What about Melchizedek? (30/3/11)

 

The key is in the ‘first mention’ of Melchizedek ....he was BOTH a KING AND A PRIEST. He was actually a historical king who reigned over the city of Jerusalem.

 

There are many preachers who claim that Melchizedek was an appearance of Christ in the Old Testament. This however conveniently overlooks the fact that Melchizedek physically reigned as a KING of a real historical city at the time of Abram.

 

The offense of the cross (29/3/11)

 

Gal 5:11-12

11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. NKJV
 

Being blessed and tithing? (24/3/11)

Many people have been told that the reason they were not healed, blessed, etc was that they had not tithed.

Peter refutes this in his second epistle

2 Peter 1:2-4

What about Matthew 23:23 (18/3/11)

This is one of the most common arguments presented in support of tithing today.

A simple examination of the context and what the scripture actually says dispels most  claims or concerns about this referring to New Testament believers

Matt 23:23-24

Biblical financial priorities (16/3/11)

 

Family

Jesus rebuked the religious institution of his day for claiming that 'giving to God' came before the responsibilty to look after our families.

Mark 7:9-13

Ananias and Sapphira (13/3/11)

 

So what is this incident about?

 

It is certainly not about tithes...or first fruits. They gave the majority of the proceeds of the sale of the property and only kept only some of the money.

 

Peter makes it clear that the problem was not in how they handled their money ...

Acts 5:4 While it remained, was it not your own? (there was NO requirement to give as others had...and NO stewardship obligations)

The tree of knowledge (12/3/11)

Was the 'tree of the knowledge of good and evil'  in anyway related to first fruits or tithing? Why did God forbid man to eat its fruit?

 

What the 'tree of knowledge of good and evil' was, is revealed when it is compared to the 'tree of life'.

We must also remember that the Old Testament is a type and a shadow which points to Christ....as revealed in the New Testament.

Achan's sin (11/3/11)

I sat listening to a minister suggest that Achan's disobedience (in Joshua 6 and 7) in taking the 'accursed things' was similar to a Christian today failing to tithe.

The suggestion was further made that one person not tithing could cause the whole church to be in 'sin' in the same way as the whole of Israel came under God's judgement for Achan's disobedience.