expenses to their business. This is very very common; it fact it is “the norm.” Again, “everybody is doing it;” and why wouldn’t you? It is one of the “perks” of owning your own business; so they say. I do not agree. When I lived in Banff I would often go to our local building supply store for various purchases either for myself or for my business. I had two accounts; one personal and one for the business. I will never forget the reaction of the owner when I told him I wanted to establish a personal account. He asked me why I didn’t want to charge my purchases to my business. I told him why; I think he probably thought I had a screw loose somewhere, but I knew I was doing the right thing. I believe to this day, I established a witness and perhaps some respect in the eyes of that business owner.

More appalling to me that people cheat on their taxes and/or charge personal expenses to their business is the fact that Christians do this! How do they expect to be blessed by God when they are guilty of fraud? Not only are we not to cheat the government, but we are to pray for it and the people in power. (1 Tim. 2:2) It does not matter who is in power and whether we agree with how the government spends our money. We are simply to be honest, above reproach, and pay our taxes. I am however, a firm believer in legally avoiding taxes wherever possible. An R.R.S.P. (K401 in the U.S.A.) is a good example; but once taxes are due, they are to be paid, on time, and in full. Scripture teaches us to be free of debts, that includes our financial debts to our governments, which is essentially ourselves, for we are the government!

Got any stolen goods in your house? (plastic milk crates? A & W mugs?) Were you given too much change by the cashier and decided to keep it? Did you find something that belongs to someone else and not return it? Did you jump that yellow light? Jaywalk? Not put money in the parking meter? Not put the shopping cart away? Stand in the 8 items or less express line knowing full well that you have 15 items? Going to court to “fight” that speeding ticket when you were in fact speeding and broke the law?

Hitting to close to home?