KFLCC Kingdom Economics

Breaking the Spirit of Poverty and Lack

giving. This was occurring in the time of Haggai and Malachi. The prophet Malachi, also a contemporary of Haggai’s, spoke of God opening the windows of heaven and pouring out a blessing—if the people would give tithe and offerings for the Temple (Mal. 3:10-11). This literally referred to rain that would bless the land. Malachi predicted that, if the people would put God’s House first, they should go to the mountains and cut wood for the Temple’s reconstruction (Haggai 1:1-8). The people obeyed the prophetic word and their spirits were stirred to proceed with the building program (Haggai 1:1, 12, and 15). It would have been easy for the people to become critical and accuse Haggai or Malachi of using their prophetic gift to manipulate the people. Some could have said, “He’s just after our money and our time. We have our own work to do!” However, the former captives had no doubt recalled how that Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed Jerusalem, which had caused them seventy years of sorrow. They also knew that without the Creator’s blessings, the heavens would be brass (Haggai 1:10) and the land, plants, trees, and even animals would wither and eventually die. If they chose to put God’s house first, God promised, I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field. Believers who are in covenant with Christ and attend a local church must understand the spiritual principle of putting the needs of God above our own personal needs. While God Himself has no needs, the children in His Kingdom on earth experience numerous needs. There are the needs of the widows, the orphans and the fatherless; the need to feed and clothe the poor; and the need to send forth ministers to preach the Gospel to all nations. There is the need for teachers, Bibles, printed literature, prayer warriors and givers to support the ministry to reach people locally and spread the gospel globally. All aspects of the ministry require both laborers and financial givers to support the efforts. We are told that if we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness that all of these things (that we need) shall be added unto us (Matt. 6:33). When Paul was receiving special offerings for his missionary work, the church at Philippi stood with the apostle with their offerings of support. Paul thanked them and then wrote, “But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19). The prophet Haggai understood the spiritual principle of putting the House of God first, and as New

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