No. 5: Why do some Christians not experience lasting blessings?
(Na 5. Kwa nini baadhi ya Wakristo hawana baraka za kudumu?)
Proverbs 11:25 “The soul of a generous person will be enriched; he who waters will himself be watered.” When you offer to God in His storehouse, you connect yourself with the living God. God’s altar has a priest, an offering, and the altar itself. When you make your house the altar instead of the house of God, you invite curses into your life. Identify the things you should keep at home and the things you should bring to the house of the Lord so that God can surprise you with His blessings. When you tithe faithfully, God rebukes misfortunes and losses. It is better for a person with 90 shillings that are blessed than for a person with 100 shillings that are cursed. This means that the person with 90 shillings has given 10 shillings as a tithe. If a person tithes faithfully, people around him will call him blessed. A former devil worshiper once said that they couldn’t attack people who apply the blood of Jesus, fast and pray, and tithe faithfully. He said that people who did not pay tithes were easy prey because they were not surrounded by the fire of God's protection, even if they were Christians.
2 Corinthians 9:7 “Let each one do as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” God wants you to give to Him with joy and a willing heart. Also, know that when you give to God, you are investing for your benefit. In Bible times, they asked for the opportunity to donate to the ministry of the saints. Today, we do not give until we are asked to give to God.
2 Corinthians 8:4 “praying and beseeching us for this grace and the ministry of the saints.” If you are not willing to give, God can raise someone else. When a person takes your position, he also takes your blessing. Rev 3:11 “I am coming quickly. Hold fast what you have, so that no one takes your crown.” So you are not safe in remaining quiet when your peers pledge to give to the ministry. You should pray for mercy because God has blessed you a lot, and you have not paid your tithe to God.
Na 5. Kwa nini baadhi ya Wakristo hawana baraka za kudumu?
Mit 11:25 “Nafsi ya mtu mkarimu itawandishwa; Anyweshaye atanyweshwa mwenyewe.” Unapomtolea Mungu katika ghala yake, unajiunganisha na Mungu aliye hai. Madhabahu ya Mungu ina kuhani, sadaka na madhabahu yenyewe. Unapoifanya nyumba yako iwe ndiyo madhabahu badala ya nyumbani mwa Mungu, unakaribisha laana katika maisha yako. Tambua vitu unavyotakiwa ubaki navyo nyumbani na unavyotakiwa uvilete nyumbani kwa Bwana ili umuone Mungu akikushangaza kwa baraka zake. Unapotoa zaka kwa uaminifu, Mungu anakemea mikosi na hasara. Afadhali mtu mwenye shilingi 90 iliyobarikiwa kuliko mwenye shilingi 100 iliyolaaniwa. Maana yake ni kwamba mwenye shilingi 90 ametoa 10 ya Mungu kama zaka. Mtu akitoa zaka kwa uaminifu watu wanaomzunguka watamuita mbarikiwa. Muabudu shetani alipookoka alisema watu ambao tulikuwa tunashindwa kuwavamia ni wale wanaotumia damu ya Yesu, wanaofunga na kuomba na wanaotoa zaka. Alisema watu wasiotoa zaka walikuwa ni chakula chao kwa vile hawajazungukwa na moto wa ulinzi wa Mungu hata kama ni Wakristo.
2 Wakorintho 9:7 “Kila mtu na atende kama alivyokusudia moyoni mwake, si kwa huzuni, wala si kwa lazima; maana Mungu humpenda yeye atoaye kwa moyo wa ukunjufu.” Mungu anataka umtolee kwa furaha na kwa moyo wa kupenda. Pia utambue kwamba unapomtolea Mungu sadaka unawekeza kwa faida yako. Kipindi cha Biblia waliomba wapewe fursa ya kuchangia shirika la kuhudumia watakatifu. Sisi leo hatutoi mpaka tubembelezwe. 2 Wakorintho 8:4 “wakituomba sana pamoja na kutusihi kwa habari ya neema hii, na shirika hili la kuwahudumia watakatifu.” Usipotoa Mungu anaweza kumuinua mtu mmoja atoe na sehemu yako na kuchukua baraka zako. Ufu 3:11 “Naja upesi. Shika sana ulicho nacho, asije mtu akaitwaa taji yako.” Hivyo huna usalama wowote kuamua kukaa kimya wakati wenzako wakiahidi kumtolea Mungu. Unatakiwa kuomba rehema kwa vile Mungu amekupa vitu vingi na hujavitolea zaka kwa Mungu.
Dr. Lawi Mshana, +255712924234, Tanzania
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