Supporting the Gospel of the Kingdom of God

Greetings, a servant of God, by the grace of God, teaching the truth of God under the authority of Jesus Christ to any who are willing to receive it. (Mat 13:43).

The Holy Bible contains the truth of God by the word of God (Joh 17:17); therefore, God teaches and gives understanding, wisdom, and knowledge to all who pray and seek Him with all the heart (Deu 4:29-31; Jer 29:12,13; Psa 119:2).

The truth of God’s word makes clear that the gospel of the kingdom is not only received through repentance and faith but upheld through obedience, devotion, stewardship, and witness. Just as the kingdom is a pearl of great price worth giving all to obtain (Mat 13:46), supporting it requires the same depth of commitment - a willingness to offer our lives, resources, and strength to the work God has entrusted to His people.

From the earliest days of the spiritual church Jesus built (Mat 16:18; Joh 4:23,24), believing followers laboured together in the work of the Lord, united in purpose and steadfast in fellowship (1Co 1:10; 3:9). They shared their prayers, possessions, and lives so that the message of salvation could reach every nation. Their support was not an optional gesture but an expression of allegiance to the King and participation in His mission.

True discipleship includes care for the poor and support for fellow believers, living as visible examples of the kingdom God will establish upon the earth (Rev 11:15; 5:10). To uphold the gospel is to honour God, for Jesus declared, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Mat 6:33). Supporting the kingdom is the follower’s privilege and responsibility, ensuring that the light of truth continues to shine in a world still darkened by unbelief.

In the New Testament gospel accounts, Jesus teaches a New Covenant: to sell, give to the poor, take up the cross, follow Him, and press hard to make it into the kingdom of God:

Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it.

Why the Book of Acts Is Essential for Understanding Jesus’ Commands For True Discipleship.

The book of Acts is the Spirit‑given clarification of Jesus’ hardest sayings, showing how His commands were meant to be understood, obeyed, and lived. In the Gospels, Jesus calls for decisive allegiance - forsaking all, taking up the cross, selling what one claims as one’s own, and following Him without divided loyalty. Left by themselves, these sayings could be softened into metaphor, compromise, or reduced to inward sentiment.

Acts removes that possibility. It records the first generation of believing followers responding to Jesus’ words with literal obedience: releasing possessions, refusing to claim anything as their own, and ordering their lives around the kingdom rather than earthly security. It also records God’s judgment on those who attempted to imitate the appearance of surrender while keeping back a part for themselves, revealing that compromise is not a lesser form of discipleship but a violation of the Spirit’s holiness (Acts 5).

Through the obedience of the faithful and the exposure of the false, Acts shows that Jesus’ demands were not optional ideals but New Covenant terms - the pattern of life for all who follow Him.

Concerning worldly tithing as a monetary way to support the gospel of the kingdom of God, do a search: "where did tithing of currency originate"? Expect to find these among the results:

Biblical roots (pre-money):

Tithing originates in the Old Testament as an agricultural practice - giving a tenth of produce, livestock, or spoils of war to God (e.g., Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 14:22-29). It was not monetary but tied to land, livestock, and harvest.

Early Christian practice:

The New Testament does not command tithing in the same way. Early Christians emphasized voluntary giving (2 Corinthians 9:7). For centuries, offerings were primarily in kind (grain, animals, goods).

Transition to Monetary Tithing

Medieval Europe (8th–12th centuries):

As economies shifted, especially with the rise of coinage and urban life, tithes began to be collected in money rather than goods. Charlemagne (late 8th century) enforced tithing across his empire, and by the 10th-12th centuries, monetary tithes were common in Western Europe.

The tithe began biblically as a covenantal agricultural offering, but its transformation into a monetary obligation was a medieval adaptation to economic change - not a biblical command.

Here is a history of the support method for the true gospel of the kingdom of God from the original Nazarenes which consisted of the apostles and disciples (followers) of Jesus, the Christ of God:

Communities That Had All Things Common

1. The Original Nazarene Assembly (1st Century)

• Scriptural Basis: Acts 2:44-47; 4:32-35

• Practice: Believers sold possessions and distributed to each as needed. No mention of monetary tithing - only voluntary giving.

• Support for the Gospel: Apostles were sustained by the community’s shared resources, not fixed percentages or temple taxes.

• Key Principle: “Neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own [Acts 4:32].”

We see that God gave no such commandment to tithe currency in support of His gospel. Believing followers focus on the teachings and doctrine of God (Joh 7:16) as taught by Jesus His Christ and those Jesus sent into the world to preach the Gospel of the kingdom of God - the apostles.

The Rich Young Man

Mar 10:17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

Mar 10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why call you me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Throughout the Gospels, the Lord Jesus never engages in self-promotion. His character is marked by a humility that refuses flattery. He redirects praise towards God - not because He lacks goodness, but because He embodies the perfect posture of a servant who glorifies the Holy Father.

By His examples, we see Jesus teaching the importance of a humble walk with God (Jas 4:10; 1Pe 5:6; Pro 29:23; Luk 14:11). He washes feet (Joh 13:14), avoids earthly titles (Joh 6:15), and teaches the greatest must be the servant (Mat 23:11).

Why Commandment‑Keeping Alone Cannot Replace Kingdom Allegiance

Mar 10:19 You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour your father and mother.

Mar 10:20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

Mar 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatsoever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

The rich man’s obedience to the commandments Jesus mentioned was real, but Jesus exposes the heart by two commandments He did not mention - the first and the last, allegiance and no idols of the heart through coveting (Exo 20:3-5; Deu 6:5 / Exo 20:17; Mat 6:21). Both are internal and measure the heart. The rich man broke the first because he broke the last. The New Covenant does not set the commandments aside - it deepens them. The commandments remain holy, just, and good (Rom 7:12), yet they were never meant to be the final measure of righteousness once the King Himself had arrived.

Under the New Covenant, the call is not less than obedience to God’s law but more - a wholehearted allegiance to Christ that presses into the kingdom with the same devotion the law once demanded of Israel. Jesus’ command to “sell what you have” did not replace the commandments; it revealed the one command the man had not kept: to love the Lord with all his heart [Deu 6:5].

The kingdom requires a transfer of trust, a release of earthly claims, and a following of Christ that fulfills the commandments by anchoring them in loyalty to the King. Thus the rich man thought his morality was genuine, but his allegiance was divided, and in the New Covenant, divided allegiance cannot stand. The commandments remain, but they now find their fullness in a life that presses into the kingdom and follows Christ without reserve. Back to Mark:

The Moment Where Commandment‑Keeping Meets Kingdom Allegiance.

Mar 10:22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

Mark 10:22 reveals the precise point where outward obedience to God’s commandments meets the deeper demand of the kingdom. The rich man’s sorrow shows that he had thought he honoured the law, yet his heart remained bound to the security his possessions provided. Jesus’ call did not abolish the commandments; it revealed their true intent - that love for God must be whole, undivided, and willing to surrender anything that competes with Him. The man’s face fell because the commandments exposed the one place where obedience had not reached: the seat of allegiance.

The New Covenant does not lessen the commandments but fulfills them by requiring a loyalty that presses into the Kingdom with the same devotion the law always pointed toward. The man claimed he kept the commandments, but Jesus saw where he lacked; he would not trust in and follow the King. The commandments remain holy, and they now find their fullness only in a heart that yields entirely to Christ and enters the Kingdom of God without reserve.

Fulfillment of the Law in the New Covenant

Deu 15:7 If there be among you a poor man of one of your brethren within any of your gates in your land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother:

Deuteronomy 15:7 commands God’s people not to harden their hearts or shut their hands against a brother in need, revealing that the law always aimed at a generosity rooted in love for God and neighbour. Jesus does not cancel this command in the New Covenant; He brings it to its intended depth by calling His disciples to the same open heart and open hand, now expressed through allegiance to Him and participation in God's kingdom.

The law required compassion; the kingdom requires the same compassion expressed through a life fully yielded to Christ. Thus the New Covenant does not lessen the commandments but fulfills them by demanding the very loyalty and wholehearted devotion the law pointed toward - a heart that refuses hardness, a hand that refuses withholding, and a life that presses into the kingdom of God with the same sincerity Moses commanded. In Christ, the generosity commanded in Deuteronomy becomes the generosity empowered by the Spirit, revealing that obedience to God’s commandments finds its true expression in kingdom allegiance and a heart fully open to God and others.

The Inner Walk Toward the Kingdom of God

2Co 9:7 Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.

The inner walk toward the kingdom of God begins where the heart yields its claims and learns to see as God sees, especially in relation to the poor. Deuteronomy commanded Israel not to harden the heart or shut the hand against a brother in need, revealing that generosity was always meant to flow from a heart aligned with God. Jesus brings this command to its fullness by calling His disciples to a deeper allegiance - one that presses into the kingdom by releasing earthly security and opening the hand in the same spirit the law required.

The New Covenant does not lessen the commandments; it fulfills them by forming a heart that refuses hardness, a will that refuses self‑preservation, and a life that follows Christ into the places where compassion becomes obedience. The poor become the proving ground of kingdom loyalty, for the heart that draws near to God will draw near to those He defends. Thus the inner walk toward the kingdom is not mystical withdrawal but the transformation of the heart into the likeness of the King - a heart open, generous, and ready to serve, because it has surrendered everything to God.

Allegiance to the King

Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.

Allegiance to the King is revealed not merely in confession but in the way His disciples treat those who bear His concern - especially the poor, the weak, and the overlooked. In Matthew 25:40, the King identifies Himself with “the least of these,” showing that acts of compassion toward them are received as acts of loyalty toward Him. The law always aimed at a heart open to God and open to the needy. The New Covenant brings this to its fullness by making the King Himself the measure of obedience: what is done for the poor is done for Him, and what is withheld from them is withheld from Him.

Thus allegiance to Christ is not abstract devotion but concrete faithfulness expressed in mercy, generosity, and a heart that refuses hardness. The inner walk toward the kingdom becomes visible in the outward care of those the King calls His own, proving that true discipleship is measured by love that flows from a life fully yielded to Him.

Neglecting the Poor is a Spiritual Danger

Pro 21:13 Whoso stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

Proverbs 21:13 warns that closing one’s ear to the cry of the poor is not merely a failure of compassion but a spiritual danger that invites divine silence in one’s own hour of need. This reveals that generosity toward the poor is not optional charity but a covenant expectation rooted in God’s own character. The New Covenant does not lessen this command; it intensifies it by making mercy toward the needy an expression of allegiance to Christ.

To ignore the poor is to harden the heart against the very people God defends, and such hardness exposes a divided loyalty that cannot stand in the kingdom. The inner walk toward God is therefore measured by an open ear and an open hand, for the heart that truly seeks the King will respond to the cries he hears. Neglect becomes danger because it reveals a heart out of step with the King, while compassion becomes obedience because it reflects His own mercy toward us. Back to Mark:

Divided Loyalty

Mar 10:23 And Jesus looked round about, and said unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

Mar 10:24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered again, and said unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

Mar 10:25 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.

Mar 10:26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?

Mar 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them said, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Mark 10:23-27 shows the deeper allegiance demanded by the kingdom of God. Jesus teaches that entering the Kingdom is difficult for those who trust in earthly security because divided loyalty blinds the heart to the King. The Greek meaning emphasizes that the true danger is trust in riches (verse 24), for such trust creates an inner resistance that even sincere-appearing commandment‑keeping cannot overcome.

The disciples are shocked because the rich man was thought to be moral and obedient, yet pronounced unable to enter - revealing that the New Covenant requires more than the appearance of outward righteousness; it requires a heart fully yielded to Christ. What is impossible for human effort becomes possible only through God, who draws the sincerely seeking heart (Joh 6:44,65; Jer 29:13), breaks the power of earthly trust (Eze 36:26,27), and gives a heart that keeps the commandments through a life of undivided allegiance to the King (Rom 8:4).

Supporting the Gospel of the Coming Kingdom of God

In the New Testament, Jesus, the Christ of God and mediator of the New Covenant (1Ti 2:5; Heb 8:6; 9:15; 12:24) speaks directly to us by every red-lettered word (Heb 1:2). Let us go to His teachings for God's doctrine - God's will (Joh 7:16).

From the Parable of the Sower

Luk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

In Luke 8:15, Jesus reveals that the only fruitful response to His commands is found in those who receive the word with an honest and good heart, hold it fast, and bear fruit with patient endurance. This is not a gentle encouragement but a warning embedded in a parable - a call for those with ears to hear to recognize that obedience to His commandments requires an inner allegiance that refuses compromise, distraction, hardness, or divided loyalty.

The good soil is not passive; it is the heart that yields to God’s breaking of earthly trust, embraces the demands of the kingdom, and presses forward in steadfast devotion to the King. Jesus’ parables conceal truth from the casual listener but unveil it to the seeking heart, and Luke 8:15 stands as one of many warnings that His commands must be received, guarded, and obeyed with the same undivided allegiance the New Covenant requires. The fruit proves the hearing, and the hearing proves the heart.

God Looks on the Heart

Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Matthew 5:8 declares that the pure in heart shall see God, revealing that the kingdom’s blessings are reserved for those whose inner allegiance is undivided. Jesus is not speaking of sinless perfection but of a heart cleansed of competing trusts - the very purity the law pointed toward and the New Covenant produces. God has always looked on the heart, yet in the pursuit of His kingdom this truth becomes sharper: outward obedience cannot substitute for inward loyalty, generosity toward the poor, and steadfast endurance. And obedience to His commandments all flow from a heart that has been purified of earthly attachments.

The pure in heart see God because their vision is no longer clouded by fear, self‑preservation, or divided trust; they see the King because they belong wholly to Him. Matthew 5:8 stands as one of Jesus’ clearest warnings and promises - only the heart made single, honest, and yielded will perceive God’s kingdom and walk in its light.

Allegiance to God is Life

Mat 19:29 And every one that has forsaken houses , or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

Matthew 19:29 reveals that allegiance to God is not merely duty but the very pathway into life itself. Jesus promises that everyone who leaves houses, family ties, and earthly securities for His name’s sake will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life - showing that the Kingdom does not call for loss but for a transfer of trust that leads to the ultimate gain. This is not a rejection of the commandments but their fulfillment, for the law always aimed at a heart wholly devoted to God.

In the New Covenant, that devotion becomes allegiance to the King, expressed in a willingness to surrender anything that competes with Him. The life Jesus offers is not added to divided loyalty; it is given to those who follow Him with an undivided heart, trusting that what is relinquished for His sake is not lost but transformed into eternal reward. Matthew 19:29 stands as one of Jesus’ strongest declarations that life is found where allegiance is whole, and that the kingdom belongs to those who give themselves entirely to God.

One Master, One Allegiance

Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Matthew 6:24 stands as one of Jesus’ clearest declarations that the kingdom of God allows no divided loyalty: “No man can serve two masters.” The issue is not merely wealth but mastery - the inner allegiance that shapes every outward act of obedience. Jesus teaches that the heart cannot hold to God while clinging to a rival trust, for love for one master inevitably produces disregard for the other. This is not a soft proverb but a covenant warning: the commandments remain, yet they can only be fulfilled by a heart wholly yielded to God.

The rich man in Mark 10 illustrates this truth - he claimed commandment-keeping, but he lacked the keeping of the greatest commandment by serving another master (Mat 22:36-38). Matthew 6:24 reveals that allegiance is the true battleground of obedience, and that life in the Kingdom requires a single devotion that breaks the power of earthly trust. One Master means one allegiance, and one allegiance means a heart free to love, bless, obey, and follow God without reserve.

The Apostles Followed Christ

Luk 8:1 And it came to pass afterward, that he [Jesus] went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings [good news] of the kingdom of God: and the twelve [apostles] were with him,

The twelve apostles were fully aware of how the gospel of the coming kingdom of God would be supported.

Luk 8:2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

Luk 8:3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

Luke records that certain women and many others supported Jesus “out of their substance,” meaning they used their own material resources to sustain the ministry of the kingdom of God. Their giving was a declaration of allegiance to the gospel of the kingdom of God Jesus taught. While the gospel of the kingdom truly is good news, Jesus' teachings on how to enter it carry the greater weight (Luke 18:22).

Luke’s wording shows that real discipleship includes real support - money, goods, and provisions offered freely to advance the gospel. Their example reveals the pattern: believing followers who receive the truth of God (John 7:16) respond by submitting their resources to God’s gospel through the teachings of His Christ, not to the power of men. In this way, supporting the gospel becomes an act of repentance, obedience, and loyalty to the kingdom of God. A freewill offering reflects how much one's heart is into supporting the true gospel.

The Fellowship of the Believing Followers in Support of the Gospel

Act 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 2:42 shows that the first believing followers devoted themselves to the apostles’ doctrine because the apostles were not inventing a new religion but transmitting the teaching they had received directly from Christ. Their fellowship, prayers, shared meals, and sacrificial generosity all flowed from this single allegiance: loyalty to the King expressed through loyalty to His teaching.

The commandments were not discarded; they were fulfilled as the Spirit formed a people who gladly obeyed the words of Christ preserved in the apostles’ doctrine. This fellowship became the living support of the gospel - a community shaped by the King’s commands, united by His truth, and sustained by a shared life that demonstrated the power of the New Covenant. Their devotion to the apostles’ doctrine was devotion to Christ Himself, and their generosity toward one another was the outward fruit of hearts made single, pure, and undivided in allegiance to God.

Early Followers Understood the Severity of God

Act 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

Act 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

Acts 2:43,44 show that the earliest followers lived with a profound awareness of the severity of God. “Fear came upon every soul” because they understood that the same God who poured out the Spirit also judged deceit, hypocrisy, and divided allegiance. Their reverence was not abstract; it shaped their life together. They held all things in common, not as a social experiment but as a response to the King whose commands demanded open hearts and open hands. The miracles and signs confirmed His authority, and their generosity confirmed their allegiance.

The severity of God produced sincerity, and sincerity produced sacrificial love. These followers of Christ did not treat the gospel lightly; they recognized that the God who saves is also the God who searches the heart, exposes false trust, and calls His people to a life of obedience that fulfills His commandments. Acts 2:43,44 stand as a witness that the fear of God and the fellowship of followers are inseparable.

Obedience Expressed by Works

Act 2:45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Act 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple , and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Acts 2:45,46 shows that the obedience of the early believers was expressed not in sentiment but in works that demonstrated the reality of their allegiance to Christ. They sold their possessions and goods and distributed to anyone who had need - a direct fulfillment of the commandments concerning the poor and a visible sign that earthly trust had been broken. Their daily unity in the temple and their shared meals in one another’s homes revealed a life reordered around the apostles’ doctrine and the demands of the kingdom. This was not communal idealism but covenant obedience: the inward devotion of hearts transformed by the Spirit producing outward acts of generosity, hospitality, and steadfast fellowship.

Their works were not put on to earn salvation; they proved the sincerity of their faith and the purity of their allegiance. Acts 2:45,46 stands as a witness that true obedience is always embodied - the commandments fulfilled through a life that gives, serves, and shares because it belongs wholly to the King.

True Allegiance Shines an Unmistakable Light of God

Act 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people [Mat 5:16]. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 2:47 shows that true allegiance to the King produces a light that cannot be hidden, for the early believing followers lived in such sincerity, generosity, and obedience that they enjoyed favour with all the people. Their life together was the visible radiance of God’s presence - a community shaped by the apostles’ doctrine, purified by the fear of the Lord, and marked by works that fulfilled the commandments through love. This light was not manufactured; it was the natural outflow of hearts made as single and undivided in their devotion to Christ. And God Himself confirmed the authenticity of their allegiance by adding to their number daily those who were being saved.

The growth was not a result of strategy but of holiness; not of persuasion but of purity; not of human effort but of divine approval. Acts 2:47 stands as a witness that when God’s people walk in undivided allegiance, their life becomes an unmistakable light of God - a light He shines through darkness as an example for the truth-seeking heart.

Supporting Scriptures for Supporting the Gospel

1Ti 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded [lofty or arrogant], nor trust in uncertain riches [not reliable; untrustworthy], but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy;

1Ti 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute [to give; distribute; to divide among several or many], willing to communicate;

1Ti 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Rom 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Rom 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

Rom 15:6 That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom 15:7 Wherefore receive you one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost [Spirit] teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1Co 2:16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

The Mind of Christ Concerning the Gospel

Heb 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

Heb 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him;

Heb 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers [various] miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost [Spirit], according to His own will?

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

The Fasting God Has Chosen

Isa 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?

Isa 58:7 Is it not to deal your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor that are cast out to your house [dwelling]? when you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you hide not yourself from your own flesh?

Isa 58:8 Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health shall spring forth speedily: and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rereward [rear guard].

Isa 58:9 Then shall you call, and the LORD shall answer; you shall cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the putting forth [pointing; judgmental posturing] of the finger, and speaking vanity;

Isa 58:10 And if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall your light rise in obscurity [rise in the darkness] , and your darkness be as the noonday:

Isa 58:11 And the LORD shall guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make fat your bones: and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

Will you believe in systems introduced and enforced by man, or will you believe in the commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ to repent and believe the gospel?

Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent you, and believe the gospel.

Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Final Thoughts: The Call For Undivided Allegiance to the King

The testimony of Scripture is unmistakable: God calls His people to an undivided allegiance that breaks the power of earthly trust and fulfills His commandments through a life shaped by the Spirit. Those who are rich in this world are warned not to trust in uncertain riches but to be rich in good works, ready to give and willing to share, laying hold on eternal life (1 Tim 6:17-19). Friendship with the world is exposed as hostility toward God (Jas 4:4), for divided loyalty blinds the heart and chokes the word.

True strength is shown not in self‑preservation but in bearing the weaknesses of others, walking in one mind and one mouth to glorify God, receiving one another as Christ received us (Rom 15:1, 5-7). The gospel is not advanced by human wisdom but by the Spirit’s power, for the natural man cannot receive the things of God; only those who have the mind of Christ discern His ways and obey His voice (1Co 2:4,5,12,14,16).

This allegiance is not optional. We are warned to give earnest heed to what we have heard, for every act of disobedience receives a just recompense, and neglecting so great a salvation is perilous (Heb 2:1-3). Judgment begins at the house of God (1Pe 4:17), and the early believing followers understood this severity. They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine - the teaching of Christ - and the fear of God rested upon them. Their obedience was expressed in works: selling possessions, meeting needs, breaking bread with sincerity, and shining with a light God Himself confirmed by adding to their number daily (Acts 2:42-47).

This is the purpose of fasting God has chosen: to loose the bands of wickedness, lift burdens, feed the hungry, shelter the poor, clothe the naked, and refuse the hardness of heart that hides from one’s own flesh (Isa 58:6,7). When the people of God walk in such obedience, their light breaks forth, their righteousness goes before them, and the glory of the Lord becomes their rear guard. God answers their cry, guides them continually, satisfies their soul, and makes them like a watered garden whose waters never fail (Isa 58:8-11).

A True Heart of Allegiance to God

Luk 21:3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow has cast in more than they all:

Luk 21:4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury has cast in all the living that she had.

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth.

Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Truth is not truth unless it is the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Freely, I have received from the word of God; freely, I have given to all who would receive the truth of God.

Farewell,

Servanthood

FAQ - Supporting the Gospel of the Kingdom of God

Q: What does it mean to support the gospel of the kingdom of God? Supporting the gospel means receiving it with repentance and faith, and then upholding it through obedience, devotion, stewardship, and witness. Jesus taught His followers to seek first the kingdom and God’s righteousness (Matthew 6:33). The early church laboured together in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 3:9) and shared their resources so the gospel could reach all nations.

Q: Why is the book of Acts essential for understanding Jesus’ commands? Acts shows how Jesus’ hardest teachings were meant to be lived. The early believing followers obeyed literally: selling possessions, refusing to claim anything as their own, and supporting one another in sincerity (Acts 2:44-45). Acts also records God’s judgment on those who pretended surrender while keeping back part for themselves (Acts 5). It proves Jesus’ commands were New Covenant terms, not metaphors.

Q: Does the Bible command monetary tithing for Christians? No. Biblical tithing was agricultural - grain, livestock, and produce (Leviticus 27:30-32, Deuteronomy 14:22-29). Monetary tithing developed centuries later in medieval Europe. The New Testament emphasizes voluntary giving from the heart (2 Corinthians 9:7), not a fixed percentage.

Q: How did the original Nazarene assembly support the gospel? They “had all things common” and sold possessions to meet all needs (Acts 2:44-47, Acts 4:32-35). No monetary tithing existed. Their support was voluntary, sacrificial, and rooted in allegiance to Christ.

Q: What did Jesus teach the rich young man about supporting the Kingdom? Jesus told him to sell what he had, give to the poor, take up the cross, and follow Him (Mark 10:21). The appearance of commandment‑keeping alone was not enough; Jesus exposed what the rich man lacked - total allegiance to God. Divided allegiance prevented him from entering the Kingdom (Mark 10:22). The New Covenant requires wholehearted loyalty to Christ.

Q: Does the New Covenant abolish the commandments? No. The commandments remain holy, just, and good (Romans 7:12). Jesus deepens them by requiring undivided allegiance to God. The law’s generosity toward the poor (Deuteronomy 15:7) is fulfilled in kingdom devotion empowered by the Spirit.

Q: What is the heart‑level requirement for supporting the gospel? A cheerful, willing heart. “Every man according as he purposes in his heart… for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Support is not forced; it naturally flows from a heart aligned with God.

Q: How does allegiance to Christ show itself in support for the poor? Jesus said that whatever is done for “the least of these” is done for Him (Matthew 25:40). Neglecting the poor is a spiritual danger (Proverbs 21:13). Supporting the needy is an expression of loyalty to the King.

Q: Why is wealth a danger to Kingdom allegiance? Because trust in riches creates divided loyalty. Jesus said it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom (Mark 10:23-25). What is impossible for man becomes possible only through God, who draws the sincere heart (John 6:44,65; Jer 29:13).

Q: What does Jesus teach about divided loyalty? “No man can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24). The heart cannot cling to earthly security while claiming allegiance to God. The Kingdom requires a single Master and undivided devotion.

Q: How did Jesus’ early followers support His ministry? Certain women and many others supported Jesus “out of their substance” (Luke 8:1-3). Their giving was voluntary and rooted in allegiance to the gospel of the kingdom.

Q: How did the early spiritual church support the gospel? They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers (Acts 2:42). They sold possessions and distributed to anyone in need (Acts 2:45). Their unity and generosity were expressions of obedience and Kingdom allegiance.

Q: Why did fear come upon every soul in the early church? Because they understood God’s severity and holiness (Acts 2:43). Their reverence produced sincerity, and sincerity produced sacrificial generosity.

Q: What fruit did their allegiance produce? They praised God, lived with singleness of heart, and had favour with all the people. The Lord added to the church daily those being saved (Acts 2:47). Their life was an unmistakable light of God (Matthew 5:16).

Q: What instructions does Scripture give to the rich? They must not trust in uncertain riches but in the living God (1 Timothy 6:17). They must be rich in good works, ready to distribute, and willing to share (1 Timothy 6:18). This lays a foundation for eternal life (1 Timothy 6:19).

Q: How does the gospel shape the mind of a believer? Believers receive the Spirit of God so they may know what He freely gives (1 Corinthians 2:12). Spiritual things are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). Those who follow Christ have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).

Q: Why must believers support the gospel with seriousness? Because neglecting the gospel brings judgment (Hebrews 2:1-4). Judgment begins at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17). Supporting the gospel is part of faithful obedience.

Q: What kind of “fast” does God choose? To loose wickedness, lift burdens, free the oppressed, feed the hungry, shelter the poor, and clothe the naked (Isaiah 58:6,7). Supporting the gospel includes supporting the needy.

Q: What is the final meaning of supporting the gospel? Supporting the gospel is allegiance to the King. It is obedience, generosity, devotion, and witness. It is the life of a heart purified for God (Matthew 5:8), willing to forsake all for Christ’s sake (Matthew 19:29), and determined to press into the Kingdom (Luke 16:16). Supporting the gospel is the privilege and reasonable service of every believing follower (Romans 12:1,2).