If You Won’t Be Stingy With God, He Won’t Be Stingy With You

I hope you love the products and resources I recommend here at Foundational. It is possible that I get a commission and collect income from the links on this page. Click here for more info.

The following is a short passage from my newest book “Willing: Doing Whatever It Takes”.

This book is an autobiography of how God saved me, turned my life completely around and then used me to help spread the gospel all over Canada, the United States, and Eastern Europe.

This book is filled with stories and lessons God taught me about the importance of being willing to go wherever He sends you and doing whatever He calls you to do.

At the end of this post you can view and interview I did with my daughter Rosilind.

You can order Willing in Kindle and Paperback on Amazon.

Several days of fasting and prayer led into the preparation of a very convicting Sunday night message.

I wrestled with the Lord all afternoon about preaching such a pointed and convicting message but knew deep in my spirit it was God’s message for that time and for those who would be in the service.

The most powerful manifestation of God since we had arrived in Tumwater was present in the meeting that night.

Weeping and tears were visible on the faces of the congregation as I preached. The altar filled with people repenting and seeking reconciliation with God following the message.

A fresh spirit of kindness and grace filled the atmosphere the following Sunday morning.

A measure of spiritual breakthrough had been realized the previous Sunday night and Holy Spirit confirmed to my heart this was the burden I had been carrying from the time we left Tennessee.

I also knew deep in my heart this was only the beginning. Holy Spirit had much work to do if we were going to see the spiritual awakening Heavenly Father wanted to bring to the Tumwater Church of God and the Greater Olympia community.

Although the critical and judgmental spirit was still present in the church, renewed efforts were made in 1979 to see fresh growth in attendance and a sincere effort to reach our community with gospel.

We started using door-to-door evangelism tools and launched a bus ministry. A new sign was also purchased along with changing the name from Tumwater Church of God to Evangel Temple.

Church attendance grew for a season only for the critical and judgmental spirit in the congregation to chase the new people away after a few weeks.

Outreach records showed that over one hundred people prayed to receive Jesus through the door-to-door ministry during the months of January to September 1979, however, not one of them became regular attenders of Evangel Temple.

They found church homes at Evergreen Christian Center, The Church of Living Water, Westside Baptist, or another church in the city.

The fresh vison and fire of the Holy Spirit received during my days in South Bend did not dissipate, despite the difficult summer of dealing with the bank, the issues surrounding a failed associate, and the continued conflict inside the congregation.

I was hungry for even more of Holy Spirit and the work of God in my life. So, I designated October 1979 for a time of lengthy fasting and prayer.

“Read Ezekiel 22.”

It was late in the first day of the fast and I felt very impressed by Holy Spirit to read that passage of Scripture. I read the chapter, only to feel impressed, “Read it again, more slowly.” I read it a second time.

As I closed my Bible, the realization came this would be my chapter during this fast. Day after day the impression came, “Read Ezekiel 22;” then “Read it again.”

I have no idea how many times I read Ezekiel 22 over those days. “God teach me what You are saying,” became my cry.

Heavenly Father responded, “I want to win the city for My Kingdom. I want you to pray for this city and believe Me that I will answer. I want you to make yourself available to me day or night when I call you to drive to a part of the city and pray. I will show you what to pray and when you pray, I will answer.”

I read Ezekiel 22 again and again, even more earnestly, as the days passed. According to the passage of Scripture, God wanted someone to be an intercessor for the city of Jerusalem, so He would not have to judge the city. No one was willing, so judgment came.

“I want you to believe Me for this city. I want you to pray and ask Me for this city.”

I had never heard of such a thing. Believe God for a city? Could a person actually pray for a whole city and win a city for God?

His words did not stop there.

“But son, if you will not be stingy with Me, I will not be stingy with you.” The words came alive in my spirit. “Father, I have nothing to be stingy with You, but You have everything to be stingy with me.” I knew Father was promising me there would be a day when the harvest would be great. I was at perfect peace.

Spring of 1981 we had a series of special meetings. Jessie Boyd was our guest speaker and singer.

One night in the middle of those meetings, Jessie stopped during his message, spun around and pointed his finger at me and said, “God just spoke to me. He told me to tell you, Pastor, ‘If you will not be stingy with Him, He will not be stingy with you.’”

I was stunned. I just sat there, on the platform before my church family, not knowing what to say. I had never told anyone what God had spoken to me, not even Wanda.

Jessie turned back to the congregation and continued his sermon.

I never talked with Jessie or any of the church family about that confirmation. I held it in my heart and cherished God’s love and precious call to “win a city.”

I am sure Heavenly Father wanted me to know, a season of great harvest was on its way if I would just be faithful, diligent, and willing to obey.

Get my book today on Amazon in Kindle or Paperback to read more stories like this.