Rules for Financial Blessings

Praise the Lord, Beloved, and Greetings in the Name of the One who said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). These words were stated from the mouth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is in His Name that I greet you.

Beloved, in continuance of our theme, “Rules for Financial Blessings” – a cheerful giver is not one who sits around waiting to receive from the person to whom he gave. One of the “rules for financial blessings” is to do for others unconditionally, not expecting that others will do for us (serve us) in return. Beloved, a cheerful giver just “casts [his] bread upon the waters” wherever it’s needed, and God sends it back to them from all angles (Ecclesiastes 11:1).

Precious Ones, those who give grudgingly are not in alignment with the scriptures. Oftentimes, these individuals are such “bad” givers that they put us in a prison when they do give. They may seek the glory for themselves by expecting and demanding abnormal gratitude from us just because they helped us. Alternatively, they may try to tell us what to do with what they gave, as though their gift has purchased some kind of control over our lives. For example, they may say, “Don’t let anyone share what I have given you”. You know people like that! However, this sort of thinking is diametrically opposed to the scriptures, where we are taught that “when [we give] alms, [we should not let our] left hand know what [our] right hand doeth” (Matthew 6:3). In other words, when we give, we ought to immediately forget what we gave, and look forward to giving to someone else.

Chosen Ones, if we give “sparingly”, we will reap “sparingly” (2 Corinthians 9:6), but scripture teaches that “the liberal [generous] soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself” (Proverbs 11:25). Let us not forget that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). All of God’s children ought to be so accustomed to the practice of giving that it becomes a part of them. We ought to be glad to make someone else happy! Jesus said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).

I will write more on this subject next week.
Until then, know this,
I love you all so very much,
In His Love,
Pastor William L McCoy

Rules for Financial Blessings, continued

Praise the Lord, Beloved, and Greetings in the Name of the One who said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). The Name of my Valentine is Jesus Christ my Lord, who loves us more than anyone. Happy Valentine’s Day, Jesus!

Beloved, in continuance of our theme, “Rules for Financial Blessings” - We will continue to examine Rule # 2 - Give! Some people work themselves to death, and die early trying to gain a few comforts in this life. Why? It’s simple - because they have not learned the age-old Biblical principle - “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). There are others who honor God with their substance and receive more than they ask for. This brings to mind another age-old Biblical principle - “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke 6:38).

Chosen Ones, some people are so stingy that they never give anything to anybody. Yet, those are the ones who always want someone to give to them! Remember, the Bible does not say “Blessed is the cheerful receiver”, but it does say that “God loveth a cheerful giver” (II Corinthians 9:7).

I will write more on this subject next week. Until then, know this,
I love you all so very much,
In His Love,
Pastor William L McCoy

Rules for Financial Blessings

Praise the Lord, Beloved, and Greetings in the Name of the One who said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). The Author of these words is none other than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is in His Name that I greet you.

Beloved, in continuance of our theme, “Rules for Financial Blessings”, this is Rule #2 - Jesus said, “Give” (Luke 6:38). More than giving our tithes, God commands us to meet any need that the Holy Ghost brings to our attention. So, plain and simple giving without expecting anything in return is Rule #2. When we give like this, we receive a unique blessing that we cannot find anywhere else. I’ve taught you on several occasions that a stingy person is never under God’s blessings. I also must remind you that if God does not bless us, we are not blessed. God is the only One who can bless or increase what we give. So, we might as well give with the right motive - as unto the Lord. As Paul puts it, we should give “not with eyeservice, as menpleasers [giving so that people can see what we gave]; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6:6).

Precious Ones, I have known people who had fine jobs, making big money, but they could never make ends meet. These same individuals seem always to be in debt over their heads. With all the money they earn, they have no more than those with just one job. If God doesn’t bless what they earn in wages, they have worked in vain. I’m telling you, by the authority of the scriptures, that God will not bless anyone’s earnings if they don’t have plans to give some of those earnings to God’s purposes.

Chosen Ones, the scriptures prove that I’m right - “...thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much [you have earned a lot], and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes” (Haggai 1:5-6). So, Beloved, it’s not how much you earn that brings satisfaction or high quality of life. Rather, it’s what you do with what God gives you. So give, and see what the Lord does for you in return.

I will write more on this subject next week. Until then, know this,
I love you all so very much,
In His Love,
Pastor William L McCoy

Rules for Financial Blessing

Praise the Lord, Beloved, and Greetings in the Name of the One who said, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). The One who stated this was our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is in His Name that I greet you.

Beloved, in continuance of our theme, “Rules for Financial Blessing” - we are still commenting on Rule #1: We must pay our tithes and offerings. We don’t wait until after we pay all our bills before thinking about paying our tithes out of what is left. First of all, not too many of us can say that all our bills are current, up-to-date, and paid up till the next month. The point is this - since we have to depend on God to one day exonerate (or relieve) us of all our debts anyway, why not make it easy on ourselves and please Him with our priorities in the way we dispense with our increase? Second,, when we honor God first with our income, He will always honor us with what we need.

Precious Ones, what I’m teaching you is clearly seen in the Book of Philippians. Many Christians are infatuated (extravagantly in love) with the scripture that says, “...my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19) - and understandably so. This scripture points out that there is no limit to what God will impart to His children. However, let us not overlook the events that took place before Paul made this statement to the church at Philippi. First, Paul acknowledged the priorities of the Philippian church - they had put Paul and his needs above their own. First, Paul said words such as these - “...ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction - now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only” (Philippians 4:14-15). Then, Paul went on to say, “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received...the things which were sent from you” (Philippians 4:18). Make no mistake about it, Beloved - when we put God’s House, His servant (the Pastor) and His Kingdom business (church business) first, there is no limit to what God will do for us in return. But remember, if we fail to put God’s business first when it comes to investing our finances, the prophet Malachi says that we “are cursed with a curse” (Malachi 3:9). He even said that when we don’t put God first in spending our finances, we “rob God”. So, if we fall into this category, we must stop “robbing God” of His tithes and get out from under the curse.

I will write more on this subject next week. Until then, know this,
I love you all SO very much,
In His Love,
(Your servant and Bishop)
Pastor William L McCoy

Rules for Financial Blessings

Praise the Lord, Beloved, and Greetings in the Name of the One who said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24). The only One who has the authority to say these words is Jesus Christ, our Savior. It is in His Name that I greet you.

Beloved, if you have been faithfully viewing the television ministry on the Bloomington Community Access channel (BCAT - channel 3), you know that God has been leading me to teach on the subject of “Money”. It is the same Spirit that has led me to teach on a new subject for our series of letters - “Rules for Financial Blessings”. I believe that 2006 is going to bring financial independence to me and to all those who believe that now is God’s appointed time to reward us for our years of faithfulness to His Word.

Precious Ones, while we are waiting for the day when we will receive our financial blessings, we should remember Rule # 1 - to pay our tithes and offerings. Scripture teaches us this godly principle. Most people who are financially embarrassed are the ones who don’t pay tithes at all, or pay them on a haphazard basis. Remember, God was very specific in His instructions on how we should worship Him with our tithes (10% of all our increase). He commands, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse” (Malachi 3:10). God never promised to “open...the windows of heaven, and pour...out a blessing” on those who scatter their tithes here and there or wherever they think it necessary to give them.

Chosen Ones, always remember that tithes are considered God’s tithes - they are not ours in the first place. We are commanded by God to bring His tithes to the storehouse so “that there may be meat in [His] house” (Malachi 3:10). If we want to be financially blessed ourselves, we should not give God’s tithes to a blind man, widow, charitable organization, or a brother or sister in need. If we feel compelled to assist someone with our financial substance, then we must give to them out of what we have left after (and I emphasize) after we have brought God’s tithes to His storehouse - the church.

Ordained Ones, the Bible never said to pay tithes only out of what you are paid on your job. If God increases you in any way, or by some unexpected means, 10% of that increase also belongs to God (see Deuteronomy 14:22).

I will write more on this subject next week. Until then, know this,
I love you all SO very much,
In His Love,
Pastor William L McCoy

Have You had the Water Baptism in Jesus’ Name?, continued

Praise the Lord, Beloved, and Greetings in the Name of the One who said, “thy faith hath saved thee” (Luke 18:42). The only God who has the authority and is gracious enough to allow our faith to save us is Jesus Christ, our Savior. It is in His Name that I greet you.

Beloved, in continuance of our theme, “Have You had the Water Baptism in Jesus’ Name?” - I pray to the Lord that Christians of this era would have their understanding opened to see that not everything they do pleases God. Remember, Paul said that our bodies (and our service in these bodies) should be so pleasing to God that they should be a “living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” (Romans 12:1). Do you remember reading that? Well, baptism is a service that can only be done in these bodies that God has given us. I long to see the day when more Christians understand that God is not pleased with (does not accept) baptism unless it is done in “water in Jesus’ Name”.

Chosen Ones, many Christians don’t understand that baptism is the engagement ring that God gives to each member of His Bride-to-be, and the Holy Ghost is the wedding ring! I’ve been performing weddings for over 20 years, and both parties used to have to take a blood test before they were allowed to receive a marriage certificate. In like manner, baptism is the blood test (the blood of Jesus over His Bride-to-be) that must be carried out in order for one to be considered his fiancée. Remember that all wives are supposed to take on their husbands’ names! We are the Bride of Christ, so we take His Name - Jesus. Scripture says that “we are buried with him by baptism” (Romans 6:4).

Precious Ones, as I conclude this series of letters concerning the proper and biblical way to be baptized, consider this; we understand from scripture (see Romans 6:4) that getting baptized in water in Jesus’ Name is the only way that the Bride of Christ can take on her Husband’s Name. Please re-familiarize yourselves with this scripture - “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17).

Ordained Ones, I will bring a fresh new subject to you next week. Remember this - baptism in Jesus Name is not my opinion, but a biblical command!

I love you all SO very much,
In His Love,
Pastor William L McCoy

Have You had the Water Baptism in Jesus’ Name?, continued

Praise the Lord, Beloved, and Greetings in the Name of the One who said, “...the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.” (Luke 9:56). These words were uttered by none other than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is in His Name that I greet you.

Beloved, I want to continue explaining how important it is to be able to answer “Yes” to the question, “Have You had the Water Baptism in Jesus’ Name?” Jesus commanded His disciples to baptize “all nations...in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19). However, we don’t read in scripture where this command was fulfilled until the Day of Pentecost, when Peter baptized 3000 souls in the Name of Jesus (Acts 2:38-41).

Precious Ones, this message is for those of you who desire to do things right - especially the things of God. I must inform you that what I’m about to say has nothing to do with denomination teaching - it is a Biblical fact! The disciples of Jesus would not have thought of performing a baptismal service in which they repeated the words Father, Son and Holy Ghost! Why? Because Jesus had already opened the apostles’ understanding. Remember, the Bible says that Jesus “opened...their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:45). What was the understanding that Jesus imparted unto them? The answer is also found in scripture. Jesus “said unto them, Thus it is written...that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations” (Luke 24:46-47).

Chosen Ones, the disciples knew that the Name of our Father God is Jesus Christ. They remembered what Jesus said - “I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive“ (John 5:43). They knew that all sons carry their fathers’ names. Therefore, they knew that the Son’s Name is Jesus (see Matthew 1:21), and that the Holy Ghost was sent in Jesus’ Name (see John 14:26).

Ordained Ones, this teaches us that it is important to “have water baptism in Jesus’ Name”. Jesus died on the cross for this act of devotion. Our Lord wanted us to have the same experience that He enjoyed when He was baptized. Jesus is our God’s Name. Why not identify with that Name?

I will write more on this subject next week. Until then, know this,
Have a Blessed and Prosperous New Year,
In His Love,
Pastor William L McCoy

Have You had the Baptism in Jesus Name?, continued

Praise the Lord, Beloved, and Greetings in the Name of the One who said, “I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things…” (Isaiah 48:6). The only One who can show us brand new things in this New Year is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is in His Name that I greet you.

Beloved, in continuance of our theme, “Have You had the Baptism in Jesus Name?” - in the hearts of most people, the New Year brings an opportunity to start new projects that they have neglected to execute in the past. Therefore, if there is even one or you reading this letter who has not yet identified with your Father and Savior Jesus Christ by being baptized in His Name, the New Year is the time to do so. If you start your year off by taking on the Name of your Father, you will start your year off blessed, and the whole year will be blessed.

Precious Ones, consider with me the knowledge that we already have. We already know that the minute a man begets a child, He automatically becomes a father, and he is entitled to see to it that his child bears his name. Just as every natural father has a name that identifies his bloodline, so our God has a Name that identifies His bloodline - the Name of Jesus! As the father of three children, the name that identifies my bloodline is not William - it’s McCoy. Thus, my three children must carry the name of McCoy in order to be placed under my bloodline. If we understand this, we can see more clearly why it is important to be baptized in Jesus’ Name. His title, “Father”, is not what identifies a soul as a part of His bloodline. “Son” won’t do it either, and “Holy Ghost” (as old folks would say to express something that is insufficient) “won’t cut the mustard”!

Chosen Ones, even Jesus admitted that He took His Name from the Father in order to be identified with the Eternal One’s bloodline. Remember, Jesus said, “I am come in my Father’s Name, and ye receive me not” (John 5:43). Obviously, the “hidden” Name mentioned in the Book of Proverbs (see Proverbs 30:4) is Jesus! So, all of us that were baptized in water in the Name of Jesus have taken on His bloodline.

Ordained Ones, remember that salvation comes only through Jesus’ Name. That’s why Joseph was not given a choice in naming Mary’s baby. Rather, the Angel that appeared unto Joseph commanded him to name the baby Jesus (see Matthew 1:21).

I will write more on this subject next week. Until then, know this,
I love you all SO very much,
Happy New Year,
In His Love,
Pastor William L McCoy