TITHES & OFFERINGS

TITHES & OFFERINGS

THE ORIGIN OF TITHING

TITHING first appears in the Holy Bible in Genesis 14:20 in connection with Abraham and Melchizedek. Abraham, though not yet living under the Law, for the Law was given under Moses, paid tithes to Melchizedek, and was offered the very first communion of bread and wine. The Hebrew word for TITHES is MAASER, and for OFFERINGS, it is MINCHAH.

OFFERINGS first appear in the Scriptures in Genesis 4:4-5. The Lord gives us a wonderful example in the lives of Cain and Abel in the area of bringing their OFFERINGS unto the Lord. But we've seen that even though both children brought offerings unto the Lord, God had pleasure in Abel’s offering because it was done in the spirit of revelation.

In Ephesians 5:10 we are told that, we should be at all times, "Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord”. We do need to know and understand what is required and pleasing to our Lord, and what is displeasing to Him, in order that we might think, say and do what is good, acceptable, and perfect according to the will of God (see: Romans 12:1-2). Second Corinthians 1:20 says that all God’s promises are "Yes” in Christ. So the blessings promised to the giver in the Old Testament, such as Malachi 3:10, are still available and valid for us Christians until today.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TITHES AND OFFERINGS

There is, however, a difference between TITHES and OFFERINGS, not only in language but most especially in spirit. A TITHE means “ten percent of all benefits that come our way, such as, our salary, inheritance, gifts and even the interest one might earn on bank accounts, etc.” While OFFERINGS is over and above our ten percent TITHE. By this I mean, that once you have responded in the area of your TITHES, now you have the freedom to graciously give your MINCHAH (OFFERING) as you are directed and made aware of by The Spirit of God as to the particular need or needs, that are presented to you through your congregation, church, or fellowship.

Please remember that both the TITHES and OFFERINGS need to be given in your congregation or church where you attend, “Bring ye all the TITHES into the storehouse”, and wait for God’s blessings.

First Corinthians 9:14 says those who preach the Gospel should live from the Gospel "even so” as the priests of the Old Testament lived from their temple service. God gave the tithe to them (Numbers 18:21). To be "even so” today requires tithing to continue.

1 CORINTHIANS 9:13-14 NKJ -”Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.”

NUMBERS 18:21 NKJ-”Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting.”

We tithe because we have a personal financial responsibility to our church. We have a pastor who tend to our needs and the management of our church and they need to be able to live, too. “Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour’s service without wages, and giveth him not for his work ” (Jeremiah 22:13).

A BLESSING AND A CURSE

The Lord promises you in Malachi 3:10 that He will “open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it ”.

In the New Testament we read in Luke 6:38 ...that when you are obedient to The Word of God in your TITHES and OFFERINGS, then you should expect an abundance of blessings; “Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again”. The Lord God Himself will bless you as you are obedient in word and in deed in bringing cheerfully your TITHES and OFFERINGS unto the LORD our God.

Therefore, as you TITHE, the Almighty God promises to likewise bless you; on the other hand, if you do not, then you are ROBBING God. The end result is recorded in the Holy Writ, “Ye are cursed with a curse”.

Malachi 3:8-11 states this:

8 “Will a man rob God ? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye [are] cursed with a curse:  for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it]. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. 12 And all nations shall call you blessed:  for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.”

I don’t know about you, but I want to be blessed of God as often as possible, and not cursed. It’s up to you, whether you will be totally obedient or disobedient.

As we know, “robbery” is the act of taking something that does not belong to you. God specifically used the term “robbery” in Malachi to show that the tithe (which means a tenth) belongs to Him. We must understand that God is the owner of this earth, and everything on it belongs to Him. “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein” (Psa. 24:1).

Elsewhere, the Bible says, “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, says the LORD of hosts” (Hag. 2:8). Before we become possessive about the treasures of this world, let us first remember that He created this planet and everyone on it, and even though Satan holds a temporary dominion through sin (2 Cor. 4:4), the earth still belongs to God. As a result of your obedience unto The Almighty God, here is a beautiful promise that is extremely wonderful and full of grace found in Malachi chapter three and verse eleven:

“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field; saith the Lord of Hosts”.

A TEST OF OBEDIENCE, STEWARDSHIP AND DISCIPLINE

Unfortunately, many Christians TODAY misunderstand the idea of tithing. They often think of it as giving a tenth from “their own” property to God. However, in reality it is God that has done the giving to us, and claims the return of only 10% of His own property. Tithing is not taking a tenth of our own money and giving it to God, but it is returning a tenth of what was already His to begin with.

The scripture says,“But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You” (1 Chron. 29:14). God is so generous to us. He gives us the 90% and retains only 10% of what is rightfully His.

Tithing is a test of our stewardship over the property of God, a test of our honesty to return to God what is rightfully His, a test of our obedience to do what He told us to do, and a test of our love and desire to please Him with our lives. Tithing is a demonstration that we believe in God, and that we acknowledge that He is the provider of all material blessings. If you haven’t the faith to believe that the tithe belongs to the Lord, neither can you have faith in Him to meet your financial needs. After all, if you don’t believe that the tenth is His, you must not believe that the whole earth is His either. Without that confidence in His supremacy, there could be no confidence in His ability to provide our needs.

God asks for our tithes because He knows that money is one of man’s most significant stumbling blocks. Greed and fear force us to hold tightly to our money. Many people worship money and will do whatever it takes to get it and keep it. When we are able to freely and joyfully give our money to God, we achieve a freedom like no other. Our obedience in financial stewardship reveals a maturity of character that God treasures. When we honor Him with our financial obedience, He blesses us. “And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:12) (For understanding, read Malachi 3-10-18)

Some claim they can’t afford to pay their tithes. But let me ask, “Can you afford to be cursed? Can you afford to not have God’s blessings and protection over your finances? Can you afford to be considered a thief or robber of God’s property? Or can you afford to be a person who does not obey the Word of God?” The fact is, you cannot afford not to pay your tithes, because this is the principle that God has chosen to bless you!

Another person once asked, “Why does God need my tithe?” In answer to this question, He really doesn’t need your money or anyone else’s. Remember, God is the owner of the whole universe and all its wealth. However, He has chosen to use your tithes and offerings for the expenses of maintaining “spiritual meat” in His house (Mal. 3:10). On the first day of the week you are to bring your tithes and offerings to the “storehouse” of your Church where you are spiritually fed (1 Cor. 16:2). How important it is that we are faithful in our tithes and offerings, as this is God’s method of funding the preaching of His Word and the spreading of the Gospel (1 Cor. 9:1314).

A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE

Though “Tithing” is one of the most controversial issues being debated in the Christian world today, God has given us a “seer” who taught us the real absolute on the issue of “tithings”.

Regardless of any theologian’s interpretation or doctrinal view that says that “TITHING” is no longer applicable to today’s New Testament Christians, I say, God has given us a vindicated prophet today that tells us that TITHING is still a significant part of the Christian life. The Word comes NOT to theologians, but always to God’s prophets (Amos 3:7)

Unless one is a a true believer of the End-Time Message, he or she will find it hard to believe and follow this teaching, for it is a “revelation” that has to be accepted by faith in the Word. For the Bride of Jesus Christ, for them who believe that God has sent us a vindicated messenger in the Spirit of Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6) to turn our hearts back to the original faith of the Apostolic Fathers, back to the true teachings of the Bible, “tithing” is a forever-settled issue. Those outside the Bride-Body, is free to believe whatever they wish to believe. But for the Bride, we believe in “tithing”.

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