Way of Peace

 

Dear Friend, 

Have you watered your garden this summer? 

My wife Megen has watered ours many times. Very little rain has fallen where we live. I picture her with the water hose. She opens the valve and water flows to the parched soil. 

QUESTION: Should Megen take credit for that flow of water? 

Sure, she directed the water to the garden. However, she certainly didn’t create the water flow, or pump it from it’s origin to our house and onto the lawn. 

Megen simply opened a conduit through which water would flow. She was a participant. The water was already there, ready to shoot out.

Friend, it is very much the same when we participate in financial partnership with Jesus. I shared this recently at our church. 

All blessing has been created in Jesus. Whatever blessing we receive we can not take credit for. Just like Megen could not take credit for the water on the garden. 

God has given us certain conduits through which we receive His blessing. A conduit is like a water hose. 

One conduit of blessing is the Holy Communion, or Lord’s Table. Paul said many were sick among the believers because they did not receive the Lord’s Table properly. Jesus told us to remember His body, which was sick for us, when we partake. Healing is received at the Lord’s Table!

QUESTION: Should we take credit for healing we receive, because we took part in the Lord’s Table? 

I would submit not. Our participation was not the source of the healing. We simply responded to the good news! It is God’s grace!

Similarly, when it comes to finances, Jesus has provided for our prosperity. Jesus became poor so that we might be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).

A conduit of blessing for finances is the Lord’s tithe and offerings. The Apostle Paul tells us that when we step into financial partnership with Jesus, giving tithes and offerings, we will reap a generous harvest. 

QUESTION: Should we take credit for financial miracles we receive, because we took part in tithes and offerings? 

Again, I would wholeheartedly say no! We can never earn God’s favor. In ourselves we are hopeless. We simply respond to His love.

Only by the grace and mercy of our Lord can we receive blessing. These conduits through which we receive the blessings should not be viewed as the source. 

The water hose my wife used to spray water on the garden was certainly not the source of the water. It was simply a conduit through which the water flowed. 

It is the same with the Lord’s Table and tithe/offerings. They are NOT the source of the blessing, simply the conduit. 

Now, imagine when we all turn our conduits of finance toward the Gospel in Israel. Together each of our individual hoses become a massive flow… like Niagara Falls!!

Israel needs our support: prayers and finances. The spiritual landscape must have the water of the Gospel. 

Together, we (PARTNERS OF WAY OF PEACE) support an outreach center in the heart of Tel Aviv. Since 1993, this outreach has given the Gospel to Israelis. It is a place where Israelis can drop in for a chat over a cup of coffee. It is a safe, friendly environment where they can hear about Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah. Free books and bibles are available for non-believers to take home. 

Your support makes this possible! Your conduit of blessing, provided by Jesus!

Remember the water hose. The water was always there. However, it did not flow until Megen received the flow by opening the tap. 

The flow of blessing is here in Jesus NOW. His work was completed on the cross. He has nothing left to do. We simply receive!

Today, would you direct your financial stewardship to the Gospel in Israel?

RESPONSE:

1. Ask the Lord what He would have you do today for the Gospel in Israel. 

2. Say, “YES”, and take action today.

I look forward to hear from you!

Shalom in Yeshua!

Nathan Thurber

 

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