Monthly Archives: January 2017

FRIENDS 

Friendship 

John 15:13, 15

13. Greater love has no one than this that you lay your life down for your friends. 

15. Jesus said, “I call you friends”.

Proverbs 17:17

A friend loves at all times. 

Proverbs 18:24 

A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a  brother. 

0. Friends do not attack, fight and destroy one another. 

0. Friends protect, defend and die for one another if necessary. 

0. Friends make sacrifices for each other. 

0. God is your friend and you are a friend of God.

0. A friend’s love is consistent and forever. 

0. A friend is friendly, showing love, loyalty, care, concern, goodwill, benevolence, and more. 

0. A friends are always close, dear and precious to each others heart…

+++Great friendships in the Bible:

•God and Abraham

•Jesus and the Church

•David and Jonathan 

•and Ruth and Naomi

+++In all the various types of relationships that we have, we can always have a friendship in the midst of them all. 

+++Some people have relationships but have no friendships. 

+++Everyone cannot be your friend but you can be a friend to everyone. 

+++Everyone was not a friend to Jesus, but Jesus was a friend to everyone. He was a friend to His enemies and even those who betrayed Him.

+++Jesus had many friends and He showed Himself friendly. May the Lord continue to keep us His friend and use us to demonstrate to others what it is to be a True and Godly friend. 

•Continue to let the WORD of God be the standard for your life. Always LOVING others like Christ Jesus loves us while keeping our faith, trust and confidence in Him. 

•BLESSED you are and BLESSED you will always be and to God be all the GLORY. Amen!

BLESSED  TO  BE  A  BLESSING  

​HAVEN’T  YOU  HEARD  

The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.{Proverbs 10:22 }. HE TOLD  ABRAHAM  :

I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”{Genesis 12:2‭-‬3}

 REMEMBER ,WHO GOD  BLESS , NO ONE  CAN CURSE

“How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how shall I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?(Numbers 23:8)

“God  is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Behold, I have received a  command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.(Numbers 23:19‭-‬20)

And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”(Numbers 22:12)

GOD BLESS THROUGH  OBEDIENCE  

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be  in the country. “Blessed shall  be  the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. “Blessed shall  be your basket and your kneading bowl. “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. “The Lord  will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. “The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you. “The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord , and they shall be afraid of you. And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.  So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.[Deuteronomy 28:1‭-‬14]

LISTEN,GOD SAYS,

“I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver. I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries”(Proverbs 8:17‭-‬21).

BE BOLD

GODLY  BOLDNESS

BOLD: to be confident and sure; not hesitating or fearful, but courageous. 

Prov 28:1 

…the righteous are BOLD as a lion. 

•You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, and you have the BOLDNESS of Christ who is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. 

Hebrews 4:16 

Let us therefore come BOLDLY unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

•When we go to God’s Throne of Grace in prayer we must go with trust, confidence and surety without hesitation. With this attitude of faith and BOLDNESS we will always obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

Ephesians 6:18-20 says when we pray with all prayers and supplication in the Spirit, utterance will be given unto us to speak BOLDLY like we ought to speak. 

•Continue to exercise your godly BOLDNESS in Christ Jesus, and let the Word of God be the standard for your life. 

+++Blessed you are and blessed you will always be and to God be all the glory. Amen!

Don’t love This world

​1John 2:15 

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

1John 3:17 

But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his heart of compassion from him, how dwells the love of God in him? 

-The evidence of love is demonstrated in Giving, Caring, Sharing and Compassion. 

-Love gives to others at the expense and sacrifice of self. 

-Lust and hate always seek to get and take from others to satisfy themselves. These kind of individuals always seek to satisfy themselves at the expense of others. 

People are to be Loved and not to be Used. Things are to be Used and not to be Loved. 

-Beware of those who love things and use people, and especially beware of those who use people to get the things they love. 

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they  are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.[Romans 1:18‭-‬32]

+++Let the Word of God be the standard for your life. 

Blessed you are and blessed you will always be and to God be all the glory. Amen!

THE BATTLE  WITHIN  

​Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James  4:17).
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.” But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner  of  evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me.  Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it  is good. But now, it  is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to  do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to  do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to  do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.(Romans 7:7‭-‬25)

For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”{2 Peter 2:18‭-‬22}

Finally  

But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”(Luke 9:62)

GOD IS WORKING  IT OUT  

The question  is :

Is anything too hard for the Lord ? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”{Genesis 18:14}

‘Ah, Lord God ! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. You show lovingkindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them—the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is  the Lord of hosts. You  are  great in counsel and mighty in work, for Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings. Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, “Behold, I am the Lord , the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? (Jeremiah 32:17‭-‬19‭, ‬26‭-‬27 )

And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”(Romans 4:19‭-‬22)

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”(Matthew 19:26)
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.(Ephesians 3:20‭-‬21)

THE LORD WILL BRING YOU OUT

No matter what you are going through,cry out to God,He hears.
Psalms 34:17-19 says, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all”.

Exodus 6:6-7
…… ‘I am the Lord ; I will bring you out from under the burdens …… I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens…..

The name of the Lord  is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.(Proverbs 18:10)

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord , “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall  be  your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord , who  is  my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will  be  with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

[Psalms 91:1‭-‬16]

REMEMBER  

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah There  is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is  in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah Come, behold the works of the Lord , Who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah(Psalms 46:1‭-‬11)

 WON’T HE DO IT

image

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.[John 14:13‭-‬14 ]

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he  is  a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.[James 1:5‭-‬8]

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! {Matthew 7:7‭-‬11}

But without faith it  is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.[Hebrews 11:6]

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.[Ephesians 3:20‭-‬21]

DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY 

​Benefits of a Merry heart

Proverb 17:22 

A merry heart does good like a medicine…

MERRY: to be cheerful, filled with joy and gladness.  

HEART: your spirit, your inner most being. 

MEDICINE: that which is used to cure all ailments, and to maintain good health. 

+Could it be that the cure you need to overcome your ailments is a MERRY HEART?

+Everyone needs the MEDICINE of a MERRY HEART.  

+Jesus said in John 14:1 Let not your HEART be troubled.  

+May the JOY of the Lord be your strength (Neh 8:10), today and everyday for the rest of your days, weeks, months, and years.

+The basis of a MERRY HEART is the Love of God in our hearts.  

Romans 5:5 

…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given unto us. 

+The very first manifestation of characteristic of the Love of God is JOY (Galatians 5:22-23).

+WE are not waiting to get JOY. We have JOY, unspeakable JOY. JOY beyond explanation and comprehension.  

+The JOY that we have 

…is not of the mind. It’s of the Heart. 

…It is not from without. It is from within. 

…It is not from Earth below. It is from Heaven above. 

+The JOY we have is from God the Holy Spirit Who is in our hearts.  

+Remember a MERRY HEART has the JOY of the Lord in it. 

Hebrews 12:2-3

Looking unto Jesus the Author and (Finisher)Perfecter of our faith; who for the JOY that was set before him ENDURED the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider him that ENDURED such hostility of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds. 

+JOY in the HEART produces ENDURANCE, PERSEVERANCE, STEADFASTNESS and FOCUS.

+As Jesus ENDURED the cross for the JOY was set before Him, so likewise shall we when deny ourselves daily, pick our cross and follow Him. 

+JOY in the Heart keeps us on the path that leads us to VICTORY.

•Continue to let the WORD of God be the standard for your life. Always LOVING others like Christ Jesus loves us while keeping our faith, trust and confidence in Him. 

•BLESSED you are and BLESSED you will always be and to God be all the GLORY. Amen!

TITHING 

​Tithing opens doors to blessings,and when you hold back from God,you are delaying your blessings. 

Tithes: the tenth part of agricultural produce or personal income set apart as an offering to God or for works of mercy, or the same amount regarded as an obligation or tax for the support of the church, priesthood, or the like.

Nehemiah 10:34-38 (Ref: Leviticus Ch-27)                                                                       34 And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it  into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law:                                                                       35 And to bring the first-fruits of our ground, and the first-fruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto  the house of the LORD:                                                                     36 Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our  herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God:                                             37 And that we should bring the first-fruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of  trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.                                                                             38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites  shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

The History of the Tithe                                                            +Tithing existed before the Ten Commandment, Moses, Aaron and the Levitical Priesthood.                                                                          Genesis 4:1-4                                                                                     1 And Adam had sexual contact with Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have got a man from the LORD.                                                                             2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep (firstlings), but Cain was a tiller of the ground (First-fruits).                                                                            3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.                                                                                                   4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings (tithe) of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 

Gen 4:5-13 UKJV                                                                                               5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.                              6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why are you angry? And why is your countenance fallen?                                                          7 If you do well, shall you not be accepted? And if you do not well, sin lies at the door. And unto you shall be his desire, and you shall rule over him.                                                   8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.                                             9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel your brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s  keeper?                                                                                           10 And he said, What have you done? the voice of your brother’s blood cries unto me from the ground.                                     11 And now are you cursed from the earth, which has opened her mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand;                                                                                        12 When you till the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto you her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond  shall you be in the earth.                                                                                13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

+About 2 months ago I did a teaching on wisdom using…

Proverbs 4:7                                                                                                         Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding.

Wisdom = Principal Thing: Doing all things in the right order, in the proper way and according to who is in authority.

What is the Principle thing?                                                                                    The Principal Thing is the Beginning, the first in Place, Time, Order, or Rank. The Principle Thing is the First in order of importance.                                                                                                      The Principal Thing is the Chiefest. The Chiefest is the Head or Leader of an organized body of people, the Person highest in authority.                                            Does not this sound like Jesus?

Colossians 1:12-19                                                                    12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:                                                                                               13 Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his (o.  agape) dear Son:                                                                                             14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:                                                                      15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:                                                                              16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible,  whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:                                              17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.                                                                                        18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.                                                            9 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell.

 

+Tithing is a principal thing, therefore tithe, and with all your tithing get the understand of why you tithe.

+The tithe belongs to the Lord and it is holy unto the Lord, Lev 27:30.

+Tithing demonstrates our fear or (reverence) to the Lord, Deut 14:23.

+Based on Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 7:1-4, Malachi 3:10-12, and Deut 14:23 tithing is a principle thing that we do unto the Lord. Tithing is one of the many things we do unto the Lord that demonstrates our love for God, our faith, trust and confidence in Him, our faithfulness to Him, and our reverence or fear for God. Tithing is also a principle God wants us to practice that He (God) uses to pour an increase of blessing in our lives.

Philippians 4:19                                                                              But my God supplies all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.                                                              +When I put my tithes in the offering basket at Church on Sundays, I am presenting my tithes to my Lord Jesus Christ my High Priest.

+And God uses my tithes to abundantly increase my supply through Christ Jesus.

 

Scriptures to consider:                                                                                                                        Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.                                                                                                                                 Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not…

Matthew 5:17-18                                                                           17 Think not that I am come to destroy the Law, or the prophets: I am come not to destroy, but fulfill.                                       18 For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled.

Fulfill: to carry out, or bring to realization, as a prophecy or promise.

:to perform or do, as duty; obey or follow, as commands.

:to satisfy (requirements, obligations, etc.) 

:to bring to an end; finish or complete, as a period of time.

:to develop the full potential of.

Hebrews 4:14-16                                                                                                                                   14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.                                                                                   15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in  all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.                                               16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 5:1-14                                                                                 1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he  may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:                                                 2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also  is compassed with infirmity.                                                                  3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.                                                     4 And no man takes this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.                                                                                          5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, You are my  Son, to day have I begotten you.                                                                            6 As he says also in another place, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.                                                                  7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;                                                                          8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;                                                              9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;                                       10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.                                                                                      11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing all of you are dull of hearing.                                                                                                  12 For when for the time all of you ought to be teachers, all of you have need that one teach you again  which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong food.                                13 For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.                                              14 But strong food belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses  exercised to discern both good and evil.

Name some Titles of Christ: Messiah, Master, Teacher, Savior, King of kings, Lord of lords, Deliverer, Intercessor, High Priest, Counselor, etc.

What are some duties or functions of a Priest? Sacrifices, Atonements, Prayers, Intercessions, etc.

Jesus: Prophet, Priest and King, (explain).

+In verses 6 and 10 Jesus is made a high priest after the order of Melchisedec.                                                                     +What does this mean?                                                             +Let’s take a look at Melchisedec and who he was.

Genesis 14:18-20                                                                                       18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.                          19 And he blessed him (Abram), and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:                                                                                       20 And blessed be the most high God, which has delivered your enemies into your hand. And he (Abram) gave him (Melchizedek) tithes of all.

Hebrews 7:1-4                                                                                1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;                                                                     2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;                                  3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abides a priest continually.                                                                                          4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 17 For he testifies, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.                                                                         21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord  swore and will not repent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

+So who was Melchisedec? He was one of the many appearances of Christ in the Old Testament.                                

+Are we aware that there are many appearances of Christ in the Old Testament?

5 Reasons why Melchizedek was Christ:                                   1. He was called Priest of the Most High God (before the Law was given) Hebrews 7:1.                                                            2. He is called a Priest forever (like Jesus), Hebrews 5:6; 7:3; 17, 21.                                                                                        3. He is called King of Salem (Peace), Isaiah 9:6; Ephesians 2:14; Hebrews 7:2.                                                                4. He called King of Righteousness, Romans 10:1-4; Hebrews 7:2.                                                                                     5. He is without genealogy (no beginning, no ending, Eternal One), Hebrews 7:3.

 

 

Reasons Why Many Do Not Tithe

1. Tithing is of the Old Testament.

2. Tithing is of the Law and we are no longer under the Law.

3. Some say they can’t afford to tithe, but I say I can’t afford not to tithe.

4. Some think the money is going to the Pastor and say why should I give the Pastor my money?

5. I can trust God for salvation, but I can’t trust Him financially, (Philippians 4:19).

6. Ignorance.

As for me:                                                                                         +I am a tither.                                                                                 +I would not marry a wife who does not believing in tithing.                                                                                          +My wife would not marry a husband who does not believing in tithing.                                                                              +Our children are tithers.                                                                  +My family and I would not become members of a church who does not believe in tithing.                                                                       +My family and I are 100 percent fully persuaded, fully convinced and fully convicted by the Word of God and by the leading of the Holy Spirit that Tithing is for today.                          +We tithe because we love God and we demonstrate that love by obedience to His Word, (Quote: Matt 4:4).

Other Scriptures on Tithing:

Lev 27:30-32                                                                               30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s:  it is holy unto the LORD.                                                                     31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.                                                 32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.

Malachi 3:8-12 UKJV                                                                                  8 Will a man rob God? Yet all of you have robbed me. But all of you say, wherein have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings.                                                                                    9 All of you are cursed with a curse: for all of you have robbed me, even this whole nation.                                                 10 Bring all of you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in mine house, and prove me now herewith, says 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.                                  11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, says the LORD of hosts.                                                                                 12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for all of you shall be a delightsome land, says the LORD of hosts.

Haggai 1:5-7                                                                                          5 Now therefore thus says the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.                                                                                 6 All of you have sown much, and bring in little; all of you eat, but all of you have not enough; all of you drink, but all of you are not filled with drink; all of you clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earns wages earns wages to put it into a bag with holes.                                                     7 Thus says the LORD of hosts; consider your ways.

Proverb 3:9-10 UKJV                                                                          9 Honor the LORD with your substance, and with the first-fruits of all of your increase:                                                     10 So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst out with new wine.

John 8:56-58 UKJV                                                                              56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.                                                                          57 Then said the Jews unto him, you are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?                                                  58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Gal 3:6-9 UKJV                                                                              6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.                                                                   7 Know all of you therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.                                                 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In you shall all nations be blessed.                        9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Matt 23:23 UKJV                                                                                 23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for all of you pay tithe of mint and anise and  cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought all of you to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Luke 11:42 UKJV                                                                       42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for all of you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over  judgment and the love of God: these ought all of you to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Mark 12:41-44                                                                               41 And Jesus sat opposite to the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.                                                       42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.                                            43 And he called unto him his disciples, and says unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow  has cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:                                                                                 44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her lack did cast in all that she had, even all her  living.

Luke 21:1-4                                                                                      1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.                                                                                       2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.                                                                                      3 And he said, Truthfully I say unto you, that this poor widow has cast in more than they all:                                                  4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her destitution has  cast in all the living that she had.

2 Corinthians 9:6-10 (Speaks of Giving, Sowing and Reaping)                                                                                                                                                                   6 But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall  reap also bountifully.                                                                                     7 Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.                                                                                  8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that all of you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:                                                                 9 (As it is written, He has dispersed abroad; he has given to the poor: his righteousness remains forever.                                                          10 Now he that ministers seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)