I have taken up a number of very successful offerings in my life. I have raised 30000 Euros in one offering in one conference, I have raised 17000 pounds in one offering in our summer conference, and I once raised nearly 40000 pounds when Andrew Wommack came to speak for us last year. To get up and receive a big offering for any purpose, you have to stop caring about what people think of you. It is that simple. One of the reasons some people cannot receive offerings is that they want glory from people!
A few years ago I wanted all our churches to receive a special offering for a specific reason so I told our pastors to receive the offering and gave them instructions on what to do. One of our pastors point blank refused, and so I went to visit them and I was actually going to receive the offering myself in their church for them, if they did not feel capable of doing it. Oh, it was not ability that caused the problem, it was that they did not want to lose face with people by talking about money. Listen some people will always get upset when you talk about money as a leader and as a pastor because their heart is wrong. I know one of our churches whenever I talk about money, there is one man who shakes his head and gets angry. He is very poor and the reason is because he will not submit his finances to the Lord. You will lose face with people like that if you speak God’s Word about finances. It’s that simple, and you have to get over it.
It’s a very sad truth that some pastors are desperate for the glory of people, they would never do anything to damage their reputation with people. They would quench the Spirit, only teach on some subjects and hold back on looking foolish, all to impress people! I know pastors who are so excited that some ungodly politician likes them or comes to speak at their church. I noticed when I read the Bible Jesus does not invite Pontius Pilate to give a short word before the Sermon on the Mount. He never tried to go and have an expensive lunch with Herod.
But when it comes to talking about money, there are pastors who will never receive a big offering because they are too scared of the opinions of people to say what needs to be said. They are scared of being grouped with those pastors who have abused money, they are scared of people leaving the church, they are scared of upsetting first time guests, they are scared of nasty emails from ignorant fools. In short, they are scared of being disliked by people. They are more concerned with the glory of man than the glory of God.
Do not be like that. If God leads you to speak on money, speak on money. If God gives you a word of knowledge about money, share it. If God leads you to receive an offering, receive it. If God tells you to do this or that, do it. If God tells you to say something about finances, say it. Stop caring what people think and start caring about what God thinks.
Selah.
As an aside, but as a very important point, you will never be able to speak boldly on finances if your finances are not in order. If you are a non-tither, you have no right at all to be in a pulpit for any reason. If you don’t know how to give and give big, how can you inspire others?! If you are in that position, sort things out and do it quickly. Get help if you need it, but sort it out. The church needs people who can speak about finances with boldness, tenderness and wisdom. If we do not, we will never be able to fulfill the Great Commission.
Inspiring and Challenging Dreamers 