Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines Curse Objectives: 1. T establish and reinfrce the imprtance f develping regular and dynamic spiritual disciplines in rder t sustain a fruitful walk as a disciple f Christ. Dynamic spiritual disciplines are essential t sustain a fruitful walk as a disciple f Christ. 2. T understand that the purpse f spiritual disciplines, being: a. T draw us clser t Christ b. T develp maturity in Christ c. T strengthen the spiritual man Spiritual disciplines empwer disciples t walk in the truth. 3. T understand the rle and wrk f the Hly Spirit in bearing the fruit f self-discipline, s that it des nt becme a dead wrk f the flesh. The Hly Spirit empwers us t cultivate the fruit f self-cntrl 4. T help the student develp gd biblical habits in the fllwing specific spiritual disciplines: The Wrd; Fellwship; Cmmunin; Stewardship & tithing; Wrship; Fasting; The Sabbath (Nte that cver the discipline f Prayer in ur Effective Prayer subject.) Destiny is determined by daily discipline Curse and sessin Outline 1. The call t a disciplined life 2. The discipline f daily devtins 3. The discipline f Fellwship 4. The discipline f Cmmunin 5. The discipline f Fasting 6. The discipline f Wrship 7. The discipline f Stewardship & Tithing 8. The discipline f the Sabbath Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 1
1 THE CALL TO A DISCIPLINED LIFE Discipline defined: dis ci pline - verb (used with bject) t train by instructin and exercise t bring t a state f rder and bedience by training and cntrl dis ci pline - nun Activity, exercise, r a regimen that develps r imprves a skill; training Discipline marked the early church frm its inceptin. Acts 2:42 NIV They devted themselves t NKJ And they cntinued steadfastly TM: They cmmitted themselves t AMPL: And they steadfastly persevered, devting themselves cnstantly t Exercise: Read thrugh the descriptin f the early church in Acts 2:42 47, and underline/circle and name the spiritual disciplines/rutines which marked their church life: 42 They devted themselves t the apstles' teaching and t the fellwship, t the breaking f bread and t prayer. 43 Everyne was filled with awe, and many wnders and miraculus signs were dne by the apstles. 44 All the believers were tgether and had everything in cmmn. 45 Selling their pssessins and gds, they gave t anyne as he had need. 46 Every day they cntinued t meet tgether in the temple curts. They brke bread in their hmes and ate tgether with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising Gd and enjying the favur f all the peple. And the Lrd added t their number daily thse wh were being saved. Ntice the amazing results f such a life: And the Lrd added t their number daily thse wh were being saved. (Vs. 47) Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 2
Further spiritual exercise plan scriptures: 1 Tim 4:7-9 7 train yurself t be gdly. [keeping yurself spiritually fit]. 8 Fr physical training is f sme value, but gdliness has value fr all things, hlding prmise fr bth the present life and the life t cme. 9 This is a trustwrthy saying that deserves full acceptance In The Message this reads: Exercise daily in Gd n spiritual flabbiness, please! Wrkuts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in Gd is far mre s, making yu fit bth tday and frever. Yu can cunt n this. Take it t heart. 2 Tim 1:6,7 I remind yu t fan int flame the gift f Gd, which is in yu thrugh the laying n f my hands. 7 Fr Gd did nt give us a spirit f timidity, but a spirit f pwer, f lve and f self-discipline. Ps 94:12-13 Blessed is the man yu discipline, O LORD, the man yu teach frm yur law; 13 yu grant him relief frm days f truble, Pr 1: 7 The fear f the LORD is the beginning f knwledge, but fls despise wisdm and discipline. Titus 1:7-9 Since an verseer is entrusted with Gd's wrk, he must be blameless nt verbearing, nt quick-tempered, nt given t drunkenness, nt vilent, nt pursuing dishnest gain. 8 Rather he must be hspitable, ne wh lves what is gd, wh is selfcntrlled, upright, hly and disciplined NOTE: There is a difference between results-fcused and Gd-fcused spiritual practices. Results are always a secndary, indirect cncern in their healthy practice. Primary is ur attentiveness t Gd Himself. PERSONAL ASSESSMENT EXERCISE: Frm the list belw, and cnsidering yur current diary, habits, rutines, etc, mark with numbers 1, 2 & 3 the tp 3 spiritual disciplines which yu feel need the mst develpment / attentin in yur life at this time: Fellwship (meeting tgether regularly in authentic Christian cmmunity) Cmmunin (Remembering what Christ has dne) Daily devtins in the Wrd (reading, meditating, study, cnfessin, memrising, etc).. Daily devtins in prayer (prayer fr persnal needs and thers, etc) Wrship (A lifestyle f wrship and praise) Stewardship (Availing yur time, talents & treasures fr Gds Kingdm) Tithing (Hnuring Gd with His tithe) Fasting (Ging withut in rder t draw near.) The Sabbath (Resting frm ding.) Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 3
2 DEVELOPING THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF DYNAMIC DAILY DEVOTIONS IN PRAYER & THE WORD Objectives f this sessin: T share truth and practical tips t help the believer develp the discipline f daily devtins in prayer and in the Wrd. The Gspel brings man t Gd; Devtins keep him clse t Gd This sessin reminds us that we need a ne-n-ne relatinship with Gd. While it s gd t learn frm thers, Jesus calls us t fllw Him (nt just fllw thers wh are fllwing Him). Defining Devtins Persnal daily devtins can be defined as: Sme quality time every day dedicated t meeting with Gd, listening t Him and talking t Him, resulting in becming mre like him Devtins require quality time and cmmunicatin. Gd cmmunicates t His peple thrugh His Wrd, and we cmmunicate with Him thrugh prayer. Devtin is mre than cmmitment. Devtin is birthed ut f DESIRE + DISCIPLINE DESIRE is abut heart Desire is a much strnger mtivatr than duty. I want vs. I must. I m devted ut f a devtin t.. The Christian life is nt abut head what yu knw. Its nt just abut ding what yu d Its nt defined by what yu decided I believed Its abut wh yu knw and are devted t. It s abut a grwing deepening relatinship with Gd the Father, sn and Hly Spirit. T fllw Jesus requires mre than simply believing it requires yu t hear his vice. Jesus said that My sheep hear My vice, and they fllw Me. Its ne thing t believe, it s anther t fllw. T hear his vice yu have t make space. Yu must cme t Him. Draw near. Receive fresh manna daily. Dn t live n yesterday s manna. DISCIPLINE is abut actin Discipline gets yu t d what yu dn t want t d in rder t achieve what yu want t achieve There is n discipleship withut discipline. In fact, there is very little success in anything in life withut discipline A disciple is cmpared t an athlete, sldier, farmer. They are all disciplined. Discipline requires repetitin: What yu repeat will determine what yu reap What yu reap will be determined by what yu repeat regularly Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 4
Evaluate yur current daily devtins: Belw are the results f a survey dne in 12 large churches in America, asking abut the daily devtinal habits f believers: Seven imprtant ingredients fr dynamic devtins: 1. Desire 2. Time When? Hw lng? 3. Place where? 4. Steps frm alarm t devtin 5. Bible 6. Tls a. A Jurnal b. A Pen c. A T d list d. A Ntebk 7. Pattern We will nw lk at each f these in detail belw: 1. Decide it s imprtant. Hw imprtant? Hw abut as imprtant as fd. Jesus in Matthew 4:4 Man will nt live by bread alne, but by every wrd that prceeds ut f the muth f Gd. Nte hw man is dependent every day fr Gd's Wrd. D yu believe this? If yu believe it, then yu will nt g a day withut deeply drinking Gd's Wrd int yur spiritual life. 2. Find the best time. Fr many, the best time is in the mrning. Fr thers its during a lunch break, r in the evening. What is the best time fr yu: Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 5
Hw lng shuld my devtin time be? As lng as it takes. Start realistic. Dn t g frm zer t an hur. Rather run ut f time. Plan t start with 15. Jesus: Culd yu nt wait with me ne hur? Peple are different. 3. Place Where? Mark 1:35 Very early in the mrning, while it was still dark, Jesus gt up, left the huse and went ff t a slitary place, where he prayed. Matt 6:5-6 And when yu pray, d nt be like the hypcrites, fr they lve t pray standing in the synaggues and n the street crners t be seen by men. I tell yu the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when yu pray, g int yur rm, clse the dr and pray t yur Father, wh is unseen. Then yur Father, wh sees what is dne in secret, will reward yu. 4. Steps t devtin planning yur habit Failing t plan is planning t fail E.G. What are the steps frm yur alarm t starting yur devtins? If they are nt clear, yu will fail. Get really practical with dress, T frm a habit yu must wrk ut triggers t get yu t d the thing yu want. Becme aware f the things that distract yu frm getting t devtins, like emails, telephne, nise, etc 5. The Bible It is very imprtant that yu have a Bible reading plan. Systematic reading results in specific leading A versin yu lve reading. Use mre than ne versin. Study plus say The Message Try different versins. Get it frm the bible, t yur heart, int yur muth, and ut f yur muth. There s nly ne bk inspired by the Hly Spirit Be careful f ther bks taking the place f the scriptures in devtinal time. Let Gd speak directly. Learn the scriptures frm teachers (Bible Schl) and then g and hear fr yurself. 6. Tls: Jurnal t write dwn. Sme may use electrnic Pen be ready and expectant t receive smething frm Gd wrth writing dwn and remembering D d list t dump things t d Kitchen thughts Ntebk It s ging t happen. Yu are ging t be in the middle f having a wnderful time with Gd. Jurnaling yur heart ur and yu are ging t remember that yu re ut f milk. This is where yur planner cmes in handy. Yu can write dwn, get milk and g right back t yur jurnaling. If yu dn t have a planner, just use a scratch piece f paper. I dn t knw hw many times my Gd time was hijacked by randm thughts f things I need t d fr the day. Declutter yur space and mind I dn t read emails befre my time with Gd. Sets my mind ff. I have enugh challenge staying fcused! Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 6
7. Pattern ACT SOAP: Acknwledge Cnfessin Thanksgiving Scripture Observatin Applicatin Prayer What d I d in my devtins? D I just wait? Pray thrugh a list? Read thrugh the Bible? We are all different. Maybe yu have smething that s really wrking fr yu nw. If nt, here s a suggestin t try ut: One apprach is t use a cmbinatin f the wrd ACTS and SOAP as an acrstic fr my pattern fr prayer and Bible reading. Whatever yu d needs t shape a hlistic pattern fr yur devtins, s that yu dn t just pray withut reading, r just read withut praying. It s abut Gd talking t yu thrugh His wrd, and yu talking t Gd thrugh prayer Lets lk at this in a bit mre detail: Acknwledge Acknwledge His Lrdship; That yu believe; That He is Gd. That His wrd is truth. Acknwledge His lve and His presence This may include wrship Cnfessin Search my heart O Gd and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in yur way everlasting Ps 139:23-24 Frgive me. I have sinned. I am srry. Cleanse me. I frgive thse wh have sinned against me If yu cnfess yur sins Thanksgiving This is recgnizing Gds gdness. Answers t prayers. Builds faith when yu realize that Jesus is wrking in yur life, even in ways yu didn t ask fr r expect. Scripture Have a prgressive reading plan. Dn t wait t decide when yu sit dwn fr yur devtins Systematic reading results in specific leading Read and fcus, then write dwn a verse which stands ut. This will train yu t listen Write a scripture dwn a prmise frm what yu have read and feel Gd speaking t yu Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 7
Observatin As yu read, write dwn any bservatins that yu have frm the text. What des this passage r verse teach? What des it teach abut Gd, abut discipleship, abut life? 2 Timthy 3:16-17 All Scripture is Gd-breathed and is useful fr teaching, rebuking, crrecting and training in righteusness, 17 s that the man f Gd may be thrughly equipped fr every gd wrk. Applicatin Hw d I need t apply this truth t my life persnally Based n what yu have read what shuld yu d? Try t make this practical and realistic. Try t set a gal fr the day based yu re yur reading. Write it dwn and hld yurself accuntable t it. Prayer Pray the bservatin and applicatin f the scripture fr yur wn life and int yur wrld. Then pray fr things that matter t yu In the wrld Persnally Tip: Keep it simple. The gal f yur time with Gd is t try t grw clser t Him. It s nt t check ff yur list. Dn t add extra burdens t this fcus. I have t make at least 15 bservatins. I have t write at least 5 pages in my jurnal. I have t pray fr at least 45 minutes. The gal is t spend time with Gd and t grw clser t Him. D what it takes t d just that the rest is just distractins, burdens, and religin. Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man wh des nt walk in the cunsel f the wicked r stand in the way f sinners r sit in the seat f mckers. 2 But his delight is in the law f the LORD, and n his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams f water, which yields its fruit in seasn and whse leaf des nt wither. Whatever he des prspers. Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 8
Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 9
3 DEVELOPING THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF FELLOWSHIP WHAT IS FELLOWSHIP? The Biblical call t the discipline f fellwship frm Heb 10:24 24 And let us cnsider hw we may spur ne anther n tward lve and gd wrks. 25 Let us nt give up meeting tgether, as sme are in the habit f ding, but let us encurage ne anther - and all the mre as yu see the Day appraching. Read this in The Message Translatin: Let's see hw inventive we can be in encuraging lve and helping ut, nt aviding wrshiping tgether as sme d but spurring each ther n, especially as we see the big Day appraching. Fellwship is mre than just getting tgether. It is a whlehearted cmmitment t living ut the lve and truth f Christ tgether as believers. It is still nt gd t be alne, and authentic fellwship is an essential part f the disciple s life and witness. The wrd fellwship (Greek: kinnia) carries the basic idea f having smething in cmmn. Christian fellwship begins with ur cmmn salvatin thrugh faith in Jesus Christ (Jude 3). Gd calls us His children, and births us int His family, the Church. THE IMPERATIVE OF LOVE Rted in lve, Christian fellwship is Christ-centred and Christ-revealing. Jhn 13:34-35 A new cmmand I give yu: Lve ne anther. As I have lved yu, s yu must lve ne anther. 35 By this all men will knw that yu are my disciples, if yu lve ne anther. Write dwn ten wrds which yu think describe sme essential ingredients f authentic Christian fellwship :............ The example f the early church in Acts 2:46-47 is especially challenging: S cntinuing daily with ne accrd in the temple, and breaking bread frm huse t huse, they ate their fd with gladness and simplicity f heart, 47 praising Gd and having favur with all the peple. And the Lrd added t the church daily thse wh were being saved. Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 10
CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING FELLOWSHIP INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Rm 12: 9 Lve must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling t what is gd. 10 Be devted t ne anther in brtherly lve. Hnur ne anther abve yurselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep yur spiritual fervur, serving the Lrd. 2. Eph 4:32 And be kind t ne anther, tenderhearted, frgiving ne anther, even as Gd in Christ frgave yu. 3. 1 Jhn 1:6-8 If we claim t have fellwship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and d nt live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellwship with ne anther, and the bld f Jesus, his Sn, purifies us frm all sin. 4. Eph 4:1-3 As a prisner fr the Lrd, then, I urge yu t live a life wrthy f the calling yu have received. 2 Be cmpletely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with ne anther in lve. 3 Make every effrt t keep the unity f the Spirit thrugh the bnd f peace. 5. 1 Jhn 3:11-12 This is the message yu heard frm the beginning: We shuld lve ne anther. 12 D nt be like Cain, wh belnged t the evil ne and murdered his brther. And why did he murder him? Because his wn actins were evil and his brther's were righteus. 6. Heb 12:14-15 Pursue peace with all peple, and hliness, withut which n ne will see the Lrd: 15 lking carefully lest anyne fall shrt f the grace f Gd; lest any rt f bitterness springing up cause truble, and by this many becme defiled; 7. Matt 18:20 Fr where tw r three cme tgether in my name, there am I with them. 8. Cl 3:15-16 Let the peace f Christ rule in yur hearts, since as members f ne bdy yu were called t peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the wrd f Christ dwell in yu richly as yu teach and admnish ne anther with all wisdm, and as yu sing psalms, hymns and spiritual sngs with gratitude in yur hearts t Gd. Being planted is a metaphr fr cmmitment. In Psalm 92:12-14 we see the blessing which cmes frm being planted/cmmitted t fellwship in Gd s Huse/His Church: 12 The righteus shall flurish like a palm tree, he shall grw like a cedar in Lebann. 13 Thse wh are planted in the huse f the LORD shall flurish in the curts f ur Gd. 14 They shall still bear fruit in ld age; they shall be fresh and flurishing, The call t fellwship is a call t be planted in relatinship and in a cmmn kingdm cause. Disciples are nt drifters, they put dwn rts and d whatever it takes t live the lve, demnstrating t the wrld the lve f Christ. IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE, WHAT ARE YOUR FELLOWSHIP HABITS? Sunday/weekend church service: (My average attendance ut f 4 is ) Cnnect Grup/ Small Grup: (My average attendance ut f 4 is ) Fr what reasns have yu recently missed an agreed fellwship meeting? (What stpped yu attending yur church Sunday service, r yur Cnnect Grup meeting?).... Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 11
4 DEVELOPING THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF COMMUNION Jesus abut cmmunin: 1. Matt 26:26-28 While they were eating, Jesus tk bread, gave thanks and brke it, and gave it t his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my bdy." 27 Then he tk the cup, gave thanks and ffered it t them, saying, "Drink frm it, all f yu. 28 This is my bld f the cvenant, which is pured ut fr many fr the frgiveness f sins." 29 I tell yu, I will nt drink f this fruit f the vine frm nw n until that day when I drink it anew with yu in my Father's kingdm." 2. Mark 14:22-24 While they were eating, Jesus tk bread, gave thanks and brke it, and gave it t his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my bdy." 23 Then he tk the cup, gave thanks and ffered it t them, and they all drank frm it. 24 "This is my bld f the cvenant, which is pured ut fr many." 3. Luke 22:19-20 And he tk bread, gave thanks and brke it, and gave it t them, saying, "This is my bdy given fr yu; d this in remembrance f me." 20 In the same way, after the supper he tk the cup, saying, "This cup is the new cvenant in my bld, which is pured ut fr yu." 4. Jhn 6:53-54 Jesus said t them, "I tell yu the truth, unless yu eat the flesh f the Sn f Man and drink his bld; yu have n life in yu. 54 Whever eats my flesh and drinks my bld has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." Paul s instructin cncerning cmmunin: 1 Cr 10:16-17 Is nt the cup f thanksgiving fr which we give thanks a participatin in the bld f Christ? And is nt the bread that we break a participatin in the bdy f Christ? 17 Because there is ne laf, we, wh are many, are ne bdy, fr we all partake f the ne laf. 1 Cr 11:23-34 Fr I received frm the Lrd what I als passed n t yu: The Lrd Jesus, n the night he was betrayed, tk bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he brke it and said, "This is my bdy, which is fr yu; d this in remembrance f me." 25 In the same way, after supper he tk the cup, saying, "This cup is the new cvenant in my bld; d this, whenever yu drink it, in remembrance f me." 26 Fr whenever yu eat this bread and drink this cup, yu prclaim the Lrd's death until he cmes. 27 Therefre, whever eats the bread r drinks the cup f the Lrd in an unwrthy manner will be guilty f sinning against the bdy and bld f the Lrd. 28 A man ught t examine himself befre he eats f the bread and drinks f the cup. 29 Fr anyne wh eats and drinks withut recgnizing the bdy f the Lrd eats and drinks judgment n himself. 30 That is why many amng yu are weak and sick, and a number f yu have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged urselves, we wuld nt cme under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lrd, we are being disciplined s that we will nt be cndemned with the wrld. 33 S then, my brthers, when yu cme tgether t eat, wait fr each ther. 34 If anyne is hungry, he shuld eat at hme, s that when yu meet tgether it may nt result in judgment. And when I cme I will give further directins. Exercise: Imagine that yu had inherited n cmmunin traditin, and the scriptures n this page were the nly instructins yu had t guide yu. Speak abut hw this may effect / change the way yu apprached cmmunin, and then share cmmunin in yur grup, making reference t the scripture fr every actin yu take. Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 12
Why d we bserve Cmmunin? 1. Because the Lrd tld us t! We are t bey His cmmands: 1 Cr 11:24 and when He had given thanks, He brke it and said, Take, eat; this is My bdy which is brken fr yu; d this in remembrance f Me. 2. In bserving Cmmunin we are remembering Christ and all that He has dne fr us in his life, death and resurrectin: 1 Cr 11:24 and when He had given thanks, He brke it and said, Take, eat; this is My bdy which is brken fr yu; d this in remembrance f Me. 3. In bserving Cmmunin we are prclaiming His death until He cmes: 1 Cr 11:26 Fr whenever yu eat this bread and drink this cup, yu prclaim the Lrd's death until he cmes. 4. When bserving Cmmunin we take time t examine urselves: 1 Cr 11:28-32 A man ught t examine himself befre he eats f the bread and drinks f the cup. 29 Fr anyne wh eats and drinks withut recgnizing the bdy f the Lrd eats and drinks judgment n himself. 30 That is why many amng yu are weak and sick, and a number f yu have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged urselves, we wuld nt cme under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lrd, we are being disciplined s that we will nt be cndemned with the wrld. 5. When we bserve Cmmunin we shw ur participatin in the bdy f Christ: 1 Cr 10:16-17 Is nt the cup f thanksgiving fr which we give thanks a participatin in the bld f Christ? And is nt the bread that we break a participatin in the bdy f Christ? 17 Because there is ne laf, we, wh are many, are ne bdy, fr we all partake f the ne laf Sme practical cmmunin questins: 1. Hw ften shuld we take cmmunin?.... 2. What shuld be in the cup, and what kind f bread shuld we use?.... 3. Wh can serve cmmunin?.... 4. Wh can partake/share in the cmmunin meal?.... 5. Shuld I pass n cmmunin under sme circumstances?.... Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 13
5 DEVELOPING THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF FASTING WHAT IS FASTING? Fasting is a spiritual discipline clearly encuraged fr New Testament believers. Jesus fasted, the Apstle Paul fasted, and the early church fasted. In Luke chapter 4:1 we read that Jesus went int the wilderness filled with the Hly Spirit, and in thse days He ate nthing, afterwards He was hungry. Yes, even Jesus was hungry! But when yu read verse 14 yu see that after His fast Jesus returned in the pwer f the Spirit. This is the testimny f fasting! 1 Cr 11:28 A man ught t examine himself befre he eats f the bread and drinks f the cup. A brief Biblical and practical guide t fasting: 1. Jesus said: "When yu fast", nt "if" yu fast, (Matt 6:16). Jesus bviusly expected that we wuld fast, and the early church definitely fasted - Acts 13:2; 14:23. Matt 6:16 When yu fast, d nt lk smber as the hypcrites d, fr they disfigure their faces t shw men they are fasting. I tell yu the truth, they have received their reward in full. Acts 13:2 While they were wrshiping the Lrd and fasting, the Hly Spirit said, "Set apart fr me Barnabas and Saul fr the wrk t which I have called them." Acts 14:23 Paul and Barnabas appinted elders fr them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, cmmitted them t the Lrd, in whm they had put their trust. 2. Fast with the right mtives: t give yur spirit man pprtunity t draw near t Gd. D it ut f DESIRE, nt DUTY r DESPERATION. 3. The fcus is n what yu DO DO, (pray), and nt what yu DON'T DO, (eat). Fasting withut prayer is starvatin (Or at best dieting)! 4. Fasting is necessary preparatin fr certain spiritual battles. This needs spiritual discernment. D this as yu are led by the Spirit. 5. Make fasting a regular habit in yur spiritual walk, rather than an emergency call in time f specific need r desperatin. When Jesus disciples culd nt cast ut a deaf and dumb spirit, and they asked Him why He culd when they culd nt, He replied: "Hwever, this kind des nt g ut but by prayer and fasting." (Matt 17:21). Jesus did nt fast at that very mment befre He prayed. He bviusly was referring t a habit/discipline f fasting which releases spiritual pwer. 6. Make sure that yu d nt have a medical reasn which may affect yur health when fasting. Check with a dctr if yu have any dubts abut this. If yu have a medical r ther reasn fr nt being able t fast frm fd cmpletely, then fast in a different way (eg. Fast frm all slid fds). Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 14
7. Fd is nt the nly thing we can fast frm. There are a variety f fasts mentined in the Bible, the mst regular seems t be fasting frm all fd, and drinking nly water. We can als fast frm activities, TV, leisure, sprt, hbbies, (all "things f this wrld"). Nte: These are nt "bad" things, but by giving them up fr a seasn, we give ur spirit man the pprtunity t feed and be strengthened. 8. Dn't make impulsive and rash decisins abut hw lng yu are ging t fast fr (Like Saul did in 1 Samuel 14). Be wise. Start slwly. This is nt a ne-ff-wnder frmula, but a discipline t be cultivated. D nt attempt lng fasts withut building up t them with shrter fasts. Start with a regular ne day fast, and then develp this discipline as yu are led. 9. It is a gd idea t decide hw lng yu are ging t fast fr befre yu start, as that will help yu t nt make rash decisins t stp at the smell f the next meal! Smetimes yu will need t stp earlier fr varius reasns, but dn t just d this lightly. 10. Dn't fast t impress anyne, including Gd. Fast befre the Lrd, nt men, (Matt 6:18). This des nt mean that yu will lse yur blessing if anyne finds ut! It s a gd idea t tell thse clsest t yu abut yur plans, as they may nt be happy if they ck yu a meal and then find ut! 11. Feed RICHLY n the Wrd during yur fast. Jb 23:12 - I have treasured the wrds f his muth mre than my daily bread. Jesus had clear revelatin f "what was written" during His fast recrded in Luke 4. 12. Be specific abut what yu are fasting fr. Have a clear purpse. Withut "visin" yur fast will sn "perish". Be hungry fr His presence, fr His heart, nt just the thing yu are seeking. 13. Pray t cmmit yur fast and yur reasns fr fasting t the Lrd when yu start. Believe Gd fr strength and endurance. Trust the Hly Spirit t help yu. 14. Dn't g lking fr peple t minister t during yur fast - rather minister t the Lrd, and let Him minister t yu. Make Him yur fcus. Then be prepared t minister t thers in pwer when yu end yur fast. 15. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that needs t be cultivated befre it will bear fruit. Initially the nly thing yu will feel it prducing is hunger pains! It takes training fr ur flesh t yield t the spirit. 16. Keep yurself well grmed during yur fast, drink plenty f water and brush yur teeth ften breath fresheners are allwed! Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 15
Sme guidelines fr an effective ne day fast: 1. Fast frm after the evening meal, thrughut the next day, until breakfast. Dn t vereat befre yu start! 2. If pssible, drink nly water. Drink lts f it. 3. Substitute yur usual mealtimes with Bible reading, prayer and wrship. Cnsider fcussing n a specific chapter r bk f the Bible fr the day, and have a ntebk n hand t recrd yur impressins. 4. Yu may battle t fcus n spiritual things during the day, especially if yu are wrking in a demanding jb. Try t have a specific verse t meditate n during wrk time, and use yur breaks fr specific prayer. 5. Persevere, g t bed earlier than usual at the end f the day, and rise earlier than nrmal t spend quality time with the Lrd befre yu break yur fast at breakfast. 6. If yu make this a regular habit yu will find it a surce f great spiritual strength and grwth t yur spirit. 7. Fasting is a habit which must be learnt in rder t gain the mst benefit frm it. It is nt just smething we shuld d ut f desperatin in specific situatins. I encurage yu t make it a spiritual discipline habit, and yu t will experience mre f the pwer f the Spirit (Luke 4:14) Cnsider what yu think the applicatin f true fast f Isaiah 58 is fr us tday: 6 "Is nt this the kind f fasting I have chsen: t lse the chains f injustice and untie the crds f the yke, t set the ppressed free and break every yke? 7 Is it nt t share yur fd with the hungry and t prvide the pr wanderer with shelter; when yu see the naked, t clthe him, and nt t turn away frm yur wn flesh and bld? 8 Then yur light will break frth like the dawn, and yur healing will quickly appear; then yur righteusness will g befre yu, and the glry f the LORD will be yur rear guard. 9 Then yu will call, and the LORD will answer; yu will cry fr help, and he will say: Here am I. Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 16
6 DEVELOPING THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF WORSHIP THE CALL TO WORSHIP Matthew 4:10 Wrship the Lrd yur Gd, and serve Him nly Psalm 95...let us sing fr jy, cme befre Him with thanksgiving, extl Him with music and sng, let us bw dwn in wrship, let us kneel befre the Lrd ur Maker... Psalm 96 Sing t the Lrd a new sng, praise His Name, He is wrthy f praise, wrship the Lrd in the splendur f His hliness... Psalm 98 Shut fr jy t the Lrd, all the earth, burst int jubilant sng with music... Psalm 150 Praise the Lrd, praise Him fr His acts f pwer, praise Him fr His surpassing greatness, praise Him with the sunding trumpet, harp, lyre, tamburine, dancing, strings, flute, clash f cymbals, resunding cymbals let everything that hath breath praise the Lrd Jhn 4:23 But the hur is cming, and nw is, when the true wrshipers will wrship the Father in spirit and truth; fr the Father is seeking such t wrship Him. Gd is Spirit and thse wh wrship Him must wrship in spirit and truth. Bible Hebrew and Greek wrds fr wrship that give us a deeper revelatin f what wrship is: PRAISE Yadah (Hebrew) T extend the hands (thrw ut in wrship), t give thanks, t praise alud, t cnfess (the Name f Gd) 2 Chr 20:21; thrughut the Psalms Halal (Hebrew) - (Hallelujah) T shine; bast; rave; celebrate; be glamrusly flish, t praise 2 Chr 20:19-21; Ps 150. Tehillah (Hebrew) refers t specific acts f singing sngs and hymns t Gd. Ps 34 his praise will always be n my lips. It is als the first sund f blwing the Shphar (ram hrn trumpet) used by the Hebrews. The sund is ne lng cntinuus burst explained as a sund f triumph and jy. Shabach (Hebrew) T address in a lud tne; t shut; t cmmand glry Ps 63:1-4; 117:1; 47:1; 35:27 Guhl T spin arund under the influence f a vilent / abundant emtin and jy; exceeding gladness - Ps 32:11; Zeph 3:17 Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 17
WORSHIP The wrd wrship cmes frm the Old English wrd WORTHSHIP which means t esteem wrth f, and t make a suitable respnse t that wrthiness. Hawah: (Hebrew) t bw dwn, cnveys the idea f hnuring Gd and expressing an attitude f submissin t Him Prskune: (Greek) T kiss, like a dg licking his master s hand; t fawn r cruch; t prstrate neself in hmage, d reverence t, adre. Wrship is an attitude f the heart, an verflw f thughts and emtins. An utpuring f the sul in deep expressin f reverence, awe, wnder and adratin AW Tzier said that wrship means t feel the heart, and t express in sme apprpriate manner what yu feel. True wrship is a respnse t Gd. Wrship is nt smething which is simply stirred up r frced. It is the natural, heartfelt respnse which cmes frm an understanding f wh Gd is and what He has dne. Just as an indescribable sunset r a breathtaking muntaintp vista evkes a spntaneus respnse, s we cannt encunter the wrthiness f Gd withut the respnse f wrship. The mre yu knw Him the mre yu will respnd t Him in wrship. WHAT DOES A DISCIPLINED LIFE OF THE WORSHIP LOOK LIKE? Jhn 4:23 But the hur is cming, and nw is, when the true wrshipers will wrship the Father in spirit and truth; T wrship Gd in spirit is t wrship Him frm the inside ut. T wrship Gd in truth is t wrship accrding t the truth f Scripture. S we must wrship in bth spirit and truth, with bth heart and head, with bth emtins and thught. Wrship encmpasses ur spiritual lives, ur physical lives, ur scial lives and the giving f ur tithes and fferings. Wrship is ur life, nt just a Sunday thing. Yur thughts, yur actins and reactins are ften a clear indicatin f a life f wrship. A FEW THINGS THAT HAPPEN WHEN WE WORSHIP: 1. Celebratin Psalm 16:9-11 I'm happy frm the inside ut, and frm the utside in, I'm firmly frmed. 10 Yu cancelled my ticket t hell that's nt my destinatin! 11 Nw yu've gt my feet n the life path, all radiant frm the shining f yur face. Ever since yu tk my hand, I'm n the right way. Smetimes when yu are lst in wrship yu just want t raise yur vice, lift yur hands, thrw yur head back, dance and rejice, purely because yu are in Gd s presence. There s s much t celebrate! 2. Freedm - When Paul and Silas were in Jail, they wrshipped Gd. What happened? Miraculusly they were set free. The situatin they were in was nthing t praise and wrship abut but they had faith in Gd and they wrshipped Him. Psalm 22:3 He dwells and manifests His pwer and presence where His peple lift up praise t Him Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 18
3. Evangelism When Paul and Silas wrshipped in jail the result was nt nly were they set free but the jailer and his family ended up giving their lives t Christ! a. Many times when peple see the presence f Gd in yur life the end result will be their salvatin. But when peple see peple singing and making nise fr nise sake, peple will be put ff. 1 Crinthians 13:1 If I d nt have lve, I am nly a nisy bell r a clashing symbl. b. Remember wh yu represent. When yu wrship in truth, peple are drawn twards Christ. 4. Healing One f the Greek wrds fr wrship is therepeau which means t cure and t heal. Many times during wrship smene will receive a prphetic sng, wrds f life, cmfrt, and healing. a. Wrds f life that are played, sung r spken can minister healing. It is nt the sng, music, r wrds that ministers, it is the aninting as wrship happens that breathes life where maybe there was nne. b. Ex 5:2 He is my strength and my sng - There is such strength when yu decide t wrship Gd fr wh He is despite yur circumstances. Gd shws up! Ps 22:3 He inhabits ur praises! A DISCIPLINED LIFE OF WORSHIP COULD INCLUDE: 1. Finding yur Hly Place Heb 10:25 Let us nt give up meeting tgether, as sme are in the habit f ding. Christianity is nt an islatinist religin. But n matter hw fulfilling r sufficient ur regular public wrship seems, there are experiences with Gd that He gives nly in ur private wrship. Jesus participated faithfully in the public wrship f Gd in the synaggue, hwever, He ften withdrew t lnely places and prayed. Hw is it pssible t wrship Gd publicly ne day a week when we d nt wrship Him privately thrughut the week? Isn t it because we dn t wrship well in private that ur crprate wrship experience dissatisfies us? Think f it: The Lrd Jesus Christ is willing t meet with yu privately fr as lng as yu want, and He is willing even eager t meet with yu every day! 2. Practice staying fcused T wrship Gd thrugh ur lifetime requires discipline. Withut discipline ur wrship will be thin and incnsistent. True wrship can t be diagrammed r calculated because it is a respnse f a heart in lve with Gd. And yet, it is a discipline that must be cultivated just as all relatinships must be t remain healthy and grw. 3. Overcming hindrances Guilt and cndemnatin - Gd Cnvicts He des nt cndemn. Cnvictin leads t repentance, cndemnatin leads t despair. Jhn 3:17 Fr Gd did nt send His Sn int the wrld t cndemn the wrld, but t save the wrld thrugh him. We d nt get purified in rder t wrship we wrship and are cnsequently purified. Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 19
Pride Wrship is the humbling f self and the exalting f Gd. Peer pressure - we tend t be mre cncerned abut the pinins f thers that we are abut the Lrd s pinin. Never d anything because thers are lking at yu and never refrain frm anything because thers are lking at yu. Feelings The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. We must participate in wrship, especially during the times we dn t feel like it. If we allw ur wrship t be cntrlled by ur feelings, we will never gain victry in ur Christian walk. We d nt wrship because we feel like it we wrship because Christ is wrthy! Spectatrism Hw easy it is t get caught up in watching the prceedings f a wrship service and afterwards find that we have dne everything but wrship! Paul made n mentin f the gift f surveillance in his epistles. I ve tried it and it desn t wrk fr me! I attend church, I read my Bible daily, I pray but it s nt wrking! I dn t seem t be grwing in Gdliness. Why cntinue if we are just wrshipping in vain? Every believer will crss a few spiritual deserts. Sme f thse deserts will be crssed in an hur r a few days. Occasinally, hwever, yu may be required t travel fr weeks with an almst withered sul. Press n in wrship. Cry ut t Gd fr a renewed awareness f the streams f living water that Jesus prmised in Jhn 7:38. Dn t stp wrshipping. Never give up in the desert. Yu dn t knw hw wide it is and yu may be almst acrss. Get cunsel frm thse wh are grwing in Gdliness thrugh public and private wrship. Talk t mature Christians and ask fr help. Review all f the lessns n Spiritual Disciplines. 4. Put yur habit n The wrd habit has its rts in Middle English, clthing, Old French, clthing, behaviur custm, and ultimately in the Latin wrd habitus, which means cnditin, character. At ne pint in histry habit became particularly assciated with distinctive dress r cstume, especially f a religius rder. Isaiah 61:3 And prvide fr thse wh grieve in Zin t bestw n them a crwn f beauty instead f ashes, the il f gladness instead f murning, and a garment f praise instead f a spirit f despair. They will be called aks f righteusness, a planting f the Lrd fr the display f his splendur. Bks n Praise and Wrship used fr this teaching and als recmmended fr further study: In her bk The Habit: A histry f the Clthing f Cathlic Nuns, Elizabeth Kuhns writes: Fr these nuns, the habit is a wearable sacramental with a supernatural character that cannt be replicated in secular clthing.it is imprtant t remember that clthing is a uniquely human characteristic, a silent but pwerful medium frm which we can learn wh we are and what we value. The sighting f a nun in habit remains fr mst f us a ntable event, because what the habit prclaims is smething s cunterculture and s radical, we cannt help but t react with awe and reverence r with suspicin and disdain. Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 20
David Crwder writes in respnse t the abve excerpt in his bk Praise Habit: In ur encunter with Christ, we t have been laid dwn, devastated by His grace. We have been cvered by this same grace. Our Identity has changed. We have been given new clthes. We have put n Christ. We wear this very rescue int ur relatinships with friends and family, t wrk and t play. And this way f life shuld be s cmpelling and mysterius and ther-than that peple see us cming frm a lng way ff and it stps them in their tracks and they wait and watch just t see ur exchanges and wnder at this life that has been chsen and hw t put it n and what is this deeper, truer way f living anyway? A nun des nt get up each mrning and gt t the clset and think t herself, Hmmm, I wnder what t wear tday. The habit is what she wears. It is what cvers her. It is what identifies her. Our cnditin is the same. Our habit is the Christ. He is what cvers us. He is what identifies us. We wear Him int every mment, and when we live with this awareness, we WORSHIP CHRIST. Further Wrship Resurces: Praise Habit, Finding Gd in Sunsets and Sushi David Crwder Wrship Darlene Zschech The Practice f Praise C.H. Spurgen Spiritual Disciplines fr the Christian Life Dnald Whitney Biblical Fundatins Rice Brcks, Phil Bnass, Steve Murrell Having a Mary Heart in a Martha Wrld Janna Weaver The Heart f Wrship Files Matt Redman Explring Wrship Bb Srge A Heart Like His, Intimate Reflectins n the life f David Beth Mre T Live is Christ, Embracing the Passin f Paul Beth Mre Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 21
7 DEVELOPING THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF STEWARDSHIP AND TITHING STEWARDSHIP PRINCIPLES Stewardship is the persnal respnsibility fr taking care f anther persn's prperty r financial affairs. Biblical stewardship cvers all aspects f yur life, it includes yur time, talents, pssessins and yes, mney. Time prhibits a full discussin n biblical aspect f mney and its use, but the Bible des cntain sme 2,350 verses n mney and it s use, including but nt limited t: debt, investing, wrk, hnesty, and giving. This teaching will cver stewardship in general and giving in specific. There are tw ecnmic kingdms n the earth tday: Gd s and man s, and there is a cntradictin here between Gd s ecnmy and mans: the simple fact is that Gd is the difference! Isaiah 55:8 "Fr my thughts are nt yur thughts, neither are yur ways my ways, As the heavens are higher than the earth, s are my ways higher than yur ways." Frm man s perspective there is n sund lgical reasn t fllw Gd, as Gd perates in the unseen spiritual wrld. 1 Cr 2:14-15 14 The man withut the Spirit des nt accept the things that cme frm the Spirit f Gd, fr they are flishness t him, and he cannt understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments abut all things, but he himself is nt subject t any man's judgment There are three reasns ur Lrd said what He said abut mney 1. Hw we handle mney impacts ur fellwship with the Lrd. Luke 16:11 If therefre yu have nt been faithful with the use f wrldly wealth, wh will entrust true riches t yu. Jesus is equating hw we handle mney with ur spiritual walk. Intimacy - Matthew 25:21 - In the prper use f the talents they bth enter int the jy f their master (same reward fr bth). 2. Pssessins can cmpete fr the mastery f ur lives. Matt 6:24 "N ne can serve tw masters. Either he will hate the ne and lve the ther, r he will be devted t the ne and despise the ther. Yu cannt serve bth Gd and Mney. During the crusades f the 12 th century mercenaries were baptized but held their swrds ut the water t symblize that fact that Jesus did nt cntrl them. Many Christians d the same thing with their wallets/mney tday. 3. Much f yur life revlves arund the use f mney. Think f all the decisins in yur life that will revlve arund mney. Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 22
Our stewardship respnsibility 1. FAITHFULNESS 1 Cr 4:2 Mre ver it is required in stewards that a man be fund faithful A. Faithful with what we are given - parable f the talents (each received the same reward). The Lrd rewards faithfulness n matter the amunt f respnsibility; B. Faithful in every area - we must take care f 100% f the mney he has entrusted t us, nt just 10%. 2. ACCOUNTABILITY Yu are knwn, lved and held accuntable Heb 4:13 Nthing in all creatin is hidden frm Gd's sight. Everything is uncvered and laid bare befre the eyes f him t whm we must give accunt. Psalm 139:1-3 O LORD, yu have searched me and yu knw me. 2 Yu knw when I sit and when I rise; yu perceive my thughts frm afar. 3 Yu discern my ging ut and my lying dwn; yu are familiar with all my ways. He knws everything. Judgment seat - 2 Cr 5:9-10. These perspectives shuld mtivate us t handle mney strictly accrding t the principles in Scripture. Remember, every spending decisin is a spiritual ne. Our life n earth is s brief when cmpared t eternity. 1 Crinthians 3v 12-14 (every spending decisin is a spiritual decisin). 3. CONTENTMENT We can learn t be cntent. Cntentment is mentined 7 times in the bible and 6 times it has t d with mney. Phil 4:11-12. I am nt saying this because I am in need, fr I have learned t be cntent whatever the circumstances. 12 I knw what it is t be in need, and I knw what it is t have plenty. I have learned the secret f being cntent in any and every situatin, whether well fed r hungry, whether living in plenty r in want. What are the benefits f gd stewardship? A. Mre intimate relatinship with Christ (Luke 16:10, Matt 25:21) B. The develpment f character - yu will either master the use f mney r it will master yu David McCnaugh. Yu can tell a lt abut a persn by lking at their bank statement and credit card statement. C. Having yur financial huse in rder. Examples A. Zacchaeus (Luke 19) Judged the reality f this man s salvatin by his willingness (eager, cheerfulness) t give. B. The rich yung ruler (Matt 19 v 16-30) ppsite here.but what abut yu and me? Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 23
This Principle is timeless: There is a pwerful relatinship between ur true spiritual cnditin and ur attitude and actins cncerning mney and pssessins. The Truth abut the Tithe - What des the Bible teach n Giving and the tithe? 1. The practice f the tithe is mentined befre the Law f Mses Gen 14:20 And blessed be Gd Mst High, wh delivered yur enemies int yur hand. Then Abram gave him a tenth f everything. S Abraham gave a tenth t the high priest Melchizedek. 2. Jacb cvenanted t give a tithe t Gd at Bethel, which means Huse f Gd Genesis 28:16-22 When Jacb awke frm his sleep, he thught, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was nt aware f it." 17 He was afraid and said, "Hw awesme is this place! This is nne ther than the huse f Gd; this is the gate f heaven." 18 Early the next mrning Jacb tk the stne he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and pured il n tp f it. 19 He called that place Bethel, [a] thugh the city used t be called Luz. 20 Then Jacb made a vw, saying, "If Gd will be with me and will watch ver me n this jurney I am taking and will give me fd t eat and clthes t wear 21 s that I return safely t my father's huse, then the LORD will be my Gd 22 and this stne that I have set up as a pillar will be Gd's huse, and f all that yu give me I will give yu a tenth." S befre the law we see the pattern f giving a tithe t Gd at His Huse 3. Then the Law f Mses came and actually cmmanded 3 tithes i. One fr the priest and Levites (Numbers 18:21, 24) ii. One fr the sacred festival (Deut 12:17-18; 14:23) iii. One fr the rphans, widws, and the pr (Deut 14:28-29; 26:12-13) The Levite and festival tithes were perpetual tithes (all the time) while the tithe fr the pr was every third year. The ttal tithe came t 23%. As a nte the average giving in the American Christians is clse t 2.5% (10 times wrse) It must be als said that the Jewish culture was nt nly spiritual but als gvernmental and sme f this mney wuld have fallen int the tax categry. Estimates range n 7-13% f the 23%. Remember that the law was given t teach us Galatians 3:19, 24. It was given t reveal truths t us that were established in the faith cvenants f Gd with Adam & Eve, with Abraham, with Nah, etc. S the law des nt intrduce tithing, but it sheds light n the tithing practice f tithing already established thrugh Abraham & Jacb s relatinship with Gd. The Law teaches us that: a. The tithe is hly it is His. It is Gds mney fr Gds business. It is my respnsibility t give it upwards. Leviticus 27:30 'A tithe f everything frm the land, whether grain frm the sil r fruit frm the trees, belngs t the LORD; it is hly t the LORD. Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 24
a. The tithe is whle it is never divided up by the giver. Nwhere in the scripture is the tithe ever divided up by the giver. It is always given as a whle. Yu have t find ut where and t whm t give yur whle tithe t. Nwhere are yu given liberty t decide t send prtins f yur tithe t different places and peple, n matter hw needy and gd the causes may be. This therefre simultaneusly calls us t a whle-hearted cmmitment t a church cmmunity. Malachi 3:10 Bring the whle tithe int the strehuse, that there may be fd in my huse. b. The tithe was always nly placed in Gds Priest r Gds Huse It belngs in yur strehuse = the huse f Gd/lcal church where yu persnally feed & serve in rder t bless and feed the natins (ethns) the tithe identifies yur agreement with the strehuse. Num 18:21 I [Gd] give t the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return fr the wrk they d while serving at the Tent f Meeting. Deut 12:11 Then t the place the LORD yur Gd will chse as a dwelling fr his Name there yu are t bring everything I cmmand yu: yur burnt fferings and sacrifices, yur tithes and special gifts, and all the chice pssessins yu have vwed t the LORD. Neh 10:37 "Mrever, we will bring t the strerms f the huse f ur Gd, t the priests, the first f ur grund meal, f ur grain fferings, f the fruit f all ur trees and f ur new wine and il. And we will bring a tithe f ur crps t the Levites, fr it is the Levites wh cllect the tithes in all the twns where we wrk. Giving t the church and thrugh the church in the New Testament The practice f giving in the church is established as part f the lcal church lifestyle, where what they gave supplied the needs in the church family. Acts 2:44-47 The church was als the vehicle thrugh which believers supprted needs, missins, and church plants Full time ministers and church wrkers are t be paid ut f the tithes and fferings, and paid well. 1 Tim 5:17-18 The elders wh direct the affairs f the church well are wrthy f duble hnur, especially thse whse wrk is preaching and teaching. 18 Fr the Scripture says, "D nt muzzle the x while it is treading ut the grain," and "The wrker deserves his wages." See als 1 Crinthians 9:7-12 c. The tithe was, and is the crss never changed the principle f the tithe. The New Testament adds a radical dimensin f genersity t the aspect f a believer s attitude t mney and pssessins. (see Acts 2) Did Jesus d away with the discipline f tithing? N, Jesus fulfilled the law, but tithing was nt part f the law, but it came befre the law thrugh Abraham, just like faith did. The Law taught us abut tithing, and Jesus never changed this, except that He established His church as the place where His peple wuld meet Develping Dynamic Spiritual Disciplines - Every Natin Lndn Bible Schl - Page 25