Redeeming the Tithe – It’s Holy to the Lord
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Redeeming the Tithe – It's Holy to the Lord
Foundation Scriptures: Leviticus 27 verses 30 - 34
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 to the Lord. 31 And if
a man wants to redeem any of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it. 32
And all the tithe of the herd or of the flock, whatever passes under
the herdsman's staff [by means of which each tenth animal as it passes
through a small door is selected and marked], the tenth shall be holy
to the Lord. 33 The man shall not examine whether the animal is good or
bad nor shall he exchange it. If he does exchange it, then both it and
the animal substituted for it shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
34 These are the commandments which the Lord commanded Moses on Mount
Sinai for the Israelites. Leviticus 27:30-34 AMP
In the book
of Leviticus, Father God laid out what was required of the children of
Israel, concerning tithes and offerings. One of the things they were
required to do was to bring ALL the tithe of ALL their increase. They
were not allowed to do two-percent, here and there, as they chose. It
did not matter what they did for a living, they were to bring one whole
tenth of their profits to the Lord. The tithe is holy – holy to the
Lord. We must treat it as something holy – something that belongs, not
to us, but to the Lord. The tithe is not something to be given, or not
given, at our discretion. Bringing the tithe is an act of obedience and
submission to God.
People are always trying to argue with
God and man over the tithe and find a reason not to do it. Refusing to
tithe is an act of rebellion, whichever way you look at it. The Bible
uses the word "pay", not "give", in reference to the tithe. When you
get the revelation that the tithe already does not belong to YOU, but
to God, then you will be more apt to do what is right and pay your
tithes. If this truth offends you, then realize that you have allowed
the devil to lie to you. The devil definitely does not want you to
tithe! Your disobedience cuts you off from God's protection, places you
in enemy territory, and gives Satan prime opportunity to wreak havoc in
your life and finances. Make a choice, once and for all, to honor God
and to reject the enemy's manipulation and devastation from off of your
life.
Something that is very interesting to note, here in
Leviticus, concerning the tithe: the Lord gave them a way to redeem the
tithe. This meant that if someone had skipped out on the tithe they
could come back to the Lord and they redeem it by adding one fifth to
their tithe. It was a "back-tithe". For example: Let's say that someone
worked for a company and, for whatever reason, they were not paid for
several months and then that company suddenly paid them up-to-date. The
company owed them "back-pay" and would have to catch it all up.
How much more if we skipped out on our tithe for several months? How do
we make it up? We add one fifth to it. Let's say that our tithe was
$300 and that we had skipped out three months. This means that we were
behind on our tithes by $900 and, in order to catch up, not only should
we catch up on our tithe, but, according to the scripture, we should
add one fifth. One fifth would be $45, so to catch up we would then pay
$945.
When we first came to America, in 1987, some pollsters
claimed that 20% of born-again believers paid their tithes. However,
most recently, they say that only 6% pay tithes. Can you imagine what
the loss to the kingdom of God is on a monthly basis? Literally
billions of dollars, that could have been used for the Gospel, are now
lost. The needed finances don't find their way into the Kingdom of God,
but people are spending their money on themselves and their every
desire. These unfaithful, disobedient Christians don't realize that
they are shooting themselves in the foot. They are missing out on huge
blessings from God, because of their rebellion against the Word of God!
Only at the judgment seat, will many see the reality of what giving to
God was all about and how holy the tithe is to the Lord.
I
want to encourage you to look at your life and take stock. Are you
really totally committed to God? Are you committed to God in your
finances? The tithe is only 10%! The government and your credit card
company take much more than that! Why would anyone even think of not
bringing the tithe to the Lord? It is His! Remember that He is the one
that gives you the strength to get up every morning and to be able to
do what you do to earn a living. Why would you not honor him every pay
period?
Now, I am not suggesting that you have to work out
what you owe as years of back-tithe and add one fifth, but I am
suggesting that you should definitely repent and tell the Lord, "I am
sorry - from this day onward I will tithe." Do what the Holy Spirit
tells you to do so that you can have a clear conscience before the
Lord. Then start tithing, and don't stop, until the day that the Jesus
comes to take you home!
Prayer and Confession:
Lord,
You have promised to bless and provide for me, and to rebuke the
devourer on my behalf as I commit my tithe to You. From this day, until
the day I see You face-to-face, I will honor You with my tithe – with
one tenth of all my income.
Recent:
Righteous Now
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP
“Therefore if any man be in Christ…” What does it mean to be “in Christ”? Galatians 3:27 says, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” You are baptized into Christ when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” And Romans 10:13 says, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The moment
Defeating Strife
These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19 AMP
Faith Facts
Faith is persistent
Luke 11:9-10 AMP
So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.
John 16:24 AMP
Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.
Faith is single-minded
James 1:5-8 AMP
If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. 6 Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the