11/10/2020
_MONEY MASTERY_
BY:EV. MIKE FRANCEN.
There is no one in my life I have ever honored more that T.L. Osborn. He was my closest friend, confidant, and mentor. T.L. talked to me on levels of ‘real’, in the most personal settings in his living room, or mine.
T.L. talked with me about the issue of ‘money’, many times during the span of our friendship. He was well versed in the Scriptures, a staunch believer in them, a man of ‘action’ who was never satisfied with simply leaving them idle, but was a ‘doer’ of the Word. T.L. was keen in regards to the Biblical principles of ‘sowing and reaping.’
While I was with Archbishop Idahosa, in Nigeria, he shared with me a story of an encounter he had with brother Osborn early in his ministry. He told me: “Years ago T.L. came, for yet another crusade in Nigeria. Upon his arrival, T.L. said to me: ‘Before I leave I am going to give you enough money to build your dream house.’ Filled with excitement, I shared the good news with Margaret, my kids, my church members, and everyone I knew.’ Nearing the end of T.L.’s stay, he pulled me off to a private room, saying to me: ‘I told you before I left I was going to give you enough money to build your dream house. I want to make good on this vow right now.’ It was at that moment T.L. took out a $100 dollar bill and put it into my hand. He said to me: ‘Right now in your hand, you have enough money to build your dream house.’ “
Idahosa told me he was devastated, expecting a sum of vast more, than the measly $100 dollar bill that was now in his hand. T.L. was teaching the young Idahosa a vibrant principle, ‘when it is not enough to meet the need, then it is a seed!’ Benson shared with me that he saw ‘the light’, and began practicing ‘seedtime and harvest’ principles. I stayed in Idahosa’s ‘dream house’ in Benin City. It was an amazing home, brought about by the principle of seedtime and harvest, and Idahosa’s putting God’s Word to the test and reaping the harvest of obedience. His dream house came to fruition.
_As long as the earth remains, there will be seedtime and harvest._
Genesis 8:22
Too many ministers today, use Luke 6:38, as an ‘extraction’ tool, trying to pry money out of the hands of the people. Belief, practice, and faith is seemingly not at the helm of their operation, but rather manipulation.
My friends, KNOW the scriptural precedence, in regards to money. The Bible talks more about money and finances than it even speaks about faith. Money is a tool to get the job done. Study to ‘show yourself approved’, in all the Scriptures, including His ways regarding sowing and reaping.
Years ago I invited T.L. and Daisy Osborn to come and conduct a crusade in India. I told T.L. I would pay for their airfares, the crusade, accommodations, and all expenses.
I set the budget for all the aforementioned at $50,000, which at that time in my young ministry was a mountain of money. I was stretching my faith, not sure how I was going to be able to handle such a sum, at that time in my ministry, but I was determined.
As T.L. and I talked in the proceeding weeks, the budget GREW!
T.L. said, ‘Mike, let's not do a 5-day crusade together in India, lets make it 10 days.’ MORE MONEY. Then T.L. said to me, ‘Mike, lets not only do a crusade, but also a ministers conference, the following week (for 5 days), and a women’s conference the following after that (for 5 days).’ MORE MONEY. Then T.L. said to me, ‘Mike I think we should give an assortment of our books to all who attend the conferences, let's sow 100,000 books to the attendees.’ MORE MONEY!
As the stay in India grew from eight days to thirty days, as the event turned into more than just a crusade, T.L. continually said to me: ‘Mike, I want to put money into this event as well. I need to financially help towards this!’ I told T.L.: ‘NO, I will pay for ALL of it.’ I DID!
The initial $50,000 dollar budget was overwhelming to me. The cost of these events ballooned to $137,000, by the time we had completed these events!
I was determined to pay for (SOW) the entire event! I DID! The Lord supernaturally provided all the money needed, and even beyond this. More than 250,000 people were in attendance the final day. More than 5,000 attended the women’s conference and more than 7.000 were in the minister's conference. We sowed 110,000 books, as we impacted India during those thirty days.
The finances in my ministry exploded after this event! Seedtime and harvest principles work! Study the scriptures, my friends – put faith into practice and put God to the test.
While I was with Archbishop Idahosa, in Nigeria, I sat down after lunch one day and talked with Kenneth Copeland. Brother Copeland said to me: ‘Mike, this is how you are going to finance your ministry for the rest of your life – MAKE IT YOUR PRIMARY PURPOSE TO GIVE!’
_IT'S SEED, TIME & HARVEST_
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