“Pastor Allen, you’ve got to hear this guy, he sounds just like you! He preaches the same message that you do! It’s Amazing.” My friend and student was describing the Pastor of his church.
I asked the man, what his Preacher taught on the previous Sunday. “He taught on tithing from Malachi 3:10”, answered my friend. I just shook my head. It happens everyday. That is why most people who think that they are Christians, are in fact Hebrewans. Sadly the body of Jesus has become some hybrid creation that is a mix of Hebrew Law and Christianity, but in fact is neither. Because, it is impossible to serve two masters. So, my friend could not have been more wrong. Our teachings are polar opposites
You know Malachi 3:10, It is preached more often than any other verse. It is usually drug out at budget time. It is a standard of the Christian church even though it is old covenant Hebrew law which does not now; and never has applied to Christians. You may even hear it every Sunday.
The strongarmer’s usually start with the 8th verse. “WILL A MAN ROB GOD? YET 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.” (note here that God is speaking to the prophet Malachi about the nation of Israel, of which gentiles are not now, and have never been).
“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, AND SEE IF I WILL NOT OPEN YOU THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN, AND POUR YOU OUT A BLESSING, THAT THERE SHALL NOT BE ROOM ENOUGH TO CONTAIN IT.”
“AND I WILL REBUKE THE DEVOURER FOR YOUR SAKES, AND HE SHALL NOT DESTROY THE FRUITS OF YOUR GROUND; NEITHER SHALL YOUR VINE CAST HER FRUIT BEFORE THE TIME IN THE FIELD, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS. AND ALL NATIONS SHALL CALL YOU BLESSED; FOR YE SHALL BE A DELIGHTSOME LAND, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS.”
A reasonable person would conclude from this promise of God to Malachi, that if they bring in the full tithe and offering that God will pour out on them a blessing that they can not contain, and that He will also rebuke the devourer for them and that they will become a delightsome land. They must also conclude the converse; that if they do not bring in the full tithe and offering, they will be under a curse.
A good and old friend of mine told me recently that his Pastor read this scripture to the congregation of the largest church in the greater Atlanta area. The preacher then told them that if they did not give the full tithe (10%) of their gross income, that they could not pray or come to church because they would be robbing God; and God would not hear them. HOLY COW BATMAN! This man’s physical plant is bigger than many colleges and some universities.
How backwards can we possibly get? Malachi was an old covenant prophet who asked God how the Nation of Israel could restore itself to right standing with God. The scriptures you have just read were God’s answer. It was a specific directive to the Levitical Priests to collect the tenth. It was meant only for the nation of Israel and specifically to the Priests.
WHY AM I MAKING SUCH A BIG DEAL OUT OF THIS? Because it is symptomatic of all of the problems of the body of Jesus. You can not be a Jew and a Christian. You can not serve the law and Jesus. Jesus fulfilled the law. The Hebrew Law did not, has not, and never will apply to gentiles or Christians. And it is the reason for the illness, poverty, weakness and insanity of the very ones that Jesus shed His priceless blood to prosper.
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING TEACHING FROM OUR TEACHER PAUL….
“Therefore, remember that at one time, you were Gentiles in the flesh, called uncircumcision by those who called themselves circumcision (the Hebrews), itself a mere mark in the flesh made by human hands.”
“Remember that at that time you were SEPARATED FROM CHRIST (excluded from all part of Him.) UTTERLY ESTRANGED AND OUTLAWED FROM THE RIGHTS OF ISRAEL AS A NATION, AND STRANGERS WITH NO SHARE IN THE SACRED COMPACTS OF THE (Messianic promise of Jesus coming) {WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF OR RIGHT IN GOD’S AGREEMENTS} HIS COVENANTS. AND YOU HAD NO HOPE(No Promise) YOU WERE IN THE WORLD WITHOUT GOD.” (Ephesians 2:11&12)
THIS IS A TEACHING THAT IS CRITICAL FOR ALL CHRISTIANS TO UNDERSTAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!
If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are not now and never have been part of the Hebrew law. That includes the Ten Commandments, The attached ordinances the proverbs and any other law associated with or promised to the Hebrews!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Gentiles, US were not under the ten commandments and the laws of the gentiles. They never have been.
At the time that Jesus died, he paid the reconciling price for the sins of Jew and Gentile alike. With His blood He made the Gentiles adoptable by God, based on their acceptance of and belief in Jesus. He also fulfilled the Hebrew Law. So, now only Hebrews who reject Jesus are responsible to keep the Law. Gentiles who reject Jesus are just as hopeless as they ever were.
As Paul has taught us clearly, YOU ARE EITHER A CHRISTIAN OR A JEW. You can not be both!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Law only applies to Hebrews.
It is also impossible to be a Christian and call yourself a MESSIANIC JEW! If you are Messianic, you are anticipating the coming of the Messiah. Jesus is not the Messiah. Jesus was the Messiah! He became the Christ the anointed of the Lord. Now He is the KING OF ALL KINGS.
WHY IS ALL OF THIS IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR YOU TO CARE ?
Paul asked this question….”TELL ME, YOU THAT DESIRE TO BE UNDER THE LAW, DO YOU NOT HEART THE LAW? (Galatians 4-21) In simpler terms, how could you having heard the law and knowing what it is, prefer it over GRACE?
THERE ARE, DIRE AND HORRIBLE CONSEQUENCES ATTACHED TO PLACING ONES SELF UNDER THE LAW ( A performance based relationship with God.)
PLEASE READ AND NEVER FORGET THIS WARNING FROM PAUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“FOR AS MANY AS ARE OF THE WORKS OF THE LAW ARE UNDER THE CURSE: FOR IT IS WRITTEN, CURSED IS EVERYONE THAT CONTINUETH NOT IN …………………………….ALL…………………………….. ………THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW TO DO THEM. BUT THAT NO MAN IS JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW IS EVIDENT; FOR, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH! AND THE LAW IS NOT OF FAITH BUT, THE MAN THAT DOETH THEM………………………………SHALL LIVE IN THEM………………!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CHRIST HAS REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, BEING MADE A CURSE FOR US; FOR IT IS WRITTEN, CURSED IS EVERY ONE THAT HANGETH ON A TREE:” (Galatians 3:10-13)
You see, either we accept the Grace of Jesus as the basis of our relationship with God or we try to earn from God based on our performance. There is no in between.Once we make a decision to keep any law including Malachi 3:10; we are held accountable by God to keep 100% of all of the Laws, which I doubt any of us know. And the latter is impossible and has unbearable consequences.
I am often asked why there is poverty, disease, failure, destitution, insanity, and pain among Christians. The answer is very simple. Most Christians have either placed themselves under the law, or they have been placed under it by preachers. They are therefore under the curse. What is the curse of the law that Jesus died to redeem us from, and that most Christians have placed themselves back under?
“BUT IT SHALL COME TO PASS THAT IF YOU WILL NOT LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE LORD THY GOD, TO OBSERVE TO DO………….ALL…………HIS COMMANDMENTS AND HIS STATUTES WHICH I (Moses) COMMAND THEE THIS DAY; ALL OF THESE CURSES SHALL COME UPON THEE, AND OVERTAKE THEE:
CURSED SHALL YOU BE IN THE CITY, AND CURSED SHALL YOU BE IN THE COUNTRY. CURSED SHALL BE YOUR BASKET AND YOUR STORE. ( Your business, your job, what you do and your checking account, savings account, stocks and bonds, retirement funds, etc.)
CURSED SHALL BE THE FRUIT OF THY BODY, AND THE FRUIT OF THY LAND, THE INCREASE OF THY KINE AND THE FLOCKS OF THY SHEEP. CURSED SHALL THY BE COMING IN AND GOING OUT,
THE LORD SHALL SEND UPON THEE, CURSINGS AND VEXATION, AND REBUKE, IN ALL THAT THY SET THY HAND FOR TO DO, UNTIL YOU SHALL BE DESTROYED, AND UNTIL YOU DIE QUICKLY; BECAUSE OF THE WICKEDNESS OF THY DOINGS, WHEREBY YOU HAVE FORSAKEN ME.”
You can read the rest of the curses of the Law in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. Let me summarize by saying that you probably don’t want any of them. They involve horrible disease and poverty and sickness. These are the curses that Paul has warned us about! That when we take on the Law, we receive. They include but are not limited to, Malachi 3:10
What we hear matters. What we say matters more.
Giving is definitely of God! God taught us to give by giving us everything. However, our giving should be a free-will offering. Paul taught us that….
“But this I say, HE THAT SOWS SPARINGLY SHALL ALSO REAP SPARINGLY; AND HE WHO SOWS BOUNTIFULLY SHALL ALSO REAP BOUNTIFULLY. EVERYMAN ACCORDING AS HE PURPOSES IN HIS HEART TO GIVE, SO LET HIM GIVE, NOT GRUDGINGLY OR OF NECESSITY FOR GOD LOVETH A CHEERFUL GIVER.” (2 Corinthians 6&7)
Pastor Allen and Throne of Grace Ministries are “Cheerful Givers”. And we are the most blessed ministry on earth. We give not grudgingly, or out of necessity but, according to what the Holy Ghost purposes in our hearts to give and I promise you that it is more not less than the tenth.
“NOT GRUDGINGLY OR OUT OF NECESSITY, BUT ACCORDING TO WHAT HE PURPOSES IN HIS HEART TO GIVE, BECAUSE GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER.”
These words clearly demonstrate the difference between the Law and it’s ordinances which God had no choice but to put on the Hebrews because of their rejection of Him, and the GRACE in which we now stand. God’s plan for the Hebrews was that they would also live an abundant life of Grace through Faith, but they rejected him.
A very popular and Good Preacher ministers to a large Church, that he started from scratch in Atlanta. The man whose work is phenomenal, recently recorded a teaching about the fact; that God does not require us to keep all of His Laws before blessing us. To a point it was a great teaching, and very close to the truth. Where this wonderful man of God slightly missed the mark is that he believes that God gave us the Law because He loves us. Nothing could be farther from the truth. God gave the Hebrews a land flowing with milk and honey because He loves them. He never gave the Gentiles Law at all. God gave the Hebrews the law because of their continual rejection of Him. God gave us Jesus instead of the Law.
(Ephesians 3:19, Numbers 14:1-16, Exodus 14:11&12, Exodus 16:3, Exodus 17:3, Exodus 20:19)
Paul sent us this warning that we would do well to head…..
“CHRIST IS BECOME OF NO EFFECT UNTO YOU, WHOSOEVER OF YOU ARE JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW; YOU ARE FALLEN FROM GRACE.” (Galatians 5:4)
Grace or Law? It is another free will decision in which God can not intercede!
“FOR THE LAW CAME THROUGH MOSES, GRACE AND TRUTH CAME BY JESUS”. (John 1:17)
Thank God that Jesus has freed us from the Law of Sin and Death!!!!!!!!!!
Your brother in Jesus,
Pastor Allen
