In our ignorance, we attach meanings to certain scriptures. Especially financial ones. The beauty of what the Lord is doing with Carpenter's ministry, is that
He is going to re-establish the foundation of the churches understanding of finance - away from the standard sacred cows prevalent in the church today.
When learned line up on line, it makes perfect sense. A few cases in point:
People preach about how the widow's mite is a good example of giving; how she out-gave everyone by giving her last bit. The Holy Spirit had Gary "meditate the entire preceding chapter by assimilation". He read, and then re-read over and over again (prayerfully in tongues) where that section begins (sometimes goes back more than one chapter). Our chapter markers do not always indicate where a subject changes (btw).
By revelation, the Holy Spirit showed Gary where Jesus talked about how the Pharisees prey upon widows, literally as thieves. What the widow gave was a confirmation of what He had previously stated. It was not an example of how we should give. God is not into eeking out the last dime out of His people. Yet that is sometimes how it is preached!
Another is tithing to avoid being cursed. The requirement of tithing (in Christ) is no longer on the church. It was a point of law strictly enforced. Now we give freely what is on our hearts, without any manipulation.
People point to Abraham as a pattern, but Abraham gave it ALL, not to get blessed, and it was as a witness to the King of Sodom that he might see that it was God who restored, and it is He who blesses (That he might have repented as well).
Not forgetting the warning that many Christians have desired to be rich, and subsequently were "pierced through with many griefs." Even the rich young ruler was commanded by Lord Jesus to sell all he had and give the money to the poor.
It's all about where your heart is. For the natural man, it is inconvenient to have great abundance because God calls upon those with abundance to give. If your heart is not in the right place, you'll hold to the one and despise the other (the Lord). He'd always be there asking you to give om that thing that you're really trusting in.
The rich young ruler asked what he should do and to be perfect, it meant selling what he had (the thing he trusted in). Jesus never asked everyone in the Word to sell everything they had. Peter still had boats, a house, a wife, etc. Lazarus, Mary, and Martha had provision they served from.
How can anybody miss this contrast?
As Gary points out, you have these seemingly conflicting scriptures about blessing, and then (seemingly) not having anything. There is an understanding to each one. Our lack of knowledge sometimes holds us in bondage.
All throughout the Bible we have many warnings against the pursuit of riches, but nowhere in His testimony do you see God judging the poor for their poverty, even though we do see His judgment of the rich for their love and trust of monetary wealth.
We see poverty as a curse. It's not having enough. The blessings and curses are pretty easy to distinguish. We Solomon had wealth. It was not his wealth that caused him problems. We see where people come under curses and have problems because of their ungodliness.
It's where your heart is (what you're pursuing). God is very generous and we must have something to be able to give. What's the point of plunking a couple of dollars into the plate, if the need is much greater? It's about meeting needs.
In a nutshell: God is working to take the love of money (a root) out of his people. He's working to establish a trust in Him as a provider (living by every Word that proceeds out of His mouth) == Manna stage. He's working to bring us into full sonship (walking in the Spirit) and into our inheritance in the Spirit. This means every provision from the mind of Christ (
all things that pertain to this life and godliness) and all that wisdom provides (it's not poverty!).
But it only comes to the willing and obedient listener and do'er of what He specifically tells you. There are levels of obedience, so there are levels of blessing we all walk in. The most important part of Carpenter's teachings, are how to develop your spiritual ear and to expect God to manifest and give clear guidance and instruction.
I'm very much in the manna stage in many areas. We're established in some areas and enjoying that inheritance. But as God told Carpenter, rather than you working in the field (staking out your claim and provision - sowing in it specifically in order to reap a personal harvest),
He'd rather have you realize that you own the very field you work in and that (based on Jesus' finished work), all of your needs would be provided for you.
