THE THREE PRONGED OBJECTIVES IN THE GREAT COMMISSION
A.Preach the Good News
B.Baptize those who believe
C.Teach to observe what Jesus taught
Preaching the Good News is the art of presenting to peoples the claim of God over all of life. The preacher preaches for God. God speaks to the people through the preacher. The message is God’s direct will or revelations of what He desires the people to know and do. He is just a medium to go, do, say what God wants. Take the prophet Amos. In reply to the warning and threat from a false prophet, Amaziah, who warned him “Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophecy there: but prophesy not again at Bethel: for it is the king’s chapel, and it is the king’s court.” Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was a herdsman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit: And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go prophesy unto my people Israel. (Amos 7:12-15) St Paul wrote “For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.” (1 Cor 9:16)
Preaching is not giving a lecture to impart knowledge and instructions. It is speaking the oracles of God to warn, gather, and call attention to the people that they are offending God by their disobedience and neglect to honor and worship Him. God is a very jealous God. He does not share His honor and glory and worship to anybody else. He wants you just for himself. The Westminster Catechism asks “What is the chief duty of man?’ The answer is “The chief duty of man is to know God and enjoy Him forever. This is the highest good.” Revelation 4:11 declares “Thou art worthy, O LORD, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
We preach God’s righteousness and faithfulness. We preach repentance and humble submission and obedience to God as Christ taught us. We preach the Kingdom of God in the hearts of people. The kingdom of God is not a political expectation but a spiritual experience of God’s presence in the resurrected and exalted LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. Preaching seeks to reach each person for Christ.
Those who are reached and won by the preaching of Jesus Christ are baptized. They are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The revelation of biblical truth is progressive, continuing, and alive. It does not re-gres. Thus the older baptismal pronunciation “in the name of Jesus” gives way to “in the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.” Baptism is the outward manifestation of an inward experience of Jesus Christ and his sacrificial sufferings and shedding of His blood for the remission and forgiveness of sin; the elimination of judgment and condemnation and the giving of abundant life.
St Paul in his letter to the Romans Chapter 6 writes about baptism “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together In the likeness of his death, so we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Romans 6:3-6) Those who are baptized are the new people of God. Their new identity makes them a new “chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10) They are “heirs of God through Christ” in “whom there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus>” (Gal 3:28)
The third prong is to teach those baptized the daily discipline of the Godly life in Christ. Acts Chapter 2 and verse 41 reads “And they that gladly received the word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common.” Study of the word of God, fellowship, worship are three bonding force which tie the believers in community with one another. A fourth element marks the uniqueness of the community, that is, they hold everything common. The Word gives them instructions on how to live the new life in the LORD Jesus Christ; fellowship binds them together in community; and worship anchors as well as secures their holy anointing that empowers them to do wonders and signs; and fourthly, growing and building together as a new people of God provides them all with protection, help, security, and guarantee of freedom to their new life in Jesus Christ.
Secularism and materialism, while they be good in influencing changes in leadership roles, such as changing despotisms and toppling power dynasties to democratic exercises of leadership, by themselves may become promoters of unbelief in God. But they can still be tools to contain abuses in the exercise of power even in the Church.
Teaching all things “whatsoever I have commanded you” encourage the disciple-apostle to always be in touch with the Master Who is always with you to the end of the world.” There is no moment the disciple-apostle can declare his independence of the Master. If he does he is no longer his disciple. He becomes an enemy. The cycle of winning souls to Christ by preaching the Gospel, then baptizing those who believe, and then nurturing them through the study of the Word, bonding them in fellowship and worship and affording them opportunities for personal growth and development by the community is never ending. It is exciting to have the wisdom and understanding to interpret and teach the Living Word to each generation. The promise of God to Joshua “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” ()Joshua 1:9). Jesus said: “I am with you always, even to the end of the world” (Matthew 28:18).
ith/05/10/10/DSK/DYRB
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
THE KEY TO HILARIOUS GIVING IN WORSHIP
A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW STUDY OF THE BOOK OF MALACHI
WHAT G0D EXPECT OF HIS PEOPLE. – Malachi1 11. From the rising of the sun even unto to the going down my name shall be great among the Gentiles: and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts,
1:6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father where is mine honour? and if I be a master where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you O priests that despise my name
2: The duty of the priests: “ For the priests lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts (2:7).
3. The contemptible acts of the priests and nobles against God.
Despised the name of God.
Offer polluted bread upon the altar – blind sacrifice, lame, and sick
Divorces,
Rob the tithes of the Lord (3:8)
Wearied the LORD with your words
They said “It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have mournfully before the LORD of hosts.(3:14)
Call to repentance
2:1-3.
Biblical giving in worship is a matter of the heart. It is not of volume or weights or percentage of what you “give to God.” The prophet Malachi in Malachi 3:8-10 is always used out of context. The expositor errs when if he means to teach prosperity and abundant blessings by the giving of the tithes faithfully and regularly the church or any other religious organizations. What he is appealing to is the selfishness and greed of the people. You give tithes so that God would reward you with so much abundance by “opening the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” ( Mal 3:10b) Compare this word with Habakkuc 3:17-19 “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines and the fields shall yield no meat: the flock cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls. Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my Salvation. The LORD God is my strength and he will make my feet like hinds feet, and he will make me to walk in mine high places.”
Both prophets are faced with the people’s sinfulness. The people offended God by their gross idolatry. Murder, adultery, disregard of the commandments of God angered God. He left them to themselves and the mercies of their enemies. Habakkuk looks up to God with great faith and trust, “Although …” the situations now are not good and favorable, “yet I will rejoice in the LORD...”. On the other hand Malachi centered the anger of God with the infidelity of the priests and the leaders. Even if they were very religious their hearts despised God. The people mirror the character of their priests. The contemptible acts of the priests and nobles against God.
Despised the name of God.
Offer polluted bread upon the altar – blind sacrifice, lame, and sick
Divorces,
Steal the tithes of the Lord (3:8)
Wearied the LORD with your words
They said “It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have mournfully before the LORD of hosts.(3:14)
Malachi is calling upon the priests and leaders to repent of these abominable worship. The people who mirror the character and attitude of the priests will just follow suit. They will repent and give their hearts to God. The signs of repentance are giving honor and praise to God in worship; offering only the choicest and best from their produce of the land, flocks, herds, orchards. They acknowledge that all things belong to God. They know that God created all things and for His pleasures have all things created (Rev 4:11). Malachi is calling the priesthood and the leadership to honor God by bringing all their tithes to the storehouse of the LORD that there may be food in the house.” The he will lift the curse so that the blessings will again flow in great abundance, Again “from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same the LORD's name shall be praised. And prayers (incense) shall be offered by all and for all to the name of the LORD. There shall be great rejoicing and joy as the people, great and small, worship God together (Phil 4.4, 19).
The key to hilarious giving in worship then is “Give your heart to God for where your heart is there will your treasure be also.”
04/29/10:DSK/DYRB/ith
A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW STUDY OF THE BOOK OF MALACHI
WHAT G0D EXPECT OF HIS PEOPLE. – Malachi1 11. From the rising of the sun even unto to the going down my name shall be great among the Gentiles: and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts,
1:6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father where is mine honour? and if I be a master where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you O priests that despise my name
2: The duty of the priests: “ For the priests lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts (2:7).
3. The contemptible acts of the priests and nobles against God.
Despised the name of God.
Offer polluted bread upon the altar – blind sacrifice, lame, and sick
Divorces,
Rob the tithes of the Lord (3:8)
Wearied the LORD with your words
They said “It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have mournfully before the LORD of hosts.(3:14)
Call to repentance
2:1-3.
Biblical giving in worship is a matter of the heart. It is not of volume or weights or percentage of what you “give to God.” The prophet Malachi in Malachi 3:8-10 is always used out of context. The expositor errs when if he means to teach prosperity and abundant blessings by the giving of the tithes faithfully and regularly the church or any other religious organizations. What he is appealing to is the selfishness and greed of the people. You give tithes so that God would reward you with so much abundance by “opening the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” ( Mal 3:10b) Compare this word with Habakkuc 3:17-19 “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines and the fields shall yield no meat: the flock cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls. Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my Salvation. The LORD God is my strength and he will make my feet like hinds feet, and he will make me to walk in mine high places.”
Both prophets are faced with the people’s sinfulness. The people offended God by their gross idolatry. Murder, adultery, disregard of the commandments of God angered God. He left them to themselves and the mercies of their enemies. Habakkuk looks up to God with great faith and trust, “Although …” the situations now are not good and favorable, “yet I will rejoice in the LORD...”. On the other hand Malachi centered the anger of God with the infidelity of the priests and the leaders. Even if they were very religious their hearts despised God. The people mirror the character of their priests. The contemptible acts of the priests and nobles against God.
Despised the name of God.
Offer polluted bread upon the altar – blind sacrifice, lame, and sick
Divorces,
Steal the tithes of the Lord (3:8)
Wearied the LORD with your words
They said “It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have mournfully before the LORD of hosts.(3:14)
Malachi is calling upon the priests and leaders to repent of these abominable worship. The people who mirror the character and attitude of the priests will just follow suit. They will repent and give their hearts to God. The signs of repentance are giving honor and praise to God in worship; offering only the choicest and best from their produce of the land, flocks, herds, orchards. They acknowledge that all things belong to God. They know that God created all things and for His pleasures have all things created (Rev 4:11). Malachi is calling the priesthood and the leadership to honor God by bringing all their tithes to the storehouse of the LORD that there may be food in the house.” The he will lift the curse so that the blessings will again flow in great abundance, Again “from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same the LORD's name shall be praised. And prayers (incense) shall be offered by all and for all to the name of the LORD. There shall be great rejoicing and joy as the people, great and small, worship God together (Phil 4.4, 19).
The key to hilarious giving in worship then is “Give your heart to God for where your heart is there will your treasure be also.”
04/29/10:DSK/DYRB/ith
Sunday, April 25, 2010
MY FRIEND MALCOLM
Sometime during the second half of the decade in the sixties, the United Presbyterian Church launched a program called Partners in Obedience. The Program paired a minister of the United Presbyterian Church with a dynamic, progress-minded ministers of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. The Program emphasized sharing of experiences in church growth and development. The General Secretary of the UCCP strictly warned and advised the Filipino partners to avoid exploiting the UPC partner financially for personal advantage.
My U.S. partner was the pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Campaign, in Champaign, Illinois. His wife, Susie and daughters Mindy and Nancy made up his lovely family. I introduced my wife, Apolinaria and my six children, Eunice Lois, Mary Lois, Samuel Jonathan, Virginia Lois,Omar Jonatan,and Leila Lois. We exchanged family pictures and shared our hopes and dreams for each of them. I was already the Conference Moderator (Conference Minister) at the time. The Cotabato Annual Conference was the poorest Conference at that time. The Conference jurisdiction was the largest in the UCCP. The area was divided into North and South Cotabato by the Liguasan Marsh. Transportation to South Cotabato passed through the Liguasan Marsh. Most of the time during the rainy season it was very difficult and impossible to travel by land. One has to travel either by plane from Cotabato to Buayan, General Santos or by ships and coastal launches from Cotabato to Dadiangas, General Santos, a voyage of from three to five days along the sea coast.
Church congregations were far apart along the highways. It was farther apart in the interior. Houses and homes in each church were located on their farmstead. The farmers exist on “hand to mouth” living conditions, Farm to Market roads and trails discouraged farmers from planting for a big harvest. I described the conditions to Rev Malcolm Nygren I explained in our correspondences our program which included seed selection, poultry and swine raising, health and sanitation, literacy education and faith in God. Our pastors had to be the “Jack of all trades and be knowledgeable in some.” We had to assist farmers buy a carabao and farm implements.
We have to help cooperating farmers select hybrid seeds of corn or palay, buy pure breeds of poultry and swine. We had to buy Sunday School Lessons Quarterly. etc.
With subsidies from the Department of Stewardship and Evangelism of the UCCP and small amounts contribution from the Champaign Presbyterian Church we were able to assist deserving farmers earn additional income for their families and churches.
Rev Nygren sent a life size walking doll for our daughters. They named the doll Mindy after his eldest daughter. Through him we receive boxes of children’s dresses and books which we shared with children in need. The Cotabato Annual Conference was able to subsidize cost of farm animals to deserving farmers, improved poultry and swine raising, and increased production of farm products by using hybrid seeds,
I was given an opportunity to have a study scholarship at the Institute for Ecumenical Studies in Geneva, Switzerland in 1967. Dr Nygren remembered to extend financial aid to my family in Midsayap, Cotabato. By end of my study in Geneva, Dr Nygren invited me to visit the USA.in 1968. I was introduced to pastors and churches in Michigan, in Detroit, and Chicago and San Francisco and given a chance to interact with some of them.
When my term as Conference Moderator was over, I was assigned as a home Missionary among the highland tribes of Cotabato, Bukidnon and Davao and in cooperation with Brokenshire Memorial Hospital in Davao City trained some members to be “barefoot doctors.” Dr Nygren continued our partnership in obedience to the ministry of our Church.
On September 16, 1970 our youngest son was born. I wrote Dr Malcolm Nygren that we are going to name him Malcolm. He demurred at first but sent a silver cup to his namesake. Mal, I owe you much through your constancy in your obedience in partnership in the ministry of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be all the glory, p[raise, honor, and thanksgiving.
Before my term as Conference Moderator expired in 1974, I received a plaque of appreciation from the National Treasurer of the UCCP congratulating me for the progress of the Cotabato Annual Conference. It has grown and prospered from the poorest of the 30 Annual Conferences to number 3 in national giving to the General Assembly. I share this honor with my partner and friend, Dr Malcolm Nygren, pastor of the Champaign Presbyterian Church, Champaign, Illinois,U. S. A.
Sometime during the second half of the decade in the sixties, the United Presbyterian Church launched a program called Partners in Obedience. The Program paired a minister of the United Presbyterian Church with a dynamic, progress-minded ministers of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. The Program emphasized sharing of experiences in church growth and development. The General Secretary of the UCCP strictly warned and advised the Filipino partners to avoid exploiting the UPC partner financially for personal advantage.
My U.S. partner was the pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Campaign, in Champaign, Illinois. His wife, Susie and daughters Mindy and Nancy made up his lovely family. I introduced my wife, Apolinaria and my six children, Eunice Lois, Mary Lois, Samuel Jonathan, Virginia Lois,Omar Jonatan,and Leila Lois. We exchanged family pictures and shared our hopes and dreams for each of them. I was already the Conference Moderator (Conference Minister) at the time. The Cotabato Annual Conference was the poorest Conference at that time. The Conference jurisdiction was the largest in the UCCP. The area was divided into North and South Cotabato by the Liguasan Marsh. Transportation to South Cotabato passed through the Liguasan Marsh. Most of the time during the rainy season it was very difficult and impossible to travel by land. One has to travel either by plane from Cotabato to Buayan, General Santos or by ships and coastal launches from Cotabato to Dadiangas, General Santos, a voyage of from three to five days along the sea coast.
Church congregations were far apart along the highways. It was farther apart in the interior. Houses and homes in each church were located on their farmstead. The farmers exist on “hand to mouth” living conditions, Farm to Market roads and trails discouraged farmers from planting for a big harvest. I described the conditions to Rev Malcolm Nygren I explained in our correspondences our program which included seed selection, poultry and swine raising, health and sanitation, literacy education and faith in God. Our pastors had to be the “Jack of all trades and be knowledgeable in some.” We had to assist farmers buy a carabao and farm implements.
We have to help cooperating farmers select hybrid seeds of corn or palay, buy pure breeds of poultry and swine. We had to buy Sunday School Lessons Quarterly. etc.
With subsidies from the Department of Stewardship and Evangelism of the UCCP and small amounts contribution from the Champaign Presbyterian Church we were able to assist deserving farmers earn additional income for their families and churches.
Rev Nygren sent a life size walking doll for our daughters. They named the doll Mindy after his eldest daughter. Through him we receive boxes of children’s dresses and books which we shared with children in need. The Cotabato Annual Conference was able to subsidize cost of farm animals to deserving farmers, improved poultry and swine raising, and increased production of farm products by using hybrid seeds,
I was given an opportunity to have a study scholarship at the Institute for Ecumenical Studies in Geneva, Switzerland in 1967. Dr Nygren remembered to extend financial aid to my family in Midsayap, Cotabato. By end of my study in Geneva, Dr Nygren invited me to visit the USA.in 1968. I was introduced to pastors and churches in Michigan, in Detroit, and Chicago and San Francisco and given a chance to interact with some of them.
When my term as Conference Moderator was over, I was assigned as a home Missionary among the highland tribes of Cotabato, Bukidnon and Davao and in cooperation with Brokenshire Memorial Hospital in Davao City trained some members to be “barefoot doctors.” Dr Nygren continued our partnership in obedience to the ministry of our Church.
On September 16, 1970 our youngest son was born. I wrote Dr Malcolm Nygren that we are going to name him Malcolm. He demurred at first but sent a silver cup to his namesake. Mal, I owe you much through your constancy in your obedience in partnership in the ministry of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be all the glory, p[raise, honor, and thanksgiving.
Before my term as Conference Moderator expired in 1974, I received a plaque of appreciation from the National Treasurer of the UCCP congratulating me for the progress of the Cotabato Annual Conference. It has grown and prospered from the poorest of the 30 Annual Conferences to number 3 in national giving to the General Assembly. I share this honor with my partner and friend, Dr Malcolm Nygren, pastor of the Champaign Presbyterian Church, Champaign, Illinois,U. S. A.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
NGANONG GIPANGITA NINYO BUHI DIHA SA MGA PATAY?
Lukas 24:1-7 “Sayo sa pagkaDomingo sa buntag miadto sa lubnganan ang mga babaye dala ang mga pahumot nga ilang giandam. Ug nakita nila nga naligid na ang bato nga giali sa pultahan sa lubnganan. Busa misulod sila apan wala nila hikit-I ang lawas sa GINOONG Jesus. Samtang nagbarog sila didto nga nangalibog mahitungod niini, sa kalit mitungha sa ilang tupad ang duha ka lalaki nga nagsul-ob ug sulaw nga bisti. Nangalisang pag-ayo ang mga babaye ug miduko sila samtang miigon kanila ang ,duha ka lalaki, “nganong gipangita ninyo ang buhi diha sa mga patay? Wala na siya dinhi! Nabanhaw siya! Hinumdomi ang iyang gisulti kaninyo didto sa Galilea: Ang Anak sa Tawo kinahanglan nga itugyan ngadto sa mga kakasasala ug ilansang sa kros ug unya banhawon sa ikatatlong adlaw.”
Daghan ang mga nagabaton sa pagtulon_an nga nagaingopn “Motuo ako kong adunay namatay ug mibalik sa kalibutan aron mopamatuod nga adunay kinabuhi luyo sa kamatayon.” Ang Balaang Kasulatan nagapamatuod nga adunay namatay, gilubong ug sa ikatatlong adlaw nabanhaw ug sa kap-atan ka adlaw misaka sa langit aron mahimo nga GINOO sa mga guinoo ug Hari sa mga hari.” Sa dinhi pa siya sa yuta siya miingon “Kay ako buhi man mabuhi usab kamo” (Juan 14:16) Siya miingon usab “Ako mao ang pagkabahaw ug ang kinabuhi. Ang nagtuo kanako, bisan tuod namatay mabuhi. Ug ang tanan nga buhi ug mitoo kanako dili gayod mamatay” (Juan 11:25-26).
Si San Pablo nagapamatuod sa 1 Corinto 15:3-8 “Gitudlo ko kaninyo ang akong nadawat nga mahinungdanon kaayo ; kini mao nga si Cristo namatay alang sa atong mga sala sumala sa nahisulat sa Kasulatan. Nagpakita siya kang Pedro ug unya ngadto sa 12 ka mga apostoles. Unya sa usa ka higayon nagpakita siya ngadto sa kapin ka 500 sa iyang sa iyang mga sumosunod ug kadaghanan kanila buhi pa. Unya siya nagpakita kay Santiago ug sa tanang apostoles. Sa katapusan nagpakita usab siya kanako… .”
Ang Pinakadakung Maayong Balita , ang pinakamatahom balita mao ang pagkabanhaw sa GINOONG Jesukristo.Sayo kaayo sa kabuntagon sa unang adlaw sa semana miadto sa lubnganan ang mga babaye nga si Maria nga inahan ni Jesus, si Maria nga igsuon ni Lazarus, si Juana ug uban pang kababayen-an nga kauban nila miadto sa lubnganan aron sa paghuman sa pagembalsamar sa lawas ni Jesus. Nangalibog sila kay wala na nila nakita ang patay nga lawas ni Jesus. Mitungha kanila ang duha ka lalaki nga nagsul-ob ug sulaw nga bisti. Ang duha ka lalaki nangutana kanila “Nganong ginapangita man ninyo ang buhi diha sa mga patay? Wala na siya dinhi. Nabanhaw siya!”(Lukas 24:5-6)
Ang gipangita nila ni Maria mao ang patayng lawas ni Jesus. Wala gayod sila magtoo nga nabanhaw si Jesus. Ang mga tinun-an dili usab makatoo nga nabanhaw si Jesus Gibati nila ang dakung kahibulong ug kahadlok ang gipamalita sa mga kababayen-an.
Wala pa sila makasabot nga ang pagkabanhaw sa GINOONG JesuCristo mao ang gahum sa Dios alang sa kaluwsan sa tanang katawhan. Mas masayon tuhoan ug sundon ang patay nga Jesus. Mao kini ang anaa sa hunahuna ni Pedro didto sa pagbag-o sa nawong ni Jesus sa taas nga bungtod sa Moriah diin si Pedro misulti kang Jesus nga buhaton ang tulo nga tolda nga simbahan – kang Moses, kang Elias, ug kang Jesus. Niadtong adlawa wala maghunahuna si Pedro nga si Jesus nga Messiyas mamatay alang sa kaluwasn sa katawhan ug mabanhaw gikan sa kamatayon. Masayon ang pagalagad sa patayng Jesus. Madali awaton ang iyang pagtulon-an. Ang Budha usa ka magtutudlo. Ang iyang mga templo dagku Didto ginadala sa mga Budhista ang ilang mga halad ug sacrificio ug mga pag-ampo.
Ang mga Indian adunay mga dagku nga templo alang sa ilang patayng mga guru.
Mamao usab si Mahomet sa mga Moslem. Si Marcos, Lenin, Stalin, Mossulini, Napoleon. Sila nga tanan mga bantugang tawo sa ilang panahon ug ang ilang
mga lawas karon nangaabog. Si Jesus lamang ang nabanhaw ug nagapadayon nga buhi ug gamhanan.
Ang kalibutan nagapadayon pagpangita sa buhi nga Dios diha sa mga patay samtang ang buhi nga Dios walay undang ang pagtawag kanila nga moduol
Kaniya “Umari kamo kanako kamo nga gikapuyan ug gibug-atan kay papahulayon ko kamo” (Mat 11:28). “Ngari kamo ug maghusay kita. Bisag unsa ka pula ang inyong mga sala, maputi kini kaayo. bisan pa kini dagtom-pula maputi kini sama sa balhibo sa karnero”(Isa1:18).
Ang Buhi nga Cristo magabag-o sa inyong kinabuhi. Kinabuhi nga nabanhaw, kinabuhi nga napuno sa madagayaong panalangin ug bahandi sa Dios.Mga higala ug kaigsuonan ko sa GINOONG Jesus duol na sa GINOONG JesuCristo.
Dawata ang kaluwasan sa inyong kalag. Dawata ug pasalamati Siya sa pagpasaylo sa inyong kasal-anan ug pag-ayo sa inyong mga balatian Biyai ang patay nga ugali ug ang tanang matang sa pagsimba sa mga patay nga dios-dios. Si Jesus nabanhaw ug karon atua sa kiliran sa Makagagahom nga Dios Ug nagapangalipo alang kanato. Si Jesus nabanhaw. Ayaw siya pangitaa diha sa mga patay. Buhi siya! Saulogon nato ang bag-ong kinabuhi nga gasa ni Jesus kanato.
Mag-ampo kita. Amahan namo sa langit mapasalamaton kami sa imong pagbanhaw sa GINOONG Jesus. Daku uyamot ang iyang paghigugma kanamo sapagkaagi nga gihalad niya ang iyang kinabuhi sa pagkamatay sa cros ug sa iyang dugo nga giula alang sa paglinis ug pagkuha sa tanang tunglo sa sala ug kamatayon. Kami karon makatawag kanimo nga among Amahan nga nagahigugma kanamo.Sukad karon ug hangtud sa kahangturan puy-I kami ug gamhi kami sa kanunay. Salamat GINOONG Jesus sa imong pagluwas kanamo ug pag-ayon sa among mga balatian. Puy-I kami ug pun-a sa Balaang Espiritu nga sa kanunay magapalig-on ug magatudlo kanamo sa matarong nga kinabuhi. Amen.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
continuation...THE TITHES IN CHRISTIAN WORSHIP AND PRACTICE (Part 2)
Malachi 3:10—12 “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my 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. 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.”
Let us study the practice of tithing in Judeo-Christi biblical teachings only. I have already said that the act of giving something of value in our worship of God is built-in our vey being when God created us in his own image and likeness and breathed into us his very life and spirit and we became living souls. Throughout the Holy Bible we learn that God is always giving and pouring out His graces upon us. John writes to let us know that “we love him because he first love us” (1 john 4:19) “for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should, but not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).” It is the very character of God to give. Since has created us in his image and likeness we reflect everything he is and does.
Nobody commanded Cain and Abel to worship God with fruits and produce of their labor. Yet in their hearts, minds, and souls both brought gifts to God in their worship and thanksgiving. There was no command to Abram to offer tithes of his booty in war to Melchizedick the priest of the Most high God in praise and thanksgiving in his worship of God. There was no condition of blessing from God because of the tithes. Neither was there a threat of a curse if Abram did not tithe. Therefore the tithe is a visible and tangible affirmation of man’s acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty and ownership over all his creation. Psalm 24 declares “The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” It also an acknowledgement and acceptance of God’s divine mandate. Psalm 8:5-6 “For thou hast made a little lower than the angels (other translators translate this verse ‘a little lower than God), and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands, thou hast put all things under his feet,” Therefore the tithe from a grateful heart honors and glorifies God who is pleased to bless him most abundantly with “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall men give into your bosom” (Luke 6:38). This is the unchanging rule of God’s blessing “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”
The bottom lines in giving gifts to God in worship are a) know that God owns all things, b) He mandated man to be his steward over all his creation, c) “Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2).
The tithe anti-dates the law of Moses. It was incorporated to the Law later as the tribes
became settled. It is not the same as the law of sacrifices and taxation on every male 20 years old and above. It alone survives the laws of sacrifices. Jesus places it as number 4 in priorities
which are justice, mercy, and faith, and tithe (Matthew 23:23).
You can be very strict and meticulous in giving your tithes, but if you are not humble and obedient to God your tithes become a curse and a stumbling block to faith. Never the less, Jesus says, you will not lose your rewards, But they shall be eaten by moths and destroyed by rusts and thieves break through and steal. So do give because you expect a reward. Give, whether it be a tithe or a freewill love offering to honor and glorify God. Make it a habit to be a giver expecting nothing in return. Be humble, compassionate, and charitable and blessings will continue to “come to you, and overtake you”. “And whatsoever your hands find to do shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3).
The tithe given to God in worship is an act of grace through faith Imagine what blessings God gives you by allowing to use nine-tenths of his treasures to invest in acts and things you do to honor and glorify God. your stewardship entrusted by God to is in your management of the nine-tenth. The tithe or one-tenth is God’s portion given to the church for whatever the church
purposes to do – feed the hungry sojourners, the poor widows and orphans, the sick and the infirmed among you, support of missionaries and missions, necessary infra-structures. It is in the nine-tenth and how you use it to honor and glorify God, that God will give you in “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall men give to your bosom.”
Monday, March 22, 2010
THE TITHES IN CHRISTIAN WORSHIP AND PRACTICE
Definition: A tithe is one-tenth of any produce of grain, flock, herd, income from any source.
What is it for. It is for food of the priest, the poor, the captives taken in war, to pay for the ransom of prisoners. Peoples in the Middle East as by Shemetic and Hamites practice it. It is a religious practice observed by Jews, Mohammedans, and Christians as well as others.
We shall study the tithe as practice by peoples in the Holy Bible, namely the Jews and the Christians. The first mention of the tithe is in Genesis Chapter 14, Verse 18-20. Melchizedick, king of Salem and priest of the most High God met Abram from his war against five kings led by king Chedarlaomer. Melchizedick brought bread and wine and blessed Abram “of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the most high God which have delivered thine enemies into thy hand: and he gave him tithes of all”(KJV).
Melchizedick, the priest led Abram is a thanksgiving worship to the most high God. He pronounced blessings upon Abram who believed in God and blessings upon God most high for the victory against his enemies. Abram in thanksgiving to God gave to Melchizedick a tithe of all his booties of war. From this lovely narrative I believe gratefulness is express in worship and bringing of gifts to God.
Giving of gifts when we worship God is built in our beings when God created us in His own image and likeness and breathed His breath into us and we became living souls. We are of a truth “created a little lower than God.” So because God loves us so much He never tires of blessing us with every good thing in “good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over” (Luke 6:38). In like manner and because the curse of sin and death was lifted from us when we received Jesus Christ as our only LORD and Savior let us gratefully, joyfully, and heartily give our gifts whenever and wherever we are gathered for worship.
The second illustration of giving the tithe is found in Genesis Chapter 28, verses 12-22. In this passage Jacob was running away to escape the wrath of Isau, his brother, whom he had defrauded and deprived of his birthright and blessings.
During the night he had a dream in which he saw a ladder reaching up to heaven and God stood above it, and said “I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it and to thy seed; … and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed … I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.”
And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, “How dreadful is this place! this none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” …And Jacob vowed a vow, “If God will be with me, and will keep me on this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on. So that I come again to my father’s house in peace: then shall the LORD be my God: and this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house; and of all that thou shalt give I will surely give the tenth unto thee.”
Here worship of God and the giving of the tithe is conditioned on God doing his promises to Jacob. This is a very primitive understanding of God. It speaks of the fallenness and depravity of man. Man sets the condtion by which God shall be his God to whom he can give all his tithes! There is no record that Jacob fulfilled his vow. God did because it is his character to do good and bless his people. But He does punished those who deny him honor, glory, and worship. Is it perhaps Jacob forgot to honor him with his tithes and offerings in worship that he told Pharaoh
“The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of my life been, and have not attained unto the days and years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage” (Genesis 47:9).
Worship is ordained of God. It is the highest good and it pleases God. This is expressed succinctly and wonderfully in a song
“LORD you are more precious than silver,
LORD you are more costly than gold,
LORD you are more beautiful than diamonds,
Nothing I desire compares with you.”
The tithe is an equitable measure of what a person, rich or poor, can offer to God in worship. It is democratic giving of what one has and not of what he does not have. The practice of tithing is an acknowledgment of God’s ownership of all that we are and our acceptance of our stewardship over all of God’s creation. We honor and glorify God when we worship and give Him a gift “in good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.” The 9/10 is given to us to prove that we can be trusted to use it in things that will honor and exalt and glorify Him.
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.”
The above passage of scripture is one the most frequently and favorably use during the giving of offerings in church worship. It most popularly quoted by the prosperity preachers t o extract more money from the worshipers who desire more material and financial returns from their “seed” investments in the kingdom of God. What do they need more money for? Family vacations, travel, buy more spacious homes, buy health insurance, etc,. etc. The preachers or speakers are eloquent, well trained, and experienced. They know their business. They are expert in squeezing out your hard earned savings.
The problem in Malachi is lost of respect and reverence to God of the priests and Levites as well as the influential leaders of the people. It is “like priests like people”. They are religious, very religious indeed but for their own convenience. Listen to what God is saying to the priests through the prophet Malachi: “And now, O priests, this commandment is for you. If you will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because you did not lay it to heart …For the priests lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But ye have departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 2:1-10).
God is holy. His holiness inspire fear among His people. It is not the fear of a slave towards his cruel master, but a fear of awesome reverence and obedience which lead man to glorify God in worship.
It is the giving of the best of who we are to Him alone. The complaint of God against the priests are:
a. They do not honor God
b. They despise the name of God
c. They polluted the altar with polluted bread and made it contemptible
d. They offered blind, lame, and sick sacrifices
If you offer this to the governor, would he be pleased with it?
How did this corruption and degradation of worship come about? The priests and therefore the people have lost their reverence and respect and fear of God. They robbed God of holy worship and fear and glory due his name. They have profaned His name and adulterated his worship. The prophet remind them that “From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 1:6-14 (Please Read the passage).
Malachi 3:10 enjoins the priests and people to return to Him, to honor and glorify his name. To fear and reverence him and to live righteously before him. The bringing in of the tithes in worship is the acknowledgment that the LORD is their God. God will remove the curse on their blessings.
The prophet Amos warned Israel that unless they return to God, God will send them a famine of God,s Word. It should be noted that for three hundred years from Malachi to Zacarias, the Father of John the Baptist, there was complete silence from God to his people. This is a warning to both the priesthood and the people of God to seriously repent of their sins and return to him as their only LORD and Savior and offer to him their “living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. (Romans 12:1). Then God will bless them with blessings “in good measures, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over” (Luke 6:38).
But what of the tithe? It is nowhere taught in the New Testament. But it is an acceptable practice in the stewardship of possessions, time, and abilities or talents. It is a recognition and acceptance that God is our Creator and owner of all created things. God chooses man to be the steward over all His creation and have dominion over them. Jesus takes the tithe as the fourth priority to “justice, mercy, and faith” (Luke 23:23) Essentially the tithe is an equitable measure of giving to God in worship. It is most fair and democratic. The giver gives of what he has and not of what he does not have. The tithe is for the common giver. Christians and non Christians practice it. The convicted and repentant sinner, like Zaccheus give half of his goods. The Christ centered believer gives all to the glory of God (Acts 4:34-37;
2 Corinthians 8:1-5) The Macedonian Christians were able to give much in spite of their deep poverty, because they “gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”
Malachi 3:10—12 “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my 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. 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.”
Let us study the practice of tithing in Judeo-Christi biblical teachings only. I have already said that the act of giving something of value in our worship of God is built-in our vey being when God created us in his own image and likeness and breathed into us his very life and spirit and we became living souls. Throughout the Holy Bible we learn that God is always giving and pouring out His graces upon us. John writes to let us know that “we love him because he first love us” (1 john 4:19) “for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should, but not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).” It is the very character of God to give. Since has created us in his image and likeness we reflect everything he is and does.
Nobody commanded Cain and Abel to worship God with fruits and produce of their labor. Yet in their hearts, minds, and souls both brought gifts to God in their worship and thanksgiving. There was no command to Abram to offer tithes of his booty in war to Melchizedick the priest of the Most high God in praise and thanksgiving in his worship of God. There was no condition of blessing from God because of the tithes. Neither was there a threat of a curse if Abram did not tithe. Therefore the tithe is a visible and tangible affirmation of man’s acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty and ownership over all his creation. Psalm 24 declares “The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” It also an acknowledgement and acceptance of God’s divine mandate. Psalm 8:5-6 “For thou hast made a little lower than the angels (other translators translate this verse ‘a little lower than God), and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands, thou hast put all things under his feet,” Therefore the tithe from a grateful heart honors and glorifies God who is pleased to bless him most abundantly with “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall men give into your bosom” (Luke 6:38). This is the unchanging rule of God’s blessing “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”
The bottom lines in giving gifts to God in worship are a) know that God owns all things, b) He mandated man to be his steward over all his creation, c) “Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2).
The tithe anti-dates the law of Moses. It was incorporated to the Law later as the tribes
became settled. It is not the same as the law of sacrifices and taxation on every male 20 years old and above. It alone survives the laws of sacrifices. Jesus places it as number 4 in priorities
which are justice, mercy, and faith, and tithe (Matthew 23:23).
You can be very strict and meticulous in giving your tithes, but if you are not humble and obedient to God your tithes become a curse and a stumbling block to faith. Never the less, Jesus says, you will not lose your rewards, But they shall be eaten by moths and destroyed by rusts and thieves break through and steal. So do give because you expect a reward. Give, whether it be a tithe or a freewill love offering to honor and glorify God. Make it a habit to be a giver expecting nothing in return. Be humble, compassionate, and charitable and blessings will continue to “come to you, and overtake you”. “And whatsoever your hands find to do shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3).
The tithe given to God in worship is an act of grace through faith Imagine what blessings God gives you by allowing to use nine-tenths of his treasures to invest in acts and things you do to honor and glorify God. your stewardship entrusted by God to is in your management of the nine-tenth. The tithe or one-tenth is God’s portion given to the church for whatever the church
purposes to do – feed the hungry sojourners, the poor widows and orphans, the sick and the infirmed among you, support of missionaries and missions, necessary infra-structures. It is in the nine-tenth and how you use it to honor and glorify God, that God will give you in “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall men give to your bosom.”
What is it for. It is for food of the priest, the poor, the captives taken in war, to pay for the ransom of prisoners. Peoples in the Middle East as by Shemetic and Hamites practice it. It is a religious practice observed by Jews, Mohammedans, and Christians as well as others.
We shall study the tithe as practice by peoples in the Holy Bible, namely the Jews and the Christians. The first mention of the tithe is in Genesis Chapter 14, Verse 18-20. Melchizedick, king of Salem and priest of the most High God met Abram from his war against five kings led by king Chedarlaomer. Melchizedick brought bread and wine and blessed Abram “of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the most high God which have delivered thine enemies into thy hand: and he gave him tithes of all”(KJV).
Melchizedick, the priest led Abram is a thanksgiving worship to the most high God. He pronounced blessings upon Abram who believed in God and blessings upon God most high for the victory against his enemies. Abram in thanksgiving to God gave to Melchizedick a tithe of all his booties of war. From this lovely narrative I believe gratefulness is express in worship and bringing of gifts to God.
Giving of gifts when we worship God is built in our beings when God created us in His own image and likeness and breathed His breath into us and we became living souls. We are of a truth “created a little lower than God.” So because God loves us so much He never tires of blessing us with every good thing in “good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over” (Luke 6:38). In like manner and because the curse of sin and death was lifted from us when we received Jesus Christ as our only LORD and Savior let us gratefully, joyfully, and heartily give our gifts whenever and wherever we are gathered for worship.
The second illustration of giving the tithe is found in Genesis Chapter 28, verses 12-22. In this passage Jacob was running away to escape the wrath of Isau, his brother, whom he had defrauded and deprived of his birthright and blessings.
During the night he had a dream in which he saw a ladder reaching up to heaven and God stood above it, and said “I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it and to thy seed; … and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed … I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.”
And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, “How dreadful is this place! this none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” …And Jacob vowed a vow, “If God will be with me, and will keep me on this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on. So that I come again to my father’s house in peace: then shall the LORD be my God: and this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house; and of all that thou shalt give I will surely give the tenth unto thee.”
Here worship of God and the giving of the tithe is conditioned on God doing his promises to Jacob. This is a very primitive understanding of God. It speaks of the fallenness and depravity of man. Man sets the condtion by which God shall be his God to whom he can give all his tithes! There is no record that Jacob fulfilled his vow. God did because it is his character to do good and bless his people. But He does punished those who deny him honor, glory, and worship. Is it perhaps Jacob forgot to honor him with his tithes and offerings in worship that he told Pharaoh
“The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of my life been, and have not attained unto the days and years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage” (Genesis 47:9).
Worship is ordained of God. It is the highest good and it pleases God. This is expressed succinctly and wonderfully in a song
“LORD you are more precious than silver,
LORD you are more costly than gold,
LORD you are more beautiful than diamonds,
Nothing I desire compares with you.”
The tithe is an equitable measure of what a person, rich or poor, can offer to God in worship. It is democratic giving of what one has and not of what he does not have. The practice of tithing is an acknowledgment of God’s ownership of all that we are and our acceptance of our stewardship over all of God’s creation. We honor and glorify God when we worship and give Him a gift “in good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.” The 9/10 is given to us to prove that we can be trusted to use it in things that will honor and exalt and glorify Him.
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.”
The above passage of scripture is one the most frequently and favorably use during the giving of offerings in church worship. It most popularly quoted by the prosperity preachers t o extract more money from the worshipers who desire more material and financial returns from their “seed” investments in the kingdom of God. What do they need more money for? Family vacations, travel, buy more spacious homes, buy health insurance, etc,. etc. The preachers or speakers are eloquent, well trained, and experienced. They know their business. They are expert in squeezing out your hard earned savings.
The problem in Malachi is lost of respect and reverence to God of the priests and Levites as well as the influential leaders of the people. It is “like priests like people”. They are religious, very religious indeed but for their own convenience. Listen to what God is saying to the priests through the prophet Malachi: “And now, O priests, this commandment is for you. If you will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because you did not lay it to heart …For the priests lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But ye have departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 2:1-10).
God is holy. His holiness inspire fear among His people. It is not the fear of a slave towards his cruel master, but a fear of awesome reverence and obedience which lead man to glorify God in worship.
It is the giving of the best of who we are to Him alone. The complaint of God against the priests are:
a. They do not honor God
b. They despise the name of God
c. They polluted the altar with polluted bread and made it contemptible
d. They offered blind, lame, and sick sacrifices
If you offer this to the governor, would he be pleased with it?
How did this corruption and degradation of worship come about? The priests and therefore the people have lost their reverence and respect and fear of God. They robbed God of holy worship and fear and glory due his name. They have profaned His name and adulterated his worship. The prophet remind them that “From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 1:6-14 (Please Read the passage).
Malachi 3:10 enjoins the priests and people to return to Him, to honor and glorify his name. To fear and reverence him and to live righteously before him. The bringing in of the tithes in worship is the acknowledgment that the LORD is their God. God will remove the curse on their blessings.
The prophet Amos warned Israel that unless they return to God, God will send them a famine of God,s Word. It should be noted that for three hundred years from Malachi to Zacarias, the Father of John the Baptist, there was complete silence from God to his people. This is a warning to both the priesthood and the people of God to seriously repent of their sins and return to him as their only LORD and Savior and offer to him their “living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. (Romans 12:1). Then God will bless them with blessings “in good measures, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over” (Luke 6:38).
But what of the tithe? It is nowhere taught in the New Testament. But it is an acceptable practice in the stewardship of possessions, time, and abilities or talents. It is a recognition and acceptance that God is our Creator and owner of all created things. God chooses man to be the steward over all His creation and have dominion over them. Jesus takes the tithe as the fourth priority to “justice, mercy, and faith” (Luke 23:23) Essentially the tithe is an equitable measure of giving to God in worship. It is most fair and democratic. The giver gives of what he has and not of what he does not have. The tithe is for the common giver. Christians and non Christians practice it. The convicted and repentant sinner, like Zaccheus give half of his goods. The Christ centered believer gives all to the glory of God (Acts 4:34-37;
2 Corinthians 8:1-5) The Macedonian Christians were able to give much in spite of their deep poverty, because they “gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”
Malachi 3:10—12 “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my 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. 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.”
Let us study the practice of tithing in Judeo-Christi biblical teachings only. I have already said that the act of giving something of value in our worship of God is built-in our vey being when God created us in his own image and likeness and breathed into us his very life and spirit and we became living souls. Throughout the Holy Bible we learn that God is always giving and pouring out His graces upon us. John writes to let us know that “we love him because he first love us” (1 john 4:19) “for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should, but not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).” It is the very character of God to give. Since has created us in his image and likeness we reflect everything he is and does.
Nobody commanded Cain and Abel to worship God with fruits and produce of their labor. Yet in their hearts, minds, and souls both brought gifts to God in their worship and thanksgiving. There was no command to Abram to offer tithes of his booty in war to Melchizedick the priest of the Most high God in praise and thanksgiving in his worship of God. There was no condition of blessing from God because of the tithes. Neither was there a threat of a curse if Abram did not tithe. Therefore the tithe is a visible and tangible affirmation of man’s acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty and ownership over all his creation. Psalm 24 declares “The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” It also an acknowledgement and acceptance of God’s divine mandate. Psalm 8:5-6 “For thou hast made a little lower than the angels (other translators translate this verse ‘a little lower than God), and hast crowned him with glory and honor. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands, thou hast put all things under his feet,” Therefore the tithe from a grateful heart honors and glorifies God who is pleased to bless him most abundantly with “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall men give into your bosom” (Luke 6:38). This is the unchanging rule of God’s blessing “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”
The bottom lines in giving gifts to God in worship are a) know that God owns all things, b) He mandated man to be his steward over all his creation, c) “Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2).
The tithe anti-dates the law of Moses. It was incorporated to the Law later as the tribes
became settled. It is not the same as the law of sacrifices and taxation on every male 20 years old and above. It alone survives the laws of sacrifices. Jesus places it as number 4 in priorities
which are justice, mercy, and faith, and tithe (Matthew 23:23).
You can be very strict and meticulous in giving your tithes, but if you are not humble and obedient to God your tithes become a curse and a stumbling block to faith. Never the less, Jesus says, you will not lose your rewards, But they shall be eaten by moths and destroyed by rusts and thieves break through and steal. So do give because you expect a reward. Give, whether it be a tithe or a freewill love offering to honor and glorify God. Make it a habit to be a giver expecting nothing in return. Be humble, compassionate, and charitable and blessings will continue to “come to you, and overtake you”. “And whatsoever your hands find to do shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3).
The tithe given to God in worship is an act of grace through faith Imagine what blessings God gives you by allowing to use nine-tenths of his treasures to invest in acts and things you do to honor and glorify God. your stewardship entrusted by God to is in your management of the nine-tenth. The tithe or one-tenth is God’s portion given to the church for whatever the church
purposes to do – feed the hungry sojourners, the poor widows and orphans, the sick and the infirmed among you, support of missionaries and missions, necessary infra-structures. It is in the nine-tenth and how you use it to honor and glorify God, that God will give you in “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall men give to your bosom.”
ith/o3/22/10
Sunday, March 14, 2010
OFFERINGS IN WORSHIP
There is a beautiful story in the Holy Bible about the visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon. The Queen heard of the wisdom of King Solomon, the house that he built, the sumptuous feast that he serves daily to his guests, visitors, and officers of his court and the house of the LORD he built. She was deeply astounded by the vast wealth of King Solomon, his wisdom and understanding, and the greatly ostentatious ministers in his court. The Holy Bible records “there was no more spirit in her” (11 Chronicles Chronicles 9:4c. Read 11Chronicles 9:1-9). Verse 9 reads “And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon. The king was greatly pleased by the appreciation of the queen and her honest and open wonderment of his wisdom and understanding and power as well as of the gifts she gave him. He responded with much appreciation with the bestowal of “And the king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which she brought unto the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants” (11 Chro 9:12).
This beautiful story portrays and illustrates why we bring offerings to God in our worship. There is no command to do so. The story tells that the giving of offerings to God in our worship is “built in” in us when God created us in “His own image and likeness” and when He breathed the breath of life in his nostrils and man becomes a living soul.” God always gives of Himself to man because He enjoys fellowship with man. God gives in “good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over” (Luke 6:38). Pre-Mosaic people have been giving gifts to God when they worship God. They do this under deep conviction that God is pleased, that the gifts are not to extract rewards and favor of God, or to force God to recompense. They practice is to affirm God’s ownership of all His creation over which he gives man the authority and power to govern (Ps 8 and Ps 24, Gen 1:28).
So Abel brought his offerings to worship God. Abraham, returning victorious in war against the kings led by Chedarlaomer, brought tithes of all his booties to the high priest of the Most High God, Melchizedic. Let us honor God in our worship with our offerings of our lives, talents, possessions and time. Let us do it as our
“living sacrifice, holy, pleasing, and acceptable unto God” (Romans 12:1) Let us do it with all of our hearts, with all of our strength, with all of our minds … and love our neighbors as ourselves” (Luke 10:27)
Let us be together and united in building the kingdom God in the hearts of men. Let us bring and give our gifts not because we have to but because we ought to
in affirmation that God has blessed us according to his “riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19). Let us bring our gifts until our Pastors tell us to stop bringing gifts because we already have more than enough.
This beautiful story portrays and illustrates why we bring offerings to God in our worship. There is no command to do so. The story tells that the giving of offerings to God in our worship is “built in” in us when God created us in “His own image and likeness” and when He breathed the breath of life in his nostrils and man becomes a living soul.” God always gives of Himself to man because He enjoys fellowship with man. God gives in “good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over” (Luke 6:38). Pre-Mosaic people have been giving gifts to God when they worship God. They do this under deep conviction that God is pleased, that the gifts are not to extract rewards and favor of God, or to force God to recompense. They practice is to affirm God’s ownership of all His creation over which he gives man the authority and power to govern (Ps 8 and Ps 24, Gen 1:28).
So Abel brought his offerings to worship God. Abraham, returning victorious in war against the kings led by Chedarlaomer, brought tithes of all his booties to the high priest of the Most High God, Melchizedic. Let us honor God in our worship with our offerings of our lives, talents, possessions and time. Let us do it as our
“living sacrifice, holy, pleasing, and acceptable unto God” (Romans 12:1) Let us do it with all of our hearts, with all of our strength, with all of our minds … and love our neighbors as ourselves” (Luke 10:27)
Let us be together and united in building the kingdom God in the hearts of men. Let us bring and give our gifts not because we have to but because we ought to
in affirmation that God has blessed us according to his “riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19). Let us bring our gifts until our Pastors tell us to stop bringing gifts because we already have more than enough.
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