Culture in context here has to do with the expected behavioural pattern or life style of a set of people. In relation to ministerial anointing there are several biblical cultures we should possess and exhibit. It is God's expectation we adopt these biblical cultures in our life style. Practising this biblical cultures/principle or making it a habit takes you to where God wants you to be in life. The Bible which was written to teach these biblical cultures. These biblical cultures can be sited in the Bible and are written to guide and teach us.
1. The Culture Of Faithful Stewardship To God's Budgeting Plan
God's budgeting plan is a system where God has made adequate
provision for everybody through their regular businesses and job except the
Levites.
14 What
follows is an account of how the land of Canaan west of the Jordan was divided
among the people of Israel. Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the
leaders of the families of the Israelite tribes divided it among the
population. 2 As the Lord had commanded Moses, the territories of the nine and
one-half tribes west of the Jordan were determined by drawing lots.[a] 3-4
Moses had already assigned the land east of the Jordan to the other two and
one-half tribes. (The descendants of Joseph were divided into two tribes:
Manasseh and Ephraim.) However, Moses gave the Levites no portion of the
territory. Instead, they received cities to live in, with fields for their
cattle and flocks. 5 The people of Israel divided the land as the Lord had
commanded Moses.- Joshua 14: 1-5
The Levites were not given any portion of the territory because
God wanted them to give their full concentration to the work of the ministry. He
made provision of a budgeting plan for him and family to enable him survive by adding his portion to the blessings of your business.
By the reasoning of this budgeting plan he stated in Deuteronomy
14:27 “Do not neglect the Levites
who live in your towns; they have no property of their own." meaning
there is a portion for the Levites in the blessings of we get from the labour
of our hands.
In this regard God honours the prayers of those he has placed over
you because he knows that in your prosperity is the Levites’ prosperity and
their prosperity is your prosperity. Remitting what is meant for the Levites
renders the other portion blessed. Those who practise this principle never lack
because the portion given to priest attracts or get their own portion infested
with blessings. God continues to open doors to such individuals who acknowledges this principle because the portion of the priest has ability to rubbing
blessings. For those who don't practise this principle God removes the portion
of the priest from their earnings and adds it to those who practise this
biblical principle leaving the Pastor excelling while his members are struggling
to survive because He must take care of his servant. God is a just God, he did
not call his servants to abandon them but to make them a point of blessings and
epitome of his grace. God's servants are assigned to your spiritual and
material success. A balanced
theology is one that minsters to the totality of man. Man’s totality means Man’s
spirit, soul and body. A balanced theology is important because it takes care
of the spirit and also the body in which it exists.
2. The Culture of Muzzle Not
In this culture those who preach the gospel should get their
living from it.
7 What soldiers ever have to pay their own expenses in
the army? What farmers do not eat the grapes from their own vineyard? What
shepherds do not use the milk from their own sheep?8 I don't have to limit myself to these everyday examples, because
the Law says the same thing. 9 We read in the Law of
Moses, “Do not muzzle an ox when you are using it to thresh grain.” Now, is God
concerned about oxen? 10 Didn't he really mean us
when he said that? Of course that was written for us. Anyone who plows and
anyone who reaps should do their work in the hope of getting a share of the
crop. -1
Corinthians 9:7-10 Good News
Translation (GNT)
3. The Culture of Matching the Spiritual with The CarnalIn this culture we develop the culture matching material things for the Pastor's who prayer and fast, intercede, teach, counsel your spiritual life
10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was
written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in
the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have
sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest
from you?- 1 Corinthians 9:10-11 New International Version (NIV)
4. The Culture of Sowing Upwards
14 But it was
very good of you to help me in my troubles. 15 You Philippians know very well
that when I left Macedonia in the early days of preaching the Good News, you
were the only church to help me; you were the only ones who shared my profits
and losses. 16 More than once when I needed help in Thessalonica, you sent it
to me. 17 It is not that I just want to receive gifts; rather, I want to see
profit added to your account. 18 Here, then, is my receipt for everything you
have given me—and it has been more than enough! I have all I need now that
Epaphroditus has brought me all your gifts. They are like a sweet-smelling
offering to God, a sacrifice which is acceptable and pleasing to him. 19 And
with all his abundant wealth through Christ Jesus, my God will supply all your
needs. 20 To our God and Father be the glory forever and ever! Amen.-Philippians 4:14-20
This cultures says we don't give because you are in need but
because you are in need of the blessing based on what the grace/anointing the
servant of God carries.
5. The Culture of Never Visit a Pastor Empty Handed
This was practised by Saul. Naturally such gift motivates a man of
God bless the giver of such gifts.
5
When they got to Zuph, Saul said to the young man with him, “Enough of this.
Let’s go back. Soon my father is going to forget about the donkeys and start
worrying about us.” 6
He replied, “Not so fast. There’s a holy man in this town. He carries a lot of
weight around here. What he says is always right on the mark. Maybe he can tell
us where to go.” 7
Saul said, “If we go, what do we have to give him? There’s no more bread in our
sacks. We’ve nothing to bring as a gift to the holy man. Do we have anything
else?” 8-9
The servant spoke up, “Look, I just happen to have this silver coin! I’ll give
it to the holy man and he’ll tell us how to proceed!” (In former times in
Israel, a person who wanted to seek God’s word on a matter would say, “Let’s
visit the Seer,” because the one we now call “the Prophet” used to be called
“the Seer.”) 10
“Good,” said Saul, “let’s go.” And they set off for the town where the holy man
lived.-1 Samuel 9:5-10 The Message (MSG)
6. The Culture of Sharing at Festive Times
12 And there
rejoice before the Lord your God—you, your sons and daughters, your male and
female servants, and the Levites from your towns who have no allotment or
inheritance of their own.-Deuteronomy
12:12 New International Version (NIV)
18 Instead, you
are to eat them in the presence of the Lord your God at the place the Lord your
God will choose—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants,
and the Levites from your towns—and you are to rejoice before the Lord your God
in everything you put your hand to. 19 Be careful not to neglect the Levites as
long as you live in your land.-Deuteronomy
12:18-19 New International Version (NIV)
This culture requires you remember the Levite at festive times.
Festive time here could also include when God blesses you with an unusual
harvest.
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