Embedded Files
May the Lord help each one of us to prayerfully, carefully, and conscientiously return the sacred tithe, as the Lord has directed, for the support of the ministry. May we never be confused and uncertain as to what kind of ministry the Lord deems worthy to receive the tithe. And may we never be confused or uncertain as to who is responsible for the present tithe problem. The responsibility must be placed squarely at the doors of those who are preaching among us the false doctrines.
Today the question of accountable stewardship is becoming an issue in the minds of many Seventh-day Adventists. The awareness that we all have an individual accountability before the heavenly universe, to administer the trust committed to us of God has, in recent years, raised questions in our minds as to how to best fulfill that responsibility. It the purpose of this page to give our readers information that will help them fulfill their position as God's stewards.
However, having said that, the work that could be done is not being done because of lack of funds for the cause of truth, the Third Angel's message. The Health Message is the right arm of the Third Angel's message and we have workers ready to go forward in this area. We have Third Angel's Messages schools that need to be started in all countries. We are in need of books and printing equipment so that we can print tracts and articles to get out to the people. We need money for online advertising campaigns - to build websites and blogs that will only be allowed for a short while longer. We must hurry beloved, to save more souls. Money for postage and shipping supplies. We are making an appeal to you today - if you can help provide funds so that these ministers of the TRUE THREE ANGEL'S MESSAGES who believe in the TRUE GOD and HIS SON can go forth and give the everlasting gospel. If the Lord lays it on your heart to help in any way, no matter how small or big, with labor or finances, food supplies, clothes, property, buildings or homes, from any country here is our address and contact information:
We are actively working with many contacts to establish schools of the prophets in as many countries as possible who believe as the early SDA Protestant pioneers of the SDA church did. We must REHEARSE ("Prophesy Again" Revelation 10:11) and point our people to the "OLD LANDMARKS" and believe on "THEIR WORD" (2SM111.2), the WORDS of the early SDA Protestant pioneers!
We are NOT a 501c3 tax-exempt non-profit, but rather a MINISTRY OF HEALING INSTITUTE, and WILL NOT be partaking of this MARK OF THE BEAST SYSTEM. So any monies or properties given to the cause of God are NOT tax deductible. GOD is our rewarder and of that you can be sure for HE has PROMISED IT. Lay your treasure up in Heaven where moth, rust and thieves cannot take it.
Celebrate Recovery program for people struggling with all kinds of addiction.
Resources for people struggling with pornography addiction or substance abuse.
A Victims of Violence Program is already underway.
You mean to tell me people have real problems and we can have resources in place to help them?
Classes now that end with you selecting an area of ministry to use your God given gifts to serve in?
Learning how to PRAY in the Spirit - to intercede on behalf of souls claiming Bible verse promises for everything we need! VERY SOON EVER FORM OF EARTHLY SUPPORT WILL BE CUT OFF IF WE DO NOT TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST! Do you have an experimental knowledge of what to do then? God has shown us what we are to do! Claim Bible verses promises! This area needs workers! Are you ready to say HERE AM I LORD, SEND ME??? !!
Please contact us and get involved! Jesus is really coming SOON! Get READY! GET READY! GET READY! Please! Come! SAYS THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE! Join us and let's work together to finish this last great REPEATING OF THE 3 ANGEL'S MESSAGES as already given in 1843-1846 SO THAT JESUS CAN COME BACK QUICKLY!!!! It is going to go with TEN TIMES THE POWER THAT IT DID in 1843 and 1844! Don't you want to be a part of this last great rally for the TRUTH as it is in Jesus Christ?
THOSE BELONGING TO JESUS CHRIST ARE CALLED "THE WAY" aka "heresy, sect":
John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Acts 24:14 "But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy [sect], so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:"
Acts 24:5 "We have found this man to be a nuisance, stirring up dissension among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes,"
Acts 28:22 NIV "But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect."
Acts 28:22 KJV " But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against."
Acts 25:7 "When Paul arrived, the Jews [GC SDA leaders] who had come down from Jerusalem [General Conference churches] stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they could not prove."
CONTACT US:
We are called "THE WAY" (John 14:6; Acts 24:14; Acts 28:22, Acts 25:7; Acts 24:5)
Cindy Haynes
144,000 Canvasing Program
Victims of Violence Program
Ministry of Healing Institute
RR 3 Box 7833
Doniphan, MO 63935-8773 USA
Phone: Call or Text: Cindy @ 573-996-6401 or Ernie @ 573-660-1695 or Melissa @ 573-996-6633
Email: WeddingPartyProcession@gmail.com
Here is a link to our 144,000 Canvasing Program
https://sites.google.com/site/howtoperformmiracles/program
Here's a link to our Three Angel's Messages school website that is still under construction
https://sites.google.com/site/ministryofhealinginstitute/home
We are in need of funds to help pay for website sever expenses to Expose the error (www.AnotherBeast.org) as straight testimony to the Laodiceans - calling them OUT of APOSTASY AND BACK INTO THE OLD SDA BELIEFS is our calling. REPRINTING OLD EARLY SDA PIONEERS STUDY MATERIALS SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE IT FOR HOME CHURCH STUDY GROUPS IS CRUCIAL.
We have workers who are right now struggling because of finances and need of printing equipment to get booklets, tracts and other materials out to the people. People are dying for lack of knowledge of truth. Truth to eat correctly! Truth for our children! Truth to worship the True God and His Son! Truth about the Sabbath!
We need finances to PRINT short messages in the secular papers to stir the minds of the people towards truth! WAKE UP FOLKS! THE END IS UPON US AND THE ENEMY HAS STOLEN A MARCH UPON US!
We have been commanded to REPEAT the WORDS of the PIONEERS! MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO THESE PIONEERS ARE LET ALONE WHAT THEY WROTE!
“We are to REPEAT THE WORDS of the pioneers in our work, who knew what it cost to search for the truth as for hidden treasure, and who labored to lay the foundation of our work. The word given me is, Let that which these men have written in the past be reproduced”—Ellen White, Review and Herald, May 25, 1905.
The experience of William Miller and his associates, of Captain Joseph Bates, and of other pioneers in the advent message, should be kept before our people. (Letter 105, 1903).
"When you find men questioning the testimonies, finding fault with them, and seeking to draw away the people from their influence, be assured that God is not at work through them. It is another spirit." 1 Selected Messages, p. 45.
"A wealth of moral influence has been brought to us in the last half century. Through His Holy Spirit the voice of God has come to us continually in warning and instruction, to confirm the faith of the believers in the Spirit of prophecy. Repeatedly the word has come, Write the things that I have given you to confirm the faith of My people in the position they have taken" 1SM 41.1, Ellen G. White.
The subject of tithe has come to be an emotional mine field, and so let us proceed with caution. Voices usually calm are likely to become strident when the subject is introduced, and not infrequently, strongly stirred feelings find expression in bitter accusations. Yet the problem is real, and it is here. It shows no sign of diminishing, but rather is steadily increasing. Ignoring it is not likely to be an adequate answer, nor yet is indulging in emotional outbursts which tend to aggravate tensions rather than to relieve them. Is it possible to calmly consider this problem? Let us try.
My own exposure to the tithe problem because of the great apostasy from the 3 Angel's messages in the GC SDA organization has been educational.
A long time before his birth, Levi was considered a tithe payer. As a matter of fact, Melchizedek received tithes from Levi through Abraham (Heb. 7:9, 10).
Melchizedek represents/symbolizes the 144,000, Church triumphant, Bride of Christ are Kings and Priests of the New Covenant, the 3 Angel's Messages the two charts, the 1843 and 1850 charts that feed and nourish God's people with truth - the third angel's message is truth Rev 14:9-12. The 144,000 are those who live and give the THIRD angel's message during its ERA from 1844 until probation closes.
Zecharias, son of Barachias, who lived centuries before Christ, was slain by the scribes and Pharisees who persecuted Christ (Matt. 23:35; Zech. 1:1). Belonging to the same body, possessing the same spirit, and seeking to do the same work, they were declared as having done the very things that had actually been done by others before them.
In the same way, under the third plague the wicked are blamed for shedding the blood of saints and prophets who lived many centuries before (Rev. 16:6). This sentence will be pronounced upon the enemies of God because of the death decree that they have issued against the saints.
"By condemning the people of God to death, they [the wicked] have as truly incurred the guilt of their blood [the blood of the saints and prophets who lived centuries ago] as if it had been shed by their hands. In like manner Christ declared the Jews of His time guilty of all the blood of holy men which had been shed since the days of Abel." GC 628.
If you are giving your tithe to an organization that has rejected the 3 Angel's messages and the presence of God is NOT in her MIDST it is the same as giving your money to Satan to use in his agenda. The blood of the Saints and those who would have been saved had your funds been spent in cause of God are upon us. It is serious. We must go to war for the cause of God. Who is going to stand up for HIS HONOR? The hour of HIS JUDGEMENT, GOD'S JUDGEMENT is come! Who will stand up and be counted as HIS WARRIOR? We are under a sense of responsibility—“do all to the glory of God.
“The mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to proclaim to all peoples the everlasting gospel in the context of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12, leading them to accept Jesus as personal Savior, and to unite with His Church, and nurturing them in preparation for His near return.” (See A 05 05.) God determined to finance the gospel ministry through the tithing system and entrusted the Church with the responsibility of administering this sacred fund (cf. Num 18:21).
Since the General Conference Seventh Day Adventists NO LONGER are GIVING THE THREE ANGEL'S MESSAGES as they themselves ADMIT UNDER OATH: Remember, the SECOND BEAST (501c3 SDA's have STOPPED protesting anti-popery decades ago; "which has now been consigned to the historical trash heap so far as the Seventh-day Adventist Church is concerned." EEOC vs PPPA and GC, Civil Case #74-2025 CBR (1975); rides (bows to, accepts, adopts and teaches) the FIRST beast's ideas/characteristics of (the Papacy).
"The principles of truth [3 Angel's Messages] that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded" –{Selected Messages Book 1, p. 204.2}.
The PRINCIPLES OF TRUTH that God in His wisdom has GIVEN to the remnant church would be DISCARDED/consigned to the historical trash heap so far as the Seventh-day Adventist Church is concerned.
Is our duty to pay tithe to an organization that has REJECTED the 3 Angel's Messages as setup by the early SDA Protestant pioneers from 1840-1894 and who are now blatantly worshiping BAAL via the Trinity doctrine, a mark of the beast (666)?
"After a long and severe conflict, the faithful few decided to dissolve all union with the apostate church if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry. They saw that separation was an absolute necessity if they would obey the word of God. They dared not tolerate errors fatal to their own souls, and set an example which would imperil the faith of their children and children's children. To secure peace and unity they were ready to make any concession consistent with fidelity to God; but they felt that even peace would be too dearly purchased at the sacrifice of principle. If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war" The Great Controversy, p. 45.
We ARE RESPONSIBLE to God for the stewardship of what He has entrusted us and to use it in HIS WORK, and to SEE that it is used for Him and not to promote Satan's agenda. Tithe should not be invested in stocks and bonds at all. Especially not in stocks that break the Sabbath such as Ford or Taco Bell that sells animals as food and soda.
“The tithe should go to those who labor in word and doctrine, be they men or women.” EV 492 & Manuscript Releases Volume One [Nos. 19-96], p. 263.3
“Canvassers must go out into various parts of the country. The importance of this work is fully equal to that of the ministry. The living preacher and the silent messenger are both required for the accomplishment of the great work before us. R & H, 4-1-1880
“The silent messengers that are placed in the homes of the people through the work of the canvasser, will strengthen the gospel ministry in every way; for the Holy Spirit will impress minds as they read the books, just as He impresses the minds of those who listen to the preaching of the word. The same ministry of angels attends the books that contain the truth as attends the work of the minister.” 6T 316.
“The tithe...it is to be especially devoted to the support of those who are bearing God’s message to the world...” MM 277.
"While it is not your own property that you are handling yet you are made responsible for its wise investment, for its use or abuse. God does not lay upon you the burden of asking the Conference or any council of men whether you shall use your means as you see fit to advance the work of God in destitute towns and cities, and impoverished localities. If the right plan had been followed, so much means would not have been used in some localities, and so little in other places where the banner of truth has not been raised. We are Not to Merge Our Individuality of Judgment Into Any Institution IN OUR WORLD. We are to look to God for wisdom, as did Daniel." 1888 MESSAGES pg 1442-1444.
"It will be urged that the few who stand in opposition to an institution of the [501c3 GENERAL CONFERENCE SDA] church and a law of the state, ought not to be tolerated; that it is better for them to suffer than for whole nations to be thrown into confusion and lawlessness. The same argument eighteen hundred years ago was brought against Christ by the "rulers of the people." . . . This argument will appear conclusive."--GC 615 (1911). {LDE 257.1}
“Every soul who is honored in being a steward of God is to carefully guard the tithe money. This is sacred means.” Manuscript Releases. vol. 1, 185
“There are a large number of names on our church books; and if all would be prompt in paying an honest tithe to the lord, which is His portion, the treasury would not lack for means.” Counsels on Stewardship, 95
“Of the means which is entrusted to man, God claims a certain portion- a tithe.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 149 “God has given special direction as to the use of the tithe. He does not design that His work shall be crippled for want of means.” Gospel Workers, 224
“Should means flow into the treasury exactly according to God's plan- a tenth of all the increase, there would be abundance to carry forward His work.” Evangelism, 252
“And in view of this the Lord commands us, 'Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house; ' that is, a surplus of means in the treasury.” Review and Herald, vol. 2, 18
“If all of our people paid a faithful tithe, there would be more means in the treasury.” Ibid., vol. 4, 507
“With an increase of numbers would have come an increase of tithe, providing means to carry the message to other places.” Pamphlet No. 67,9
“If all, both rich and poor, would bring their tithes into the storehouse, there would be a sufficient supply of means.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 475.
JESUS IS THE STOREHOUSE, NOT THE GENERAL CONFERENCE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST ORGANIZATION.
1895; "As for the voice of the General Conference, there is no voice from God through that body that is reliable.” Manuscript 57, October 12, 1895 & Manuscript Releases, vol 17, p 178, (Ellen G. White).
Ellen G. White warned in 1898: “It has been some years since I have considered the General Conference as the voice of God” —Manuscript Releases 17, p. 216, 1898; Last Day Events, p. 50.3 (Ellen G. White).
“That these men should stand in a sacred place, to be as the voice of God to the people, as we once believed the General Conference to be—THAT IS PAST” -The General Conference Bulletin, April 3, 1901, p. 25; Last Day Events, p. 50.
1 Corinthians 9, in which the apostle Paul responds to questions about his credentials and his right to the financial support of the people. The general principles set forth in the first twelve verses are brought to a specific conclusion in verses 13 and 14:
“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? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.”
Verse 13 is an obvious reference to the tithing system, by which the Levites were supported. Verse 14 specifically applies the same principle to another group. And who are they? “They which preach the gospel.”
Their credentials are the gospel which they preach. And was Paul a pluralist? Was he saying that preachers of any gospel and all gospels are to be supported by the tithe? We will find the answer in Galatians 1: 8- 9:
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
Does “let him be accursed” equate with “Let him be supported by the tithe?” And notice that Paul includes even himself in the warning, saying “Though we preach any other gospel unto you....” Is he not putting the test of truth above all other tests? Is he not telling them that the true gospel is the highest of all credentials? So much so that they should refuse to listen to even Paul himself if he came back to them preaching a different gospel, a new theology? How, then, can it be argued that if a minister is a member of a certain church and carries credentials from that church, he is entitled to be supported by the tithes of God's people regardless of what gospel he preaches?
The messenger of the Iord counseled parents, guardians of youth, and those who minister in the service of God:
“When existing evils are not met and checked, because men have too little courage to reprove wrong, or because they have too little interest or are too indolent to tax their own powers in putting forth earnest efforts to purify the family or the church of God, they are accountable for the evil which may result in consequence of neglect to do their duty. We are just as accountable for evils that we might have checked in others, by reproof, by warning, by exercise of parental or pastoral authority, as if we were guilty of the acts ourselves.” Testimonies, vol. 4, p. 516.
“It should be remembered that the promises and threatenings of God are alike conditional.” - Selected Messages, book 1,67 The experience of the Israelites, who were once the chosen people of God but were eventually rejected as a people by God, testifies eloquently to the truth of this statement. The opinion that prevailed among the Jews of Christ's time was that regardless of how far they departed from the express will of God, they nevertheless retained their position as the chosen people of God, with all of the rights and privileges pertaining thereto. This conviction was in spite of such clear warnings as had been given in Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28, Jeremiah 18, and elsewhere.
Here is the crux of the matter. The questions that we must consider are these: Could it be possible that the error of the Jews might have, crept into our thinking? Are we to believe that we are unconditionally the true church of God? Are we presuming that the rights and privileges of a true and faithful church are ours unconditionally? That the promises of God are without condition? That we can worship false gods and have invest tithes and offerings into stocks and bonds that break the Sabbath and health message - and not invest them into the treasury of the Lord's vineyard and not be held accountable stewards of His talents lent to us to oversee while He is away?
Are we supposing that the rights and privileges of a true and faithful ministry can be claimed by our ministry unconditionally? That they have a right to collect tithe regardless of what they teach and do?
Doubtless we would find these questions easier to answer if they were expressed in terms of totality— total rejection of all of the will of God by all of the ministers of our church.
May God give us faith, courage, and power in these troubled times of complete apostasy from the 3 angel's messages to know and do the will of the Lord.
“It would be poor policy to support from the treasury of God those who really mar and injure His work, and who are constantly lowering the standard of Christianity.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 553
“There are fearful woes for those who preach the truth, but are not sanctified by it, and also for those who consent to receive and maintain the unsanctified to minister to them in word and doctrine.” Ibid., vol. 1, 261- 262
“As there are woes for those who preach the truth while they are unsanctified in heart and life, so there are woes for those who receive and maintain the unsanctified in the position which they cannot fill.” Ibid., vol. 2, 552
“God desires to bring men into direct relation with . . . . . Every man has been made a steward of sacred trusts; each is to discharge his trust according to the direction of the Giver; and by each an account of his stewardship must be rendered to God . . . . We are responsible to invest this means ourselves.” Testimonies, vol. 7, 176- 177
“Do we individually realize our true position, that as God's hired servants we are not to bargain away our stewardship? We have an individual accountability before the heavenly universe, to administer the trust committed us of God.” Testimonies to Ministers, 361- 362
And we must not overlook the warnings previously quoted that there are woes upon those who consent to receive and maintain ministers whose unsanctified attitudes injure the work of God.
“We shall be called to meet those who notwithstanding definite reproof and warning through the Testimonies have gone on in an evil course. We are bidden of God to hold ourselves separate and distinct from these men who have not given heed to His warning… For they deceive, if possible, the very elect. -Letter 330, November 11, 1906 & Manuscript Releases, vol 7, 196.
Ellen White taught from 1888, 1901-1903 to come out of and be separate from the GENERAL CONFERENCE SDA movement that had completely started to structure it's system of worship after the hierarchical Roman Catholic Church with one man at it's head as pope in 1901-1903.
In the year 1905, two years before their meeting, Ellen White had written a letter to the president of the Colorado conference in which she had revealed that “for years” she had been using her tithe to assist needy ministers who were being neglected by the organization.
The letter also revealed that when other persons offered her their tithe to use as she thought best, she accepted it and used it as indicated above, in support of needy ministers.
But that would not be true of the third type of tithe payers who are mentioned in her letter: “If there have been cases where our sisters have appropriated their tithe to the support of the ministers working for the colored people in the south, let every man, if he is wise, hold his peace.”
The money was apparently sent directly to needy ministers whose condition had become known to the tithe payers. Ellen White obviously did not disapprove of the actions of these persons, much less accuse them of “stealing” the tithe.
Here's a quote you won't find the 501c3 GC SDA organization telling it's members:
“Now those who have had years in this same experience, know not God nor Jesus Christ whom He has sent, and should such go forth as representatives of Jesus Christ? These men will never give the right mold to other minds; they have grown up to the full stature of men and women in Christ. They simply have the name of Christians but are not fitted for the work of God, and never will be until they are born again, and learn the A.B.C. in true religion of Jesus Christ. There is a little hope in one direction: Take the young men and women, and place them where they will come as little in contact with our churches as possible, that the low grad of piety which is current in the day shall not leaven their ideas of what it means to be a Christian” -Letter 16f, May 9, 1892 & Manuscript Releases, vol 12, p 332-333 (Ellen G. White).
“Satan declared that it was impossible for the sons and daughters of Adam to keep the law of God, and thus charged upon God a lack of wisdom and love. If they could not keep the law, then there was fault with the Lawgiver. Men who are under the control of Satan repeat these accusations against God, in asserting that men can not keep the law of God. Jesus humbled Himself, clothing His divinity with humanity, in order that He might stand as the head and representative of the human family, and by both precept and example condemn sin in the flesh, and give the lie to Satan's charges” Signs of the Times, vol. 3, 264.
May we suggest a second thoughtful reading of the above inspired statement? Its implications are staggering. Can it be possible that there are ministers, teachers, and administrators all through our ranks who are under the control of Satan? If the writings of Ellen White are inspired, we have no choice but to believe it.
Here is the heart of the tithe problem. Here is the answer to our question, Who is responsible? Would it not be the ministers who present poison from the pulpits, the teachers who present poison in the classrooms, and the administrators who support and defend them, ignoring desperate appeals from church members?
To blame the tithe problem on independent ministries is as illogical and unjust as to blame the historic Adventists for divisions being created in the church by the preaching of the false doctrines of Calvinism among us. May we here earnestly appeal for clear thinking and fair judgment on this matter?
Consider the problem of a church member who understands our message, is devoted to the truth as it is in Jesus, and has always been a faithful tithepayer. During the years he has built up a small library of Ellen White's writings and has studied them with care. Then he is confronted with a series of shocks.
On Sabbath he hears his pastor proclaim that our Lord came to earth in the human nature of the unfallen Adam, making Him very different from ourselves. He finds it puzzling, and so spends some time on Sabbath afternoon looking through his copy of The Desire of Ages. He finds the opposite affirmed to be true on pages 25, 49, 112, 117, 174- 175, and 311- 312. Soon after, he hears his pastor preach that it is impossible for Christians, by any means, to stop sinning and that it is impossible for anyone to obey the law of God. In his The Desire of Ages the church member finds this statement described as Satan's lie on pages 24,29, 117, and 761, and he finds in that volume a total of 78 statements that it is possible, through the power of Christ for Christians to obey God's law. He then turns to The Great Controversy and reads on page 489 that “[ Satan] is constantly seeking to deceive the followers of Christ with his fatal sophistry that it is impossible for them to overcome.”
As this heart- wrenching experience continues, the church member is eventually forced to recognize that Ellen White's predictions about the great Adventist apostasy are being fulfilled before his eyes. Then comes the agonizing question, “Does God require me to pay my tithe to support the great apostasy?”
Like many others before him, he decides that this line of reasoning just doesn't make sense. He then turns to an independent ministry holding the Seventh- day Adventist historic faith, preaching the message that he accepted when he joined the church. He now begins to send his tithe to that ministry.
Now the question for every fair- minded person to consider is, Who is responsible? Has the church member's problem been created by the independent ministry, or by the preaching of the false doctrines of Calvinism in his own church?
And will this problem be solved by crushing independent ministries and letting the false preaching continue? The answer is self- evident. To destroy the independent ministries will not solve the church member's problem, nor will it be solved by cracking whips of church authority over his head, excluding him from church office, or by any other means of coercion.
Tragically, this obvious truth seems to be lost on some church administrators who continue to condemn and rail at independent ministries as if they were the cause of all the difficulty, and that the solution is simply to put them out of existence. It appears that some of these ministries are now being threatened with church discipline as a first step in that direction.
I have been invited to several meetings ostensibly called for the purpose of resolving tensions between independent ministries and the church organization. At none of these meetings did I discern the slightest recognition that the preaching of false doctrines in our churches was the real problem, or even any part of the problem. At none of them did I hear the slightest hint that any attempt would be made to correct this evil. Rather, the message delivered to the independent ministries is simple, “You, and only you, are the problem, and if you do not stop what your are doing, in particular if you do not stop accepting tithe, you are going to suffer the consequences.”
In view of the general frailty of human nature, and the specific predictions by Ellen White that there would be many apostates in the Seventh-day Adventist ministry in the last days, (see Testimonies to Ministers, 409- 410; Testimonies, vol. 5, 80- 81, 707) it would have been hazardous indeed for the messenger of the Lord to have singled out any particular group of ministers as the only ones who should ever be supported by tithe, and even more hazardous to maintain that they must be supported by tithe regardless of what they might be teaching or doing.
“It would be poor policy to support from the treasury of God those who really mar and injure His work, and who are constantly lowering the standard of Christianity.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 553
“There are fearful woes for those who preach the truth, but are not sanctified by it, and also for those who consent to receive and maintain the unsanctified to minister to them in word and doctrine.” Ibid., vol. 1, 261- 262
“As there are woes for those who preach the truth while they are unsanctified in heart and life, so there are woes for those who receive and maintain the unsanctified in the position which they cannot fill.” Ibid., vol. 2, 552
Let us take note, also, of Ellen White's use of the expression, “the treasury of God.” In her letter to the Conference president to which we have already referred, she first tells of her practice and then adds, “The money is not withheld from the Lord's treasury.” Obviously she did not have the limited view of “the Lord's treasury” that some have today.
Some independent ministries have pointed out Ellen White's statements that it is not necessary for all “funds” or “means” to flow through the same channels, and since no exception is stated in regard to tithe, they have concluded, not unreasonably, that these general terms include both tithes and offerings.
Tithe Can Be Used To Support Missionaries
Manuscript Releases Volume One [Nos. 19-96], Page 263 – Women, as well as men, are needed in the work that must be done. Those women who give themselves to the service of the Lord, who labor for the salvation of others by doing house-to-house work, which is as taxing as, and more taxing than standing before a congregation, should receive payment for their labor. If a man is worthy of his hire, so also is a woman. God has entrusted talents to His servants, and He expects them to see that mistakes can be readily made. Make no mistake in neglecting to correct the error of giving ministers less than they should receive. When you see persons in necessity who have been placed in positions of trust, let God move upon your heart to set things right. The tithe should go to those who labor in word and doctrine, be they men or women.” —Manuscript 149, 1899, 3.
(“Paying Women Workers,” October 24, 1899.) Evangelism, Page 492 - To Be Paid From the Tithe—The tithe should go to those who labor in word and doctrine, be they men or women.
Manuscript Releases Volume Eighteen [Nos. 1301-1359], Page 67God has entrusted talents to His servants, and He expects them to see that mistakes can be readily made. Make no mistake in neglecting to correct the error of giving ministers less than they should receive. When you see persons in necessity who have been placed in positions of trust, let God move upon your heart to set things right. The tithe should go to those who labor in word and doctrine, be they men or women.
Tithe For Medical Missionaries
Some utterly fail to realize the importance of missionaries' being also medical missionaries. A gospel minister will be twice as successful in his work if he understands how to treat disease. Continually increasing light has been given me on this subject. Some, who do not see the advantage of educating the youth to be physicians both of the mind and of the body, say that the tithe should not be used to support medical missionaries, who devote their time to treating the sick. In response to such statements as these, I am instructed to say that the mind must not become so narrowed down that it cannot take in the truth of the situation. A minister of the gospel who is also a medical missionary, who can cure physical ailments, is a much more efficient worker than one who cannot do this. His work as a minister of the gospel is much more complete. . . . {MM 245.3}
Assisting the Sick and Destitute.--The sick call upon us for help, and we go to their assistance. Sister McEnterfer, my helper and nurse, is called upon from miles around to prescribe for them and give them treatment. She has had wonderful success. There is no physician in Cooranbong, but we shall build a hospital or sanitarium soon, where the sick can be brought in and cared for. In the past we have brought them to our own home and cared for them, for we cannot let human beings suffer without doing something to relieve them....” {WM 334.3}
SHOULD WE ASK FOR PAY?
We take no pay for anything we do, but we must have a hospital, which will cost as little as possible, where we can have some conveniences and facilities for caring for the sick. {WM 334.4}
This is the work of Christ, and this must be our work. We want to follow closely in the footsteps of the Master. We find in this place intelligent people, who once were in comfortable positions, but poverty has come to them. We find these work, and pay them for it, and thus relieve their necessities. This is the very work to be done in order to heal the maladies of the soul as well as of the body. Christ is the mighty Healer of soul and body.” {WM 334.5}
IS TITHE JUST TO GO THROUGH THE CONFERENCE?
"You ask me what you shall do in view of the fact that so little help is given to that department of the work in which you are working. I would say, “Trust it with the Lord. There is a way opened for you in regard to securing help for the Southern field. Appeal to the people. This is the only course you can pursue, under the circumstances. Send no statement of the situation through our religious papers; because it will not be honored. Send direct to the people. God’s ways are not to be counterworked by man’s ways. There are those who have means, and who will give large and small sums. Have this money come direct to your destitute portion of the vineyard. The Lord has not specified any regular channel through which means should pass." SpM 498 (Ellen G. White).
"There are only two places in the world where we can deposit our treasures—in God’s storehouse or in Satan’s, and all that is not devoted to Christ’s service is counted on Satan’s side and goes to strengthen his cause" 6T 447.
"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" 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 (KJV).
"It would be poor policy to support from the treasury of God those who really mar and injure His work, and who are constantly lowering the standard of Christianity" 3T 553.2 (Ellen G. White).
WHERE IS THE STOREHOUSE?
"Some men or councils may say, 'That is just what we wish you to do. The Conference Committee will take your capital, and will appropriate it for this very object.' But the Lord has made us Individually his stewards. We Each hold a solemn responsibility to invest this means Ourselves. A portion it is right to place in the treasury to advance the general interests of the work; but the steward of means will not be guiltless before God, unless, so far as he is able to do this, he shall use that means as circumstances shall reveal the necessity. We should be ready to help the suffering, and to set in operation plans to advance the truth in various ways. It is not in the province of the Conference or Any Other Organization to relieve us of this stewardship. If you lack wisdom, go to God; ask him for yourself, then work with an eye single to his glory.
"By exercising your judgment, by giving where you see there is need in any line of the work, you are putting out your money to the exchangers. If you see in any locality that the truth is gaining a foothold, and there is no place of worship, then do something to meet the necessity. By your own action encourage others to act, in building a humble house for the worship of God. Have an interest in the work in all parts of the field.
"While it is not your own property that you are handling yet you are made responsible for its wise investment, for its use or abuse. God does not lay upon you the burden of asking the Conference or any council of men whether you shall use your means as you see fit to advance the work of God in destitute towns and cities, and impoverished localities. If the right plan had been followed, so much means would not have been used in some localities, and so little in other places where the banner of truth has not been raised. We are Not to Merge Our Individuality of Judgment Into Any Institution IN OUR WORLD. We are to look to God for wisdom, as did Daniel." 1888 MESSAGES pg 1442-1444
"All should remember that God’s claims upon us underlie every other claim. He gives to us bountifully, and the contract which he has made with man is that he is to return to him the tenth of his possessions. God graciously entrusts his stewards with his treasures, but he lays his hand upon the tenth, saying, “This is mine.” Just in proportion as God has given his property to man, so man is to pay a faithful tithe of all his substance. This distinct arrangement was made by Jesus Christ himself." Testimonies for the Church 6:384
"My Guide said, “This work will be sowing seed for time and for eternity.” And then the instruction was given, “The angels of the Lord will go before him. He will be accounted out of line. But many ought to be out of the lines that have been maintained to be the regular routine, and unless they themselves come into line, they will say, ‘The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we.’ Unless that temple is purified, cleansed, sanctified, God will not give them His presence in the temple of which they boast”....Those who should have rejoiced to see something done were determined to give no recognition to Edson White or the work, because he did not work in the regular lines. God has presented before you how He regarded the regular lines. The regular lines had need to be broken as a potter's vessel is broken, and reconstructed.—Manuscript 29, 1903, 1, 3. (General manuscript, “The Southern Work,” Undated.)
"I would say, “Trust it with the Lord. There is a way opened for you in regard to securing help for the Southern field. Appeal to the people. This is the only course you can pursue, under the circumstances.
Send no statement of the situation through our religious papers; because it will not be honored. Send direct to the people. God's ways are not to be counterworked by man's ways. There are those who have means, and who will give large and small sums. Have this money come direct to your destitute portion of the vineyard. The Lord has not specified any regular channel through which means should pass” Spalding and Magan Collection, p. 498.3 (Ellen G. White).
"CALL FOR MEANS TO COME DIRECTLY TO THE WORKERS IN THE SOUTHERN FIELD. I will impress hearts. These instructions have not been revoked, and are still in force.” GH April 1, 1905, Art. B, par. 2,9 (Ellen G. White).
"Let not any living hand, of minister or layman, be laid upon you with the statement, "You cannot go here, you must not go there; we shall not support you if you do not go at our bidding; or if you do not give yourself to the work of bringing souls into the truth in some certain place designated by us." God will bless you as you continue to search for lost souls in out-of-the-way places" {PH113 14.2}.
"Shall the "regular lines", which say that every mind shall be controlled by two or three minds at Battle Creek, continue to bear sway? The Macedonian cry is coming from every quarter. Shall men go to the "regular lines" to see whether they will be permitted to labor, or shall they go out and work as best they can, depending on their own abilities and on the help of the Lord, beginning in a humble way and creating an interest in the truth in places in which nothing has been done to give the warning message?" {SpM 176.5}.
Babylon = "religious bodies that were once pure and have become corrupt" —GC382.3.
Help support the health and gospel work.
Tithe: What the Bible says
Tithe: What the Bible says
What is Tithing and Tithe?
What is Tithing and Tithe?
It is a tenth of your income. It’s in the Bible, Leviticus 27:30, TLB. “A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, is the Lord’s, and is holy.”
What is tithe used for? In the Old Testament, the tithe was used to support the priests. It’s in the Bible, Numbers 18:20-21, NKJV. “Then the LORD said to Aaron: “You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel. “Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting.
Does God need our tithe? No. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 50:10-12, NKJV. “For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fullness.”
Why should I tithe? Tithing is a way of teaching us that God must be our first priority. It’s in the Bible, Deuteronomy 14:22-23, TLB. “You must tithe all of your crops every year. Bring this tithe to eat before the Lord your God at the place he shall choose as his sanctuary; this applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn of your flocks and herds. The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.”
When should I tithe? We are to return the tithe to God first—before we start spending money on other things. It’s in the Bible, Proverbs 3:9, TLB. “Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income.”
Christ endorsed tithing. It’s in the Bible, Matthew 23:23, NKJV. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
Tithing in the Bible
Tithing in the Bible
How does Paul say the gospel ministry is to be supported? It’s in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 9:13-14, TLB. “Don’t you realize that God told those working in his temple to take for their own needs some of the food brought there as gifts to him? And those who work at the altar of God get a share of the food that is brought by those offering it to the Lord. In the same way the Lord has given orders that those who preach the Gospel should be supported by those who accept it.”
Returning the tithe to God helps us remember that He is the owner of everything. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 24:1, NKJV. “The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.”
God is the source of all our wealth. It’s in the Bible, Deuteronomy 8:18, NKJV. “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
God says we rob Him if we don’t give tithe and offerings. It’s in the Bible, Malachi 3:8, NKJV. Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘ In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.
Do I tithe when in debt? We should pay what we owe to God first, and God will help us take care of our debts. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 50:14-15, NKJV. “Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”
What if I can’t afford to pay tithe? God promises to richly bless us if we are faithful in tithes and offerings. It’s in the Bible, Malachi 3:10, NKJV. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.
God owns all the money in the world. It’s in the Bible, Haggai 2:8, NKJV. “‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts.”
God asks us to give voluntary offerings for His work—in addition to the tithe. It’s in the Bible, Psalm 96:8, NKJV. “Give to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts.
We should give to God’s work willingly. It’s in the Bible, 2 Corinthians 9:7, NKJV. “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver..”
Luke 21:3-4, NKJV. “ So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”
Many persons, speaking in behalf of the SDA organization, have invoked the story of the widow and her two mites (Mark 12: 42) as evidence that all tithe should be paid through organizational channels regardless of existing conditions. Yet, the word “tithe” does not appear in that story. Shall we, therefore, accuse these persons as being “deceptive”, “dishonest”, “unscrupulous”, etc.?
You can’t out-give God. It’s in the Bible, Luke 6:38, NKJV. “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
We should give in proportion to the blessing God has given us. It’s in the Bible, Deuteronomy 16:17, NKJV. “Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.
2 Corinthians 9:7 - Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Malachi 3:10 - Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].
Proverbs 11:24 - There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and [there is] that withholdeth more than is meet, but [it tendeth] to poverty.
Luke 6:38 - Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Mark 12:41-44 - And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. (Read More...)
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - But this [I say], He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. (Read More...)
Proverbs 3:9 - Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Malachi 3:8-10 - Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. (Read More...)
Proverbs 3:9-10 - Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: (Read More...)
Psalms 4:5 - Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.
Matthew 6:1-4 - Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. (Read More...)
Acts 20:35 - I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Malachi 3:8-12 - Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. (Read More...)
Luke 16:10 - He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
Leviticus 27:30 - And all the tithe of the land, [whether] of the seed of the land, [or] of the fruit of the tree, [is] the LORD'S: [it is] holy unto the LORD.
Luke 21:1-4 - And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. (Read More...)
Matthew 6:21 - For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
“I write to you at this time to set before you our great necessity. The Lord has entrusted to you the talent of means to use and improve to his name’s glory... A most solemn and important work is to be done in our world by God’s people. This work is represented by the third angel flying in the midst of heaven. The third angel’s message is preceded by the messages of the first and second angels.... These messages must go to all the inhabitants of the world. The Lord is soon to come, and He calls upon all to whom He has entrusted His capital of means to invest it in His work as it demands help., His money is not be shut up in banks and buildings and lands when there is such a great work to be accomplished.” The Kress Collection, pg. 146-147. (July 10, 1900).
TITHE EXPOSED….CHRIST VINDICATED
**What is the purpose of Tithe? ** Who can receive Tithe?**What is God’s Treasury or Storehouse?**What institutions are considered a STOREHOUSE?**Did Ellen White teach Self Supporting Workers could be supported with Tithe and Offerings?**
I have had special instruction from the Lord that the tithe is for a special purpose, consecrated to God to sustain those who minister in the sacred work, as the Lord’s chosen to do His work not only in sermonizing, but in ministering. They should understand all that this comprehends.1MR 187
Light has been plainly given that those who minister in our schools, teaching the word of God, explaining the Scriptures, educating the students in the things of God, should be supported by the tithe money. This instruction was given long ago, and more recently it has been repeated again and again. 6T 215
Some utterly fail to realize the importance of missionaries’ being also medical missionaries. A gospel minister will be twice as successful in his work if he understands how to treat disease. Continually increasing light has been given me on this subject. Some, who do not see the advantage of educating the youth to be physicians both of the mind and of the body, say that the tithe should not be used to support medical missionaries, who devote their time to treating the sick. In response to such statements as these, I am instructed to say that the mind must not become so narrowed down that it cannot take in the truth of the situation. A minister of the gospel who is also a medical missionary, who can cure physical ailments, is a much more efficient worker than one who cannot do this. His work as a minister of the gospel is much more complete.... MM 245
The tithe should go to those who labor in word and doctrine, be they men or women.—Manuscript 149, 1899. Ev 492
It is God’s design that such workers shall be freed from unnecessary anxiety, that they may have full opportunity to obey the injunction of Paul to Timothy, “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them.” 1 Timothy 4:15. While they should be careful to exercise sufficiently to keep mind and body vigorous, yet it is not God’s plan that they should be compelled to spend a large part of their time at secular employment. AA 356
False Confidence in Stewardship
I was shown that the recording angel makes a faithful record of every offering dedicated to God, and put into the treasury, and also of the final result of the means thus bestowed. The eye of God takes cognizance of every farthing devoted to His cause, and of the willingness or reluctance of the giver. The motive in giving is also chronicled. Those self-sacrificing, consecrated ones who render back to God the things that are His, as He requires of them, will be rewarded according to their works. Even though the means thus consecrated be misapplied, so that it does not accomplish the object which the donor had in view,—the glory of God and the salvation of souls,—those who made the sacrifice in sincerity of soul, with an eye single to the glory of God, will not lose their reward.—Testimonies for the Church 2:518, 519. ChS 221.2
(Does the above quotation eliminate our responsibility to ensure faithful use of God’s Means?)
True Responsibility in Stewardship
The churches must arouse. The members must awake out of sleep and begin to inquire, How is the money which we put into the treasury being used? The Lord desires that a close search be made. Are all satisfied with the history of the work for the past fifteen years? Where is the evidence of the co-working with God? KC 120
As there are woes for those who preach the truth while they are unsanctified in heart and life, so there are woes for those who receive and maintain the unsanctified in the position which they cannot fill. If the Spirit of God has not sanctified and made pure and clean the hands and heart of those who minister in sacred things, they will speak according to their own imperfect, deficient experience, and their counsels will lead astray from God those who look to them and trust in their judgment and experience. 2T 552
WHAT IS THE STOREHOUSE
There are only two places in the world where we can deposit our treasures—in God’s storehouse or in Satan’s, and all that is not devoted to Christ’s service is counted on Satan’s side and goes to strengthen his cause. 6T 447
STOREHOUSE AND TREASURY - THE SAME
If all the tithes were brought into the storehouse, God's treasury would not be empty….. Pacific Union Recorder October 10, 1901
“Bring ye all the TITHES into the store-house, that there may be meat in mine house;” that is, a surplus of MEANS in the treasury, to amply sustain the work of God in its various branches. RH February 9, 1886, par. 18
REVENUE OF THE GOSPEL
Voluntary offerings and the tithe constitute the revenue of the gospel. Of the means entrusted to man, God claims a certain portion,—the tithe. He leaves all free to say whether or not they will give more than this.
RH February 2, 1911, Art. B, par. 14
Jesus is the True Storehouse
(T)he Lord Jesus is a never-failing storehouse from which human beings may draw strength and courage. GW 265
Satan outgeneraled them. He was more shrewd than they, and he managed to get their means into his ranks and thus deprive the cause of God of that which should have been used to sustain it in extending the truth and saving souls for whom Christ died. They lost all they had invested, and robbed God of that which they should have rendered to Him. 2T 665
NOTE: The Storehouse is seen as rendering into God's Treasury to support the cause of God for the extending of the truth and saving of souls….
WHERE IS THE STOREHOUSE
"Some men or councils may say, 'That is just what we wish you to do. The Conference Committee will take your capital, and will appropriate it for this very object.' But the Lord has made us Individually his stewards. We Each hold a solemn responsibility to invest this means Ourselves. A portion it is right to place in the treasury to advance the general interests of the work; but the steward of means will not be guiltless before God, unless, so far as he is able to do this, he shall use that means as circumstances shall reveal the necessity. We should be ready to help the suffering, and to set in operation plans to advance the truth in various ways. It is not in the province of the Conference or Any Other Organization to relieve us of this stewardship. If you lack wisdom, go to God; ask him for yourself, then work with an eye single to his glory.
"By exercising your judgment, by giving where you see there is need in any line of the work, you are putting out your money to the exchangers. If you see in any locality that the truth is gaining a foothold, and there is no place of worship, then do something to meet the necessity. By your own action encourage others to act, in building a humble house for the worship of God. Have an interest in the work in all parts of the field.
"While it is not your own property that you are handling yet you are made responsible for its wise investment, for its use or abuse. God does not lay upon you the burden of asking the Conference or any council of men whether you shall use your means as you see fit to advance the work of God in destitute towns and cities, and impoverished localities. If the right plan had been followed, so much means would not have been used in some localities, and so little in other places where the banner of truth has not been raised. We are Not to Merge Our Individuality of Judgment Into Any Institution IN OUR WORLD. We are to look to God for wisdom, as did Daniel." 1888 MESSAGES pg 1442-1444
DIRECTLY SENT TO WORKER (As ABRAHAM did) --IT IS NOT WITHHELD FROM STOREHOUSE
I have myself appropriated my tithe to the most needy cases brought to my notice. I have been instructed to do this, and as the money is not withheld from the Lord’s treasury, it is not a matter that should be commented upon, for it will necessitate my making known these matters, which I do not desire to do, because it is not best. Some cases have been kept before me for years, and I have supplied their needs from the tithe, as God has instructed me to do. And if any person shall say to me, Sister White, will you appropriate my tithe where you know it is most needed, I shall say, Yes, I will; and I have done so. I commend those sisters who have placed their tithe where it is most needed to help to do a work that is being left undone. If this matter is given publicity, it will create a knowledge which would better be left as it is. I do not care to give publicity to this work which the Lord has appointed me to do, and others to do 2MR 100.
ALL FUNDS NOT THROUGH ONE INSTITUTION
The different conferences have been led to look to the leading men at Battle Creek, feeling that no important move can be made without their approval. This tendency has been growing stronger, until it is a serious hindrance to the advancement of the work. This arrangement should never have been. The Lord would have His people under His jurisdiction. They should look to God, inquiring of Him in faith, and follow on to know the working of His providence.
The arrangement that all moneys must go through Battle Creek and under the control of the few men in that place is a wrong way of managing. There are altogether too many weighty responsibilities given to a few men, and some do not make God their counselor. TM 320, 321.
The Lord works through various agencies. If there are those who desire to step into new fields and take up new lines of labor, encourage them to do so. Seventh-day Adventists are doing a great and good work; let no man’s hand be raised to hinder his brother. Those who have had experience in the work of God should be encouraged to follow the guidance and counsel of the Lord.
DIRECTLY TO WORKERS IN THE WORK
Do not worry lest some means shall go direct to those who are trying to do missionary work in a quiet and effective way. All the means is not to be handled by one agency or organization. There is much business to be done conscientiously for the cause of God. SpM 421
Help is to be sought from every possible source. There are men who can do the work of securing means for the cause, and when these are acting conscientiously and in harmony with the counsels of their fellow-laborers in the field which they represent, the hand of restraint is not to be laid upon them. They are surely laborers together with Him who gave his life for the salvation of souls. SpM 421
Brethren Sutherland and Magan should be encouraged to solicit means for the support of their work. It is the privilege of these brethren to receive gifts from any of our people whom the Lord impresses to help. They should have means—God’s means—with which to work. The Madison enterprise has been crippled in the past, but now it must go forward. If this work had been regarded in the right light, and had been given the help it needed, we should long ere this have had a prosperous work at Madison. Our people are to be encouraged to give of their means to this work which is preparing students in a sensible and creditable way to go forth into neglected fields to proclaim the soon coming of Christ. SpM 422
To those in our conferences who have felt that they had authority to forbid the gathering of means in certain territory I now say: This matter has been presented to me again and again. I now bear my testimony in the name of the Lord to those whom it concerns. Wherever you are, withhold your forbiddings. The work of God is not to be thus trammeled. God is being faithfully served by these men whom you have been watching and criticizing. They fear and honor the Lord; they are laborers together with Him. God forbids you to put any yokes on the necks of his servants. It is the privilege of these workers to accept gifts or loans that they may invest them to help in doing an important work that greatly needs to be done. This wonderful burden of responsibility which some suppose God has placed upon them with their official position, has never been laid upon them. If men were standing free on the high platform of truth, they would never accept the responsibility to frame rules and regulations that hinder and cramp God’s chosen laborers in their work for the training of missionaries. When they learn the lesson that “All ye are brethren”, and realize that their fellow-workers may know just as well as they how to use in the wisest way the talents and capabilities entrusted to them, they will remove the yokes that are now binding their SpM 422
You ask me what you shall do in view of the fact that so little help is given to that department of the work in which you are working. I would say, “Trust it with the Lord. There is a way opened for you in regard to securing help for the Southern field. Appeal to the people. This is the only course you can pursue, under the circumstances. Send no statement of the situation through our religious papers; because it will not be honored. Send direct to the people. God’s ways are not to be counterworked by man’s ways. There are those who have means, and who will give large and small sums. Have this money come direct to your destitute portion of the vineyard. The Lord has not specified any regular channel through which means should pass. SpM 498
The Lord had directed Brethren Sutherland and Magan, men of sound principles, to establish the work at Madison. They have devised and planned and sacrificed in order to carry the work there after God's order; but the work has been long in coming to completion. It is the privilege of these brethren to receive gifts from any of our people whom the Spirit of the Lord impresses to help. They should have means—God's means—with which to do the Lord's work.... 5MR 279
“Present to the churches the true state of the long-neglected field, the long-neglected portion of My vineyard. There are hearts that will be touched and will respond. CALL FOR MEANS TO COME DIRECTLY TO THE WORKERS IN THE SOUTHERN FIELD. I will impress hearts.”
“These instructions have not been revoked, and are still in force.” GH April 1, 1905, Art. B, par. 2
POINT OF CLARITY ON THE MEANS TO BE SENT
Institutions that are God’s instruments to carry forward His work on the earth must be sustained. Churches must be erected, schools established, and publishing houses furnished with facilities for doing a great work in the publication of the truth to be sent to all parts of the world. These institutions are ordained of God and should be sustained by tithes and liberal offerings. As the work enlarges, means will be needed to carry it forward in all its branches. Those who have been converted to the truth and been made partakers of His grace may become co-workers with Christ by making voluntary sacrifices and freewill offerings to Him. And when the members of the church wish in their hearts that there would be no more calls for means, they virtually say that they are content that the cause of God shall not progress. 4T 464
SELF SUPPORTING WORK
The Lord does not set limits about His workers in some lines as men are wont to set. In their work, Brethren Magan and Sutherland have been hindered unnecessarily. Means have been withheld from them because in the organization and management of the Madison school, it was not placed under the control of the conference. But the reasons why this school was not owned and controlled by the conference have not been duly considered. SpTB11 31.3
The Lord has instructed me that, from the first, the work in Huntsville and Madison should have received adequate help. But instead of this help being rendered promptly there has been long delay. And in the matter of the Madison school, there has been a standing off from them because they were not under the ownership and control of some Conference. This is a question that should sometimes be considered, but it is not the Lord’s plan that means should be withheld from Madison, because they are not bound to the conference. The attitude which some of our brethren have assumed toward this enterprise shows that it is not wise for every working agency to be under the dictation of conference officers. There are some enterprises under certain conditions, that will produce better results if standing alone.
When my advice was asked in reference to the Madison school, I said, Remain as you are. There is danger in binding every working agency under the dictation of the conference. The Lord did not design that this should be. The circumstances were such that the burden bearers in the Madison school could not bind up their work with the conference. I knew their situation, and when many of the leading men in our conferences ignored them, because they did not place their school under conference dictation, I was shown that they would not be helped by making themselves amenable to the conference. They had better remain as led by God, amenable to Him, to work out His plans. But this matter need not be blazed abroad. 8MR 202.
The Lord’s church is composed of living, working agencies, who derive their power to act from the Author and Finisher of their faith. They are to carry forward in harmony the great work resting on them. God has given you your work. But He has other instrumentalities, and to them He has given their work, that all may become, through sanctification of the truth, members of Christ’s body, of His flesh and of His bones. Representing Christ, we act for time and for eternity; and men, even worldly men, take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus and have learned of Him. 8T 174
THOUGHT QUESTIONS
Do these statements contradict the oft quoted statement in 9T 247?
“Let none feel at liberty to retain their tithe, to use according to their own judgment. They are not to use it for themselves in an emergency, nor to apply it as they see fit, even in what they may regard as the Lord’s work” 9T 247
Only if taken out of context....notice in the next few paragraphs she clarifies the statement and explains tithe use.
“One reasons that the tithe may be applied to school purposes. Still others reason that canvassers and colporteurs should be supported from the tithe. But a great mistake is made when the tithe is drawn from the object for which it is to be used—the support of the ministers.” 9T 248
Can we be true stewards and guiltless while we ignore the Lord's counsel in regard to tithe and it's use?
“It would be poor policy to support from the treasury of God those who really mar and injure His work, and who are constantly lowering the standard of Christianity.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 553.
“There are fearful woes for those who preach the truth, but are not sanctified by it, and also for those who consent to receive and maintain the unsanctified to minister to them in word and doctrine.” Ibid., vol. 1, 261-262.
“As there are woes for those who preach the truth while they are unsanctified in heart and life, so there are woes for those who receive and maintain the unsanctified in the position which they cannot fill.” Ibid., vol. 2, 552.
“God desires to bring men into direct relation with Himself. . . . Every man has been made a steward of sacred trusts; each is to discharge his trust according to the direction of the Giver; and by each an account of his stewardship must be rendered to God. . . . We are responsible to invest this means ourselves.” Testimonies, vol. 7, 176-177.
“Do we individually realize our true position, that as God’s hired servants we are not to bargain away our stewardship? We have an individual accountability before the heavenly universe, to administer the trust committed us of God.” Testimonies to Ministers, 361-362
Plain teaching about Tithe video: https://youtu.be/_QUQuopkmrM
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“Men will misrepresent the doctrines we believe and teach as Bible truth, and it is necessary that wise plans should be laid to secure the privilege of inserting articles into the secular papers; for this will be a means of awakening souls to see the truth. God will raise up men who will be qualified to sow beside all waters. God has given great light upon important truths, and it must come to the world.” Evangelism, p. 129.
http://eternalgospelherald.com/newspaper_campaign.htm
It is no time now for God’s people to be fixing their affections or laying up their treasure in the world. The time is not far distant, when, like the early disciples, we shall be forced to seek a refuge in desolate and solitary places. As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the signal for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation in the decree enforcing the papal sabbath will be a warning to us. It will then be time to leave the large cities, preparatory to leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains. And now, instead of seeking expensive dwellings here, we should be preparing to move to a better country, even a heavenly. Instead of spending our means in self-gratification, we should be studying to economize. Every talent lent of God should be used to His glory in giving the warning to the world. God has a work for His colaborers to do in the cities. Our missions must be sustained; new missions must be opened. To carry forward this work successfully will require no small outlay. Houses of worship are needed, where the people may be invited to hear the truths for this time. For this very purpose, God has entrusted a capital to His stewards. Let not your property be tied up in worldly enterprises, so that this work shall be hindered. Get your means where you can handle it for the benefit of the cause of God. Send your treasures before you into heaven.
The members of the church should individually hold themselves and all their possessions upon the altar of God. Now, as never before, the Saviour’s admonition is applicable: “Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:33, 34. Those who are fastening their means in large houses, in lands, in worldly enterprises, are saying by their actions: “God cannot have it; I want it for myself.” They have bound up their one talent in a napkin and hid it in the earth. There is cause for such to be alarmed. Brethren, God has not entrusted means to you to lie idle nor to be covetously retained or hid away, but to be used to advance His cause, to save the souls of the perishing. It is not the time now to bind up the Lord’s money in your expensive buildings and your large enterprises, while His cause is crippled and left to beg its way, the treasury half-supplied. The Lord is not in this way of working. Remember, the day is fast approaching when it will be said: “Give an account of thy stewardship.” Can you not discern the signs of the times?
Every day that passes brings us nearer the last great important day. We are one year nearer the judgment, nearer eternity, than we were at the beginning of 1884. Are we also drawing nearer to God? Are we watching unto prayer? Another year of our time to labor has rolled into eternity. Every day we have been associating with men and women who are judgment bound. Each day may have been the dividing line to some soul; someone may have made the decision which shall determine his future destiny. What has been our influence over these fellow travelers? What efforts have we put forth to bring them to Christ?
It Is Solemn to Live
It is a solemn thing to die, but a far more solemn thing to live. Every thought and word and deed of our lives will meet us again. What we make of ourselves in probationary time, that we must remain to all eternity. Death brings dissolution to the body, but makes no change in the character. The coming of Christ does not change our characters; it only fixes them forever beyond all change.
Again I appeal to the members of the church to be Christians, to be Christlike. Jesus was a worker, not for Himself, but for others. He labored to bless and save the lost. If you are Christians you will imitate His example. He has laid the foundation, and we are builders together with Him. But what material are we bringing to lay on this foundation? “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” 1 Corinthians 3:13. If you are devoting all your strength and talent to the things of this world, your lifework is represented by wood, hay, and stubble, to be consumed by the fires of the last day. But unselfish labor for Christ and the future life will be as gold, silver, and precious stones; it is imperishable.
My brethren and sisters, awake, I beseech you, from the sleep of death. It is too late to devote the strength of brain, bone, and muscle to self-serving. Let not the last day find you destitute of heavenly treasure. Seek to push the triumphs of the cross, seek to enlighten souls, labor for the salvation of your fellow beings, and your work will abide the trying test of fire.
“If any man’s work abide, ... he shall receive a reward.” Glorious will be the reward bestowed when the faithful workers are gathered about the throne of God and the Lamb. When John in his mortal state beheld the glory of God, he fell as one dead; he was not able to endure the sight. But when mortal shall have put on immortality, the ransomed ones are like Jesus, for they see Him as He is. They stand before the throne, signifying that they are accepted. All their sins are blotted out, all their transgressions borne away. Now they can look upon the undimmed glory from the throne of God. They have been partakers with Christ of His sufferings, they have been workers together with Him in the plan of redemption, and they are partakers with Him in the joy of beholding souls saved through their instrumentality to praise God through all eternity. TESTIMONY TREASURES VOLUME 2, PAGE 166
WATCH THE SERMON : TITHE EXPOSED, CHRIST VINDICATED by JR Cofer NOW on Youtube…….CLICK HERE
The Proper Use of the Tithe
There are many perplexing problems in our time. You have asked about one of them, the matter of tithing. As you know, this is a very delicate matter and one that we should understand for ourselves. People should move from knowledge rather than from ignorance.
Q: Was Ellen G. White Rich?
A: She answered the question thus: "Sometimes it has been reported that I am trying to get rich. Some have written to us inquiring, 'Is not Mrs. White worth millions of dollars? I am glad that I can say, 'No."..Why?.. Because I see so much missionary work to be done. Under such circumstances, could I hoard money? No indeed. I receive royalties from the sale of my books; but nearly all is spent in missionary work." Manuscript No. 8, 1904. Years earlier, she wrote, "I do not profess to be the owner of any money that comes into my hands. I regard it as the Lord's money, for which I must render an account." Letter 41, 1895.
Here are some counsels along this line that you may wish to consider.
First, there is the “Watson Letter.” I shall enclose a Xerox copy of this letter along with this present sheet. It is a surprisingly definitive statement of “do’s” and “don’t” in this matter of tithe paying. Here is the source and background of this letter:
The enclosed two sheets are generally known as the “Watson Letter.” They are xeroxed from pages 215-216 of “The Spaulding-Magan Collection of Unpublished Manuscript Testimonies by Ellen G. White.” This 498-page compilation of Spirit of Prophecy quotations was initially published by Arthur W. Spaulding and Percy T. Magan in 1916. For this purpose, the private E.G.W. letter collections of four of our pioneers – E.A. Sutherland, P.T. Magan, David Paulson, O.A. Johnson and A.W. Spaulding were combined, published and indexed. This collection, “The Spaulding-Magan Collection,” may be purchased from Leaves of Autumn Books, Box 440, Payson, Arizona 85541. Here is the background of this “Watson Letter:” In 1904 and 1905, Elder Watson was President of the Colorado Conference of S.D.A. Some self-supporting workers (Adventist missionary workers not salaried by the denomination) were trying to carry on a missionary activity which Ellen White said should be done, but which the organization for some reason would not do (in this case, missionary work in the southern states). In some of her letters to these workers (many of which you will find in the “Spaulding-Magan Collection”), she told them that if the church would not help them financially, they should tell the laymen about their pressing needs and ask for funds. On a trip to Colorado in 1904 , several of them spoke of their needs and were given tithe money. They then returned with these funds to their area of labor and spent them. Elder Watson upon learning of what had happened was very angry. He wrote these workers a sharp letter and demanded that they return that money at once, telling them that the money belonged to the conference and could not go directly to self-supporting workers as had been done in this instance.
Ellen White had special ways of learning things, and she was guided to write to Elder Watson the manuscript now known as the “Watson Letter.” In this letter she stated several principles: (1) Elder Watson was wrong in speaking or legislating against this (par. 1). (2) For years she herself had done it also (par. 2,4,5). (3) She did it because God told her to do so (par. 2,4,5). (4) The entire matter should not be made a special issue of (par.2). (5) The ones to be supported by the tithe in this way (tithe paid directly to them rather than paid to the conference for the sole support of its own salaried workers) were to be those who were doing the right work but who were not officially supported by the church (par.2). (7) Tithe paid in this way is not “withheld” (par. 4). (8) Tithe paid in this way goes into “the Lord’s treasury” (par. 4). (9) She did not discourage others from doing this (par.5). (10) She commended those who were moved to do it (par.5), because it was being placed “where it is most needed to help to do a work that is being left undone”(par.5). (11) This is a “work which the Lord appointed me to do, and others to do” (par5). (12) No one should make a practice of trying to gather up the tithe (par. 6). (13) Those individuals who are convicted that they must place their money with self-supporting workers rather than with the conference and the salaried workers should do so (par. 6). (14) The church should not dissuade them from doing this or penalize them in any way for so acting on their convictions (implied in par. 1,3,5,6,7). (15) But only those should do this that are convicted that they should do this (par. 3,4,5,6).
Then, secondly, there are general guidelines given by Heaven to aid us in an understanding of this matter. A majority of these will be found in the references in the study, “All Sides of the Tithe Question;” a copy of which I will enclose. You will note that “to withhold tithe” means “not to pay it at all.” It does not mean “to pay it, but not into the conference” (Watson Letter, par.4).
And, thirdly, there are several other very pertinent quotations which bear on this entire matter. Many of them may be found in two different out of print studies, prepared by other individuals, but no longer available. I will also include Xeroxes of these.
A forth area that relates to this entire matter is also a puzzling one. We shall not discuss it here. It includes the present church tithe allocation procedures (which includes tithe reversion from the union offices for church and school building construction and student scholarships, tithe usage for non-ministerial and non-evangelistic purposes, etc), and it also includes the teachings and objectives of a certain group of ministers and Bible teachers now being salaried from the tithe by our conferences, unions and General Conference.
We would counsel every man to move cautiously, and amid careful study of God’s Word and prayer for guidance in these matters. When in doubt, move slowly. Don’t make sudden decisions. Know that you are doing the will of God. He understands your concerns and He will guide you as to the best course to pursue.
11) "Leadership Responsibility. Church leadership at all levels is a sacred trust. Failure or refusal to cooperate with agreed-upon policies of the church family regarding the administration of tithe erodes the capacity of the Church to accomplish its world mission. Persons who disregard these policies disqualify themselves from church leadership." http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/guidelines/main-guide4.html
6) Tithe to Institutions. Denominational organizations, such as Christian Record Braille Foundation, Voice of Prophecy, Faith For Today, It Is Written, Breath of Life will not accept funds that are known to be tithe from Seventh-day Adventists. When members send tithe to a denominational organization, they have a responsibility to indicate that it is tithe.
9) Nonacceptance of Tithe. If, according to these policies, a situation arises where it is not permissible for an organization to accept tithe funds, efforts shall be made to obtain authorization from the member to direct the funds to the regular channels. If such authorization is not obtained, the tithe will be returned with an appropriate explanation and an appeal to the person to participate in the Church's plan for sharing the Lord's tithe with the Church worldwide.
2) The "Storehouse" or "Treasury" of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. According to Scripture, the tithe is the Lord's and is to be brought as an act of worship to His storehouse. The Seventh-day Adventist Church accomplishes this by sending the tithe to the conference treasury through the church in which the person's membership is held. In unusual circumstances church members should consult with the officers of their local conference/mission. Following any other plan causes confusion and competition and undermines the Church's financial structure, thus weakening the Church's ability to fulfill its world mission. In order to continue a strong balanced church program around the world, members should not direct the Lord's tithe to projects of their own choosing.
3) Alternate Entryways to the "Storehouse."
a. The Lord promises unmeasured blessings to those who return a faithful tithe to the storehouse. The Seventh-day Adventist Church family has determined that the normal entryway to the storehouse is through the local conference/mission.
b. If members, for reasons of confidentiality, choose to send a portion of the tithe to the General Conference or their union conference, those offices may accept such tithe but shall send it without the person's name to the member's home conference for distribution to the world church. Such persons should be encouraged to process the tithe through regular channels.
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THE USE OF THE TITHE
THE USE OF THE TITHE
Mountain View, CA - Jan. 22, 1905
Elder Watson:
My brother, I wish to say to you, Be careful how you move. You are not moving wisely. The least you have to speak about the tithe that has been appropriated to the most needy and the most discouraging field in the world, the more sensible you will be.
It had been presented to me for years that my tithe was to be appropriated by myself to aid the white and colored ministers who were neglected and did not receive sufficient properly to support their families. When my attention was called to aged ministers, white or black, it was my special duty to investigate into their necessities and supply their needs. This was to be my special work, and I have done this in a number of cases. No man should give notoriety to the fact that in special cases the tithe is used in that way.
In regard to the colored work in the South, that field has been and is still being robbed of the means that should come to the workers of that field. If there has been cases where our sisters have appropriated their tithe to the support of the ministers working for the colored people in the South, let every man, if he is wise, hold his peace.
I have myself appropriated my tithe to the most needy cases brought to my notice. I have been instructed to do this; and as money is not withheld from the Lord’s treasury, it is not a matter that should be commented upon; for it will necessitate my making known these matters, which I do not desire to do, because it is not best.
Some cases have been kept before me for years, and I have supplied their needs from the tithe, as God has instructed me to do. And if any person shall say to me, Sister White, will you appropriate my tithe where you know it is most needed? I shall say, Yes, I will; and I have done so. I commend those sisters who have placed their tithe where it is most needed to help to do a work that is being left undone; and if this matter is given publicity, it will create knowledge which would better be left as it is. I do not care to give publicity to this work which the Lord has appointed me to do, and other to do.
I send this matter to you so that you shall not make a mistake. Circumstances alter cases. I would not advise that any should make a practice of gathering up tithe money. But for years there have now and then been persons who have lost confidence in the appropriation of the tithe who have placed their tithe in my hands, and said that if I did not take it they would themselves appropriate it to the families of the most needy ministers they could find. I have taken the money, given a receipt for it, and told them how it was appropriated.
I write this to you so that you shall keep cool and not become stirred up and give publicity to this matter, lest many more shall follow their example.
(Signed) Ellen G. White
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ALL SIDES OF THE TITHE QUESTION
ALL SIDES OF THE TITHE QUESTION
GOD’S PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE TITHING SYSTEM
To be presented more before the people. 5T 275, 382.
Instruction in, to be given. 6T 447.
Ministers to teach obligation of. 5T 256, 375; GW 222-225, 370.
People to be trained to be faithful in. 9T250, 251.
IT PRESENTS AN INDIVIDUAL OBLIGATION AND RESPONSIBILITY TO GOD.
Required by God. 3T 394; 6T 384,387.
Not to be made compulsory. 3T 396.
All are to be left free to say how much it is. 5T 149 (In this is a test)
Pharisee’s arbitrary rules for. DA 616, 617.
Prosperity dependent upon faithfulness in. PP 525.
Should come first. 4T 477.
Test of obedience. 6T 386
Well grounded obligation in. Ed 138-140.
Acknowledgment of God’s claim by creation and redemption. 6T 479.
Blessing attending payment of. 2T 574, 576, 661; 3T 381-383, 395, 404;
4T 474.
In proportion to gifts received. 4T 468.
IT IS ALWAYS TO BE PAID, AND NEVER WITHHELD
IT IS ALWAYS TO BE PAID, AND NEVER WITHHELD
Complainers among withholders of. 6T 389, 390; GW 225-227.
Disloyalty in withholding. 6T 387,388; 9T 52.
Some withhold like Ananias & Sapphira. 4T 469, 470.
Laxness in. TM 305-308.
Opposition to. TM 53, 60.
Withholding tithes and offerings. 5T643, 644.
Lack of keeps many from ministry. 9T 52, 249, 250.
No cessation of until God’s blessings cease. AA 339, 340.
Paying of withheld. 5T 643, 644.
Robbing God in. 2T 197-199; 259, 281, 653, 661; 3T 269, 394, 409, 510,
546; 4T 466-477; 9T 249.
Robbery of recorded in heaven. 3T 394.
Robbing God of, cause of absence of family blessing. 3T 404.
In force as long as truth is progressive. 4T 469.
Not now repealed, but extended. 3T 392.
Reaches back beyond the days of Moses. PP 525; 3T 393.
THE TITHE IS TO BE SACREDLY USED BY THOSE WHO RECEIVE IT
THE TITHE IS TO BE SACREDLY USED BY THOSE WHO RECEIVE IT
It is not to be divested into wrong channels through mismanagement at the
heart of the work TM 397.
It is not to be used to support those who mar and injure the work and lower
the standard of Christianity. 3T 553.
Two woes: 1T 261, 262; 2T 552.
WHAT THE TITHE IS TO BE USED FOR
WHAT THE TITHE IS TO BE USED FOR
Constitutes the revenue of the gospel. 9T 246, 247.
To be used for the support of the gospel. AA 335-345; 6T 386, 387, 447.
To be used exclusively for the support of the Levites. PP 526.
To be used to support ministers. 9T 249, 250.
To be used to support Bible teachers. 6T-135, 215.
To be used to support medical missionaries. MM 245.
WHAT THE TITHE IS NOT TO BE USED FOR
WHAT THE TITHE IS NOT TO BE USED FOR
Not to pay part time workers from. 2T 649.
Not to be used in paying debts. 6T 391.
Not to be used to support those who speechify on political questions.
FE 477.
Not to be used to build churches, for canvassers, or for schools. GW 226;
9T 248, 249.
THE SECOND TITHE
THE SECOND TITHE
Purpose and use of. PP 530; Ed 44.
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SOME SOLEMN QUOTES ON TITHING
“There are fearful woes for those who preach the truth, but are not sanctified by it, and also for those who consent to receive and maintain the unsanctified to minister to them in word and doctrine.” 1T 261, 262.
“The Lord has made us His stewards. He has placed His means in our hands for faithful distributions. He asks us to render to Him His own, He has reserved the tithe as His sacred portion, to be used in sending the gospel to all parts of the world.” 9T-51.
“Christ assigned to men the work of spreading the gospel. But while some go forth to preach he calls upon other to answer to his claims upon them for tithes and offerings with which to support the ministry, and to spread the printed truth all over the land. 4T- 472.
“If God pronounces a woe upon those who are called to preach the truth and refuse to obey, a heavier woe rests upon those who take upon them this sacred work without clean hands and pure hearts. As there are woes for those who preach the truth while they are unsanctified in heart and life, so there are woes for those who received and maintain the unsanctified in the position which they cannot fill.”2T 552.
“The woe which will fall upon the minister if he preach not the gospel, will just as surely fall upon the business man, if he, with his different talent, will not be a coworker with Christ in accomplishing the same results.” 4T 469.
“I call upon God’s people to open their eyes. When you sanction or carry out the decisions of men who, as you know, are not in harmony with truth and righteousness you weaken your own faith, and lose your relish for communion with God.” TM 91.
“It would be poor policy to support from the treasury of God those who really mar and injure His work, and who are constantly lowering the standard of Christianity.” 3T 553.
“No man should be set apart as a teacher of the people while his own teaching or example contradicts the testimony God has given His servants to bear in regard to diet, for this will bring confusion. His disregard of health reform unfits him to stand as the Lord’s messenger.” 6T 378.
“Light has been plainly given that those who minister in our schools, teaching the word of God, explaining the Scriptures, educating the students in the things of God, should be supported by the tithe money.” 6T-215.
“Some, who do not see the advantage of educating the youth to be physicians both of the mind and of the body, say that the tithe should not be used to support medical missionaries who devote their time to treating the sick. In response to such statements as these, I am instructed to say that the mind must not become so narrowed down that it cannot take in the truth of the situation.” MM 245.
“The tithe should go to those who labor in word and doctrine, be they men or women.” EV 492 & Manuscript Releases Volume One [Nos. 19-96], p. 263.3
“Canvassers must go out into various parts of the country. The importance of this work is fully equal to that of the ministry. The living preacher and the silent messenger are both required for the accomplishment of the great work before us. R & H, 4-1-1880
“The silent messengers that are placed in the homes of the people through the work of the canvasser, will strengthen the gospel ministry in every way; for the Holy Spirit will impress minds as they read the books, just as He impresses the minds of those who listen to the preaching of the word. The same ministry of angels attends the books that contain the truth as attends the work of the minister.” 6T 316.
“The tithe...it is to be especially devoted to the support of those who are bearing God’s message to the world...” MM 277.
“Calls are coming in from all directions, not only from persons of our faith, but from those who have become interested by reading our publications; they say, Send us a minister to preach to us the truth. But there is a great want of laborers. We have to answer, There is no man to send among you. Many are obliged to be content with the silent preacher until God shall send them the living messenger. Let all our brethren take this to heart, and by personal effort in faith and hope contribute to the Signs of the Times; for in sending matter that is alive, in speaking by the pen words bearing the holy unction, they are preaching to thousands. Long, dry articles are not wanted for this paper. The great lack of men to go from place to place and preach the word may be in a great degree supplied by tracts and papers, and by intelligent correspondence.” Counsels to Writers and Editors, pg 111.
“Pharisaism in the Christian world today is not extinct. The Lord desires to break up the course of precision, which has become so firmly established, which has hindered instead of advancing his work. He desires his people to remember that there is a large space over which the light of present truth is to be shed. Divine wisdom must have abundant room in which to work. It is to advance without asking permission or support from those who have taken to themselves a kingly power. In the past, one set of men have tried to keep in their own hands the control of all the means coming from the churches, and have used this means in a most disproportionate manner, erecting expensive buildings where such large buildings were unnecessary and uncalled for, and leaving needy places without help, or encouragement.... For years the same routine, the same ‘regular way’ of working has been followed, and God’s work has been greatly hindered. The narrow plans that have been followed by those who did not have clear, sanctified judgment has resulted in a showing that is not approved by God.
God calls for a revival and a reformation. The ‘regular lines’ have not done the work which God desires to see accomplished. Let revival reformation make constant changes.... Let every yoke be broken. Let men awaken to the realization that they have an individual responsibility.
The present showing is sufficient to prove to all who have the true missionary spirit that the ‘regular lines’ may prove a failure and a snare. God helping his people, the circle of kings who dared to take such great responsibilities should never again exercise their unsanctified power in the so-called ‘regular lines’. Too much power has been invested in unrevived, unreformed human agencies. Let not selfishness and covetousness be allowed to outline the work which must be done to fulfill the grand, noble commission which Christ has given to every disciple.... The Lord has encouraged those who have started out on their own responsibility to work for Him, their hearts filled with love for souls ready to perish...Young men, go forth into the places to which you are directed by the Spirit of the Lord. Work with your hands, that you may be self-supporting, and as you have opportunity, proclaim the message of warning...God grant that the voices which have been so quickly raised to say that all the money invested in the work must go through the appointed channel at Battle Creek, shall not be heard. The people to whom God has given His means are amenable to Him alone. It is their privilege to give direct aid and assistance to missions.... Spaulding Magan Collection, 174-177.
“In reference to our conference, it is repeated o’er and o’er again, that it is the voice of God, and therefore everything must be referred to the Conference and have the conference voice in regard to permission or restriction or what shall be and what shall not be done in the various fields.... We have heard enough, abundance, about that ‘everything must go around in the regular way.’ When we see the regular lines are altered and purified and refined, and the God of the Heavens mold is upon the regular lines, then it is our business to establish the regular lines. But when we see message after message that God has given has been accepted, but NO CHANGE, just the same as it was before, then it is evident that new blood must be brought into the regular lines... it requires minds that are worked by the Holy Spirit of God; and unless that evidence is given, unless there is a power that shows that they are accepted by God to impart to the responsibilities that have to be handled, then there should be a renovation without any delay. To have this conference pass on and close up as the conferences have done, with the same manipulating, with the very same tone, and the same order, - God forbid! ...God forbid, brethren.... He wants every living soul that has a knowledge of the truth to come to their senses. He wants every living power to arouse; and we are just about the same as dead men. And it is time that we should arise and shine because our light has come, and the glory of the Lord has arisen upon us, and until this shall come we might just as well close up the conference today as any other day. Now the Lord wants His Spirit to come in. He wants the Holy Ghost king. He wants everything of the sharpness, that it shall not be exercised toward outsiders, it shall not be exercised toward one that is trying to serve God and trying to exercise all his power to serve Him, that is bringing his tithes here to sustain the minister. He has a treasury, and that treasury is to be sustained by the tithe, and that tithe is to be so liberal that it will sustain the work largely; each one to act in their capacity in such a way that the confidence of the whole people will be established in them, and that they will not be afraid, but see everything just as light as day until they are in connection with the work of God and the people.... There is to be no man that has the right to put his hand out an say, No, you cannot go there; we won’t support you if you go there. Why, what have you to do with supporting? Did they create the means? The means came from the people, and those who are destitute fields. The voice of God has told me to instruct them to go to the people and to tell them their necessities, and to draw all the people to work just where they can find a place to work, to build up the work in every place they can...” Spaulding Magan Collection, pg. 162-168. 1901.
“The churches must arouse. The members must awake out of sleep and begin to inquire, How is the money which we put into the treasury being used? The Lord desires that a close search be made. Are all satisfied with the history of work for the past fifteen years? Where is the evidence of the co-working with God? Where has been heard throughout the churches the prayer for the help of the Holy Spirit? Dissatisfied and disheartened, we turn away from the scene.
Our churches and institutions must return to where they were before the backsliding commenced, when they began trusting in man and making flesh their arm. Have we not seen enough of human wisdom? Shall we not now seek God in earnestness and simplicity, and serve him with heart and mind and strength?” The Kress Collection, pg. 120. (Aug. 24, 1900).
“I write to you at this time to set before you our great necessity. The Lord has entrusted to you the talent of means to use and improve to his name’s glory... A most solemn and important work is to be done in our world by God’s people. This work is represented by the third angel flying in the midst of heaven. The third angel’s message is preceded by the messages of the first and second angels.... These messages must go to all the inhabitants of the world. The Lord is soon to come, and He calls upon all to whom He has entrusted His capital of means to invest it in His work as it demands help., His money is not be shut up in banks and buildings and lands when there is such a great work to be accomplished.” The Kress Collection, pg. 146-147. (July 10, 1900).
“You ask me what you shall do in view of the fact that so little help is given to that department of the work in which you are working. I would say, “Trust it with the Lord. There is a way opened for you in regard to securing help for the Southern field. Appeal to the people. This is the only course you can pursue, under the circumstances. Send no statement of the situation through our religious papers; because it will not be honored. Send direct to the people. God’s ways are not to be counter-worked by man’s ways. There are those who have means, and who will give large and small sums. Have this money come direct to your destitute portion of the vineyard. The Lord has not specified any regular channel through which means should pass.” Spaulding & Magan Collection, pg. 498.
“The arrangement that all moneys must go through Battle Creek and under the control of the few men in that place is a wrong way of managing. There are altogether too many weighty responsibilities given to a few men, and some do not make God their counselor.” TM-321.
“Do not worry lest some means shall go direct to those who are trying to do missionary work in a quiet and effective way. All the means is not to be handled by one agency or organization. There is much business to be done conscientiously for the cause of God. Help is to be sought from every possible source. There are men who can do the work of securing means for the cause, and when these are acting conscientiously and in harmony with the counsels of their fellow-laborers in the field which they represent, the hand of restraint is not to be laid upon them. They are surely laborers together with Him who gave His life for the salvation of souls...To those in our conferences who have felt that they had authority to forbid the gathering of means in certain territory I now say: This matter has been presented to me again and again. I now bear my testimony in the name of the Lord to those whom it concerns. Wherever you are, withhold your forbidding. The work of God is not to be thus trammeled. God is being faithfully served by these men whom you have been watching and criticizing. They fear and honor the Lord; they are laborers together with Him. God forbids you to put any yokes on the necks of His servants. It is the privilege of these workers to accept gifts or loans that they may invest them to help in doing an important work that greatly needs to be done. This wonderful burden of responsibility which some suppose God has placed upon them with their official position, has never been laid upon them. If men were standing free on the high platform of truth, they would never accept the responsibility to frame rules and regulations that hinder and cramp God’s chosen laborers in their work for the training of missionaries....” Spaulding-Magan Collection, pg. 419-424. (Jan. 6, 1908).
23“The message of truth is to go to all nations, tongues, and people; its
publications, printed in many different languages, are to be scattered abroad like the leaves of autumn.” 4T-pg. 83.
Mal. 3:8-10
Where is God's Storehouse?
The Jewish church, in which reposed the truth up to the time of Christ, was ever to be "the storehouse," and the priests were to ever to be its stewards. But when they rejected Christ, they forced God to transfer His "storehouse" to the little handful who did accept the added message for that day. The unbelieving thereby unwittingly forfeited their stewardship. Their followers who paid tithes to them from then on were diverting the Lord's money from His treasury to His enemies, to persecute His people. But those who were God's true people, followed "the Lamb whithersoever" He went, and " as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostle's feet." Acts 4:34,35.
For the benefit of those who thing that the tithe is used for the preaching of the gospel to the heathen only , we call their attention to the following instruction: "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying , Go not into the way of the Gentiles, . . . but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Matt. 10:5,6. Nevertheless they received the tithes and offerings, and all that was laid at their feet before the message was extended to the Gentiles.
Later, God again transferred His storehouse, entrusting its goods to the reformers who were stirred by the spirit of the down trodden truth. Accordingly, His new and faithful stewards were appointed to care for the "candlestick," church, from then on, The third chapter of Malachi, as we have previously seen, is directly applicable to the purification of the church (see pages 33,34). And the command, "bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse," being placed in this particular chapter of the Bible, shows beyond peradventure that God entrusts His "Storehouse" to the messengers of the special truth for the time. And as this message is of as great importance to the church today as Christ's was to the Jewish church, we are equally bound by His command: "Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs" (heathen). Mark 7:27. Therefor, my brothers and sisters, take heed to the word of God, and strictly comply with His command, lest with the workers of iniquity you fall under the "slaughter weapons" in the horrible fulfillment of Ezekiel's vision.
Those who lived in the period of the old message, the Judgment of the dead, were under the obligation to support it, but now that we are entering into the period of the new message, the judgment of the living, we are duty-bound to support it. No longer is there either need or justification for our supporting the old message by itself, aloof from the new. No more so than there is in preaching Noah's prediction of the flood divorced from the future significance which derives from it.
". . .God does not want any man to think that no other message is to be heard but that which he may have given. We want the past message and the fresh message," says the Spirit Of Prophecy. -- Review and Herald, March 18, 1890,
Ellen White wrote: “The Lord has not specified any regular channel through which means should pass.” “Those who have had experience in the work of God should be encouraged to follow the guidance and counsel of the Lord. Do not worry lest some means shall go direct to those who are trying to do missionary work in a quiet and effective way. All the means is not to be handled by one agency or organization. . . .“The Lord has made us individually His stewards. We each hold a solemn responsibility to invest… ourselves. God does not lay upon you the burden of asking the conference, or a counsel of men, whether you shall use your means as you see fit to advance the work of God.” Ellen White did not always return her tithes to the General Conference. In 1905, she wrote this letter to an Elder Watson. “I wish to say to you, be careful how you move. You are not moving wisely. The least you have to speak about the "TITHE" that has been appropriated to the most needy and the most discouraged field, the more sensible you will be. It has been presented to me for years that my "TITHE" was to be appropriated by myself to aid the white and colored ministers who were neglected, and did not receive sufficient to properly support their families. . . ." “I myself appropriated my "TITHE" to the most needy cases brought to my notice. I have been instructed to do this, and as the money is not withheld from the Lord’s treasury... It is not a matter that should be commented upon, for it will necessitate my making known these matters, which I do not desire to do, because it is not best." “Some cases have been kept before me for years, and I have supplied their needs from the "TITHE", as God has instructed me to do, and if any person shall say to me, Sister White, will you appropriate my "TITHE" where you know it is most needed? I shall say ‘Yes,’ and I will; and I have done so. I commend these sisters who have placed their "TITHE" where it is most needed to help to do a work that is being left undone..." "I send this letter to you so that you shall not make a mistake. Circumstances alter cases. I would not advise that any one make a practice of gathering up the "TITHE" money. But for years there have now and then been persons who have lost confidence in the appropriation of the "TITHE" who have placed the "TITHE" in my hands and said if I did not take it they would themselves appropriate it to the family of the most needy minister they could find. I have taken the money, given them a receipt for it and told them how it was appropriated.”
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"Pay your honest tithe and offering to your church, and feel that 'IT IS' your Father's house." Came near the close of 1930, before the leading brethren, as a denomination, had rejected the sealing message. Clearly, then, GOD's CHURCH, The TRUTH & SPIRIT FILLED PEOPLE have faithfully discharged its duty in refusing to accept any tithes or offerings until after the books were scattered throughout the denomination, and after the brethren began bitterly to oppose the message. Now, though, since the opposition is no longer passive, but intensely active, and the proclamation of the message supremely urgent, the only course open is apparent. It will take an army of workers, including the tithes and the offerings, to reach the people.
Brother, Sister, unless you heed this solemn call, how shall you save your own souls, and how shall this message reach our brethren in the church, swell to a Loud cry of the third angel's Message, and sound the judgment of the living? Will you take the bread from your own to feed it to the Gentiles, and thus have them both fall together in the "valley of achor"?
Consequently, as our leading brethren have inadvertently shown themselves unworthy stewards of God's "Storehouse" for the time of the "Loud Cry of the Third Angel's Message, " He has transferred the "candlestick" and is also calling for the tithes and offerings to be transferred into "His storehouse" of Present Truth.
It follows, therefore, that unless the entire denomination be robbing Him, the Lord would not declare: "Ye have robbed me, even this whole nation" (Mal.3:9). But as most of the membership are paying tithes and offerings, the indictment proves that the funds are turned into a wrong treasury. And when could this be true save at the present time, when the denomination is fighting against God and His message with His Own money-- the tithe? So it is that "Even this whole nation" is robbing God. "Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Isreae?" Ezek. 33:11. -- 4 Tract, pg. 63-67.
Ye Have Robbed Me -- In Tithes and Offerings
These verses do not blame the individual members of the church for robbing the Lord, but the whole denomination, the "whole nation." Moreover, you will note that the story of Malachi chapter three begins with chapter two. There you will note that the Lord addresses the ministry, not the laity, saying, "...O ye priests, this commandment is for you." Mal. 2:1. Plainly, then, the trouble lies in the fact that though the laity as a rule pay faithful tithe and offerings God nevertheless is robbed because the Denomination is taking the tithes and at the same time is fighting rather than accepting and promulgating His message for today -- the Judgment for the Living. His money is used to cheat His people from His Truth instead of enlightening them with It -- keeping His people in darkness and deception, even barring them from investigating the message of the hour for themselves. What a charge!
Where is one to look for God's storehouse? -- wherever God's Truth is for today, from wherever "meat in due season" is dispensed.
The statement, "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse," implies that some are already bringing into it, but not all. This, along with the charge that the whole nation is robbing God, positively shows that the tithes are now brought, not to God's storehouse, but to some other house. To repeat, God's storehouse has ever been and ever will be where "the message of the Hour" is, where "Present Truth" is, the house from which "meat in due season" is dispensed at the time the tithes are paid.
Since the old message, the "Judgment for the Dead," is out of date as is the message of Noah's flood, it is plainly seen that inasmuch as the Denomination as a whole has rejected and is fighting the message of the hour, but is still collecting the tithes of the people, it is indeed robbing God.
His people are, therefore, asked to send their tithes to the "storehouse" whence Present Truth is dispensed, for it is Present Truth that the flock needs now. "There are many precious truths contained in the word of God, but it is 'present truth' that the flock needs now." -- "Early Writings," pg. 63. Those who obey have this promise:
"And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts." Mal. 3:11-12
Under no other conditions does He promise His blessings. You have hard luck? You cannot make ends meet? Start paying your tithes. Note carefully that God requires not only tithe but tithes; that is, tithe and free will offering. He does not want them spent on something of your own devising. You are to bring them into the "store house." "...Concerning the first tithe, the Lord had declared, 'I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel.' But in regard to the second he commanded, 'Thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always.' This tithe, or its equivalent in money, they were for two years to bring to the place where the sanctuary was established. After presenting a thank-offering to God, and a specified portion to the priest, the offerers were to use the remainder for a religious feast, in which the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow should participate. Thus provision was made for the thank-offerings and feast at the yearly festivals, and the people were drawn to the society of the priests and Levites, that they might receive instruction and encouragement in the service of God. -- 2 Timely Greeting No. 30, page. 17-19.
Gods Ministers Not Salesmen, But Preachers!
God's ministers are not called to be salesmen, promoters, or auctioneers in order to raise means with which to carry on His work. Rather they are called to be preachers of the Truth and shepherds of His people, tenderly watching over every sheep, for such are worthy of being well cared for and protected not only in health but in sickness, not only in life but in death.
We cannot resort to the Denomination's practice of raising goals during church services, for such a practice detracts from the object of the meetings, and desecrates both the house of God and His Holy Day. Such unholy trafficking on holy ground must cease! Do not wait until the Lord manifests His great power, and drives out the sheep and oxen along with the money changers, overturns their tables, and scatters their illicit revenues!
The Message therefore announces unequivocally that GOD's SPIRIT & TRUTH FILLED PEOPLE who will please the Lord, will faithfully and systematically contribute a second tithe of his increase to this necessary fund, and thereby help build a defense-wall against the possibility of the Enemy's bringing unholy, time-and-spirit-killing traffic into our devotional and educational gatherings.
Let all Present-truth believers faithfully pay a first and second tithe as far as possible, then GOD can maintain its ministerial school, in addition to its boarding school for all needy and worthy children in Present Truth who are of school age, and provide a home for the aged, medical care for the needy sick, food for the hungry, and burial for those who fall at their posts of duty. -- 4 Answerer Book, pg. 50-52.
So while it is imperative that all Present-truth believers avail themselves of GOD ALONE, with Christ as their Pastor/Sheppard, it is even more urgent that all such should be first and second tithe payers, because if the INDWELLING OF CHRIST is extended to those who could be but are not such tithe payers, they would become not only a demoralizing influence among believers but also deadly parasites in their midst. For this obvious reason GOD alone can help full-fledged believers and cheerful doers of the Word. (In cases where it is impossible to pay a full second tithe, then, of course, a part is acceptable.) -- 4 Answerer Book, pg. 63.
To Whom Should My Tithe Go?
Question No. 96:
While still holding membership in the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, should one pay tithe to the further GOD's cause?
Answer:
One can best answer this question by asking himself the following questions:
Do I believe that the Bible and SOP contains the message of the hour, the sealing message of the 144,000? Have I received any spiritual help from it? Has it caused me to repent of formerly indulged sins? Am I now a better historical "Seventh-day Adventist" than I was before I accepted it? Has learning to study with the INDWELLING OF CHRIST made me love the Bible, the Spirit of Prophecy, and the brethren more than ever before?
If one's answer to each of these questions is "No," then he should pay his tithe to the church of which he is still a member. If his answer to them is "Yes," and if he is still in doubt as to where he should pay his tithe, then he should further question himself:
Had I continued in the Laodicean course before learning of this truth, could I be saved and ready to meet the Lord at His coming? Can my Seventh-day Adventist or other non-commandment keeping church brethren be saved by remaining in their present condition?
If to these questions one's answer is "No," then his answers to the following questions will instruct him where to pay this tithe.
Since I am responsible for the light which is now shining upon my pathway, and since I must help give it to my brethren, should I pay my tithe to the Denomination so that the ministry may have more money with which to fight both the message and my personal endeavors to reach the people with it, and thereby, working at cross-purposes, only help to keep them in darkness? Or, should I use my tithe to further GOD's cause (ASK GOD WHAT YOU SHOULD DO WITH YOUR TITHE, the "storehouse" of Present Truth, where it naturally should go to promote the advancement of a heart-searching reformation and to rescue my Seventh-day Adventist brethren and other church denomination members and any and all who will listen to truth from eternal ruin? And as they themselves are not prepared to meet the Lord (Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 371), then how can they adequately prepare the heathen? In view of all these facts, shall my tithe go to the Seventh-day Adventist denomination in behalf of the heathen or to the sealing message in behalf of the brethren? If I dare not place my tithe to the support of what I believe to be Present Truth, then how will it be supported, and where else can I conscientiously place my tithe?
ASK GOD, and HE will SHOW you what you should do with your tithe.
Furthermore, if I place it in the Denomination to be used largely for the evangelizing of worldlings, rather than in the storehouse of Present Truth to be used for the benefit of my brethren, then am I not doing so to the neglect of my own brethren, and thus denying that I am my brother's keeper? -- 4 Answerer, pg, 41-43. (See Also 4 Answerer 44-47; 5 Answerer 84-86)
Contribution.
God set apart the tribe of Levi as priests to work in His sanctuary and a system of contributions to support His work and His priests. After the exodus all the tribes received an inheritance of land, except the tribe of Levi.
God Was Their Inheritance. Then the LORD said to Aaron, "You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel. (Numbers 18: 20)
God's property was theirs. They took the tithe and ate the food offerings.
Tithe. For the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they offer as an offering to the LORD, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance; therefore I have said concerning them, they shall have no inheritance among the sons of Israel. (Numbers 18: 24)
The support of God's work is based on a system of required and voluntary contributions called tithes and offerings. 1 Timothy 6: 17-18, Leviticus 19: 13 and Deuteronomy 24: 15 all indicate that anyone who works should be paid. If we work for the Lord we should be paid by those who claim to love God.
Tithes. Tithing was known by the ancients before the laws on Sinai. It is a tenth of their profits returned to God.
Tenth. This stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You. (Genesis 28: 22)
In Matthew 23: 23 Jesus said that tithing should be done.
Tithe Belongs to God. Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me! But you say "how have we robbed you?" In tithes and offerings. (Malachi 3: 8)
The tithes were used by the Levites who received no inheritance, except what was given to God.
God Was Their Inheritance. The Levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel. They shall eat the Lord's offering by fire and His portion. They shall have no inheritance among their countrymen, the Lord is their inheritance as He promised them. (Deuteronomy 18: 1-2)
Offering. The offerings were the first fruits and anything given freely or to pay a vow.
Sacrifices. While some sacrifices were totally burned and offered to God, a part of other sacrifices were eaten by the priests as food.
Property of the Priests. Now this shall be the priests' due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, either an ox or a sheep, of which they shall give to the priest the shoulder and the two cheeks and the stomach. You shall give him the first fruits of your grain, your new wine, and your oil, and the first shearing of your sheep. (Deuteronomy 18: 3-4)
In the same way the workers for God must be supported by the offerings of those who believe in the Gospel.
Supported by the Gospel. Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar? So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel. (1 Corinthians 9: 13-14)
Why does God need money?
God is at war and He needs to support His volunteer army during this war. There are only a few ways that the messenger of the Gospel can be supported while he or she works.
Tithes and Offerings. The complete financial support of the people allows the workers to commit all their time and energy to the work. God even instructs them to travel lightly.
Travel Lightly. Do not acquire gold or silver or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support. (Matthew 10: 9-10)
Worthy Laborers. For the scripture says, "you shall not muzzle an ox while he is threshing", and "the laborer is worthy of his wages." (1 Timothy 5: 18)
Working Pastors. If the people do not adequately support the ministers then the pastors are forced to take on other jobs and their loyalties will be divided. This is not God's plan.
Slaves of the Church. Do we not have a right to eat and drink? Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? I am not speaking these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does not the law also say these things? (1 Corinthians 9: 4, 7-8)
It is a disgrace to the church that our ministers cannot be fully supported and they have to find full time work and devote part of their time to the church, often neglecting their families. This is not how a shepherd feeds his flock. If this is the new financial model for the church, then we might as well hire motivational speakers and buy the lastest books that they are peddling.
Cheerless Givers. Sometimes the people gave their support so grudgingly that the workers took it as an honor to decline their useless support and rely on faith so that God receives the glory for supporting Himself. Paul said that he would rather die than be supported by people who have to make him beg for their support.
I Make Myself A Slave. But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing for these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one. What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. (1 Corinthians 9: 15, 18-19)
I Support Myself. nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves a model for you, so that you would follow our example. (2 Thessalonians 3: 8-9)
God Supports Me. Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have sworn to the Lord God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear that you will say, "I have made Abram rich." (Genesis 14: 22-23)
Giving to the Gospel is a privilege, not a burden. You should consider yourself fortunate that God gives you an opportunity to support His work. Imagine living forever with the knowledge that you chose the minimal, easiest, cheapest and least time-consuming way to support the Gospel while you rewarded yourself with the best at every possible opportunity. Put your money where your heart is. Then put your heart where your money is. It is not enough to write a check.
Volunteers.
In my humble opinion, religious groups do a disservice to the ministry of God when they emphasize tithe and offering and neglect to organize their church based on the duty to volunteer their service. We have a system of collecting tithe and teaching about our financial duties to God. Yet our duty to physically work for God has not been as carefully articulated or managed. The fact is that we are all priests of God under the new covenant and are required to take turns to work for Him.
The Rule of Jesus Begins. The Lord says to my Lord, "sit at my right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet." The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying "Rule in the midst of your enemies".
Volunteers. Your people will volunteer freely in the day of your power. In holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew. (Psalm 110: 2-3).
24 Divisions of Priests For Service. In the Old Testament, the priests and workers were divided up into twenty four groups assigned to a fixed schedule so that they could take turns serving God during the year (1 Chronicles 24: 1-18; 1 Chronicles 9: 25; 2 Chronicles 23: 8). Each group served the temple two weeks per year during their scheduled rotation and all served three weeks per years during the three required feasts. So the priests served for a total of five weeks per year (35 days)!
Since we do not emphasize service, the same group of people work tirelessly for years while others warm the benches. This is wrong. Our duties should center more around service to God using the money collected. Instead, we run the church by focusing on collecting money for hiring contractors, not devoted stake holders. So the Holy Spirit never gets to distribute the gifts He has for us because we are simply lazy and uncommitted and our time is too valuable for God.
Few Workers. And he was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few, therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." (Luke 10: 2)
Talent and Resources. God gives His workers the gifts, money and talents to do His work. Unfortunately, most of us believe that our duty is complete when we pay our tithes. God needs our service more than our money.
Money cannot go and spread the message, people do. Money can buy food and clothes and television air time but it cannot create the message or nurture the flock unless you believe that we can simply fill in these jobs with motivational speakers, psychologists and social workers. God can feed us with ravens and not let our clothes wear out and let television reporters begs us for our story as we reach billions with a Gospel motivated by the Holy Spirit.
God is so determined to use all His resources to spread the Gospel that He even allows us to be poor, homeless wanderers as we minister to the people.
Your hands and feet and mind are His most important assets. When you are so personally invested in the work of God, the question of tithe and offerings become meaningless. It is not enough to write a check.
Questions About Tithing
Since we are all priests, the offerings belong to us and the work is required from us. Modern customs and the freedoms of the new covenant also give more opportunities to priests. This raises some interesting questions.
Gross or Net? Should we pay 10% of the gross or net income?
Tithe is not taken from the money we pay after we have paid all our expenses. If so, we could buy the biggest and best houses and live as expensively as possible and give God what is left over. The tithe is a portion of our "increase" or profits that we earn. So if it takes $5,000 to plant, water, manage and harvest a field and the crop is sold for $15,000, then tithe is paid on $10,000.
Modern income is more complicated. The cost of doing business includes transportation and uniforms and other operating expenses. Increasingly, our deductibles are more than taxes. They can be for education and medical expenses. They are part of our costs of living structured in creative ways to reduce taxes and net income. However, should they reduce the tithe? In addition, we also get benefits that are paid for us. Should they increase the tithe? The general concensus is that taxes are part of the cost of doing business, so tithe is a portion of the net income after taxes.
Storehouse. Where are we supposed to give the tithe? Since tithe was generally farm produce, it was literally brought to a barn or to the temple in Jerusalem. If the journey was too far, the tithe could be converted to money and given to the temple. Apparently, the priests distributed this money among themselves.
Today, we are all priests so where does the tithe belong and how is it distributed?
It would be tempting to say that we should give it to a worthy ministry or even to ourselves for personal ministry projects. However, such a disorderly process which is subject to so much abuse would be unwise. God's form of government is hierarchical. There is a definite structure. A distributed government creates more chaos and opportunity for thieves to thrive. You should belong to a church because you trust the doctrine and the ministries of the organization and the leadership selection process, goals and mission. Therefore, give your tithes to the church and use your offerings to support personal and private ministries that are doing a good job.
» Clerical Abuse and Temple Prostitution. Eli had two sons who were corrupt priests. Hophni and Phineas were practically running a brothel at the door of the sanctuary, stealing the offerings and beating the people. Pagan churches were brothels with temple prostitutes. Several churches have problems with pedophile priests and pastors whom they simply transfer from one innocent flock to another. Their orphanages were a pedophile's play ground and business headquarters. The deacons and male servants of some churches are instructed to "take care of" the females in the congregation so that they will stay in the church. The pastor is actually encouraging the men to have intercourse with the women in the church. Pastors provide prostitutes for visiting pastors and evangelists. When churches have annual meetings and conferences in a city, the XXX businesses and prostitutes are generously rewarded.
The brothel is alive and well in the church and the ordained servants of God are in charge.
If for some reason you believe that the hierarchy is corrupt or morally bankrupt but you are unwilling to leave because you believe in the doctrines then your moral obligations are to God only. Give God an opportunity to fix the problem. If the moral conduct is so outrageous and systemic, then as a member of the priesthood, you are obligated to throw out the money changers and the whores. Give to ministries worthy of the honor and vocally lodge your complaint and pray. Sometimes even Jesus took drastic actions to end practices that dishonored the name of God and exploited the congregation.
Jewish Laws? Isn't the tithe a part of Jewish customs that were done away at the cross?
It is interesting to see prosperity ministers argue passionately that the tithe is not Jewish and that its payment is still in effect. They can demonstrate that it was before the exodus and Jesus and the disciples paid tithe. Yet they refuse to see that the Sabbath was before the exodus and before the tithe. It can be traced back to the creation week and Jesus and the disciples and the early church for over 200 years kept the Sabbath. Tithing was not a part of the teaching of certain churches until about the 1960s-70s when the seed faith ministries began and the greedy crooks needed more money. They found the texts and the reasoning to obey a law that lines their pockets, but disobey one that was written by the finger of God.
The Blessing
The most popular text used to prove God's blessings in return for money is this.
Test Me. "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,"
Overflowing Blessing. says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing so that there is not room to receive it." (Malachi 3: 10)
God challenges us to test Him. This blessing is not simply based on the tithe. It is the terms of the covenant blessing in Leviticus 26: 1-13. If we keep the covenant, God will keep His promises.
Abundance. You will eat the old supply and clear out the old because of the new. (Leviticus 26:10)
Testing God ("Prove Me"). Malachi 3: 10 is what God says. It is the famous text that prosperity ministers salivate on. However, Satan also came to Jesus quoting Bible promises.
Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, you shall not put the Lord your God to the test." Matthew 4:7
You shall not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah. (Deuteronomy 6: 16)
So, why would God say that we should test Him, when Jesus and the law said that we should not test God?
Under what unique conditions would God subject Himself to be judged or tested?
God was speaking to a group of people who were complaining. They did not trust His judgment because they saw the wicked prospering while they were languishing and God seemed impotent or unwilling to balance the scales of justice in their favor. So God told them to test Him.
This is the same state of affairs that happened when Lucifer sinned. The people were taking sides. One third eventually sided with Satan. They put God to the test, showing that they did not trust Him completely. The sovereign God should never have been put to the test by people who knew Him.
So God allows those who mistrust Him to test Him but this is not the ideal state of affairs. This is why God cites those who do not test Him as the heroes whom He is seeking.
At some point God expects the testing to stop and trust to begin. The immature will test God continually, but the mature will submit to the testing of God. So be careful about putting God to the test rather than simply trusting Him. There is a big difference between the two concepts.
Equal Opportunity. God rains on the just and the unjust.
Merciful. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be the sons of your Father Who is in heaven. For He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5: 44-45)
The Real Blessinngs. What are the real blessings that we will receive from heaven.
A Spirit of Giving. ... it is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20: 35)
Manna. In the exodus, God poured out bread from heaven. This bread represented Christ.
Mercy. God poured out mercy and forgiveness.
Gift. God gives His gifts freely because He is compassionate. We received the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Light (Pillar of Fire). God gives knowledge about Himself.
Shade (Pillar of Clouds). God provides rest from sin and the glare of condemnation.
God as Father. The true picture of God that the world needs to see is the Father of the prodigal son.
The Son Who Strayed. He received his inheritance early and squandered it, and when he returned home he did not get a scolding. Instead he got a feast and a celebration and a second helping of inheritance. He was rewarded for being bad! Not really. He was welcomed home.
The Son Who Stayed. He stayed home and did all the wonderful things that a good son would do, yet the father never showed his appreciation by giving him a feast or telling him that he was grateful for his fidelity.
The message to both sons is that they should know that everything the father has is always theirs and they should not need constant tokens of proof to remind them of this fact. However, the message to the prodigal son is that "you are forgiven, I am not going to remind you of your sins. You already know that. Instead, I am going to remind you that you are my beloved son".
So within this covenant relationship God tells us that we should know that He will provide for us.
Serving God
I wish leaders would appeal to the congregation on the basis of the love of God and their desire to see His name established on the earth. We are in a battle zone. Good and evil are fighting for ultimate supremacy. We should serve God because we love Him. Prosperity, blessings or favor should never enter the equation.
Serving In Prosperity: An Awesome Responsibility.
... From everyone who has been given much, much will be required ... (Luke 12: 48)
Wealth and talents are given to the righteous for a practical purpose. They will spend it on the will of God while the wicked will not. Therefore, it is to the benefit of God that He gives you the knowledge, the energy, the people, the children, the ideas and the financial support to continue His ministry.
For the eyes of the Lord move back and forth throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. (2 Chronicles 16: 9)
God searches for people who want to do His will so that He can support them. But almost every testimonial that I hear is about giving money to a ministry and getting money back within a month so that they receive a bigger house, a better job and more money.
You ask and you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. (James 4: 3)
» The Prosperity of the Wicked. I would like to remind you that the wicked are also wealthy. The righteous serve God and cannot get away with doing the slightest wrong, yet the wicked seem to pile wicked on top of wicked and have fun doing it but they never seem to be corrected. In fact they seem to be more prosperous! Often this is because they will do anything immoral or illegal to get money, but no one can deny that God also helps them. In fact, the people to whom God made the promise about returning the tithes had this complaint.
You have said, "It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked in mourning before the Lord of hosts? So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up but they also test God and escape." (Malachi 3: 14)
In the end we will learn that it is not a blessing to escape correction. The wicked will not respond to correction, so the best that God can do is to allow them to prosper because it will all be used as a witness against them in the judgment. Their disobedience in both poverty and wealth is a testimony that the problem is not God's unfairness or harshness, it is their selfishness and wickedness. In contrast, our obedience in adversity is a testimony to the strength of love and loving obedience.
The writer of the Psalms also sought to understand this and concluded that only at the end of time will we understand this financial injustice.
The Wicked Prosper. For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pains in their death, and their body is fat. They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like mankind. Therefore pride is their necklace; the garment of violence covers them ... They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; they speak from on high. They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongues parades through the earth.
The Righteous Suffer. Look, these are the wicked; and always at ease, they have increase in wealth. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence; For I have been stricken all day long and chastened every morning.
The Wicked are Rejected in the End. When I tried to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight, Until I came into the sanctuary of God; then I saw their end. (Psalm 73: 3-9, 12-14, 16-17)
Job also had this complaint about the wicked being protected because God does not correct them.
Live A Life of Prosperity Without Any Consequences. Why do the wicked still live, continue on, also become very powerful? Their houses are safe from fear and the rod of God is not on them.
They spend their days in prosperity, and suddenly they go down to Sheol. They say to God, "Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of your ways. Who is the almighty that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we entreat Him?" (Job 21: 7, 9, 13-15)
It is the wicked who are concerned about what they will get if they approach God.
» Punished in the End. The wicked will get their reward in the end, so you may not see it in this life.
For the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity. They will be led forth at the day of fury. (Job 21: 30)
You see, just as poverty for the righteous is a test of your motives, wealth for the wicked becomes a stumbling block in the judgment. The righteous remained faithful for the right reasons, but the wicked will not even respond to God even when He throws everything good at them.
Prosperity is not a sign of God's favor and poverty is not a sign of God's abandonment.
» The Reward of the Righteous. The righteous will be rewarded in this life, but persecutions will occur.
Peter said, "Behold, we have left our own homes and followed you." And He said to them, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who had left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life."(Luke 18: 20-30)
But that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses, brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms along with persecutions and in the age to come, eternal life. (Mark 10: 30)
However, if we look at the life of Jesus and the disciples and the fact that their lives were deprivation followed by martyrdom, we must conclude that the rewards in this age are not a normal life. The care and attention of good church members will provide the loving family we gave up. Their hospitality will provide the homes we have in our homelessness. Their generous contributions will provide the money we need as we become beggars. The gifts of God that we receive give us the status and the dignity we need to prove that we are not simply hopeless losers begging for charity, but we are called by God to live like our Lord while we minister to the flock.
However, the modern day spiritual con men can perpetrate a fraud without evidence of the power of God, because they have redefined God's power and our responsibilities in terms of visible wealth as God's favor.
Serving In Need: The Shocking Secret. Despite all the promise mongering and festive balloons, it seems that the prosperity whores are hiding a dirty little secret about serving God. A look at the stars of faith shows that the blessings given do not appear to be obscene financial wealth.
Jacob. He left His father-in-law as a wealthy man with eleven sons and a daughter and many animals. Yet he was a nomad, wandering from place to place, surviving several bouts of famine. Near the end of his life, his testimony is that this life had been extremely hard.
The Evil Years. So Jacob said to Pharaoh, the years of my sojourning are one hundred and thirty; few and evil have been the years of my life, nor have they attained the years that my fathers lived during the days of their sojourning. (Genesis 47: 9)
Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego. Their intention was to be faithful, whether or not God came to rescue them. They knew that God had the power to save them, but they did not care if He did or not because they were going to be faithful under all circumstances. Their love was not based on the beneficial actions of God towards them. God decides what to do and they will accept any decision He makes.
A Right Attitude. If it be so, our God Whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.(Daniel 3: 17-18)
Daniel and Joseph. Both of these men suffered and rose up to be politicians and leaders in foreign lands. God put them in these positions of wealth to help their people.
Job. He was a wealthy man in terms of children and animals, yet he was severely tested because he was faithful!
Disciples. Those doing the great work of starting the church were treated badly by modern standards of prosperity ministers.
Extreme Poverty. To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless. (1 Corinthians 4: 11)
We have come to expect that our ministers should sleep in $5000 per night hotel suites, have a fleet of luxury cars, private jets and palatial mansions. Some even have gold plated toilet seats and fifteen bathrooms in one of their many houses. The record of the faithful does not support this use of the finances of God. It is not the will of God.
Jesus. By these modern standards He could not possibly be the Messiah, God did not bless Him. Our ministers flee from this type of hardship because "God does not want us to be poor".
Riches to Rags (The Homeless and Penniless God). Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." (Matthew 8: 20)
We could explain away the miserable life of Jesus with His mission to suffer in our place. Yet, how do we explain the lives of the champions of faith in Hebrews 11 who are praised by God. They had God's favor and approval, they were worthy of His blessings. Yet their lives were utterly cursed and they never received the promise before they died.
They were praised and held up as models of the faith for this exact reason. They maintained faith despite the lack of blessings and broken promises and in spite of the curses heaped upon them unjustly!
Solomon. He was wealthy and he had the gift of wisdom. He built the first church of God and rulers from around the region flocked to Him. Yet this wealth almost made him lose his way. In the end wisdom returned to him and he concluded that all this stuff is vanity. Knowledge and love of God is the only true wealth and blessing that does not corrupt and is not corruptible. This knowledge will make you happy in any circumstances while wealth can never seem to satisfy.
Why is the biblical record of those approved by God so vastly different from the blessings promised by the covenant? It seems that the more perfect you are, the more you are denied the blessings. Could it be that the test God will pour out is a test of our love for Him? So the best blessings that He pours out is the opportunity to really know Him as a friend without the clutter of wealth that may obscure a meaningful relationship? The blessings these poor fools received was help to carry out the ministry of One whom they loved. But in return, they gave up their lives, their comfort and their reputations.
For the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6: 10)
Lessons From The Afflicted
Horrendous Treatment. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated
Great People. (men of whom the world was not worthy),
Homeless People. wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.
Broken Promises. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised
An Example of Faith. because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11: 35-40)
The faithful teach us a lesson about waiting on the promises of God.
Something Better For Us. God provided something better for us when He did not answer their prayers!
What? How!! How did breaking His promises to them provide something better for us?
They became an example of steadfast faith. So we are to learn that our trust in God despite the failing promises is more valuable to God than playing Santa Claus for us. God has found faithful friends, not greedy investors and disloyal business partners.
They Are Perfected by Us. How do we make them or their faithfulness perfect? When we learn from their example and we see their promises fulfilled in us we get a chance to see a bigger picture than they did.
We see that God does fulfill His promises. Therefore, they have been proved correct in waiting. They are perfected or vindicated by their faith. So if we see God keeping His promises, although it is on His time schedule, we can be assured of other unfulfilled promises. We can be assured of the hope of the resurrection and the new earth and the bright future that God has planned.
So we can in turn give this gift of trust and faithfulness to God to our children because our trust is based on the mountain of evidence and testimonials from our ancestors and the history of how God has kept His promises.
So despite the fact that people claim that faith is visualizing what you want until you get the thing for which you have waited, Faith is really trusting God despite not getting the thing for which you have waited and hoped.
Prosperity Ministries And Modern Money Changers
At the beginning of His ministry and during the final week Jesus drove the money changers out of the temple. They had practically made the temple a shopping mall for their wares and the practice was offensive to the name, character and reputation of God. A shameful practice has become popular among the church which does the same damage to God.
The Den of Thieves (Ravenous Wolves). I look and listen in horror as I hear the modern day money changers selling their wares. Their opulent life styles have no resemblance to the hard life of their Messiah and the early apostles. Yet they are successful at this because they have learned to dress up the rhetoric of their sales pitch with bible promises and testimonials.
For it is You Who blesses the righteous man, O Lord. You surround him with favor as with a shield. Psalm 5:12
Christian Testimonials. I hear more testimonies about how we can get money from God than about the enormous cost God paid to break the power of sin and how God has broken the cycle of sin in their lives. I hear those testimonials too but you have to buy a book to hear the rest of the story. In the prosperity mindset, a victorious story is not worth repeating unless it is the story of the rich and famous and we can sign a book deal. Otherwise, it is the mad rantings of a cursed, hopeless loser.
The Image of God: (Submission and Sacrifice). The problem with these people is that their merchandizing has ruined the image of God who became poor so that we might be rich through an incredible gift.
The Church is The Financial Institution. And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And He said to them "It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of thieves". (Matthew 21: 12-13)
The Person Who made this statement cannot be very happy with the prosperity ministers.
The Money Lover's Idol. No servant can serve two masters, for he will either hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Now the Pharisees who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him. And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God." (Luke 16: 13-15)
Don't Mess With Me! Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, "How have we robbed you?" in tithes and offerings. (Malachi 3: 8)
The Pimp and His Brothel. God is portrayed as a slave master in charge of whores who will sell access, threats, forgiveness and hope at any price.
The Heavenly Slot Machine. Put $5 in and get $35 out!
No matter how they phrase it or present it, their appeals for money and promises of blessings always sounds like God loosens His purse strings, doling out prosperity to anyone who first proves their love - by doling out more money. The problem is that they are ignoring God's favor to His enemies and the main reality of serving God.
The Great Toll Booth in The Sky. God will unlock His blessings if you will open your purse.
The Lousy Father and Rotten Neighbor. God is the type of parent who will not give anything to His children unless they beg. In addition, He will not give anything until they pay first, prove that they deserve it and show that they love Him. However, the scripture teaches that God is a parent Who is proactive in caring for His children. His actions never depend on the behavior of His children but on His character.
He is the kind of neighbor Who does not rejoice at the misfortunes of His enemies. He gives them help when He sees their need and would even die for them. This is not the picture of the person Who demands proof of love from you. It is a picture of a person who is desperately proving His unfailing and unconditional love.
Santa Claus. God is the bearer of gifts from way up north. He dispenses lots of good gifts to those who subscribe with Him and contribute to His ministry. However, there is nothing for the rest of us, but a lump of coal in the middle of hell fire.
As a result, the image of His children are of a litter of stupid, greedy, whining pigs who are being milked by heartless con men.
The People Praise God. Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory because of your loving kindness, because of your truth. (Psalm 115: 1)
God Responds. For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act. For how can my name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another. (Isaiah 48: 11)
Blessings and Magic Beans for Sale! INDULGENCES - the same as Catholics the Protestant churches are doing. These Merchants of Avarice have invented many gimmicks to sell items that will bring blessings. It started in the Middle Ages with the selling of indulgences and relics. Now we have blessed red strings, red rubber bands, blessed holy water from Jerusalem and holy oil from Gethsemane. There are blessed coins, anointed cloth and blessed seeds.
The crook only invests money for the stamp and envelope, but spends less than a penny for the single mustard seed, teaspoon of low grade oil, tablespoon of tap water, rubber band, a square inch of cloth, three inches of red string or the foreign penny. There is also anointing oil that will keep you and your property protected for one year.
Some of these are not on sale, but they are "free" with a donation.
» Peddling The Signs of Judaism. Around 2009-2018 I started noticing a new branch of peddling. Scornful of Sabbath keepers and those who keep the Jewish feasts as legalists these peddling whores are now selling tallits, mezuzahs, scrolls and all things Jewish pointing to blessings pronounced in the feasts. It is laughable to hear them stumble over the obvious questions as to why these things and tithes are not also as Jewish and banished as was the Sabbath day which preceeded all these Jewish things.
It is shameful! It is disgraceful! It is not what Jesus died for!
Christian Infomercials. I watched several Chrisitan networks and the majority of time was spent selling books, financial advice, exercise equipment, diet supplements and food processors. Except for the occasional mention of God as the reason for these purchases, their sales pitch was not different from the secular infomercials. The shame is that they will spend less than a minute explaining that we are giving for the love of God, yet spend the next 29 minutes explaining why we cannot expect God to give if we do not give to Him. The love of God is not the message, the money from God is.
The Business of Church (Sacred Networking). The relationship with God is presented as a business transaction between a whore and her client. You give me this and I will give you that. If you do not, then I will not give you any reward. God is presented as a person who will give blessings and grant favors if we send money. The level of merchandizing has gotten so obscene in the church that I have heard complaints about car dealerships having show cars in the church lobby on Sundays with promotional banners inside the sanctuary. The prosperous church cannot separate itself from any business opportunity. So as they get wealthy building malls, coffee shops and other businesses inside the church, the blessings of money is the proof that God has given them wealth and favor.
But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. (Deuteronomy 8: 18)
As a consequence, people are coming to church to meet friends and business connections and people with similar interests. But nobody is coming to hear about God.
Spiritual Dung Flies. It is amazing to see all the churches run after the advice of mega churches because they believe that the evidence of the blessing of God is visible in the number of fruits. They define the fruits of God's favor as a large congregation and wealth. However, the immeasurable devotion to Christ is ignored and the garbage to which they are attracted is bottled up to be served to other congregations seeking rotten fruit.
The Fatal Attraction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, for wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires. (2 Timothy 4: 3)
Everybody thinks that this is acceptable because the church is getting wealthy and more people are coming. We are attracting them to church, but we are not attracting them to God because we have stifled everything about God because it is unattractive to these prosperity dung flies.
I guarantee that sooner or later you will find more churches giving advice or seminars on how to gain wealth than instruction and bible studies on how to win and keep souls! Of course all this business activity will be justified as "meeting the needs of the people". Then we tell ourselves that soul winning is supposed to be automatically done because we "attracted them to us". We are supposed to attract them to God.
It only matters if they are attracted to Christ. If we cannot make Christ attractive then we should not make the things of the world the attraction that we display in the church's stained glass windows.
The Cesspool in the Dung Heap. The church and its members refuse to do the work of God. The only heavy lifting that the church does well is lifting the offering. The members are content with not doing anything else as long as they can exchange hope for an offering. The separation of the flock from their money has become a big business. It has gotten so pervasive that even those with good intentions fail to see that their programs are designed to maintain the status quo instead for breaking the strongholds of Satan.
Charities. We are now accustomed to spending 90% on administrative costs, while 10% goes to the charitable works. In the 1960's it used to be the opposite. Administrative costs used be to 5%. Administrators of charitable organizations did not complain about what they are worth in the corporate world.
» The Poor as A Lure. In some countries, criminals chop off the hands or feet of young children to cripple them so that they look like more pathetic beggars for tourists. How much different is that from Christian organizations who use the images of the poor to gain wealth. How many Christian organizations and families have made their obscene wealth through charities whose programs do nothing to lift communities out of poverty, but have a constant stream of pathetic looking bait splashed across the television for decades?
Adoption. Orphanages and adoptions are big business, costing $50,000 per child. Christians see nothing wrong in separating families because they are providing a "better life" for the children. Some will even pretend that they are rescuing orphans when the truth is that they have convinced parents to give up children for this "better life".
Poverty is not a disease. I was very poor, but we valued education and it lifted us out of poverty in one generation. It is unthinkable to me that I could have been separated from my family.
Instead of spending $50,000 to adopt a child, why not spend that money to provide education to the community. If you keep removing a few children from poor environments the environment will perpetually remain poor. Find a wiser and more humane solution that keeps families together and has a long term goal.
» Set the Captives Free! Your efforts are part of the system that keeps them permanently exploited. Put your efforts into giving them options other than modern day slavery. Dig into the root cause of their impoverishment, instead of picking the flowers off the rotten tree.
Well meaning Christians used to buy the freedom of Christians put into slavery by their Muslim captors in Sudan. They ended up creating a bigger market for slaves by financing the oppressors. We will keep on making mistakes if we think that money and part-time missionary work will solve these kinds of problems.
The Gold That Rules. In everything, therefore, treat people the way you want them to treat you. For this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7: 12)
Spiritual Advice Gurus Selling Salvation at A Price. Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe, and her priests instruct for a price, and her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the Lord saying, "Is not the Lord in our midst? Calamity will not come upon us." (Micah 3:11)
Useless as Watchmen. His watchmen are blind, all of them know nothing. All of them are mute dogs unable to bark. Dreamers lying down who love to sleep.
Greedy Pigs (Prosperity Ministers). And the dogs are greedy, they are not satisfied. And they are shepherds who have no understanding. They have all turned to their own way. Each one to his unjust gain, to the last one.
Drunks. Come, they say, let us get wine, and let us drink heavily of strong drink. And tomorrow will be like today, only more so. (Isaiah 56: 10-12)
Seed Faith. Like a farmer, you cannot expect to grow crop if you do not sow seed. If you keep on sewing seed you will get more yield (2 Corinthians 9: 6-8).
» May the Lord, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand-fold more than you are and bless you, just as He has promised you. (Deuteronomy 1:11)
God is Sympathetic. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
God is Comforting. Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4: 15-16)
Make sure that you are not planting weeds, because God will throw them out to be burned.
Law of Reciprocity. Give and it will be given to you. They will pour it into your lap a good measure - pressed down, shaken together and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return. (Luke 6: 38)
What you give will be returned to you so that you can turn around and be a blessing to others.
Law of Gravity. What goes up must come down. The implication is that what you give to God in heaven will be returned to you with interest.
Law of Use. The more you continue to give, the more likely you will reach a point where your blessings will suddenly skyrocket like the steep exponential curve that is a signature of many chemical reactions and some transactions when the stock market is extremely volatile.
Law of Attraction. You can attract whatever you desire simply by wishing for it. Even the new age groups outside the church are appealing to scientific laws to make outrageous spiritual claims. These same people would ridicule faith in God, yet they are promoting faith in their inner self having the power to reassemble the universe at their request.
Science in the Torah. I totally believe in the concept that all scientific laws are based on spiritual laws. I have even proved it by showing that the Torah contains a pattern for scientific laws discovered in the past 100 years. However, these people are ignoring the fact that God reserves these promises for those who are truly dedicated to His work and that this support is rarely financial abundance.
The Strong Supporter. For the eyes of the Lord move back and forth throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.(2 Chronicles 16: 9)
Multiplying Horses (Fleet of Cars). Moreover he shall not multiply horses for himself,
People Go into Slavery to Supply Your Horses. nor shall he cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, since the Lord has said to you, "You shall never again return that way."
Multiplying Women. He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away;
Multiplying Gold. nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself. (Deuteronomy 17: 16-17)
I can never envision Jesus advocating this type of hoarding of wealth and living in this type of opulent life style under the conditions of spiritual warfare in which we are engaged.
The Destiny Of Money. Money is worthless at the end of time and it is not of any value in the new earth.
Moth Eaten. Your gold will be worthless during the plagues and they will witness against you in the judgment. Severe, persistent, global famine makes gold worthless when food is scarce for everyone.
» The Rich in Turmoil. Come now you rich, weep and howl for the miseries which are coming upon you.
» Wealth Lost. Your riches have rotted and your garments have been eaten by moths. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire.
» Hoarded Wealth. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!
» Underpaid Workers. Look, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields which you withheld, cries out against you; and the cries of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
» Idle and Self-Indulgent. You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.(James 5: 1-5)
Garbage. Your net worth, stock portfolio, expensive cars, jewelry, possessions, status, powerful connections and diplomas are all useless. It only matters if you know Christ.
In the last days money and great possessions will not be able to buy food from a poor man at any price.
» Useless Wealth. They will fling their silver into the streets and their gold will become an abhorrent thing; their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord.
Severe Famine. They cannot satisfy their appetite nor can they fill their stomachs, for their iniquity has become an occasion of stumbling. (Ezekiel 7: 19)
The poor man will simply take your possessions when you are dead.
Fire Wood. Everything on this earth will be burned up with fire. The expensive mansions, gold plated faucets and toilet seats, art work, designer clothes, jewelry and cars will all be destroyed. Knowing the destiny of all these things would it not be better to spend the money on lifting up the poor instead of making excuses for why they do not deserve your help?
All Works Burned Up. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved for fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."
The Thief in the Night. "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with intense heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting to the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. (2 Peter 3: 7, 10-12)
The day of the Lord is the thief that will destroy the works you have accumulated on earth.
Asphalt. In heaven the streets are paved with gold. It is the dirt and asphalt on which we will walk.
Building Material. Precious stones will be the rocks used to build walls (Revelation 21: 19-21).
You are accumulating dirt, rocks, garbage and firewood for your permanent grave in a dung heap.
Thieves' Treasure. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6: 19-21)
Real Treasure. Jesus said to him, if you wish to be complete [perfect], go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow Me. (Matthew 19: 21)
Prosperous living is not a sign of God's favor. It is a piece of evidence in the judgment.
It is evidence that you laid up treasures on earth while making excuses for abandoning the poor.
Throw Out The Money Changers
Salvation will be indistinguishable from an act of prostitution if God only granted favors after we have paid Him. God grants favors either because we need it or deserve it. God is good and merciful. There is nothing good or merciful about the mercenary God portrayed by the prosperity ministry.
They claim that "when you release the seed in your hand, God will release the harvest in his hand" and "Nothing leaves heaven until something leaves the earth."
God sent all the treasure of heaven when He sent Jesus Christ to a planet who hated Him and was willing to murder Him. This is the generosity of the God I know.
Gentile Currency. The Gentiles seek adoration, power, prosperity and they love gold and jewels and expensive things.
Prosperity Hounds. For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (Matthew 6: 32)
God wants you to understand that the relationship between you and Him is that of a minor child and a parent. As a parent He has certain automatic responsibilities. A child should say "thank you" to his parents for food, clothes and other gifts and necessities but he should not beg for them.
» Do Not Worry - Be Happy. God testifies that we should not worry about these things. He sees and knows and will take care of them like a parent automatically cares for the needs of his minor child.
. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6: 34)
God's Valuables. The currency which the children of God trade in is faithfulness and righteousness.
Faithful Child. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6: 33)
The Kingdom. We should focus all our attention on growing the kingdom of God and glorifying His name.
His Righteousness. We should be focused on cooperating with the Holy Spirit to obtain righteousness.
Faith and righteousness are a life time process by which we demonstrate that we belong to the kingdom of God and have the right and privilege to have the King listen to us. Only on that basis do we ever approach Him for anything. The faithful child is worth all the gold in the universe. God paid a bigger price to save us.
God Remembers The Faithful. For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. (Hebrews 6: 10)
The Strong Support Of Heaven. Do you think that heaven is best served by people who will give only to get a bigger reward? Or is heaven served by those who give from love, not seeking their own?
For those who are dedicated to His ministry, we already have the promise that God will support us. It only makes sense because we are building His kingdom. What successful business owner requires his workers to provide for the company and beg for the money and equipment that they need to operate the business?
The Army And Supply Chain of God. Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock? (1 Corinthians 9: 7)
God Finds The Faithful. God supports those who are dedicated to Him and He searches the world to find them.
God Looks For Supporters. For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. ... (2 Chronicles 16: 9)
The faithful have certain qualifications.
Generosity. The faithful will be kind and generous.
Faithful and Generous Supporters. Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (2 Corinthians 9: 6)
Simple logic dictates that those who work harder and invest more will be supported more. This has nothing to do with the money you give Him but with your willingness to give all your time, energy, attention and devotion to His work. Then He will reward you with a bigger harvest because this harvest is souls for the kingdom not another Bentley or Porche for your fleet or a bigger house or more diamonds. All of those things do not matter. In fact they take away from the resources that we should be using to grow the kingdom of God.
Cheerful. We must give without strings, not from need or greed. If we give from need with the expectation that God will give based on the sacrifice then we are giving God the reputation of a male prostitute.
No Strings. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9: 7)
Do not let your needs compel you to be desperate enough to attempt to buy the favor of God.
Sacrifice. If you honor God out of love and respect and sacrifice to build His kingdom, He will remember you. Like Abraham, you have made a covenant by pouring out yourself for Him as a living sacrifice.
Covenant. Gather My godly ones to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice. He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God. (Psalm 50: 5, 23)
God Finances The Faithful. God gives before we ask or even know that we are in trouble.
Tuned To Us. It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. (Isaiah 65: 24)
God Supplies The Faithful. God makes sure that we are supplied with all we need to do His work. He does not supply us because we do good works, He supplies us so that we can continue to do good works.
God Supplies An Abundance For Good Works. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written, "HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER." (2 Corinthians 9: 7-9)
God's kindness proves His greatness.
Gifts. Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9: 10-15)
God Helps The Faithful. When the faithful are in trouble God will help.
Be Honest With God. Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and pay your vows to the Most High; Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me. (Psalm 50: 14-15)
Everything Is Mine. God does not need your money, He owns everything. The only thing that you have of value is your willingness to work for Him. It is your trustworthy behavior and faithfulness towards God that turns His attention towards you.
I Do Not Need You. Hear, O My people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you; I am God, your God. I do not reprove you for your sacrifices, and your burnt offerings are continually before Me.
I shall take no young bull out of your house nor male goats out of your folds. For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field is Mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and all it contains. Shall I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of male goats? (Psalm 50: 7-13)
Led By The Wolf Pack
It does not surprise me that our enemies in the media are gleefully exposing many of these men. Some have become atheists who have no other career to fall back on, so they are not protective of the words of God because they are frauds who no longer believe. Some are homosexuals and serial adulterers, preying on your wives and sons. The worst are pedophiles preying on your children. However, the worst of it is that they are leading you into disobedience to God, a crime for which they will answer to God but for which you will also be made accountable because you enjoyed the fame of a mega-ministry and the entertainment more than the truth.
They can pretend to have evidence of the Holy Spirit by speaking in tongues that nobody understands because you are stupid enough to think that anybody who babbles like a fool has the gift. They can dance about and wriggle their bodies to the music because you want to be entertained because a preacher is a "good preacher" if he can perform on stage in a certain way and tell you the same soul-soothing message every Sunday. A message and performance that is soul condemning. All of you pretend to do such wonderful works and there is nothing to show for it but more expensive firewood. Evil keeps getting bolder and you keep getting richer.
Between The Pit And The Blessing
Languishing in the pit of despair for many years waiting for the Mount of Blessing is the typical child of God. Constantly bombarded with the subtle message that you are cursed because you are unfaithful, ungrateful and stingy with God. In addition, there is the insinuation that you must be guilty of unconfessed sin for which you are being punished.
Prosperity is not evidence of the favor of God. All of God's people will see prosperity in the world to come, but most will not see it in this life. God blesses us with knowledge and wisdom and He may even bless us by giving us adversity.
Perfection in Suffering. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. (Hebrews 2: 10)
A Disciple Bears A Cross. Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me".(Matthew 16: 24)
If you have suffered because of your greed and bad choices and wasteful spending, then that is not God's fault.
If you have suffered because of self-imposed torture then this is obscene. The suffering that perfects must be unjust and undeserved. You cannot be in control so that you can turn it on and off like a spigot.
In addition, if you have not suffered unjustly for the sake of the Gospel then you are an immature, untested Christian. Be very cautious if you appear to have the blessings without the struggle for the birthright.
After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. (1 Peter 5: 10)
There it is! The real blessings from God come after the struggle that proves that your character is gold. Now God has a man or woman on whom He can pour out obscence wealth because none of it will go to prosperous living. It will all go to fighting the battle to win souls and relieve the suffering caused by the presence of sin in the world.
So, for once in your life grow up!
» The Kingdom Is Not For Cowards. How can the kingdom of God win the battle if the soldiers are sleeping or lazy or stingy or not committed or want to be pampered? Appreciate the scope of the battle in which we are engaged and be a good soldier of God.
On The Road To The Promised Land
We are like Israel. On an exodus to the Promised Land and the blessings. Until then, we are homeless wanderers, strangers in a foreign land, living in temporary shelters and despised by the nations. God is our shield and protector. He provides the bare necessities of bread and water and ensures that our clothes will not wear out.
People usually have to have a very good reason to question and then uproot themselves from a system they were raised in - for us - SDA'S it means to go back to our ROOTS, the old SDA beliefs.
Please contact us and get involved! Jesus is really coming SOON! Get READY! GET READY! GET READY! Please! Come! SAYS THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE! Join us and let's work together to finish this last great REPEATING OF THE 3 ANGEL'S MESSAGES as already given in 1843-1846 SO THAT JESUS CAN COME BACK QUICKLY!!!! It is going to go with TEN TIMES THE POWER THAT IT DID in 1843 and 1844! Don't you want to be a part of this last great rally for the TRUTH as it is in Jesus Christ?
Cindy Haynes
144,000 Canvasing Program
Victims of Violence Program
Ministry of Healing Institute
RR 3 Box 7833
Doniphan, MO 63935-8773 USA
Phone: Call or Text: Cindy @ 573-996-6401 or Ernie @ 573-660-1695 or Melissa @ 573-996-6633
Email: WeddingPartyProcession@gmail.com
Here is a link to our 144,000 Canvasing Program
https://sites.google.com/site/howtoperformmiracles/program
Here's a link to our Three Angel's Messages school website that is still under construction
https://sites.google.com/site/ministryofhealinginstitute/home
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