Understanding and Knowing God

Because God allows us the liberty of choice, we may choose to or, not to believe in Him and His Son, Jesus. He also gives to us, based on our desire of a relationship with Him, our ability to understand His Word and our willingness to comprehend His eternal knowledge. In other words, both understanding and wisdom is given in direct proportion to the level of faith and commitment that we have allowed God to have in our life. God is capable of giving us so much that the information would be mind boggling, but He will only give to us, that part in which we can understand.

So, the more we study His Word and Pray, the closer we will be to God and the more God will share of His knowledge and His will, His purpose, and His desires for our life. If we submit and commit, pray, study His Word as he dictates, then and only then, can we have the peace and comfort of living in His Spirit. Then we can be filled with the Spirit. Then we can produce fruits of the Spirit. Then is when we grow in Gods knowledge. Gain understanding and wisdom that God wants for us as it is explained in Job 28.

Job 28 starts by describing worldly things and valuing them. Then this value is compared to the value of understanding and wisdom that is given by God.

Given as a gift to those that grow and nurture a relationship with him. We are on a grow to know basis with God. We cannot input more than we can understand, even if it is offered, but as we grow in a relationship with Him, we grow to understand.

Finally, please read and study Paul’s prayers for followers: Eph. 3: 14-21 & Col.  1:9-12. Pray that each follower will be blessed as Paul prayed these be blessed. Blessed in a greater knowledge and understanding of Jesus and wisdom as God sees to administer.

Col 1:9-12 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Eph 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.                                                                   For Christ, 

Biblical Facts Concerning Giving Today

Note: this study is related to tithing only. It does not reflect alms or offerings, whether they be freely given, or ordered by God or kings.

The first tithes given were given by Abram to the first priest of God and he was actually a Gentile priest created prior to the line of Levi. This tribute of honor later became law thru the laws of Moses.

(Genesis 14:12-20)

The Ten Commandments would hold the Jews responsible to obedience (Ex 19:5) and their reward for keeping the Law would be their becoming a nation of priest. (Ex 19: 6)  As Moses was descending the mount, the Jews were already in progress of violating the law that God had made and written in stone. They had convinced Aaron to build them a golden calf as an image to pray to. (Ex 32:8)  

So, God created an additional 613 laws that provided rules and procedures for chosen people to make atonement for the sin of the nation. So instead of rewarding the unworthy and unbelieving nation by making them priest, God created the office of priest from the tribe of Levi. Aaron was the first High Priest. Their position and duty was defined as the people chosen, set apart (sanctified), and made holy before God so they could perform ritualistic sacrifices of atonement to God on behalf of a sinning nation of men. 

 (Numbers 18:24-31)

Mal 1:

Mal 3:6 

Malachi 3:7-10

2 Chronicles 31:4-12

Under the law only agricultural products were tithed. They included grain, fruit, and livestock. Only products produced within the boundaries of the land of Israel were to be tithed. Jews living in Gentile lands were exempt

(Leviticus 27:30-34).

Others exempt from the tithing law included the hired hands, fishermen, miners, lumber workers, construction workers, soldiers, weavers, potters, manufacturers, merchants, government workers, and priests. In short, all who were not farmers were exempt.  A farmer with only 9 cattle did not tithe because the law specified the "tenth which passeth under the rod." Likewise a farmer with 19 sheep paid only 1 sheep to the Lord's tithe. The Jewish farmers in the land could redeem (buy back) the tithes of their crops with a penalty of one fifth. In other words, if a farmer wishes to keep his tithe of grain worth $1,000, he could pay the cash equivalent of $1,200 (Leviticus 27:31).  Livestock could not be brought back nor could the farmer exchange a good animal for a bad one or vice versa. Any attempt to substitute any other animal other than the tenth which passed under the rod would be penalized by the farmer forfeiting both the tenth and its substitute (Leviticus 27:33).

.

According to Deuteronomy 14:22,23,28; 26:12; and Amos 4:4, the tithe was only given every three years.

It was unlawful for anyone outside of the tribe of Levi to receive the tithe, such as prophets, preachers, kings, or evangelists. . The Levites paid their tithes to the high priest. The high priests did not tithe. The tithes brought into the house of God provided for the care of the temple, the care of the Levites and the care of the people during certain times as appropriate.

 The Lord Jesus Christ did not ask for or receive a tithe for support of His ministry. Being of the tribe of Judah (not Levi) He could not without breaking the law (Hebrews 7:14; Revelation 5:5).. Neither Peter (not of the tribe of Levi) nor Paul (of the tribe of Benjamin) could receive tithes for the support of their ministries.

 Even the Jews do not practice tithing today because there are no Levite priests, or temple worship in Jerusalem. Jewish rabbis know biblical law well enough to know that tithing under the present circumstances is unlawful. According to them, when the temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem with a consecrated altar with priests and Levites officiating, all Jews living within the biblical tithing zones will tithe.

Some Christian ministries today continue to support tithing, using the argument that it predates Moses and the law. But this reasoning may not be valid, for the Sabbath also predates the giving of the law (Exodus 16:23-29) and yet it is not binding on God's people today (Romans 14:5,6; Galatians 4:9,10; Colossians 2:16,17).

Abram gave tithes to Melchisedec, king of Salem (current Jerusalem), but this was the spoils of war, not the legalistic tithe of the land which Moses commanded.{Melchisedec is also called the King of Priest and Christ was the Prince of Peace} Also, God did not command the tithe, Abraham chose to give it of his own free will (Genesis 14:17-23;).

 And when Jesus became our high priest, he did so not after the tribe of Levi, but after the order of Melchisedec. Hebrews 7:1-10

The only other scriptural reference to tithing before Moses is Jacob. Again there is no command to tithe. In fact, Jacob puts up numerous conditions to be met before he will pay the tithe to the Lord (Genesis 28:20-22).

Paul the apostle to the Gentiles { the man Jesus chose to teach us how his death was a blessing to us}does not mention tithing but says a great deal about Christian giving.

 Giving to the Poor Saints.

Romans 15:25,26;

The caretaking of ministers.

1 Corinthians 9:7-14;

Give systematically:

1 Corenthians16:1-3;

Give what ever you have as you can afford to:

And, as a missionary or minister, Accept all that is given to you as a gift:

Give to others in all things as you are blessed:

ie  its not just about giving your money

Give to other churches when you find your church with abundance:

Give to Mission work

Don’t be stingy with giving:

God provides for the cheerful giver:

Praying is giving:

2 Corinthians chapters 8 & 9;

Teaching is giving too:

Living a life of righteousness is Giving

Galatians 6:6-10;

Contentment is learned with giving:

Giving reaps rewards

Philippians 4:10-19;

Provide for some widows:

Provide for the livelihood of ministers/missionaries

1 Timothy 5:9-18.

Care for your own family needs before going out of family to give to others:

1 Timothy 5: 8

WHO is to give to the Lord's work? The Christian!

He gives systematically, sacrificially, and joyfully.

TO WHOM does he give?  To Christ!

FOR WHAT does he give? For the cause of Christ!

NOT for a man or for a church, not for gain or a good return, but for increasing the ability of sharing and spreading the Gospel.

AND To build disciples so they can do the same.

So, considering the historical evidence vs our current tradition; I would still give at least  10%. But, we all need to reevaluate our giving and the use of the money, time, and talents we give, and give as God inspires and directs us in our spirit.

Are we blessed to be able to give beyond 10%?

Are we giving as we can, or are we giving begrudgingly?

Are our gifts being used the way we are supposed to use them?

Are we giving to the right people/causes?

Are we denying our family NEEDS to give to church? 

May Gods will be done as we support his increase in souls and disciples.

All biblical references that address tithing issues are:

Genesis 14:20; 28:22;

Leviticus 27:30-32;

Numbers 18:20-28;

Deuteronomy 12:6,11,17; 14:22,23,28; 26:12;

2 Chronicles 31:5,6,12;

Amos 4:4;

Malachi 3:8-10;

Matthew 23:23;

Luke 11:42; 18:12;

Hebrews 7:5-9.