Tithe talking about more than just money. He is also talking about our love for one another. There ought to be a spirit of giving behind everything that we do. Give your love. Give your talent. Give your time. Give your !nances. Perhaps we should all examine the hidden motives of our hearts as we give of our time, our money, our skills, and our talents, to see if our hearts are !lled with joy and grateful thanks for all that Christ has done for us - or if we are still using our Christian giving in response to legalist bondage, sel!sh motives or for any other unbiblical purpose. When you tithe, are you expecting something back from God? If you are, you are not giving cheerfully, or with the right spirit. We should always seek the giver and not the gift. And when you truly give to God with a true spirit of giving, it shall be given back to you in greater measure than it was given. There are those who tithe simply so they can get blessed by God. There are those who hold back their tithe because they don't have the faith that God will bless them with more. Then there are the faithful few who are simply being obedient to God, giving back to Him what already belongs to Him. When you give with an obedient attitude, the possibili‐ ties of giving are phenomenal. The Bible says that obedience is better than sacri!ce (1 Samuel 15:22). That is a spiritual law of God that has never changed nor will it ever change! 39
Nelson P. Maranan The possibilities that result from tithing are nothing short of awesome! The Scripture rings true. God wants to bless His church beyond measure on this last day! Let's take our faith that God will bless us. It simply comes down to one thing: obedience to God! We no longer fear God or His word as we did in previous generations. It is a shame that Christianity as a whole is only looking for what they can get from their relationship with Christ, rather than what they can put into their relationship with Him. Materialistic and carnal desires have got a hold of our hearts to the point that we can't give our tithes and o!erings. We came naked into this world and we will leave the same way. The only wealth/money that you can take with you will be that which is sent ahead and is invested in the “First Bank of Heaven.” (Matthew 6:19-20; Philippians 4:17). Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep in order to gain what he cannot lose.”2 40
Afterword Tithing began before the law of Moses and continues after it. Abraham and Jacob paid tithes. O!erings are any additional freewill gifts.1 Tithe means one-tenth or tenth part of the whole. Tithing did not begin as Mosaic Law, nor should it be viewed as such. It started with Abram (Genesis 14:20), later called Abraham, who obeyed God’s voice and kept God’s charge, His commandments, His statutes, and His laws (Genesis 26:5). God chose Abraham in order that he may command his sons and his descendants to obey God and to do what is right and just (Genesis 18:19). Abraham is the spiritual father of all who believes in God and is accepted as righteous by him (Romans 4:12). Today, as Christians, we are known not as children of Moses, but as children of Abraham (Galatians 3:7). If we are children of Abraham, we are expected to do the works of Abraham (John 8:39). 41
Afterword There are four elements of giving tithes to the Lord, namely: 1. The foundation of tithing is based on faith in God, as Abraham set the example, not by works of the law. It was a token of his gratitude and honor to God. “Abraham believed in God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous” (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3; Romans 4:22; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23). Abraham's life spoke shows the faithfulness of his obedience to God's laws (Genesis 26:5). 2. Obedience of Faith. There is no contradiction. James 2:24, which declares, “By works a man is justi!ed, and not by faith only,” is certainly true when “works” means acts of obedience to God. Only those who have “the obedience of faith” (Romans 16:26), nothing less will please God. Abel’s o\"ering was made in faith, in a desire to worship God in spirit and in truth. Through his faith, Abel won God's approval as a righteous man, because God himself approved of his gifts. 3. Cheerful Giving. It is an obedient, generous heart and a beautiful Christian grace, that brings blessings to others, bene#t to ourselves, and glory to our Father in heaven. When it is done, God is delighted in them (2 Corinthians 9:7). 4. Expect Nothing Back. There are those who 42
Afterword tithe simply so they can get blessed by God. There are those who hold back their tithe because they don't have the faith that God will bless them with more. Then there are the faithful few who are simply being obedient to God, giving back to Him what already belongs to Him. Today, as Christians, we are known not as children of Moses, but as children of Abraham. We should realize, then, that the real descendants of Abraham are the people who have faith. It was not written for his sake alone (Romans 4:23). It wasn’t only for Abraham’s bene!t that God declared him righteous through faith; he is an example that we are invited to follow – it is also for us. Paul’s con!dence is glori‐ ous: It shall be imputed to us who believe; this was not just for Abraham, but for us also. Since Melchizedek pointed to this dispensation of Grace in which we now live, it is very signi!cant that Abram paid tithes of all he had to this Priest. It has been a question in some minds as to whether tithing was meant for this day of Grace, but in this instance, it is pre!gured very plainly. Paul in his letter to the Hebrews reminds them of how Abram paid tithes to Melchizedek. Hebrews. 7:4-6, \"Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.\" Christ is now our Melchizedek, and we the children of Abraham, are commanded to do the works of Abraham. We already have seen how Abraham was made the father of all who believes (Romans 4:11). The Lord would not give us a plan that all could not follow. Every man, regardless of where he is or what he 43
Afterword possesses, can give the Lord one-tenth of his increase. Thus, the church is supported and provided for whether it is on the foreign missionary !eld or in the homeland. God blesses materially and spiritually a tithing church. The pastor should give regular teaching on tithing. The tithe is the Lord's and the Christian has to bring it into the the local church where he worships and where he gets his spiritual food.2 O\"erings should not be confused with tithes. O\"erings are separate from tithes and may be given for building funds, radio broadcasting, missionary work, etc. There should be an agreed way in which tithes and o\"erings are received.3 44
Notes 2. The Concept of Tithing 1. Jim Poitras, Lesson 80: The Blessing of Giving, Reaching Through Teaching Ministries, Level C 2. Harry L. Herman, Tithes and O!erings, https://www.apostolic.edu/ tithes-and-o\"erings-entire/ 3. Abram Gave Tithes of All 1. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary on Genesis 14:20 2. https://www.bibleref.com/Genesis/14/Genesis-14-20.html 3. Gill’s Exposition of Exodus 14:20 4. Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 8. God Loves a Cheerful Giver 1. WCP of United Pentecostal Church International 2. Poitras op. cit. Afterword 1. David Bernard, Doctrines of the Bible, p. 19 2. Ralph Vincent Reynolds, Pastoral Studies, Alpha Bible Course, Lesson 11, pp. 57-58 3. Ibid. 45
Statement of Faith of the Apostolic Jesus Name Church (AJNC) AJNC aims to propagate the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our basic doctrines are as follows: We believe there is one indivisible God, the one true living God who manifested in the !esh in the person of Jesus Christ. We believe the Bible to be inspired by God, the infallible Word of God. We believe the Bible is the only God- given authority that man possesses; therefore, all doctrine, faith, hope, and all instruction for the church must be based upon and harmonize with the Bible. We believe in the God-given plan of salvation for mankind in the grace dispensation through repentance, baptism in Jesus’ name, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost as evidenced by speaking in other tongues as the Holy Ghost gives the utterance. We believe that this plan of salvation is made available, in our time, to both
the Jews and the Gentiles who are called “those that are afar o!” Acts 2:39, “made nigh by the blood of Christ” Eph. 2:13). And that this promise is to all whom God calls to Himself. We believe that a life of holiness must be pursued as no one would see the Lord without it. Our core values consist of worship, pastoral care and discipleship, new converts care, fellowship, evangelism, and Christian education. For your questions and other concerns, please send your message to: 2336 Agua Marina St. San Andres Bukid Manila, Philippines Website: https://ajncphilippines.com/ 0917 840 6460 [email protected] [email protected]
Statement of Faith of the Apostolic Jesus Name Church (AJNC) AJNC aims to propagate the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our basic doctrines are as follows: We believe there is one indivisible God, the one true living God who manifested in the !esh in the person of Jesus Christ. We believe the Bible to be inspired by God, the infallible Word of God. We believe the Bible is the only God- given authority that man possesses; therefore, all doctrine, faith, hope, and all instruction for the church must be based upon and harmonize with the Bible. We believe in the God-given plan of salvation for mankind in the grace dispensation through repentance, baptism in Jesus’ name, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost as evidenced by speaking in other tongues as the Holy Ghost gives the utterance. We believe that this plan of salvation is made available, in our time, to both
the Jews and the Gentiles who are called “those that are afar o!” Acts 2:39, “made nigh by the blood of Christ” Eph. 2:13). And that this promise is to all whom God calls to Himself. We believe that a life of holiness must be pursued as no one would see the Lord without it. Our core values consist of worship, pastoral care and discipleship, new converts care, fellowship, evangelism, and Christian education. For your questions and other concerns, please send your message to: 2336 Agua Marina St. San Andres Bukid Manila, Philippines Website: https://ajncphilippines.com/ 0917 840 6460 [email protected] [email protected]
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