Refuge Church Fellowship

08/25/2025

Chapter 10: The Tithe
Introduction
The word tithe means “tenth.” Under the Mosaic Law, Israel paid multiple tithes—one of which supported the Levites and priests. In today’s conversation about church finance, many assume that this tenth obligation carries over unchanged into the New Covenant. A careful survey of Scripture, however, yields a very different picture.
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I. The Levitical Tithe under the Law
Numbers 18 lays out the Old Covenant tithe for Aaron’s descendants:
• Numbers 18:21: “Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, for their service in the tent of meeting.”
• Numbers 18:24: “The tithe of the people of Israel I have given to the Levites to inherit.”
This was a commanded offering—one tenth of Israel’s produce, flocks, and herds—to sustain the tribe whose sole inheritance was ministry to God.
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II. Abraham’s Voluntary Tithe to Melchizedek
Centuries before Sinai, Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek (Genesis 14). Hebrews 7:4 underscores that Abraham gave, not was commanded:
“Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.”
This one-time, voluntary act stands apart from the legal requirement later laid on Israel.
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III. Change in Priesthood Necessitates Change in Law
Hebrews 7 draws a direct link between priesthood and the Law:
1. Hebrews 7:5 – The Levites had a commandment under the Law to receive tithes.
2. Hebrews 7:12 – “For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also.”
3. Hebrews 7:14 – Christ sprang from Judah, not Levi, proving His priesthood rests on a different order.
Because Jesus serves as our great High Priest in the order of Melchizedek—and not under the Levitical system—the legal tithe no longer applies as a binding command for believers.
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IV. New Covenant Principles of Giving
Support for Gospel Ministers
Paul confirms that those who preach the gospel should receive support—yet he never mandates a fixed tenth:
• 1 Corinthians 9:14: “The Lord has commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.”
• 1 Corinthians 9:15: “But I have used none of these things, nor am I writing to secure such a provision….”
• Romans 15:18: Paul boasts only in what Christ accomplished “to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed.”
Voluntary, Cheerful Gifting
The New Testament replaces legal obligation with joyful generosity:
2 Corinthians 9:7
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
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V. Misapplication of Malachi 3:9–10
Malachi’s warning and promise about tithes pertain exclusively to Israel under the Old Covenant:
• Verse 9 speaks of “this whole nation” (Israel) robbing God.
• Verse 10’s “windows of heaven” alludes to the rain that nourished crops and flocks—the substance of the tithe.
Transplanting this context to the church ignores the original agricultural setting and the fact that Jesus fulfilled the Law.
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Conclusion
Under the Law, Israel’s tithe sustained the Levites. Christ’s priesthood in the order of Melchizedek renders that legal requirement obsolete. Believers are called not to a rigid tenth, but to Spirit-led generosity—supporting ministry out of gratitude, not compulsion. As we walk by faith, we embrace the freedom and joy of giving that reflects the heart of our Savior.

08/15/2025

📖 Sermon Title: “Touch Not My Anointed”—Context Over Control
Primary Text:
• Psalms 105:14–15
• Romans 15:4
• 1 Thessalonians 5:21
• Ephesians 4:14
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🧭 Introduction: The Weight of Misused Words
Open with a direct challenge:
“We’ve all heard it—‘Touch not my anointed.’ But has anyone asked who God was talking about?”
Make it clear: Misused scripture isn’t just inaccurate—it’s harmful. Let’s find the truth behind this verse and free the Church from misplaced fear and manipulated silence.
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✍️ Point 1: Learning vs. Living — Paul’s Framework for Scripture
Reference: Romans 15:4
Paul lays the foundation:
• What was written before is for our learning, not direct application in every circumstance.
• The Old Testament wasn’t written to the Church, though it's written for the Church’s understanding.
Warn against careless application:
“We cannot extract a verse without exploring its context—doing so turns doctrine into folklore.”
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🇮🇱 Point 2: Who Are the “Anointed Ones”?
Reference: Psalms 105:9–15
Walk the Church through the timeline:
• God speaks concerning Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the Patriarchs.
• Israel was small, and the anointed in that moment were these men as part of God’s covenant lineage.
Highlight:
God reproved kings for their sake—not for a general priesthood or hierarchy.
Not every spiritual leader today fits into that context.
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🛑 Point 3: A Verse Twisted into Silence
Expose misuse of Psalm 105:15 in Church culture:
• It’s become a tool to discourage questioning, not to defend truth.
• Pastors are not exempt from scrutiny. We are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 to prove all things.
Proclaim:
“Speaking truth to power is not rebellion—it’s responsibility.”
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🌪️ Point 4: The Danger of Misapplied Doctrine
Reference: Ephesians 4:14
When scripture is misused:
• Believers are tossed to and fro
• Doctrine becomes subject to manipulation
• Fear replaces discernment
Call the Church to theological maturity:
“We must test teachings not out of disrespect—but out of reverence for God’s Word.”
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🧓 Point 5: Longevity Doesn’t Equal Protection
Mention:
• Abraham: 175
• Isaac: 180
• Jacob: 147
They lived long not because of the verse in question—but because of God’s specific covenantal purpose. Not all prophets were spared harm, proving that divine protection is not uniform.
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🔚 Conclusion: Let Scripture Speak Rightly
Challenge the congregation:
• Let us return to context
• Let us honor truth above tradition
• Let us protect the Body of Christ—not individuals from accountability
Final Exhortation:
“When we rightly divide the Word of truth, we build a Church with courage, clarity, and conviction. God’s anointed are His people—and His truth is our shield.”

Written by Byron Jones

08/06/2025

🕊️ “Who We Are When We Leave: Called Out, Not Cast Out”
Opening Scripture
Matthew 16:18 — “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
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🎤 Introduction
Leaving a church can feel like walking away from God—but it isn't. There’s pain, confusion, maybe even shame. But today, I want to speak to every soul who’s ever asked, “Did I do the right thing?”
We’re going to answer that question by going deeper into identity, truth, and the calling of God.
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🔍 I. What Is the Church?
The Greek word for church is Ekklesia—“called out ones.”
Called out of darkness, yes. But also called out of deception. Called out of control.
The Church is not a Sunday building. It’s not a pastor’s ego. It’s the redeemed people of Jesus Christ.
Romans 14:8 — “Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”
You don’t belong to a man—you belong to the Master.
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🚧 II. False Churches and Fragile People
The Bible warns of places where doctrine shifts like sand.
Ephesians 4:14 — “Tossed to and fro...by the sleight of men.”
Jesus built His church with people—not perfect ones, but fragile, forgiven ones.
When compassion leaves the pulpit, people flee the pews. But leaving toxicity isn’t rebellion—it’s survival.
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🧭 III. Did You Leave the Church—or Just a Church?
This is the real question.
Did you walk away from God, or from a group that forgot how to love like Him?
Some churches are gatherings—not sanctuaries.
Some leaders think they own the sheep—but you are God’s property.
Leaving might be the first step toward rediscovering who you are in Christ.
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🔥 IV. Rediscovering Your Identity
Your worth is not defined by attendance—it’s defined by adoption.
God doesn’t un-son you because you left a place—He shepherds you because you’re His.
You are not wandering. You are being repositioned.
You are not forsaken. You are being found.
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🛐 Call to Action
To the one who left:
Come home—not to a building, but to Christ.
To the one who’s hurting:
Ask God to show you where healing flows freely.
To the one who’s leading:
Make space for the wounded, not just the polished.
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🙏 Closing Prayer
“Lord, remind us that we are Your property, Your people, Your Church. Heal every heart that’s been bruised by religion but untouched by grace. Call out Your people—not to isolation, but to restoration. Amen.”

Written by Byron Jones

08/01/2025

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✝️ Christ: The First Abolitionist
An abolitionist is someone who advocates for the elimination of institutions that oppress—most notably slavery. Historically, abolitionism took root across Western Europe and the Americas, leading to the end of the Atlantic slave trade and spreading a global call for freedom. Within this movement, we saw three distinct groups:
1. Those who were enslaved and longed to be free.
2. Those who enslaved others and resisted freedom.
3. Those who were enslaved yet did not desire freedom.
Remarkably, these same spiritual categories exist today within the Church.
🔓 Christ Came to Set Us Free
John 8:36 declares: “If the son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” Christ came as the liberator—not only from sin, but also from the chains of religious law that once burdened humanity. Many of us receive this freedom with “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” Yet, some teachers—whether out of ignorance or control—deny this freedom, leading believers astray.
In Ephesians 2:15, Paul reveals: “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances…” Notice the word abolished—past tense. Christ ended the law’s hold over us, not to create division, but to unite all people in peace.
Sadly, this unity often remains absent in modern churches. Legalism still persists, emphasizing what we do over what Christ has already done. But salvation was never about our works—it has always been about grace.
⚰️ Death Abolished by Christ
2 Timothy 1:10 proclaims: “Our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” This verse does not speak of physical death, but spiritual death—the separation from God. Christ ended spiritual death once and for all. Eternal life is now ours, secured in Him.
This echoes the idea of “once saved, always saved.” Once spiritually alive in Christ, we cannot return to the grave, because death itself has been destroyed. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:55, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” There is no victory for the grave, because Jesus—the true abolitionist—has conquered it.
Let me tell you a truth: we should fear spiritual death no more than formerly enslaved people should fear a return to bo***ge. While fear may linger, our freedom is secure.
🗓️ Freedom Ignored Is Freedom Denied
Juneteenth commemorates the day enslaved people in Texas learned they had already been freed. They had lived in bo***ge simply because no one told them the truth. Likewise, many today remain spiritually bound—not because Christ has not freed them, but because they have not heard or understood the gospel fully.
2 Corinthians 5:20 calls us to be ambassadors: “As though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
Let us rise as true ambassadors. Speak boldly. Teach clearly. Share passionately. Christ the Abolitionist has done His work—let’s spread the news.

Written by: Byron Jones

10/26/2024

Good morning!

Refuge Church Sunday services have been cancelled until further notice.

Have a blessed day!🙏😊

10/22/2024