For the New Testament Born Again Believer What is Tithing About?

Transcription

1 For the New Testament Born Again Believer What is Tithing About?

2 Exploring the Law of the Tithe an Old Testament Institution

3 Is tithing an eternal law of God? Is tithing a spiritual law of prosperity? Financial duty?

4 Act of obedience? Matter of Honor? Expression of gratitude? Required in the Church?

5 Is it an act of worship? Is it an Act of Faith? Or; Misguided Theology?

6 We have duty to rightly divide the Scripture to apply it to our lives correctly. 2 Timothy 2:15

7 The new man in Christ is in a new creation and relates to God differently from those who lived BEFORE the Cross.

8 The Law was our GUIDE to lead us to Christ. Now that Faith has come we are no longer under that type of GUIDANCE. Galatians 3:24 25

9 Christ fulfilled the Law. He redeemed us from the CURSE the law imputed to us. Galatians 3.13

10 The Law was added until the Promised Messiah was to come.

11 The Law was CHANGED when Jesus came. For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. Hebrews 7:12

12 A New Covenant was made through Jesus thereby making the First Covenant OBSOLETE. Hebrews 8.13

13 The Church today is living by an Old Covenant paradigm. Their spiritual perspective and theological framework for thinking and relating to God is based upon doing something to gain God s approval.

14 The Church has focused attention on learning and applying principles, rather than knowing Jesus Christ, abiding in him, and being the expression of his life through the Holy Spirit.

15 Although they say they are not under the Old Covenant Most Christians are trying to relate to God from a perspective that is based on the Old Covenant.

16 They take all the facts they know about Jesus and try to fit them into spiritual patterns they see in the Old Testament.

17 The Church needs to make a complete paradigm shift from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant way of thinking AND living.

18 Tithing is one way that Christians mistakenly try to express their new nature in Christ through an obsolete system of worship and financial stewardship.

19 Tithing is NOT part of the New Covenant Tithing is NOT an eternal principle or mandate from God under the NEW COVENANT.

20 Tithing is an external regulation built on the Old Testament institution of Laws.

21 That institution PROVIDED for a Celebration FEAST three times during the year for the People. See Deuteronomy 12 and 14 to understand HOW God wanted the Tithe used!

22 The TITHE was used to provide for the CELEBRATION FEAST which INCLUDED Levites, Priests, the poor, the widows AND also for those who tithed!! It Was PRIMARILY for the TITHER but GIVEN to the LEVITE.

23 The Old Testament system consisted of priests and Levites whom God chose to come before him and to serve him on behalf of the people.

24 The Tithe system was used for the Levites To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given the entire tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting. Numbers 18:20 21 The sons of Levi were also Priests serving in the Temple Service.

25 When Joshua divided the land the Levites did not receive an inheritance Only to the tribe of Levi he did not give an inheritance; the offerings by fire to the Lord, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as He spoke to him. Joshua 13:14, NASB95 Joshua 13.14

26 There were THREE times a year the tithes were GATHERED together to PREPARE for these CELEBRATION Feast. The Feasts were in the 1 st 3 rd and 7 th months.

27 Three Feasts pertaining to the tenth part 1 st Feast of Unleavened Bread (Feast of Shavuot) 3 rd Harvest of the First Fruits (Feast of Weeks) 7 th Feast of Ingathering (Feasts of Booths) "In the third month they began to make the heaps, and finished them by the seventh month." (2 Chronicles 31:7, NASB95)

28 Also you shall observe the Feast of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labors from what you sow in the field; also the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in the fruit of your labors from the field. Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord God." Exodus Exodus 23:14 17

29 Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord God. Exodus Exodus 23:16 17

30 The 3rd feast was the time of the year when the bulk of the tithe of the tithe was received at Jerusalem and when tithing for the year was completed

31

32 The Law specifically defined the tithe and the process of tithing. It was to come from the land. It was the increase of fields, vineyards, trees, flocks, herds.

33 The Tithe belonged to the LEVITES. It did not go directly to the Priests in the Temple Numbers 18:21

34 To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for a possession in return for the service that they perform, the service in the tent of meeting. Numbers 18:21

35 The Levites then AFTER receiving the Tithe made an offering to the Lord in the Temple.

36 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: You shall speak to the Levites, saying: Numbers 18:25 26

37 When you receive from the Israelites the tithe that I have given you from them for your portion, you shall set apart an offering from it to the LORD, a tithe of the tithe. Numbers 18:27, 28

38 During the Law, tithing was used in God's Celebration feasts AND to provide for the priests, the Levites, the poor in Israel as well as the Tither.

39 Here is how it was supposed to work.

40 When Israel entered the Land they were to destroy the people AND tear down the pagan altars by which they worshiped their gods.

41 Israel was to institute a NEW way of worshipping the TRUE God.

42 AFTER they inherited the land and God had given them rest from their enemies so that they lived in safety.

43 They were to seek where God wanted to put his NAME, go to that place and worship in a prescribed manner bring what God commanded them. Deuteronomy 12:6 7

44 They were to bring their burnt offerings and sacrifices, tithes and freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks. Deuteronomy 12:6 7

45 And you shall partake of that in the Presence of the LORD God, rejoicing in all the undertakings in which the LORD your God blessed them. Deuteronomy 12:6 7

46 What if the place where God chose to put His Name is too far for them to travel and bring their tithe?

47 If the place which the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, then you may slaughter of your herd and flock which the LORD has given you, as I have commanded you; and you may eat within your gates whatever you desire. Deuteronomy 12:21

48 If they so chose they could exchange the tithe for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses. Deuteronomy 14:24 26

49 You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household. Deuteronomy 14:24 26

50 The Law allowed for freewill offerings from other sources but they were not the tithe and were not called the tithe.

51 First fruits was an offering under the Law. It was a different than the tithe, based on a different concept.

52 The Law was an indivisible unit. A common error in the church is to believe that certain parts of the Law passed away, but that other parts still pertain to us.

53 The Law was an indivisible unit. The New Testament scriptures make it plain that if you put yourself under any part of the Law then you are under the whole Law.

54 Tithing during the Law has nothing to do with life in the New Covenant except to foreshadow in an indirect way the coming of the Christ as the Passover lamb.

55 The Law that requiring sacrifices could NEVER make us PERFECT otherwise they would NOT have CEASED Hebrews

56 The Law of Sacrifices on the Altar did NOT please God so it was done away with. Hebrews 10.6

57 God ABOLISHED the FIRST ORDER to ESTABLISH the SECOND Hebrews 10.9

58 All of the commandments, instructions, rebukes, exhortations, blessings, and curses related to tithing during the Law were for the people who were UNDER THE LAW. They are NOT for the Church.

59 It is wrong to take scriptures that were given to those under the Law of Moses and use them to teach tithing to Christians. It brings SPIRITUAL CONFUSION.

60 Every time someone reads Malachi 3:10 for the purpose of compelling people to tithe is spiritually raping the people. Tithing is one of the church's selfcontradicting doctrines that are based on scriptures that are taken out of context.

61 The New Covenant is a total change in the way man relates to God. The change in relationship is the reason why tithing isn't mentioned. It doesn't need to be mentioned. It's a nonissue. It's irrelevant.

62 The Law is not speaking to the new creation in Christ. It was never intended for us. We live in a much higher and better relationship with God.

63 The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. Gal. 3:24 25

64 Most of the erroneous teaching on tithing comes from one thing; trying to apply Old Covenant principles to the NEW LIFE in Christ and the two don't mix.

65 The God Robber passage

66 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Malachi. 3:8

67 The PROBLEM with using this passage is that ALL of those who quote it use it as a SWORD to CUT people. The Letter kills but the SPIRIT GIVES LIFE! 2 Corinthians 3:6

68 Actually under the NEW COVENANT God REQUIRES 100% NOT 10%

69 God requires the VESSEL that was REDEEMED and NOT the tithe.

70 Our relationship to God as a born again believers is far superior to anything previous. We are not our own, we have been bought with a price, the blood of Jesus. We no longer live on the level of a tither!

71 That is the new standard of 100% commitment in the New Covenant. So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. (Luke 14:33)

72 Our standard today is not 10 percent, it is Christ himself who gave everything. Paul is an example for us.

73 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: Phillipians 3:7 8

74 For whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. Philippians 3:7 8

75 A Curse Will Come on You If You Don't Tithe Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. (Malachi. 3:9)

76 There is NO curse upon us in Christ. It isn't part of our covenant. Jesus bore it and completely redeemed us from it.

77 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: Galatians 3:13

78 If you put yourself back under the Law you will put yourself under the curse. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (Gal. 3:10)

79 Those who teach that there is a curse for not tithing are contradicting the most basic truths of the New Covenant.

80 There are many ways that faith can be expressed; Faith is what God is looking for now, not tithing.

81 Without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6

82 Tithing Rebukes the Devourer God is not waiting to rebuke the devourer for those who tithe; he has already has. Malachi 3:11

83 The New Covenant is a blood covenant not a tithe covenant.

84 The New Testament Macedonian PRINCIPLES explain HOW Born Again believers are to give.

85 In the New Testament the Bible uses the Macedonian Church as an example to teach about giving.

86 To truly give it s a time to disgrace yourself and prefer someone else s needs above your own. It s a time to humble yourself.

87 First God s grace must be upon you to give so that out of your poverty you may be able to give beyond your ability with great joy and eagerness. 2 Corinthians 8:1 3

88 They first gave themselves to the Lord. 2 Corinthians 8:5

89 Their giving was from a willing and generous heart.

90 A Born Again believers gives as he purposes in in his heart. 2 Corinthians 9:7

91 Each believer under the NEW Covenant gives from an UNENCUMBERED heart. NOT under CUMPULSION or of NECESSITY. 2 Corinthians 9:7

92 The offering given is not measured in amounts but in willingness of heart so that it is acceptable according to what one has not according to what they DO NOT have. 2 Corinthians 8:12 13

93 Among believers there is supposed to be EQUALITY. 2 Corinthians 8:14

94 So that the ABUNDANCE of OTHERS may be for YOUR need that there may be EQUALITY. 2 Corinthians 8:14

95 That s what this Scripture means: The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little. 2 Corinthians 8.15 AND Psalms AND Exodus AND Acts 4.34 AND 2 Corinthians 9.12

96 The Spiritual LAW EMPLOYED under the NEW Covenant is sowing and reaping

97 If you sow sparingly you reap sparingly. 2 Corinthians 9:6

98 Now back to the Questions

99 Is tithing an eternal law of God? Is tithing a spiritual law of prosperity? Financial duty?

100 Act of obedience? Matter of Honor? Expression of gratitude? Required in the Church?

101 Is it an act of worship? Is it an Act of Faith? Or; Misguided Theology?

102 Closing Questions?