The principles of tithing is so important because it is the most basic Bible test of your faithfulness in stewardship. It also qualifies or disqualifies you from God's wealth and abundance.
Tithing predates the Mosaic law because Abraham was a faithful tither long before the law was established on Mount Sinai. When Abraham met Melchizedek, he "gave him a tithe of all" (Gen 14:19-20). Abraham's faithful stewardship resulted in him becoming the richest man of his generation.
Jacob was a tither. When he came to Bethel, he made a vow to the Lord, "Of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You" (Gen 28:22). Jacob's faithful stewardship also resulted in him becoming the richest man of his generation.
Abraham and Jacob prove that saints of God started tithing long before Moses gave the law. Tithing has to do with your heart and love for God. You tithe not because you have to, but because you want to. When Moses eventually came along, the people were taught tithing.
At the end of the Old Testament, Malachi the prophet says:
"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 for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," says the LORD of Hosts. -Malachi 3:10-11 (NKJV)
Here the Bible gives you five great blessings that you can experience if you make a decision to be a faithful tither:
· Your Church will continue to be a blessing. Your storehouse will be full, enabling it to continue discipling you and evangelizing the world.
· Heaven will be open over you. You will hear from the Lord clearly. You can easily walk in His presence and His power will become readily available to you at all times.
· The devourer will be rebuked. God will protect your finances from being "eaten away" by Satan and the financial system of the world.
· Your hard work will bear fruit. Your career and business will take off and you will prosper in your work place.
· Your investments will prosper. The wise investments you make will bring back a good return.
My pastor often says that you can give without loving, but you can't love without giving. If you really love God, be a regular tither every month and "try God now" in your faithful tithing!
Label: Kong Hee
The principles of tithing is so important because it is the most basic Bible test of your faithfulness in stewardship. It also qualifies or disqualifies you from God's wealth and abundance.
Tithing predates the Mosaic law because Abraham was a faithful tither long before the law was established on Mount Sinai. When Abraham met Melchizedek, he "gave him a tithe of all" (Gen 14:19-20). Abraham's faithful stewardship resulted in him becoming the richest man of his generation.
Jacob was a tither. When he came to Bethel, he made a vow to the Lord, "Of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You" (Gen 28:22). Jacob's faithful stewardship also resulted in him becoming the richest man of his generation.
Abraham and Jacob prove that saints of God started tithing long before Moses gave the law. Tithing has to do with your heart and love for God. You tithe not because you have to, but because you want to. When Moses eventually came along, the people were taught tithing.
At the end of the Old Testament, Malachi the prophet says:
"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 for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," says the LORD of Hosts. -Malachi 3:10-11 (NKJV)
Here the Bible gives you five great blessings that you can experience if you make a decision to be a faithful tither:
· Your Church will continue to be a blessing. Your storehouse will be full, enabling it to continue discipling you and evangelizing the world.
· Heaven will be open over you. You will hear from the Lord clearly. You can easily walk in His presence and His power will become readily available to you at all times.
· The devourer will be rebuked. God will protect your finances from being "eaten away" by Satan and the financial system of the world.
· Your hard work will bear fruit. Your career and business will take off and you will prosper in your work place.
· Your investments will prosper. The wise investments you make will bring back a good return.
My pastor often says that you can give without loving, but you can't love without giving. If you really love God, be a regular tither every month and "try God now" in your faithful tithing!
Label: Kong Hee
Then He inaugurated Joshua the son of Nun, and said, "Be strong and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land of which I swore to them, and I will be with you." -Deuteronomy 31:23
Joshua became Israel's leader during one of the most difficult times in its history. Within days of his appointment, he led the nation across the Jordan River into hostile territory and set out to conquer, divide and settle in the land. It was a daunting task and Joshua's success in this enormous assignment lied in these very important reasons:
First of all, Joshua's hunger for God's presence. Joshua often accompanied Moses to the tabernacle of meeting where God talked with him face to face. Moses, after hearing from God, would leave and address the people.
But when Joshua came into God's presence in the tabernacle of meeting, he "did not depart from the tabernacle" (Ex. 33:11). Joshua demonstrated a deep passion to be in God's presence. This intimate relationship with God would serve him well in his demanding leadership challenges to come.
Secondly, Joshua's commitment to obey God. Of the 12 spies who checked the land in preparation for Israel's invasion, only Joshua and Caleb encouraged the people to follow God's command to move forward.
Although the 12 spies saw the same obstacles, 10 of the 12 concluded that the people should turn back. Joshua's and Caleb's response (Num. 14:5-9) helps explain why Joshua succeeded as Israel's leader when he was appointed 40 years later.
Thirdly, Joshua's integrity and character. God (and Moses) established and legitimized Joshua's positional leadership for the nation.
God left no question about who was in charge when Moses departed (Josh. 1:1-9). Both Joshua's positional and personal power were based on an impeccable life. Joshua's integrity and character were essential to his effectiveness as a leader.
Fourthly, Joshua's discipleship by Moses. There are four passages that call Joshua "Moses" assistant." That reveals an important fact about Joshua's success as a leader. Moses had spent years training his successor. Israel had a great leader in Joshua because Moses had the foresight to cultivate and equip him as the next leader.
Finally, Joshua's godliness. Joshua 4:14 says, "On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, all the days of his life."
Joshua was a powerful leader because he was a godly leader. Joshua was a godly leader because he was a godly man.
Label: Kong Hee
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. -Joshua 1:9
(1) Courage. Seventeen times, the Bible says, "Be of good courage!" Therefore, having courage is a very good thing. The primary plot of the devil is to bring discouragement to a leader, that is to take courage out of your heart. If he succeeds, then he has trapped you in a place of weakness, despair and hopelessness. Your vision would soon disappear.
What is courage? Courage is teh capacity to do what is right even when it is unpopular. As such, courage relates to the integrity of character. A courageous person will do what is right in the midst of opposition and mockery, even when there are no perceived benefits to him at all. When you do what is right--simply because it is the right thing to do--that is courage.
(2) Boldness. Someone once counted that 365 times, the Bible says, "Fear not!" In other words, in every single day of the year, a leader must never be afraid. To be bold is to have confidence. David says, "Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this I will be confident" (Ps. 27:3).
Even under house arrest in Rome, paul preached "with all confidence" (Acts 28:31). The Bible says, "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward" (Heb. 10:35). Courage relates to character, boldness relates to your personality. Have a confident personality and be secure in who you are.
(3) Strength. Again and again, Joshua was exhorted to be strong. Strength is the ability to stand up on your feet whenever you are knocked down. There are many confident and charismatic people who are not strong. Whenever they are hit by a crisis, they wilt away without having the ability to bounce back to life.
(4) Wisdom. Proverbs constantly speaks of knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Knowledge is the getting of information. Understanding is the analyzing of information. Wisdom is solving the problem. Proverbs says, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom" (Prov. 1:7). A leader must be wise.
Label: Kong Hee
