1. Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek establishes the principle BEFORE the LAW.
- Melchizedek is a type and shadow of the NT Ministry (Hebrews 7)
- Abraham paid tithe to the Priest BEFORE he was circumcised. (Applies to Gentiles)
- Cain’s offering was cursed because it was not a BLOOD sacrifice, but also because it was NOT the FIRSTFRUIT of his increase. Abel’s offering specifically mentions that his was the firstfruit.
- Adam and Eve could eat of every tree of GARDEN EXCEPT for the one tree (Type and Shadow of the Tithe)
- Jacob continued in the process of the “tenth” in his walk with God (Genesis 28:20-22)
2. Is the tithe (as required by the LAW) required by the NT saints today?
- God owns all, and we are Stewarts.
- The firstfuit is mentioned in Proverbs 3, which is a principle that exists within the LAW of Moses, but is a timeless law just as much as the moral law of God was within the ten commandments.
Proverbs 3:9-10
(9) Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
(10) So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
- When the scripture refers to the LAW being fulfilled, it specifically refers to the ceremonial laws. Colossian 2:16 Paul refers to the meat and drink, holyday, new moon, and Sabbath days. These are fulfilled by Calvary and acted as “schoolmaster” to the people of God until Faith in Jesus’ atonement became a reality. Tithing is a spiritual concept that is intended to be obeyed, just like prayer and the moral law. It is an unchanging principle of the people of God.
3. The rebuke of Malachi to the Levitical Priesthood, does it apply to believers?
-Absolutely, the whole book of Malachi is not just a teaching for the Old Testament, the principles of the PROPHECY apply to the Church without a doubt.
Malachi 1:11 …”my NAME shall be GREAT among the GENTILES”
The message of this prophet is a rebuke to the people of God in Malachi’s time, but it also is loaded with spiritual principles that the GENTILES would take up in the NT Church and provoke Israel to jealousy (Romans 11), no doubt the tithe and offering is a PRIVELDGE for God to accept, and it being the firstfruit of the Child of God gives Honor and Glory to God and His Church.
Can believers in Christ be cursed?
-Absolutely – Acts 5 look at Annais and Sapphira
Can believers rob God?
-No doubt, the firstfruit of our increase BELONGS to God, taking it for yourself is robbing God. But also the scripture teaches “tithes AND offerings” so therefore, offerings are ALSO belong to God. Tithe is not simply a law, it is the bare essential, it is the reasonable service of a Child of God, it is the measure that God has chosen to set as the requirement. No doubt that times come in our walk with God that we feel led to do more, tithing sets the Church in order and sets a standard so that the ministry can be supported.
4. The tithe belongs to the ministry
Nehemiah 10:37-38
(37) And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.
(38) And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.
1 Corinthians 9:9
(9) For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
1 Corinthians 9:13-14
(13) Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
(14) Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Paul spoke in 9:15 that he was not writing this for his own profit, and I totally understand his feeling of this. When you are the minister, you do not preach tithes, respect, etc.. for your own gain and that is what Paul is stating. He went on to say that it would be better for him to die rather than use his God given authority for his own gain. This is not something a child of God should put his finger on, once the obedience of giving has been done, it is completely up to the ministry on being good stewards of the offerings of God. Rather Paul chose to give it back or whatever is completely his choice, just as it is today. The sentiment of the “church world” has a bad taste in folk’s mouth because so many false prophets have misled and misused their position and taken offerings that folks gave from a willing heart for their own gain, but they will receive their just due. As a saint of God, it is our duty to be obedient to giving to God and leaving it at that, you do what the Spirit has instructed and should have the attitude that it belongs to the house of God. Also the attitude of not “muzzling the mouth of the ox” should be in our hearts, the saints should desire for the man of God to be well fed and taken care of, which strengthens the ministry. This is profitable for the BELIEVER! Think about this – do you have a problem paying the doctor bill after the doctor does surgery on you? How about the dentist, the CPA, etc… Having a problem with tithing/offerings shows an issue with trust to God and His Church. If you do not believe that your ministry and Church is God led, then you have no business trusting your soul to it, and of course that cuts off the pocket book. The opposite of this is also true, if you trust your soul being fed and your family receiving ministry from the house of God, then your tithe/offering will be unrestricted and coming from the same trusting heart. This operation is for our own good, it is the plan of God for the Spirit led NT Church.
Does the NT still have a Priesthood?
Of course, and no doubt the scripture teaches that Jesus is the High Priest of the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:15).
He is the head of Church. (1 Corinthians 11:13) which is his BODY.
He is the only mediator between man and God. (2 Timothy 2:5)
But is an erroneous teaching to not be accountable to a man of God in the NT Church. The plan of God is NOT for the children of God to be led of the Spirit outside of the BODY.
Ephesians 1:22-23
(22) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
(23) Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Notice that every statement in the 1st chapter of Ephesians speaks of “we” and “us” and “our” plural pronouns.
Ephesians 1:3 …who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Go on and see that this is addressed to the Church not to an individual. This means the idea of serving God outside of the BODY is a false pre-tense. Just as there was no atonement in the Old Covenant without the tabernacle, there is no atonement in the NT times outside of the BODY. This also goes for the Lord’s prayer… “OUR Father, give US this day, and forgive US, etc….
The New Testament Church has local government and order that is absolutely essential for the children of God to submit to:
Hebrews 13:6-9
(6) So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
(7) Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
(8) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
(9) Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Hebrews 13:17-18
(17) Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
(18) Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
Romans 13:1-4
(4) For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
(5) Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
(6) For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
(7) Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
1 Corinthians 1:21
(21) For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Tithes and Offerings are the tribute that is due to the House of God in the New Testament established by the Word of God. When you encounter a true Spirit Led Ministry and Apostolic Assembly that teaches the Apostles Doctrine, these scriptures are not just a teaching of a time gone past, but they will come alive in your life and heart. When we truly say that we want to be Apostolic, it is not only in doctrine, but in Spirit, in attitude, in appearance, and in every aspect of our walk with God.
