Battle Not With A Broken Sword

To often in our Christian lives, we accept defeat before we have even seen or smelt the battle. What a sad and sorrowful thing, that is running rampant in our churches these days. Instead of Pastors teaching their sheep for the battle, rather they spend all of their time telling them it is ok if they loose. The failure comes from a lack of understanding in the scriptures, that refer to the fact that Christians will always be victorious no matter the outcome of battle, wether they come away scarred or even death finds them, they should know that it will be well with them. Why is it Christians do not legislate morality in their own lives, but are more likely to raise their voices to ensist that the government legislate it. Tis a sad thing that Christians live their lives as such, relying on the government to set the bouderies for them to live their lives, rather than aligning the conscience to scripture and obeying the conviction of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also turned into a crystal ball, to decide what they should or shouldn't do. Forget sound reason, judgement and the multitude of godly cousel, rather we should move ourselves into the realm of mystecism, looking for a sign or listening for a voice. What a sad thing we have come to in Christianity when we can not even look into scripture and find the answers to lives questions, but would rather walk in the cousel of the ungodly, or follow the leading of a decietful heart. Woe to our Christian churches when they forsake the counsils of the scriptures, so that their itching ears can be soothed with what feed their growing fancies and keeps them aligned with the world so that no one gets their feelings hurt.

The question is what victory can there be found in the bible a Christian can lay hold of to encourage and strengthen them? and what are the stipulations that accompany this so great a salvation. Most Christians though are not concerned in the least with the answers, that I shall give because that will require to much of them. Something which may require that they cary Christ cross, bearing the shame and reproach of Christianity, being perfected through that which they suffer. The bible says that a thorn tree cannot bear fruit, so when Christians turn aways from such salvation and vacate the churches when such is taught it is no wander,

I John 2:19 (NIV) They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

You see what hath light to do with darkness? Nothing it flees from it, rejects that it must live right, and joys in evil deeds, which are reproved by the light. The Lord will make known those that are children by the light, and that light shall scatter every evil deed from their lives. Charles Wesley says it plainly and clearly in his poem, "I Know that My Redeemer Lives,"

He wills that I should holy be,
What can withstand His will?
The counsel of His grace in me
He surely shall fulfill.

And you may ask how much it is that we should apply ourselves to this holiness, well I tell you with everything we have even unto death. Again I find that Charles Wesley hits the nail on the head, in "O Love Divine How Sweet Thou Art,"

O love divine, how sweet thou art!
When shall I find my willing heart
All taken up by thee?
I thirst, I faint, I die to prove
The greatness of redeeming love,
The love of Christ to me.

Our view of sanctification, doesn't come from a sour heart, and a sadness for the world. It is driven from a love and willing heart to prove redeeming love, and that is exactly the outcome that will result is the proof of grace or redeeming love. The proof is that redeeming love does not stop at salvation, but rather has tremendous efficacy in accomplishing what it has set out to do and that is to make you holy by drawing you to the strength found in Christ alone. When we recognize the victory in Christ then the battle will pale in comparison, because will see the power of God used to raise Christ from the dead at work in our mortal bodies, to bring us to an eternity of rest from sin in the arms and presence of a holy God.

My next post will get into the scripture of spiritual power and thing most needed in our Christian Churches and lives today. A new, refreshing and powerful look at the victory in the Christian life. No more cowering in the ditches afraid of the battle, but rather a new look at the Christian in all of his power through Christ. The ability to take the fight to the enemy and find rest on the other side of the river under the tree of life.

Until next time God bless.

Message to Sinners

Romans 3:10-12 (KJV)
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is
none that doeth good, no, not one.

Here we get a clear and haunting description of man, how sinful he really is, and that all men fall under this condition of sinful, none excluded.

Romans 3:23 (KJV)For all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God.

That covers everybody even me, David says in

Psalms 130:3 (KJV)If thou, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

The picture we have of man from these passages, shows us that man is utterly wicked and in despair, unrighteous, unprofitable, doing no good. Man clearly and undeniably finds himself here placed under the wrath of God’s awaiting the day of judgement.

I Corinthians 6:9 (KJV)Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, no effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God, and such were some of you.

God frowns on sin and that those who commit such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God, but be placed under God’s wrath for eternity in hell. You may be here tonight and be prideful and boastful in your sins, saying,"God has done nothing to me and I have been sinning for years. Solomon gives us some insight into this:

Ecclesiastes 8:11-13 (KJV)Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of man is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

Cast down your foolish pride, do not eye the wicked with envy, because their day is coming, for their day is as a shadow, then shall they stand before God and those dreadful words, "depart from me into eternal damnation, prepared for the devil and his angels." Oh what a dreadful and sorrowful day, when men will se the holy God of the universe and eye the blessed Saviour who died on the cross, then to be cast into the fiery pits of hell.

Psalms 7 gives us a picture into God’s wrath; how that he is angry with sin and if men repent not he is ready to strike them.

Psalms 7:11-13 (KJV)God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked everyday. If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instrument of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
You see God is prepared to execute his wrath on sinners, and to send them to the prepared instrument of death which is hell. Well one may ask how is it that God executes his wrath on sinners? One of the worst ways he knows how, by giving men over to commit sins. Removing his restraining grace which did keep them from the most wicked and heinous acts of sin, which they were capable of sinning.

Psalms 7:15 (KJV)He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he has made.

You see the Lord allows them to dig their own ditch and to fall into it. Romans 1 allows us to see more clearly how it is that God does this:

Romans 1:26-32 (KJV)For this cause (because they did not worship the true God) God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And like-wise also the men, leaving the natural use of the women, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error (and has fallen into that ditch which he has made) which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, frornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant-breakers, with out natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgments of God, that they which commit such things are worth of death, not only do the same but have pleasure in them that do them.

So if you are thinking that you are fine and God has not poured his wrath out on you, think again. For your days are as a shadow, and your enjoyment of sin is only securing your eternal damnation in the ultimate judgement of hell, fire, and brimstone. If you are here and you are a Christian, you have no right to judge the lost, and be puffed up with pride, because it is God who saved you and kept you from sinning to you greatest capability. If you say, well I am glad that I did not commit that sin or that sin, remember you have only God to thank, that he did not give you over to such and such sins

If you are here tonight and the Spirit has opened your eyes, enlightening your heart to your sinfulness, seeing that there is nothing good in you, nothing righteous, and that all your ways have been in sin, do not fight and kick against the Spirit and what he is revealing to you, because you are not without hope tonight.

I Timothy 1:15 (KJV)This is a faithful saying, worthy of all acceptation, that Christ came into the world to save sinners; of who I am chief.

That is a truth worth pronouncing, that I am the chief among sinners, but I don’t have to die one, because Christ came into the world to save sinners. Look to Jesus, call out to him for he alone can save, not me or anything you or I could do.

John 3:16-18 (KJV)For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. But; he that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth no is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son.

These scripture can give life to those who will believe and cast their weary souls of Jesus, and find a new power to overcome the sin which before placed them under God’s wrath. Yet if you do not take Jesus as your Savior, then it can only be concluded from the scriptures that you are condemned to an eternity in hell under God’s wrath to carry your sins forever. Do not think that your sins are to many, and God does not want you, because no one has ever been refused that came to Jesus and believed, and all who came found that all of their sins were covered by the blood of Jesus. Just remember:

I Timothy 1:15 (KJV)This is a faithful saying, worthy of all acceptation, that Christ came into the world to save sinners; of who I am chief.

Jesus Christ

Over the past couple of months, I have been studying and teaching to my Wednsday night class, Jesus Christ. In the process of that I have learned more than I could ever have imagined about the one whom my soul longs for, and my life to be conformed too. I thought that I would end up spending about 6 weeks or 6 lessons to teach it, but the more I studied the more that I saw in scripture about Christ. I find myself longing to know this Jesus and his sacrafice, and to impart that which the Lord has alowed me to know about himself (I Cor.13:12). The more that I study the more I find myself a broken man, longing and desiring with the greatest of passions to know Jesus.

My greatest help in all of my studies has been the puritan John Owen, his indepth writing have really helped to open my eyes to what scripture says about Christ and the desert of sin. I often qoute John when I am teaching, but I must confess I have to keep it to simple to understand qoutes or interpert it for them. So far they have understood all of the qoutes that I have said, have been recieved and understood, with a challenge to assess oneself.

One help that I have got from Owen, came from his book "The Death of Death in the Death of Christ." In the second chapter he talks about what was accomplished and fulfilled by the death of Christ:

Reconcilitation- removing and slaying the enmity that was between God and us.

Romans 5:10 (ESV) For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life;

II Cor. 5:18-19 (ESV) All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

How was it accomplished?

Ephesians 2:15-16 (ESV) by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Justification- taking away the quilt of sins, procuring remission and pardon of them, redeeming us from their power, with the curse, and wrath due unto us by them.

Hebrews 9:12 (ESV)but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

Galtians 3:13 (ESV) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us

I Peter 2:24 (ESV) He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Romans 3:23-25 (ESV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Colosians 1:14 (ESV) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

II Cor. 5:21 (ESV) For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Sanctified- the purging away of the uncleaness and pollution of our sins, renewing in us the image of God, and supplying us with the graces of the Spirit of holiness.

Hebrews 9:14 (ESV) how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

I John 1:7 (ESV) the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Hebrews 13:12 (ESV) So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.

Ephesians 5:25-27 (ESV) ... Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Adoption- the evangelical liberty and all those glorious privelages which belong to the sons of God.

Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV) But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Our inheritance as children is settled in heaven, in glory and immortality forever.

Eph 1:14 (ESV) who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,to the praise of his glory.

Heb 9:15 (ESV) Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant

Strangers Huh!

1 Peter 1:1 (KJV) Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

I really like the way that Peter begins his letter by addressing it to strangers, Christians who just don’t fit in. Fortunately we are strangers because this life does not offer us much which we can cling to, or that gives lasting peace and comfort. Peter spends this whole letter explaining to the strangers that they are strangers, and they will be viewed and are to be viewed as such. Anything other will not do, and is unacceptable.

There will be hardships attached with being a stranger, and so he lays out beautifully that Christ is ours and we are his. So any problems have no need to be pleaded and or found justice here, but are to be poured out in prayer to Christ. Why you may ask should I pour out to Christ, and I answer you because he cares and loves you and I who are strangers with a love beyond our human comprehension. Therefore he is jealous for our affection, love, and life. What better reason to go to one who loves us, and loves for us to come before his throne casting our cares upon him (1Peter5:7).

Peter also exhorts strangers to love and reach out to there brothers, with a lowliness of mind not puffed up with the pride of our unregenerate state, in which they were consumed in sins. Strangers should show the people of their home with the greatest love and admiration, overlooking one another faults. We should show love in the highest degree to our brothers, because love will cover a multitude of sins and overlooking our difference (1Peter4:8) Love like Christ.

So as we go about our days here, live them out as strangers who want to leave not trail of an evil report for those who follow to have to live under. Rather show love to your brothers, judge those within and let the Lord judge those without. Showing love to the lost, and be ready to answer everyman according to your strangeness.

The Holy Spirit an Invisible Signet

Eph. 1:13 (ESV)“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,”

Once we put our faith and trust in Christ as our savior, we become a child of God adopted and placed into the family of God. I read a book about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, which I found only to mutilate and twist scripture to support the view. From simply reading the scriptures and praying over them one can only come to the conclusion that the Holy Spirit is given completely in all his power to us. Now of course we must grow in sanctification and trust, giving more of our lives over to the Spirit before we truly begin to experience true Holy Spirit power.

So where is the Holy Spirit, I mean I can’t see it how do I know that it exist? I have a friend who I debate religion with, he believes that there is a God who set things in motion, but that is as far as it really goes. He believes that all religions are getting to the same place just different ways, he is searching to find which religion he should believe. One day I was talking to him about knowing God exist, and the change that took place in my life, and he went into it being all emotional. Now I know something he doesn’t it was more than an emotional experience, in fact it was greater than any feeling it was a peace that passes understanding, and it is a lasting peace. A peace which my friend is searching for, a voice that speaks in the still small quiet voice, telling me things different than the world tells.

Now I come to our verse here, and I want to focus on the word sealed. Now used to I think oh you know we have a seal that is set about us, calling it the Holy Spirit. Then I looked up the word sealed and root word and I was amazed at what I found, and how that it just makes all scripture to gel more and more. The word means to stamp and keep secret. The thing that is most intriguing about this is, my friend just could not understand what it is that makes Christianity so real to me. It is just that, the invisible stamp which he could not understand or comprehend. John 14:17 (ESV)“Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” Do you see it, the Spirit of truth lives in me and I understand the love, but my friend cannot understand it because he neither see him nor knows him. You see I know the Father and have trusted the Father through the Son, and he has manifest himself to me, and not in a way which the world can receive or understand, but in the form of His invisible Spirit. Joh 14:21 (ESV)“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."

Psa 139:2-12 (ESV)“You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night," even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.”

Oh Father in heaven where can I go from you presence O Lord? You are every where and in all things, yet you choose to make yourself known to me and to speak to me, loving me with an everlasting love, giving me life before death. Thank you Father for your wonderful graces, and the great and wonderful gift of your Holy Spirit.

A John Owen quote on the Love of Christ

(7.) In this his readiness, willingness, and delight, springing from love and compassion, the counsel of God concerning the way of our recovery is, as it were, proposed unto him. Now, this was a way of great difficulties and perplexities unto himself, — that is, unto his person as it was to be constituted. To the divine nature nothing is grievous, — nothing is difficult; but he was to have another nature, wherein he was to undergo the difficulties of this way and work. It was required of him that he should pity us until he had none left to pity himself when he stood in need of it, — that he should pursue his delight to save us until his own soul was heavy and sorrowful unto death, — that he should relieve us in our sufferings by suffering the same things that we should have done. But he was not in the least hereby deterred from undertaking this work of love and mercy for us; yea, his love rose on this proposal like the waters of a mighty stream against opposition. For hereon he says, “Lo, I come to do thy will, O God;” — it is my delight to do it, Heb. x. 5–7; Isa. l. 5–7.
John Owen "The Glory of Christ"

This makes me think of the hymn song "And Can it Be" by Charles Wesley.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:’
Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Those these two mens doctrine were as different as night and day, their view of the importance and love of the death of Christ was placed at the forefront of all they believed. They both had great love and saw such great love for Christ in his sufferings and pains, and their lives where neither the same after they saw this. Our lives should be moved and changed when we think and view Christ death, the pain he suffered. They both saw the power in the blood.

Even Isaac Watts saw this great love "When I Survey The Wonderous Cross" , Charles Wesley was qouted as saying "he would give up all of his hymns to have written this one"

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands,
His feet,Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Isaac Watts also wrote "Alas and Did My Savior Bleed"

Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For sinners such as I?

Thy body slain, sweet Jesus,
Thine—And bathed in its own blood—
While the firm mark of wrath divine,
His Soul in anguish stood.

Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died,
For man the creature’s sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe:Here,
Lord, I give my self away’
Tis all that I can do.

Is Tithing Biblical?

Now I know, that instantly this ruffles feathers, because even as I right this it ruffles mine a little, going against everything that I have been taught. We must remember that it is not was has become traditional to us that determines what is instituted, it is what the bible says is true. So I am going to take a stab at this, because everything that I have read in the New Testament about tithing talks about the heart, loving and willful giving, not an instituted and formalistic style given where we have preset rates.

Paul speaks in 1 Cor. ix. 14, (ESV)“In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.”

A preacher should receive his living from the church so that he can apply himself solely to the study of God’s word, for the instruction of the sheep that they should not be led astray by strange doctrines.

Eph. 4:11-14 (ESV)“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”

We know that the Lord has given us pastors to guide us into truth and that they are to live off of the church, so that they can apply themselves unto bible and prayer. So what about how the church is to be funded, are we to give because we are required (tithe) or does God look at our motives in giving? Scripture shows over and over that God is not interested in what we can give him as if we are offering him something, but rather our motives are in question when we are giving to God. Now our motives should line up with our ability to give also, it would be foolish to try and give ten million dollars because we want to help out when we only have a hundred dollars. So we must use wisdom even when our motives are right.

Psalms 50:7-15 (ESV)"Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God. Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me. I will not accept a bull from your house or goats from your folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. "If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."

Heb 11:6 (ESV)“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Our Christian lives must move past the mediocrity of reluctant heart, and into the realm of faith, love, and a giving heart. Paul sums it up nicely in II Cor. chapters 8 and 9 about how we are to give and what should be our drive to give.

2Co 8:3-5 (ESV)“For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints - and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.”

2 Cor. 9:7 (ESV)“Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

2Co 9:12 (ESV)“For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.”

Paul makes a point about being a cheerful giver, and he gives examples about hew these people gave not because they had to, but because they chose to. This is the whole point of obedience of the Christian faith is not that we do things because we have to begrudgingly, but rather because of our overflowing abundance of love to God. Ever trusting in his faithfulness to give and to provide for our needs, not always our wants. Though when we give ourselves completely to God our wants will change. When our all is given to God then is all of our praise also shown to God and evident to others around and they to praise God because they know that all things proceed from God.

2Co 8:15 (ESV)“As it is written, "Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack."

2Co 9:12-15 “For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”

I will finish off with a quote from “The General Assembly off 2004 Steward Ship and Budget and Finance Christian Giving”:

“Putting emphasis on tithing might well constitute a trap if the impression were given the Christian can do whatever he or she desires with the other ninety per cent. (This is at least part of the reason for the criticism of the tithing practice in Matthew 23:23 – the minute concern for the giving of ten percent can overshadow the large and limitless commitment which we owe to God.)”