     Dear Elijah Streams Family Member,
     First, thank you so much for your generous giving to
Elijah Streams. We are all walking a "KINGDOM" journey, sowing into the fields of Harvest to bring Eternal Life to so many on the earth who can FINALLY drink fresh water for the first time in their lives.
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These dear people truly want to serve a God who would send you and me to bring them life-giving water.
     You and I are just alike, I'm guessing as we've been told to
ALWAYS GIVE expecting NOTHING in return and "Whatever you do, don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."
This was strongly emphasized as being from the Word of God and that if we gave expecting nothing, then – and only then – would we receive our reward in Heaven one day.
     But that emphasis is a bit off. Those Scriptures are in the Bible, of course. But let's look at it for one minute...
     Matthew 6:2-4: (Passion Translation)
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"...So when you give to the poor, don't announce it and make a show of it just to be seen by people, like the hypocrites in the streets and in the marketplace. They've already received their reward! But when you demonstrate generosity, do it with pure motives and without drawing attention to yourself. Give secretly and your Father, who sees all you do, will reward you openly."
     Jesus opened this conversation by talking about hypocrites who were literally standing in the streets and
ANNOUNCING THEIR GIFTS TO THE POOR... PUBLICLY! Are you kidding? They really did that? Wow!
So Jesus publicly preached
against doing that kind of thing.
     Jesus then contrasted that behavior with a funny expression in His day...a saying that was, when you give, "don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." It was almost humorous because of course hands don't talk to each other; He was making a point that our lifestyle needed to be one of giving in secret, WITHOUT making sure anyone knows about it.
OPEN REWARDS PROMISED?
     Then, Jesus closed the short discourse by assuring those who heard His words (or read them as you and I are doing)...
that those who give with pure motives: "Your Father, who sees all you do, will reward you openly."
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Jesus actually wants you to know, to understand THAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT REWARDS from God when you give with right motives and with a secret-giving lifestyle. Again Jesus teaches that GOD WILL REWARD YOU OPENLY... BECAUSE HE WANTS YOU TO EXPECT THAT VERY THING OR HE WOULD NEVER HAVE PROMISED IT TO YOU.
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When we give, we are to expect nothing in return FROM THE PEOPLE WE ARE GIVING TO! THAT'S WHAT HE WAS SAYING.
     We freely give out of our heart of generosity and we ask nothing at all in return from those
WE'VE helped.
AND at the same time we are taught TO EXPECT rewards from God when we give to those in need.
     My wife and I began to experience greater and greater blessings, starting about 10 years ago when we chose to
give more and more generously to many Kingdom causes. This was a secret-giving lifestyle and it remains so. But wow, have we ever experienced the generous heart of God when we gave to others EXPECTING HIS BLESSINGS FOR US DOING SO.
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I just wanted to share what has meant so much to us when we learned about God's PROMISED OPEN REWARDS for giving to those in need!
     May God richly bless you as you sow into the Harvest fields to bring fresh water and fresh prophetic revelation to God's people.
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To donate by Check
(US Dollar Only),
make your check payable to:
ELIJAH STREAMS
525 2nd Ave SW, Suite 629, Albany, OR 97321 USA
Or Call/Email Today:
(541) 967-3665
Info@elijahstreams.com |
