TITLE: The truth about giving. By Karen Yvette Harris-Stokes 09/04/16 |
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When you tithe, which is traditional know the reasoning behind it. Tithing is used in government and other forms of trading. Although many churches proclaim this, many people still don't understand it's meaning. As the LORD said: Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe," says the LORD Almighty."Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty. "You have spoken arrogantly against me," says the LORD. "Yet you ask, 'What have we said against you?'"You have said, 'It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.'"
Malachi 3
Now days the tithe is somewhat a burden for people. They have trouble making ends meet and they cannot give as their vows allow them too. However, the LORD puts this out to those who follow Him. Unknowingly, tithes is also taxes which are meant to fund workers of the government and also assist with other programs for people of the free world, but in this world it's quietly mentioned. If you don't pay taxes, then you are consider a robber and a thief. You are jailed and you all you owned will be sold off. Let's take a look at two tithers in the book of Acts.
Riding up to church one day, together they decided to tithe a certain way. It was tithing season for them today, and the prosperity of the LORD was more than they could take. The seed of deception was what they shared, but unfortunately for them, the Holy Spirit was at work as always in the mist of the congregation.
Park the wagon, he said" I'll go in first and present the Apostles with the tithe we have. They kissed one last time and while the offerings were made, he laid his share at the feet of the Apostle of that day. He entered in the threshold of the temple with many bags of money, but neglected to bring the fullness of the tithe that day. As he made his way to lay the tithe at the feet of the Apostle today, he was to face death in the most usual way.
This is what the Apostle spoke on that day: But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
Then three hours later, she came into the church smiling and looking for her husband. Thinking to herself, I don't see him with the others, so he must be up front because I still see people tithing. She excused herself and finally reached the altar. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." Peter said to her, "How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
It is unfortunately to experience the two deaths. As the LORD teaches: They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose image is this? And whose inscription?" "Caesar's," they replied. Then Jesus said to them, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." And they were amazed at him. Mark 12:18
Look at this scenario: Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.
In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Matthew 23 "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24 For His servants only is this message. Pray for life in Him.
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