FINANCE INTERVIEW 2

Q: John, there is no specific prayer for money in the Bible. There is the 'Prayer of faith that will heal the sick" (James5:14) but no specific prayer for money.. So how do you get any?
John: Well, let's look at some examples to see how people in the Bible got their needs met. Let's look at Elisha and the widow woman. Did he pray for her needs to be met? No.. So what did he do? He asked her if she had any food? Then he told her to give him some first! (This is her and her sons last meal!!) She gave to the man of God and opened the way for God to do the miracle! Let's look at what Jesus said to do. Jesus said, "Give and it shall be given you" Jesus didn't say "Pray"... He said "Give"

Q: Does the harvest always come back in the form of money?
John: NO..

Q: Really?
John: Yes, really.. God's promise is to 'bless, multiply and increase you" Not just tip a load of money on the table

Q: Yes, but wouldn't that solve all your problems?
John: No.. it would probably add to them!

Q: Why is that? That doesn't seem to make any sense?
John: I agree. It seems the logical thing to do BUT remember, God is working out the best for your life, both here and in eternity A lot of people who win Lotto' end up losing it all and ruining their lives. So God is going to bless you in a way that will not harm you and bring glory to His name.

Q: Can you give us some examples of this in your life?
John: Sure. Our lounge suite was getting old and not very comfortable. Especially for my wife. I hadn't specifically prayed for one, I don't know why but for some reason I hadn't. My wife went away to spend some time with our son in Perth and whilst there, a friend of his decided to sell his lounge suite, which was in still in 'brand new' condition. My son, for some reason, took Nancy around to see it. She sat in it and said it was the most comfortable thing she had ever sat in!

Also, recently, I wanted to get away on holiday. I was getting 'really' tired and just needed a break.. But I didn't have the money to go... still, I was looking around on the internet at some different places and heard in my spirit.. "Karri Valley Resort would be a good place to go" so I had a look at it thought "Yes! That will be great!" A couple of weeks later, someone told my wife and I, to go on holiday and it would be all paid for! We didn't ask anyone for anything! God organised and paid for the whole thing! Jesus said. "..that men shall give to your heart" Luke 6:38

Q: I want to ask you about people who live in less prosperous nations that you do. Surely it will be difficult for this to happen to them? A lot, even Christians, lack even their necessary food.
John: I read a book by Terry Mize, many years ago, called "More than conquerors" One of things that stood out then was what you are talking about. How can you prosper in a poor nation? Terry spent a lot of his time ministering to poor people in Mexico and taught them about 'giving and receiving' He too, had been told.. Yes' prosperity works but only in America or other prosperous nations' He couldn't quite believe this as he figured the Word of God would work anywhere, so he taught it and got the people practicing it. One evening he was sitting down to a meal with a poor Mexican family, when the wife broke down in tears.. they all sat there quietly until she stopped.. Then she said to Terry. "I want to thank you for coming and teaching us about prosperity. When you first came, my husband only had one pair of trousers that had patches on the patches, my kids always went to bed hungry and we never had enough.. Since you have taught us about giving, my husband has been promoted, he has several pairs of good trousers, we have our own animals and we even send out for 'Cokes' for the kids" Their lives had been turned around, simply by believing what the Word of God said and acted upon it! he told then to find something to give, so the wife used to handmake little 'doily's' and then find someone to give them to.. Terry then also wept and thanked God that His Word would work anywhere in the world..

Q: Any other ways it can come?
John: Yes.. Don’t put God in a box by thinking that is how He will do something! The Bible says “He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or even think” The harvest, or blessing, can come in the form of an idea. Somebody once said.. "We don't have a money problem, we have an idea problem" I remember once, I was in a newsagents and was looking at some books for some ideas, when the Lord spoke to me and said "Ideas come from the Lord, not from reading books" He can give you a an idea for a small business, or an idea to bless your work. he can show you how to fix a problem when others can't. It's got nothing to do with how smart you are. It's grace! I think of George Washington Carver, that brilliant scientist who was such a warm-hearted, humble Negro Christian. He came to God and said, "Lord, there are so many secrets in the universe. Please show me your secrets." God said, "The universe is too big for you. I want you to take a peanut and start with that." And so George Washington Carver prayerfully began to investigate the mysteries of the peanut. He discovered over 150 new uses for it and thereby revolutionized the technology of the South. He was a tremendous benefactor to mankind, and was especially a blessing to the Negro people, because he began with this prayer: "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer" {Psa 19:14 RSV}

If there is an example of God ever blessing one person, He will do it for all, Regardless of race, colour or education. His Word declares that He is 'No respecter of persons" He has no favourites, He loves all His children the same. It's just that some have discovered how to operate in His ways and His laws, that they are more blessed than others. Anyone can receive from Him.. Jesus always said.. "whosoever will..." If you are a 'whosoever' - then you qualify!

Jesus made a statement about the greatness of God that we should all think about for a while.. In answer to the Scribes and Pharisees questions one time.. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, that God is able of these stones to raise up Children to Abraham" Jesus is pointing to a pile of rocks and says that God is able to turn them into children to fulfill His promise to Abraham, if that what it took!! Next time you see some rocks, have a think about this!

The Bible says, "Isaac sowed in the year of famine and received a 100 fold.."

God is not limited by natural circumstances.. only by our faith.

Q: Do you see the results of you teaching this?
John: Yes, even recently, a lady contacted us and told us about a load of debts she has and asked how to get rid of them. I gave her the teachings and the Word of God about "In desperate need, sow some seed" She went a ‘did it' and things started to turn around for her. She had made some mistakes in the past but had asked the Lord to forgive her and asked how could she get out this mess! She wasn't well educated and had very little money, yet she just started to 'do it' and plant seeds in faith and the Lord responded and her circumstances have begun to change. She has got a hold of it now and her life will change as a result of it! Sometimes, people just need to know what to do. God said "My people are destroyed, or cut off, through lack of knowledge" We gave her the knowledge of what the Word said, she did it and God blessed it!! Awesome isn't it?

Q: Yes, it all sounds so simply!
John: Yes it is.. BUT it also takes courage and faith to do it. It's easy to say this, It's another to go and do it! You will notice Gods instructions to the Joshua when the children of Israel went to go into the promised land.. "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and very courageous..." That was His first words on the matter. They were about to go and possess what He had promised them but there were 'giants in the land' They were real too! Very big, well armed in walled cities and with an extremely bad attitude to anyone who came into their territory!! Jesus told me one night. "It takes courage to live by faith son"

Q: What do you believe people who have been brought up in poverty, need to do to get free of it?
John: It's a lot easier for us who have been brought up in a wealthy nation. A lot of people have known nothing but poverty all their lives. It surrounds them every day. The first thing I would do, is set aside some time to break this image in their lives.

Q: What do you mean?
John: Well, we tend to go to church on Sunday and hear a message and then do the same again next week and so on. This is fine but when you have a stronghold in their life, it would be well to address and overcome it. Demolish it once and for all. God told the children of Israel to ‘Drive out the inhabitants of the land’ or they would ‘become pricks in their eyes and thorns in their sides and will vex (frustrate) you..’ That means, they will be a problem to you forever.. Well, they didn't drive them out completely and they became a problem, causing trouble from then on, just as God said they would be. If you don't stop and 'drive out your enemies' - in this case poverty, then it will be a problem to you forever and you will never get completely free of its hold. You go to do something and 'poverty' raises its head and frustrates your efforts..

Q: So, what do you suggest to anyone in this position?
John: I would strongly recommend that ministers spend LOT of time teaching on how to get free. Even if they are in lack. Jesus said.. "if you continue in My Word, you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free" As you preach and teach it, the truth will start to penetrate your heart and set you and the people you are teaching free. It's the old story.. "Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day. Teach him 'how' to fish and you feed him forever'

Q; Do you believe that you have a 'specific' calling in this area?
John: Each member of the body of Christ has something from God. I am called to Africa. A part of my calling is about helping people out of poverty. I have to learn it first, then I can give it away to others. You keep and receive more of what you got by giving it away! Sounds silly doesn’t it but that it how the kingdom of God operates. The bread in the hands of Jesus, multiplied 'when' He was giving it away! Jesus said "he that seeks to keep his life shall lose it.." What you try to keep to yourself, you will end up losing.."

Q; How do you 'know' that?
John: That's a good question. As they say, "Seeing a need, doesn't constitute a calling!" But as I press forward to fulfilling my calling to preach and teach in Africa, more comes. Last year, the Holy Spirit overshadowed me and taught me for about an hour on how to 'blot out the spirit of poverty in Africa' So that now becomes apart of my life’s mission.

Q: But will this work for anyone, anywhere?
John: Absolutely. It's the Word of God. God will fulfill His Word anywhere and under any circumstances.

Q: So, you really believe that you can receive a constant flow of finances or are these just 'one offs?'
John: Yes, a constant flow. I know a lot of people pray for finances and now and again, the miraculous turns up and meets their needs, but this is not the ordinary way of functioning in Gold's kingdom. That's how you get a 'doctrine' You pray for as financial need and it gets answered.. You pray a gain and the answer doesn't seem to come.. so you get a 'sometimes He will and sometimes He won't' sort of thing. That's not Scriptural. God ;s law has already be laid down.. He said in Genesis.. "as long as the Earth remains, it shall be seedtime and harvest" God is a Spirit Jesus said and these are spiritual laws He has placed for our benefit. They also have a natural application, such as farming. If a farmer plants seed, waters it and keeps the weeds out, he knows he will get a harvest.. If you want a constant harvest, sow constant seed.

Q: Is this some 'new' teaching?
John: No. Oral Roberts was teaching this, some 30 plus years ago but it seems to have got lost.. I believe God is reviving what He taught Oral. It will costs billions of dollars to finance the gospel in this end time and the world isn't going to help you do it!

Q: Did the Lord give you a prayer about finances?
John: Yes He did. In 25 years, this is the only time, I can remember, that He ever 'stopped' me about praying for something!

Q: What do you mean by 'He stopped you praying?
John: I was praying one evening for those in desperate need of finances, when a few minutes into the prayer, He spoke and literally 'stopped' me. He said.. "You can't pray that way about finances but you can pray this" Then He proceeded to give me simple prayer based on the 'wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just' You can find it on our website. A lot of ministers want to come to America and Australia with the purpose of getting money. They know that you get good offering there and figure this is how you get money. There are some problems with this. The first is.. "God looks upon the heart' He 'knows' the motives as to why we do something.. Is the motive, or reason, to be a blessing and use your gift for the benefit of His people and to bring glory to His name or is it to get money by ministering? I can totally understand people doing this! If I didn't know any better, I probably would do that too!

Q: What final piece of advice would you give to anyone thinking about doing this?
John: Firstly, find all the Scriptures that pertain to finances and spend at least 3 days meditating upon them. Make little cards you can pull out of your pocket and read them over and over. Combine this with prayer and praise for the 3 days.. You will find that ‘revelation’ of these Scriptures will start to arise in your heart and faith will come.. Then start to act upon them by sowing seed.

Trust this has helped you.. God Bless

God Bless

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