S-19 - The Kingdom Wealth Principles – TAXATION TITHES

In the first of our sessions on the taxation principles of the Kingdom of God we studied First Fruits. In this session I want to address the principle of Tithing. Before even starting on this principle I want to ask the question in order for us to define what then is a Tithe.

Most of you would also be thinking about the law and the questions we usually post around this is that we are no longer under the law. I want to respond to that in the context of understanding that God uses the law as our teacher.

Gal 3:24

So that the Law served [to us Jews] as our trainer [our guardian, our guide to Christ, to lead us] until Christ [came], that we might be justified (declared righteous, put in right standing with God) by and through faith.

We also apply the principle of first the natural and then the spiritual according to scriptural patterns revealed throughout the Word. So we might start under the law as our taskmaster but in the end our giving will move to the spiritual dimension where you and me become the tithe, the offering and the first fruits.

1Co 15:46

(46) But it is not the spiritual life which came first, but the physical and then the spiritual.

Part of our disciplining of ourselves and the crucifying of the flesh is our love for money. So we will use the taskmaster of the law and the application of the principles in the physical in order to come to that place where giving becomes so natural and we are then moving in the dimension of spiritual giving. This is where we no longer calculate our First Fruits, Tithes and Offerings but where we have been clothed with the character of Christ in giving to the extent where we become the sacrifice, First Fruits, Tithes and Offerings.

1. WHAT THEN IS A TITHE

2. TO WHOM DO WE TITHE?

2.1. TO MELCHIZEDEK

Gen 14:18-20

(18) Melchizedek king of Salem [later called Jerusalem] brought out bread and wine [for their nourishment]; he was the priest of God Most High,

(19) And he blessed him and said, Blessed (favored with blessings, made blissful, joyful) be Abram by God Most High, Possessor and Maker of heaven and earth,

(20) And blessed, praised, and glorified be God Most High, Who has given your foes into your hand! And [Abram] gave him a tenth of all [he had taken]. [Hebrews 7:1-10]

Heb 7:1-10

(1) For this Melchizedek, king of Salem [and] priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

(2) And Abraham gave to him a tenth portion of all [the spoil]. He is primarily, as his name when translated indicates, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, which means king of peace.

(3) Without [record of] father or mother or ancestral line, neither with beginning of days nor ending of life, but, resembling the Son of God, he continues to be a priest without interruption and without successor.

(4) Now observe and consider how great [a personage] this was to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth [the topmost or the pick of the heap] of the spoils.

(5) And it is true that those descendants of Levi who are charged with the priestly office are commanded in the Law to take tithes from the people--which means, from their brethren--though these have descended from Abraham.

(6) But this person who has not their Levitical ancestry received tithes from Abraham [himself] and blessed him who possessed the promises [of God].

(7) Yet it is beyond all contradiction that it is the lesser person who is blessed by the greater one.

(8) Furthermore, here [in the Levitical priesthood] tithes are received by men who are subject to death; while there [in the case of Melchizedek], they are received by one of whom it is testified that he lives [perpetually].

(9) A person might even say that Levi [the father of the priestly tribe] himself, who received tithes (the tenth), paid tithes through Abraham,

(10) For he was still in the loins of his forefather [Abraham] when Melchizedek met him [Abraham].

TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING.

· ABRAHAM TITHED THE SPOILS OF BATTLE TO MELCHIZEDEK.

· ABRAHAM TITHED AFTER HE WAS BLESSED.

· ABRAHAM TITHED TO A PERSON, NOT AN INSTITUTION.

· ABRAHAM TITHED TO THE PERSON THAT GAVE HIM BREAD AND WINE.

The principle that we see manifested here and again that we need to apply as we are taking the principles is that of:

THE LESSER MUST TITHE TO THE GREATER – MUST DISCERN THE GREATER.

ABRAHAM TO MELCHIZEDEK.

This we have just read in Hebrews 7 and Genesis 14

BARNABAS TO THE APOSTLES.

Act 4:36-37

(36) Now Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles, which interpreted means Son of Encouragement,

(37) Sold a field which belonged to him and brought the sum of money and laid it at the feet of the apostles.

Mal 3:10-11

(10) Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. [Malachi 2:2]

(11) And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts.

The writer of Hebrews further indicates that tithes were paid to a higher authority and inferred that there was a greater priesthood than Aaron's.

Heb 7:4 & 9

(4) Now observe and consider how great [a personage] this was to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth [the topmost or the pick of the heap] of the spoils.

(9) A person might even say that Levi [the father of the priestly tribe] himself, who received tithes (the tenth), paid tithes through Abraham,

Tithing as a tribute to God appeared later in Genesis when Jacob promised to give a tenth to God if he returned home safely and we read about this in Genesis 28:22.

Gen 28:20-22

(20) Then Jacob made a vow, saying, If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go and will give me food to eat and clothing to wear,

(21) So that I may come again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God;

(22) And this stone which I have set up as a pillar (monument) shall be God's house [a sacred place to me], and of all [the increase of possessions] that You give me I will give the tenth to You.

These tithes were spontaneous responses that took place and no further details were given.

Jacob gave unto God.

We know from scripture that the tithes were awarded to the Levites for their priestly service because they would not receive land in Canaan

Num 18:19-21

(19) All the heave offerings [the lifted-out and kept portions] of the holy things which the Israelites give to the Lord I give to you and to your sons and your daughters with you, as a continual debt forever. It is a covenant of salt [that cannot be dissolved or violated] forever before the Lord for you [Aaron] and for your posterity with you.

(20) And the Lord said to Aaron, You shall have no inheritance in the land [of the Israelites], neither shall you have any part among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.

(21) And, behold, I have given the Levites all the tithes in Israel for an inheritance in return for their service which they serve, the [menial] service of the Tent of Meeting.

What is significant in this scripture is that God gave this to them as a covenant of salt. It is therefore a covenant that endures forever. This implies to us that this is still relevant to us today. Thus in its application it would indicate that the Levites (those that work in the temple and are in the service of God) receive as their portion the Tithes.

Num 18:26

(26) Moreover, you shall say to the Levites, When you take from the Israelites the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present an offering from it to the Lord, even a tenth of the tithe [paid by the people].

It was expected from the Levites that they to would pay their tithes unto the Lord.

Tithing indicated Israel's devotion to God, and the people did not always give as they should. This is still relevant today where we see people not being structural and faithful in their giving. We give our tithes not because of the law but because of our love and devotion unto God. This is the way in which God chose that provision be made for those who labour in the service of God.

Withholding tithes and offerings was regarded as robbing God, but great prosperity was promised if they would obey. I am not going to read Malachi to you again bu you can read it in Mal 3:8-12.

When the nation forsook worship of Yahweh their tithes went to idols. We read about this in Amos 4:4.

Amo 4:4

Come to Bethel [where the golden calf is] and transgress; at Gilgal [another idol worship center] multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning and your tithes every three days.

Hezekiah oversaw a restoration of obedience to God during which so much was given in tithes and offerings that rooms had to be prepared in the house of the Lord (2 Chron 31:10-11).

2Ch 31:10-11

(10) Azariah the high priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the Lord's house, we have eaten and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed His people, and what is left is this great store.

(11) Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare chambers [for storage] in the house of the Lord, and they prepared them

Upon return from captivity Nehemiah led another restoration and made sure tithes and offerings were collected (Neh 12:44) so the Levites would not have to work in the fields (13:10).

Neh 12:44

(44) On that day men were appointed over the chambers for the stores, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by law for the priests and the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who served [faithfully].

Neh 13:10

(10) And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers who did the work [forced by necessity] had each fled to his field.

We again see the principle enforced by God through his prophets that the desire of God is for the Levites to be be focused on their service for God and not upon working the fields for sustenance.

However you can respond to all of this and tell me that this is Old Testament and the Law.

Well lets take a look at what we see from the new Testament regarding this:

Mat 23:23

(23) Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you give a tenth of your mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected and omitted the weightier (more important) matters of the Law--right and justice and mercy and fidelity. These you ought [particularly] to have done, without neglecting the others.

Jesus refocused the attention on inward attitudes of the scribes and the Pharisees. He criticized some who went so far as to tithe tiny grains of spice—not because they tithed, but because they neglected the weightier matters of the law. He regarded stewardship of finances as an indication of trustworthiness with spiritual things which were more important

Luk 16:11

(11) Therefore if you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches?

Mat 6:19-20

(19) Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal.

(20) But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal;

Looking at these scriptures in context it is clear that Jesus did not at any time say that Tithing is no longer applicable but he indicated was the importance of the principles of the heart and trustworthiness in the spiritual things of the Lord.

Although Jesus never at any place instituted or specifically commanded that tithes be paid we see Him reiterating the very same reasons and motivations we see in the Old Testament in the New Testament. Let us take a moment to consider these by looking at the following scriptures:

I will introduce to you the scripture and thereafter elevate the principle:

1Co 9:14

(14) [On the same principle] the Lord directed that those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should live (get their maintenance) by the Gospel.

Those that work in the field of the Lord should receive their sustenance from the Gospel. This is the same principal that we saw applied to tithing and the allocation of the tithes for use to the Levites.

1Co 16:1

(1) Now concerning the money contributed for [the relief of] the saints (God's people): you are to do the same as I directed the churches of Galatia to do.

Gal 2:10

(10) They only [made one stipulation], that we were to remember the poor, which very thing I was also eager to do.

Again we see the same principal that we saw applied in tithing and the caring of the poor and widows by the Levites. Clearly this principle still applies today as we still need to care for the poor, the widow and the orphaned.

2Co 9:10

(10) And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity]. [Isaiah 55:10; Hosea 10:12]

We again see the confirmation of God’s blessing upon those who are faithful in giving. God is and remain our source. He is the supplier of our needs.

2Co 9:8

(8) And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].

Phi 4:19

(19) And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

As we have seen in the Old Testament we see the same emphasis in the New Testament that God will bless us abundantly and supply in all of our needs.

The giving of our substance is something that needs to be done with joy and it should never be a law or mere obligation. It is our way of thanking God for His goodness and mercy.

2Co 9:7

(7) Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, "prompt to do it") giver [whose heart is in his giving]. [Proverbs 22:9]

Paul's vocabulary and teaching suggests here that giving is voluntary and that there is no set percentage. Following the example of Christ, who gave even his life (2 Cor 8:9), we should cheerfully give as much as we have decided (2 Cor 9:7) based on how much the Lord has prospered us (1 Cor 16:2), knowing that we reap in proportion to what we sow (2 Cor 9:6) and that we will ultimately give account for our deeds (Rom 14:12).

Having said all of that lets us take a moment and study the life of Abraham after his act of tithing to Melchizedek.

All tithes refer to the fruit of the ground, which is BROUGHT SEASONALLY TO THE STOREHOUSE. The tithe of the spoils of battle are different from agricultural tithing. The tithe of the spoils of battle were actioned by Abraham.

It is not a commandment but a good habit. It is intrinsically linked to financial and other breakthroughs.

Abraham tithed to Melchizedek.

AFTER “THESE THINGS” WE SEE HOW BLESSINGS IN ABRAHAMS LIFE WERE ACTIVATED.

• REVELATION

Gen 15:1

(1) After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram, I am your Shield, your abundant compensation, and your reward shall be exceedingly great.

• FRUITFULNESS

Gen 15:5

(5) And He brought him outside [his tent into the starlight] and said, Look now toward the heavens and count the stars--if you are able to number them. Then He said to him, So shall your descendants be. [Hebrews 11:12]

• INCREASE(LAND)

Gen 15:7

(7) And He said to him, I am the [same] Lord, Who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees to give you this land as an inheritance.

• BREAKTHROUGH (FROM THE AMORITES)

Gen 15:13-16

(13) And [God] said to Abram, Know positively that your descendants will be strangers dwelling as temporary residents in a land that is not theirs [Egypt], and they will be slaves there and will be afflicted and oppressed for 400 years. [Fulfilled in Exodus 12:40]

(14) But I will bring judgment on that nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. [Acts 7:6, 7]

(15) And you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old (hoary) age.

(16) And in the fourth generation they [your descendants] shall come back here [to Canaan] again, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full and complete. [Joshua 24:15]

All these blessings may be reckoned as favour. This Favour is merited and unmerited.

Rom 4:9-16

(9) Is this blessing (happiness) then meant only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We say that faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.

(10) How then was it credited [to him]? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.

(11) He received the mark of circumcision as a token or an evidence [and] seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised--[faith] so that he was to be made the father of all who [truly] believe, though without circumcision, and who thus have righteousness (right standing with God) imputed to them and credited to their account,

(12) As well as [that he be made] the father of those circumcised persons who are not merely circumcised, but also walk in the way of that faith which our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

(13) For the promise to Abraham or his posterity, that he should inherit the world, did not come through [observing the commands of] the Law but through the righteousness of faith. [Genesis 17:4-6; Genesis 22:16-18]

(14) If it is the adherents of the Law who are to be the heirs, then faith is made futile and empty of all meaning and the promise [of God] is made void (is annulled and has no power).

(15) For the Law results in [divine] wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression [of it either].

(16) Therefore, [inheriting] the promise is the outcome of faith and depends [entirely] on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants--not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is [thus] the father of us all.

ABRAHAM IS OUR PATTERN FOR WALKING IN FAITH.

Melchizedek is a figure or shadow of Jesus and of the set man who provides his church with bread and wine, which is the proceeding word. When we tithe we acknowledge Jesus as our high priest according to the priesthood of Melchizedek.

1. It is a good trading policy to bless the set man of the house. In blessing him you are blessing Christ. (In doing this we apply the rule of the sent one.)

Joh 13:20

(20) I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, he who receives and welcomes and takes into his heart any messenger of Mine receives Me [in just that way]; and he who receives and welcomes and takes Me into his heart receives Him Who sent Me [in that same way].

The Melchizedek offering is the tithe of your victory that you submit to the set man e.g. an insurance policy payout

3. In an apostolic resource centre, set men should get into the habit of tithing their spoils to the apostle. You may say that this is going to produce wealthy apostles – yes apostles need to be rich. Wealth in the hands of the righteous is a powerful tool for kingdom advancement.

THE SYSTEM OF ECONOMICS IN THE CHURCH AS WE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT IT IS ARCHAIC AND UNBIBLICAL.

THE LEVITES WERE WEALTHY. THEY RECEIVED 11/10. TODAYS PASTORS ARE POORER THAN THE LEVITES ALTHOUGH LIVING IN THE NEW COVENANT. BECAUSE OF POOR BIBLICAL PRACTICES WE SEE PASTORS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR DISCOUNT AND HANDOUTS.

2.1

YOU DO NOT GIVE TO AN INSTITUTION…. YOU GIVE TO THE SET MAN OF COMPANY OF MEN

New Testament examples of giving to the set man or company of men rather than an institution:

1. BARNABAS

Act 4:36-37

(36) Now Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles, which interpreted means Son of Encouragement,

(37) Sold a field which belonged to him and brought the sum of money and laid it at the feet of the apostles.

THIS ACT RELEASED HIM INTO THE APOSTOLIC DIMENSION.

Act 13:2

(2) While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate now for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.

2. ONESIPHORUS

2Ti 1:16-18

(16) May the Lord grant [His] mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, for he often showed me kindness and ministered to my needs [comforting and reviving and bracing me like fresh air]! He was not ashamed of my chains and imprisonment [for Christ's sake].

(17) No, rather when he reached Rome, he searched diligently and eagerly for me and found me.

(18) May the Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord on that [great] day! And you know how many things he did for me and what a help he was at Ephesus [you know better than I can tell you].

3. EPAPHRODITUS

Phi 2:25-30

(25) However, I thought it necessary to send Epaphroditus [back] to you. [He has been] my brother and companion in labor and my fellow soldier, as well as [having come as] your special messenger (apostle) and minister to my need.

(26) For he has been [homesick] longing for you all and has been distressed because you had heard that he was ill.

(27) He certainly was ill [too], near to death. But God had compassion on him, and not only on him but also on me, lest I should have sorrow [over him] coming upon sorrow.

(28) So I have sent him the more willingly and eagerly, that you may be gladdened at seeing him again, and that I may be the less disquieted.

(29) Welcome him [home] then in the Lord with all joy, and honor and highly appreciate men like him,

(30) For it was through working for Christ that he came so near death, risking his [very] life to complete the deficiencies in your service to me [which distance prevented you yourselves from rendering].

4. THE MACEDONIANCHURCH

2Co 8:1-4

(1) We want to tell you further, brethren, about the grace (the favor and spiritual blessing) of God which has been evident in the churches of Macedonia [arousing in them the desire to give alms];

(2) For in the midst of an ordeal of severe tribulation, their abundance of joy and their depth of poverty [together] have overflowed in wealth of lavish generosity on their part.

(3) For, as I can bear witness, [they gave] according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability; and [they did it] voluntarily,

(4) Begging us most insistently for the favor and the fellowship of contributing in this ministration for [the relief and support of] the saints [in Jerusalem].

Phi 4:15-19

(15) And you Philippians yourselves well know that in the early days of the Gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church (assembly) entered into partnership with me and opened up [a debit and credit] account in giving and receiving except you only.

(16) For even in Thessalonica you sent [me contributions] for my needs, not only once but a second time.

(17) Not that I seek or am eager for [your] gift, but I do seek and am eager for the fruit which increases to your credit [the harvest of blessing that is accumulating to your account].

(18) But I have [your full payment] and more; I have everything I need and am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent me. [They are the] fragrant odor of an offering and sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He delights.

(19) And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

EXAMPLE:

A BUSINESSMAN HAS A VICTORY ABOVE HIS NORMAL BUSINESS. A PARTICULAR SHARE RAKES PROFIT OF R 3 MILLION. HE SHOULD TITHE R300,000.00 TO HIS SET MAN. THE SET MAN SHOULD TITHE R30 000 TO HIS APOSTLE.

2.2. INSTITUTIONAL TITHING – TITHING TO YOUR STOREHOUSE.

Mal 3:10-12

(10) Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. [Malachi 2:2]

(11) And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts.

(12) And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.

THIS IS THE PRINCIPLE OF REGULAR TITHING TO YOUR LOCAL CHURCHAS AN INDIVIDUAL OR A LOCALCHURCH TITHING TO ITS APOSTOLIC RESOURCE CENTRE.

THIS IS NOT DONE TO REBUKE THE DEVOURER. THE DEVOURER HAS BEEN REBUKED BY CHRIST ON THE CROSS. WE NOW TITHE BECAUSE THE DEVOURER HAS BEEN REBUKED. OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS MUST EXCEED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE PHARISEES AND THE SCRIBES. WE GIVE OUT OF GRATITUDE.

Lev 27:30-32

(30) And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord. [1 Corinthians 9:11; Galatians 6:6]

(31) And if a man wants to redeem any of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it.

(32) And all the tithe of the herd or of the flock, whatever passes under the herdsman's staff [by means of which each tenth animal as it passes through a small door is selected and marked], the tenth shall be holy to the Lord. [2 Corinthians 9:7-9]

Deu 14:22

(22) You shall surely tithe all the yield of your seed produced by your field each year.

Neh 10:37-39

(37) And we shall bring the first and best of our coarse meal, our contributions, the fruit of all kinds of trees, of new wine, and of oil to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God. And we shall bring the tithes from our ground to the Levites, for they, the Levites, collect the tithes in all our rural towns.

(38) And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when [they] receive tithes, and [they] shall bring one-tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers, into the storehouse.

(39) For the Israelites and the sons of Levi shall bring the offering of grain, new wine, and oil to the chambers where the vessels of the sanctuary are, along with the priests who minister and the gatekeepers and singers. We will not forsake or neglect the house of our God.

OPEN WINDOW OR OPEN HEAVEN

Mal 3:10-12

(10) Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. [Malachi 2:2]

(11) And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts.

(12) And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.

Under the law tithing was an act of obedience. Blessings are activated by obedience. (Read and study Deut.28).

Because the tithe belonged to God, returning it to the Lord was an act of obedience. The blessing for this act of obedience are:

THE BLESSINGS FOR TITHING:

• OPEN WINDOWS
• OVERFLOWING BLESSINGS
• THE DEVOURER REBUKED – RESULTING IN FRUITFULNESS IN YOUR FIELD.
• ALL NATIONS WILL CALL YOU BLESSED
• YOU WILL BE A DELIGHTSOME LAND

NO DOUBT TITHING ACTIVATES BLESSINGS, EVEN IF IT IS RETURNED WITH A LEGAL MINDSET.

Even unbelievers who live by this principle are blessed.

THE NEW COVENANT IS A BETTER COVENANT WITH BETTER

PROMISES.

AS REGENERATED BELIEVERS, WE RECOGNISE THAT EVERYTHING BELONGS TO THE LORD – NOT JUST THE TITHE.

1Co 10:26

(26) For the [whole] earth is the Lord's and everything that is in it. [Psalms 24:1; 50:12]

WE RECOGNISE THAT WE ARE OWNED BY GOD – NOT BY OURSELVES.

1Co 6:19-20

(19) Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own,

(20) You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.

Rom 14:8

(8) If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or we die, we belong to the Lord.

WE RECOGNISE OUR POSITION -WE ARE IN HIM:

Act 17:28

(28) For in Him we live and move and have our being; as even some of your [own] poets have said, For we are also His offspring.

BECAUSE OF THE RECOGNITION OF THE ABOVE, OUR LIFESTYLE SHOULD CHANGE:

2Co 5:15

(15) And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake.

Gal 2:20

(20) I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

THE MACEDONIANCHURCH RECOGNISED THIS:

2Co 8:5

(5) Nor [was this gift of theirs merely the contribution] that we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His agents] by the will of God [entirely disregarding their personal interests, they gave as much as they possibly could, having put themselves at our disposal to be directed by the will of God]--

THE APOSTLE PAUL TAUGHT US THIS:

Rom 12:1

(1) I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.

AS NEW COVENANT BELIEVERS WE ARE THE OFFERING AND THE SACRIFICE. BECAUSE WE HAVE SURRENDERED OURSELVES, WE CAN GIVE ALL THAT WE OWN TO GOD.(PAUL GAVE HIMSELF AND HIS POSSESSIONS

2Co 12:15

(15) But I will most gladly spend [myself] and be utterly spent for your souls. If I love you exceedingly, am I to be loved [by you] the less?

SPEND AND BE SPENT

PROBLEM:

WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT GIVEN THEMSELVES TO THE LORD TO TITHE.

WHEN YOU GIVE YOURSELF TO THE LORD, YOU LIVE BEYOND TITHING.

Rom 3:31

(31) Do we then by [this] faith make the Law of no effect, overthrow it or make it a dead letter? Certainly not! On the contrary, we confirm and establish and uphold the Law.

IN THIS CONTEXT EVERY ASPECT OF THE LAW IS FULFILLED IN US.

WHEN YOU GIVE YOURSELF TO THE LORD YOU MOVE BEYOND THE PHARISEE. THE PHARISEE TITHED, YOU WILL DO BETTER.

Mat 5:20

(20) For I tell you, unless your righteousness (your uprightness and your right standing with God) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

THE PHARISEE COULD RETURN HIS TITHE, BUT COULD NOT SACRIFICE HIMSELF TO GOD – HE STILL LOVED HIS TITLES, HIS POSTION, ETC)

IN JESUS, WE ARE OWNED BY HIM - THIS POSITION BRINGS A GRACE IMPARTATION TO GIVE EVERYTHING TO GOD. - WHEN YOU GIVE YOURSELF, GOD BEGINS TO WORK IN AND THROUGH YOU.(THE CONTEXT OF PHILLIPIANS 2 IS SELF-DENIAL.)

Phi 2:13

(13) [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

WHEN GOD WORKS IN YOU, YOU CEASE TO LIVE IN LEGALISM.

Rom 8:14

(14) For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

YOU ARE NO LONGER LOOKING FOR BLESSINGS, YOU ARE A BLESSING.

THIS MOVES US BEYOND THE WINDOW BLESSINGS OF MALACHI 3.

Rom 15:29

(29) And I know that when I do come to you, I shall come in the abundant blessing of the Gospel of Christ.

DOORS OPEN SO THAT YOU CAN BE A DISTRIBUTOR OF BLESSINGS.

YOU NO LONGER LIVE UNDER AN OPEN WINDOW, BUT AN OPEN HEAVEN.

Act 7:55-60

(55) But he, full of the Holy Spirit and controlled by Him, gazed into heaven and saw the glory (the splendor and majesty) of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand;

(56) And he said, Look! I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at God's right hand!

(57) But they raised a great shout and put their hands over their ears and rushed together upon him.

(58) Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him, and the witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. [Acts 22:20]

(59) And while they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, Lord Jesus, receive and accept and welcome my spirit!

(60) And falling on his knees, he cried out loudly, Lord, fix not this sin upon them [lay it not to their charge]! And when he had said this, he fell asleep [in death].

STEPHEN SAW HEAVENS OPEN BECAUSE HE GAVE HIMSELF.

JOHN SAW HEAVEN OPEN BECAUSE HE DENIED HIMSELF FOR THE GOSPEL.

Rev 1:9

(9) I, John, your brother and companion (sharer and participator) with you in the tribulation and kingdom and patient endurance [which are] in Jesus Christ, was on the isle called Patmos, [banished] on account of [my witnessing to] the Word of God and the testimony (the proof, the evidence) for Jesus Christ.

Rev 4:1

(1) After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice which I had heard addressing me like [the calling of] a war trumpet said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place in the future.

WHEN JESUS DENIED HIMSELF BEFORE JOHN THE BAPTIST – HEAVENS OPENED.

Mat 3:13-16

(13) Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him.

(14) But John protested strenuously, having in mind to prevent Him, saying, It is I who have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?

(15) But Jesus replied to him, Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for [both of] us to fulfill all righteousness [that is, to perform completely whatever is right]. Then he permitted Him.

(16) And when Jesus was baptized, He went up at once out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he [John] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him.

CONCLUSION AND APPLICATION

Allow me to conclude and summarizing what we have learned from this study:

• We are no longer under the law of the Old Testament with regards to tithing. Do we still tithe? Yes we do – not because of the law but in a response to the principles of giving we have learned from both the old and the new Testament
• Tithes are brought to the set man and those who labor in the field from whom we receive our bread and wine.
• Through ourselves giving sacrificially and denying ourselves we tap into not an open window as under the old covenant but into an OPEN HEAVEN.

After all of this now you will understand why I and Renette do not keep record of who is giving tithes and who are not. We have long ago chose to become the tithe, offering and sacrifice in the service of God. Your giving is your responsibility between you and God. The life we live is a demonstration of this principle.

Let those who have ears to hear what the Spirit of the Lord is speaking to you hear.

Time do not allow me to discuss today the references made to the second tithe and its application. Let it suffice to say that the same principles we are applying to the tithe also applies to the second tithe.

God bless you all.