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Standing Firm In Christ

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  1. Standing Firm In Christ
    Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

    The above tithe was a gift… Abram “gave” tithes, he did not “pay” tithes. There was no requirement to tithe, otherwise Abram would have been paying them. The fact that Abram gave the tithe shows it was not something God required, but that it was voluntarily bestowed to Melchizedek.

    Also, that tithe Abram gave was not of Abram's own property... it was of property that belonged to Bera, king of Sodom. Abram didn't even claim it as his own. He told Bera he had promised God he would not take any of the spoils unto himself.
    Leviticus 27:30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD.
    Leviticus 27:31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
    Leviticus 27:32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.
    The above three verses reveal the entire contents of God’s Holy tithe required under the Mosaic Law. He said “all the tithe of the land,” and then proceeded to define what He meant by “all.” “whether of the seed of the land” (i.e.; vegetables, spices and herbs) “or of the fruit of the tree (i.e.; apples, pomegranates, etc., oils) “and concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock (animals)". There was no other tithe under the Mosaic/Levitical Law than the agricultural tithe.
    The tithe defined in Leviticus 27:30-34 is one of three separate tithes that the Israelites were required by the Mosaic Law to OBserve. This is the first tithe, otherwise known as the “Levitical tithe. This tithe, was taken once a year to the Levites in their Levitical cities (see Numbers 35:1-7)

    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.
    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.

    The above three verses are in reference to the Levitical tithe mentioned above and reveal the tithe was given to the Levite because he had no inheritance in the land. The Levite, in turn was to take a tithe of that tithe to the Aaronic Priesthood, who were also of the tribe of Levi. The Levitical tithe was to be OBserved every year for the first six years in a seven year cycle.

    Deuteronomy 12:6 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:
    Deuteronomy 12:11 Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:
    Deuteronomy 12:17 Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:

    The above three verses reveal the tithe was eaten. It was tithes of land produce… that which God had caused to grow from the ground, in trees, and given life to in livestock. We can also see that tithes were different from vows, freewill offerings, and firstfruits.

    Deuteronomy 14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
    Deuteronomy 14:23 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.
    Deuteronomy 14:28 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:

    Again, three more verses to show the tithe was grown in the field and eaten. The second and third tithes are mentioned in the above three verses. the first mentioned is known as “the Festival tithe,” or “Second Tithe”. That tithe was to be taken to the place that God chose and there eaten with the tither’s family and Levites there. Like the Levitical tithe, the Festival tithe was also to be OBserved yearly. for the first six years in a seven year cycle.

    The third tithe is known as the “Poor Tithe”. It was to be given to the less fortunate in the boundaries of Israel; i.e., the widows, the orphans, the Levites living on one’s land, and the foreigners taking refuge in Israel. This tithe was to be OBserved once every three years in a seven year cycle.

    The seventh year in a seven year cycle, the land was to rest. There could be no planting, nor harvesting of crops. Thus, no land tithe that year.
    Deuteronomy 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;

    That they may eat… and be filled. Again, tithes were eaten.
    2 Chronicles 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.
    2 Chronicles 31:6 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.
    2 Chronicles 31:12 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.

    Again, tithes were crops and livestock.
    Nehemiah 10:37 And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.
    Nehemiah 10:38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

    Tithes were not firstfruits. Firstfruits were taken one place by the Israelites and the tithes were taken to another place by the Israelites. The Levites were responsible for bringing a tithe of the tithe to the House of the Lord. And notice what the tithes consisted of… that which grew in the ground.

    Nehemiah 12:44 And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.

    Again, tithes and firstfruits are clearly seen as being two separate things.

    Nehemiah 13:5 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.
    Nehemiah 13:12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

    Eliashib the High Priest at that time had taken the tithes out of the storehouse and moved God’s enemy TOBiah the Ammonite into the Temple storehouse chambers. Note what the tithes were… corn (corn referred to any type of grain, not necessarily corn alone), new wine, and oil… that which is all food products; i.e., eaten.

    Amos 4:4 Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years:

    Bring your tithes… what tithes? Why, the tithes the Law required; i.e., agricultural produce and livestock.

    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.
    Malachi 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have rOBbed me, even this whole nation.
    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.


    All the tithes; i.e., tithes of corn, flour, new wine, oils, spices, herbs… everything that was titheable. Why? That there may be meat in mine house. MEAT… food.

    Throughout the Old Testament Law, the tithes were consistently that which was eaten. There is no denying that fact. No mention of money being tithed whatsoever.

    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.

    Here, our Lord commends the scribes and Pharisees for their OBedience in tithing ans tells them they should be tithing. But notice what they were tithing… garden spices and herbs. Not money. Money was not a titheable thing under the Mosaic Law.

    Luke 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

    This verse is part of a parable. Jesus was telling of a prideful Pharisee who boasted of going over and above what the Law required. The Pharisee had his reward. Notice the Pharisee was not speaking to God, but rather, within himself; i.e., to his own self. He was so lifted up in pride he had convinced himself that he had to do more than what the LORD required under the Law in order to be justified. And yet, instead of being justified, he was condemned.

    Hebrews 7:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

    Here, we see what it was that Abram tithed. As stated above, these spoils were not Abram's own silver and gold, but the spoils of war… the property of Bera the king of Sodom, which he had promised God he would not take any of unto himself (Gen 14:22-24)
    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:
    This is speaking of the agricultural tithe. The author says “have a commandment to take tithes” because the Temple was still standing. Levites were still receiving the agricultural tithe according to the Law. The command was for the Levites to receive tithes of their brethren... the children of Israel
    Hebrews 7:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
    Received tithes of the spoils of war, not Abram’s silver and gold.
    Hebrews 7:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
    Again, the tithe that men that die receive is referring to the agricultural tithe. The Levites were still receiving that tithe. They would receive it for another four years and then Titus would invade Jerusalem and destroy the Temple, putting a stop to the collection of tithes.

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

    Not one of the verses on tithing throughout the Word of God support the doctrine that one is to tithe one’s money. No instruction is given in the Word of God to tithe one’s money. It is a man-made doctrine that began in the Roman Catholic religious system in the year 777 A.D., and not adopted by any Protestant Church until 1873 A.D..

    The Baptists were the last Church denomination to adopt the monetary tithe doctrine. This was around the middle of the twentieth century A.D..
  2. Standing Firm In Christ
    1 Corinthians 9:13-14 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

    Many pastors like to use this verse as a means to justify extracting financial support from their congregations. The pastors who do this are wrong. This passage is not speaking of stationary pastors of Churches. Rather, it is speaking of traveling ministers, such as missionaries and evangelists, being provided for in their travels.

    The key in this passage is the phrase “They which preach the Gospel.” In the Word of God, who is seen “preaching the Gospel,” or told to “preach the Gospel”? Those that are sent. (Ro 10:15) Those that travel about. (Mt 4:23; 9:35; Mr 1:14; Lu 9:6; 2Co 10:14) Those who are called out and separated from among the body of Believers. (Acts 13:2) Those who come into cities. (Mark 1:14)

    Stationary pastors are not told to “preach the Gospel.” They are told to “feed the flock of God. (1 Peter 5:2) They are told to “feed the Church of God. (Acts 20:28) They are to “preach the Word.” (2 Timothy 4:2)
    It is not their responsibility to “preach the Gospel” to the Church of God. The Church has already heard the Gospel and accepted the Gospel. That is why they are the “Church,” … because they believed the Gospel and are the Body of Christ. They don’t need the Gospel… they already have it. What the Church needs is nourishment so that it can grow. It needs the sincere milk of the Word. (1 Peter 2:2) It needs to move past the baby stages, and march forward as brave and faithful soldiers of the Lord Jesus Christ!

    If you stayed on Pablum all your life, no doubt you would remain weak, unable to fend for yourself; always dependent on others to fight your battles. The Church is not established to keep its members on spiritual Pablum. The Church is to equip the saints so that they can be faithful witnesses to those outside the walls of the sanctuary. So that they can carry a light into a world filled with darkness. God doesn’t want a Church to be spiritually weak, He wants them to be strengthened by His Word. He wants His Church to be able to resist the devil when temptations come. He is looking for those who will be ambassadors for Him in this present age we live in
  3. Standing Firm In Christ
    Many teach that repentance is simply changing one's mind about who God is.

    I contend that it is turning from sin, as is evident in this passage from Revelation:

    ]20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

    21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

    22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

    Notce it does not say, 'change her mind about who God is.' Yet many teach it is a change of mind about who God is.
  4. Standing Firm In Christ
    Many today feel that they shouldn’t have to work a second jOB while serving as pastor of a Church. They seem to want the Church to provide for their every need. House payments, car payments, utilities, medical, vacations, etc..

    Does the Bible allow for pastors to take a salary from the Church? Let us look, shall we?...

    Acts 20:33-35 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

    In the book of the Acts of the Apostles, the Apostle Paul told the Elders of the Church that he did not have a “You owe me” type of attitude, but rather that he worked with his own hands to provide for himself and those in his company. He went on to tell the Elders that his working was an example that he was setting forth that they ought to follow.

    They ought to... Was this an imperative? or a suggestion?

    The Greek word that is translated “ought” in verse 35 is the word “dei”. (pronounced die) It is the same word used in Matthew 23:23 when Jesus told the Scribes and Pharisees concerning tithing, “This ye ought to have done and not to have left the other undone.” Was Jesus suggesting that the Scribes and Pharisees tithe? Not at all! He told them they were to tithe because by the Mosaic Law they were required to. It was not a suggestion, but an imperative…. a command.

    So it is in Acts 20:35… the Elders of the Church are to follow Paul’s instruction and work outside of the Church. They were not to depend on the Church to support them, but rather they were to support themselves through work, making enough to provide for the weak as well.

    Paul clearly told the Elders to have an occupation that would provide for their food and shelter… not to depend on others. He basically told the Church at Thessalonika the same when he wrote his second epistle to them. There, we read:
    2 Thessalonians 3:8-12 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

    Paul said that he did not just accept food from people for nothing but worked with much labour for that food, so that no man would have occasion to say Paul and his company were freeloaders. Paul said that as missionaries, they had the right to take food without working, but would not do so for a reason… that they could show an example to those in Thessalonika an example. Man is to work for his food.

    Man is supposed to provide for himself. Yet too many today want a comfortable lifestyle. Congregations need to wake up. Pastors are not supposed to get paid for their sermons. Paul said they are to work with their hands.

    What about Galatians 6:6? Doesn’t it say we are to pay our pastors? Let’s see…

    Galatians 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

    Now, upon first glance, and if the verse stood alone, it might seem that Paul is saying “Pay the preacher for his sermons.” But in its proper context, we find it is not speaking of paying pastors at all. Notice:

    Galatians 6:1-6 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

    When read and studied in its proper context, we find that this is not speaking necessarily of pastors, but rather of “ye which are spiritual”. And the one who is to “communicate unto him that teacheth” is speaking of the one who is overtaken in a fault in verse one. The spiritual one is to teach the one overtaken in a fault the right way in the spirit of meekness… restoring him to fellowship. This passage has nothing to do with salary for a pastor.

    Yet so many will pull that one verse out of its proper context to establish a false doctrine in order to prove they don’t have to work to support themselves. Shame on those pastors who do such!

    One more verse that many like to use is found in the pastoral epistles. There, we read:

    1 Timothy 5:17-18 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

    Many will say that this verse is proof that pastors should be salaried. Yet, if “honor” here means salary, then we must also preach that the word “honor” in the next chapter also means salary. There, we find Paul writing that “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.”

    How many of those pastors that teach that “honor” means monetary remuneration in chapter 5 will be consistent and say it means monetary remuneration in chapter 6 as well? How many tell their congregation members that when they work for an employer they must pay that employer who hired them? I am willing to bet that none would teach that.

    And yet, 1 Timothy clearly says that is how is should be. That is, if honor truly means monetary remuneration. In reality, it does not mean monetary remuneration. It is merely speaking of respect. Just as a farmer should respect the ox that is plowing, not muzzling the ox, the congregation should not prevent the pastor from eating.

    The Bible does not contradict itself. Paul does not contradict himself. In Acts, Galatians, and 2 Thessalonians, Paul instructs the Elders as well as the Saints to work. Why would he turn around and give them an excuse not to work in his epistle to Timothy?

    The answer is clear… he wouldn’t.
  5. Standing Firm In Christ
    Nehemiah 10:37-38 And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

    To break it down and make it easier for all to understand, suppose a farmer from the tribe of Benjamin grew 100 bushels of wheat during the year of the Levitical tithe. That farmer would take ten bushels of wheat to a Levite in one of the 48 Levitical cities that the Levites lived in. That was his tithe. The Levite, would then bring one of those bushels that he received to the Temple and take that bushel into the storehouse there. As you can see, only 1% of that Benjamite farmer’s crop was to go to the Temple storehouse, not 10%.

    Numbers 35:1-8 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them. And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts. And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about. And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities. And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs. And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.

    An oft-used passage that pastors say proves we are to tithe our money is found in the last book of the Old Testament.

    Malachi 3:8-10 Will a man rOB God? Yet ye have rOBbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we rOBbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have rOBbed me, even this whole nation. 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.

    Now, when used by itself, one might be convinced that the passage is speaking a command to the members of the New Testament Church to tithe their money to the Church.

    But is that what that verse says? Let’s be as the Bereans and search the Scriptures to see if it is as it is being preached…

    First, we must see who is being addressed in Malachi 3. Was it the entire nation of Israel? If one rightly divides the Word of Truth, one will find that it was not the people.

    If not the people, then who?

    Let me give you just a little bit of historical background, specifically the time period when Malachi delivered this harsh rebuke and stern instruction.

    Malachi delivered this message from God in the year 430 B.C., most pastors will agree that this is the correct date. What they don’t tell you is that Nehemiah was a contemporary of Malachi’s, and to properly understand Malachi’s address one needs to know what is going on in the book of Nehemiah.

    As I said, Nehemiah was a contemporary of Malachi. This means they both lived in the same generation. Malachi’s address was in 430 B.C., Nehemiah’s story was in 433 B.C…. just three years prior to Malachi delivering the message from God.

    So how does Nehemiah fit into this, you may ask? Let’s look at the Scripture…

    We have already addressed the fact that the Levites were the ones who brought the tithes into the storehouse according to Nehemiah 10:37-38. We have pointed out the fact that what was tithed to the Temple was not tithed by the Israelites, but by the Levites.

    So was it the Levites rOBbing God? No, it was not the Levites… it was the Priests, the sons of Aaron who were rOBbing God. Notice:

    Nehemiah 13:1-5 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto TOBiah: 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.

    Did you catch that? Eliashib, one of Aaron’s sons cleared the room where the tithes were kept and moved an Ammonite into the Temple storehouse.

    The Priest rOBbed God! He took the tithes that the Levites had brought into the storehouse out and moved God’s enemy into the storehouse.

    Blasphemy!

    Malachi’s rebuke becomes clear now. The rebuke was to the Priests. They had taken the tithes out of the storehouse. They were the ones guilty of rOBbing God. The congregation was not guilty, they had taken the tithes where they were supposed to take them. The Levites were not guilty, they had brought the tithes into the storehouse as they were supposed to. The Priests were guilty. They removed the tithes so they could move the enemy of God in.

    Malachi was telling the Priests that they had rOBbed God. They also rOBbed the whole nation because the food that was supposed to be in the storehouse was not there. Because they had removed the food, the Levites had no food to sustain them at the Temple. They had to return to their cities so that they could survive.

    Haggai 1:9-11 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.

    Do you see the result of rightly dividing? The truth is known when one rightly divides. Because the Priests rOBbed God by removing the tithes, the Levites had to return to their land and the House of God laid waste. The Priest’s actions infuriated God and He withheld the rain and allowed the locust to eat what little there was. The actions of the Priests oppressed the widows, the orphans, the Levites, and the foreigners taking refuge in Israel. It oppressed them because the food that should have been there was not there.

    Why is it that the Church teaches its members that God requires 10% of their money (as tithes) when God only required 1% of Israel’s total increase to be put in the Temple storehouse in Jerusalem? It was not the congregation’s responsibility to tithe to the Temple. The responsibility to tithe to the Temple fell solely upon the Levites. They kept 90% of the tithe that they received in their Levitical cities, while the remaining 10% of that tithe they were required to take to the Temple.

    The Church has lied to its members ever since it first taught they were to tithe of their money. God never required a tithe of money. The Church is teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, and God says of those who do such, “Even your worship is in vain.”

    What has happened to the Church? The Apostles never taught the Church was to tithe.

    Psalms 106:38-39 And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood. Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.

    The Bible reveals that God’s Holy tithe was not money, and yet, man (whether out of greed, or out of ignorance of what God’s Holy Word says) has invented a doctrine of a monetary tithe… and the Church has gone a whoring after that invention of man.
  6. Standing Firm In Christ
    What is the purpose of the Church?

    Are we to attend it because we have wants? or are we to attend because we have needs? What does the Word of God tell us?

    Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

    1 Peter 5:1-4 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

    In Acts 20, Paul’s message to the elders was to “feed the Church of God.” Three years later, Peter was instructing the Church the exact same message, “feed the flock of God”

    If a pastor is feeding our wants, we are not getting fed properly. Paul warned that we should not heap to ourselves teachers that will tickle our ears.

    2 Timothy 4:1-4 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

    Don’t let wants outweigh needs. Wants are no more than covetousness, desires to satisfy carnal lusts. Feeding them only leads to more carnality and is detrimental to our spiritual walk.

    In his epistle to the Churches in Galatia, the Apostle Paul wrote:

    Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

    Our desire should not be to satisy the lusts of the flesh; i.e., worldly music, worldly entertainment, worldly pastors that won’t preach against sin, etc.. Rather, we who are Christ’s should have the desire to be fed that which is beneficial and good for the soul.

    The Church, over the years, has changed its values tremendously. The attitude seems to be “Be like the world so you can reach the world.” And the world seems to love it. And why wouldn’t they love it? After all, when the world can come into the Church doors and see no difference; i.e., worldly music, dancing, messages of acceptance as you are, sodomites on the preaching staff, etc., the world need not feel condemned for the same sins they participate in on the outside.

    Many churches today are just as ungodly as the bar at the county line. The only difference seems to be a mention of Jesus Christ once in a while. Because of complacency, many churches have become whited sepulchers full of dead man’s bones.

    We are to be a light to the world, but if we allow ourselves to conform to the world to reach the world, we have only succeeded in exchanging the Light that is needed for a much dimmer light that is wanted.

    What is the purpose of the Church? To feed the flock, strengthening each member in the Word of God, so that each member is fully equipped and capable of going out into the world as a light that shines in darkness. Not to imitate the darkness, but to reveal to those who are in darkness their need for Light and Truth.
  7. Standing Firm In Christ
    In the last half century, an increasing number of professing Christians have been teaching and embracing a doctrine that is not supported by the Word of God. That doctrine is the teaching that one does not have to repent of one’s sins in order to receive Salvation.
    The fact is, the Word of God does teach repentance of sin. In the book of Ezekiel, we read:

    Ezekiel 18:21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

    Ezekiel 33:14-16 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had rOBbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

    Ezekiel 18:30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
    The Hebrew word “shuwb”, is used for both the word “repent” and the word “turn” in the above verses. In other words, the two words are interchangeable. Repentance from sin is taught and encouraged by the prophet Ezekiel. One must repent of (turn away from) one’s sin.

    Jesus told the Jews in Luke 13:3,5 “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Jesus Christ Himself taught a turning away from sin.
    One might argue, “But Ezekiel was before the cross, Jesus told the Jews to repent prior to His crucifixion; now we need only believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to receive Salvation; repentance is not necessary.”

    Again, that one would be wrong. The Apostle Paul taught the Church at Corinth:

    2 Corinthians 12:21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

    The fact is, one must repent of one’s iniquities. Paul told the Church at Galatia that the works of the flesh would cause man to miss out on being in the kingdom of God. And the Apostle John wrote in the book of Revelation that those who do not repent of their abominations will have their part in the lake of fire and brimstone.

    The doctrine that tells one they do not have to turn away from one’s sin is a doctrine of devils. Repentance from sin is necessary if one hopes to live eternally in Christ Jesus. Those who teach and preach that repentance from sin is not necessary are deceiving those who believe their false doctrine.

    Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

    1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

    In Revelation 2, we see how Jesus (God) gave Jezebel time to repent of her sins, but she would not. And because she would not repent, God’s wrath was upon her… and still is to this day.

    Now, some would say, “O, but God repented many times in the Old Testament. Are you trying to tell me that God sinned and had to repent? You are accusing God of being a sinner!” No, that is not what I am saying at all.

    The Hebrew word used for when God repents is an entirely different word. When God repents of something, He is not repenting of sin. The Hebrew word used for when God repents is the word “nacham”. While “nacham” does mean to “turn”, it is not used in conjunction with “from sin” when relating to God.

    1 Corinthians 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
    Paul admonished the Church at Corinth, telling them to turn from their sins. He reminds them that they cannot serve both God and the flesh. Like Paul, I encourage all to turn from their sins and turn to God.

    Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

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