Sermon Part (1): "Don’t Be A Left-Handed Giver to God!"
September 25, 2022
Happy Sunday Morning to You All.
Let's open this Sermon by revisiting our foundational Scripture for the Series, Psalm 91:1, using the Amplified Bible. It reads:
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no Foe can withstand]."
God wants each of His children—the sons of God—to "dwell" in the “secret place” of the Most High God. I shared with you last week that the “secret place” of the Most High God, is the Love of God. And, by the great grace and mighty power of God in Christ Jesus, God has "placed" every born-again Christian in His “secret place.”
However, "dwelling" in the “secret place” of the Most High God is not automatic. To dwell in the “secret place,” we must obey the Commandments of God to (1) Love the Lord thy God with all our heart, soul, and might, and (2) Love one another, including our enemies, as Jesus Christ loved us. (Matt. 22: 37-39 & John 13:34) When we walk in the Love of God, God promises to reward us "openly." Meaning, God will take us exceedingly deeper into revelation knowledge and understanding of Himself. Into the secret mansions of our Father’s House, we can explore the depths, heights, and lengths of His real estate. (Eph. 3:14-19 & John 14:2)
As born-again Christians, we must all grow up and mature in our knowledge and relationship with God. This is eternal life personified. (John 17:1-2) Unfortunately, many Christians narrowly and selfishly limit their relationship with God to materialism, begging for forgiveness of sin, and calling on God to help them out of their troubles.
Many Christians fail to realize that God has already supplied all their needs. As I indicated last week, being placed in God assures every born-again Christian they have an eternal in heritance of health and prosperity. (II Tim. 1:3, Php. 4:19, & III John 2) Christians lay hold on all their needs by decreeing and declaring the physical manifestation of their supply by the finished works of Jesus Christ on the cross. (Rom. 8:32 & Heb. 10:23)
Here me clearly now, the “open rewards” of God are never provided to God’s children for selfish consumption. The true treasures of heaven are released into the hands of faithful stewards who forever grow wax rich in the Love of God. They progressively grow in the love of God so much so, until they are filled with all the fullness of God in Jesus Christ! (Eph. 3:19)
Like Jesus Christ, when the born-again Christian is filled with all of the fullness of God, they are anointed by God with the Holy Ghost and power, and go about doing good, healing all that are oppressed of the devil for God is with them! (Acts 10:38) These Christians are completely God-centered, rather self-centered.
Can you honestly think of anything better than being filled with all the fullness of God? It goes far beyond human thought of what it would be like living in an eternal state of completeness in God, Yet, this is what God has promised and made available to all born-again Christians. (Col. 2: 9-10)
Oh, what an opportunity we have daily to dwell in the “secret place” of the Most High God. Every person you encounter during your day presents an opportunity for you to love them like God, regardless of how the person may treat you!
Moreover, there are times and seasons in life, when people come into your life with the enemy’s plan of destruction—to lie, deceive, cheat, steal, and abuse you. But God’s love dwelling in your heart, causes you to respond to them, like Jesus Christ loved you. It’s all so, God can make and mold you more and more into Himself! (Matt. 5:44-48)
If no one ever mistreated you, hated you, did evil against—it would not be possible for you to be like God! The world hated Jesus Christ, therefore, it hates you too. (John15:17-21) The next time somebody does you wrong, you ought to say to them: “thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU!” And, then tell them about Jesus Christ and how He loves them, and that you love them too, and then do something good for them. We need to practice the love of God at all times. Let’s start making our enemies target practice for the love of God! Glory be to God, I have just made myself happy!
Let me get started with today’s message entitled, “Don’t Be a Left-Handed Giver to God!”
As a part of Jesus Christ’s Sermon on the Mount, He revealed to His followers, and to all those who would come and believe on Him, three vitally important holy actions that prompt God to reward us openly from the “secret place.” The three holy actions are recorded at Matthew 6:1-18. Let’s read this passage of Scripture, and then come back and start our discussion of it.
The three holy actions Jesus Christ identified in the text are (1) giving to the poor in secret, (2) praying unto God in secret, and (3) fasting unto God in secret.
These three holy actions are simple, but very powerful fundamental things that every born-again Christian must faithfully practice to advance in the love of God. However, having the right heart and thought motives are critical to growing in God. A clean and pure heart is most needed to worship and fellowship with God. Jesus Christ proclaimed “blessed are the pure heart for they shall see God. (Matt. 5:8)
We can clearly see in each of the holy actions, that God requires the right heart (spirit) be involved in order for God to reward openly. It makes perfect sense, right? God dwells in our hearts, and we in Him. He seeks only to worship with us in the integrity of the hidden places of our hearts; in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24 & Ps. 51:6) As such, we must understand that: "Why we do, what we do, is just as important as the things we do."
Our teaching today will focus on the first holy action Jesus Christ talked about with His followers: "giving to the poor in secret."
The Table below details what Jesus Christ said we should not do, and then what we should do when we give to the poor.
Commandments on Giving to the Poor (Matt. 6:1-4)
How not to give:
v.1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
v.2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
How to give:
v.3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
v.4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
In Matthew 6:1-4, Jesus Christ is specifically speaking to the Jewish people about how they should not give, and then how they should give to the poor through the local ministries of the synagogues and Solomon’s Temple.
Notice in the instructions, Jesus starts by telling His followers to "take heed." Meaning, He gives all those who would follow Him a warning to pay close and strict attention to the method in which money is given to God in support of the poor. Specifically, Jesus warns that we are not to give money in such a way as to draw the attention of other people to our giving. We must not give money to God and to the poor with the motive of self-recognition and for the applause of men.
We can read within the words of Jesus Christ of the seriousness of giving money to God, and for the purpose of helping the plight of the poor. God loves the poor, and expects His people to help them in their struggles out of the abundance He has given to them. Many Scriptures tell us so. (Ex. 22:25, Lev. 19:10, 25:35. Deut. 15:11, 24:14-15, Ps. 41:1, Prov.14:31, Zech. 7:10, Luke 14:12-14, Gal. 2:10, I Tim. 5:3-16, and I John 3:17)
Among those who are poor are the widow, fatherless, alien, maimed, lame, and the blind. I used this rather large sample of Scriptures in hopes of driving home this point:
As born-again Christians, we must pay strict attention not to get puffed up with desires to be recognized and applauded for anything we do to help the poor.
Always remember, God alone is the source of our supply. (Deut. 8:18) God alone is the one who prompts us to give money and material goods to the disadvantaged, and not we ourselves. Whether by the world’s financial standards you are considered rich, middle class, or lower class—we are all just one catastrophe away from being poor, or for that matter dead in the grave! So we have absolutely no reason to let “our heads get bigger than our shoulders,” when we give money or other forms of assistance to the poor.
Don’t you dare give a person who is poor a piece of money, or do some other kind of deed for them, and walk away feeling proud of yourself! As long as you have breath in your body, when you do good, walk away praising and thanking God for what He has done through you for the person! It was not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit sayeth of the Lord! (Zech. 4:6)
God’s desire is for all people of the earth to be delivered and set free from poverty, and never return again! (Luke 4:18 & II Cor. 8:9) Giving alms to the poor was a faithful and sacrificial action established by covenant for the Children of Israel under the Old Testament, further carried out as Jesus Christ ministered on earth as the son of Man. Also, under the New Covenant, local churches were established with a mission of supporting those in need within and outside of their areas of operation.
Therefore, the Church, the Body of Christ must always have as a central mission to give and relieve the suffering of the poor.
I would also bring to your attention the phrase in Verse 2, in which Jesus Christ said, "when you give your alms." Jesus did not say if you give. Rather, He said when you give.
So, God has an expectation that when the people of God come into the House of the Lord, they will give sacrificially of their resources to the Church, and to benefit the poor. (Ps. 96:4-8)
Continuing on, Jesus Christ said we are not to "sound the trumpet, like the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets," announcing to every one about their giving.
According to Biblical scholars, in those days, the blowing of the trumpet could be taken in two ways. First, some experts say that there was actually a trumpet that would be blown to indicate that it was time for the poor in the community to come to the temple and receive financial support. While other experts say that Jesus was referring to the manner in which alms were being placed in collection bins.
In the Temple, there was a trumpet shaped metal cone that funneled into the collection box and narrowed at the opening into the box. This served to prevent people from sticking their hands into the box to steal money.
Additionally, one could toss their coins into the cone in such a way to create a loud clanging sound so others around would know that they were putting a large sum of money in the collection box.
In either case, the idea Jesus Christ is communicating is not to try and draw attention of others to the amount of money we are giving. Hypocrites, as Jesus noted, love to sound the trumpet letting everyone know about their righteous acts of giving to God and helping others.
Hypocrites enjoy looking and sounding like they are followers of God, but in reality they are in love with another god, called themselves! Churning and burning in their hearts, they adore being singled out for their good deeds, and the resounding applauds of men. All the while, they try to maintain an outer appearance of being holy and humble. Jesus Christ said they have their reward—the acceptance and approval of men—but nothing from God!
In Christianity today, Churches corporately, as well as Christians individually, must always examine their motives to ensure they are pure in assisting the disadvantaged.
For example, on holidays and other times of the year, many Churches on their own initiative contact national and local news media to announce free give ways of meals, clothing, school supplies, and various other support services to help the poor and community at large. Also, Churches publish annual reports detailing activities and accomplishments to help the needy.
But, we must ask ourselves as Church Leaders: Are we doing these things for the sake of publicity—for the sake of advertising and brand-marketing for the Church and/or its Leaders? Is the picture of the Pastor and First Lady of Church on the side of the Church Bus, for God, or themselves?
Have our Out-Reach Ministries become solely focused on feeding, clothing, and sheltering the poor—without preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the poor? Are we beating our chest and bragging about the good we do in our neighborhoods, without concerning ourselves with the number of souls being added to the Church through the preaching of the gospel? If so, then what makes our Churches any different in the eyes of the world, than any other non-profit/charitable organization?
If Churches have become focused only on meeting the physical needs of the poor, then their work is self-centered, and not God-centered! The poor cannot live by natural food alone, but must also be fed spiritual food, the Word of the Living God. (Luke 4:4)
Likewise, Christians individually must guard against the temptation to practice their righteousness in front of others for the express purpose of making themselves look good, or to gain recognition. Some Churches, for example, have set certain donation levels to raise money for causes to help the community in return for perks.
For example, for giving to a cause, some Churches will offer the congregate to have their name or families’ name gold-plated engraved on a Church pew, stained glass window, or have an annex of the Church building named after them. The Church may also offer to elevate the member to the board of trustees, or arrange a special meeting with the Senior Pastor, offer a seat on the platform, front row seating, or preferential parking.
I want to make clear that in giving to the poor, Jesus Christ is not saying that others are not to be able to see you have done a good deed. In Chapter 5 of Matthew, Jesus said we are to let our lights shine bright before men so they may see our good works and glorify God. (Matt. 5:14-16) The problem is not with people being aware that you have done a good deed, the caution to us Jesus is emphasizing is to examine our motives for giving.
When for example, the Church is holding an annual fund raiser to burn the Church’s mortgage, and a Christian steps forward with a million dollar pledge. The donor even has a giant-sized copy of the check made out to the Church pledging the million dollars. And, upon the announcement, the Church leadership invites the donor upfront, shakes their hand and hugs them—and the congregation rejoices wildly in praising God for the huge donation,
The Lord is saying to the giver of the money, be watchful that their motive for giving is not so someone sees their righteous deed and says, for example, “Wow, Brother Smith sure is a God fearing man. Or, say, “Oh he really loves the Lord. He is a real man of God.”
If that is the person's motivation at heart, they have received their reward from the Church congregation. But, they also forfeit any reward from God for their giving.
We sing a traditional song, called, "Only What You Do for Christ Will Last." This is what we need to always remind ourselves of in everything we do. Are we doing it for Jesus Christ, or for self-interest and the acceptance of others?
Moving on to what Jesus Christ says we should do in giving, in Verse 3, Jesus says “do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”
I chose to title this Sermon after this verse because I believe by far this is the biggest problem we have with Christians in giving money to God and the poor today. In Christianity in general, there is far less beating of the chest and blowing the trumpet about what Christians are giving to the Church to help the poor, than there are Christians being dominated by left-handed giving. And, the result has been many Christians have grown cold in their love towards God and the brethren—and they know not God!
Let me also say very clearly that my Message title is in no way intended to offend anyone who is “left-handed”—a person who predominantly uses their left hand to do things. In fact, left-handed people are said to be among some of the brightest people we have on the planet. According to scientists, left-handed people are generally able to access the right-side of their brains, which is used for creativity and intuition.
Studies have found that people who are left-handed score higher when it comes to creativity, imagination, daydreaming, and intuition. They also are believed to be better at rhythm and visualization. Available data show that only about 10 to 12 percent of the world's population are left-handed, which makes lefties a very special group of people.
So much for the science lesson. Let's get back to the teaching. Biblical scholars say Jesus Christ was being "super hyperbolic” (grossly exaggerating, or intentionally grossly overstating a truth) when He said “don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” Let me give an example of a hyperbolic statement we commonly use today.
When a person is hungry, they may say, "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." Of course, they could not eat an entire horse, nor is horsemeat a recommended healthy food choice. But the point the person is really making is that they are very hungry and ready to eat. And, we all understand the person is telling the truth that they are hungry and ready to eat.
We know Jesus Christ’s statement is hyperbolic in the sense that neither of our two hands, the right hand or left hand can determine how much and for what reason we give to the poor. Independent of our hearts and brains, our two hands have no ability to take any action. The heart, in coordination with the brain, signals to our hands what movements to take.
What Jesus Christ means is whenever and wherever (in the synagogue, Temple, Church. Street, etc.) the opportunity arises to give to the poor, listen and obey the voice of the Holy Ghost speaking to your heart about what and how much to give. When Jesus said, “do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,” He means once you have heard the Holy Ghost’s instruction on what amount to give, do not have second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth—you get the idea--thoughts about it!
Jesus is saying:
--Do not stop to question,
--Do not hesitate,
--Do not doubt,
--Do not make excuses and turn away from giving as you have been directed by God to do.
Even before the time offering is announced in Church, do not plan, plot, and decide to withhold money from God. Thereby, letting your left hand dictate to you what your response to giving to the Church and the poor will be.
For certain, God will always tell you to give more than what you, in your flesh, have decided to give. Faith in God always demands a response exceedingly higher than human logic!
Let me have a side-bar with you for a moment. While Jesus Christ’s statement is hyperbolic, I believe there is a deeper truth He is revealing to us about keeping your left hand from knowing what the right hand is doing.
About 15-years ago, I began to see a deeper truth behind Jesus Christ’s statement, based on my own observations of how Christians give at offering time. When I recognized this truth, I also began to think back to my youth, when I served as an usher in my church. I recalled Christians doing the same thing in giving offerings then, as they do now.
That is, when the offering plate is passed around from person to person, or when the congregation is directed to stand and march to the alter and give their offering, each person gives the offering with their “right hand.”
Of course, I have not conducted a scientific survey to prove that every offering given by a congregate is done with the right hand. But, I can say I have never seen a person place an offering in the plate or basket with their left hand. Maybe that is because we have always had right-handed people in our congregations—I doubt it though.
But to the best of my recollection, every person puts the offering in with their right-hand—whether the money had been taken from their wallet, pocketbook, pants pocket using their left or right hand—when the money is placed in the offering plate, it’s always with the right hand.
I think Jesus Christ’s statement is not just hyperbolic, but spiritually born-out truth. I think giving with the right hand has spiritual and traditional significance. For example, I find it interesting that when Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, God through Jesus Christ quickened us together, raised us all up together and made us all sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus—at the right hand of God. (Eph. 2.4-7 and 1:19-21). We have been seated together in Jesus Christ in love, unity, honor, authority, trust and integrity at the right-hand of God.
In the natural, also recall, Pre-Covid-19, it has always been our tradition to shake hands with people, (at least in the USA and many other countries) using the right-hand. When you shake with the right hand, traditionally, it has served as a signal that you come in peace and are not holding a weapon.
In business, when the deal is closed, there is a right hand shake of agreement among parties. When a newly born-again Christian joins a Church they are extended the "Right-Hand of Fellowship," as they are welcomed publically into the family of God in Christ, who is seated at the right hand of God.
I submit to you, when we give an offering to God through the Church, it is a spiritual act in which the Holy Ghost prompts and speaks to our hearts on what we are to give in tithes, offerings, and first fruit offerings. In other words, the origin of the instruction to give, and the amount to give, comes from where we are seated—at the right hand of God.
When the money is offered with the right hand in obedience to the Holy Ghost, it signals to God: That from your heart you trust in and love God, you are obeying what He has told you to give in support of the Church and the poor, by faith, the money will accomplish its intended task, and multiply itself back to you many-fold for your giving. Thus, when we give money with the right hand, from the integrity of our hearts, it is an extension of God Himself giving!
In our Churches today, and for many decades, we have been experiencing a PANDEMIC of left-handed predominant giving by Christians to Churches and the poor. For several decades, survey data has shown that 95 percent of Christians do not tithe, and average weekly offerings range from $2.50 to $16 per week. These data are also accurate at Exousia Ministries, Inc. In almost 23 years in Ministry, I can count on both my hands the number of faithful tithers we have had.
I know with all certainty at offering time in Churches around the world, that the Spirit of God speaks to the heart of every Christian to liberally give from their earnings the tithe and offerings. From the secret place of the Most High God, the Love of God, the Holy Ghost whispers instructions on an amount to place in the offering plate.
But then, many Christians allow their left hands to step in and override the voice of God, and give less, and in many cases give nothing to the Church and the poor. Louder voices even scream into the ears of Christians from the left hand with excuses for why they should not give—higher personal priorities of mortgage, rent, and other bills to pay. And, oh yes of course, the left hand always injects thoughts into the heads of Christians of distrust in how Church leaders are using the would-be giver’s money.
Moreover, down through the years, I have even had several Christians, with great eagerness, pledge to give very large sums of money to our Ministry—but then the left hand quiets them down, and they never give a penny.
But, God would have you know, He only looks upon and deals with us after our hearts. It’s the conversations you have with Him in the “secret place,” and what you do afterward about it, that determines whether God will openly reward them.
When Christians fail to give as God has directed, they convey to God that their relationship with money is more important than obedience to God. In the secret place, the Christian is saying to God, that money is their Master and Lord. (Matt. 6:24) In so doing, they glorify their own desires, wants, and ways above God. They cannot receive the open rewards of God because they are operating outside of the love of God!
Think about it. Christians who are left-hand dominated in their giving, praise God, sing to God, and testify about the goodness of God—they have all these public displays of affection for God, but in their hearts, there is a fundamental distrust of God and giving to the Church and poor.
Isn’t this hypocritical? God desires to take them so much deeper into the “secret place” (His Love), and yet many Christians are not willing to take the first step of obedience required in Christianity—that is to give sacrificially to those in need through the local Church.
Exousia Ministries, Inc. was founded with its mission being two-fold: (1) to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ with the power of the Holy Ghost to win the lost to Christ and (2) to go about helping others in need—meeting both the spiritual and natural needs of every person we encounter, is our goal.
I will never blow our own horn about the many ways in which we have helped those in need in this Ministry, nationally, and around the world. Our Ministry is able to help those in need only through the faithful and sacrificial giving of God's people.
In order to do effective ministry, we must all give. We can do more effective ministry and a greater volume of ministry if everyone in our Church family is giving faithfully and sacrificially. If you are not giving, you are not being faithful to God, His Word, and the Ministry. And, also you show dishonor to the Leaders of the Ministry.
In our giving, Jesus Christ wants us all to be God-centered and not self-centered. So start making a heavenly investment by giving sacrificially, and do so secretly. Give from your heart, in the “secret place,” where God sees and let Him reward you openly with increased knowledge of His Love.
I want to close with a classic example of a Bible character who shows us all how to "dwell in the secret place” of the Most High God. The amazing thing about this man was that at this time in Bible History, he was a Greek—a Non-Jew, and had no covenant with God. Yet, he was such a dweller in the “secret place,” that even Jesus Christ marveled at his faith. His story is told at Luke 7:1-10. I will summarize the story for you.
The story is about a Roman centurion who had a servant that he loved dearly, that had fallen sick and on his death bed. Wow, a Master who loved His slave. The centurion also had a "love" for the Jewish people. The Scripture says he loved the nation and built a synagogue for them.
When the centurion heard of Jesus Christ, he sent the elders of the Jews earnestly requesting that Jesus would come and heal his servant. After hearing about the plight of the centurion’s servant and his love for the Jewish nation, Jesus consented to go and heal the servant—as he passed through Capernaum.
When Jesus was not far away from the centurion’s house, the centurion sent word to Him, that he was not “worthy” of Jesus entering his house, but that if Jesus would just say a word, he knew his servant would be healed.
He went on explaining himself to Jesus, saying that as a military leader with soldiers set under him, by his authority, he ordered soldiers to come and go and they followed precisely his commands.
So the centurion believed Jesus Christ was Master and Lord, and had the authority and power to speak a Word and his servant would be healed. And, when Jesus heard this He marveled at him, turned him around to His followers, and said “I have not found such great faith, no not in Israel.” And those who were sent to bring Jesus returned to the house, and found the servant whole who was sick.
The centurion’s story illustrates how to dwell in “secret place” of God. The Scripture shows us that the centurion was full of love toward God and others. First, we saw how the centurion loved his servant on is death bed, so much so, that he had the Jewish elders seek out Jesus to come and heal him.
Second, we saw how the centurion loved the entire Jewish nation and built them a synagogue—a place to worship God. He just let God’s love flow through Him without letting his left hand know what his right hand was doing.
As the centurion walked in love toward God and others, God openly rewarded him from the “secret place.” God opened up a mansion within the Father’s House loaded with deeper revelation knowledge and faith about the authority of Jesus Christ. Knowledge that not only Jesus Christ was able and available to heal his servant, but that the authority and power of Christ was so mighty that all Jesus had to do is speak a Word without coming into the house and his servant would be healed.
This, caused Jesus Christ to testify “that in all of Israel, He had not seen so great faith." The centurion's great faith was another open reward of God to him. Faith only works by love. (Gal. 5:6) You see, because the love of God was working in the centurion, Jesus Christ was able to do exceedingly and abundantly above that which the centurion had asked of Him. The centurion desired from his heart that his servant be healed, but when the elders saw the servant they found him made “whole.”
Not once in this story does it mention any personal material reward that the centurion received for his great faith and love actions. Not once, did the centurion brag or boast about anything great he personally had done for the servant or Jewish people. He just went about loving everyone. And while loving everyone, His relationship with God in Christ Jesus grew deeper in knowledge of God.
This is the heritage of every born-again Christian. Give liberally to the Church and the poor, and God will cause you to reap from His Spirit, life everlasting. God is never mocked, whatever you sow, from the Spirit (the secret place) God will reward openly from the secret place. (Gal. 6:7-9)
Let us put into practice right now what we have both heard and learned. We are to be doers of the word, and not hears only. (James 1:22-25) By the Spirit of God, we are going to take up the offering now.
I would ask that each of us from the “secret place” of the Most High God (the Love of God) hear and consider what the Holy Ghost is directing us to give. In this moment of faith, do not at all let your left-hand know what the right hand is doing, and willingly and happily give your tithes and offerings. God loves the cheerful giver.
Please send your tithes and offerings in support of Exousia Ministries, Inc. to the PayPal link below. May God exponentially multiply your cheerful and hilarious giving to our Ministry and ever take you deeper into the knowledge of Himself.