The Franciscan monks were radicals for Jesus. They sold their possessions and gave the money to the poor so they could travel around preaching the gospel. They started a revival in their time that transformed heartless people into passionate followers of God. Their creed was to follow Jesus' model as best they could. The Lord showed me that he is raising up Franciscans again.

There is a spirit of possessiveness in the land, and for us to become effective in the kingdom we must overcome this spirit. No one can serve two masters: either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon (Matthew 6:24 KJV). But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things will be added to you (verse 33).

This last year God led me to greatly simplify my life. He showed me that I was to pray that God would bring freedom to His Church. I have recently encountered others who God is leading to a life of radical generosity and simplicity. America has a destiny to be a mission sending nation and a giving nation. There is a war for this destiny. The enemy would cause us to be introspective and live for ourselves. The first settlement of the US by Europeans was Jamestown. Jamestown was settled in hopes of finding riches. Next the pilgrim settled in Plymouth Rock with hopes of preaching the gospel. The first wave of immigrants to California went preaching the gospel; the second wave went looking for gold. We are standing between two potential destinies that war for this nation, the destiny of a strong missions and giving call, or a destiny run by a spirit of possessiveness.

The early Church gave land, possessions and houses away for the sake of the gospel. It was such a holy thing that a couple died when they pretended to give a piece of land away. They understood that we do not live for this life, but for the next. Everything in this world will burn away, but the kingdom is forever.

When Agabus predicted a famine in Israel, it says all the congregations began to save money to give to them. Nowadays I don't think we would help the church across the street. The early Church had a greater kingdom mindset. A kingdom mindset is one that understands that the kingdom of God is everything. This entire world will one day fade, but the kingdom will go on. I guess a diamond isn't forever after all.

God rebuked the Church of Pergamos because they held the doctrine of Balaam. Balaam was a true prophet who sold out for money. The error of Balaam is greed. God can only give power to those who are ready for it. He wants to raise a Church that walks in power, and a Church that walks in his blessing, but until we get a kingdom mindset about money and power, He is not able to release the blessing. God won't give us something that will destroy us.

The life of Gehazi is one of the greatest tragedies of the scripture. Gehazi was Elisha's servant and had great potential. He would have known that his master received a double portion from Elijah, which means he could have had faith to receive the same thing. Gehazi was set off course by a love of money and ended up dying a leper.

The Churches are some of the most inefficient organizations in the earth. We pay huge fees to rent a building we use one day a week. Any business would be bankrupt with this as its practice. We justify it by saying God has all the provision we could ever need. He does, but he will give it to good stewards who use it how he would.

At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. (Deuteronomy 14:28-29)

The tithe is actually meant to be for the Levite and the poor among you. It's for people. It was never meant to pay for buildings. The offering was for buildings. Some may say, "The temple was a grand building," But there was only one in all the land, and it was only a symbol of Heaven. The modern day temple is the people. I believe God is releasing a new concept to people about money and about living for the Kingdom. It's not about building great programs, but about building great people who are great givers. God will release abundance, and he will give us facilities, but first we must overcome the spirit of possessiveness that blinds us to His word.

I see God raising up Nehemiahs who will build the kingdom. In that day the Levites had gone to work in fields because the tithe was not getting to them. Nehemiah took the tithes from corrupt men and gave it back to the Levites so they could do God's work. When God's work is done then the Church is built. Churches will grow.

God will pour out a blessing as we use it for His purpose. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse and see if I don't pour out a blessing you can't handle. The storehouse isn't the local congregation, it is a place in the temple where the Levites and the poor can share it; or more accurately, it was a place people went to share with the poor.

If you, through the Spirit, mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live (Romans 8:13).

As we follow the Spirit we overcome the flesh. As we gain God's heart we will know His ways. What would we be willing to give for the kingdom of God? What wouldn't you give for it? What would you trade for your soul?

I once went to a church that would on occasion take up an extra large tithe and give it to another church. Now that's kingdom thinking! God has an incredible destiny for us if we will overcome the spirit of possessiveness and embrace what God has for us. To truly live by faith means that we trust God to take care of us while we take care of His business. Ministries that find this place will find great blessing from God.