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Tuesday 27 January 2015

BIBLICAL EXPLANATION ON TITHING



Most believers have raised so many questions that answers has not been provided.  Some say " I know that God said we should pay tithes of all but where do will pay it, how do will pay it and to whom  do we pay tithes. Please read through all and not some of these scriptures as captured by KJV.  You may also take out the responsibility of searching this scriptures in other translations of the Bible.  Remember study to show thyself approve a workman that needed not to be ashamed...

BIBLICAL EXPLANATION ON TITHING

GEN 14:

18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

The above shows that Abram paid tithe of all. Paid it to a high priest.

Leviticus 27:31 And if a man will at all redeem [ought] of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth [part] thereof. PAYMENT OF PART OF TITHES ATTRACT 5% addition

Numbers 18:24 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.


The above clearly stated also that tithes are for the Levites (Priests)

Numbers 18:26 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.

Numbers 18:28 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.

Another question is, do the priest consume the tithes? The answer from the above scriptures states clearly that after the priest receives your tithe, he set out 10% of the total received tithes as an offering to the Lord.

Who takes that Lord’s offering since the Lord does not use our money or gold? That part is used for the widow indeed, the fatherless, the needy or poor for their welfare by the Priest.

DEUT 12:

5 But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:

6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:

7 And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.

8 Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.

9 For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you.


DEUT 14

22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.

24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:

25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:

26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,

27 And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.

28 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:

29 And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.

Deut: 26

12 When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;

13 Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them :

14 I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use , nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.

The above scriptures suggests to me that you eat your tithe before the Lord because you are not in your place of rest or inheritance yet. The people of God where still in the wilderness. How can a man rob God if the same God gave this commandment that it should be spent on lusts?

From the above scripture, the Question is, who consumes the tithe, is it the giver or the priest? Where is the Lord’s chosen place? And what do we use the tithe for?


2 CHR 31

5 And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.

6 And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.

7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.

9 Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.

11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them ,

12 And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next.

13 And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.

14 And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the most holy things.

15 And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small:


After the wilderness experience tithes and offerings were now stored in God’s House to be administered by the priest who appoints keepers (rulers) as revealed in the above scriptures.

Neh 13:

3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:

5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

6 But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:

7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.

9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.

10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them : for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.

11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.

14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.

I understand from the above scriptures that the tithe is meant to be for the levites, and the singers.  It must be in the House of God and must be looked after by the treasurer (Accountants of today’s church).

Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
From the above scripture, we must obey the law of tithing the same way we obey the commandment not to steal or covet our neighbor’s property otherwise it is more terrible to fall into the hands of God. Those who fail to pay tithes are robbing God.


Malachi 3:10 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].

There is a stern command from God in the above scriptures that tithe should be brought to the storehouse (a place in the House of God) as previously seen.  The good news is that you do not obey this command in vein.  There is a blessing which the believer’s room will not be able to handle.

Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
 
Luke 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
The above two scriptures reveal that we must not leave tithing undone as well as the former.


Hebrews 7:5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:


The priests have been commanded to received tithes from the children of God.

Hebrews 7:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

Hebrews 7:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he [receiveth them], of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

Hebrews 7:9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

Even the Levites who receives tithe pay tithes also

So, let nothing stop your tithing to the best of your ability.  Whatever you see as an increase needs to be tithed. Don’t let any devil or its agents deceive you.  No amount of education or degrees acquired is sufficient enough to interpret the scriptures but the Spirit of God that is in Man.  What you don’t understand in this Kingdom can never work for you!

Remain blessed!

Pst. S.A.M. Oni

Saturday 29 November 2014

Godliness is Profitable unto all things



GODLINESS IS PROFITABLE UNTO ALL THINGS
There is profit when you live a godly life.  Daniel proposed in his heart that he will not do it.  With the fear of God he was able to carry it out.

Daniel 1:8
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs
that he might not defile himself.

Paul in 1 Cor 15:10 says I am what I am by the grace of God.  Before the grace of God came upon him he labored.  You must exercise yourself and let go some things so that you can live a life that please God.  You must let go.
1THESSALONIANS 2
10 Ye are witnesses and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

Paul has testimonies of godliness.  He was bold to boldly declare this.  The righteousness we are talking of here is the one we can testify of.  Paul was a man that possesses an insatiable hunger for godliness. 
In Ps 61:5, the Psalmist says he hunger as in a dry and a thirsty land.  Godliness and power answer to a genuine thirst.  You must desperately desire to please God.  Even when things seem the opposite, you still stand in righteousness.
Brother Matthew told us also that we should seek it first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and all these things that men are seeking shall be giving unto us.
Can you openly declare your righteousness in God? 

Phil 3:10-14
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do , forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus

Saul who later became Paul was a persecutor but he forgot those things that would have weigh him down and started seeing who he really is.  God sees us through Jesus! Don’t look at what you did in the past that God has forgiven you for. The devil will always come with one useless pass!  He presses towards the mark before him.  Righteousness is a race!
What you should be looking at is the crown of glory that will be placed on you by God.  Don’t care how your opponent is carrying on with his race.  Press towards the mark!  We are all on a race.  Forget the things that are behind.  When you are running a race you don’t need any weight.  Weight can bring down.  So, sin is a weight which we must let go.  Whether open or secretly there is no body that carries load that can run so easily.  We must let go of that habit.

Paul also walked in love which is the bond of perfection.  Love is another weapon that we need in the race of righteousness.  Let us walk in love so that we will win the price at the end of the day.  If there is no price for the race, then it is worthless.  This is not only in heaven but here on earth.  Righteousness takes people up.  Abraham was righteous and was a prosperous man.  Job was a righteous man and he was a prosperous man.  Poverty is not a sign of righteousness.  Do not let people mislead you.  You can be rich and be holly.  Paul ended up the most celebrated.  When the people saw him they saw God’s likeness in him.   Paul was a man of unusual wisdom also 2 Pet 3:15.

2PETER 3
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

He was the last but ended up being the most celebrated.  It does not matter when you gave your life to Jesus.  It is when you  receive the light that counts.  You will make it in Jesus name! Amen!

Saturday 22 November 2014

The power of the tongue Pt2



A mouth and a wisdom that will turn the table around for your testimony!  So for your situations to turn around for a testimony, you must understand what God has given you!  Your mouth has been given to you not just for eating and drinking but has been giving you as a weapon of war against all your adversaries.  I will give unto you a mouth and when you let my wisdom flow through that mouth, none of your adversary can gainsay nor resist it.  So you have a gift of destiny that determines where you are heading to.  You will not end up in a crash in the Name of Jesus Christ!  Now say it to yourself, “I have a mouth gift from my father who is in heaven as a weapon of war against all my adversaries in the journey of life.  I have a mouth gift and I am going to put my mouth to work so as to put my enemies off and lay hold to my testimony.  I like you to look at any challenge in your life and say to that challenge “you shall turn to me for a testimony”.  Any challenge in character, any challenge in relationship etc, I’ like you to say it with your mouth, I know you are turning to me for a testimony! Glory to God!  Any mark of the devil harassing your destiny in anyway, I know you shall turn to me for a testimony. In Jesus precious Name!
Snr. Pst. fawom  

Friday 21 November 2014

The power of the tongue Pt1



THE POWER OF THE TONGUE –Pt 1 - Pst. Oni Maj
A woman was at the verge of total collapse when she ran to meet a prophet and she said my husband the prophet is dead and the creditor has come to take the sons away.  And Elisha said to her what do you have in your house.  That is to say that there is something within you that holds answer to that question of your life.  You have all it takes to be free.  You have all it takes to be full.  You have all it takes to excel! He said what has thou in thine house? There are many things we carry but we don’t know what they are worth.  I want you to lift up your voice to the Lord and ask him to open your eyes to see your worth.  Lord upon my eyes to see that you have placed within me that can provide an answer.  What has thou in thine house?   2 kings 4:2.  It shows a deplorable situation but there is something you can do to live that situation. From the word of God it is clear that every destiny is at the mercy of the tongue. In my Bible, I know that it is in your own too, I am told that life and deaths is at the power of the tongue Prov 18:.21.  So the tongue can determine how well you live or otherwise.   


They were about getting into Canaan and hakadesh bannier, twelve spice were sent to spy out the land and they came back and said we were not able to enter.  The people are too strong for us.  We saw the land that it is a land flowing with milk and honey but we can’t take it.  We were like ant’s before them. And the Lord held them and said as you have said, so shall it be.  Just to say it is impossible – then you find yourself a permanent victim of imperfection.  God was the one who said to them I am taking you to Canaan, but their mouth won’t let them to enter.  God is the one who said he has paid of our sins but it would require our mouth to enter into his righteousness.  The tongue!  In short, the bible says any man who does not know how to use his tongue, he said that man’s religion is vain. Vain means zero, nothing to show.  They could not enter the land because their tongue won’t let then enter.  How many are determine to enter into the kingdom of perfection? Come on say, I must enter. 
Now, And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me. Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:
Num 14:26-28
That means your tongue is what determines what God does to you! It is so vital.  Jesus was speaking and he was talking about the challenges of the end time.  He said this has been ordained to turn to you for a testimony! I don’t know what challenges you might be facing right now, but God said, it has been programmed to turn to you for a testimony.  Amen!
And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Luke 21:13
That is, very shortly you shall be able to say… be ye followers of me even as I follow Christ.  It will soon show that of a truth you are serving the living God.  And he gave them one weapon that will make this to happen in the gospel according to Luke
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
Luke 21 :12-15
So, no matter the persecution, it shall turn to you for a testimony.