Category Archives: Word of Faith

Fear of Death: 5 Ways to Overcome Death

Posted by Jan 30, 2016 Holy Word, Gospel Evangelism, Word of Faith Leave a Comment
Fear of Death: 5 Ways to Overcome Death

One day a young man asked his Master, “I do experience fear of death. How can I get rid of this fear?”
“Tell me,” the old man answered, “When you borrow a few coins, are you afraid to give them later back?”
“Of course not,” the student answered with surprise, “but what does this have to do with my fear?”

 
The teacher picked up a small piece of soil from the ground and continued, “You have received your body in debt with required return. And every bite of bread eaten by you, every sip of water drank by you increases that debt.
You are made from dust on which you walk and the ground is your main creditor, constantly reminding you of this debt. It is pulling you down towards it. In the end, the ground will swallow you whole, without any remains.”

 
The old man threw the soil into the air, after attaining its fall, he finished, “No matter how high you rise, how long you are in the flight, you will still need to go down. That is given. And to cope with the fear of this fall is very easy – stop thinking about yourself as the master of your body.

 
Face the thought that you are just a tenant. And because you don’t know the length of your rent, remember that it can end at any second. We are all debtors, and our debts will certainly be recovered, no matter if we are afraid of it or not. So is there a point of being afraid?”…

 
The characteristics of a person include; movement, respiration, feeding, growth, excretion and death. If you were not afraid of feeding and respiring, then it is also a normal phenomenon that death will take its course one day. Hebrew chapter 9 verse 27 says: “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment”.

 
The characteristic of death is so scary because it terminates the existence of life. But there are ways to overcome the fear of death.

5 Strong Weapons that Defeat Death

 

1. Respect the Life-Giver

The fear of death will always overwhelm you if there is no understanding that God is the only One who gives you the gift of life every day. Whenever you sleep and wake up, it is not an automatic process. The Lord approves your living every day.

 
You must always respect God, the Life-Giver by giving thanks to Him. He promised to give long life: “They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” (Isaiah chapter 65 verse 22)

Besides, the Lord is not to be blamed for anyone struck by death. It was designed that everyone must die, to continue another life into eternity.

 

2. Get to know who is Death!

The fear of death will melt away from your heart if you know his identity. Death is a servant and not a supreme being. Death does not have his barrack on earth, but in the spiritual realm.

 
The good news for every Christian is that Jesus is powerful than death. Death cannot touch you if your time is not ‘ripe’ to join Jesus in Heaven. Psalm 23 verse 4 says: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

 
Unbelievers will suffer the fear of death, because the absence of Jesus in their lives gives death the liberty to sting them.
“I can’t forget my experience with Death in the sixth month of year 2000… Death was leading me to the grave, but the Lord instructed death to let go. And life came into my dead body once again”!

 
Don’t be afraid of death because the key to his stronghold is with Jesus. He says in Revelation chapter 1 verse 18: “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”

 

3. Wash Your Hands from Sins

Sin gives authority to Death to sting the life of the sinners. An example of such is king Herod, the book of Act chapter 12 verses 23 says: “Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.”

 
When your heart suffers the fear of death, then it might be a sign that sin had crept into your life. So, check and balance your lifestyle with the Bible.
The short life span in our generation is caused by disobedience to the godly guidelines in the Bible. Majority does not want to obey any instruction in the Bible, and they love to live a careless life. Unluckily, the false preachers in the church are not helping matters.

 
Major causes of death include sinful lifestyles such as; alcoholism, wild parties, bad feeding habit (gluttony), abortion, hatred (terrorism, serial killing…) and lack of good rest (Sabbath).
If you want to overcome the fear of death, then settle down with God for a ‘serious business’. Give your body, mind and spirit to Jesus. And live a holy lifestyle according to the Bible.

 

4. Word of God Erases Fear of Death

Fear of death might want to engulf you when on a sick-bed or going through hard times. The best way to overcome such fear is through reading the Bible. Always recite the promise of God for you in the holy Bible.

 
When the fear of death troubles your heart, fight back with prayers and bible studies. It is dangerous to curse or get depressed when you experience unwanted conditions of life, because such act gives death the legal right to sting.

 

5. Know Your Eternal Home

It is not difficult to know your eternity. Scriptures says by their fruits you shall know them. If you live a holy lifestyle according to the Bible, then your name will be written in the book of life according to Revelation chapter 3 verse 5: “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”

 
So, the fear of death will melt away if you live a holy life in Jesus Christ every day.
Whenever death comes near you, the Spirit of the Lord will give you the confidence that Heaven is your home. Thus, you won’t be afraid of death. Proverbs chapter 14 verse 32 says: “The wicked is banished in his wickedness, but the righteous has a refuge (hope) in his death.”

 
The fear of death is not a weapon that can destroy the faith of genuine Christians. Thus, focus your faithful heart to the LORD daily and no fear of death can threaten your peace. 

Spiritual Warfare: 5 Ways to Defeat Your Enemies

Posted by Jan 13, 2016 Holy Word, Church, Podcast, Word of Faith 5 Comments
Spiritual Warfare: 5 Ways to Defeat Your Enemies

Spiritual warfare is an invisible battle that does not need the use of a AK 47 rifle. It is one of the miseries of life that needs divine understanding.

God created us to have three different forms; the body, soul and spirit. And He created the earth (Physical realm) for our body to be in-charge. God created the heavens (spiritual realm) for the spirit to be in-charge.

The origin of spiritual warfare started when Satan and other rebellious angels were chased out of heaven. Revelation chapter 12 verse 7 to 9 says: “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”

Since Satan could not win the throne of God, he had declared spiritual war against humanity to stop everyone from gaining heaven. Revelation chapter 12 verses 17 say: “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Spiritual warfare is the fight between your spirit and evil spirit. It can also occur between the spirit of light and darkness. Don’t be scared of spiritual warfare because it is an event every Christian would encounter in various ways. The Power of Jesus is above all powers of the demonic forces.

The Cause of Spiritual Warfare

Satan chose to wage war against humanity as a form of retaliation for his defeat in heaven. Satan’s plan is to attack and defeat the souls of people. He does not want us to experience peace on earth and he wants the human race to be spiritually defeated by sins.

Satan initiates spiritual warfare so that everyone can join him and his demons in lake of fire – the eternal punishment. Revelation chapter 20 verse 10 says: “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

8 Major Weapons of Spiritual Enemies

Many unpleasant and mysterious experience of life is an outcome of spiritual warfare.
Some of the weapons used by Satan for spiritual warfare against humanity include some of the following:

1. Deceits

2. Fear

3. Unbelief in Jesus Christ

4. Pride

5. Condemnation

6. Misconception of the Scriptures

7. Distractions through social media

8. Enticement, and so on.

Since God did not originate spiritual warfare, then we must not be ignorant of devil’s devices. Paul was conscious of this fact when he advised the Corinthians to embrace forgiveness… “Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Corinthians 2:11)

5 Powerful Ways to Defeat Your Enemies

1. Always say the truth
I remember those days when things go wrong, my mum will always ask me to say the truth so that devil could be ashamed. I experienced a serious spiritual warfare within my heart, struggling with a voice telling me to lie since saying the truth can attract scolding from my mum.

You can’t overcome any spiritual warfare if you delight in lies. Ephesians chapter 6 verses 13 and 14 say: “Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.”

2. Accept Prince of Peace
You will defeat all spiritual warfare if you accept Jesus Christ as the only savior that could control your life. Your heart is always the battle field of the spiritual warfare. If you obey the will of God in your lifestyle, then He will fill your heart with peace.

Thus, the weapon of fear from the enemy would be defeated. John chapter 14 verses 27 says: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

3. Have Faith in Jesus
Spiritual enemies can defeat you if fear overwhelms your heart. The brave action that gives victory to spiritual warfare is to secure your heart with faith in Jesus Christ and the LORD. Don’t give up when your dream realm that links to the spiritual realm is filled with nightmares.

You will defeat all spiritual warfare if you believe in the Power of Jesus. At the mention of His name, every knee must bow. Philippians chapter 2 verses 9 and 10 says: “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth…”

4. Fervent Prayers
When you encounter a spiritual warfare, do not run from one Pastor to another Prophet. Neither the magician nor the Satanists could help you defeat the spiritual warfare.

Fervent prayers to the LORD is a strong weapon that defeats spiritual enemies. Philippians chapter 4 verses 6 say: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

5. Blood of Jesus
The blood of Jesus has being a powerful weapon that constantly defeats Satan in all spiritual warfare. Accept Jesus into your life with all your heart and He will fight the battle for you. Revelation chapter 12 verses 11 says: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

Antichrist: Secrets of the antichrists against Christians

Posted by Nov 1, 2015 Holy Word, Church, Gospel Evangelism, Podcast, Word of Faith , , 4 Comments
Antichrist: Secrets of the antichrists against Christians

Antichrist is a commander who has battalions of soldiers called the antichrists. The Antichrist is planning a coup to overthrow the salvation of Jesus Christ in the life of the Christians.
There is a lot of news flying on the media as regards the identity of Antichrist. Some said it is Pope Francis, while some versions said President Obama is the Antichrist. Hmm! The next breaking news on Antichrist might be one of my uncles in the Government…
Do not be confused by the ‘super’ mathematicians who are too curious to interpret the prophetic messages of Antichrist in the Bible.
Let’s take the subject of antichrist from its simpler terms. Antichrist is an organization controlled by Satan, and the major ambition of the antichrist is to deceive people.

The primary aim of the Antichrist is to present himself as a better messiah. The antichrist is discouraging the Christians and the world from practicing holiness.

Antichrist and antichrists

There are two categories of people involved in the satanic organization I called antichrist. The first alphabet (A) is used as the distinguishing element.
First John chapter 2 verses 18 says: “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.”
a) Antichrist is the devil incarnate that would become the world leader.This Antichrist will control the economy and governance of the world. The book of Revelation chapter 13 verses 7 and 8 explained the action of Antichrist: “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

 

b) The antichrists are the people preparing the way for the Antichrist, just like the way John the Baptist prepared the way for the arrival of Jesus Christ. Second John chapter 1 verse 7 says: “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”
Presently, the Antichrist has not come, but the antichrists are fully in operation.

Seven Works of the antichrist in the Christendom

The antichrists are not ghost but they are brilliant and wise people controlled by evil spirit. Antichrist (as an evil organization) has its best performance in the aspect of deceit.
Let’s read the remark of Jesus to the Pharisees who were the first set of antichrist in the book of John chapter 8 verses 44: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
1. The antichrist intensified their efforts when the soldiers watching the tomb of Jesus were bribed, and compelled to spread the lies that Jesus’ corpse was stolen. The book of Mathew chapter 28 verse 12 to 15 says: “When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”
The deceitful works of the antichrist made majority of the Jews to lose faith in Jesus Christ.
2. Another successful work of the antichrist is the misconception of the scriptures in the church. One of the deceits established by the antichrist is that God does not care about what you do with your body. (Misconception of Romans 8:10 is one of their quotes).
The antichrist (who claimed to be Pastors) in most churches had been able to deceive a lot of Christians to do whatever they like to their body. The antichrist gives false teaching to the Christians that God is only interested in their spiritual life.
But the antichrist preachers will not quote places like first Corinthians chapter 6 verse 19 and 20: “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
You can hardly distinguish some Christian women going to the church from worldly women going to the disco party. Antichrist had successfully established provocative dressing styles, tattoo, cosmetics and various forms of worldly fashions to the midst of the Christians.

 

3. The antichrist penetrated the Christendom by attending the various school of theology and became Overseers/Pastors of many churches.

 

4. The antichrist does not preach messages that would change the heart of sinners to genuine repentance. And the true Word of God cannot be found on their pulpit.

 
5. The antichrist deceived a lot of Christians that the fastest way for prayers to be answered by God is through speaking in tongues. I was shocked when I discovered that most of the theology school has a course study called; speaking-in-tongues. The student-pastors were thought how to speak in tongues? Abomination!

 

The antichrist had used the false teaching of speaking in tongues to cause serious disorderliness in most churches. Church members not led by the Spirit of God were forced to open their mouths to say rubbish. Speaking in tongues is not what your Pastor will instruct you to do, it is a divine gift controlled by God.

 

Read first Corinthians chapter 14 for more details… “If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.” (Verse 27 & 28)
Anyone that asks you to do anything contrary to this instruction is an antichrist.

 

6. The antichrist knows that a typical human being does not want to be guided by the law. So, they pretend to be a loving Pastor who knows how best to interpret the Bible. The antichrist discourages the Christian not to subject themselves to any rules in the Bible.

 

The antichrist will preach to you to accept Jesus as your savior, and he tells you to live your life anyhow you want it. This had been a spiritual trap that had made a lot of Christians to be lukewarm. Do not be ignorant of God’s judgment to the lukewarm. Revelation chapter 3 verse 16 says: “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

 

When Paul said we are no more under the law, he never preached to us to live a careless and unguided life. He told us we are no longer under the law of sacrifices practiced in the Old Testament, because Jesus had accomplished such on the cross. Romans chapter 7 verse 7 says: “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”
Don’t be deceived by the antichrist, the rules giving to us by Jesus Christ in the New Testament must be obeyed.
7. The antichrist ruling the Catholic Church dropped the second commandment of God in their catechism to allow idolatry. You can’t worship two masters.
It is not safe to worship God, and bow for the statue of Mary or whatever name given to an idol or image. Revelation chapter 21 verses 8 says: “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death”.
The secret of the antichrist is to make sure that everyone is judged, and cast to lake of fire. If anyone discourages you from obeying all the instructions in the New Testament, then such person is an antichrist.
God is not wicked. But He has set a rule of holiness for us to obey; anyone that disobeys is not fit to inherit heaven. If we are careful to obey the constitution of the land to avoid imprisonment, then why do we put up a debate on obeying the instructions of Jesus?

 

Technology is good, but the antichrist is using it to steal the precious time of the Christians so that lesser time will be available for personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Be careful with the time you spent on your social media.
Antichrist and Satan want every human being to join them to their eternal destination (lake of fire). So, they want to make sure that sin abound in our midst. If we allow sin to control our lives, then God will have no choice than to send all sinners to lake of fire.

The grace of God for you is not a license to live a careless life (Romans 6:1&2). You can always escape the deceits of the antichrist if you read, and obey the Bible with a humble heart.

Is the Grace of God Enough to Save Us?

Posted by Oct 25, 2015 Holy Word, Church, Gospel Evangelism, Podcast, Word of Faith , , 2 Comments
Is the Grace of God Enough to Save Us?

Grace of God is a special help to save us from any trouble of life. I experienced a remarkable grace of God many years ago in the Polytechnic. I had a terrible illness during my final examination. And I used all the drugs prescribed by the doctor, but none could cure the illness. I was unhappy, because I might fail the exams and suffer an extra year in school.

On the third day of the exam, I could not leave my room because I had no energy to lift myself. I did not have the imagination of going to the grave, but I saw death staring at me.
I cried out to God with all my strength for His mercy and grace. And a wind of healing blew into my room, and I was healed miraculously through the power in the grace of God. This grace of God marked the turning point of my life to become a genuine Christian.

 

How true is the Grace of God?

• Noah enjoyed the Grace of God
The grace of God had been available since the beginning of the world. Noah and his family were the first to enjoy the grace of God. They were saved from the first destruction of the earth. Genesis chapter 6 verse 8 says: “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”

• Lot acknowledged the Grace of God
Lot did not support the sinful lifestyles of his neighbor. And he was saved from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah through the grace (favor) of God. Genesis chapter 19 verses 19 say: “Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life…”

• Moses saw the Lord through the Grace of God
Moses was one of the few prophets who saw God and the grace of God upheld him from dying. Exodus chapter 34 verse 5 to 9 says: “Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there… So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped… I have found grace in your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us…”

 

Grace of God is real and abundant in our generation through Jesus Christ as written in the book of John chapter 1 verse 17: “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
Am happy we are not under the sacrificial law of the Old Testament. Grace of God is enough to save us through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. And His resurrection is the power that seals our salvation into eternal joy.

Since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the power of sin dominated the heart of man. But, God chose to give us a permanent deliverance from sins by releasing abundant grace to our generation.
Whosoever belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ will enjoy the grace of God. John chapter 3 verse 16 says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The grace of God is the ticket you need to embark on the holy journey to heaven.

 

What are those things the Grace in Christianity can’t do?

1. Grace of God is not a license to live like the worldly people.
Romans chapter 6 verse 1 and 2 says: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
2. Grace of God does not stop you from obeying the instructions of Jesus Christ in the Bible.
Jesus says in Matthew chapter 7 verse 21: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
3. Grace of God is not a Robot
I always felt uncomfortable when some ‘Christians’ told me that they were praying for the grace of God to take away the hard-to-leave sins in their lives. Unfortunately, I discovered that the hard-to-leave sins are worldly actions they love to do.
Don’t give the excuse of lack of grace for your continuation in sinful practices. You might be sitting on a gun powder! Romans chapter 6 verses 14 and 15 say: “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!”

 

The grace of God will save you from eternal condemnation if you surrender your life to Jesus.
Grace of God is the favor you receive from God to find it possible to live a sinless life. Grace of God cannot control your choice of living, because God respects your power of choice in life.

Please, I want you to run away from any teaching that abuses the grace of God. The grace of God in you does not give you the access to live a lawless and careless life.
Bible says we are no more under the law but grace. Yes! The Bible is referring to the customary and sacrificial laws of the Old Testament. Grace of God does not exempt you from obeying the instructions of Jesus in the New Testament.
The grace of God is available for everyone on earth. If you want to enjoy the grace of God forever, then give your body, soul and spirit to Jesus. Read the Bible daily, and practice the Word of God. Put your faith in Jesus Christ, and the grace of God will save you forever.

Is Tithing for the Christians?

Posted by Oct 18, 2015 Church, Gospel Evangelism, Podcast, Word of Faith , Leave a Comment
Is Tithing for the Christians?

Tithing was initially practiced by Abraham when he gave Melchizedek a tithe of the goods he recovered from the war. (Genesis 14:17-20). The Lord gave the law of tithing to the Israelite, so that they can imbibe the habit of giving to the needy. (Numbers 18:26)
I chose to write on tithing, because of the growing numbers of new converts in the church whose faith had being affected by the exaggerated teachings of some greedy Preachers. Tithing has nothing to do with your salvation in Jesus Christ.

 

What does the Bible Say about Tithing?

God adopted the strategy of tithing as a way of establishing abundance in the temple, and as a source of help to the poor Israelite. The Bible explained the full details of how tithing should be done in the Old Testament.

 

Deuteronomy chapter 26 verse 12 to 15 says: “When you have finished laying aside all the tithe of your increase in the third year-the year of tithing-and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be filled, then you shall say before the LORD your God: ‘I have removed the holy tithe from my house, and have given them to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not transgressed Your commandments, nor have I forgotten them…”
If you had spent more than three years in a church that believes in tithing, then the Pastor must not collect your every third year tithes from you. You are to share the tithing as described in Deuteronomy 26:12-14. Any contradiction to that law by anyone is a sin.
If you worship in a church which is under the law of tithing, then don’t allow greedy Pastors or false doctrines to put you into trouble. You must follow the law to the letter by sharing your every third year tithes among your pastor and poor people in your area.
The Bible also mentioned the importance of tithing in Malachi chapter 3 verse 10a: “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house …”
God does not eat human food, but He does not want the Priests and their family to die of hunger in the temple.

 

The Promises of God to Tithe Givers

God understands that tithing must come from a joyful heart. So, He chose to reward every tithe giver as a way of encouraging them to do more.

Let’s read the promises of God to tithe givers in Malachi chapter 3 verse 10b -12: “…And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out 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…”

Tithing in the New Testament

My careful study of the Old Testament shows that tithing had been the major source of income for the priests. The tithes from the successful farmers are also the source of help for the poor in the community. I searched the New Testament to find out if tithing is a continuous law for the Christian, but I noticed something more interesting than tithe.
Tithing in the Old Testament was a peripheral of the act of giving generous offering in the New Testament. Jesus Christ did not give any teaching on tithing, unlike other commandments recorded in the book of Mathew chapter 5, 6 and 7.
Jesus made a reference to tithe when He scolded the Pharisee for practicing tithing without a righteous lifestyle. Mathew chapter 23 verses 23 says: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.”

 

 

Generous Offering is more valuable than tithing

Tithing is giving one-tenth of your income. But, generous offering is giving more than one-tenth of your income. Jesus Christ did not frown at tithing, but He teaches generous offering.
Thus, tithing is a prerequisite to generous offering. Mark chapter 12 verse 41 to 44 says: “Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrant. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; “for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”
Another teaching of Jesus that supersedes tithing is written in the book of Luke chapter 6 and verse 38 which says: “Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
So, about the new rule from our Lord Jesus, if you give one-tenth of your income only, then the measure of your reward is limited. When you give half of your income, then your reward is more than the tithe giver. The more you give for God’s mission, the more blessings you will receive from Him.
The Apostles of Jesus did not generate income for the early church through tithing. Their financial source was through generous offerings and not tithing.

A true instance can be seen in the book of Act chapter 4 verse 32 to 37: “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common… Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.”
Every Christian of the early church was not under the law of tithing, but they contributed more than tithe of their earnings.
The request of Paul to the Corinthians shows that tithing was not a form of raising money for the spread of the Gospel. 1Corinthians chapter 16 verse 1 and 2 says: “Now about the money being collected for the Christians in Jerusalem…On every Lord’s Day, each of you should put aside some amount of money in relation to what you have earned and save it for this offering…” (NLT)
I always feel uncomfortable when I listen to some Pastors who lay too much emphasis on tithe as the source of blessing to the congregation. Your greatest blessing is from the measure and quality of your offering.
God will never force you to give a specific amount of money in this generation. He expects you to give as much as you can freely release from your heart.
The first act of giving recorded in the Bible is offering and not tithing. I got this fact in the book of Genesis chapter 4 and verse 3 to 5: “And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering…”
Many years ago, I gave all my income for the sponsor of an evangelical trip to a remote village. And I was overwhelmed by God’s multiple folds of blessings in my life. So, I chose not to stop giving generously to evangelical trips.
Tithing is not sinful, but Jesus Christ expects Christians to do more of generous offering. The cost of spreading the Gospel across the world is more expensive than the running cost of the temple (in the Old Testament). Thus, give more than tithing so that the Gospel could spread all over the world, and the measure of your blessing will be great.