“ Goer… Sender…Intercessor “ these were the three roles given by Pastor Joebert Ramos (Senior Pastor of His Life Ministries) way back when I was a 3rd year university student, when he gave his altar call. I felt a tug in my heart to stand up – as a SENDER. So strong that my heart beat went faster and there was nothing I can do, but obey. So there I was, I stood committing myself as a sender to fulfill the great commission.
While I was standing up, I asked God how can I be a sender when I didn’t even have enough money for my education – I would often write promissory notes every time it was enrollment or examinations time; not enough money for my allowance – I had to sell goods to make sure I have money for my next day’s transportation and money to pay for my school projects – in simple terms, I was telling God “Lord, how can I be a sender when I’m poor?” And God in HIS still small voice told me “ It’s my problem, not yours.” So with that I was assured that if God wanted me to be a sender, then HE WILL MAKE SURE IT WILL COME TO PASS, in His time and in His ways.
Yes when I became a Christian, we were in lack. That was the time when my father lost his job and my mom was the only one working. With 6 of us kids going to school, can you imagine the cost of education? It was just so hard to let both ends meet. But it was in those times that the Lord taught me the real essence of tithes, offerings and sacrificial giving. I remember selling pastillas, macaroons, frozen goods and a whole lot more just so I can have money for my allowance. But there was one thing I never missed – tithing. Pastor Joebert taught the church of MALACHI 3:10 and there I was, faithfully paying my tithes, believing that God will honor His word. In my “not enough” financial status, I would give offerings, and believe me, my pockets were empty but my heart was full.
When I graduated college, I immediately had a job as an Engineer in Laguna. I believe that job was given to me as my harvest for the years I have faithfully sown into God’s Kingdom. I continued paying my tithes and gave my offerings to the work of the Lord through our church Alabang New Life. My giving intensified because this time, I only didn’t pay my tithes and gave my offerings, but I also learned about first fruits – where we are to give not only 10% BUT 100% of our first fruit when we start a business or land in a new job. This took a greater step of faith, but I took it, together with my boyfriend Joey (my husband now).
As husband and wife Joey and I still walk the path as senders. We support Pastors, missionaries and works of the church. We’ve seen God’s hand in every step of the way and we can testify that HE IS TRUE TO HIS WORD in
Malachi 3:10 - 11.
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.
We know that we are yet to see a whole lot more harvest or shall I say SO MUCH BLESSING THAT THERE WILL BE NO ROOM FOR IT. And God will make sure what He entrusted to us will be protected.
God is my source…the source of ALL my resources. Everything I have is HIS, nothing more nothing less. I am merely a pipe where HIS flood of blessing flows. As a pipe, it’s but natural for me to get wet. And the only time it flows out of me is when I’m already overflowing.
To God be the GLORY FOR THE THINGS HE HAS DONE… and yet to do.
SOME THOUGHTS ON GIVING that made a great impact in my life:
The reason you’re sitting in Church today is because somebody gave their money to buy those chairs.
(Pastor. Joebert Ramos)
God is not a waiter, don’t give Him a tip.
(Pastor Emilio Henares)
Every Christmas my children give their last year's toys to the less fortunate, that way they will be trained to give and not be attached to the gift, but to the giver.
(Pastor Jo Alfafara)
When people enter your house, give something to bless them, so they would know what it’s like to live in heaven here on earth.
(Pastor Jo Alfafara)
The moment I stop preaching about giving, is the moment I start robbing people their opportunity to be blessed.
(Pastor Paul Chase)
After all, it is more blessed to give than to receive =D
April 29, 2007
YOU ARE NEEDED...
14 years ago
6 comments:
"God is my source....the source of ALL my resources." What a great statement. Thank you for sharing your beliefs on giving. I agree with you 100%. My Pastor Copeland recently taught on first fruits. And it was a blessing to understand the purpose and importance of first fruits.
Another view on Christian giving:
1. Post-Calvary Christian giving principles in Second Corinthians are superior to tithing. (1) Giving is a "grace.” (2) Give yourself to God first. (3) Give yourself to knowing God’s will. (4) Give in response to Christ’s gift. (5) Give out of a sincere desire. (6) Do not give because of any commandment (8:8, 10; 9:7). (7) Give beyond your ability. (8) Give to produce equality. (9) Give joyfully (8:2). (10) Give because you are growing spiritually. (11) Give to continue growing spiritually. (12) Give because you are hearing the gospel preached.
2. Abraham's tithed in Genesis 14 in obedience to pagan tradition. (1) He did not "freely" give. (2) His was NOT a holy tithe from God’s holy land by God’s holy people under God’s holy Covenant. (3) His was only from pagan spoils of war required in many nations. (4) In Num. 31, God required 1% of spoils. (5) His tithe to his priest-king was a one-time event. (6) Not from his personal property. (7) Kept nothing for himself. (8) Is not quoted to endorse tithing. (9) Most commentaries explain 14:21 as pagan Arab tradition, it is contradictory to explain the 90% of 14:21 as pagan, while insisting the 10% of 14:20 was obedience to God’s will. (10) If Abraham were an example for Christians to give 10%, he should also be an example for Christians to give the other 90% to Satan, or to the king of Sodom! (11) As priests, neither Abraham nor Jacob had a Levitical priesthood to support; they probably left food for the poor at their altars.
3. Although money was common and essential for worship for over 1500 years, biblical tithes were always only food increased by God from inside Israel (Lev. 27:30, 32; see site for all 16 texts).
4. Since only farmers and herdsmen tithed, there was no minimum standard requirement for most. Tradesmen such as carpenters (Jesus), Peter (fishermen) and Paul (tentmakers) did not qualify as tithe-payers. The poor and Gentiles did not tithe.
5. Tithing was only commanded to national Israel under the terms of the Old Covenant. Tithing was never commanded to the Church after Calvary (Ex 19:5-6; Lev 27:34; Mal 4:4; Mt 23:23 matters of the law).
6. Those who received the first whole tithe did not minister atonement (Num. 18:21-24; Neh10:37b). Priests only received 1% (a tenth of the tithe) (Num 18:25-28; Neh 10:38).
7. In exchange for receiving tithes, both Levites and priests forfeited all rights to permanent land inheritance inside Israel (Num. 18:20-26).
8. Firstfruits are not the same as tithes. Firstfruits were a very small token offering (Deu 26:1-4; Neh 10:35-37; Num 18:13-17). Tithes were the tenth and not the best; only 1% of the tithes included the best (Lev. 27:32, 33).
9. There were 4 O.T. tithes: (1) Government taxes (1 Sam 8:14-17). (2) Levitical (Num. 18:21-28; Neh. 10:37-39). (3) Festival (Deu 12:1-19; 14:22-26). (3) Poor tithe every 3rd year (Deu 14:28-29; 26:12-13).
10. Tithes were often taxes used to support Levite [politicians (1 Chron, chap 23 to 26; esp 23:2-5; 26:29-32; 27:5). Tithes never supported mission work (Ex 23:32; Heb 7:12-18).
11. OT Levitical tithes were brought first to the Levitical cities and not to the Temple (Num 18; Neh 10:37-39; 2 Chron 31:15-19). Most Levites required tithes in their Levitical cities where 98% stayed (Num 35, Josh 20, 21).
12. Malachi 3 is the most abused tithing text in the Bible. (1) Malachi is OT and is never quoted in the New Covenant to validate tithing. (2) Tithes are still only food. (3) His audience reaffirmed the OT curses (Neh.10:28-29). (4) The blessings and curses of tithing are identical to and inseparable from those of the entire Mosaic Law (Deu 28:12, 23-24; Gal 3:10/Deu 27:26). (5) “You” in Malachi refers to the dishonest priests and not the people (1:6-14; 2:1-10; 2:13 to 3:1-5). (6) The “whole” tithe never went to the Temple! (Neh 10:37b). (7) The Levitical cities must be included in a correct interpretation. (8) The 24 courses of Levites and priests must be included. (9) The “storehouse” in the Temple was only several rooms (Neh 13:5, 9). (9) “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse” only makes contextual sense if it is only commanding dishonest priests to replace the tithes they had removed from it or had failed to bring to it.
13. The OT Temple and priesthood have been replaced by the priesthood of every believer. NT elders and pastors more closely resemble OT prophets who were not supported by tithes.
14. Tithing was not legalized as a church law until AD 777. If was not introduced as a local regional law until the 6th century. See any reputable encyclopedia.
15. NT giving principles are: freewill, sacrificial, generous, joyful, not by commandment or percentage and motivated by love for God and lost souls.
From the book, Should the Church Teach Tithing?
www.tithing-russkelly.com russell-kelly@att.net
Thanks for sharing.. it was wonderful reading your post... I read somewhere, and believe it.. that more things are achieved by true prayers than one imagines..
What a great testimony and a great blog post! Dr. Kelly's post is fascinating too.
You are so sweet! I can just sense your love for the Lord and your trust in Him for your life.
Thanks for stopping by my blog! It is nice to meet you.
May the Lord continue His great work in you and through you!
All for Jesus,
Julie
my God, i thought you were going to chip in with some decisive insght at the end there, not leave it with ‘we leave it to you to decide’.
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