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Giving the first of our time, treasure, and talents is the stated will of God. – “But seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Giving Under the New Testament

Clarity and Questions Answered

  • Does the Bible teach New Testament believers to tithe?
  • What does the LORD say concerning our worship in giving?
  • Did Jesus teach tithing?
  • Will God curse me if I don’t tithe?
  • Will tithing make me wealthy or debt-free?
  • If tithing is not commanded under the New Testament, how should I worship Christ with the blessings He is bringing into my life?
  • If Christians aren’t supposed to tithe then why is it taught in the church?
  • How can I make sure I am giving to New Testament ministry?

There are many now who are exposing the fraud of modern wolves who have coercively placed New Testament Christians under the Old Testament tithing laws God gave to the Jews. The New Testament Scriptures never teach that New Testament believers have to tithe. Believers under the New Covenant can tithe if they wish, but there’s no instruction in the New Covenant to do such. Having learned that tithing is not required, many are left hanging, not knowing how to worship Jesus Christ with their giving. Those who are exposing the exploitation of God’s people by wolves who have told them they will be cursed if they don’t tithe, must teach what Scriptures does teach about giving. Regrettably, it seems that few are learning and teaching what the New Testament teaches concerning giving/distribution. Biblical balance is what we seek as we study the whole counsel of God’s Word (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:15-17).

So, we have a whole lot of unlearned people going around touting that we are not under the law of tithing, and that’s valid. And yet, where are those who are learning and teaching what the New Testament Scriptures teach about giving? Our giving is to be part of our worship to our LORD, the Giver of all good things (James 1:17). That part is the same under both testaments. Someone is being honored with our money and that should be the LORD Himself who alone gives us that ability to have health and to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:1-18).

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent (or treasure) left and could say, I used everything You gave me.” Erma Bombeck

The New Testament Scripture have much to say about giving – first our lives and then our provisions (2 Corinthians 8:5). The fact that there is no law of tithing under the New Covenant is no license to ignore the instructions of the One who bled to save us. He taught us not to hoard but rather to be generous in our giving. In fact, the apostle Paul expresses the divine incentive in our giving when he penned these words:

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.”  2 Corinthians 9:6-11

“The  fruits of our righteousness” are “increased” when we give. Jesus taught this also when He instructed us where to lay up treasure:

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

“Cast thy bread upon the waters”

“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. 2  Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.” Ecclesiastes 11:1-2

Of this passage, one commentator writes:

“Ecclesiastes 11:1
a    [Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days] This is universally taken to mean that blessings will be returned to one who is generous and hospitable (Ecc_11:1). In Ecc_11:2 one is advised to give a portion of his bread to seven or eight (figurative of several), for no one knows when he will need bread from another for himself.”

Of Ecclesiastes 11:1 John Wesley wrote:

“The waters – Freely and liberally bestow it upon the waters; upon those poor creatures, on whom it may seem to be as utterly lost, as the seed which a man casts into the sea or river. Find it – It shall certainly be restored to thee, either by God or men. This is added to prevent an objection, and to quicken us to the duty enjoyned. After – The return may be slow, but it is sure, and will be so much the more plentiful.”

Of this passage, Adam Clarke wrote:

“Cast thy bread upon the waters – An allusion to the sowing of rice; which was sown upon muddy ground, or ground covered with water, and trodden in by the feet of cattle: it thus took root, and grew, and was found after many days in a plentiful harvest. Give alms to the poor, and it will be as seed sown in good ground. God will cause thee afterwards to receive it with abundant increase. The Targum understands it of giving bread to poor sailors. The Vulgate and my old Bible have the same idea. Send thi brede upon men passing waters.”

THE WAY A PERSON SPENDS THEIR MONEY IS A DIRECTION REFLECTION OF THE PRIORITIES OF THEIR HEART (Matthew 6:21).

Doesn’t the fact that some do not choose to generously support the LORD’s work reveal their disdain for Him who gave them life?

There is much to be missed out on if we don’t learn and do what the LORD taught us concerning giving under the New Testament. From the above passage we see that not only will God reward eternally those who give now, but also that our heart affections will follow our giving into His kingdom.

There is an abundance of teaching on giving in the New Testament. The LORD is not at all silent on this matter. It is a different program than the tithing program He gave to the Jews and yet there are New Testament teachings which find their beginnings as elements that were modeled in the program to Israel. The apostle Paul specifically ties them together (1 Corinthians 9:8-10, 13-14). There is a series of insightful passages revealing the charitable disposition and giving among the earliest believers (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35).  These are given to us by the LORD to be examples to all believers under the New Covenant. There is an abundance of doctrine on giving in the New Testament Scriptures. Here’s a sampling:

Summary of what the New Testament Teaches on Giving

  • 16 of Jesus’ 38 parables involve stewardship (Matthew 25:14-46; Mark 12:41-44; Luke 12:13-47; 16:1-31, etc.)
  • Each and every one of us shall be judged by how we gave or did not give (Matthew 25:14-46)
  • That God looks at the percentage we give out of what we have and the heart with which we give (Mark 12:41-44; 2 Corinthians 9:7)
  • Giving (of self and substance) and how it shall be given back to those who give (Luke 6:29-38)
  • As Christ’s body, having all things common, that is, by abandoning our lives in this world, liquidating, and sharing as every believer has need (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35)
  • Giving so that distribution can be made among all believers and so the LORD’s workers can be provided for (Acts 6:1-4)
  • Provision for those whom the LORD has called out to worship and serve Him (feed and equip His sheep) full-time may be sustained (1 Corinthians 9:1-14)
  • Gathering and giving that which is being given by the individual members of Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 16: 1-3)
  • “Equality” among believers (2 Corinthians 8)
  • We shall all be rewarded according as we gave generously or otherwise (Matthew 25:14-46; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11)
  • Divinely incentivized giving. Those who give sparingly reap sparingly and those who give generously will reap abundance (2 Corinthians 9:6-11)
  • The believers at Philippi helped Paul by providing for him in the Gospel work. Those who gave were given a special promise (v19; Philippians 4:10-19)
  • The New Testament teaches giving so that “double honour” provision may be given to those whom the LORD has called out to labor in the word and in doctrine (1 Timothy 5:17-18)

Also, remember that those who still tithe (by faith and clear conscience) are not sinning by doing so, no less than those who observe a certain day of the week to worship and rest (by faith and clear conscience).

The fact that New Testament believers are not under tithing laws does not mean that God will not bless those who give in a disciplined, organized, generous manner. It also does not negate the fact that the LORD will bring us into judgment for our giving or lack thereof. He’s actually watching exactly how we are stewarding what He has given us (Mark 12:41-44).

We must conclude that the LORD is not glorified when we give to causes that do not directly connect with what is taught in His Word. For example: New Testament disciples are to give to that which is clearly fulfilling the New Testament purposes Jesus set forth, namely teaching and preaching His Word (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20). It should be noted that not one penny was collected among the earliest believers to build or sustain/maintain a physical building and perhaps such is the greatest hindrance to the Gospel program Jesus instituted in His Great commission command which still stands today till He returns. Also, giving to false teachers is bidding God speed to them and makes us as guilty and condemned as they are before God (2 John 7-11).

New Testament Christians are not only to give but also to make sure their giving is according to God’s Word. The following is a partial list of things that will work against us and not be rewarded:

  • Giving to physical building projects (new or renovation)
  • Paying to maintain a physical building, especially in a wasteful manner)
  • Giving to contribute to wasteful, man-centered projects or causes or maintenance of temporal things that only stifle the going forth of the Gospel
  • Humanitarian “missions” that don’t include the clear preaching and teaching of God’s Word
  • Giving the already over paid pastor wolf an expensive watch for his birthday or sending him on a lavish vacation
  • The SPCA or any animal (beast) cause
  • Breast cancer causes, etc. (the wicked Susan G. Komen Foundation gives money to Planned Parenthood to murder babies)
  •  Entertainment that poses as ministry
  • Children’s church that does not teach God’s Word

The early disciples of Jesus are our example and they didn’t huddle, hunker down, or hide but instead they “went every where preaching the word.” (Acts 8:4) A personal study of the book of Acts will begin to reveal a vast difference between authentic New Testament Christianity and the self-serving apostate modern church and the hireling wolves who make merchandise of the biblically illiterate (2 Peter 2:1-3).

It does not matter how deeply passionate someone feels about what cause they give to. If a cause isn’t clearly fulfilling a New Testament purpose it’s wasteful and sinful to further that cause. The only thing that matters is whether or not their giving is clearly reconcilable with the Great Commission to teach God’s Word to His people and to preach His Word to the lost (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Acts, etc.). All New Testament giving should in one way or another go to provide for those preaching and teaching His Word, tending to the sheep of Christ, winning lost souls, and providing for believers in need.

If it’s not fulfilling the clearly stated New Testament purpose, it’s not glorifying God and is wasted resources for which we shall give account. If giving to a cause is not funding the feeding of Christ’s sheep and declaration of His truth, it’s not New Testament giving.

“The Lord Loveth a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

This message is not to discourage the believer from tithing. It is NOT a sin to tithe and it’s not required, especially under the coercive way under the New Testament. It’s important to realize that Christ’s New Testament saints are not forced, commanded, or instructed to tithe under the New Testament.  This makes you free to give out of a heart of cheerfulness (hilarity) which the LORD says He delights in (2 Corinthians 9:7). Actually, it’s a good idea in organizing ones finances. Firstfruits” giving is a great way to worship the LORD with our finances and assures that He alone is put first (Proverbs 3:9-10; Matthew 6:33, etc.).

Are you taking care of your own business and not “the Father’s business”? (Luke 2:49) If so, unlike Christ, you are all about yourself, your own self-serving business and not “the Father’s business.” The LORD created and saved you to be about His business first and foremost. How do we think that’s going to work out for you if you don’t repent and begin putting the LORD first in your life and finances? Diminishing returns.

Is tithing essential to salvation? No! Will God still keep His promises to bless those who give? Yes (2 Corinthians 1:20).

If we do not take control of our money, our money will continue to have control over us. There’s no better way to take control and begin to steward all the resources God brings into your possession than by making the decision to give the LORD the very first portion of all that you are blessed to bring in.

Taking care of the things of God’s kingdom is seeking first His kingdom.

Ye looked for much, and, lo it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the Lord of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.” Haggai 1:9

“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.” Proverbs 3:9-10

New Testament Distribution (audio) | Is Your Local Church Fulfilling a New Testament Purpose? | Much More on Stewardship and Giving Here.

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FEEDBACK:

“The problem with tithing is that we are to cheerfully give without being instructed to tithe. The Spirit of God should direct us to give even more than a 10% of our money or goods or whatever. We are led of the Spirit of God not the Law. All tithing has done is keep these preachers who don’t preach the truth in all their expensive cars and homes, and planes and so forth. I love to give. I don’t believe like the preachers teach to tithe or else. I’m not talking about you brother, but many others. Be Blessed.” David Pace

Support | STORE | PodcastsThe Return of ChristStewardshipWhere to Give and Where Not to Give | Fruit Abounding to Your Account! | Consider Your Ways [podcast] | Consider and Build [podcast] | Holes in Your Money Bags? [podcast] | Dollar DialogueJesus Sat Over Against The Treasury [podcast] | Escaping Sodom!Waste | Stewardship | Giving

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Abiding

The Core Values of the Modern Church Agenda Exposed [podcast]


Lots of occultic symbolism in the art below.

The “church growth” industry is a multi-million dollar enterprise with books, seminars, selling sermons, etc., on how to build a large church, how to grow the nickels, noses, and numbers. Is this what Jesus had in mind when He stated “I will build my church”? (Matthew 16:18)

“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23

Do you spend more time in “church” than in the Bible itself? Wow! Red flags flying!

“Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.” 2 Peter 3:17

So you are listening to some slick talker preach and yet he’s not using the BIBLE essential words like hell, repentance, holiness, the cross, the blood of Jesus, the return of Christ, etc? Repent and RUN!

The vast majority of so-called pastors today are more interested in getting you to join their church club, to become a member of their church, than they are about truly feeding the flock of God with the whole counsel of Scripture, equipping you for ministry, and winning souls to Jesus (John 21:15-17; Acts 20:20-32; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Peter 5:1-6, etc.). Prove it wrong.

Church Membership Exposed | The 501(C)(3) Deception | The Modern Church

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Abiding

Mary hath Chosen that Good Part [podcast]


Luke 10:38-42

Mary = loving relationship with Jesus, not just being busy with doing, with labor, with performing works such as what Martha was doing. First and foremost, Jesus saved us for relationship with Him and the Father (John 17:3). And here our Savior expresses that knowing, loving, adoring, and listening to Him are at a divine premium, they are most important to God. That’s what God desires – for us to delight ourselves in Him (Psalms 37:4).

“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalms 37:4

David’s brothers looked the part but they couldn’t and wouldn’t even face Goliath, much less slay him. David though, was spending time alone with the LORD, listening to His voice and tending to the sheep. He who is the only man God ever said was “a man after mine own heart,” was used mightily of God to slay the giant (Acts 13:22; 1 Samuel 17).

Isn’t this how we are with our children? Wouldn’t every parent rather their precious children sit in their mom or dad’s lap telling their parent how much they (the child) loves them (the parent)? That’s the biggest heart melt we know, right?

Like David, the most powerfully used warriors are first worshippers.

Our real, our genuine relationship with the LORD is that place out of which His power and grace (divine enablement) will flow. Like David, we must be primarily, and first and foremost worshippers. Out of that rich communion with the Savior will flow the warrior anointing of the LORD who is “a man of war” (Exodus 15:3).

Many who sense the call of God on their lives to minister go to seminary. Sad. We must go to God ourselves – in prayer, a life of prayer, relentlessly seeking His holy face in His Word for ourselves.

“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6 

Mary hath

Private prayer with the LORD precedes God using us. Those who seek God in “secret” will be “openly” rewarded by Him.

“The little estimate we put on prayer is evidence from the little time we give to it.” EM Bounds

“A sinning man stops praying. A praying man stops sinning.” – Leonard Ravenhill

Luke 10

38  Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house
39  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word
40  But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 
41  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 
42  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. 

“Mary hath Chosen that Good Part” 

The “good part” Mary chose consists of…

  • Mary made the only wise choice “Mary hath chosen.”
  • Mary put Jesus first. She put the Savior first, not herself or her idea of what it meant to serve Him.
  • Jesus says here that choosing to put and keep Him first is the “one thing [that] is needful” or most necessary (v39, 42).
  • Sitting before Jesus Himself and not searching for God outside of God Himself, primarily that is. All other learning is supplemental and subservient to that which the LORD tells us specifically, in His Word.

Worshippers become the most powerful workers God uses!

Like many today who are shallow rooted, Martha was a worker but not first and foremost a worshipper. Mary was a worshipper who loved to spend time with Jesus. Therefore she was empowered by God Himself via that fellowship with Him to walk in His holy compassion and to do His works with His power and for His glory (1 Corinthians 15:10).

When our works are not fruitful as they should be, perhaps it can be traced back to our lack of fellowship with our LORD. As we fellowship with Him, putting Him first and not ourselves, our vessel, our cup will run over with His goodness…. it will spill over onto others! (See Psalms 23:5.) That’s when our labor will carry His eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” Psalms 23:5

When Jesus came, it was God bringing Heaven to the people – to forgive their sins and make them whole (Matthew 9:6). This was the foretold fulfillment of His kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

When Jesus came, He went to the people, to heal, to save, to make whole (Matthew 9:35-38; Acts 10:38, etc.).

As we go, Jesus is with us, “even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:20).

Daily, our LORD is using His people to bring Heaven to the people. As the Holy Spirit fills our lives, His blessed presence and fruit in our lives is going to over overflow onto others.

A sister in Christ once told me that “The best Marthas are first Marys.” Think about that one in light of what we read in this passage when Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). Those who sit at Jesus’ feet to hear His holy counsel, are changed into His image and become reservoirs for His blessed glory. Their cups run over onto others!

“Prayer is of transcendent importance. Prayer is the mightiest agent to advance God’s work. Praying hearts and hands only can do God’s work. Prayer succeeds when all else fails.” E.M. Bounds

When worshiping Jesus is our first priority, the work He uses us to do WILL carry His unction and bring fruit to bear for His eternal glory.

Rote obedience to minister to others, while not anchored in intimacy with our LORD, will not yield an abundant harvest, fruit. In contrast, we can be blessed to have God’s power and grace to do His work and that happens as we are truly communing, fellowshipping in the construct of that oneness relationship He made us for (John 15; 17).

Knowing God’s Word and obeying Him is not an automatic progression (John 8:31-36). One can know the Bible and not its Author. Or, one can know the Bible well and not know the Author well (Job 22:21-28). Obeying God’s Word requires knowing Him, abiding in an intimate fellowship with Him, thereby enabling that saint the grace (divine enablement) to obey Him (John 5:39-40; 7:17; 14:21-23; 15:1-16, etc.).

Martha “received him.” Many of us have “received” Jesus, have been saved by Him (John 1:12), yet like Martha we aren’t sitting at His holy feet, listening to Him speak through His Word. Like Martha, we also are “cumbered about much serving.”

It should be understood that our work can exceed our worship, our hospitality can exceed our holiness, our serving can exceed our sanctification, etc.  That would be defined as imbalance (Proverbs 11:1).

In Luke 10:38-42, notice that Mary sat directly at Jesus’ feet and no other. When we arise in the morning to commune with the LORD, such is to be direct communication between you and Him, alone (Matthew 6:6). That would mean perhaps that when you arise in the morning you aren’t reading some other book about God or turning on a podcast or TV program to find and commune with the LORD. No, those things involve others. We must directly commune with the LORD in prayer and in HIS Word. How else shall we be able to discern the “MANY false prophets” Jesus warned us “shall deceive many”? (Read Matthew 24:11; 1 John 4:1.) How can we know the counterfeit if we don’t know the real? We can’t.

In principle, Martha is a person like Cain, a person who chose to do things their own way, not God’s – because they are not truly submitted to God. Does that describe your life friend? Jesus calls us home to Himself (Matthew 11:28-30).

Are we attempting to serve the LORD on our own terms or are we sitting before Him, hearing His voice as we are worshipfully, joyfully submitted to Him on His stated terms?

“The men who have done mighty things for God have always been mighty in prayer, have well understood the possibilities of prayer, and made the most of these possibilities. The Son of God, the first of all and the mightiest of all, has shown us the all-potent and far reaching possibilities of prayer. Paul was mighty for because he knew, how to use, and how to get others to use, the mighty spiritual forces of prayer.” EM Bounds, The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer, P. 341

When we are brought to the point of true repentance it will be obvious in that we will do things God’s way and no longer our own. Like Mary, we will be settled at His feet, hearing His Word, His voice. The Mary person is in love with and submitted to the LORD and Savior she so joyfully worships.

“Jesus never taught His disciples how to preach, only how to pray. To know how to speak to God is more than knowing how to speak to people. Power with God is the first thing, not power with people. Christ loves to teach us how to pray.”  –Andrew Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer, pp.  xxiii-xxiv

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Apostasy

Modern Day Frauds and How They Operate [RADIO]


THIS is so very important! Please listen and share to help others (Ezekiel 44:23).

“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23

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