13/12/10

Tithing into the next level, Righteous Giving

Acts 5:1,2 - But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.


Tithing is a very sensitive issue both for the people and especially for the Church leaders; ironically both suffer because of greed. The people do not tithe exactly to God's instruction and the Church does not prosper because they lack.

People cry to give even the 10percent (Tithe means 10percent) and search for all kind of excuses not to give. On the other hand if one goes to any Church and preaches on giving anything other than 10 percent that person can really get into bad books of that Church Pastor/ leader.

Tithing started with Abraham when he gave 10percent to Melchizedek who symbolized Christ (Anointed One - God and man), for his name meant King of Peace (Holy Spirit for Jesus was the Prince of Peace) and he bought bread and wine (symbolizing the Son of God - Jesus). When Abraham tithed (10percent) unto Melchizedek, he was not under any law. It was out of righteousness that Abraham gave.

Tithing (10 percent) became a law during the time of Moses when God instructed the people that it needs to be done.

People do not realize that even under the Law of Moses there were different levels of tithes (righteous giving). The 10 percent was the regular tithe (righteous giving) but during the 7th year all that was extra (to what was needed by the person) was given away as tithe (righteous giving). The number 7 represents Christ and in Christ one needs to keep only that which is necessary and give away everything else and people do not realize even Abraham did the same. Paul wrote of the 10percent Abraham gave to Melchizedek but not the remaining leaving for what his people ate and that which was necessary.

When a person is not in Christ (baptized in the Holy Spirit) he or she needs to give 10percent but when the person is in Christ, he or she enters into the next level from tithe unto Righteous Giving. We see this in our today's message.

In today's message in the book of Acts the Apostles did not tell the people how much to give for they knew how much. The people kept what was necessary and gave the remainder unto the Apostles and those who were dedicated unto the Lord gave everything. We also see this was as per the instructions from the Holy Spirit from the testimony of Ananias and his wife Sapphira.

When Ananias and his wife Sapphira disobeyed and died instantly it was not Peter and the other Apostles who judged them but their lying unto the Holy Spirit that judged them. This is also the reason that in the New Testament there is hardly any scripture on Tithing excepting for the past references (i.e. Gospels and Hebrews).

One needs to get this into their system, not only into their head but also into every organ and every cell; coming into the Lord is going to hurt your flesh (carnal self). If you think blessings of Abraham means one will be blessed with wealth and have a luxurious life, you are in the wrong place.

The Lord made us and allowed sin to come into us so that we may overcome and be perfected in Him. He has great plans (Light) for us which can be received only when we overcome.

Non-believer Christians find it hard to give 10percent and compromise with 2 and 4 percent. The Believer Christians with great difficulty manage to just about give their 10percent.

When I wrote on how the 10 percent needed to be given in my teaching on Tithe (according to the Bible), this disturbed many a Pastors. Today if I tell the people that if they are in the Lord, baptized in the Holy Spirit they need to keep only that which is necessary and give the remaining, I am sure I will be on the most wanted / hated list.

Hate me or love me but that will not change the Truth.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, when we are born again in You, we are no longer our old person but a new creation. We are no longer operating in the flesh but are led by your Spirit. Help us Lord as this process begins in us that it comes to completion and we are fully led by your Spirit. As we come to know the Truth help us to live the Truth...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scripture ]
Genesis 14:14-24
14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan.
15 And he divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, at the vale of Shaveh (the same is the King's Vale).
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High.
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 and blessed be God Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him a tenth 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 lifted up my hand unto Jehovah, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,
23 that I will not take a thread nor a shoe-latchet nor aught 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 that went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

Hebrew 7:1-3
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
2 to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is King of peace;
3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God), abideth a priest continually.

Exodus 21:2
2 If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.

Exodus 23:10-11
10 And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the increase thereof:
11 but the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beast of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.

Leviticus 25:3-7
3 Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruits thereof;
4 but in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath unto Jehovah: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.
5 That which groweth of itself of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, and the grapes of thy undressed vine thou shalt not gather: it shall be a year of solemn rest for the land.
6 And the sabbath of the land shall be for food for you; for thee, and for thy servant and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant and for thy stranger, who sojourn with thee.
7 And for thy cattle, and for the beasts that are in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be for food.

Matthew 19:23
23 And Jesus said unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Acts 5:1-10
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it.
6 And the young men arose and wrapped him round, and they carried him out and buried him.
7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 But Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to try the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them that have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out.
10 And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.



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