1. Evangelism must continue as a sacred work until the return of Jesus Christ to harvest his believers from the earth. The primary focus for disciples of the Lord are prophecy, publishing revelation, and continuing unseen operations to comfort, edify and exhort other believers. Yet, many mistakenly hold that the work for the body is no more than church attendance, fomenting unrest, fund-raising, preaching, self-improvement, singing spiritual songs, social welfare, and teaching questionable doctrines. An authentic ministry to the modern world that will address the spiritual needs of billions of persons in multiple nations can go forward only by each believer acknowledging a duty to provide, according to their own means, the needed financial, human, material, and sacred resources.
2. Dedication, expectation, perseverance, urgency and zeal should characterize the work of the church. In addition to showing exclusive acknowledgment of divinity as the source of their salvation, believers are also to demonstrate correct sacred knowledge, and awareness that the present period with opportunities for divine salvation must be ended before the coming of Christ. Using the metaphors of sowing, planting, and waiting for ones harvest, it is correct to speak of changing times, seasons, the closing of doors, and no longer having the present access to GOD. The many ongoing temporal events for rebirth and new life will soon be withheld.
3. Just as offerings and sacrifices were transferred to GOD from the holy altar by sacred fire, material gifts and money are delivered to Christ through the fire of ones indwelling Spirit as godly intent, praise, sacred purpose, and willing submission. All gifts from the earth must become spirit substance, before they are received by divinity. In the process of the World, those choosing to donate, and support the work of a pastor or organized ministry by making gifts of money may be spoken of as their “co-workers” and “partners”. The pastor or ministry may then be described correctly as the agents, employees, personal representatives, and spokespersons of the giver: The recipient must answer to the giver, not to GOD. For the World, affiliation with the recipient’s good deeds and religious works, also means being associated with their flaws, shortcomings, and sins. By giving, a believer becomes vulnerable, and is seen risking their genuine salvation. The World accounts providing goods or money, and other practical works apart from religious ceremonies and rituals as mere manual labor and mechanical routines. Relevant issues therefore are non-spiritual such as access to records, accountability, credit agency ratings, ethical oversight (e.g., uncovering and removing conflicts of interest), and transparency for finances.
4. By programs that permit voluntary contributions and donations to be provided from believers, present day disciples are to experience the same blessings of development, growth, and spiritual power that were granted to those of the early church. Many come to GOD wanting to know, carry out, and share those plain and simple things within their means that may be used to please divinity. They become hesitant when they find that their behavior and motives will be examined and questioned with hostility. Commercialism, consumerism, covetousness, materialism, pride, selfishness, and even being wealthy are condemned by many within the church. Often believers desire to give, however, they may not feel encouraged to serve or express their love to GOD by their giving until special opportunities are provided by crises, emergencies, and unusual occasions.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, 5. Those who are turned to GOD through Jesus Christ have no part with Mammon, and the Great Whore who both make merchandise of humanity and all the earth. Christians are turned to the earth as caretakers and husbandmen. Therefore, the works of harvesting and ingathering should be associated with freedom, joy, rebirth and release. Anxiety, bitterness, complaining, resentment, stinginess and suspecting others are divisive, and tend to destruction. Those who condemn, envy, and persecute the church on the basis of outward appearances—because they do not discern eternal purposes and sacred operations—routinely focus upon desperation, extravagance, fear, greed, scandal, slander, waste, and weaknesses concealed among clergy and other individuals in positions of authority and trust. They do not accept that abundance, favor, fertility, fruitfulness, healing and plenty make the active presence of divinity known and visible. Peace is the godly outcome of giving and sharing that bring about celebration, thanksgiving, and unity.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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