Tithing

Tithing, Giving and the Scriptures [Part 12]

Posted on by Dianne

Nehemiah and Restoration of the Law (Nehemiah 10:28-39)

28Now the rest of the people—the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the Nethinim, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge and understanding— 29these joined with their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes: 30We would not give our daughters as wives to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons; 31if the peoples of the land brought wares or any grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we would not buy it from them on the Sabbath, or on a holy day; and we would forego the seventh year’s produce and the exacting of every debt.

32Also we made ordinances for ourselves, to exact from ourselves yearly one-third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: 33for the showbread, for the regular grain offering, for the regular burnt offering of the Sabbaths, the New Moons, and the set feasts; for the holy things, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our God. 34We cast lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for bringing the wood offering into the house of our God, according to our fathers’ houses, at the appointed times year by year, to burn on the altar of the Lord our God as it is written in the Law. 35And we made ordinances to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, to the house of the Lord; 36to bring the firstborn of our sons and our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks, to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God; 37to bring the firstfruits of our dough, our offerings, the fruit from all kinds of trees, the new wine and oil, to the priests, to the storerooms of the house of our God; and to bring the tithes of our land to the Levites, for the Levites should receive the tithes in all our farming communities. 38And the priest, the descendant of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes; and the Levites shall bring up a tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the rooms of the storehouse. 39For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the grain, of the new wine and the oil, to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are, where the priests who minister and the gatekeepers and the singers are; and we will not neglect the house of our God.

As Nehemiah and the restored Israelites re-establish their nation, one of the first things they do is re-iterate the tenets of the regulations acknowledging the Lord as their God. This includes the restoration of the tithe (they were not tithing or keeping any of the commandments of the Lord in captivity, previous to entering the land). Again, tithes to the priests was specifically mentioned, as well as the tithes being stored in the temple. Nehemiah even added ordinances concerning payment for specific needs of the temple. (These things may have been more expensive than they were in Moses’ day.)

"Practical Christianity"

Supernatural Environment

Posted on by Dianne

The supernatural or soulical environment consists of those areas between the natural (that which was created and can be recognized by the natural senses) and the spiritual (that which has the same characteristics as God; holy, eternal, omnipotent, etc.). Most of us spend the majority of our time and thoughts dwelling in this realm. Though this is one realm, it contains many regions. In order to understand our beliefs we can say that the supernatural realm is where the angels and demons dwell, also described as heaven and hell. We can also say that the realm to which our soul relates is the soulical environment. Our soulical senses work just as well (or as poorly) in heaven as in hell.

The most important law that predominates over this realm is that God reigns supreme, and nothing happens here without His express permission, just as in the natural realm.

The supernatural realm can also become a distraction, as many believe that it is the same thing as the spiritual realm. So we often mistake what happens there, and what we see, as being 100% true and infallible. Thus, we can experience visions, manifestations of God, angels and demons, etc., and falsely conclude that there is absolute authority and clarity in them. This can be not only a distraction but misleading and a deception, especially when doctrines are then built upon what we believe God has shown us in this imperfect realm.

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WITH PURPOSE OF HEART by Ray Prinzing

Posted on by Dianne

“And they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch, Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.” (Acts 11:22-23)

Barnabas beheld the GRACE OF GOD working in their lives, and he was glad. This is a beautiful, positive approach. He could have seen all the imperfections, how much spiritual growth was needed, worried about the errors of doctrine, whatever else might be common to the beginnings of the Christian walk. But he saw the grace of God, and knew there was a work begun, and viewing God’s handiwork, he knew that the One who had begun in these people a good work, He also would bring it to a successful conclusion in due time, so he only sought to encourage, to exhort them to continue, to follow on to perfection, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

The word ‘cleave’ comes from the Greek ‘pros’ meaning toward, and ‘meno’ which means to remain, abide. What an excellent exhortation, to remain towards the Lord, to abide in a walk that is always directed towards the Lord, to keep Him in the center of our vision, and to remain in that close union with Him. “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore, my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth,” (Psalm 16:8-9)

This vital abiding, remaining ever towards the Lord, is the resultant action of our PURPOSE OF HEART. It speaks of the action of the will. True, spiritual depth and maturity come with growth and processing under the workmanship of the Spirit of God within us, but our responsive action to His inworking is the exercise of our will, willing to live out that which He has wrought within. “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself,” (Dan. 1:8). The deliberate, pre-meditated, chosen course of action. It was the action of his will motivated by his heart, his inner state of being, that gave strength to face every test, which followed.

Lord, we will to have Your will in all things. Amen!

Hedz Up

[Hedz Up] Patience, Again

Posted on by Dianne

Don’t be distracted by the many roadblocks. The journey itself is more important than arriving at your goal. You have not passed this way before, and will not again, so enjoy the gifts Father has for you along the way.

Keep your eye on the horizon, Father will guide each footstep.

Have a restful week!

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THE WAY CALLED HERESY by Ray Prinzing

Posted on by Dianne

“But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets.”
(Acts 24:14)

The word “heresy’ literally means: ‘to take, to choose’; and then can be understood as to refer to the belief which was chosen. The Dictionary gives it to mean “religious opinion opposed to the authorized doctrinal standard of any particular church”. Thus, an opinion held in opposition to the commonly received doctrine.

While in a negative sense it refers to one who has chosen a cultist doctrine, methinks there is also a positive sense for those who use the right and privilege of choosing to pursue truth regardless of the commonly accepted traditions of men – though those traditionists will brand them as heretics.

Of the way of the Pharisees Paul was well familiar, and well he knew that “in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men,” (Matt. 15:9). He had an encounter with God, and the Light had shone deep into his being, now he desired to WORSHIP THE GOD OF HIS FATHERS, and it was esteemed a way of heresy, because he was ready to BELIEVE ALL THINGS which are in the law and in the prophets. It was this realm of ‘believing’, this faith in the truth which set him apart from all other ways. He was now a part of the very WAY, which earlier he had persecuted so violently.

All the Jews know about this ‘sect’ that was everywhere spoken against. Of our Lord also it was said that He was “set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against,” (Luke 2:32). He, who came forth, visible expression of the invisible God, was spoken against by all those who refused to receive and believe Him. Therefore it follows that all who would FOLLOW HIM would likewise be spoken against, branded as heretics. Organized religion has always been against those who would believe the truth, choosing beyond what their traditions offered. But truly we have found it to be a way of joy, life, and victory.

Hedz Up

[Hedz Up] Pick One and Go With It

Posted on by Dianne

There have been areas that you have gone back and forth for so long that any answer you receive from the Lord is merely confusing you more. This week is an opportunity to pick one choice and go with it. Father will guide and direct once you get going but you must leave this place of confusion and doubt. He will give you clarity about what happened as you move forward.

Stay optimistic and have a great week!

Tithing

Tithing, Giving and the Scriptures [Part 11]

Posted on by Dianne

Hezekiah and the Restoration (2 Chronicles 30:23-31:21)

23Then the whole assembly agreed to keep the feast another seven days, and they kept it another seven days with gladness. 24For Hezekiah king of Judah gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep, and the leaders gave to the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep; and a great number of priests sanctified themselves. 25The whole assembly of Judah rejoiced, also the priests and Levites, all the assembly that came from Israel, the sojourners who came from the land of Israel, and those who dwelt in Judah. 26So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. 27Then the priests, the Levites, arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard; and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.

31:1Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the sacred pillars in pieces, cut down the wooden images, and threw down the high places and the altars—from all Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh—until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned to their own cities, every man to his possession.

2And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites according to their divisions, each man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and peace offerings, to serve, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camp of the Lord. 3The king also appointed a portion of his possessions for the burnt offerings: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and the New Moons and the set feasts, as it is written in the Law of the Lord. 4Moreover he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the Law of the Lord.

5As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything. 6And the children of Israel and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, brought the tithe of oxen and sheep; also the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the Lord their God they laid in heaps.

7In the third month they began laying them in heaps, and they finished in the seventh month. 8And when Hezekiah and the leaders came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and His people Israel. 9Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. 10And Azariah the chief priest, from the house of Zadok, answered him and said, “Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed His people; and what is left is this great abundance.”

11Now Hezekiah commanded them to prepare rooms in the house of the Lord, and they prepared them. 12Then they faithfully brought in the offerings, the tithes, and the dedicated things; Cononiah the Levite had charge of them, and Shimei his brother was the next. 13Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king and Azariah the ruler of the house of God. 14Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the keeper of the East Gate, was over the freewill offerings to God, to distribute the offerings of the Lord and the most holy things. 15And under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, his faithful assistants in the cities of the priests, to distribute allotments to their brethren by divisions, to the great as well as the small. 16Besides those males from three years old and up who were written in the genealogy, they distributed to everyone who entered the house of the Lord his daily portion for the work of his service, by his division, 17and to the priests who were written in the genealogy according to their father’s house, and to the Levites from twenty years old and up according to their work, by their divisions, 18and to all who were written in the genealogy—their little ones and their wives, their sons and daughters, the whole company of them—for in their faithfulness they sanctified themselves in holiness. 19Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, who were in the fields of the common-lands of their cities, in every single city, there were men who were designated by name to distribute portions to all the males among the priests and to all who were listed by genealogies among the Levites.

20Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the Lord his God. 21And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered.

The people were encouraged to keep the feast going; the King made a large donation (of goods he had received as taxes from the people, as previously warned by God), and the priests and Levites made an even larger donation. The people rejoiced, partied, then broke down the idols (they had been worshiping or at least allowing others to worship), then went home. The priestly duties, which had ceased, were restored.

The people were commanded to obey the law of the tithe (“as written in the Law of the Lord”) in order to support the priesthood; their response was so great that it took 4 months for it to be brought (from all over the nation). The needs of the priests were more than met; storerooms in the House of the Lord were prepared to store the remainder, with overseers appointed to disperse the goods as necessary. All these had been neglected, bringing God’s judgment upon Israel until they realized the error of their ways.

The Law of Moses is summarized in verses 20-21. Because Hezekiah did what was right, God prospered him.

This was the best they could hope for; a surface relationship with a God who provided for their physical needs, peace, etc. as long as they did what He told them to do. The Israelites had to fulfill their part BEFORE God would fulfill His part.

This was the essence of the Law, which was fulfilled by Jesus Christ, in that He fulfilled “our part” permanently and in its entirety, so that God is now free to pour out His salvation, giving us a NEW heart that is able to be His dwelling place, where we can commune with Him personally and continually, having been born after His Spirit.

God never intended the Law to be the defining of His relationship with His people; its purpose was to reveal that there was nothing we could do to BRING OURSELVES into relationship with Him. It was something ONLY HE, AND HE ALONE, COULD DO.

With the Resurrection, Jesus concluded both parts of the covenant: He did our part and the Father’s, once and for all, permanently.

"Practical Christianity"

Soulical Senses

Posted on by Dianne

The soul relates to our selves and to others. Its senses include understanding, choosing, feeling, awareness of self and others (intuition) and sense of time. There is also a sense of God, but God Himself must quicken this sense to recognize His Spirit. It is also in the soul that the so-called “spiritual” gifts are located: we can use the gifts without the spirit of God having anything to do with it. Before we became Christians, this would be called witchcraft, ESP, sorcery, deja vu, luck, etc. Using the gifts with our own strength after we become Christians is called manipulation and idolatry.

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HE LIGHTS MY CANDLE by Ray Prinzing

Posted on by Dianne

“For Thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.” (Psalm 18:28)

Among the proverbs of Solomon, we read, “The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly,” (Prov. 20:27). “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?” (I Cor. 2:11). Although a man’s ‘spirit’ is his ‘candle’, yet he walks in darkness until such a time as God lights that candle, till God quickens us by His holy Spirit, and His light shines within.

Christendom’s tradition teaches that God will light the candle of a few, and take them to heaven, while the vast majority of mankind is doomed to eternity in some hell. But the Word declares, concerning our Lord Jesus Christ, “He was the true Light, which lighteth EVERY man that cometh into the world,” (John 1:9). Though it be “EVERY MAN in his own order”, (I Corinthians 15:23), nevertheless, “by Christ shall ALL be made alive”. God will not abandon His creation with the process only half done – just the natural creation brought forth. “First the natural, afterwards that which is spiritual,” (I Cor. 15:46). Thus, He has purposed “that in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even IN Him,” (Eph. 1:10). This purpose shall be fulfilled. Brought into the LIFE of Christ, so that every creature shall know the blessing of that finished work of redemption, the creative work that results in a spiritual creation.

Then shall be fulfilled the promise, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined,” (Isaiah 9:2).

When God lights our candle, it is to make us one with the light, so that in turn He might send us forth to bring light to those who are in darkness. “I will give thee to be a light to the nations, that thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6).

Hedz Up

[Hedz Up] Sing Along

Posted on by Dianne

When asking the Lord what was on His mind for this week’s [Hedz Up], He gave me three phrases, all from songs: Call Me, Lean On Me, and Bridge Over Trouble Water. Though you probably already get the meaning, let me make it clear: when trouble comes, Ask, Depend and Rest. One, two or all of these songs may even begin to repeat in your mind. Ask the Lord if He needs some of your time in this regard.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with these songs, I’ve asked the Lord to give you a song that will encourage and lift you up when you need it. He is using this opportunity to not only encourage but to teach us how He speaks to us — any way He wants.

Be ready to turn to Him, and have a great week.