All the believers were of one heart and mind, and no one felt that what he owned was his own; everyone was sharing. And the apostles preached powerful sermons about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and there was warm fellowship among all the believers, and no poverty—for all who owned land or houses sold them and brought the money to the apostles to give to others in need.  For instance, there was Joseph (the one the apostles nicknamed “Barnabas, the encourager.” He was of the tribe of Levi, from the island of Cyprus).  He was one of those who sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles for distribution to those in need. (Acts 4:32-37)

Misplaced Priorities!

We, the church, are responsible for our people.  Instead, we have passed that responsibility over to the government.  The Kingdom should work as shown in these scriptures in Acts, describing the early church.  We have trained our people to look to this government rather than the Kingdom of God because the church isn't operating on Kingdom principles, so there is lack and misuse of funds.  In my life experiences of counting the offerings, holding the checkbook, paying the bills, etc, benevolence isn't enough of a priority!  So, here is my challenge to the church:

Starting in 2016, I challenge you to budget at least 10% of your offerings to helping your people who desperately need assistance.  Tithing is the least you should do.  Don't go looking for a way to "come up with some money" or take a special offering when a need arises; have it already budgeted and in the bank.  Have a system already in place to evaluate the need and make the final decisions pertaining to assistance.  

The excuse I usually hear is that the offerings aren't even big enough to pay the bills, so how can they budget for benevolence.  How big is your God?  Mine is big enough to supply all my needs, as long as I am obedient in according to His Word.  First we must order the natural, then comes the spiritual. Watch out for misplaced priorities!  Are your priorities--your budget--in line with God's Word?  Maybe there is lack because the budget and finances aren't being handled according to the Will of God?  When members are encouraged to tithe, they are told to be obedient to God's Word.  They are told that it is God's money and not theirs to keep.  Why would the church be required to do any less than its members?  

It is ALL God's money, He gives us access to what we need.  The more obedient we are, the more access we get.  You can't out give God.  We have experienced that time and time again.  
The church must get their priorities in order with God's Word.  God's people and the church must stop looking to the government to supply their needs. We are citizens of the Kingdom of God and He shall supply all our needs according to His riches in Glory...not the US treasury.  It's time to change our minds about money and seek our Source...and it's time for the church to be the hands of our Source.

I will end with some of God's Word (in the Living translation so it is clearly understood) on the subject:

​Dear brothers, what’s the use of saying that you have faith and are Christians if you aren’t proving it by helping others? Will that kind of faith save anyone?  If you have a friend who is in need of food and clothing,  and you say to him, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat hearty,” and then don’t give him clothes or food, what good does that do? (James 2:14-16)

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Sir, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you anything to drink? Or a stranger, and help you? Or naked, and clothe you?  When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’  “And I, the King, will tell them, ‘When you did it to these my brothers, you were doing it to me!’ ...Then I will turn to those on my left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry and you wouldn’t feed me; thirsty, and you wouldn’t give me anything to drink; a stranger, and you refused me hospitality; naked, and you wouldn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

“And I will answer, ‘When you refused to help the least of these my brothers, you were refusing help to me.’

“And they shall go away into eternal punishment; but the righteous into everlasting life.” (Matthew 25:37-40, 41-46)

He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given. (Proverbs 19:17 NKJV)

New Seasons!
Arlene Luchie

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Have your ever gone to a "Chinatown" in a major city?  New York, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles all has one.  How about Borough Park, Brooklyn, where the Hasidic Jews live?  Or Lancaster, Pennsylvania where there is a large community of Amish?  When you step into these communities, you immediately know the culture of the people who live and work there.  They are people from the same culture who live in the United States.  In many ways, they are IN the United States, but  not OF the United States.  They know who they are and want to retain their culture.

Now, let us compare that to the church and the Kingdom of God.   I am talking both about church establishments and God's people.  We are called to be disciples of Christ.  We are ambassadors of the Kingdom of God.  We are salt and light. When people visit a church, by the time they leave they should be saying, "So THIS is what the Kingdom is like!"  When we visit Chinatown, we can easily say "So THIS is what it is like in China!".  When we say that, we are talking about the culture--the language, the food, the attitudes and traditions.

When we meet people, by the time they leave us, they should know what the Kingdom culture is!  All too often though, when they talk with us or come to our churches, all they see reflected is the pop culture of the world.  This world does not need an imitation of its own culture.  It needs to be immersed in God's culture!  For that to happen, His citizens must first stop absorbing this world's culture and get filled with God's Word.  When we are filled with His Word, we will begin to walk, talk and radiate His Kingdom culture everywhere we go.  Then when people of the world come into our presence and into our churches, they will see God's culture.  We create the culture and the Holy Spirit draws the world to God.

When Jesus spoke in John 17 about being in the world but not of the world, He wasn't talking about physically being separate from the world.  He was talking about Kingdom culture.  He was talking about being full of His Word and retaining our "home" culture everywhere we go, and that God would protect us as we live in this foreign culture.   I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.  As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 

When I step into Chinatown, or Borough Park or even "Little Italy" I immediately know the culture from which these people came.  When people step into your life or your church, can they say the same?  Let's stop looking like the world and start being the true ambassadors God has called us to be.

Matthew 5:13-16   John 17:14-18
~~Arlene Luchie

Are you a catalyst or a chameleon?  When you are "out in the world" do you stand out of blend in?

​Catalyst:  Any substance of which a small proportion notably affects the reaction rate of a chemical reaction without itself being changed or consumed. One molecule may transform several million reactant molecules a minute.   In plain English, a catalyst will change their surrounding environment without being changed itself.

Our lost and dying world needs Kingdom Citizens who are so full of God's Word that it oozes out of their very pores.  Catalysts who change whatever environment they enter.  People with an unshakable foundation of Biblical morality and integrity could walk into a bar, and before the evening is over, lives would be forever changed.  Drinking and hooking up would be the last thing  on people's minds because a catalyst walked in and they felt the change in their environment.  The Holy Spirit is ushered in with a catalyst, and the Holy Spirit convicts, and draws people to God and repentance!  Bible-thumping, yelling, condemning and telling people they are going to hell, won't do it.  

The problem today is that far too many "believers" are more chameleon than catalyst.  They blend in and change to fit in with their environment and no one can tell them from sinners.  They become their environment!

This lost, damaged and dying world does not need another chameleon.  It needs catalysts!  How can you be a catalyst?  It begins from within:  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  Transform your mind, transform your world!  

When you enter a chaotic environment, do you bring peace?  Or do you absorb the chaos and become anxious and agitated?  When I walk into a room, I believe the Holy Spirit and all the gifts that go with it come with me and overtake chaos and strife!  Yes!  Peace, be still!  

You were bought with a price; bought with the blood of Jesus.  Your life is no longer your own.  People are living lives of desperation and misery while the 'God hole' within them longs for Him. We have the answer! We don't have time to waste as chameleons!  Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Imagine a nation full of Kingdom citizens...People walking in unshakable integrity. Kingdom Catalysts rise up and change your world!  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Romans 12:2   2 Corinthians 5:20-21    Joshua 1:9
~~Arlene Luchie