Mar | 02 | Dealing With The Reverend, William Fold

Dream Word – GIVE

Deuteronomy 12:19 Take heed to yourself that you do not forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land. NKJV

Dealing With The Reverend, William Fold

The Levites had no inheritance in the land of promise! It can be truly said that the Levites served the spiritual needs of the people of God. This was their commission and their destiny. To help them fulfil that commission and achieve that destiny, God Almighty made it incumbent upon the people they ministered to that they not forget the material support of the Levites. If that were to happen, maybe some Levites would starve to death, but I tell you, most would go and find jobs with income elsewhere. In other words, of material necessity they would desert their calling and their destiny.

Allow me tonight then please, to now turn my attention to New Testament Ministers, where I believe there are two types of employed ministers.

First the Contractual Minister. There are those ministers who have been employed by congregations that can afford them and they have entered into a vocational and financial contract with one another. This is always a precarious position and I know of many a minister, who, once they stopped tickling the ears of their employers, have been financially starved by such congregations and to such an extent, that they became wrecks for many years thereafter both financially and otherwise. If you are employing a minister and you want to dismiss them, you want to move them on, you want to replace then, then just tell them! Don’t starve them and ruin them, tell them! Come to some financial arrangement with them if needs be, yes, dismiss them if you must, but don’t ruin them. Talk to them and at least give them some time to find a job elsewhere to contractually express their vocational callings. Yes, if there is a mismatch, tell them. If however, it is the faithfully preached word that’s getting to you, if you can’t stand the heat from the prophetic kitchen then please, next time go looking for a minister down at the cats protection league for there’s many a pussy cat out there simply looking for a bowl of milk. I assure you, you will not have to look far.

Second, The Relational Minister. There are other ministers who have not entered into contract with any congregation or ministerial or denominational affiliation, yet believe God has called them to a life of ministry in which they have to trust God for their material provision. You may enter into private verbal contracts with such folk and if you do, then stick to it. In addition, those of us who actually seek out and benefit from the ministry of such folk, should, when we can, give to their ministry and give to them. Remember to do this as YOU seek and utilise their ministry, not as they seek to impose their ministry and financial obligations upon you. However, this giving you enter into is not contractual or obligatory but rather, it is Holy Spirit and conscience driven. Even so, beware here, that your conscience is not manipulated by strong-arm giving tactics of any kind. You are under no contractual obligation to support such folk. If God has called them to a life of financial faith living, then God shall provide for them. The Holy Spirit and conscience may direct you, but you are under no legal contractual obligation at all!

There is now one other minister which I must refer to, who is most prevalent in our times. These are not New Testament ministers for sure, yet they do abound in and around the church. These are the Hucksters, the Hawkers, the Peddlers and the Sellers of various brands of good old fashioned snake oil. You shall recognize them easily, because they always have ‘product’ at hand which they will make you feel good about buying, especially if that product will do you no good at all! These folks are usually dressed in green-suited dollar bills and go by the name of Reverend William Fold. Unless you revel in plastic spirituality, avoid them like the plague and steer well clear, for strange fire is always swallowed up in the end. Always!

Concerning your giving then and your own bill fold tonight, may I encourage you to “man up” about it! Get wise, keep generous, but become intensely practical.

Listen: - You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you. Deuteronomy 14:27 NKJV

Pray:- Lord, help me to give generously and practically to those I have entered into contract with. For all the rest O Lord, guide and direct me, in my giving. Finally Lord, concerning Rev. Bill Fold, help me see that he is fat enough to burst and die already, and that I have far too much useless snake oil, already lining up my bookshelves. In Jesus name I pray, amen.