by George Grames | 4 October 2019 | In the summer 2019 Adventist Today magazine April Maskiewicz Cordero authored a piece entitled “Dividing the Church Over Evolution”. The author’s position is that “Evolutionary creation is one of many ways Christians may reconcile mainstream scientific findings with their faith”. I argue that, on the contrary, evolutionary […] Source: https://atoday.org/can-evolutionary-creation-be-reconciled-with-faith/
Do Christians Need to Tithe?
Is tithing required in the New Testament? – Visit our Bible Question Archive on our website here: https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/listen/archives/o/24/t/bible-question-archive Join Pastor Doug Sunday at 7:00pm Pacific. Call 1-800-GOD-SAYS during the broadcast to have your question answered live on the air! Find a broadcast in your area using our station locator: https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/station-locator/mt/214/t/radio Read the Bible Study Guide 'In God We Trust' free online here: https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/study-guide/e/5002/t/in-god-we-trust- Transcript
—————–
PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Our next caller is Yunello calling from Farmington Hills, Michigan. Yunello, welcome to the program. YUNELLO: Hello, yes, how are you doing? PASTOR DOUG: Very well, and your question tonight? YUNELLO: My question is on tithing. My question is, the difference between Old Testament tithing and New Testament giving; because, from reading the Word of God, I don't see a necessity in tithing, like the 10 percent, but most churches say that it's required for Bible believers to give that 10 percent. From what I see, it looks like the New Testament believers, they gave everything; and just gave to everyone who had need. PASTOR DOUG: Alright, that's a good question, and you're right. Actually, New Testament giving is much more than 10 percent. But tithing is kindergarten for any believer. It's a bare minimum. The principle of tithing is found in the New Testament. You'll find, for instance, in Matthew 23:23, it's kind of easy to remember, where Jesus is talking. He's in that debate with the scribes and Pharisees, and they were very exacting about tithe. He said, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin." Those were herbs that they grew in their garden and they would count out pieces of parley and they'd say, "Okay, and one for the Lord." So they were very particular. And He said, "you've omitted," Jesus is speaking here; He said you pay on your herb garden but you've, "omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these you ought to have done," and notice what He says at the end, "and do not leave the other undone." In other words, don't neglect tithe-paying, but don't forget the priorities of judgment, mercy, and faith. So another reason that we believe that the principle of tithe is still in effect for New Testament Christians, but like I said, it's actually beyond that, is because anything that you find among God's people before the time of Moses in the Levitical law, is typically an ongoing principle. And you find where Abraham paid tithe. He lived long before the Ten Commandments or the Levitical ceremonial laws. Abraham paid tithe when he paid it to Melchizedek. I actually don't remember that verse, Pastor Ross, where he paid tithe to Melchizedek. PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Well it's mentioned in Hebrews chapter 7, 1 and 2. PASTOR DOUG: Well there you go. That's another New Testament reference to what Abraham did. And then Jacob, when he fled, he said if God would safely bring him back, "a tenth of all that You give me I'll restore to You." "Tithe" means, "a tenth." And so, you've got at least two examples even before Moses where they believed in the principle of tithe. And then of course, what really begs the question is, if God had a system for the support of mission work and ministry around the world in the Bible, both Old Testament and New Testament, if He has not substituted it with a different system–tithes and offerings were the system in the Old Testament–we still have offerings today. I don't think God has deducted the tithe. So, you know, we have a lesson we could send you on that, Yunello. YUNELLO: You said some awesome stuff about Melchizedek. PASTOR DOUG: Yes YUNELLO: I thought that was very true. But there's only one thing that I was contemplating on when you were talking about it, was, when you said Abraham gave the tenth to Melchizedek. PASTOR DOUG: Yes YUNELLO: I was reading it in Genesis and what I saw was that, yes, he gave that tenth; but he offered it, not as a requirement, but out of just willing heart. And then I go on to 2nd Corinthians 9 where he says, "…give not grudgingly, nor of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." PASTOR DOUG: Exactly. And, by the way, I'd be very suspicious about joining any church that has tithe police. If the pastor is going around and asking to see their check stubs and see what their income is, making sure that they pay a tithe, it should be from the heart. Even among the children of Israel, it was something that was to be done from the heart, as part of worship. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vajA7LgeZaA
Pastor finds a church “ready” in a city he dreamed about
One night Pastor Vilson de Souza Lima had dream. He dreamed there was an Adventist church in the city of Alvorada do Sul, in northern Paraná, Brazil. The dream was so vivid that he felt he needed to act on it. He contacted Church leaders and requested that Alvorada do Sul, a city that had no Adventist presence, be annexed to his district so he could plant a church there. A little over a year ago, Pastor de Souza Lima rented a hall and began holding services.
Little did he know that there were…
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ann-en/~3/n5LSPi55QC4/
Sabbath: Nehemiah
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study: Nehemiah 1:1-2:20, Deut. 7:9, Ps. 23:1-6, Num. 23:19.
Memory Text: “So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said: ‘I pray, LORD God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments’ ” (Nehemiah 1:4-5, NKJV).
To date, two groups of captives have returned to Judah in at least partial fulfillment of God’s promises to the Hebrew nation.
But there is one more company of exiles that God is preparing. The last group of captives is commissioned to fix a problem. Although the first two groups returned to rebuild Jerusalem and to complete part of that project by finishing the temple, the rest of the construction was abandoned as opposition from the surrounding nations arose. The people from the surrounding area didn’t want the Israelites to build the city and its walls because they were afraid that the Israelites might become a mighty nation as they had once been (Ezra 4:6-24). Thus, the return of the Israelites appeared to be a threat, one that they were determined to stop. But God didn’t call His people in order to abandon them in the process of doing what He had called them to do.
Thus, He was preparing another man to carry out His will and to accomplish His purposes. His name was Nehemiah, and to him and his work for the Lord we turn.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 12.
Amen!
(0)
(0) Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SabbathSchoolNet/~3/FvJCgBwC3oE/
Receiving His Righteousness
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8.
We who have fallen through the transgression of the law of God have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. The way is open for everyone to prepare himself for the second appearing of Jesus Christ, that at His appearing we may be vindicated, having put away all evil, and having overcome through the cleansing blood of Christ. Through the intercession of Christ, the image of God is renewed in mind, and heart, and character. Through the blood of the only-begotten Son of God, we obtain redemption….
We are in this world to honor God, and from every devising that would in any way tempt us to dishonor our Redeemer, we must turn away. In Christ we have before us the Pattern of all righteousness. He has pledged Himself to be our Guide, our Preserver, our Governor….
We are transgressors of God’s law. Our only hope for salvation was in Christ taking upon Himself the guilt of our sins, bearing the penalty of transgression in His own body on the tree. He made a full oblation of sacrifice, and by that one oblation of Himself made it possible for us to live in obedience to God’s commands…. We are to become His loyal subjects, having pure and undefiled religion, and depending upon the one grand principle, “By grace are ye saved through faith.” …
I beseech everyone to walk and work in the fear of God. Satan is always seeking to bring poor souls who have lost their bearings to the settled determination that they will act as they please. We must stand where we reflect light….
God’s grace is great, and those who will press closer and closer to the side of Christ will not be overcome. We shall gain everything by drawing near to God and humbling ourselves before Him. As we do this, let us remember that we are heirs of God and joint heirs of Christ; that we are to be partakers of the divine nature.
I say to all, Let not one unholy thought or feeling be cherished. The power of the grace of Christ is wonderful. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord lifts up for the trusting believer a standard against the enemy. Pray, brethren and sisters, pray for your individual selves. The love and grace of Christ far surpass our finite conceptions. Plead as for your lives to be cleansed from everything that defileth. Put on Christ in deportment, and show an unselfish interest and kindness for the souls of all. We must catch the theme of redeeming love, and press on to know the Lord, that in simplicity we may reveal His character.—Letter 72, February 19, 1906, to “Brother and Sister Farnsworth.”
The Upward Look p. 64
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—- I need a special prayer for my husband as he goes through treatment. Miracles have happened numberless times in our family in the past, and I have faith and trust in God for His healing hand, again. Helen
—-Please pray for a friend who is having health issues. Buck
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
Nearly twenty years ago, Eileen was driving the van we had at the time. She had spent the morning taking Marie (a lady who was taking Bible studies from us) to the doctor. Marie, who was elderly, babysat to supplement her Social Security check, so she had a little boy with her. After Eileen had dropped Marie back home, she headed toward our place. About a mile from where we live, she heard a strange noise coming from the steering column. Smoke followed the noise. Since she was only about a fourth of a mile from a mechanic’s shop, she decided to drive there quickly. She unbuckled her seatbelt just in case she had to get out quickly. By the time she got there, the smoke was billowing out from the hole where the emergency flasher had been. The little emergency flasher button had melted by this time and liquid plastic was dripping onto the carpet. (Thankfully, that dripping plastic missed her leg.) Arriving at the garage, Eileen jumped out of the van and ran inside. A mechanic put the fire out with an extinguisher.
After the problem was fixed, Eileen and I thought of what would have happened if it had caught fire somewhere on the highway or downtown while she was transporting Marie and that little boy. No doubt, the fire would have spread and they could have been hurt and certainly the van would have been ruined.
How good God is! He “in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind” didn’t allow that shorted-out wire to cause a problem until Eileen was near to someone who could fix it. Job 12:10 Indeed, He watches over all of His Creation and nothing happens without His notice. We may hear of terroristic threats, nation may rise against nation, yet we have the assurance that He will keep us as the apple of His eye, He will hide us under the shadow of His wings. (Luke 21:10; Zech 2:8, Ps 91:4) Nahum praises, “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” Nahum 1:7 Nothing can happen unless the Great King of the Universe allows it.
May we trust in the Lord with all our heart for He is our help and our shield and our strong salvation! (Ps 115:11) May we place our weak and trembling hand in His Strong and Mighty Hand trusting Him in all situations is my prayer.
Rose
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rosesdevotional/~3/2clo8YzSWdQ/receiving-his-righteousness.html
