First of all, let me give honor and praise to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Glory to God for his undenying grace through faith in our Lord Jesus, whom He sacrificed for our sins. I pray that you will open your mind with the light and wisdom of righteousness to receive this teaching for which your administration choose not to practice in regards to a request made to your Ministry of Kindness for personal financial assistance.
According to the King James Version, scripture written in the new testament plainly states the Law of Moses or the Law of the Jews was abolished by Christ Jesus.
Ephesisans 2:15, (Christ) Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the Law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.
Colosssians 2:13-14, And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumsision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinancces that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.
Romans 6:14, For Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Hebrews 7:12, For the Priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the Law.
A new provision according to the necessity of change was written for us by the Prince of Peace, his teachings clearly states in regards to Giving.
II Corinthians 8:12-15, For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written. He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
The Church, a congregation which has grown with many members with a willing mind whom give their supply for your want for which the Church has in abundance according to what they have; and me, one member gave too, according to what I had. It was not 10% of my salary, but what I had, I did give. I have lack for which I sought from my Church financial assistance and the Church, in my case, did not supply me with the same equality as it is written. Why? Because I have not "Tithed" in months and on top of that, after an hour of scrutinizing my pay stub and summarizing a budget for me the Church still saw that I couldn't afford to tithe 10% of my salary because my living expenses would not allow it at the time. A whole hour with them to tell me what I already knew.
Proverbs 16:8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
Yes, I sat with the Church administration for an hour, and yes, we did go over a budget for me; and yes, I did provide the Church with pay stubs in hopes that the Church would see the condition I was facing is temporary and the assistance requested would help with bringing my overdue utility debts up to date. Instead, the Church administration called me a few days after our meeting and advised me to move. They offered me "security deposit" of $800 on another place. They told me to find cheaper housing for myself and my two young children so I would be able to tithe 10% of my salary to them.
I was speechless while holding the phone to my ear during this conversation. The message to me was loud and clear, if you don't tithe to the Church, they are not going to help you. And, if you do tithe to the Church and its less than 10%, they are still not going to help you.
That is really thoughtful of them to offer "security deposit" for cheaper housing, but what about moving expenses like renting a truck, boxes, 1st month's rent and what about utilities? I'm owing for utilities where I am do you think the utility companies will allow me to move and start another account at a new address? No, they will not.
I requested $1800 to cover an electric bill, $1,000; and car insurance, 2nd half payment $450; and telephone bill, $179; and water bill, $190. I had just started a new job, my rent was paid $995 and I removed the so-called better half who was living with me at the time, who was also responsible for paying these bills (and didn't). All the time he would grab the bills and he hadn't paid a dime for a period of two months. I paid what I could, but it still left a high balance and cut-off notices.
I asked them, are you saying there's another three bedroom out there in a decent neighborhood, with a decent middle and high school for my two children that's going to be less money monthly than $995? Three years ago I moved from out of a three bedroom apartment that was costing me $880 a month, to move into a house, for rent, in a decent neighborhood with decent schools, to provide additional chores for my growing children. My son, 14 and my daughter, 12. Idle minds leave to mischief.
Living in an apartment was not, in my opinion, the same as living in and maintaining a house with all of its chores and responsibilities. With my two growing minds, I have to grow as they grow. We progress together. I taught them to look to Christ for all things and you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Additional chores and seasonal yard work has kept their minds busy. There's always something to do to maintain a house and its our responsibility to maintain where we live. If you don't learn it at home, they're not going to learn it in the streets. All that I do, be it expensive or not, be it within my immediate reach or not--I do unselfishly for them. I don't have a life and wont have a life until they are grown and able to live productively on their own.
My mistake was thinking I could have a life by taking in a mate, whom made promises he did not keep. His slothfulness caused this chain reaction of monthly hardship. His placement and now displacement in my life, brought me closer to Jesus and open my backsliding mind to the realization that "I can not look to anyone but Christ for all things." "I can not do anything on my own without first praying and asking for guidance." My prayer for help lead me to the Church. Obviously, I misunderstood the answer to my prayer when I approached the Church Administration. I know now, it was the "Congregation," the body of the Church whom I'm to make my petition to. I'm to ask the members of my Church for help. Jesus says he is made up of many members and possibly one of those many, truly have a willing mind and will hear and supply from their abundance.
Just recently Pastor Cherry taught "The Year of Reformation." His sub-topics were "Becoming as one" and "Church staying together, not letting the Devil divide the Church" and "Jesus the Son of Man -- He came to serve --not to be serve." Is the Church administration implementing actions to the contrary of what the Pastor's teaching?
I'm not moving backwards, I'm pressing forward as an example for my children, especially since I am their ONLY example and have been since they were toddlers. I can't teach them the "Word" and to live by the "Word" and it not work for me. All they know is what they see. I'm continuing this course in the face of difficulties and I refuse to give up! I refuse to accept the Church's one hour of consultation to relocate my family to cheaper housing as the only resolution, the only alternative to a backlash of hardship bestowed upon my household because I allowed a wolf dressed in sheep's clothing in and reek havoc amoung us.
The Church administration can't possibly know my heart especially not in one hour! It was by the grace of God we were brought this far. Many months of continuous prayer and exercising faith in the Lord; my confessions of sins, that relieved us from the snares of the Devil, safely, with no flesh harmed, with a new and uplifted spirit, in a new light and in one accord. That so-called mate in our mist was evil, but we prevailed!
James 1:25, But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
I pray that the "Year of Reformation" of "From the Heart Ministries" a success in all sincerity, in righteousness for the Church administration and the Church members. May God continue to bless this Church with all of His riches and glory through Christ Jesus. In Jesus' name, Amen.
And to the member of Christ Jesus with the willing mind whom can supply from their abundance, I ask you to supply to this member who's lacking at this time and fulfill the equality our Prince of Peace originated for all members in need. May you too be blessed tenfold in all God's riches and glory through Christ Jesus. In Jesus' name, Amen.
This letter was written some twelve years ago and I did get through this situation and we remained in that house for ten years! God is so good! The Church about six months after our one hour meeting was dismantled by the Bishops. Pastor Cherry was stripped of his Priestly title and lost his enormous Church and the land he purchased to build a bigger Church on. He also lost his Lear Jet and two tour buses as well. It wasn't because of what they didn't do for me, it was because he challenged his Bishops with his arrogance.
