Category: Pointing to God’s Word

ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM WHO BELIEVES

 

Original Greek, and definitions are in red.

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe [have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing)], all things are possible to him who believes [has faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing)].”

Mark 9:23

Faith (Eng. def.):   complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

Mark 11:22-23

So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.”

2 Chron. 20:20

So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief [faithlessness, that is, (negatively) disbelief (want of Christian faith)]; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith [persuasion, that is, credence] as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Mat. 17:20

Credence (Def.):   belief in or acceptance of something as true.

Faith (Eng. def.):   complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt [oppose], you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing [have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing)], you will receive.”

Mat. 21: 21-22

 

And the apostles [delegates] said to the Lord [Supreme Authority], “Increase our faith [persuasion, that is, credence].”

6 So the Lord said, “If you have faith [persuasion, that is, credence] as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. 

Luke 17: 5-6

Credence (Def.):   belief in or acceptance of something as true.

Faith (Eng. def.):   complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

 

Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”

49 The nobleman said to Him, “Sir [Supreme Authority], come down [descend] before my child dies!”

50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed [had faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing)] the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.

John 4: 48-50

 

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe [have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing)] you would see the glory [glory (as very apparent)] of God?”

John 11:40

Glory (Eng. def.):   high renown or honor won by notable achievements.

                                      magnificence or great beauty.

This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith [persuasion, that is, credence] to be healed, 

Acts 14:9

Credence (Def.):   belief in or acceptance of something as true.

Faith (Eng. def.):   complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

 

But without faith [persuasion, that is, credence] it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe [have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing)] that He is, and that He is a rewarder [remunerator] of those who diligently seek [search out] Him.

Heb. 11:6

Remunerator (Def.):   A remunerator is a person or entity that rewards or pays for work, services, or goods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHY ARE YOU TITHING?

 

  • This blog, and post, will always direct you directly to your Creator, and God’s Word (Jesus).
  • Directly means directly. No pastors, nor incorporated, so-called, “Christian” churches. Absolutely no human being between you and your Creator.

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”   John 4:23-24.

God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.    

Acts 17:24

  • The actual Greek and/or Hebrew is in [red] and in square brackets [   ].
  • We all need reminders:   Jesus is the Word of God. The good message of John, first chapter:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Verse 14:  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace [graciousness] and truth.

Today’s topic:   WHY ARE YOU TITHING?

Abraham lived almost 4,000 years ago, before the Law was given. What he did almost 4,000 years ago (paying a tenth of his spoils) to Melchizedek (who had perpetual life) has little to do with you paying a tithe to other human beings today.

The Law came from God through Moses (about 2000 years after Abraham):

  1.     To where did God command that tithes be taken?

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse [house/depository], so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”

Malachi 3:10.

Tithes were to be taken into the storehouse (depository).

Where was the storehouse?

The priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes, and the Levites shall bring up the tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse.

Neh. 10:38

The storehouse (depository) was in the temple.

THE PHYSICAL TEMPLE BUILDING, INCLUDING THE STOREHOUSE  (DEPOSITORY), WAS DESTROYED IN 70 A.D. YOU COULDN’T TITHE TODAY (BIBLICALLY, OR “PROPERLY”), EVEN IF YOU WANTED TO.

  1.    To whom were tithes to be paid?

“To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting.

24 For the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they offer as an offering to the Lord, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance; therefore I have said concerning them, ‘They shall have no inheritance among the sons of Israel.’”

Num. 18:21,24

Tithes were given to the Levites.

THERE IS NO PHYSICAL LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD ON EARTH TODAY. PASTORS/MINISTERS/PRIESTS TEACHING AND COLLECTING TITHES ARE NOT LEVITES. THEY ARE ROBBING PEOPLE.

1 Corinthians 16:2-3:

On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. 

This was a special collection for suffering Jewish Christians in Jerusalem:

“Paul begins to give the church in Corinth specific instructions about collecting money for suffering Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. Many Bible teachers apply these as ground-level principles for how modern Christians should give to local churches and other needs” . . . . 

 . . . . . “In fact, the New Testament never commands Christians to tithe in the way the Old Testament required (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:26). Jews (added: and Israelites) living under the Old Testament law were obligated to tithe, in addition to other required contributions to the temple and the priests.”

https://www.bibleref.com/1-Corinthians/16/1-Corinthians-16-2.html

To whom we should give will be covered in a future post.

In the meantime, we are encouraged to persevere in the original delegates’ (apostles’) instruction (what we refer to [generally] as the New Testament). This point cannot be overemphasized:

And they continued steadfastly [persevered] in the apostles’ [delegates’] doctrine [instruction] and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 

Acts 2:42

*******

TO REPEAT:

PERSEVERE IN THE ORIGINAL, TRUE, DELEGATES’ INSTRUCTION:

And they continued steadfastly [persevered] in the apostles’ [delegates’] doctrine [instruction] and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 

Acts 2:42

LET THERE BE LIGHT

 

  • This blog, and post, will always direct you directly to your Creator, and God’s Word (Jesus).
  • Directly means directly. No pastors, nor incorporated, so-called, “Christian” churches. Absolutely no human being between you and your Creator.

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”   John 4:23-24.

God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.    

Acts 17:24

  • The actual Greek and/or Hebrew is in [red] and in square brackets [   ].
  • We all need reminders:   Jesus is the Word of God. The good message of John, first chapter:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Verse 14:  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace [graciousness] and truth.

 

Today’s topic:   LET THERE BE LIGHT

 

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good . . . 

Gen 1: 3-4.

 

God is the Lord [Self Existent] ,

And He has given us light;

Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.

Ps 118:27



And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:5

 

That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

John 1:9

 

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds [works/toils] were evil [hurtful].

John 3:19

 

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Cor. 4:6

 

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Eph. 5:8

 

Therefore He says:

“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”

Eph. 5:14

 

 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:5

 

Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

1 John 2:8

 

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Mat. 5:14-16

 

But the path of the just is like the shining sun,

That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

Prov. 4:18

 

Arise, shine;

For your light has come!

And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

2 

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,

And deep darkness the people;

But the Lord will arise over you,

And His glory will be seen upon you.

3 

The Gentiles shall come to your light,

And kings to the brightness of your rising.

Isa. 60:1-3

 

Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

Phil. 2:14-16

 

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 

1 Peter 2:9

 

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:5-7.

 

To repeat:   For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Eph. 5:8

 

* * * * * * * * 

 

PERSEVERE IN THE ORIGINAL, TRUE, DELEGATES’ INSTRUCTION (THROUGH THEIR WRITTEN WORD, IN THE NT):

And they continued steadfastly [persevered] in the apostles’ [delegates’] doctrine [instruction] and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.       Acts 2:42