Personal abundance is God’s plan for you. Now, don’t think of abundance as being rich only, because most of you have read about a multi-millionaire that, in a state of misery, took his life. Abundance is not possessing accumulated wealth. Abundance is having plenty to do what God has called you to do and also, to enjoy the journey. An abundance of strong relationships, vibrant health, and purpose should be added to that list.
GOD’S EXAMPLE
All of the creation displays an abundance. Study the galaxies, the plant world, zoology and you’ll find an abundance of creative design. When our family went snorkeling in the brilliant blue waters of the Caribbean, I was amazed how the thousands of fish under the water. It was an entirely new world.
GOD’S COVENANT
God revealed Himself to Abram as El Shaddai, the “God who is all-sufficient, the God Who is more than enough.” Gen. 17:1-2 Subsequently, each man who honored that covenant experienced similar abundance, sometimes in the midst of natural famine, geographic moves, and occupational upheaval. Take time to read about the abundance of God in the lives of Issac, (Gen. 26:12), Peter (Luke 5:3-7), and His disciples (John 6:5-13) They are great examples of covenant-keeping abundance.
God’s not trying to get your money. God’s trying to bless you with more.
Pastor Tommy Burchfield
TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Part of God’s covenant for His people can be found in Malachi 3:8-11.
This is one of the most important scriptures in the entire Bible!
“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say,
‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings…
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food
in My house, and try Me now in this, says the Lord of Hosts,
and see if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you
such blessing that there will not be room enough for you to receive it.
and I will rebuke the Devourer for your sake…”
The door to your personal abundance is through tithes and offerings. God’s not trying to get your money. God’s trying to bless you with more.
A TRICK QUESTION
What is the tithe? Is it ten percent of your income? No, the tithe is the first tenth. That’s the mistake that many believers make. They say, “I’ll pay all of my bills and if I have enough leftover, I’ll tithe to my church.”
“Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all
your increase, so your barns will be filled with plenty…” Prv. 3:9
If you want to be blessed with God’s abundance, then give Him the first tenth of your income. He’ll bless the remaining ninety percent in a supernatural way.
GOD TESTED ME
The tithe, which we have established is the first tenth of your income, should go immediately to your local church. Some of our ministry friends disagree with me on this, but I have stood on that principle for over thirty years. In 1990, when we were first getting the camp started, a man said to me, “Tommy, I came back to the Lord through this camp and I want to give my ‘back-tithes’ of $20,000.” I thought of several much-needed camp construction projects, but that I could I gulped and replied, “God bless you, sir, but we believe that tithe should go to your local church.” If you live under God’s divine order, you’ll live under His divine blessings.
WHAT ABOUT OFFERINGS?
The scriptures designate offerings to be shared for the needs of others; widows, orphans, the poor, and the lost. There are so many wonderful ministries and outreaches that the Holy Spirit might connect you with for His pleasure. We receive praise reports quite frequently from many of you, our 120 Covenant Partners, about God’s abundance towards you as a result of your connection to this great vision of reaching young people for Jesus.
THINK HARVEST
God’s principles of abundance operate in the same way a farmer grows a crop. The farmer sows a seed, then waters and watches over that seed until the time of harvest. Your life is a seed. Your time is a seed. Your tithe is a seed and your offering is a seed. Plant it for God’s purposes and you’ll reap a supernatural harvest. You might be thinking ‘seed’, but God thinks ‘harvest.’ The moment you release your tithe or offering, begin looking for your harvest, which is God’s abundance on every side.
