TITHE AND THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH

Mal. 3:8-10
If you know anything about land and land ownership especially in the African traditional system and in the feudalism system, you will definitely remember  that when a person say the king or a land owner leases his land to another, that other person is under liability to pay rent either in cash or in kind by sending some part of the produce of the land to the land owner. This is the means of showing loyalty to the land owner and to state that the tenant or lessee acknowledges the landowner as his landlord. In the present day we remember the concept of taxation. Whenever a tenant or lesee refuses to pay such homage on the land and matter he is deemed contesting land with the landlord

This is what tithing is all about. Therefore, tithing is an act of faith. You remember that you have been redeemed from the kingdom of the devil and you are now in the kingdom of God (Col 1:12-13) which is a land flowing with milk and honey. It is the spiritual Canaan. It is the land of God and God is the landlord and king of that land. Now since faith is the evidence of things not seen, tithing is one of your proof or evidence of that spiritual reality which is not seen by the physical eyes. By paying your tithe you are saying I am a citizen of the kingdom of God and I pay my Tax (tithe) to Him. You are saying God is my landlord and I pay my rent. So you can see now that tithing is an act of faith. Abraham the Father of faith understood this and laid the example of faith in Genesis 14:20 But when you refuse or omit to pay, you're saying ''Nobody is lord over me.'' You're denying God his rent. You see why Malachi described it as robbery? (Mal 3:8)

The law of Moses was not the origin of tithe. It is an act of faith that was practiced even before the law came in. So tithing did not pass away with the law being not a part of it.
Malachi only tells us the implication of not giving and also the blessing of giving it. Though Malachi is an old Testament book, its statement about tithe is relevant to us because it is part of those things that are written for our examples those of us upon which the end of times are come. The old testament is for us to understand God’s disposition and how God’s mind works with relation to men and His covenant with them. (1 Cor 10)

In the new Testament in Matthew 23:23, Jesus approved of Tithing but stated that it is not greater than the commandment to show mercy. This goes to show that we should be more particular of showing mercy faith and judgment and not leave the other (tithing) undone.
My conclusion is that it is a matter of faith. With the above understanding of Tithing as an act which shows you as a citizen of the Kingdom of God, with God as your king and Landlord, I counsel that you give your tithe as an act of faith and God will definitely bless you. When you acknowledge his Lordship, He's obliged to defend your land--which is his territory--from invading devourers.

PRAYERS
Thank God for bringing you into the kingdom of God having saved you from the authority of the devil

Repent of robbing God of his due

Declare that you are a citizen of heaven

Declear that you are paying your tithe as from now on because you realize the Lordship of God over your resources and income

Declear that your resources and income are defended from evil.

Command all forms of devourers to get out of your resources and income

Command your land to yield forth its increase to you

Ask God to teach the church this mystery and make us give in love

Pray for your nation and pray for me too.

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