Deuteronomy 12:4-7; 11-13; 21
4 “Do not worship the Lord your God in the way these pagan peoples worship their gods. 5 Rather, you must seek the Lord your God at the place of worship he himself will choose from among all the tribes—the place where his name will be honored. 6 There you will bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, your sacred offerings, your offerings to fulfill a vow, your voluntary offerings, and your offerings of the firstborn animals of your herds and flocks. 7 There you and your families will feast in the presence of the Lord your God, and you will rejoice in all you have accomplished because the Lord your God has blessed you.”
11 “you must bring everything I command you—your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, your sacred offerings, and your offerings to fulfill a vow—to the designated place of worship, the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored. 12 ‘You must celebrate there in the presence of the Lord your God with your sons and daughters and all your servants. And remember to include the Levites who live in your towns, for they will receive no allotment of land among you. 13 Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings just anywhere you like. 14 You may do so only at the place the Lord will choose within one of your tribal territories. There you must offer your burnt offerings and do everything I command you.”
21 “It might happen that the designated place of worship—the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored—is a long way from your home. If so, you may butcher any of the cattle, sheep, or goats the Lord has given you, and you may freely eat the meat in your hometown, as I have commanded you.” (NLT)
Before we can talk about the tithe and offerings we need to know that it really matters where we congregate and give the tithe, and our offerings, first fruits, and all offerings we vowed to give to the Lord. The scripture says in verse 5 that it is the Lord who chooses where we are to flock, be fed, and become part of a family of believers.
We cannot choose this place for ourselves just out of convenience, or because we may know the Pastor or amember of the congregation. Neither because it might be the closest place to our home since we don’t want to have to fight traffic to get to church. We cannot use presumption when choosing a church to be part of. Instead, we must present this to the Lord in prayer and wait for His answer.
The important reason why God should be the One choosing the place we congregate is because He knows where we will receive the spiritual nourishment, training, and development we need that will help us fulfill our calls because the leaders of the house are the ones anointed to reproduce themselves in us and disciple us.
Next, verse 6 says that to this place we are to bring our offerings and sacrifices, and the tenth of what we gain as well as special gifts we have promised to give to the Lord and our first fruits. Notice that the order in which our giving is done according to this Scripture is different from how they’re applied in the church. The verse mentions first the offerings. The offerings are supposed to take care of the needs of the house. By that I mean the lights, water, administration or office needs, to buy pews, maintenance, expansions, etc.
Then it mentions the tithe. The Scripture already explained that the tithe is a tenth of what we earn (the gross income). However, in Malachi 3:6-12 God has some stern things to say about how many of His people have treated the tithe. Some of them have neglected obeying this principle due to misunderstanding of the Word of God, and others due to their rejection of Him and His Word.
6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change; that is why you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 Even from the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, How shall we return? 8 Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In what way do we rob or defraud You? [You have withheld your] tithes and offerings.”
9 “You are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
11 “And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.” AMPC
Not going to the church assigned by God is the first step in robbing and defrauding God with tithes and offerings. This is because those who fail to apply this understanding are stealing from the ones who are supposed to feed them spiritually. They’re also misaligned with the will of God for them and their assigned-by-God shepherds who are to disciple them and help them grow in wisdom and statue so they are able to fulfill their destiny.
In other words, giving tithes and offerings activates not only the revelations and strategies that lead to our blessings, and also activates the protection of God over our lives and everything that pertains to us. But failing to obey God’s word to give tithes and offerings and also not giving them in the place assigned by God causes the windows of heaven to shut over their lives. This means that the people do not see the fighting hand of the Lord of Hosts and His angelic army on their behalf.
Now, going back up to Deuteronomy 12:12 which says, “You must celebrate there in the presence of the Lord your God with your sons and daughters and all your servants. And remember to include the Levites who live in your towns, for they will receive no allotment of land among you.
Deuteronomy 12:19 also adds, “Be careful never to forget the Levites as long as you live in your land.” But who are the Levites and what are their functions within the body of Christ?
Ephesians 4:11-14 says, “And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct], [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church]; until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity]. So that we are no longer children [spiritually immature], tossed back and forth [like ships on a stormy sea] and carried about by every wind of [shifting] doctrine, by the cunning and trickery of [unscrupulous] men, by the deceitful scheming of people ready to do anything [for personal profit].” AMP
This Scripture is saying that the Levites (their Old Testament name) or five-fold-ministry (New Testament name), are called to spend time before the Lord in prayer and getting fresh revelations that will help feed not only the leadership, but their flocks fresh food full of nutrients that will perfect the saints and raise them in the work of service to God in their spheres of influence.
We need all of the members of the five-fold-ministry present to teach, instruct, and make sure the body is well nourished spiritually. Some of them have reached the state of maturity and are serving others already while the rest is learning and maturing so they too can reach that time when the Lord releases them to help nourish the body in their generation and specific calling. But whether mature or still coming up in the ranks, they need support and help to reach and be sustained in their purpose from God.
When we have this understanding and apply it, we will see the windows of heaven open for us, and receive such a blessing that there will not be enough room to receive it and the Lord of hosts will fight our battles and guard our blessings. This way, we can continue in His service and also serve His people. God designed this to be a win/win situation where no one will lack what is needed to accomplish His purpose for them.
Doing this, will result in the body that is well nourished, knowing and recognizing by the leading of the Holy Spirit, when to wear the mantle of an evangelist, or of a teacher, or the prophetic, or like a pastor extend mercy and compassion for others. They will also understand when to engage in warfare, being led by the Holy Spirit in their spheres of influence because they have matured in their walk with God and are strong in all areas of ministry.
More in the next post. And as always, to God alone be all the glory.•
No comments:
Post a Comment