Fri, Feb 26th - 1:19AM
HOW SHALL CHRISTIANS GIVE OR WILL A MAN ROB GOD?
PART 4 Blessed be the Name of the Lord Jesus, from whom all blessings flow. The Name of the Lord is and will always be exalted above every name that is named. Mighty is the Lord God, great in compassion, Dread sovereign Lord of power, invincible in strength, the only true Omnipotent Potentate. He is strong. He cuts no deals, makes no compromises nor does He bow to anyone or anything. He is unconquerable and indomitable, all His power and will are absolute, unchanging and final. He shall see all His word and works come to pass, for NO foe can defeat Him, nor thwart His plans. His will alone shall be done in heaven and in earth. In Him we rest and trust, who is the keeper of His people. Therefore, little children, take heart, be brave and courageous for if God be for us who can be against us? It can seem intimidating, my dearly beloveds, to search out God’s word to seek to rightly understand how we should love, live, believe, and obey Him. But God did not give us the spirit of fear: 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Tim 1:7 (KJV) Besides teachers and pastors, every believer is to participate in the study and teaching of God’s word, for themselves and to share with others. Every one of us without exception, must also be diligent and eager to check what we believe against scripture. No one has to be a scholar, theologian or guru to learn and understand the scriptures Nothing and I mean nothing that contradicts scripture, rightly divided, has any validity with God’s people and certainly not with God Himself, to whom all must give account. I suppose, dear saints, that in many studies there is the temptation to find passages that appear to confirm our own personal preferences. One of the best ways to avoid this, I find is to let God speak for Himself. The Holy Bible can speak for itself, and interpret itself by itself. The Holy Spirit Himself is the teacher and source of all correctly interpreted scripture, directly to us and through godly teachers and pastors. Dear saints, as in the first part of this study, I continue to say that Christians must give, and support the work of God on earth, so this study should not lead anyone to the conclusion that Christians should not give at all. I hope I will be able to show also that we must always give God’s way, and from the heart. Previously in part 3 of this study concerning the law we concluded: 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. Romans 10:3-4. This does not mean that Christians can live any old kind of way, but that Christians now live today under God's highest eternal law of love: Love worketh NO ILL to his neighbour; therefore love is the fulfiling of the law. Ro. 13:10 Let's look at the first three of six basic questions: 1.Under what law is tithing commanded? 2. What was the purpose of this command? 3.what were the qualifications for collecting and receiving the tithe? Brothers and sisters let us continue to keep a spiritual bookmark here throughout this study: THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE HIGH PRIEST-ONLY ONE. These passages mark God’s commandment to establish the levitical priesthood under the brother of Moses, Aaron. This priest hood served as mediators between God and the people, who did not have direct access to God. 5 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 6 Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. 7 And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle. 8 And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. 9 And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel. 10 And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. 11 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; 13 Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD. Num 3:5-13 (KJV) The passages below show the establishment of the tithe, its purpose, and who is qualified to both collect and receive the tithe: Note that the children of Israel were commanded to give the tithe. 20 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. 21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. 22 Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die. 23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance. 24 But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance. 25 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 26 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe. 27 And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress. 28 Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD'S heave offering to Aaron the priest. Num 18:20-28 (KJV) Of the utmost importance is to understand who can collect and receive the tithes, AS COMMANDED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, UNDER THE MOSAIC LAW: Qualifications to collect and receive tithes. 1. Must be from the tribe of Levi, to serve as a priest in the tabernacle. 2. Must be a direct descendant of Aaron of the tribe of Levi to serve as high priest. 3. TITHES CAN ONLY BE COLLECTED IN THE PRESCENCE OF THE HIGH PRIEST: see the passages below. Ne 10:38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: What happened when a stranger or non- levite tried to minister to the Lord, even if he happened to be a Jew? Here is, little children is an example: 2Ch 26:17 2Ch 26:16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense , And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the Lord that were valiant men: 2Ch 26:18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God. 2Ch 26:19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar. 2Ch 26:20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him. 2Ch 26:21 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land. Let us stop here and next time, God willing, we will address the last three of six basic questions regarding the tithe. Brothers and sisters let’s keep on praying for one another, and show forth God’s love to all men, which I am confident we will do by the grace of God. Love Serola 1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Matt 18:1-6 (KJV)
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Thu, Feb 18th - 1:23AM
HOW SHALL CHRISTIANS GIVE OR WILL A MAN ROB GOD?
PART 3 Blessed be the Name of the Lord, who alone is worthy of all worship honor and praise, who has delivered us from darkness to light, and who faithfully and wonderfully keeps every soul that He has saved, by His mighty power.I pray that we will love Him more and more, for He alone is worthy of our worship, honor and praise. My beloveds, before I continue with tithing I post these scriptures that confirms what many of us know from God’s word, that our Lord Jesus has fulfilled the law for us, and has wonderfully granted to all who believe on His Name to fulfill the law as well. There are many more scriptures than what I have posted here, feel free to look up others on your own. All underlinings are mine, not the scriptures. Here too, little children, we must address those arguments used to promote the law, and later we will look at the argument that the commandment to tithe is not under the law. Let us book mark this statement that is of the utmost importance throughout this whole study: THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE HIGH PRIEST. 1. Christians are still under some aspects of the law. 2 Christ never said anything against Christians being under the law. But the Holy Bible says in regards to these arguments: 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matt 5:17-18 (KJV) Ro 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Gal 5:13-14 (KJV) 38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:38-39 (KJV) 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:2-4 (KJV) 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:10 (KJV) 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Gal 2:14-16 (KJV) 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain Gal 2:21 (KJV) 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Gal 3:11-14 (KJV) Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. Gal 5:4 (KJV) Now the point here, my beloveds, is that the Holy Bible amply displays in many scriptures what our dearest Lord Jesus has done for us, through His finished work on the cross, and that NO ONE can please Him, by trying to serve Him through the law, or works of any kind. Yet, although to some this may seem a contradiction, but it is not, all those who believe in Jesus will produce works, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit every believer can know and understand the word of God. No one has to be a theologian or attend a special school to learn God’s word. Lets stop here, dear saints, having made clear by the Holy Bible that through the love of God, all who love, obey and believe on Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour have fulfilled the law. Lord Jesus help us to do things in the way that you want us to do it, not how we prefer to do it, for your word correctly understood is the only absolute and final truth for the whole earth. Love serola 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. Romans 10:3-4 (KJV) Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. Gal 5:4 (KJV)
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Wed, Feb 10th - 10:09PM
HOW SHALL CHRISTIANS GIVE OR WILL A MAN ROB GOD?
PART 2 Children of the Living God, it was a pleasant day, I requested a livery service to run an errand or two. The young man who picked me up, seemed to be a happy sunny type person. Ifrequently inquire if the people I meet are Christians and inquired if he was a Christian, and he happily answered yes. He also volunteered that he was a newly wed, that many of his bills including rent had not been paid, that his wife was very worried, but he was not, because he had paid his tithes. . He felt that God would take care of his bills because his tithes were paid up, even though his wife kept telling him that their landlord was complaining of being unable to pay the bills for the needs of the building due to not receiving hardly any of the rent due to him from them. She also informed him that the landlord was considering evicting them, but the young man felt that the landlord did not really mean it, although the wife did. He noted, dear children made so by King Jesus , that tithing in this way was a teaching of his church and he felt very sincerely that this was correct. Even with his second job, he was barely able to put scant food on the table. As it stood, the rent for their home was most times not paid in full or at all, in violation of their rental agreement. Despite the stress, and worry this caused his wife, he felt greatly relieved because “I don’t owe God anything” he said. As I pondered the gentleman’s heartfelt comments, his seemingly relieved attitude that he did not “owe” God any money, and that “everything was O.K,” because his tithes were paid. I remarked to him “have you been cursed yet?” At first he seemed puzzled, then a light of understanding came into his eyes. “Oh yeah,” he said, “you mean where it says, will a man rob God…….and ye are cursed with a curse.” He remarked that his pastor had stood over the congregations more than a few times to pronounce: Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Mal 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Beloved children of light, whose trust is in our God and Maker, I asked him if he could find anything in the New Testament that curses God’s people. And he said he could not find anything like that there. Dear saints, I asked the young man had he signed a contract with his landlord to pay him the rent due when owed, and he assented that he had. I also kindly inquired if he had vowed to his wife that he would provide for her. And again he said yes, noting that he would not allow her to go and find a job, out of her concern for all the unpaid bills that were accumulating. We looked at the scripture 1Ti 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. He correctly understood that the Holy Bible does not exempt or excuse one from not providing for one’s own family. In other words, it is just as important to God that we provide for our own family as it is for the church. One must give, but rightly question any kind of giving that causes injury to one’s own family. Here I interject further scripture reference: Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: Mk 7:11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. Mk 7:12 And ye suffer him no more to do aught for his father or his mother; Mk 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. The young man felt that he would continue to consistently support his church, but in a way that would cause him not to neglect his responsibilities to his own family. Dear saints, I encouraged him to not only find good scriptural teachers, but to also study God’s word for himself. The Holy Bible is God’s word that teaches us how to live for him and through Him in every aspect of our lives and relationships. The impact of wrong teaching can wreak havoc, and major problems in the lives of God’s holy people. God’s word, correctly understood and lived is the final truth for the whole earth, for every soul shall give account to God. Until next time, God willing,I hope to see you here next time, until then continue, my beloveds, to trust God and take Him at His word. Dear brothers and sisters, His way is the only right way, and the only right way is God’s way. Love serola
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Wed, Feb 3rd - 1:24PM
HOW SHALL CHRISTIANS GIVE/OR SHALL A MAN ROB GOD?
Dear friends of Jesus let me preface this post with the fact that I am not against giving to the Lord’s work. The church needs money from God’s people to support it’s overseers, families and work of the ministries. Missionaries need money to live on while spreading the gospel and ministering to the needs of the poor, sick, and disabled, run orphanages etc. God expects us, His children to give in furtherance of His work on earth through His people, the living church. Those to whom we give are rightfully expected to use that which is given wisely and with accountability. I also gladly affirm that there are multitudes of faithful ministers and overseers of God who teach and encourage God’s people to give according to the Holy Bible, and not tradition or human preferences. Also there are multitudes of faithful saints who understand and give abundantly to the work of the ministry out of grateful hearts to King Jesus. However,children of light, some of the ministers and others find it necessary to work because they want to, or their church is too small and/or too poor or refuses to support them. Some saints do not like to give, some perhaps out of stinginess or ignorance, or due to poverty. I have also heard from some brothers and sisters, who are reluctant to give due to a lack of accountability of church funds by some of those who receive them. Some but not all, my beloveds, use various means to raise money for their church such as raffles, bingo, contests. However one of the most used methods of Christian giving is through tithing. Tithing engenders much rancor among the body today both for and against. I suggest a thoughtful post on tithing by C. Michael Clarke’ blog on this web site. I pray that the Lord will enable me to contribute a bit also to the whole cloth on tithing. Next, God willing, I will post an exchange with a young man, that led up to my further interest in the subject of tithing. Until then, my beloveds, holy and dearly loved, let us lift up praises continually to the ONE our Lord Jesus who first loved us, and gave Himself for us. love serola oops, sorry, the brothers correct name is W, Michael Clark, and I now cannot find his post for some reason. however, I have a copy of it by his permission, that I have sent out to others. If he will grant it, I will post it here as soon as possible. love serola With the info sent by our brother Michael below, you can go directly to his post on his blog. thanks for your patience. Thank you Michael. Dear Serola, Mel and anyone else interested in my post on "Tithing," here is the link:
http://members.christiansunite.com/blogging.cgi?monthyear=Nov_2008&userid=9990221428389
My blog is called, "A Voice in the Wilderness."
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Name: Dolores serola Rutherford
