Ezra Devotional Ministries

Ezra Devotional Ministries Teaching so that all may know Jesus as Christ and Lord of their lives.

02/25/2022

Isaiah 48

09/03/2012

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT TITHING AND GIVING TO GOD
Introduction
I am writing this paper in response to public outcry both inside and outside the church. The saying goes that churches have converted to business enterprises where the bishop or the pastor is the CEO. Prosperity gospel has dominated the pulpit. It is important we all understand what the bible teaches about tithing and giving to God and the reason behind the giving. How should the funds be utilized? During the Old Testament times; all that was given in form of tithes and other donations was used for sustaining the ministry of the temple. The Levites and the Priests did not own land or business in which they could earn their livelihood. The needy were also taken care of from the proceeds. Similarly in the New Testament times; ministers of the gospel were taken care of and widows and orphans were considered in the distribution of what the church had collected from the members.
Ministers of the gospel today need to emulate Paul who never burdened the congregation. This is what he said “I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:33-35)
Let us go through the scriptures together:-

Old Testament
Before the law
Tithe is first mentioned in Genesis 14:20
“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all”.
Abraham’s nephew had been taken captive in S***m. Abraham organized an army from his household servants and pursued the captors. He overcame them and rescued Lot and others with him. Abraham also brought back all the spoil. He met Melchizedek who blessed him and Abraham gave him the tenth of the spoil. Before this transaction there was no mention of tithes. What we know now is that two men of God are involved; Abraham and Melchizedek.
The next mention of tithe is in Genesis 28:22
“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”.
Jacob, Abraham’s grandson had a vision and promises to give God the tenth of everything he has if he goes and returns safely.
The law relating to tithing
Leviticus 27:30-34 “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD.
And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.
He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.”

Purpose:
The purpose of giving the tithe is stipulated in Numbers 18:26-32 and Deuteronomy 26:12
Numbers 18:26-32 “Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.
And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.
Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD'S heave offering to Aaron the priest.
Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the LORD, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.
Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress.
And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.
And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die.”
Deuteronomy 26:12 “ When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;”
Result (curse or blessing):
During the revival pioneered by Hezekiah king of Judah; we learn that refusal to pay the tithe had some repercussions. Looking at the following scripture, we learn that blessings came when they brought tithe to the house of the Lord.
2 Chronicles 31:4-10 “Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.
And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.
In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.
And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.
Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.
And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.”
New Testament
Jesus teaching
Jesus gave no direct command about tithing. According to the following scripture; tithing is okay but it is not the only thing; justice and love of God are very important in our daily life. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cu**in, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.(Matthew 23:23). However, Jesus taught more about the relationship of our wealth and the kingdom of God.
Apostles teaching:
While giving is highly emphasized in the writings of the apostles; we do not find specific command for the newly converted Christians to tithe. This is what Paul says about giving: “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
Purpose
The purpose of giving was to sustain the ministers of the gospel and caring for the needy. We note in Acts 4:34-35 “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

Result (curse or blessing)
In His teaching Jesus said “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38). In the same tone Paul told the Corinthian Church that “God loves a cheerful giver”

Conclusion
In the Old Testament dispensation; tithing is contained the law. You must tithe (10or else you are stealing from God- Malachi 3:8-10 “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
In the New Testament, Paul gives us a formula “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
Finally brothers and sisters, having stipulated what the scriptures says about tithing and giving to God; let us examine ourselves. Christians have withheld giving generously and for that reason pastors and their finance boards have devised methods and tricks of raising money for the ministry. Unfortunately these methods are unbiblical and most of them motivated by greed and self enrichment. It is sad to say that in many occasions I have heard televangelist telling their listeners to plant a seed of 1000 dollars. They promise blessings such
as their mortgage being written off miraculously. Christians in their desperation for such blessings give this money to the televangelist (do you remember the story of cardinals selling indulgences in Europe? Christians paid enormous amounts of money to deliver souls of their relatives who had passed on from purgatory. They were desperate for salvation and for that reason church leaders exploited their situation). In another occasion I personally witnessed a televangelist in a national conference asking for 100 dollars from any Christian who would like to be anointed by the man of God. I was surprised that scores went to the podium for the anointing. They even extended credit to those who were willing but had no money. They can pay later. This is ridiculous and deviation from truth. When such methods and tricks are employed, Christians withhold their giving even more. What shall we do?
-Christians should give generously to support the work of the ministry. Pastors and bishops need your support.
-Those who preach the gospel of prosperity (which is crown without the cross) should stop to overburden their congregation with luxurious living.
And now may God’s light shine upon us all. Amen.
Rev. Dr. John Mwaniki Gathogo
Ezradevotionalministries.com

06/13/2012

PRIDE IS DESTRUCTIVE
It was a chaotic morning in Israel and Judah. Seventy thousand people dead in one morning: Why? “So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men” (2 Sam 24:15). This was a huge blow to the nation; mourning everywhere.
King David had ordered a census to be taken against the express will of God. We learn from verse one of chapter 24 of second Samuel that David was incited to do so. A parallel passage in 1 Chronicles tells us that Satan was the agent of the incitement (1 Chronicles 21:1 “And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel”. The reason behind the incitement was that the nation was guilty of some unspecified sins and was ripe for judgment. What could have caused David to make such a mistake even after being persuaded not to carry on the operation by his military commander- Joab? Pride was the basis of his decision. David wanted to assess his military power to rely on besides relying solely on God.
Simply because we have done something before does not mean that we must always do it. It is important that we seek the will of God every time we want to do something. Previously, census had been taken in the book of numbers. Let us examine the circumstances under which these censuses were taken:
The first census was taken in the second year after their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. “And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls;
From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies”. (Numbers 1:1-3)
The second census took place towards the end of their sojourning in the wilderness. “And it came to pass after the plague, that the LORDspake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,
Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers' house, all that are able to go to war in Israel”. (Numbers 26:1-2)
Among those who were counted during the first census, only two were alive during the second census namely Joshua and Caleb.
Two things worth noting in these two censuses;
- It was within God’s prerogative to count people for any reason.
- The operation was for military organization.
What we need to understand here is that God is in charge of every situation in life. His sovereignty cannot be questioned. We must consult and seek His will in every decision we want to make. Furthermore we have to check the motive of our decision before acting and watch for the red flag-PRIDE; it comes before a fall and that is what Satan is waiting for to destroy you.

02/13/2012

Nature of God
The Westminster catechism gives the following definition of God, “There is but one only living and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, most wise, most holy, most free, most absolute, working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will, for his own glory, most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek him; and withal most just and terrible in his judgments; hating all sin; and who will by no means clear the guilty.” Of course this is a detailed definition but it does not give us the source of the terms used though believed it is from the scriptures.
The following analysis gives us the source of some definitions though not exhaustive.
Exodus 3:1-15- In this passage, God is represented by the angel of the Lord. What is faceable is a flame in burning bush and a voice equivalent to human voice saying “I am God of your fathers. I am” Besides the flame and the voice Moses did not see any form of a being.
Psalm 103 – This passage describe the nature of God according to His actions. He is a redeemer, merciful and a healer. He is worth of praise.
Isaiah 6 – Isaiah tell us that he saw God seated on a throne. Here though not clearly faceable God takes a form which can be seen with human eyes. The setting is in a temple which was filled with the glory of God and main activity is worship. He has a concern for his creation.
Ezekiel 1 – Ezekiel saw a cloud, lightening, shining metal, fire and appearance of a man. He defines this as the glory of God.
John 3:16; 4:1-24 – God loves the world He is spirit.
Acts 17:16-34 – God is creator of heaven and earth.
Romans 1: 18-32 – God has revealed himself to mankind.
Romans 3:1-20 – He is God of all people though he has revealed Himself to the Jews in a special way; He gave them the law.
1 John 3:1, 16-24; 3:7-21 - This passage echoes John 3:16 and demonstrates the extent of his love- Jesus laid down his life for us.
Revelation 4 – John saw God seated on a throne. Again main activity in the temple is worship. This vision resembles Ezekiel and Isaiah vision.
By understanding His nature, we are able to appreciate who He is and we can worship him who is God alone.
As we continue to study the word of God we should be guided by the following verse I Deuteronomy 29:29 ‘The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

02/01/2012

Standing in the gap
Text: “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD.” (Ezekiel 22:30-31)
Isaiah and his contemporaries had come and gone. In his ministry he warned Judah of the coming judgments if they refuse to repent. He however gave them hope of the coming redeemer and good days ahead.
In 722 BCE Northern kingdom was invaded and taken captive by the Assyrians. It did not occur to the Judah that something similar would occur to them if they continued in sin.
Jeremiah and Ezekiel were contemporaries. They gave warnings that a foreign nation will take Judah into captivity. Our text refers to the last moments before the Babylonian invasion. God in His love was seeking and searching for one of them who could stand in the gap, build a wall and stand between God and them (intercede) so that God in His mercy could spare the city. He found none.
Inhabitants of Judah refused to listen and continued in their sin. Everybody lived below God’s expectations. In chapter 22 Ezekiel narrates God’s complain against the people. Let me analyze the charges.
Princes and officials (civil and political leaders)-roaring like a lion to devour people, take treasures and precious things (enrich themselves at the expense of the poor and make widows (wars).
Priests and prophets (church leaders)-make violence to God’s laws, white wash the wrong deeds by false prophecies, teaching that there is no difference between clean and unclean.
The whole society practice exhortation, they commit robbery; oppress the poor and mistreating aliens.
What is going on in our society today? Same sins are being committed. Even more badly, the name of God is being wiped out from the minds of people. Let us be available and stand in the gap for our nation. God who is being rejected is the king of the universe. ‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’(Daniel 4:17)

12/28/2011

CONCERN FOR MY BROTHER
During my schooling years, I heard one of my classmates ask; how does it feel to have a headache? I was surprised because I had gone through the experience so many times.
Some years ago I was working one-on-one in a hospital. The patient was asleep when I arrived. When he woke up and noticing that I am African he bust with a question about the children who are dying of hunger in Africa. He asked me why they were born in the first place.
The first experience with the classmate was genuine. The young boy spoke the truth. The second experience is dismaying because the man was not sympathetic but passed the blame to the parents who brought these children to this world. Inside his mind, he must have been cursing them and doing nothing about the situation.
In the book of Obadiah we read the following prophesy against Edom.
“See, I will make you small among the nations;
you will be utterly despised (verse2). All your allies will force you to the border;
your friends will deceive and overpower you;
those who eat your bread will set a trap for you, but you will not detect it.
“In that day,” declares the LORD,
“will I not destroy the wise men of Edom,
those of understanding in the mountains of Esau?
Your warriors, Teman, will be terrified,
and everyone in Esau’s mountains
will be cut down in the slaughter” (verse 7-9).
Edom’s demise will begin with collapse of national intelligence and thereafter disaster will come upon the inhabitants of Mount Seir...
We would all ask why such calamity on Edom? We get the answer from the following verses;
“Because of the violence against your brother Jacob,
you will be covered with shame;
you will be destroyed forever.
On the day you stood aloof
while strangers carried off his wealth
and foreigners entered his gates
and cast lots for Jerusalem,
you were like one of them” (verse 10 and 11).
When Nebuchadnezzar troops invaded Jerusalem, Edom did nothing about it. They joined the enemy.
“You should not gloat over your brother
in the day of his misfortune,
nor rejoice over the people of Judah
in the day of their destruction,
nor boast so much
in the day of their trouble.
You should not march through the gates of my people
in the day of their disaster,
nor gloat over them in their calamity
in the day of their disaster,
nor seize their wealth
in the day of their disaster.
You should not wait at the crossroads
to cut down their fugitives,
nor hand over their survivors
in the day of their trouble” (12-14).
Edom has to pay for their behavior.
What about us? Many times we have laughed at our neighbors when they are in trouble. It may be military invasion or economic disaster or job loss, just to mention a few. We close our gates so that they may not take refuge in our homes and in our country we call them illegal immigrants.
Let us learn from Job. “I was a father to the needy; I took up the case of the stranger” (Job 29:16). “but no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler” Job 31:32)
Listen to what God said about strangers and the poor: “‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you” Leviticus 25:35).
And Finally
“As you have done, it will be done to you;
your deeds will return upon your own head” (15b).

12/08/2011

Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

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