20 Points We Can Glean from 1Corinthians 14 About Speaking in Tongues in the Church Are Listed Below:
Point #1 (Verse 1) Prophesying is preferable because it is charitable, unlike speaking in tongues, which no man in the church understands.
Point #2 (Verse 2) By speaking in an unknown tongue you do not to speak to men, but unto God: because no man understands what you are speaking, even though you're speaking mysteries in the spirit.
Point #3 (Verses 3-4) Speaking in tongues in the church gathering is not useful to the church, because it only edifies the speaker; but the church cannot understand the words of the tongue or language. But prophesying edifies the church because through it we can speak unto men for their edification, exhortation, and comfort. The church gathering is not for speaking to God alone, but also for speaking to one another (Ephesians 5:19). Therefore, to speak to God alone and not to men in the gathering of saints shows lack of spiritual order. If when we come together in fellowship we turn our backs against ourselves to speak to God alone, we abuse the purpose of corporate worship. If we must speak alone to God, it should be in our private worship, as our Lord has taught us in Matthew 6:5 and 6.
Point #4 (Verse 5) Paul preferred that all the church would rather prophesy than to speak in unknown tongues, because speaking with tongues is less than prophesying, except it is accompanied by interpretation so that the church may receive edifying.
Point #5 (Verse 6) Speaking with tongues to men does not profit them, only speaking to them by revelation, knowledge, prophesying, or by doctrine that can edify them.
Point #6 (Verse 7) Even lifeless objects, such as pipe or harp, which produce sound are more useful or intelligible than speaking tongues that do not give a distinction in the sounds made to the ears of men.
Point #7 (Verse 8) A degree of certainty and distinctiveness of meaning is required in every sound given in the church to build up, equip and perfect the saints for their spiritual life's battles.
Point #8 (Verse 9) You can utter by the tongue words easy to be understood; and except you do so you would be speaking into the air. Mark this term, "to speak into the air". It refers to the same exercise that is termed "to speak not unto men but to God", "to speak to yourself and to God". This is not a commendable exercise in the church gathering, where we come together to speak to one another, as well as to ourselves and God.
Point #9 (Verse 10) All the many kinds of tongues in the world are with signification. This is a clear evidence that Paul was not treating the voices or tongues of angels, as some would wish he was doing in this chapter.
Point #10 (Verse 11) Speaking in tongues to men who do not understand the tongues makes you a barbarian to them and them a barbarian to you.
Point #11 (Verse 12-13) The zeal for spiritual gifts is insufficient for the church gathering, except it seeks to excel in edifying the church. Therefore the person that speaks in an unknown tongue should pray that he may interpret.
Point #12 (Verse 14-17) When you pray in an unknown tongue in the church meeting, your spirit prays, but your understanding bears no fruit to the church; thus they will not be able to say "Amen" to what they do not understand, even though you do give thanks well in the language you employ. To solve this problem you have to make sure that your understanding bears fruit to the church while your spirit is praying to God.
Point #13 (Verse 18-19) Paul spoke with tongues more than all the Corinthians; thus it is clear that he was not rebuking them because he was unable to speak in tongues. Speaking in tongues more than them could either be quantitatively or qualitatively; whichever it was, Paul was discrete enough to rather speak five words that could be understood in the church, so that he might teach others also with his speech, than to employ ten thousand words in an unknown tongue that they would not understand.
Point #14 (Verse 20-22) Many Brethren are children in the understanding of this matter of tongues because they fail to understand that tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers; whereas, prophesying is not for the unbelievers, but for the believers. This point should shame those who push for tongues as a prayer language for believers.
Point #15 (Verse 23-25) If all the speakers in the church speak with tongues, and there are any unlearned persons, or unbelievers there, they will say that the congregation is full of mad men. But if every speaker prophesies or preaches the gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit, the unbeliever will be convicted and judged by all of them, through their preaching; and the secrets of the heart of the unsaved are thus made manifest by the plainness of the anointed preaching; so that he falls down on his face and worships God, and reports that God is in the church of a truth!
Point #16 (Verse 26) Every spiritual activity in the meetings of the saints should be done unto edifying of all.
Point #17 (Verse 27-28) Speaking in an unknown tongue in the church should be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let the person who intends to speak in tongues KEEP SILENCE in the church; and speak to himself, and to God. Speaking to himself and to God in the church should not be to the hearing of men otherwise he would be disobeying the instruction to keep silence. This is a clear prohibition of speaking unknown tongues in the church without interpretation.
Point #18 (Verse 29) The prophets are to speak by two or three, just like the speakers of unknown tongues, and the other is to judge the prophecy. This includes the interpretation of tongues, which is placed on equal rank with prophesying.
Point #19 (Verse 30-33, 40) Orderliness should be maintained in Christian meetings.
Point #20 (Verse 39-40) We should covet or desire strongly for the gift of prophesying, and not forbid to speak with tongues, provided it obeys the conditions already given in this chapter, in order to maintain orderliness and decency in the church gatherings.
Saturday, March 7, 2020
Saturday, February 29, 2020
The Responsibility and Authority of the Elders of the Church
The Responsibility and Authority of the Elders of the Church
From Eric, a servant of Jesus Christ, to all them that have received the love of the truth, that they might be sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ. Grace be unto you from the Lord Jesus Christ.
In a time like this when many are getting more concerned about the issue of authority among the people of God it is good to consult His word, because we find life and assurance in it.
Our text of study in this matter is: Act 20:28-32:
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
This scripture is better grasped when it is begun from the 17th verse through the 38th and last verse, and by the help of the Spirit of God. The operating words in this holy thought here is "to take heed". It is defined figuratively as "to hold the mind towards", that is, pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to something. It can also mean to adhere to or to give attendance at, to or unto something. Another way to expand it is "to beware of", "to be given to", " to give or to have regard to or for" something.
Now, the first and foremost thing the elders are to give attention to is themselves. This is a very important responsibility. If we fail at this task we cannot succeed at the next one. As much as many desire to rule over cities and other men, ruling over our own tempers and desires is our greatest conquest in life.
"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." (Proverbs 16:32)
It is only when elders take heed to themselves that they can take heed to the flock or Church of God, whom the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ has made them to oversee and to feed. One reason given why there is great need for the elders to take heed to themselves and to the Church is that it is the Church, which the Lord has purchased with His own blood. This is a great matter because the blood is not a common thing to be taken lightly. Every blood washed soul is precious to His heart. He wants them to be fed, nursed and kept from evil and weaned to maturity in the things that last forever.
Another reason given in the 29th verse of Acts 20 for ministers of the Gospel to take heed to themselves and to the souls whom they have the responsibility to watch over is in the following words:
"For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock."
This was not a guesswork, but it was something that the apostle was very sure about, because it must have been revealed to him by God. It is shocking to the minds of those who follow the history of the church how these simple words of the apostle have taken shape and become a part of our existence through the years. What an omniscient God we serve! Of a truth, grievous wolves who do not spare the flock entered in among the elders of the church. Wolves are wicked hunters of the flock. The first mighty hunter before the Lord was Nimrod, and the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, AKA "confusion" (Genesis 10:8-10). The delicacies of the wolf is normally the flesh of the flock. Since no sane sheep would feel comfortable around a wolf, the wolf has to employ a decoy of disguise and appear as a harmless sheep.
Now, what is alarming is that these wolves were to come from among the elders of the church. These are supposed to be the ones entrusted with the care of the blood washed souls. This is more grievous when we consider what our Master suffered in the hands of evil men because of this flock! (1Peter 5:1) This is another reason to be watchful, as the apostle mentioned in the 30th verse:
"Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."
These grievous wolves do not arise from another religion otherwise the flock would pay them no heed. But they arise among trusted servants of the church. When they have gained the trust of the feeble sheep, they begin to speak perverse things aimed at drawing disciples after themselves, instead of drawing disciples after the Lord Jesus Christ. This is where the wary flock are to watch out! Whenever you perceive that a minister starts to speak perverse things about his authority over you and drawing you to himself, you should take heed to yourself because you are very near a wolf. Please, elders and flock, hear ye the Word of Christ, Himself:
"He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him." (John 7:18)
No true servant of Christ will turn the focus on himself and authority over you. The authority, which the Lord has given the ministers is for the edification of the flock, and not for their destruction (2Cor. 10:8). How dare you a mortal think to have dominion or authority over the faith of others?
"Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand." (2Cor. 1:24)
Meekness is to acknowledge your strength and yet restrain your self from asserting it on others. Even though some are quick to quote the words of Paul to support their teaching of authority in the church, he denied himself from using the authority of his apostleship to burden the church. (See 1Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 6). This is how to take heed to yourself.
Peter even gave more light to this matter in his address to the elders, placing himself in the same rank as they are.
1Pe 5:1-4
1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
It's a fearful thing to assume lordship or authority over the Lord's heritage. Men who do so are not wise. When the Chief Shepherd (Arch Bishop) of our souls shall appear with the rewards that don't fed away, some shall be filled with everlasting shame and others with everlasting joy.
To conclude this piece, it is needful to address the misconception some have given to some holy verses about authority in the church. Below are some verses they use:
"Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." (Heb 13:7)
"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." (Heb 13:17)
The phrase "have the rule over" is the strong point of these teachers who are known for their perverse speeches aimed at drawing disciples after themselves. It can mean "to have authority over", if we were to speak in terms of Gentile government that the Lord Jesus Christ condemned. Thank God the translators of the King James recognized this difficulty and rendered the marginal reading as "them that are guides over you" or "them that guide you". The faith of Jesus Christ is different from that of the world. In the world, the rulers of men exercise authority and dominion over them. But the Lord said it shall not be so in the church.
Mat 20:25-28:
25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
If He said it shall not be so, it means it shall not be so; no matter what perverse things any wolf speaks, it shall not be so. Hebrews 13:7 and 17 do not contradict the words of Christ for those who are learned in the things of God. Ruling in the church is all about caring and feeding the flock, and not lording over the heritage of God. You don't present yourself to the church, you preach Christ. He alone is the message!
"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake." (2Cor. 4:5)
It's only a perversion for you to change the theme of the Gospel and esteem yourself over and above the house of God. True servants of God esteem others better than themselves (Phil. 2:3). It's only the man of sin "who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2Thes. 2:4)
In the true Church, the Lord has said, "...all ye are brethren" (Matt. 23:8) marking no differences among us. But in Mystery Babylon, ranks and authority are emphasized over and above the uprightness of the doctrines of God, so that the structures of the organization of man can be sustained at all costs. Leadership and authority are strictly tied to ranks established by men, instead of resting on the authority of the word of God.
For those who love to have their ranks recognized in the body of Christ, we may have to show you some scripture that will show you your rank:
1Cor. 3:22-23:
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
The above hierarchy will satisfy every true heart in the way of the Lord. Paul shows us the order taught by Christ in Matthew 23:8-13, where the ministers are at the bottom of the table. Whoever would be great must become the servant of all. Now the table is such that Christ is at the head, followed by the new born babes in His faith (He does not joke with the things that affect them at all); after the little ones, we have the matured ones who are to watch over them, like their servants. These ones are the least among the brethren. It is a glorious place to occupy in the body, if you know the things of the Lord.
While Paul was telling the elders to take heed to (or to watch or beware of) themselves and the church, he reminded them that for three years he did not cease to warn every one night and day with tears about this very matter of grievous wolves. It's a very grave one that should not be taken lightly for one moment. Imagine the souls that are at stake if care is not taken!
Finally, we have to close this matter by looking at the solution provided by the Lord for this problem of usurpation of the authority in the church. Even before He became flesh in the land of Palestine it was foreseen by the prophet, Isaiah that the government shall be upon His shoulder. He alone (who is called "The Word of God") is the head of the church. Those who liken themselves to Moses or Aaron, as leaders of the people, ought to know that that position is not vacant at all. It's for the Lord Jesus Christ. By sitting on His seat in the temple, they proclaim themselves God, just like it was in Babylon of those days! O, man, you are not God!
"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." (Act 20:32)
Here is the conclusion of the matter. The church and Elders are commended to God and His Word of Grace. We follow ministers who follow God. We submit to them by obeying the Word of God that they feed us with. In truth, it is the Word of God and God Himself that our submission is to, because we do not submit because of the person or rank of the minister, but because of God and His Word of grace that they bring to us. Therefore the authority is with God and the word of His grace, not the servant who preaches it to us. The moment they abandon their walk with God and start to speak perverse things, we are to take our flight from them for the sake of our souls. God alone has the authority in the church, not some men. In Him alone, the flock is safe.
I pray this piece will be a blessing to some man that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at God's word. Amen.
From Eric, a servant of Jesus Christ, to all them that have received the love of the truth, that they might be sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ. Grace be unto you from the Lord Jesus Christ.
In a time like this when many are getting more concerned about the issue of authority among the people of God it is good to consult His word, because we find life and assurance in it.
Our text of study in this matter is: Act 20:28-32:
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
This scripture is better grasped when it is begun from the 17th verse through the 38th and last verse, and by the help of the Spirit of God. The operating words in this holy thought here is "to take heed". It is defined figuratively as "to hold the mind towards", that is, pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to something. It can also mean to adhere to or to give attendance at, to or unto something. Another way to expand it is "to beware of", "to be given to", " to give or to have regard to or for" something.
Now, the first and foremost thing the elders are to give attention to is themselves. This is a very important responsibility. If we fail at this task we cannot succeed at the next one. As much as many desire to rule over cities and other men, ruling over our own tempers and desires is our greatest conquest in life.
"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." (Proverbs 16:32)
It is only when elders take heed to themselves that they can take heed to the flock or Church of God, whom the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ has made them to oversee and to feed. One reason given why there is great need for the elders to take heed to themselves and to the Church is that it is the Church, which the Lord has purchased with His own blood. This is a great matter because the blood is not a common thing to be taken lightly. Every blood washed soul is precious to His heart. He wants them to be fed, nursed and kept from evil and weaned to maturity in the things that last forever.
Another reason given in the 29th verse of Acts 20 for ministers of the Gospel to take heed to themselves and to the souls whom they have the responsibility to watch over is in the following words:
"For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock."
This was not a guesswork, but it was something that the apostle was very sure about, because it must have been revealed to him by God. It is shocking to the minds of those who follow the history of the church how these simple words of the apostle have taken shape and become a part of our existence through the years. What an omniscient God we serve! Of a truth, grievous wolves who do not spare the flock entered in among the elders of the church. Wolves are wicked hunters of the flock. The first mighty hunter before the Lord was Nimrod, and the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, AKA "confusion" (Genesis 10:8-10). The delicacies of the wolf is normally the flesh of the flock. Since no sane sheep would feel comfortable around a wolf, the wolf has to employ a decoy of disguise and appear as a harmless sheep.
Now, what is alarming is that these wolves were to come from among the elders of the church. These are supposed to be the ones entrusted with the care of the blood washed souls. This is more grievous when we consider what our Master suffered in the hands of evil men because of this flock! (1Peter 5:1) This is another reason to be watchful, as the apostle mentioned in the 30th verse:
"Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."
These grievous wolves do not arise from another religion otherwise the flock would pay them no heed. But they arise among trusted servants of the church. When they have gained the trust of the feeble sheep, they begin to speak perverse things aimed at drawing disciples after themselves, instead of drawing disciples after the Lord Jesus Christ. This is where the wary flock are to watch out! Whenever you perceive that a minister starts to speak perverse things about his authority over you and drawing you to himself, you should take heed to yourself because you are very near a wolf. Please, elders and flock, hear ye the Word of Christ, Himself:
"He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him." (John 7:18)
No true servant of Christ will turn the focus on himself and authority over you. The authority, which the Lord has given the ministers is for the edification of the flock, and not for their destruction (2Cor. 10:8). How dare you a mortal think to have dominion or authority over the faith of others?
"Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand." (2Cor. 1:24)
Meekness is to acknowledge your strength and yet restrain your self from asserting it on others. Even though some are quick to quote the words of Paul to support their teaching of authority in the church, he denied himself from using the authority of his apostleship to burden the church. (See 1Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 6). This is how to take heed to yourself.
Peter even gave more light to this matter in his address to the elders, placing himself in the same rank as they are.
1Pe 5:1-4
1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
It's a fearful thing to assume lordship or authority over the Lord's heritage. Men who do so are not wise. When the Chief Shepherd (Arch Bishop) of our souls shall appear with the rewards that don't fed away, some shall be filled with everlasting shame and others with everlasting joy.
To conclude this piece, it is needful to address the misconception some have given to some holy verses about authority in the church. Below are some verses they use:
"Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation." (Heb 13:7)
"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." (Heb 13:17)
The phrase "have the rule over" is the strong point of these teachers who are known for their perverse speeches aimed at drawing disciples after themselves. It can mean "to have authority over", if we were to speak in terms of Gentile government that the Lord Jesus Christ condemned. Thank God the translators of the King James recognized this difficulty and rendered the marginal reading as "them that are guides over you" or "them that guide you". The faith of Jesus Christ is different from that of the world. In the world, the rulers of men exercise authority and dominion over them. But the Lord said it shall not be so in the church.
Mat 20:25-28:
25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
If He said it shall not be so, it means it shall not be so; no matter what perverse things any wolf speaks, it shall not be so. Hebrews 13:7 and 17 do not contradict the words of Christ for those who are learned in the things of God. Ruling in the church is all about caring and feeding the flock, and not lording over the heritage of God. You don't present yourself to the church, you preach Christ. He alone is the message!
"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake." (2Cor. 4:5)
It's only a perversion for you to change the theme of the Gospel and esteem yourself over and above the house of God. True servants of God esteem others better than themselves (Phil. 2:3). It's only the man of sin "who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2Thes. 2:4)
In the true Church, the Lord has said, "...all ye are brethren" (Matt. 23:8) marking no differences among us. But in Mystery Babylon, ranks and authority are emphasized over and above the uprightness of the doctrines of God, so that the structures of the organization of man can be sustained at all costs. Leadership and authority are strictly tied to ranks established by men, instead of resting on the authority of the word of God.
For those who love to have their ranks recognized in the body of Christ, we may have to show you some scripture that will show you your rank:
1Cor. 3:22-23:
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
The above hierarchy will satisfy every true heart in the way of the Lord. Paul shows us the order taught by Christ in Matthew 23:8-13, where the ministers are at the bottom of the table. Whoever would be great must become the servant of all. Now the table is such that Christ is at the head, followed by the new born babes in His faith (He does not joke with the things that affect them at all); after the little ones, we have the matured ones who are to watch over them, like their servants. These ones are the least among the brethren. It is a glorious place to occupy in the body, if you know the things of the Lord.
While Paul was telling the elders to take heed to (or to watch or beware of) themselves and the church, he reminded them that for three years he did not cease to warn every one night and day with tears about this very matter of grievous wolves. It's a very grave one that should not be taken lightly for one moment. Imagine the souls that are at stake if care is not taken!
Finally, we have to close this matter by looking at the solution provided by the Lord for this problem of usurpation of the authority in the church. Even before He became flesh in the land of Palestine it was foreseen by the prophet, Isaiah that the government shall be upon His shoulder. He alone (who is called "The Word of God") is the head of the church. Those who liken themselves to Moses or Aaron, as leaders of the people, ought to know that that position is not vacant at all. It's for the Lord Jesus Christ. By sitting on His seat in the temple, they proclaim themselves God, just like it was in Babylon of those days! O, man, you are not God!
"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." (Act 20:32)
Here is the conclusion of the matter. The church and Elders are commended to God and His Word of Grace. We follow ministers who follow God. We submit to them by obeying the Word of God that they feed us with. In truth, it is the Word of God and God Himself that our submission is to, because we do not submit because of the person or rank of the minister, but because of God and His Word of grace that they bring to us. Therefore the authority is with God and the word of His grace, not the servant who preaches it to us. The moment they abandon their walk with God and start to speak perverse things, we are to take our flight from them for the sake of our souls. God alone has the authority in the church, not some men. In Him alone, the flock is safe.
I pray this piece will be a blessing to some man that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at God's word. Amen.
Friday, November 8, 2019
Of Great Price
Of Great Price
Prices tell us about the value of things. But, sometimes, there would be items that are either overpriced or underpriced. When we get caught up into giving away so much money for goods that should costs less we feel cheated. However, we'll be very glad to pay less for what is of great price.
Nevertheless, there will certainly be a problem when what we consider of great price is seen as worthless by another class, who may be more or less learned than we are; it is the challenge of having different value systems. In modern societies, people are taught to respect the values of others, even though they are different from ours. This places some kind of equality on values that are otherwise not equal. It might be likened to rating a grade one pupil on the same level with a grade six. That would be a false weight. But men have accepted it as fair in order not to be offensive.
Is it not really bad enough to know that "...that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God"? (Luke 16:15). With the contradiction of these two value systems, will it not be proper to have the one that is more excellent? This would save us from the trouble of counting our shame as our glory (Philippians 3:19).
If there should be any real measurement of values, we should give credit to the Creator of values Himself, the Almighty God. It would be foolish to deny His existence in the face of the great designs of His works that we see before us every day. His value system is the most accurate of all systems. In His Holy Book, He asks:
"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mat 16:26). This is His own assessment of values. According to Him, the value of whole world is not a good exchange value for a man's soul. If we fail to accept His counsel, we may turn out to feel cheated at the end to realize that we have spent so much of our lives on worthless things.
He also tells us of a man "who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." (Mat 13:46). That man must be a wise man. He had the right value system to understand that all his possessions were not worth the pearl of great price. He could easily dispose himself of them all to acquire the most important treasure of his life. Such a man was Paul, the apostle. All the "...things (that) were gain to (him), those (he) counted loss for Christ". Yes, he counted "all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord..." that he might be able to win Christ. (Philippians 3:7,8). The knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord is the most excellent knowledge and the missing link in modern thinking. We have to give up all other knowledge to know the true Lord and be able to have the right value system.
When we have the right value system, we will not pursue outward evaluation of ourselves as much as we pursue our inward purification; rather we would heed the divine counsel that reads: "But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." ( 1Pe 3:4). To possess this priced pearl, we have to exchange it for the outward adornments because they truly detract from the most excellent glory of the soul. The hidden man of the heart is hidden and incorruptible by worldly defilement because it is separate from the world and separated to God. God describes it as an ornament of a meek and quiet spirit and of great price. It was purchased at the cost of a sinless blood. If it is of great price to Him, should it not be so to us, too? Should we value external things above it? Or should we not see ourselves as He sees us: complete in glory, needing no additions to beautify ourselves? The problem with seeking outward beauty is the contradiction of the hiding of the man of the heart. The man of the heart wants to remain hidden and let Christ be known for the excellency that He is. But no, the old man of the flesh, who is subject to the old serpent, his head, seeks to be known rather. This is why we must sell it, give it up, crucify it and exchange it for the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is of great price in the sight of God.
But a certain ruler, when he learnt that he had to sell all these things to gain eternal life became "...very sorrowful: for he was very rich" in earthly things (Luke 18:23). Esteeming earthly things in the mind over and above heavenly things to the extent that we cannot easily dispose of them to gain the excellency of the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering makes us enemies of His cross and Antichrists, even though we profess otherwise. We become enemies of righteousness and the things that are eternal and true. That is why the love of the world is the root of evil. But if we love the Father, rather than fleshly desires, attractive things and the prideful things of the earth, we shall know indeed that He is our great and exceeding reward!
Prices tell us about the value of things. But, sometimes, there would be items that are either overpriced or underpriced. When we get caught up into giving away so much money for goods that should costs less we feel cheated. However, we'll be very glad to pay less for what is of great price.
Nevertheless, there will certainly be a problem when what we consider of great price is seen as worthless by another class, who may be more or less learned than we are; it is the challenge of having different value systems. In modern societies, people are taught to respect the values of others, even though they are different from ours. This places some kind of equality on values that are otherwise not equal. It might be likened to rating a grade one pupil on the same level with a grade six. That would be a false weight. But men have accepted it as fair in order not to be offensive.
Is it not really bad enough to know that "...that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God"? (Luke 16:15). With the contradiction of these two value systems, will it not be proper to have the one that is more excellent? This would save us from the trouble of counting our shame as our glory (Philippians 3:19).
If there should be any real measurement of values, we should give credit to the Creator of values Himself, the Almighty God. It would be foolish to deny His existence in the face of the great designs of His works that we see before us every day. His value system is the most accurate of all systems. In His Holy Book, He asks:
"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mat 16:26). This is His own assessment of values. According to Him, the value of whole world is not a good exchange value for a man's soul. If we fail to accept His counsel, we may turn out to feel cheated at the end to realize that we have spent so much of our lives on worthless things.
He also tells us of a man "who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." (Mat 13:46). That man must be a wise man. He had the right value system to understand that all his possessions were not worth the pearl of great price. He could easily dispose himself of them all to acquire the most important treasure of his life. Such a man was Paul, the apostle. All the "...things (that) were gain to (him), those (he) counted loss for Christ". Yes, he counted "all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord..." that he might be able to win Christ. (Philippians 3:7,8). The knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord is the most excellent knowledge and the missing link in modern thinking. We have to give up all other knowledge to know the true Lord and be able to have the right value system.
When we have the right value system, we will not pursue outward evaluation of ourselves as much as we pursue our inward purification; rather we would heed the divine counsel that reads: "But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." ( 1Pe 3:4). To possess this priced pearl, we have to exchange it for the outward adornments because they truly detract from the most excellent glory of the soul. The hidden man of the heart is hidden and incorruptible by worldly defilement because it is separate from the world and separated to God. God describes it as an ornament of a meek and quiet spirit and of great price. It was purchased at the cost of a sinless blood. If it is of great price to Him, should it not be so to us, too? Should we value external things above it? Or should we not see ourselves as He sees us: complete in glory, needing no additions to beautify ourselves? The problem with seeking outward beauty is the contradiction of the hiding of the man of the heart. The man of the heart wants to remain hidden and let Christ be known for the excellency that He is. But no, the old man of the flesh, who is subject to the old serpent, his head, seeks to be known rather. This is why we must sell it, give it up, crucify it and exchange it for the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is of great price in the sight of God.
But a certain ruler, when he learnt that he had to sell all these things to gain eternal life became "...very sorrowful: for he was very rich" in earthly things (Luke 18:23). Esteeming earthly things in the mind over and above heavenly things to the extent that we cannot easily dispose of them to gain the excellency of the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering makes us enemies of His cross and Antichrists, even though we profess otherwise. We become enemies of righteousness and the things that are eternal and true. That is why the love of the world is the root of evil. But if we love the Father, rather than fleshly desires, attractive things and the prideful things of the earth, we shall know indeed that He is our great and exceeding reward!
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
The Compassionate Jesus
All men weak and heavy laden
Yoked with yonder master sour
Who'd for sport increase the burden
While men labor every hour
Oh see compassionate Jesus
Full of glory and of grace
See what love He sheds upon us
The light of His loving face
See the patient Savior willing
All the burden just to bear
To stop yonder tyrant daily killing
All who should the Savior near
Why do men assail the yoke
Which the Savior gives for them
As love's token are words He spoke
For a guide and help to them
All the kind Savior says is "come"
All the weary He doth call
Here is the rest and here's home
But men look away and fall
Why dear friend must you go unsaved
When the Savior died to save
Why should any soul die depraved
With such One mighty to save
His hands wide stretched are hanging loose
His voice pleads oh come oh come
Just some pray'rs for men's good use
His strong arms will bring us home
(11:20 am, April 10, 2019, at work)
Yoked with yonder master sour
Who'd for sport increase the burden
While men labor every hour
Oh see compassionate Jesus
Full of glory and of grace
See what love He sheds upon us
The light of His loving face
See the patient Savior willing
All the burden just to bear
To stop yonder tyrant daily killing
All who should the Savior near
Why do men assail the yoke
Which the Savior gives for them
As love's token are words He spoke
For a guide and help to them
All the kind Savior says is "come"
All the weary He doth call
Here is the rest and here's home
But men look away and fall
Why dear friend must you go unsaved
When the Savior died to save
Why should any soul die depraved
With such One mighty to save
His hands wide stretched are hanging loose
His voice pleads oh come oh come
Just some pray'rs for men's good use
His strong arms will bring us home
(11:20 am, April 10, 2019, at work)
Conducting Ourselves in the House of God
How to conduct our bodies before the Lord
God has given man a body to dwell upon the earth, and at the end, man shall give account of the things done in this body. The body was made from the earth. It is of the earth. Being of the earth, it is not above the elements of the earth. It's only the glory of God in man that lifts him above the elements of the earth. Without the "God-essence" in man he cannot manage the body given to him. Man lost this glory through sin. Christ has come to restore the glory of God in man. Christ in us is the hope of glory.
Except man is able to manage or rule over his body, he cannot rule or have dominion over the earth. But if he, through the Spirit of Christ, mortifies his members that are upon the earth, he has dominion over the earth, because his flesh is linked to the earth.
The problem of mankind is sin in the body of man. Except we manage the body to expel sin from it, we'll not be able to reign over the earth that God has given us. Therefore we should not let sin reign in our body. Christ condemned it in the flesh. When we trust in Him, not being of a doubtful mind, He will uphold us and make us stand in the evil day over and above the elements of the earth. He deals with us tenderly, not accusing or condemning us, but helping us to withstand the evil one in our body. He is working in us as we are working out our own salvation, trusting in the living God.
We need to separate from the garment spotted by the flesh. Our earthly nature (being of the earth and having its members upon the earth, such as fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry) is easily beset by evil company. We need to keep it far from the influence of such entanglement and steadfastly wait upon the Lord Jesus Christ to work in us to the fullness of His nature, before we may be able to win the world around us to Him, when they behold His glory in us.
Most importantly, we need the wisdom that is from above to do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, just as if all the things we do were done by Him, through Him, in Him and for Him. May the Lord help all the members of His holy church to manage their bodies in this world, to give good account of what was done in it. Amen.
*[[Rom 6:12]] KJV*
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
*Rom 8:3*
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
*1Th 4:4*
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour
*[[1Ti 3:15]] KJV*
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
*[[2Co 5:10]] KJV*
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Here are more scriptures about how to manage our bodies:
*Romans 12:1*
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
*1Co 9:27*
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
God has given man a body to dwell upon the earth, and at the end, man shall give account of the things done in this body. The body was made from the earth. It is of the earth. Being of the earth, it is not above the elements of the earth. It's only the glory of God in man that lifts him above the elements of the earth. Without the "God-essence" in man he cannot manage the body given to him. Man lost this glory through sin. Christ has come to restore the glory of God in man. Christ in us is the hope of glory.
Except man is able to manage or rule over his body, he cannot rule or have dominion over the earth. But if he, through the Spirit of Christ, mortifies his members that are upon the earth, he has dominion over the earth, because his flesh is linked to the earth.
The problem of mankind is sin in the body of man. Except we manage the body to expel sin from it, we'll not be able to reign over the earth that God has given us. Therefore we should not let sin reign in our body. Christ condemned it in the flesh. When we trust in Him, not being of a doubtful mind, He will uphold us and make us stand in the evil day over and above the elements of the earth. He deals with us tenderly, not accusing or condemning us, but helping us to withstand the evil one in our body. He is working in us as we are working out our own salvation, trusting in the living God.
We need to separate from the garment spotted by the flesh. Our earthly nature (being of the earth and having its members upon the earth, such as fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry) is easily beset by evil company. We need to keep it far from the influence of such entanglement and steadfastly wait upon the Lord Jesus Christ to work in us to the fullness of His nature, before we may be able to win the world around us to Him, when they behold His glory in us.
Most importantly, we need the wisdom that is from above to do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, just as if all the things we do were done by Him, through Him, in Him and for Him. May the Lord help all the members of His holy church to manage their bodies in this world, to give good account of what was done in it. Amen.
*[[Rom 6:12]] KJV*
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
*Rom 8:3*
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
*1Th 4:4*
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour
*[[1Ti 3:15]] KJV*
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
*[[2Co 5:10]] KJV*
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Here are more scriptures about how to manage our bodies:
*Romans 12:1*
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
*1Co 9:27*
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
The Antitype of Tithes
*What's the Scriptural Antitype of Tithes?*
INTRODUCTION
Now concerning the Antitype of tithes in the Bible, whereof somebody wrote to me: it is good that I first implore you to follow this piece with a ready mind, looking unto God to guide us through His Spirit and His Word. This is because many who make inquiry with idols in their heart and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face are answered according to the multitude of their idols, hence they gain no profit from their inquiry (Ezekiel 14:1-11).
It is the regular pattern of the "pro-tithing" advocates to ask for "the Antitype of tithes " when all the strongholds of their defence have been cast down. It does not matter to them that all the facts of the foregoing discussions show that modern tithing in the churches have no place in the Bible. They are content to take resort to this last bubble of inquiry about the Antitype of tithes. By the grace of God, even this bubble, like all others before it, will always burst when the smallest needle of truth is thrust into its heart.
When I began to make my personal study on tithing, I lit upon the truth I'm about to share in this piece. At the time the Lord of heaven and earth revealed it to me, I had no idea of the concept of type and Antitype. I give Him the glory for this revelation that is hidden from the wise and prudent, but given unto babes! (Matthew 11:25)
Before we go into it, I'll love to show us that it is not every Old Testament practice that we are shown its specific Antitype in the Bible. It's expected that the most important ones should gain recognition. If this is the case, the less important ones, of which the Lord Jesus Christ enlisted the tithes in Matthew 23:23, would normally have little or no mention. No wonder the New Testament writers spent too little time on the subject, unlike modern preachers. The lighter types could be very easily understood for their individual Antitype by every sincerely seeking heart. Whenever there is a real challenge in comprehending it, we fall back on the word of the Lord Jesus Christ in John 5:39, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and *they are they which testify of me*"; whereby we affirm that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Antitype of them all. After all, Col 2:17 says that the body of those things, which are a shadow of things to come is of Christ.
As for the issue of tithing, we thank the Lord that we are not left without witnesses as to the Antitype, whereof this piece has been made necessary. Though we do not find it mentioned in the New Testament, the Old Testament itself made the matter very obvious for the discerning mind.
*Jacob's Vow*
*[[Gen 28:20-22/KJV]]* (v 20) And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, (v 21) So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: (v 22) And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
Some think that tithing was a regular practice with Abraham and his descendants, but we have no Bible proof for that. What we have here is a vow by one of his grandchildren to give a tenth of all that God would give him if he was prospered. It was a conditional vow. The tithing would come after the prosperity, not before it as many modern preachers claim. However, we have no record in the Bible that he fulfilled his pledge to God after the blessings. Nevertheless, it was a binding vow that entitled the Lord to a tenth of all he was blessed with. This would surely be demanded from his offsprings through the law that God gave Moses years later.
*The Levites*
*[[Num 3:11-13/KJV]]* (v 11) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (v 12) And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; (v 13) Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.
The day the Lord smote the firstborn sons in Egypt, the firstborn sons of Israel were spared though they were also in Egypt that night. The Lord spared them from the minister of death, yet they were supposed to be dead, but for the lamb that was slain for their sakes. Now that they were spared their life was no more their own but His who spared them. We would readily understand the Antitype of this to be the salvation we gain through the death of the Lamb of God. Every firstborn of Israel thenceforth belonged to God by right. But He chose to replace them with the Levites. They thenceforth took the position of the firstborn sons of Israel before the Lord. They had no portion nor inheritance in their nation and among their brethren because the Lord is their inheritance and they were His belonging (Deuteronomy 18:1-2). This tribe of Levi who represented the firstborn sons whose lives were spared in the Passover are a type of the souls that are now being spared from spiritual death unto eternal life. They have no portion with the world because the Lord is their inheritance.
*[[Deu 14:27-29/KJV]]* (v 27) And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee. (v 28) At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: (v 29) And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.
*The Object of the Tithes, According to Deuteronomy 14*
*[[Deu 14:23]] KJV* And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; *that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always*.
*[[Deu 14:26]] KJV* And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and *thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household*,
*[[Deu 14:29]] KJV* And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; *that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest*.
We see from the above verses the object of tithing. The first, according to Deut 14:23, is to instil the fear of the Lord in the hearts of the sons of Jacob. As they eat the tithes in the temple in the presence of the Lord, they acknowledge that it belonged to the Lord who has permitted them to enjoy it with their household. This is similar to the life we now enjoy in Christ Jesus our Lord, knowing that it is His own, not ours. We live diligently in all holy conversation, reverence and godly fear.
The second object, according to Deut 14:26 is for rejoicing. This is the joy of the Lord in the heart of His consecrated souls.
The third object as in Deut 14:29 is the blessing of the Lord for the faithful. This is what was repeated in Malachi 3:10.
*Purging the Sons of Levi*
*[[Mal 3:1-4/KJV]]* (v 1) Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. (v 2) But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: (v 3) And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. (v 4) Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
The prophecy above asserts that the Lord Jesus Christ, when He appears and comes into His own temple, shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver to purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold and silver, so that they may be able to offer an offering in righteousness unto the Lord, an offering pleasant unto Him as in the days of old and as in former years.
This type of offering would not be possible until the Lord of the temple enters into His own to purge and purify them as a royal priesthood (1Peter 2:5,9) to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Therefore, till this kind of offering would become possible, the prophet Malachi, in the proceeding verses of the third chapter of the holy book that bears his name, reminded the nation of Israel of their unfaithfulness in the Mosaic covenant of tithes and offering.
Conclusion
The tithes which was a tenth part of the increase of crops and animals produced in the Holy Land was concentrated unto God. The number ten mostly stood for a whole. It shows completeness. The Israelites were bound by law to set it apart as holy unto God. They gave it as support for the Levites whose portion was not with them but with God. As the tenth stood for the whole, so it foreshadowed the offering up of the whole body, soul and spirit to the Lord, which are His (1Cor. 6:20). All these things are a shadow of the offering up of the purified sons of Levi (which now includes the Gentiles, Romans 15:16) in the refiner's fire as an offering, nay, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, as a reasonable service, an offering in righteousness, pleasant unto the Lord, as in the former years and in the days of old (Romans 12:1; Malachi 3:3-4).
Rom 15:16 ... that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
INTRODUCTION
Now concerning the Antitype of tithes in the Bible, whereof somebody wrote to me: it is good that I first implore you to follow this piece with a ready mind, looking unto God to guide us through His Spirit and His Word. This is because many who make inquiry with idols in their heart and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face are answered according to the multitude of their idols, hence they gain no profit from their inquiry (Ezekiel 14:1-11).
It is the regular pattern of the "pro-tithing" advocates to ask for "the Antitype of tithes " when all the strongholds of their defence have been cast down. It does not matter to them that all the facts of the foregoing discussions show that modern tithing in the churches have no place in the Bible. They are content to take resort to this last bubble of inquiry about the Antitype of tithes. By the grace of God, even this bubble, like all others before it, will always burst when the smallest needle of truth is thrust into its heart.
When I began to make my personal study on tithing, I lit upon the truth I'm about to share in this piece. At the time the Lord of heaven and earth revealed it to me, I had no idea of the concept of type and Antitype. I give Him the glory for this revelation that is hidden from the wise and prudent, but given unto babes! (Matthew 11:25)
Before we go into it, I'll love to show us that it is not every Old Testament practice that we are shown its specific Antitype in the Bible. It's expected that the most important ones should gain recognition. If this is the case, the less important ones, of which the Lord Jesus Christ enlisted the tithes in Matthew 23:23, would normally have little or no mention. No wonder the New Testament writers spent too little time on the subject, unlike modern preachers. The lighter types could be very easily understood for their individual Antitype by every sincerely seeking heart. Whenever there is a real challenge in comprehending it, we fall back on the word of the Lord Jesus Christ in John 5:39, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and *they are they which testify of me*"; whereby we affirm that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Antitype of them all. After all, Col 2:17 says that the body of those things, which are a shadow of things to come is of Christ.
As for the issue of tithing, we thank the Lord that we are not left without witnesses as to the Antitype, whereof this piece has been made necessary. Though we do not find it mentioned in the New Testament, the Old Testament itself made the matter very obvious for the discerning mind.
*Jacob's Vow*
*[[Gen 28:20-22/KJV]]* (v 20) And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, (v 21) So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: (v 22) And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
Some think that tithing was a regular practice with Abraham and his descendants, but we have no Bible proof for that. What we have here is a vow by one of his grandchildren to give a tenth of all that God would give him if he was prospered. It was a conditional vow. The tithing would come after the prosperity, not before it as many modern preachers claim. However, we have no record in the Bible that he fulfilled his pledge to God after the blessings. Nevertheless, it was a binding vow that entitled the Lord to a tenth of all he was blessed with. This would surely be demanded from his offsprings through the law that God gave Moses years later.
*The Levites*
*[[Num 3:11-13/KJV]]* (v 11) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (v 12) And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; (v 13) Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.
The day the Lord smote the firstborn sons in Egypt, the firstborn sons of Israel were spared though they were also in Egypt that night. The Lord spared them from the minister of death, yet they were supposed to be dead, but for the lamb that was slain for their sakes. Now that they were spared their life was no more their own but His who spared them. We would readily understand the Antitype of this to be the salvation we gain through the death of the Lamb of God. Every firstborn of Israel thenceforth belonged to God by right. But He chose to replace them with the Levites. They thenceforth took the position of the firstborn sons of Israel before the Lord. They had no portion nor inheritance in their nation and among their brethren because the Lord is their inheritance and they were His belonging (Deuteronomy 18:1-2). This tribe of Levi who represented the firstborn sons whose lives were spared in the Passover are a type of the souls that are now being spared from spiritual death unto eternal life. They have no portion with the world because the Lord is their inheritance.
*[[Deu 14:27-29/KJV]]* (v 27) And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee. (v 28) At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: (v 29) And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.
*The Object of the Tithes, According to Deuteronomy 14*
*[[Deu 14:23]] KJV* And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; *that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always*.
*[[Deu 14:26]] KJV* And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and *thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household*,
*[[Deu 14:29]] KJV* And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; *that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest*.
We see from the above verses the object of tithing. The first, according to Deut 14:23, is to instil the fear of the Lord in the hearts of the sons of Jacob. As they eat the tithes in the temple in the presence of the Lord, they acknowledge that it belonged to the Lord who has permitted them to enjoy it with their household. This is similar to the life we now enjoy in Christ Jesus our Lord, knowing that it is His own, not ours. We live diligently in all holy conversation, reverence and godly fear.
The second object, according to Deut 14:26 is for rejoicing. This is the joy of the Lord in the heart of His consecrated souls.
The third object as in Deut 14:29 is the blessing of the Lord for the faithful. This is what was repeated in Malachi 3:10.
*Purging the Sons of Levi*
*[[Mal 3:1-4/KJV]]* (v 1) Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. (v 2) But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: (v 3) And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. (v 4) Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
The prophecy above asserts that the Lord Jesus Christ, when He appears and comes into His own temple, shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver to purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold and silver, so that they may be able to offer an offering in righteousness unto the Lord, an offering pleasant unto Him as in the days of old and as in former years.
This type of offering would not be possible until the Lord of the temple enters into His own to purge and purify them as a royal priesthood (1Peter 2:5,9) to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Therefore, till this kind of offering would become possible, the prophet Malachi, in the proceeding verses of the third chapter of the holy book that bears his name, reminded the nation of Israel of their unfaithfulness in the Mosaic covenant of tithes and offering.
Conclusion
The tithes which was a tenth part of the increase of crops and animals produced in the Holy Land was concentrated unto God. The number ten mostly stood for a whole. It shows completeness. The Israelites were bound by law to set it apart as holy unto God. They gave it as support for the Levites whose portion was not with them but with God. As the tenth stood for the whole, so it foreshadowed the offering up of the whole body, soul and spirit to the Lord, which are His (1Cor. 6:20). All these things are a shadow of the offering up of the purified sons of Levi (which now includes the Gentiles, Romans 15:16) in the refiner's fire as an offering, nay, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, as a reasonable service, an offering in righteousness, pleasant unto the Lord, as in the former years and in the days of old (Romans 12:1; Malachi 3:3-4).
Rom 15:16 ... that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
Sunday, March 17, 2019
Free indeed!
The Lord has called us out of bondage into freedom. It's a deliverance from the powers that held us bound from pleasing the Father who loves us. This is liberty indeed, so that we can be what we were made to be: like the one who made us!
However, the beggarly elements of slavery are not unrelenting but determined to bring us back into bondage again through various snares all around us meant to entangle us in morbid fear. Fear of death reigns over souls in bondage all the days of their life. It comes in different forms. One of them is the fear of man, which the holy writ describes as a snare. This is the power that rules in many denominations or religions of the world. For this reason, many would want to appear politically correct, even at the expense of displeasing the Father who loves us so much that He gave us His only begotten Son.
But when we choose to love and know the Son rather (that is when we are drawn to Him by the Father) we shall be made free indeed from this bondage of fear. The proof of this love is obedience to His sayings. The Father loves all who wholeheartedly follow His Son. They make Their abode in them who continue in the Truth.
In the early church, Ananias was asked by Peter in Act 5:4 "Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God."
This is a demonstration of the liberty that is in Christ. It's unlike the law of bondage that tells us that 10 percent of the money was not for Ananias. But from Peter's question, we can deduce that this is not the case. All the money belonged to the brother whilst it was yet in his hands. He didn't have to lie about it. It's the fear of man that makes people tell lies about things that ordinarily they shouldn't. The money belongs to you. God is pleased when you acknowledge this. You are at liberty to keep it or part with it, whole or part. If you want to use it for His sake, He would love to do it willingly and cheerfully, not grudging or because it is an obligation you must fulfill. You don't have to lie at all about it in order to please some men. If you are doing it for God, understand that He knows everything about it. So you don't have to impress Him with some drama. Some people would even go to the extent of begging another brother in the congregation for money so that they too can come out to give in the presence of others to avoid the shame of being looked down upon by the carnally minded for not coming out to give money in the church meeting! The Lord understands that you don't have. That money you're begging for belongs to another man. It's his to give to God by himself if he wills. Just be real about your situation and deal with Satan who wants to fill your heart to lie to the Holy Ghost. You have the liberty over him now. You have no need for such fears anymore. The Father loves you first. Yours is to be grateful for His love. Walk with Him. He has called you to bless you, not to enslave you like your former boss, Satan. Rejoice, you're now free!
However, the beggarly elements of slavery are not unrelenting but determined to bring us back into bondage again through various snares all around us meant to entangle us in morbid fear. Fear of death reigns over souls in bondage all the days of their life. It comes in different forms. One of them is the fear of man, which the holy writ describes as a snare. This is the power that rules in many denominations or religions of the world. For this reason, many would want to appear politically correct, even at the expense of displeasing the Father who loves us so much that He gave us His only begotten Son.
But when we choose to love and know the Son rather (that is when we are drawn to Him by the Father) we shall be made free indeed from this bondage of fear. The proof of this love is obedience to His sayings. The Father loves all who wholeheartedly follow His Son. They make Their abode in them who continue in the Truth.
In the early church, Ananias was asked by Peter in Act 5:4 "Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God."
This is a demonstration of the liberty that is in Christ. It's unlike the law of bondage that tells us that 10 percent of the money was not for Ananias. But from Peter's question, we can deduce that this is not the case. All the money belonged to the brother whilst it was yet in his hands. He didn't have to lie about it. It's the fear of man that makes people tell lies about things that ordinarily they shouldn't. The money belongs to you. God is pleased when you acknowledge this. You are at liberty to keep it or part with it, whole or part. If you want to use it for His sake, He would love to do it willingly and cheerfully, not grudging or because it is an obligation you must fulfill. You don't have to lie at all about it in order to please some men. If you are doing it for God, understand that He knows everything about it. So you don't have to impress Him with some drama. Some people would even go to the extent of begging another brother in the congregation for money so that they too can come out to give in the presence of others to avoid the shame of being looked down upon by the carnally minded for not coming out to give money in the church meeting! The Lord understands that you don't have. That money you're begging for belongs to another man. It's his to give to God by himself if he wills. Just be real about your situation and deal with Satan who wants to fill your heart to lie to the Holy Ghost. You have the liberty over him now. You have no need for such fears anymore. The Father loves you first. Yours is to be grateful for His love. Walk with Him. He has called you to bless you, not to enslave you like your former boss, Satan. Rejoice, you're now free!
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