Is Paying Tithes A Christian Obligation?

Jul 232014
 

Tithe is it a Christian Obligation?

What is a Tithe?

Tithes is the tenth part of agricultural produce or personal income set apart as an offering to God or for works of mercy, or the same amount regarded as an obligation or tax for the support of the church, priesthood, or the like.

Tithe is a flat Tax Rate of 10% that belong to God. Is God fair in demanding 10% of my income? Absolutely Yes. You will recall that God put humans in charge/dominion of the world animal and natural resources and demanded only 10% from it as a Tithe or just to Test our obedience. He also, made a covenant with us that he would open the floodgate of blessings for us and he will prevent pests (sickness, court cases) from eating your crops or income.

Many Christians today were apprehensive about the word Tithe. Some were of the opinion that Christians are not obligated to pay Tithe. While scores of others frown at paying Tithe because the Church Pastors is mis-using the proceeds of the Tithe. This article will analyze whether paying Tithe was a Christian obligation and to compare the benefits of paying Tithe or not paying tithe. Remember God loves a cheerful giver.

Follow me to read some letters from God. He Commands his worshippers to test him out on this issue of Tithe.

“I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting. (Numbers 18:21 NIV)m

“Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering. (Numbers 18:26 NIV)

As the above Scriptures indicates the Pastors are also obligated to pay 10% of their income as an offering to God.

Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.
Then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. (Deuteronomy 14:22, 25, 26 NIV)

Since our God is one, and he does not change, neither can he lie, then his words or command is still applicable to Christians today. Why? He said,
“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.

“But you may ask, ‘How are we to return?’ “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.

Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty. (Malachi 3:6-12 NIV)

What can we liking to devouring pests today?
Sickness and court cases.
Unjustified taxes, property taxes, etc.
Police Tickets and court cases.
Loss of property value and foreclosures.
Stock market crashes and devaluation of investments.
Robbery and 419′s and other losses.

God Bless a Cheerful Giver.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” (2 Corinthians 9:6, 7, 9 NIV).

Apostle Paul had more than he needed but desires that Christians have some credit to their own account as regard paying of Tithe when he said,

“Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.
They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:17-19 NIV)

Since God will bless a cheerful giver then Christians are to give their Tithe and offering willingly. If you decide to sow little seeds , then expect to harvest Little crops or income. Remember God did change.

We humans are greedy by nature and we have forgotten that God owns all the resource of the word and he deserve to get 10% of our income with an unbroken covenant to open the flood gate of heavens to us.

He said, “Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I trust the God of truth will pass this test to bless you if you can can trust him. I will not violate my covenant or alter what my lips have uttered. (Psalm 89:34 NIV)

What did Abraham Did to be call God’s Friend?

“Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. (John 8:39 NIV)

Are You ready to be bless like Abraham?

Yes! I want to be bless like Abraham because all Christians are spiritual offspring of Abraham. In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. (Romans 9:8 NIV)

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:28, 29 NIV)

If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed,
Then you must do the work of Abraham.
Abraham paid his Tithe without coercion.

Abraham was a Titer and he enjoyed God blessings. Abraham defeated his enemies and pay 10% tithes from the war spoil. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abrams gave him a tenth of everything. (Genesis 14:20 NIV)

How to Test God on Tithe?

A lady said, she had two auto accidents in a year, four police tickets, she also lost her expensive Jewrys. When she calculate her losses at end of the year and compared it to the amount she did not pay in Tithe. she then realizes that paying her Tithe is smaller when compare to her losses. She then decides to put God to the test by paying her Tithe. She testify that, she enjoys God’s protection and the blessings came in torrents. Throughout the year she suffer no loss and she did not change even a flat tire. You too can put God to the test by paying your tithe.

The Question is, what if my pastor is mismanaging our Tithe?

We should allow God, who is a perfect Judge to judge the Pastor. We are not in a position to judge anyone but Jesus. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, (John 5:22 NIV)

We pay taxes to our Government and we have no control over the use of our taxes by the Government. Similarly we should have the same attitude about our Tithe.

Our obedience to God will be rewarded by God. Not by Pastors. God will open the floodgate of blessing from Heaven to us. God has done it before and is still doing it today.

For example, Widow’s meal and oil replenished

God tested the Widow, when Elisha told her to use her remaining flour to make food for him. She obeyed. God supply her abundant foods and oil. (1 King 17:8-16)

Another example was Jesus feeds 5,000 people beside women and children with five loads of breads and five fishes. (Luke 9:13-17)

Finally, paying of Tithe to our Church is an acts of obedience to our God. It does not benefit God in any way but us. God put men as a dominion over all the world resource, Human disobedience made it difficult for us to take possession of our inheritance. Obedience is the KEY to open the floodgate of Heavenly blessings.

King Solomon said, “The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it”.(Proverbs 10:22 NIV). I have been enjoying these blessings myself without pain.

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9, 10 ; 1Samuel 2:30 NIV)

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” (Genesis 8:22 NIV)

In summary paying our tithes and offering is one the way we can honor our father in the Heaven. He too will honor his promise by open the floodgate of heavenly blessings on us. And we shall reap what we sow.

May God almighty reveal the secrete of divine blessing to you. In the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.

Say these prayers,
My father and my God please give me an obedience heart, so that I can enjoy your abundant blessings.
Make me a blessing to other people around me.
Give me the heart of obedience to pay my Tithe and offerings.
Please open the floodgate of your Heavenly blessing on me and my family as you did for Abraham and your faithful servants. In The Precious Name of Jesus. Amen.

Pray that I may proclaim the good news to more people to come to Jesus
for salvation.
This message is delivered by Jesus Witness Ministries.
God will bless you as you pass this information to others.

Please visit our website @ Jesus Witness Ministries.com for various articles like this. I am always praying for you.
You can also call Bro. David Olaniyan to pray with you. Tel: (973) 902-8160.

PLEASE WRITE YOUR COMMENT OR SUGGESTION BELOW

Why Should I Honor My Parents?

Jul 212014
 

Why Should I Honor My Parents?

Many children rebuffed the idea of honoring their parents. Why? Because some parents have neglected and abused their children. Similarly, some children have abused and physically assaulted their parents. Some family are headed by single parent. Some children are adopted. Some children also find it difficult to honor a parent whose religion differ from theirs. Are these children free from God’s command to honor their parent? What are the benefits and consequences of not honoring one’s parents? All these questions will be answered in this article.

Firstly, I will like to point out that the Bible talk about two types of parents. Our biological parents and our Spiritual parents.

For example, Apostle Paul said, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3 NIV)

Parents in The Lord: Required Obedience.
Obey your parents in The Lord for this is right.

Natural Parents: Are to be honored.
Honor your father-which is first commandment with a promise.
Honor your mother-which is first commandment with a promise.

What are these promises?
1- That it may go well (Material Prosperity) with you.
2- That you may enjoy Long Life on the earth(Good health and Long Life)

If you believe that God can not lie and the Scripture can not be broken, God is responsible to bless you materially, physically along with long life, regardless of what type of parent you have.

God said, ““Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you. (Deuteronomy 5:16 NIV)

Needless to say that our natural parents occupy very sensitive position in our life.
They serve as both a parent and a prophet. They can prophesy to our future for blessings or they can curse our future. And God will approve it regardless whether of whether they are unbelievers or not. Our honoring and obeying them is unconditional.

For example, our parent are given the responsibilities to educate their children about God, When he said, “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up”. (Deuteronomy 6:6, 7 NIV)

For these reasons, God commands us to obey them. Follow me to read some Scriptures where God bestow blessings upon people who obey his commands:

God will bless you in the house. He will bless your profession. He will bless your job.
He will bless your children. He will give you good health. He will take away sickness from you. He will make you a head and not the tail. You will be prosperous to the point of lending to the nations. (Deuteronomy 28:1-14 NIV)

On the other hand,

Cursed is he who dishonors his father or his mother. All the people shall say, Amen. (Deuteronomy 27:16 AMP)

Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in complete darkness. (Proverbs 20:20 AMP)

For God commanded, Honor your father and your mother, and, He who curses or reviles or speaks evil of or abuses or treats improperly his father or mother, let him surely come to his end by death. [Exod. 20:12; 21:17; Lev. 20:9; Deut. 5:16.]

Example of Parental Curses:

Prince Absalom was the most handsome son of King David. He gained the respect of his people. However He rebelled against his father and lost his right to the throne He also lost his life. What a pity. God has no respect for any man. His command remain constant till today. (2 Samuel 18:9-15)

Canna was the last born of Noah. He mocked his father when he was drunk and exposed himself. Noah woke up to know about the mockery, he caused Canna that Canna will serve his brothers. That cause remain on the Canna offspring till today. God can not lie and the Scriptures can be broken.(Genesis 9:24-27)

The above examples showed that regardless of anything our parent may have done wrong, it is not our job to discipline them. We are not allowed to dishonor them. We are not permitted to retaliate. We should leave all judgement to God. Our parents are like a visible gods. God will approve their blessing upon us. He will also approve their cursing.

In Jesus day, the religious leaders were misleading the children. They tell the children not to obey their parent on religious ground. That paying of Tithes to the church is more important than to honor their parent. They even quoted Jesus statement that those who love their parent more than Jesus is not fit for him. But that is Jesus. Not a religion organization.

Jesus rebuked them and call them Hypocrites, when he said, “But you say, If anyone tells his father or mother, What you would have gained from me [that is, the money and whatever I have that might be used for helping you] is already dedicated as a gift to God, then he is exempt and no longer under obligation to honor and help his father or his mother”. (Matthew 15:4, 5-8 AMP)

Does Honoring My Parents Extend to Honoring My in-laws?

Yes! Your mother-Inlaws, or your father -In laws are equally deserve your honor.
Because they give birth your husband or your wife. They nurture and educate him or her before he became your husband or your wife. If you truly love your husband or if you truly love your wife you will also love his or her parents. You can not enjoy the fruits of a tree but hate the tree that produces the fruits. You should also know that your wife or your husband carries the DNA of her /his parents.

Granted that some in-laws are hard to please, some are very intrusive. Please do not retaliate if you want marital pease and God blessings.

What if my Parent or My in-law is disable, physically or mentally?

Parental disability is no excuse for dis honoring your parents. Remember it is God’s command to obey and honor your parent without condition. It is God you’re honoring. It is God who will bless you with prosperity, good health,and long life.

For example, Isaac was blind, that was Jacob was able to deceive him and take the blessing of the first born.

Parental Blessings are Real.

Isaac said, “Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.’
So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes,

He blessed him and said, “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed.
May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness— an abundance of grain and new wine.
May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.
May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed.” (Genesis 27:7, 27-29 NIV)

Pay attention to the above blessing upon Jacob and his progenitors. No Politician become American president without the Jewish backing. They take the lead in Science, Technology, Business, Judiciary, Real Properties and much more. The blessings are real.

This example, showed that to receive the parental blessings, you need to make the heart of your parent rejoice, in words and in deeds. Cook a tasty food, buy what he or she will appreciate, like wrist watch for him and neck chain for her. Good shoes or hand bags. These small gift and words of appreciations will provoke parental blessings. Try it and share your testimonies with others.

Some people will say that my father or my mother was not there for me when I was growing up. I was raised by a single parent. I was adopted. Regardless of your situation and back ground, you are still obligated to honor your parents to avoid being cursed by God. It is God who made the laws. It is God who promise you financial prosperity, good health and long life. It is HIM you’re respecting and he will surely bless you. Because God can not lie.

From the above statement, I have the opinion that honoring our parents and paying Tithe is equally important. Jesus reaffirmed the importance of honoring your parent
In Matthew 15:4-8. Jesus came to fulfill the laws. Honoring your parent is one of those laws. And God will increase your blessings as you honor and obey him.

What About Your Spiritual Parents?

Prophet Elijah became Spiritual Father to Elisha.

As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two. (2 Kings 2:11, 12 NIV)

Apostle Paul became Spiritual fathers to believers.

I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus (I became your father through the gospel). Therefore I urge you to imitate me. (1 Corinthians 4:14-16 NIV)

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:21-23 NIV)

The Apostles, the Prophets, the Pastors are all our spiritual fathers. God commands us to be obedience to them. You should not be judging your spiritual parents. Let Jesus be their judge.

Jesus gave Holy Spirit to his anointed servants and gave them the power to forgive you. Your sins are forgiven if your pastors forgive you. That is very powerful.

The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” (1 Timothy 5:17, 18 NIV)

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. (1 Thessalonians 5:12, 13 NIV)

Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. (1 Corinthians 9:13, 14 NIV)

God can not be mocked.

For example, a woman travels to her home country and tell lies against a man of God. Three weeks later she was fired from her job.

Forty two (42) children were devoured by a She Bear because they mocked Prophet Elijah. Do all forty children mocked the man of God?
Not all forty two mocked the Prophet of God but they were in the same group. The point is, don’t be among the people that are saying negative things about anointed man of God. (2 kings 2:23-25).

God said, I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you. Respect God anointed prophets. It shall be well with you if you do.

In summary, our natural parents and our Spiritual parents deserve double honor. God promise to bless us with material prosperity, good health, long life and everlasting life in Heaven and on Earth. Let us obey God’s commands by complying with His directives. Plant the seed of honor so that you can reap honor.

My prayer is that May the readers of this message put God to the test by honoring their parents and see whether God will honor his promise to bless them. In the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.

Say these prayers:

My father in the Heaven, please give a humble heart to honor my parents
Jesus please, give me an obedient heart to obey my parents.
Holy Spirit give me the power to forgive my parents for whatever sins they may have committed against me.
Father help me to show my children good example of how to honor to my parents.
Help me to sow the seed of honor, so that I can harvest honor.
Please confer your blessings upon me for honoring my parents.
In the mighty Name of Jesus. Amen.

Pray that I may proclaim the good news to more people to come to Jesus
for salvation.
This message is delivered by Jesus Witness Ministries.
God will bless you as you pass this information to others.

Please visit our website @ Jesus Witness Ministries.com for various articles like this. I am always praying for you.
You can also call Bro. David Olaniyan to pray with you. Tel: (973) 902-8160.

PLEASE WRITE YOUR COMMENT OR SUGGESTION BELOW