Let's pray.
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Our beloved heavenly
Father, once again we come
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into Your presence
with awe and with wonder
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because You're the great God.
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You're the God above all gods.
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You're the Creator,
You're the Redeemer,
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You're our Sustainer.
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You gave us Your Holy
Word so that we could have
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certainty in this
world of confusion.
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Father, as we open Your
Word today, we ask for the
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presence of Your Holy Spirit.
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As we study the financial
secrets of the Sanctuary
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we ask for divine guidance.
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Soften hearts and open minds.
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And we thank You
for hearing our prayer,
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for we ask it in
Jesus' name, amen.
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I'd like to begin our study
today by turning in my Bible,
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and I invite you
to turn in yours,
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to Deuteronomy chapter
8 and verses 17 and 18.
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Deuteronomy chapter
8 and verses 17 and 18.
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This is speaking about Israel
entering the Promised Land,
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and God is
giving them a warning.
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And there's some
very important information
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in this warning that God shares
with the people of Israel.
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Deuteronomy
chapter 8 verses 17 and 18.
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"Then you say in your heart,
'My power and the might of
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my hand have
gained me this wealth.'
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And you shall
remember the Lord your God,
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for it is He who gives
you power to get wealth,
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that He may establish
His covenant which He swore
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to your fathers,
as it is in this day."
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This verse expresses a
very important principle.
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And that is that God is
the One who gives us the power
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to acquire wealth.
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Furthermore, other passages
of Scripture make it very clear
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that the wealth that we amass
is really not our wealth at all.
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Because
everything belongs to God.
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In Psalm 24 and verse 1, it
says, "The earth is the Lord's,
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and the fullness thereof."
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In other words, we
don't really own anything.
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Even the wealth we
amass and we accumulate
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is not ours, but His.
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Now God gave a way
in which we can remember
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that He is the owner
and we are His stewards.
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God has given us a test.
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And that test has
to do with the tithe.
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You see, the tithe is the
method that God uses to test us
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to see if we recognize
that everything that we have
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really actually belongs to God.
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Now I'd like us, first
of all in our study today,
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to take a look at the
tithing system in the Levitical
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priesthood of the Old Testament.
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That's what we're
going to begin with.
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Turn with me to
Leviticus chapter 27
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and we'll read verse 30, and
then we'll also read verse 32.
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Leviticus chapter 27 verse
30, and then we'll jump down
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to verse 32.
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Here we find the
following words...
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Very clearly these verses
tell us that the tithe is holy
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and that the tithe belongs to
the Lord in a very special way.
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Now the question is,
what was the tithe system
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established for?
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Okay, ten percent of our income
is in a special way God's.
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And God has given that as a
test to see if we recognize Him
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as the owner of
everything that we possess.
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But what was the money
of the tithe to be used for?
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Turn with me to Numbers
chapter 18 and verse 20.
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You see, Israel was composed
of twelve tribes, as we know.
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And there was one of
those tribes, the tribe of Levi,
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that did not receive
any inheritance in the land
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of Canaan.
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In other words, every tribe
of Israel got a portion of land
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to distribute among
the different families.
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But the tribe of
Levi received no land.
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They received no inheritance
in the land of Canaan
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when Israel
entered the Promised Land.
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So the question is, how were the
Levites to sustain themselves?
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Notice Numbers chapter 18
verse 20 where we are told
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that they
received no inheritance.
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It says there...
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So God is saying,
"I am the inheritance
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of Aaron and
also of the Levites.
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Because you received no plot
of land in the land of Canaan."
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Now, what were the
tithes given to Aaron
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and to the Levites for?
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Notice Numbers chapter 18
verse 21, the very next verse.
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Here God is
speaking, and He says...
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Now let's stop
there for a minute.
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Who gave the Levites the tithe?
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God gave the Levites the tithe.
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So who paid the Levites?
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God did.
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You know, it has become
very common in the church today
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for people to withhold tithe
if they don't like the pastor.
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Because they say,
"We pay your salary."
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The fact is that this text
tells us that the church members
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do not pay the
salary of the pastor.
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God pays the
salary of the pastor.
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This text says it very clearly.
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Now notice the reason why.
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It continues saying...
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In other words, they met
the spiritual needs of Israel.
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And because they
were employed fulltime
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in meeting the needs,
spiritual needs, of Israel,
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Israel was suppose
to bring the tithes,
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and God paid the
Levites with the tithes.
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Now I would like you to
notice also Numbers chapter 18
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and verse 24.
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Once again, the same concept
is expressed all over again.
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It says here...
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Notice the idea once again.
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So who gave the
Levites the tithe?
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Yes, the church
members brought their tithes
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to the Sanctuary, to the temple,
but really God was paying them
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for the spiritual
service that they rendered
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to the congregation of Israel.
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Now there's an
interesting detail there
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in Numbers chapter 18, and
that is that even the Levites
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tithed the tithe.
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Notice what we find
in Leviticus chapter 18
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and verse 26.
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Leviticus
chapter 18 and verse 26.
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It says here, "Speak thus
to the Levites and say to them,
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'When you take from the
children of Israel the tithes
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which I have given you...'"
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Notice once again the same idea.
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"...which I have given you
from them as your inheritance,
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then you shall offer up a heave
offering of it to the Lord,
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a tenth of the tithe."
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So notice once again that
not only was the congregation
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to tithe, but the Levites
were suppose to tithe the tithe.
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Basically, the reason
why is because the Levites
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were the ministers of Israel
and they were suppose to give
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a good example.
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How can a minister ask
the congregation to tithe
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if the minister is
not faithful in tithing?
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The pastor is to be
an example to his flock.
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And so we're told that the
ministers in the Sanctuary,
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the Levites, had to
offer a tithe of the tithe.
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Now the question is, what if
the priesthood became corrupt?
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Well, the Bible tells us
that there were periods when
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the priesthood of
Israel was very corrupt.
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And the congregation would
be tempted, probably, to say,
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"Why should we take our tithes
for those guys to earn a living
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if they're in apostasy?"
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Let's notice one of those
examples of apostasy in Israel.
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Malachi chapter 1 and verse 6,
and then we will read verse 8.
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Malachi chapter 1
and we'll read verse 6,
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and then we'll
jump down to verse 8.
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Here, God...
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Actually, the book of Malachi,
God is complaining a lot
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about the apostasy of Israel.
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This is what He says...
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The Bible says that
they were suppose to offer
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unblemished sacrifices.
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They were taking
advantage and saying,
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"Oh, let's offer this blind one.
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We can't sell it
for a good price,
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so let's offer it to the Lord."
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So they were offering lame,
sick, and blind sacrifices.
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They despised
the name of the Lord,
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and they did not reverence Him.
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In fact, they didn't
even teach the people the law.
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They weren't preaching what they
were suppose to be preaching.
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Notice Malachi
chapter 2 and verses 7 and 8.
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Malachi chapter
2 verses 7 and 8.
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Here, God is
indicting the priesthood
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with the following words,
"For the lips of a priest..."
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If you continue
reading the book of Malachi,
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you're going to notice
that the people were in a
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deplorable spiritual condition.
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And much of the
guilt was with the priests
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who were not teaching and
preaching what they should have,
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and they were
offering, as I mentioned,
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lame and sick sacrifices,
blind sacrifices, and so on.
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So you might have
expected God to say,
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"Don't pay those
preachers with the tithe.
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They don't deserve it."
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But the interesting
thing is that in that very book
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of Malachi, where you
have all of this description
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of a problematic priesthood,
God had some very interesting
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things to say about the tithe.
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Notice Malachi
chapter 3 and verse 7.
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Malachi chapter 3 and verse 7.
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It says here, "Yet from
the days of your fathers,
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you have gone
away from My ordinances
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and have not kept them."
00:14:05.24\00:14:07.08
And then God calls upon Israel.
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He says, "'Return to Me
and I will return to you,'
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says the Lord of hosts.
00:14:15.55\00:14:17.41
But you said, 'In
what way shall we return?'"
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And now comes an
interesting passage.
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God is going to tell them in
which way they need to return.
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Incidentally, that word,
"return," is the same word
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that is translated, "converted,"
in the Old Testament.
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In other words, God is calling
for a true conversion experience
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from His people who have
made it a custom to go astray.
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Now notice how God
answers the question,
00:14:43.24\00:14:45.73
"In what way shall we return?"
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Malachi chapter 3
and verses 8 and 9.
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This is very solemn.
00:14:52.54\00:14:53.97
Is it possible to rob God?
00:14:58.76\00:15:00.38
You better believe it.
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So one of the things that
they weren't doing was tithing
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the way that was required.
00:15:29.16\00:15:30.93
So you have a
corrupt priesthood,
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and you have people
who are not tithing.
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And perhaps they're
not tithing because the
00:15:37.15\00:15:39.63
priesthood is corrupt.
00:15:39.66\00:15:41.65
But now I want you to
notice what God has to say.
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He doesn't say, "Don't bring
your tithes to the Sanctuary.
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Because those
corrupt priests, you know,
00:15:49.16\00:15:51.08
they're not doing their job.
00:15:51.11\00:15:52.29
Just hang on to it."
00:15:52.39\00:15:53.64
No.
00:15:53.67\00:15:54.72
Even after talking
about the apostasy of Israel,
00:15:54.84\00:15:57.31
that they were robbing God
in their tithes and offerings,
00:15:57.34\00:15:59.61
notice what God had to say.
00:15:59.64\00:16:01.20
Malachi chapter 3 and verse 10.
00:16:01.40\00:16:03.62
So what does
God tell His people?
00:16:28.11\00:16:30.19
Even His people who are
not tithing and they have a
00:16:30.39\00:16:34.44
corrupt priesthood that
is serving in the Sanctuary?
00:16:34.47\00:16:36.93
Is God saying, "Don't tithe."
00:16:36.96\00:16:38.52
No, He's saying, "You need
to bring all of your tithes
00:16:38.55\00:16:42.65
and offerings
to the storehouse."
00:16:42.68\00:16:45.38
Incidentally, the storehouse
is a place in the temple
00:16:45.82\00:16:50.52
where the sacrifices and
where the tithes were brought
00:16:50.55\00:16:54.79
and they were stored in
order to pay the Levites
00:16:55.28\00:16:58.46
for their service.
00:16:58.49\00:16:59.64
Notice 1 Chronicles chapter 26
and verse 20 on this idea that
00:16:59.67\00:17:03.73
in the house of the
Lord there was a treasury.
00:17:03.76\00:17:05.94
In other words, they were to
bring their tithes and offerings
00:17:05.97\00:17:07.99
to the temple, to the Sanctuary.
00:17:08.02\00:17:10.57
It says there in 1 Chronicles
chapter 26 and verse 20,
00:17:10.67\00:17:14.11
"Of the Levites, Ahijah
was over the treasuries of the
00:17:14.71\00:17:20.76
house of God and
over the treasuries
00:17:20.79\00:17:24.16
of the dedicated things."
00:17:24.19\00:17:25.87
The dedicated things are
the holy things that Israel
00:17:25.90\00:17:29.39
brought to the Sanctuary.
00:17:29.42\00:17:30.97
And so there was a
place in the Sanctuary
00:17:31.55\00:17:34.35
where the tithes were
stored to remunerate the Levites
00:17:34.55\00:17:38.86
for the service
that they rendered
00:17:38.89\00:17:40.85
to the children of Israel.
00:17:40.88\00:17:42.39
Now it's common for
many Christians to say,
00:17:43.11\00:17:45.37
"Well Pastor Bohr, wasn't
the tithe for the Old Testament?
00:17:45.67\00:17:50.75
Wasn't the tithe for Israel?"
00:17:50.78\00:17:52.58
You know it's interesting,
anything that demands
00:17:52.69\00:17:54.70
a sacrifice, Christians today
say, "That was for the Jews."
00:17:54.73\00:17:59.65
For example, keeping
the Sabbath, they say,
00:18:00.44\00:18:02.96
"Oh, a whole day?
I can't go shopping?
00:18:02.99\00:18:04.90
I can't watch basketball
and I can't watch football?
00:18:04.93\00:18:07.92
No, the Sabbath
was for the Jews."
00:18:08.12\00:18:11.15
And then you speak to
them about healthful living;
00:18:11.70\00:18:13.82
not eating pork and
shrimp and lobster, they say,
00:18:13.85\00:18:16.68
"No, no, no.
That was for the Jews.
00:18:16.88\00:18:19.02
They had a different
digestive system than we do."
00:18:19.05\00:18:21.69
And then you
have here, "The tithe?
00:18:23.35\00:18:25.70
Returning ten percent to
the Lord to show that the
00:18:25.73\00:18:28.48
Lord is the owner?
00:18:28.51\00:18:29.65
Nah, that was for Jews."
00:18:29.68\00:18:32.16
And so Christians say,
"All you need to do is believe.
00:18:32.84\00:18:36.05
Don't worry about
keeping the Sabbath,
00:18:36.32\00:18:38.11
don't worry about
tithing, don't worry about what
00:18:38.14\00:18:40.60
you eat and what you drink.
00:18:40.63\00:18:42.04
It doesn't make any difference.
00:18:42.07\00:18:43.54
Just believe in the
Lord, you and your house,
00:18:43.57\00:18:46.13
and you will be saved."
00:18:46.16\00:18:48.06
Now does the New Testament
re-enact the idea that the
00:18:49.72\00:18:52.73
tithe is to go to remunerate
the ministry for their
00:18:52.76\00:18:57.30
fulltime work in
the cause of God?
00:18:57.33\00:18:59.33
Go with me to 1 Corinthians.
00:18:59.59\00:19:01.60
This is a very
interesting passage in the
00:19:01.63\00:19:04.28
New Testament
written by the apostle Paul.
00:19:04.31\00:19:07.21
1 Corinthians chapter 9.
00:19:07.41\00:19:08.99
And I believe that this
is the most powerful passage
00:19:09.02\00:19:11.55
on tithing that we
find in the New Testament.
00:19:11.58\00:19:13.93
1 Corinthians chapter 9,
and I want to begin by reading
00:19:14.31\00:19:17.89
verses 1 to 3.
00:19:17.92\00:19:19.69
Basically, the gist of these
verses is that the apostle Paul
00:19:20.59\00:19:23.62
is saying that the fruit of
his labor are the Corinthians.
00:19:23.65\00:19:28.21
They're the proof that God
has called him as an apostle,
00:19:28.24\00:19:31.55
that God has
called him as a minister.
00:19:31.58\00:19:33.79
Let's read verses 1 to 3.
00:19:34.18\00:19:36.94
Here the apostle Paul says...
00:19:37.17\00:19:38.73
In other words,
he's worked to win the
00:19:50.74\00:19:52.25
Corinthians to the gospel.
00:19:52.28\00:19:54.33
In other words, there were
individuals who were criticizing
00:20:08.25\00:20:10.56
Paul saying, "You
weren't called to the ministry."
00:20:10.59\00:20:12.72
Paul is saying,
"The Corinthians,
00:20:12.75\00:20:14.70
the conversion of
the Corinthians and their
00:20:14.73\00:20:16.77
accepting the gospel,
is an evidence that I was
00:20:16.80\00:20:19.34
called as an apostle,
and I was sent to them."
00:20:19.37\00:20:23.20
Now let's go to 1
Corinthians chapter 9
00:20:23.97\00:20:26.86
and verses 4 through 6.
00:20:26.89\00:20:28.59
Now Paul is going to
discuss a very thorny issue.
00:20:28.69\00:20:33.21
It seems like the apostle Paul
and Barnabas were traveling.
00:20:33.73\00:20:37.29
And we know that Paul
had to make tents in order to
00:20:37.49\00:20:40.41
sustain himself.
00:20:40.44\00:20:41.75
And we don't know
exactly what Barnabas did.
00:20:42.10\00:20:44.42
Maybe he helped him
build tents as well.
00:20:44.45\00:20:46.81
But I want you to notice
what the apostle Paul has to say
00:20:47.14\00:20:49.66
in 1 Corinthians chapter
9 and verses 4 through 6.
00:20:49.69\00:20:52.87
Here he says...
00:20:53.13\00:20:54.35
He's talking about
himself and Barnabas.
00:20:58.67\00:21:01.05
In other words, on our trips,
can't we take our wives with us?
00:21:06.67\00:21:10.58
Cephas; that is Peter.
00:21:16.49\00:21:18.13
I like the way
the NIV translates it,
00:21:24.86\00:21:27.15
"Is only Barnabas and I
who must work for a living?"
00:21:27.35\00:21:31.56
In other words, he's
saying, "Is it Barnabas and me
00:21:32.72\00:21:36.05
that cannot benefit from
financial support from the
00:21:36.08\00:21:39.59
church, that we have to work in
order to get financial support?"
00:21:39.62\00:21:43.69
That's what he's saying.
00:21:44.00\00:21:45.03
And then the apostle Paul argues
using four different analogies
00:21:45.74\00:21:50.32
that it is necessary for those
who work in preaching the gospel
00:21:50.52\00:21:55.83
to be remunerated
for their spiritual work.
00:21:55.86\00:21:59.55
Notice 1 Corinthians
chapter 9 and verse 7.
00:21:59.93\00:22:03.26
He's going to
use four analogies.
00:22:03.29\00:22:05.44
He says...
00:22:06.05\00:22:07.11
Imagine the U.S. government
saying, "Now you're going to
00:22:12.29\00:22:15.07
go to war, but you have
to pay for your own food,
00:22:15.10\00:22:18.22
and you have to pay
for your own clothes,
00:22:18.54\00:22:20.63
and you have to pay
for your own lodging,
00:22:20.83\00:22:22.94
and you have to pay
for your own weapons."
00:22:23.14\00:22:25.26
Oh, that would be...
00:22:25.80\00:22:27.41
Nobody would
join the Army, right?
00:22:27.51\00:22:29.50
Nobody would
join the armed forces.
00:22:29.53\00:22:31.63
Because when you serve
in the Army, what happens?
00:22:31.93\00:22:35.05
Everything is provided, because
you're working in the Army.
00:22:35.31\00:22:39.37
Or you're working
in the armed forces.
00:22:39.40\00:22:41.03
And so he says, "Whoever
goes to war at his own expense?"
00:22:41.06\00:22:45.05
Now that's the first example.
00:22:45.25\00:22:46.59
Second example...
00:22:46.62\00:22:47.70
Pretty logical, isn't it.
00:22:53.48\00:22:54.89
Now he gives a third analogy.
00:22:55.25\00:22:57.02
You see the three analogies?
00:23:03.36\00:23:04.93
Going to war.
00:23:04.96\00:23:06.19
The second is
planting a vineyard.
00:23:06.22\00:23:08.09
And the third
is tending a flock.
00:23:08.12\00:23:10.19
And then he gives
the fourth analogy.
00:23:11.12\00:23:13.48
And he amplifies
this one even more.
00:23:13.51\00:23:15.83
1 Corinthians
chapter 9 and verses 8 and 9.
00:23:15.86\00:23:19.24
He says, "Do I say
these things as a mere man?"
00:23:20.21\00:23:23.39
Basically, what he's
saying, "Is this merely my own
00:23:24.05\00:23:26.55
human opinion?"
00:23:26.58\00:23:28.02
Notice what he continues saying.
00:23:28.49\00:23:29.99
In other words, "The
three examples that I've given,
00:23:35.00\00:23:37.04
is that my human opinion?
00:23:37.07\00:23:38.64
Are those just analogies
invented, or does perhaps
00:23:38.67\00:23:42.10
the law also say the same
thing that I'm telling you?"
00:23:42.13\00:23:45.80
Now notice the text
that he's going to refer to;
00:23:46.65\00:23:48.91
Deuteronomy 25 and verse 4.
00:23:48.94\00:23:50.98
He continues
saying in verse 9...
00:23:51.33\00:23:52.92
Why not?
00:24:02.12\00:24:03.15
Because the ox is
working treading the grain,
00:24:03.87\00:24:06.76
and he has a right to what?
00:24:06.79\00:24:08.43
A right to eat of
the grain. Exactly.
00:24:08.67\00:24:11.84
Now notice what
it continues saying.
00:24:12.21\00:24:14.09
"Is it oxen God
is concerned about?"
00:24:14.85\00:24:18.28
In other words, did God
give this law because He was
00:24:18.91\00:24:21.01
so worried about oxen being
able to eat because they work?
00:24:21.04\00:24:25.52
I want you to
notice what he says
00:24:25.62\00:24:27.18
in 1 Corinthians 9 verse 10.
00:24:27.21\00:24:29.37
Because he's going to say,
"This was written not for oxen.
00:24:29.40\00:24:32.61
This was written for us.
00:24:32.68\00:24:34.87
For those who
work in the gospel."
00:24:34.97\00:24:36.97
Because, you see, an
ox is a beast of burden
00:24:37.14\00:24:39.52
and he serves his master.
00:24:39.55\00:24:40.94
And so the apostle Paul
is saying, "We are apostles
00:24:41.48\00:24:44.89
that preach the gospel,
and we serve our Master."
00:24:44.92\00:24:47.93
So this was written not
for the good of oxen alone.
00:24:48.14\00:24:51.24
It was written for
those who preach the gospel.
00:24:51.27\00:24:53.48
Notice what he says in verse 10.
00:24:53.51\00:24:55.52
"Did He say this for oxen,
or does He say it altogether
00:25:00.26\00:25:03.08
for our sakes?"
00:25:03.11\00:25:04.33
And then he
answers his own question.
00:25:04.36\00:25:06.02
What is the
apostle Paul saying here?
00:25:20.52\00:25:22.24
He's saying that an individual
who preaches the gospel
00:25:22.50\00:25:25.47
should be what?
00:25:25.50\00:25:26.69
Should be
remunerated, because of the work
00:25:26.72\00:25:29.79
that he performs by
preaching the gospel.
00:25:29.82\00:25:32.60
Now notice 1 Corinthians 9:11-12
where he continues his argument
00:25:32.94\00:25:37.43
and he makes it very clear.
00:25:37.46\00:25:38.84
He says, "If we," that
is the apostles who preach.
00:25:39.13\00:25:42.23
Are you
understanding what he's saying?
00:25:50.76\00:25:52.09
In other words, "If we
serve your spiritual needs,
00:25:52.19\00:25:54.98
is it too much to ask
you to supply our material
00:25:55.21\00:25:58.94
or our physical needs?"
00:25:59.28\00:26:00.64
Verse 12...
00:26:00.67\00:26:01.79
Notice that
it's not a privilege.
00:26:12.26\00:26:13.78
It is a what?
00:26:13.81\00:26:15.20
It is a right, according to him.
00:26:15.23\00:26:17.57
So he says in verse 12...
00:26:17.60\00:26:18.81
Now the next two verses
are critically important.
00:26:36.87\00:26:38.94
Have you understood
his argument so far?
00:26:38.97\00:26:40.63
Now the next two
verses are really crucial,
00:26:41.13\00:26:43.92
because they deal
with the Sanctuary.
00:26:43.95\00:26:46.03
And this is a
series on the Sanctuary.
00:26:46.13\00:26:48.30
He's going to take what
happened with the Levites
00:26:49.05\00:26:52.13
and he's going to apply it
to those who preach the gospel
00:26:52.64\00:26:55.97
in New Testament times.
00:26:56.00\00:26:58.01
Notice 1 Corinthians
chapter 9 and verse 13.
00:26:58.42\00:27:02.41
He says...
00:27:03.00\00:27:04.03
Who were the ones who
ministered the holy things?
00:27:10.96\00:27:13.42
The priests, the Levites.
00:27:14.40\00:27:16.68
Is that talking about
the tithes that were brought?
00:27:23.56\00:27:25.44
Absolutely.
00:27:25.64\00:27:26.70
Notice...
00:27:26.73\00:27:27.77
Who were the ones
who served at the altar?
00:27:30.07\00:27:31.93
The priests.
00:27:32.28\00:27:33.35
Now listen
carefully, "Even so..."
00:27:39.97\00:27:42.60
What does, "Even so," mean?
00:27:42.63\00:27:44.01
In the same way as back there.
00:27:44.95\00:27:48.28
"...the Lord has recommended..."
00:27:48.83\00:27:51.62
"...the Lord has suggested..."
00:27:53.73\00:27:56.04
It doesn't say the Lord
has recommended or suggested.
00:27:57.43\00:28:00.88
It says, "The
Lord has commanded..."
00:28:00.91\00:28:04.80
Is he saying that the tithe is
also a New Testament principle?
00:28:15.17\00:28:20.35
He's saying very
clearly that the tithe is also
00:28:20.69\00:28:24.27
a New Testament principle.
00:28:24.30\00:28:25.77
And if you continue
reading, we're not going to
00:28:25.80\00:28:27.62
do it right now, you can
read verses 15 through 18,
00:28:27.65\00:28:30.46
the apostle Paul basically
says, "You know, I have not
00:28:30.66\00:28:35.34
asked for this
right to be applied to me.
00:28:35.37\00:28:38.02
I build tents.
00:28:38.74\00:28:39.99
And the reason why is
because if I receive money
00:28:40.02\00:28:43.09
for preaching the
gospel, my enemies would say
00:28:43.12\00:28:46.29
that I'm in
preaching for the money."
00:28:46.32\00:28:48.71
So he said, "I am a
self-supporting missionary."
00:28:49.44\00:28:52.45
But he says, "That doesn't mean
that all who preach the gospel
00:28:53.04\00:28:55.81
must be
self-supporting missionaries."
00:28:55.84\00:28:58.23
Because he very clearly says
that those who share the gospel
00:28:58.33\00:29:03.28
should live from the gospel.
00:29:03.31\00:29:04.83
And that was
done from the tithe.
00:29:04.86\00:29:07.61
Now it's very interesting to
notice that the book of Hebrews
00:29:08.77\00:29:12.22
tells us that the
tithe, or the priesthood rather
00:29:12.25\00:29:16.77
of the Levites was abolished
when Jesus died at the cross.
00:29:17.30\00:29:21.77
And so some Christians
say, "Well, if the priesthood
00:29:23.41\00:29:25.69
was abolished at the
cross, that must mean
00:29:25.72\00:29:28.50
that the tithing that
remunerated the priests
00:29:28.53\00:29:32.46
was also done away with."
00:29:32.49\00:29:34.30
Now let's read those
texts that speak about
00:29:34.63\00:29:36.69
the Levitical
priesthood coming to an end.
00:29:37.05\00:29:40.36
Hebrews chapter 7
and verses 18 and 19.
00:29:40.62\00:29:44.29
Hebrews chapter 7
and verses 18 and 19.
00:29:44.59\00:29:48.42
It's comparing the New Testament
system with Christ having
00:29:48.68\00:29:52.01
arrived, and the
Old Testament system
00:29:52.04\00:29:53.88
of offerings and sacrifices.
00:29:53.91\00:29:56.20
Here it says...
00:29:56.30\00:29:57.33
And if you read the
context, it's talking about the
00:30:02.87\00:30:04.72
commandments
concerning the priests.
00:30:04.75\00:30:07.02
Not the commandments
of God in Exodus 20.
00:30:07.05\00:30:10.01
When it says there, "the law,"
once again read the context.
00:30:20.33\00:30:23.40
It's speaking about
the law of the priesthood.
00:30:23.43\00:30:25.31
So what happened with the old
system, the old commandments,
00:30:35.22\00:30:37.92
having to do
with the priesthood?
00:30:37.95\00:30:39.47
They were what?
00:30:39.50\00:30:40.68
They were annulled
because of their weakness
00:30:40.71\00:30:44.25
and unprofitableness.
00:30:44.28\00:30:46.17
Numbers chapter 18 and verse
21 makes it very clear that
00:30:46.90\00:30:50.27
it was the Levites who were
suppose to receive the tithe.
00:30:50.30\00:30:52.87
Let's read that again,
because it's very important.
00:30:52.90\00:30:55.72
It says, "Behold, I have
given the children of Levi..."
00:30:56.07\00:30:59.79
Now, the argument that is
used by many Christians is this:
00:31:08.99\00:31:13.49
The Levitical
priesthood was done away with
00:31:14.24\00:31:17.72
when Jesus died at the cross.
00:31:17.75\00:31:19.49
And because the Levitical
priesthood was done away with
00:31:20.14\00:31:23.13
when Jesus died at the
cross, the funds that people
00:31:23.16\00:31:26.98
were to bring to
remunerate that priesthood
00:31:27.01\00:31:29.92
also were done
away at the cross.
00:31:29.95\00:31:32.78
Now let me ask you, does
that sound pretty logical?
00:31:32.81\00:31:35.80
It sounds very logical to me.
00:31:36.41\00:31:38.36
I don't know if it does to you.
00:31:38.80\00:31:40.34
But if the Levitical priesthood
is no longer functioning
00:31:40.54\00:31:43.90
because it was done away with,
then it would stand to reason
00:31:43.93\00:31:47.30
that the tithes that
people brought to sustain that
00:31:47.33\00:31:50.67
priesthood no
longer have to be brought.
00:31:50.70\00:31:54.27
Now, I see some
eyebrows rising, and you say,
00:31:54.47\00:31:56.78
"Pastor Bohr, are you saying
that we don't have to tithe?"
00:31:56.81\00:31:59.20
Not at all.
00:31:59.23\00:32:00.31
I'm using the argument
that many Christians use.
00:32:01.09\00:32:04.94
But now I'm going to show
you biblically that even though
00:32:05.54\00:32:09.02
the Levitical
priesthood came to an end,
00:32:09.05\00:32:11.42
and there were no
Levite priests anymore,
00:32:11.81\00:32:14.61
that the tithing
principle still endures.
00:32:14.64\00:32:18.85
And now listen carefully
to the line of reasoning
00:32:19.50\00:32:21.96
that I'm going to use.
00:32:22.16\00:32:23.27
We're going to go first of
all to Genesis, and then we are
00:32:23.30\00:32:26.97
going to go to the
book of Hebrews and examine
00:32:27.00\00:32:29.34
something very interesting.
00:32:29.37\00:32:31.51
Now let's go to
Genesis chapter 14.
00:32:33.70\00:32:36.51
And you say,
"What could Genesis 14
00:32:37.28\00:32:39.71
have to do with tithing?"
00:32:39.74\00:32:41.26
It has a lot to do with tithing.
00:32:41.29\00:32:43.37
Now, the story that we
find in Genesis chapter 14
00:32:44.16\00:32:47.87
is being written or
is actually taking place
00:32:48.58\00:32:51.77
500 years before the Levitical
priesthood was established.
00:32:52.12\00:32:57.73
That is an important point.
00:32:58.36\00:33:00.15
It's happening
between 1900 and 2000 BC.
00:33:00.71\00:33:05.33
The Levitical
priesthood was established
00:33:06.08\00:33:07.80
around the year 1445 BC.
00:33:07.83\00:33:10.29
So this is about 500 years
before the Levitical priesthood,
00:33:10.32\00:33:13.87
this story that we're going to
take a look at, is taking place.
00:33:13.90\00:33:17.84
Now the story of Genesis
chapter 14 is that four kings
00:33:18.04\00:33:21.32
allied themselves to go
fight against the king of Sodom.
00:33:21.35\00:33:26.33
And of course,
in Sodom, who lived?
00:33:26.36\00:33:28.77
Lot lived in Sodom.
00:33:29.18\00:33:30.70
And so these four
kings joined forces,
00:33:30.91\00:33:34.70
they went to Sodom,
they conquered the city.
00:33:34.73\00:33:37.70
They took
captives, including Lot,
00:33:38.13\00:33:41.67
and they looted the cities
and took all of the possessions
00:33:41.70\00:33:45.07
from the cities.
00:33:45.10\00:33:46.54
Now when Abraham
heard about this, he said,
00:33:47.44\00:33:50.49
"I have to go and
I have to rescue Lot.
00:33:50.81\00:33:54.93
And I also have to get all
of those possessions back."
00:33:54.96\00:33:58.28
And so he gathered 318 choice
men, very carefully chosen,
00:33:58.80\00:34:06.66
to go and battle
against those four kings
00:34:06.81\00:34:10.03
to get back Lot and the loot.
00:34:10.23\00:34:13.44
Now, he was successful.
00:34:15.69\00:34:17.93
He overcame these kings.
00:34:18.82\00:34:20.65
He got Lot back.
00:34:21.14\00:34:23.03
He acquired all of the
possessions back again.
00:34:23.37\00:34:26.31
And on his way back, something
very interesting happened.
00:34:26.67\00:34:32.44
He met on the way
a mysterious figure
00:34:33.41\00:34:38.75
that seems to
appear and then disappear
00:34:39.73\00:34:42.76
from the biblical record.
00:34:43.35\00:34:44.89
The name of this
individual was Melchizedek.
00:34:45.38\00:34:48.53
Let's read about this in
Genesis chapter 14 and verse 18.
00:34:49.77\00:34:54.43
Very interesting that
there was a priesthood
00:34:56.98\00:34:59.77
before the priesthood of Levi.
00:34:59.80\00:35:02.56
It was the
priesthood of Melchizedek.
00:35:02.79\00:35:05.53
Now notice...
00:35:05.83\00:35:06.96
Isn't that interesting.
00:35:14.69\00:35:16.18
When do we use bread and wine?
00:35:16.21\00:35:18.70
We use bread and
wine at communion.
00:35:19.34\00:35:21.27
This is apparently
a communion service,
00:35:21.30\00:35:24.22
at least in figure or in type.
00:35:24.25\00:35:26.64
And so it says, "Then
Melchizedek, king of Salem,
00:35:26.84\00:35:29.25
brought out bread and wine."
00:35:29.28\00:35:31.30
And it says, "He
was the..." What?
00:35:31.60\00:35:34.09
"...the priest
of Most High God."
00:35:34.26\00:35:38.03
Question, was there a priesthood
before the Levitical priesthood?
00:35:38.06\00:35:42.39
There was a priesthood
before the Levitical priesthood.
00:35:42.72\00:35:46.31
Now let's notice how the
story continues developing.
00:35:47.06\00:35:49.96
Remember, this is
happening 500 years before
00:35:49.99\00:35:53.27
the Levitical
priesthood is established.
00:35:53.30\00:35:55.55
Let's go to verse 19.
00:35:55.58\00:35:58.02
It says there in verse 19,
speaking about Melchizedek,
00:35:58.67\00:36:02.82
"And he blessed him..."
00:36:03.02\00:36:04.94
Melchizedek blessed Abraham.
00:36:05.28\00:36:07.47
How is the Most High spoken of?
00:36:21.75\00:36:24.19
He is the what?
00:36:24.46\00:36:25.66
He is the possessor
of heaven and earth.
00:36:25.92\00:36:28.72
It means that He is the
owner of heaven and earth.
00:36:28.75\00:36:33.06
Interesting that
Melchizedek would introduce
00:36:33.54\00:36:38.26
the Most High God who
is the possessor and owner
00:36:38.52\00:36:42.74
of everything.
00:36:42.77\00:36:43.95
Now the question
is, what did Abraham do
00:36:44.23\00:36:47.54
when Melchizedek
blessed him and when Melchizedek
00:36:47.57\00:36:51.43
said that he
represented the Most High God,
00:36:51.46\00:36:53.83
he was a priest
of the Most High God,
00:36:53.86\00:36:55.99
and that God was the
possessor of heaven and earth?
00:36:56.33\00:37:00.43
What did Abraham immediately
feel like he had to do?
00:37:00.46\00:37:03.67
Absolutely.
00:37:05.14\00:37:06.54
Notice what we find in
Genesis chapter 14 and verse 20.
00:37:06.57\00:37:10.76
It says...
00:37:11.25\00:37:12.29
Still Melchizedek speaking.
00:37:17.42\00:37:18.85
And now
speaking about Abraham...
00:37:23.56\00:37:25.41
Did Abraham recognize that
because God is the possessor
00:37:31.54\00:37:35.99
of heaven and earth, he needed
to return a faithful tithe
00:37:36.02\00:37:39.99
to the high priest, Melchizedek?
00:37:40.09\00:37:42.84
Absolutely.
00:37:42.94\00:37:44.06
So did the priesthood exist
before the Levitical priesthood?
00:37:44.26\00:37:47.68
Yes.
00:37:47.78\00:37:48.81
Did tithing exist before
the Levitical priesthood?
00:37:48.84\00:37:52.84
Absolutely.
00:37:52.87\00:37:53.97
It's not part of the Mosaic law.
00:37:54.18\00:37:56.59
It pre-dates the Mosaic
law, according to Scripture.
00:37:56.85\00:38:00.63
Now, what does the priesthood
of Melchizedek represent?
00:38:01.22\00:38:07.32
You know, it's interesting
that Jesus was from which tribe?
00:38:07.68\00:38:11.86
He was from the tribe of Judah.
00:38:12.84\00:38:14.46
Did Jesus have a right
to be High Priest if He was
00:38:14.49\00:38:18.33
from the tribe of Judah?
00:38:18.36\00:38:19.96
Absolutely not.
00:38:20.06\00:38:21.11
He had the right to be what?
00:38:21.14\00:38:22.95
King, but not Priest.
00:38:23.30\00:38:25.14
So Jesus could not be Priest,
according to the order of Aaron.
00:38:25.74\00:38:29.56
Because that was
the tribe of Levi.
00:38:30.01\00:38:31.92
So Jesus could not be a Priest
according to the order of Aaron.
00:38:32.54\00:38:36.00
He had to be Priest
from a different order.
00:38:36.37\00:38:38.94
And what order is
Jesus a Priest after?
00:38:39.95\00:38:42.59
He's after the
order of Melchizedek.
00:38:43.14\00:38:45.52
You see, Melchizedek gives
Him the right to be a Priest,
00:38:45.55\00:38:48.56
and Judah gives Him
the right to be King.
00:38:49.18\00:38:51.74
Are you with me or not?
00:38:51.77\00:38:52.91
Now, let's notice
Psalm 110 and verse 4
00:38:53.24\00:38:57.71
where we find another
reference to Melchizedek
00:38:58.01\00:39:03.26
and his priesthood, and
how long that priesthood
00:39:03.29\00:39:05.98
was going to last.
00:39:06.01\00:39:07.04
Did the priesthood of
the Levites come to an end,
00:39:07.30\00:39:09.97
yes or no?
00:39:10.00\00:39:11.09
Does the priesthood of
Melchizedek ever come to an end?
00:39:11.12\00:39:14.47
No.
00:39:14.50\00:39:15.58
Notice what we find
in Psalm 110 and verse 4.
00:39:15.61\00:39:20.90
A priest for how long?
00:39:27.61\00:39:28.96
Forever, according
to the order of Aaron.
00:39:29.24\00:39:32.25
No. According to
the order of who?
00:39:32.55\00:39:35.08
Of Melchizedek.
00:39:35.11\00:39:37.04
The question is, in
whom is this psalm fulfilled,
00:39:37.31\00:39:40.38
and with whom?
00:39:40.41\00:39:41.52
Go with me to Hebrews
chapter 6 verses 19 and 20.
00:39:42.13\00:39:45.44
Hebrews chapter 6
and verses 19 and 20.
00:39:46.03\00:39:49.56
Here, the apostle
Paul, whom I believe to be
00:39:50.49\00:39:53.83
behind the book of
Hebrews, says this,
00:39:53.86\00:39:56.64
"This hope we have as
an anchor of the soul,
00:39:56.67\00:40:00.65
both sure and steadfast,
and which enters the Presence
00:40:01.26\00:40:06.11
behind the veil, where the
forerunner has entered for us,
00:40:06.14\00:40:11.85
even Jesus, having become High
Priest forever according to the
00:40:11.88\00:40:18.35
order of Melchizedek."
00:40:18.38\00:40:21.78
Notice another reference.
00:40:22.01\00:40:23.24
There are many
references to this same verse,
00:40:23.27\00:40:25.42
Psalm 110 and
verse 4, in Hebrews.
00:40:25.45\00:40:27.67
But let's read only one more.
00:40:27.70\00:40:29.70
Hebrews 7 and verse 17.
00:40:29.94\00:40:33.14
Speaking about Jesus, it says...
00:40:33.34\00:40:35.54
So you have the priesthood
of Levi, which received tithes.
00:40:44.56\00:40:49.58
And that
priesthood came to an end.
00:40:49.71\00:40:51.95
But you have another priesthood,
which is the priesthood of
00:40:52.30\00:40:55.33
Melchizedek, and that
priesthood lasts forever.
00:40:55.36\00:41:00.41
Was there tithing
under both priesthoods?
00:41:00.73\00:41:03.88
Yes, there was tithing
under the priesthood of Aaron,
00:41:04.08\00:41:07.53
which came to an end.
00:41:07.56\00:41:08.67
But there was also tithing
under the priesthood of whom?
00:41:08.70\00:41:12.55
Of Melchizedek.
00:41:12.58\00:41:13.97
So is the tithe principle
something that pre-dates
00:41:14.34\00:41:18.43
the Levitical system?
00:41:18.46\00:41:19.88
Is it something that
we need to do forever?
00:41:20.09\00:41:23.54
Absolutely, because the
priesthood of Christ is forever.
00:41:23.57\00:41:26.71
Now, the argument of
Hebrews 7 is very tricky.
00:41:27.31\00:41:31.55
So allow me to
just go through this.
00:41:32.68\00:41:35.43
I'm going to go
through it slowly so that
00:41:35.46\00:41:37.72
you can understand it.
00:41:37.75\00:41:39.22
If you read Hebrews 7
verses 4 through 10...
00:41:40.55\00:41:43.37
This is the line of argument.
00:41:43.40\00:41:44.64
We don't usually argue
this way in our world today.
00:41:44.67\00:41:47.85
But this is inspired
Scripture, and we can trust it.
00:41:48.57\00:41:52.23
Basically, the idea is this:
00:41:52.47\00:41:54.57
Melchizedek was
greater than Abraham
00:41:54.93\00:41:57.80
for two reasons.
00:41:58.30\00:41:59.65
Number one, Melchizedek
was greater than Abraham
00:41:59.96\00:42:02.80
because Abraham blessed him.
00:42:02.83\00:42:05.32
And the one who
blesses is greater than the
00:42:05.35\00:42:07.27
one who is blessed.
00:42:07.30\00:42:08.62
That's number one.
00:42:08.65\00:42:09.79
Number two, Melchizedek
is greater than Abraham
00:42:10.29\00:42:14.59
because Abraham gave
Melchizedek the tithes.
00:42:14.69\00:42:18.12
Are you understanding this?
00:42:18.93\00:42:20.40
So in two ways Melchizedek
is greater than Abraham.
00:42:20.43\00:42:23.72
Number one, because
Melchizedek blessed Abraham;
00:42:23.75\00:42:27.69
and the one who
blesses is greater.
00:42:27.72\00:42:29.41
And number two is that
Melchizedek received the
00:42:29.44\00:42:34.03
tithes from Abraham, and
not the other way around.
00:42:34.06\00:42:37.16
Now, listen carefully.
00:42:37.60\00:42:39.40
Was Levi a
descendent of Abraham?
00:42:40.22\00:42:43.28
Sure, Levi was the son of whom?
00:42:44.66\00:42:47.24
The son of Jacob. And
Jacob was the son of whom?
00:42:47.75\00:42:50.54
The son of Isaac. And
Isaac was the son of whom?
00:42:51.61\00:42:54.51
The son of Abraham.
00:42:54.80\00:42:56.03
Now listen carefully
to the line of argument.
00:42:56.33\00:42:58.51
Levi was in the loins
of Abraham, because he's a
00:42:59.91\00:43:04.54
descendent of Abraham, when
Abraham tithed to Melchizedek.
00:43:04.57\00:43:09.55
Now we don't usually
argue that way, but that's the
00:43:10.33\00:43:12.75
way that the argument goes.
00:43:12.78\00:43:14.02
See, because Levi
descends from Abraham,
00:43:14.05\00:43:17.01
when Abraham gave
Melchizedek the tithes,
00:43:17.33\00:43:20.14
Levi was giving the
tithes to Melchizedek.
00:43:20.17\00:43:22.72
So whose priesthood is greater?
00:43:23.17\00:43:24.85
The priesthood of Melchizedek.
00:43:25.85\00:43:27.30
But the argument continues.
00:43:27.33\00:43:29.19
Therefore, when Abraham
gave the tithe to Melchizedek,
00:43:29.54\00:43:32.88
Levi was giving the
tithe to Melchizedek
00:43:33.36\00:43:36.46
through the
instrumentality of Abraham.
00:43:36.49\00:43:38.64
Because the Levites gave
the tithes to Melchizedek
00:43:39.59\00:43:43.01
through Abraham, and Abraham
was blessed by Melchizedek,
00:43:43.04\00:43:47.05
the priesthood of Melchizedek
is greater than the priesthood
00:43:47.38\00:43:50.82
of the Levites.
00:43:50.85\00:43:51.95
Were you able to follow that?
00:43:53.70\00:43:55.34
A very important
line of argument.
00:43:55.54\00:43:57.23
And so, the tithe
today is still binding.
00:43:57.60\00:44:02.80
Because there is a
priesthood that is greater
00:44:03.36\00:44:05.90
than the
priesthood of the Levites.
00:44:05.93\00:44:07.88
It's still a priesthood.
00:44:08.15\00:44:09.64
It's the priesthood of Christ.
00:44:09.67\00:44:11.57
And there is also
tithing in connection with it
00:44:12.05\00:44:15.09
because Melchizedek, in the
Old Testament, received what?
00:44:15.12\00:44:19.00
He received the tithes.
00:44:19.10\00:44:20.73
So is the tithe principle still
binding for Christians today?
00:44:20.76\00:44:25.19
It most
certainly is still binding.
00:44:25.44\00:44:27.24
Not necessarily
according to the order of Aaron,
00:44:27.52\00:44:31.13
but according to
the order of whom?
00:44:31.50\00:44:33.64
According to the
order of Melchizedek,
00:44:33.67\00:44:36.32
which is a greater priesthood
than the priesthood of Levi.
00:44:36.35\00:44:40.36
Now let me talk a
little bit about the tithe
00:44:41.32\00:44:43.01
in practical terms.
00:44:43.04\00:44:44.63
Fresno Central Church
receives approximately
00:44:45.51\00:44:48.01
1.2 million
dollars in tithe per year.
00:44:48.04\00:44:51.11
But Fresno Central Church
does not hang on to one penny
00:44:52.34\00:44:57.49
of those 1.2 million.
00:44:57.52\00:44:59.21
All of the 1.2 million goes
to our central office in Clovis.
00:44:59.93\00:45:04.24
And the money is used to
remunerate all of the pastors
00:45:05.37\00:45:09.01
in the central California area.
00:45:09.54\00:45:11.48
And some of you are probably
thinking, you're saying,
00:45:12.30\00:45:14.62
"Ha, foul.
00:45:14.65\00:45:16.28
You know, if we have enough
tithe to pay for ten pastors,
00:45:17.52\00:45:20.55
why do we only have two pastors
paid by conference funds?"
00:45:20.58\00:45:24.11
Well let me tell you why.
00:45:24.65\00:45:26.00
And I'm not
complaining about this.
00:45:26.49\00:45:28.24
It's because other churches
don't have enough tithe funds
00:45:28.27\00:45:32.78
to pay for a pastor.
00:45:32.81\00:45:34.14
And so the churches that
have more income as tithe,
00:45:34.71\00:45:39.17
they help the smaller churches
so that the smaller churches
00:45:39.20\00:45:42.78
can have pastoral help.
00:45:42.81\00:45:43.95
Isn't that magnanimous?
00:45:43.98\00:45:45.52
Isn't that God's plan?
00:45:45.81\00:45:47.61
For the strong to help the weak?
00:45:47.82\00:45:50.86
And so Fresno Central
Church does not retain one penny
00:45:51.42\00:45:54.99
of the tithe.
00:45:55.02\00:45:56.10
You say, "Well, how does
the church function then?"
00:45:56.42\00:45:59.39
Let me ask you, can we
rob God in offerings also?
00:45:59.92\00:46:04.42
Let me read you once again
Malachi chapter 3 and verse 8.
00:46:05.18\00:46:09.46
Very important verse.
00:46:09.49\00:46:10.82
Now you're
saying, "If Fresno Central
00:46:24.93\00:46:26.37
doesn't get to
keep any of its tithe,
00:46:26.40\00:46:29.17
how does the
church run financially?"
00:46:30.67\00:46:33.27
Well let me say that
our church has a budget,
00:46:33.30\00:46:36.26
a yearly budget, of
approximately 300,000 dollars.
00:46:36.53\00:46:40.72
That's our yearly budget
at Fresno Central Church.
00:46:40.75\00:46:43.31
But we can't use the
tithe for that because the tithe
00:46:43.34\00:46:45.98
does not stay here.
00:46:46.01\00:46:47.19
We have to pay things such
as, let me give you a list:
00:46:48.90\00:46:51.82
Utilities, insurance,
newsletter, telephone,
00:46:51.85\00:46:54.79
evangelistic materials, phone,
office secretary, custodial,
00:46:54.82\00:46:58.83
grounds, photocopy, Sabbath
School supplies, flowers,
00:46:58.86\00:47:02.96
youth ministries, pathfinders,
Vacation Bible School,
00:47:02.99\00:47:05.54
community services,
repairs, school subsidy,
00:47:05.57\00:47:08.51
tuition assistance,
departmental expenses,
00:47:08.54\00:47:11.01
among other things.
00:47:11.04\00:47:12.36
So the question is,
how can Fresno Central
00:47:12.72\00:47:15.02
function financially if we don't
get to keep any of the tithe?
00:47:15.23\00:47:19.60
The answer is simply
that there's a little line
00:47:19.70\00:47:22.57
on your tithe envelope
that says, "Church Budget."
00:47:22.60\00:47:24.98
And that money all stays
at Fresno Central Church.
00:47:25.95\00:47:29.85
Every penny that you give
for church budget stays at
00:47:29.88\00:47:32.16
Fresno Central Church and it's
distributed among all of those
00:47:32.19\00:47:36.29
things that I mentioned
to pay for the expenses
00:47:36.97\00:47:40.55
of Fresno Central Church.
00:47:40.58\00:47:42.00
So when you've
returned your tithe,
00:47:42.03\00:47:44.19
you haven't given a penny.
00:47:44.59\00:47:46.41
Because that's not yours anyway.
00:47:46.70\00:47:48.46
The tithe belongs to the Lord.
00:47:49.33\00:47:50.73
We don't pay
tithe, we return tithe.
00:47:50.76\00:47:53.79
It comes through our
fingers and we return it to God.
00:47:53.82\00:47:56.59
In other words, we're not being
generous by returning the tithe.
00:47:57.84\00:48:01.13
Because the tithe isn't
ours in the first place.
00:48:01.53\00:48:03.88
Are you following me?
00:48:03.91\00:48:04.94
It's in the offerings
where we show our gratitude
00:48:05.47\00:48:09.22
and our thankfulness to God.
00:48:09.42\00:48:11.02
Particularly when we sustain
the ministry of our church.
00:48:11.39\00:48:15.91
Now Fresno Central has
perennially been behind
00:48:16.49\00:48:19.77
in its church budget.
00:48:19.80\00:48:20.92
Sometimes when we get to
the month of October, November,
00:48:21.42\00:48:24.30
our treasurer doesn't
have any fingernails left.
00:48:24.53\00:48:27.48
Because he's been
chewing at his fingernails.
00:48:27.78\00:48:29.70
The same as our
finance committee chair.
00:48:29.73\00:48:31.20
I always tell them, "We
live by faith, not by fright."
00:48:31.23\00:48:35.33
And every year
for the last 15 years
00:48:36.14\00:48:39.17
we've operated in the black.
00:48:39.20\00:48:40.74
I say, "Don't worry about it.
00:48:40.77\00:48:41.94
God's people will come through."
00:48:41.97\00:48:43.34
Because lots of
people settle their accounts
00:48:43.37\00:48:45.43
at the end of the year.
00:48:45.46\00:48:46.49
But we really shouldn't
have to function that way.
00:48:46.52\00:48:48.70
If everybody in the church
contributed a certain percentage
00:48:49.17\00:48:54.17
of their income, not
only the ten percent of tithe,
00:48:54.20\00:48:56.80
but a certain percentage of
their income to church budget,
00:48:56.83\00:48:59.33
we would never be behind.
00:48:59.43\00:49:01.01
We would be in the
black all throughout
00:49:01.45\00:49:04.22
the course of the year.
00:49:04.25\00:49:05.55
But we have a
tendency to procrastinate and
00:49:05.83\00:49:08.41
we have other priorities
other than the priority
00:49:08.44\00:49:12.32
of the house of
God, of the church.
00:49:12.35\00:49:14.68
Now allow me to say a
few things about offerings.
00:49:14.97\00:49:17.31
God wants us to be
disciplined givers.
00:49:17.51\00:49:20.53
He doesn't want us to
do like many people do
00:49:22.06\00:49:24.41
when they see the
elder get up and say,
00:49:24.52\00:49:27.30
"And now it's time to pick
up the tithes and offerings.
00:49:27.33\00:49:29.94
Would the deacons please stand."
00:49:29.97\00:49:31.51
So, "Oh, it's offering time."
00:49:31.54\00:49:33.58
And so you look for coins or
you look for a dollar or two,
00:49:34.35\00:49:38.60
and put it in
the offering plate.
00:49:38.63\00:49:39.89
That is undisciplined giving.
00:49:39.92\00:49:41.74
God does not want
us to give in that way.
00:49:42.81\00:49:45.17
He wants us to
be planned givers.
00:49:45.20\00:49:48.64
Now go with me to 1 Corinthians
chapter 16 verses 1 and 2.
00:49:48.85\00:49:52.28
1 Corinthians chapter
16 and verses 1 and 2.
00:49:52.48\00:49:56.26
Here we have four principles
that I want to share with you
00:49:56.69\00:49:59.36
concerning giving.
00:49:59.39\00:50:00.42
And you know, most Christians
use this to try and prove
00:50:00.45\00:50:02.70
that Sunday is the
day we're suppose to keep.
00:50:02.73\00:50:04.71
It's not teaching that at all.
00:50:05.25\00:50:06.81
It's teaching four
principles of giving.
00:50:06.84\00:50:09.18
Notice what it says.
00:50:09.21\00:50:10.24
Here, the apostle Paul says...
00:50:10.27\00:50:11.84
It's not only the
case of the Corinthians.
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He also spoke to other churches.
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Now notice, "On the
first day of the week..."
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That means, regularly.
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That's the first
principle; regularly.
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"On the first
day of the week..."
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That would be the
first opportunity that they
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would have after working
on Friday and resting on the
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Sabbath to calculate
how much money they had
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earned the week before.
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So it says, "On the
first day of the week..."
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That is, regularly.
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"...let each one of you..."
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That's the second
principle; individually.
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Each one of you.
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"...lay something aside..."
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Principle number
three; privately.
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Don't come to church
and be an emergency giver.
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Do it at home and then
bring it to the church.
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And then it continues saying,
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"...storing up as
he many prosper..."
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That's proportionately.
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The way that
God has blessed you.
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So four principles; regularly,
individually, privately at home,
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and proportionately.
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And he says, "That there be
no collections when I come."
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In other words, "So I don't
have to stand and twist arms
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and beg you to
give money when I come.
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If you do this on a
regular basis, and you do it
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individually, and you
do it proportionately,
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and you do it regularly, when
I come the money will be there.
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And I'll receive the
money to help the saints
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who are needy in Jerusalem."
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Are you
understanding the principles?
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It's just a matter of
making up our minds, folks,
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that we're going to sit
down and we're going to say,
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"Okay, I'm going to give
such and such a percentage
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of my income for church budget."
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Tithe; non-negotiable.
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That is not ours.
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You know, we just decide
to return that to the Lord.
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But in offerings, we need
to pray about it and we need to
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sit down and ask the Lord,
"What have You done for me?
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Well, You've
given me everything.
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You're a wonderful God.
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So let me return to You
in offerings according to
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what You have done for me."
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And then pray to God
and ask God to reveal to you
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what percentage you
should put in for church budget.
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Are you following me?
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Now notice what we find
in 2 Corinthians chapter 9
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verses 6 and 7.
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2 Corinthians
chapter 9 and verses 6 and 7.
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It says here, and this is
a very important principle.
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If you plant one corn
seed, how many ears of corn
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are you going to get?
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One, or perhaps two. Right?
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One seed; small harvest.
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What happens if you
plant hundreds of seeds?
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You're going to harvest
hundreds of ears of corn.
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That's just a principle.
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What you sow,
you what? You reap.
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Now notice this.
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See, it's a
decision of the heart first.
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See, God never
asks us for our money.
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God asks for our heart.
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And when He has our
heart, He has our money.
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Are you following me?
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That's why Jesus said,
"Where a man's treasure is,
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that is where his
heart will be also."
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And so notice what he
continues saying in verse 7.
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"So let each one give as
he purposes in his heart,
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not grudgingly or of necessity."
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That means, by
compulsion or by obligation.
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"For God loves
a cheerful giver."
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Let me read you this
statement from Ellen White,
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Testimonies for the
Church, volume 1, page 545.
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She says, listen carefully,
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"God wants no unwilling
offering, no pressed sacrifice.
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Those who are
thoroughly converted
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and who appreciate
the work of God..."
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Two conditions;
thoroughly converted,
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and appreciate the work of God.
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"...will give cheerfully
the little required of them,
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considering it a
privilege to bestow."
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Don't think that
offerings is an obligation,
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"Oh, I've got to give an
offering because if I don't,
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God is going to curse me."
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Listen, we don't give
in order to be blessed.
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We give; and as a
result we are blessed.
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We don't give to
earn the favor of God,
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but we give and God says,
"Oh, here's a bonus for you."
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Luke 6 and verse 38.
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Luke chapter 6 and verse 38.
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Here once again, we find
the same principle expressed.
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So as we give, we
receive in return.
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That is a principle of life.
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Allow me to read in closing
one more statement that we find
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in Proverbs chapter
3 and verses 9 and 10.
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Proverbs chapter
3 verses 9 and 10.
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It says here...
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And now notice the promise.
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The only way that you know that
this is true is if you try it.
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God says, "Test
Me now. Try Me now.
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Give it a whirl."
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You know, this year our salary
in Central California Conference
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for pastors was
decreased three percent
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because of the economy.
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So you know the
decision that I made?
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I said, "Lord, my salary has
been decreased three percent.
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I'm going to increase my
church budget by three percent."
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And the Lord has
blessed immensely.
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More than I could ever tell you.
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And so let's not use the
excuse, "Oh, the economy is bad.
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I just don't have it."
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We have to buy pizza.
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Right?
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And to buy clothing and
things that we don't need.
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Toys, etcetera.
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It's just a
matter of priorities.
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It's a matter of what is
most important in our lives.
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It's a matter of
what comes first.
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And those who make Jesus
Christ first and last and best
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are the happiest
people in the world.
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So I would pray that
as we've studied this,
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this isn't only academic.
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"Okay, we need
to return the tithe
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to remunerate the preacher.
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And we need to also
give offerings in order to
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sustain the church."
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But that this will be
a priority and we'll say,
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"Church is important to us.
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The preaching of the
gospel is important to us."
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This has to be the
number one priority
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as we order our
finances on this earth.
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