7 Essentials of Faithfulness: #7 Faithful in Your Offering

There’s a saying that you’re suppose to give 10 percent in your offering. That’s not in the New Testament. The Bible tells us to give as the Lord has prospered you. There are some people who can afford to give more, and that’s what He means by, “he that had gathered much had nothing over and he that had gathered little had no lack,” that there may be equality. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 tells us, God loveth a cheerful giver. If you give sparingly, expect little in return. What do you mean by sparingly? He means if you have it to give. Remember when Jesus was standing at the temple watching the Pharisees, the Sadducees put all kinds of money in. Then a little widow came up and put in a mite. Jesus stopped her and said; This widow has given more than them all because she gave everything she had. They gave out of their abundance. After you begin to do these things – the Seven Essentials – God is going to begin to open your eyes more because you’re faithful. The Bible tells us without a vision the people perish. When you do these things, you obligate God to work for you and open up your understanding. You obligate him when it comes to a revelation of the Body of Christ. Read 2 Corinthians 8:2-7

7 Essentials of Faithfulness: #6 Faithful in Working in the Church

When I was a young man in the church, I loved serving on the various team, like the Clean Up Team. I enjoyed being on the dishwashing team every Sunday to serve the 200 or 300 people who ate dinner. By working on church teams, I was able to get to know my brothers and sisters in the Lord better by continually fellowshipping with them. There’s something about working in the church that helps you grow, and have responsibility. I couldn’t imagine anyone going to church and not being on a team. Working around the church is one of the things that make you a part of the church. It takes many people to volunteer to help maintain our churches and I thank them for their labor and diligence. Be faithful in working in the church. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-11 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busy bodies.

7 Essentials of Faithfulness: #5 Faithful in Prayer

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, it says, Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. He means don’t stop praying. We should always pray like David did when Bathsheba delivered a sick child who was close to death. David prayed and prayed in the house of God, and he mourned. Finally the child died and David got up, washed his face, changed his clothes, and went into the house of God to worship. He prayed right up to the point his child had died. In Luke 18:1: And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. That means praying without giving up. With more than 2,000 people on the West Coast someone is always sick or may have a disease like cancer. We should always pray because we don’t know what the Lord may decide to do if we continue to ask Him. James 5:16 says, The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much. We have to always pray. We pray at the beginning of our service; when we are building a church building, at meetings we always pray for the Lord to help us make the right decisions and guide us in building.

7 Essentials of Faithfulness: #4 Faithful in Testifying

Anyone who has been converted and received the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues has a testimony of how God saved and dealt with them. When you testify you’re growing and developing in the Lord. All of us have a testimony of Jesus and what he has done for us. Every so often we all should give our full testimony – tell about the goodness of God and what He has done in our lives. Being thankful unto the Lord and testifying is important because when we testify, we edify one another. There are people that have been with me for 30 years, and I’ve heard them testify many times. Just about every time they testify I learn something new about their testimony. I need your testimony. Your testimony encourages me in whatever I go through. All of us are going to go through trials, which is why we need to assemble ourselves together. 1 Corinthians 14:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:20 and Revelations 12:11 and 19:10

7 Essentials of Faithfulness: #3 Faithful in Worship

When we come to church, we must participate in the service by singing and praising the Lord. Ephesians 5:19-20 says, Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Giving thanks always for all things unto God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 3:16 says, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. That has to do with us worshipping when we come together.

7 Essentials of Faithfulness: #2 Faithful in Attendance

Attending church regularly is vital to our salvation. As James 2:20 says, faith without works is dead.  Being faithful in attendance is not only to support the church, but it is also for your soul. Most people eat at least two times a day and snack in between.  Your soul needs to be fed too.  The more faithful you are in attending church and receiving the Word of God, the stronger you become.

The scriptures tell us to assemble together. It tells us we cannot be spiritual by staying home. Hebrews 10:25: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” That shows us the Lord intends for us to assemble together.  It’s a spiritual operation when we come together in unity and worshipping the Lord.  To get close to God, you get close to his people, and you get close to his people by assembling with them.

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

7 Essentials of Faithfulness: #1 Faithful in Reading

There  are  seven  essential  elements  in  the  Bible  that  are  foundational  to  our salvation. My next several posts will focus on these seven elements, which I refer to as the 7 Essentials of Faithfulness®.  The first of which is faithful in reading the Word of God. If you don’t read the Bible you will not understand the scriptures. Think of the Bible as food for your soul and if you don’t eat it you’ll eventually become weak and die. The Word of God can provide you the nutrients (knowledge and wisdom) to maintain your faith in the Lord.

Have you ever heard someone make a so-called statement from the Bible, and then you go search for it and can’t find it? Most likely it’s their opinion. You have to base your faith on the word of God.  The Word of God can sustain you.  When you read the Bible the Lord is talking to you. If you haven’t read your Bible, you can start today.  Try reading the New Testament several times before you go to the Old Testament. All the mysteries are hid in the Old Testament and revealed in the New Testament.  All the prophecies are hid in the Old Testament concerning Jesus.  When you read about the tabernacle in the wilderness, the brazen altar, the holy of holies, the laver, the seven-fold candlesticks, the shewbread, and the golden altar – those are symbols that are brought out in the New Testament.

Set aside time to read the Bible.  A lot of people waste hours and hours in front of television.  You may say, “It’s hard for me to read.” But when you start reading, you create an appetite. Don’t try to interpret it, just read it, and get acquainted with the scriptures.  It’s  the  minister’s  responsibility  to  give  you  the  interpretation.  In Ephesians 4, it says,  The Lord ascended on high, and gave gifts unto men. Some apostles,  prophets,  evangelists,  pastors  and  teachers. For  the  perfecting  of  the saints, for the work of the ministry and for the edifying of the Body of Christ.  That you henceforth be no more children.”   In other words, you have to grow in this. You come in as a babe. Paul said, “I fed you with milk and not with meat.” (1 Corinthians 3:2)  In others words, you were on the weaker things of God. You’ll learn about the baptisms, why you received the Holy Ghost,  what  is  His  purpose  in  my  life.   You’ll  learn  about  order,  where  you’re supposed to go to church – these are the essentials, the fundamental things you are supposed to learn. In Nehemiah 8:8, the minister read it to them and gave them the understanding of it.

1 Timothy 4:13 - Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Bro. Lacy Hawkins
General Overseer, Church of the Latter Rain/General Assembly Church