There is always a price paid for freedom. The ability to go to the store 10 minutes away before buzzing across town to get to work comes at a price, if nothing other than just the cost of running your car. The gas, insurance, the wear on tires, oil changes etc. we do it so often we forget about that it costs $3.50 to go out of our way to get a $4.00 item. How about the person that drives 5 miles out of their way to get gas $0.05 cheaper per gallon. They spend $1.40 in gas getting to and from (if they get 25 mpg) plus wear and tear to save $1.00, if getting 20 gallons. It is such a quick trip in our mobile society a lot of us don't even consider the cost involved "to save money".
In the same way, we get so used to the freedom that was paid for by Jesus Christ. We not only forget the cost but forget the freedoms we have received by the price paid. Knowing this, the Godhead put it down on "paper" for us to find. Lets look at a well known verse.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave (the price) his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.(the freedom)
Now let's look at one that I would bet you haven't heard preached on (at least in dealing with it in context).
Mt 17:25... And when he (Peter) was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
If you check out the previous and following verses and do a little checking you can come to a pretty safe assumption that this was a temple tax although it is possible that it could be some other civil tax, but that is really not a big concern. Jesus is not only talking about the financial conditions of this current physical world but also of the spiritual world that was to be (all previous saints Abraham, David etc were servants of God not children, but we were made children (the freedom) by the death and resurrection of Jesus (the price)).
Ga 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son (freedom); and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ (price).
What is the freedom in the previous verses? It is from owing a tribute, a tax or a percentage because you are a "child of the King". Can we say tithe? Remember the children are free! If you aren't a child you better pay your tithe because you are a stranger and you owe it! Stranger to who? God of course! Jesus was informing Peter that there was a change in thinking and truth or reality coming. Why don't we sacrifice animals to cover our sins? Because the price was paid! Why don't we owe anything to the Father? Because the price to make us children was paid! How about Malachi?
Mal 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
What curse do we have? After all:
Ga 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law (the freedom), being made a curse for us (the price): for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:
If there is anything we owe it is to love, that is to be our motivation to act and to follow after Him.
Why we don't hear about this from the pulpit? It would interfere with not only the pastors income (so they think) but also the support of "their vision". Any proper teaching and instruction in the Word will lead people into a serious relationship with the Father instead of just playing around in the puddles (most of today's "believers") they will drive headlong into the river of God. Any giving that comes from us will come because of relationship and an inward change and not from mandate. You life is to be that which flows out of relationship not commandments. You are to be led into decisions or choices out of gratitude, love and your relationship with the Father. This relationship thing with the Father may seem odd to you as it first did with me (because I was raised with Jesus, Jesus, Jesus - not that there is anything wrong with Him) but Jesus Himself said that He came to bring us to the Father that we would be one with Him. A true relationship with the Father (Abba Father or in today's language "Daddy, Daddy") leads us to be generous and giving "children". After all our new DNA comes from the Father remember: For God so loved the world that He GAVE..." Our relationship leads us to give to others including those who instruct and watch over us. It is in our new nature. Note here: the Word does support this but does not talk about paying for the church"s buildings or utilities, nor does it say that we are to have a "church building" (maybe to be talked about in a later can of worms).
If you must and you are the kind of person that absolutely needs a set amount it is no longer 10% but 100%! Your choice. Just saying...
In the same way, we get so used to the freedom that was paid for by Jesus Christ. We not only forget the cost but forget the freedoms we have received by the price paid. Knowing this, the Godhead put it down on "paper" for us to find. Lets look at a well known verse.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave (the price) his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.(the freedom)
Now let's look at one that I would bet you haven't heard preached on (at least in dealing with it in context).
Mt 17:25... And when he (Peter) was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
If you check out the previous and following verses and do a little checking you can come to a pretty safe assumption that this was a temple tax although it is possible that it could be some other civil tax, but that is really not a big concern. Jesus is not only talking about the financial conditions of this current physical world but also of the spiritual world that was to be (all previous saints Abraham, David etc were servants of God not children, but we were made children (the freedom) by the death and resurrection of Jesus (the price)).
Ga 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son (freedom); and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ (price).
What is the freedom in the previous verses? It is from owing a tribute, a tax or a percentage because you are a "child of the King". Can we say tithe? Remember the children are free! If you aren't a child you better pay your tithe because you are a stranger and you owe it! Stranger to who? God of course! Jesus was informing Peter that there was a change in thinking and truth or reality coming. Why don't we sacrifice animals to cover our sins? Because the price was paid! Why don't we owe anything to the Father? Because the price to make us children was paid! How about Malachi?
Mal 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
What curse do we have? After all:
Ga 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law (the freedom), being made a curse for us (the price): for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:
If there is anything we owe it is to love, that is to be our motivation to act and to follow after Him.
Why we don't hear about this from the pulpit? It would interfere with not only the pastors income (so they think) but also the support of "their vision". Any proper teaching and instruction in the Word will lead people into a serious relationship with the Father instead of just playing around in the puddles (most of today's "believers") they will drive headlong into the river of God. Any giving that comes from us will come because of relationship and an inward change and not from mandate. You life is to be that which flows out of relationship not commandments. You are to be led into decisions or choices out of gratitude, love and your relationship with the Father. This relationship thing with the Father may seem odd to you as it first did with me (because I was raised with Jesus, Jesus, Jesus - not that there is anything wrong with Him) but Jesus Himself said that He came to bring us to the Father that we would be one with Him. A true relationship with the Father (Abba Father or in today's language "Daddy, Daddy") leads us to be generous and giving "children". After all our new DNA comes from the Father remember: For God so loved the world that He GAVE..." Our relationship leads us to give to others including those who instruct and watch over us. It is in our new nature. Note here: the Word does support this but does not talk about paying for the church"s buildings or utilities, nor does it say that we are to have a "church building" (maybe to be talked about in a later can of worms).
If you must and you are the kind of person that absolutely needs a set amount it is no longer 10% but 100%! Your choice. Just saying...
No comments:
Post a Comment