Folks, I will make it very clear.   I’m not coming against tithing but I’m coming against a system that leaves people if they don’t tithe they will go to hell or they can’t be a part of their particular denomination if they don’t tithe.  People or the church was never meant to be manipulated into doing things in order to do something else or to meet someone else’s criteria.

I’m going to take you to Luke chapter 21: 1- 4,  if you take notice you will see some people pious I would say casting their money into the treasury and I would say well you know the master is watching us give all this money we’ll be someone now in his eyes. What they didn’t know was that his eyes were on the poor widow women who gave two mites all that she had, in rebuke he said you have gave of your abundance, but this widow women has gave all she had she may not even be recognized in some of our churches today.

Lets go to 1st Corinthians chapter 16 which is used I repeat is used. Paul was not referring to tithing here he was talking about the collections for the saints at Jerusalem that needed help, he was asking for the churches in Galatia to make such an effort and to set aside as God had prospered them so that he would not have to go from door to door and beg for it.  He was on his way to Jerusalem, so he would take it up with him, in fact he refused to take any for himself; Reference to 2nd Corinthians chapter 9,  just read it Mr. preacher. We are not to give because someone forces us to give or grudgingly or of necessary. Verse 7 2nd Corinthians chapter 9. God loves a cheerful giver. Just read 1st Corinthians chapter 13, I won’t take the time to go down that one but the scripture speaks for itself.

Lets go back to Malachi 3:9-10, that scripture has been used, again I say used. You don’t use scripture to manipulate people to do something. Now I am quite aware that everything that was initiated under the law that if you did not do them you were under a curse because you were in disobedience to what God had thus commanded.

Now if you go with me to Colossians 2:14 you will read: Blotting out the hand writing of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to a cross. The Bible says no man is justified by the works of the law. The law came by Moses but Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Now then, we are not blessed because Abram paid tithes, we are blessed because of the seed, Jesus Christ. Paul said we are blessed through Him that is Jesus and caused to set together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Listen friend, I can’t buy my salvation or anything pertaining to it and when people advocate such things they are outside the word. We are blessed because of the sacrifice that was made for our sin on that old rugged cross which causes us to give to the work of the Lord. If you read Acts of the Apostles, in the early church period they, to my knowledge, put no restriction on people who didn’t pay tithes but they gave.

I would like to come to a conclusion but it’s a problem. I’d like to ask, how can preachers today put so much emphasis on tithing and put ministries one side. Ministries according to Ephesians that God hath placed within the church to build up, to edify the body of Christ. Again, if the gifts of the spirit could operate through money then why are we not seeing these things happen. People need to be liberated, set free, not brought under bondage. I am a member of the Body of Christ, not based on if I pay my tithes. I am a member of the Body of Christ because of the sacrifice on Calvary. Read 1st Corinthians chapter 9 verse 29-30.

Reader, support your church, support your Pastor, support the work of the Lord. If you want to give tithes do so, if you want to give double do so but let it be done with a free spirit.

Just a finishing comment, recently I heard a Pastor say that he was teaching the children in his church how to tithe their chocolates, I wonder who ate the chocolate ?

These little children needed to be taught how God loves them and what He has for them.

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I am quite aware that this is a very touchy subject, someone may say, why should it be so? I say that because preachers are handling it in an abusive way, doing, proclaiming it and in some cases, preaching for filthy lucre sake of which the scriptures warns against. I am convinced having heard and seen so much in an abusive manner, I decided I would do a little write up, not on my ideas but in light of the scriptures verses what denominational churches are advocating and teaching which in some cases is not biblical.

For instance, I will use this statement that I heard with my own ears from a pulpit “I curse every person in this church who do not pay their tithes, I curse you in the name of Jesus”. By the way, that was not on television. I will make clear, but these things provoke me to speak the truth. Now just a comment on that, the Bible says that cursing and blessing can not proceed out of the same mouth. (James 3:10-13)

Reader, as you read this you may say, well he don’t believe in tithing. Before I’m finished you will know where I stand in the light of the scripture and what Paul said. Now I am aware right now that I am not going to cover this in five or six hundred words as I have been doing so I would say I will have to put it in two or three parts. I am not about to tickle someone’s ears so you won’t have to start scratching, just bare with me.

I know it is going to be difficult but you have found yourself or you will in greater difficult situations. I am quite aware on what the bible says in Genesis chapter 14 where Abram paid tithes to Melchizedek, now get this clear. Some say, well we are blessed with father Abram but not because he paid tithes to the high priest. I will get to that a little later on. What Abram did there got very little bearings on our blessing that we receive. Now then, when you come to the point where God brought the children of Israel out of bondage from Egypt and brought them into the promise land, the practice of tithing was initiated for the Priests and those that would serve in the tabernacle and to my knowledge nowhere is it mentioned where they paid tithes during their stay for 400 years in Egypt. Yet God prospered them and led them out by a mighty hand so therefore their deliverance was not based on tithing.

I know there will be a lot of people read this and not agree with me even at this point but just hold in there. Today I hear and in some cases more about tithing then I hear about salvation. People need to come out of their bondage they are in, then see what they will do.

I’ll finish this part by injecting this from my own experience (fact). Some years ago I went to a little church which at the time was closed due to the fact there was not enough support to keep it open. So I was you know, advised by my superiors to preach tithing. In fact I don’t believe I even mentioned it over a period of three years but what do you know, the church only received not beyond $35.00, no mistake, thirty five dollars any given month for 15 years. In less then 6 months there were ten times that much. You may say what happened ? People were set free in their spirit and they didn’t have any burden to get at their back pocket.

People need to know the blessing they can receive from the hand of the Lord through the power of the Gospel and not just one thing. The bible says obedience is better then sacrifices and to hearken then the fat of rams.

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I’m going to take you to Matthew chapter 25 concerning the ten virgins, but first lets take a short time back, and have a look in Genesis chapter 7, then back to the previous chapter. When God told Noah to build a boat, or an ark because He said that He was going to destroy the earth with a flood. Now the bible says that up to that time, it had never rained, Genesis 2:5. I would assume that to a lot of people, when Noah said that God was to bring a flood, then it seemed, I would say, something of the impossible. Nevertheless, Noah did what God had told him to do, so he moved in faith according to Hebrews chapter 11. When Noah and his family went in and the animals, God shut the door and after seven days to the surprise of the people, down it came, rain I mean.

Now lets move on to Matthew chapter 25. Jesus said the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. He said,  five were wise, five were foolish. They that were foolish took no oil but they that were wise took oil with them and the Bible says that while the bridegroom tarried they all went to sleep and when the cry went forth that the bridegroom was coming, they all arose. The five foolish ones discovered their lamps had gone out, they asked to borrow from those that had some but that was not to be so. The Bible says that while they went to buy, the bridegroom came and they that were ready went in and the door was shut.

You know, I’ve had that experience a few times in my life and I guess a lot more have had it too. One of the most disappointing experiences, that is under some circumstances, that a person can have is to go to a door and not be able to get in. It is truly a sad situation, especially if you know you maybe caught in a storm. Jesus told them and tells us through His word, watch ye therefore for ye know not the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Jesus said, as it was in the days of Noah so shall it be in the days of the coming of the Son of man. The bible says they knew not until the flood came and took them all away. There maybe some unsaved person reading this and I believe that the door will soon close again. The day of grace, the door of Gods mercy will soon close. Chances are getting fewer, opportunities are running out!

Time to enter in at the straight gate. I feel like quoting Revelation 22:11. “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” It speaks to us loud and clear, that whatever state we are in when Jesus comes, that is it!

The message rings loud and clear, come into the ark, ere the sky grows dark. Storm clouds are gathering on the horizon, pointing to what is about to bring chaos upon this world, such as never was and never shall be again.

Friend, don’t miss the rapture. Will you be ready when Jesus comes ? Will you have the wedding garment on to go in to the marriage supper of the Lamb ? May you not find the door closed, it will be a sad and despairing situation to find yourself in. There is a way of escape, Jesus said, I am the door. He is the only way into the Kingdom of God.

The Psalmist David said in Psalms 103:2, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” The word amnesia came to me recently and as I thought it right and proper to make a spiritual application because it is os easy to have spiritual amnesia. The children of Israel found out many times over how they forgot God and what God had done for them in bringing them out of bondage from Egypt, led them through the wilderness and supplied all their needs. Not only that, the Bible says, that when they sat in their houses, when they had the passover, etc.., they were to relate to and tell what it all meant. God told them to tell their children, and the list goes on, and every generation was to hear what God had done for them.

Listen friend, I’ve heard it said, when you talk about what God did back there, well we’re living in the now. I’m well aware we can’t live in the past but I believe we should be reminded of the way God led us, and led our forefathers. We need to have the same relation with our creator. He does not change. You can try what you like, if you haven’t got a genuine experience with God, then you don’t have much to work on.

I believe that the enemy has struck the church world with such blows that it looks like in some areas that the church has forgot where she really is, her place in the world, her duty and responsibility. I don’t wonder why the prophet Isaiah said in Isaiah 52:1-2. She slumbered somewhere along the line. She must have got pretty stiff, – loose thyself-

Friend don’t ever think that I am referring to any particular church as a denomination as such, because in the book of acts, denomination as we know it was not in existence. God called the children of Israel out of bondage, that he might bring them in to a land full of plenty. God has called the church out of the world of sin, being set free from sin we should no longer be in bondage.

We see a drug addict, a drunken man, we see sin raking its toll and sometimes we may despise these people but lets remember there goes me but for the grace of God. Lets not forget, God did not just save us from sin to warm a church pew, he saved us, bought us, redeemed us with His precious blood, sanctified us that He might have a church, a bride without spot or wrinkle. That we might praise Him, glorify Him.

1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which is Gods. Sometimes we feel that we have to be recognized to be someone or to be put in the limelight. Read Mark chapter 6 verse 3. They thought Jesus was just a carpenter. If they didn’t recognize Jesus as the Son of God. The servant is not above His master, that make you feel ok ?

He said as I am in the world so are ye. Let us not forget what God hath done and who we are. Not who man might think we are or what we are. Let us not forget His benefits, this salvation carries benefits. The Psalmist said who healeth all thy diseases. For every good and perfect gift cometh down from the father of lights in whom there is no variableness, neither is there any shadow of turning no changing.

The enemy don’t want us to remember the good things that we receive from the hand of the Lord. Jesus message to the church at Ephesus, Revelation 1-5, Remember from where they had fallen, they were reminded from where they had fallen and told to get back in the place that God wanted them to be.

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What are your convictions based on someone’s idea or the word? The Bible says, let everyone speak truth to his neighbour. In fact it is one of the ten commandments. Paul said in writing to the Corinthians, 1st Corinthians 1:10, that we all speak the same thing, of course he was talking or writing to the church at Corinth, so it still applies to the church today. Lets face the facts, if we are not speaking the same thing, then someone is not speaking the truth. Now I know we can use different terminology but it will mean the same thing.

Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life. If Jesus said, I am the way, I am the truth then when it comes to Gods word, there is no truth outside of Jesus. Proverbs 3:3, Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about their neck; write them upon the table of thine heart.
Jesus said when He, the Spirit of Truth is come He referring to the Holy Spirit, He will guide you into all truth and the only truth is the word of God. Mans ideas, mans way is not necessary the truth, only if these things are based on the word, with no room for doubt. You know there’s nothing like knowing the truth, although there are times when it is not the best thing to hear at certain times. That statement sounds contradictory, no sometimes the truth may hurt but in the end it will heal.

God told the prophet Jeremiah to speak his word, whether they hear or forbear, makes no difference, speak what I tell you to speak. Jeremiah was told to speak the truth, the message that God had given him. Didn’t sound good in some ears, but it was the truth, but it was what God had told him to speak. It wasn’t what people wanted to hear but it was surely what they needed. In this day when you speak the truth you’ll be surely put in the pit, figuratively speaking.

It is very important to line things up with the word of God. If it don’t line up with the word, then there is a great big “?”

Paul warned that in the last days people would steer away from the truth and give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils and that is so because a lot of the new age philosophy is being introduced through so called leaders. The question, what is truth ? Someone may say I can tell what is true and what is not. There is one sure thing and this I know, and have proven, I have seen and heard a lot of things in the past fifty years or so, but there is one thing I do know and am sure, that when it comes to spiritual things, the Holy Spirit will bear witness to the truth because He can’t bare witness to nothing else only the truth.

Friend, don’t be fooled, there is truth and there is error and sometimes things look so real but don’t I say, be fooled.

The truth will not bring you in bondage, the truth will set you free.

Spiritual truths can only be tested on the basis of the word.