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THE WAY TO BE BLESSEDby Rev. Paul Rader IF WE WANT to be blessed of God, we must obey Him. The law of spiritual blessing is the tithe. When tithing is mentioned, immediately most people lose interest. The unwillingness to give unto the Lord is a sure symptom of spiritual sickness; often the sickness becomes virulent because of ignorance. If tithing were understood, more would be eager to obey the Lord. The first instance of tithing (the tithe" is the "tenth") is recorded in Gen. 14:20 where Abram, returning victorious from his battle with the kings, gave a tenth of all he possessed to Melchizedek who was the priest of the Most High God: And he gave him tithes of all. All believers claim Abraham as . . . father of us all ... father of all them that believe....they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. I . . if ye be Christ's, then ye are Abraham's seed . . . (Rom. 4:16, 11; Gal. 3:7, 29). Since Abraham paid tithes of all to Melchizedek, so the children of Abraham likewise pay tithes of all to their Melchizedek, Jesus Christ. Lest the thought of not being under the Mosaic law should provide excuse, remember that Abraham lived not in accordance with the provisions of the Old Testament, but according to those of the New; for the giving of the law followed Abraham by some 400 years: . . . the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that is should make the promise (to Abraham) of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise (Gal. 3:17, 18). Since Rom. 6:14 says of believers, . . . ye are not under law, but under grace, some might assume that believers, then, are under no obligation to tithe, as it was part of the law. But the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are not the spiritual children of Moses and Aaron, but of Abraham; further, they are not practicing the tithing of the Levitical priesthood, but of the priesthood after the order of Melchizedek, to which eternal order of the Lord Jesus, the High Priest of the born-again belongs: Thou are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 5:6, 10) . . . . made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedec (Heb. 6:20). The High Priesthood of the Lord Jesus is discussed fully in Heb. 7. ("Melchizedek" means "Righteous King"). In the New Testament the procedure in tithing is given in I Cor. 16:2, Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him. The purpose of tithing is not the giving of alms as to a beggar, but the financing of spiritual welfare: Who goeth a warfare anytime at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock. Tithing enables the work of the gospel to be carried on by taking care of the pecuniary needs of those whose full time is devoted to the proclaiming of the "good news": 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 . . . Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. (I Cor. 9:7, 23, 14; Gal. 6:6). In a command which promises blessing, God orders His own to 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 be room enough to receive it (Mal. 3:10). If believers will accept the challenge, the Lord promises great bounty,: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken to, gether, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. As the believer gives, he will gain: For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again . . . He which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he hath pur, posed in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work: As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: for his righteousness rernaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God. (Luke 6:38, II Cor. 9;6-12). Now on the earth the believer in the Lord Jesus is to enter into his blood right and obligations as king and priest unto God (Rev. 1:5, 6). Under the High Priest, the believer is a member of the eternal order of Melchizedec with the power of an endless life (Hcb. 7:15-17). Where the Levite was not bound by an oath, the believer is bound by an eternal oath to be a priest for ever and abide by all things detailed as belonging to the order of righteous kings (Heb. 7:20, 21). Two of the ordinances of the order of Melchizedec are familiar to all: Baptism, which pictures death to the world and resurrection to the newness of life in Christ Jesus; Communion, whose broken bread symbolizes the body of our Lord, broken for our sickness and weakness, whose wine reminds of His blood shed for our sins. The third ordinance once was practiced by all believers, even when the first two were neglected: Tithing. The act of bringing the first tenth of our income constantly recalls that we are not our own, but that we are bought with the price, even the precious blood of Christ (I Cor. 6:19, 20). It is impossible to be a consistent and victorious Christian and refuse to tithe. The Lord declared that our interests affection will follow our money. Further, to refuse to tithe is to disbelieve the spiritual paternity of Abraham, to belittle Christ's claim on us as our Melchizedec, to despise the High Priesthood of Jesus Christ, and to ignore the demands of His atonement upon us. Speaking to all believers, the Lord Jesus said, Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break thru and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be: evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Te can-not serve God and mammon (wealth) (Matt. 6:19,24). Do you want to see the windows of heaven open and the overflowing blessings pour forth? Then bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse. What is the storehouse?" That is the place where you are fed the heavenly bread. Here is God's revealed formula for heavenly blessing. Let us claim it! |
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New Christian Crusade Church You may call us Monday, Wednesday or Friday at 601-749-8565 Last modified: Wednesday, 17 October 2007 |
