You Cannot Afford Not To Tithe (Malachi 3:8-12)

Jonathan Heng Ministries

You Cannot Afford Not To Tithe (Malachi 3:8-12)

February 28, 2022

Tithing is one of the most significant Bible doctrine. Giving to God is an act of worship, an expression of thanksgiving to Him. If we do not tithe, we are in fact, robbing God. This is very serious. Some people claim that tithing is an Old Testament Mosaic system and has been abolished at the cross. That we are now under grace in the new covenant and are not obligated to give. The truth is, tithes and offerings were practiced before the law.

There are three tithes mentioned in God’s Word, constituting a total of 23 and one-third percent.

The first tithe of 10 percent was given physically to the Levites, who were God’s ministers. The Levites were responsible for the maintenance of the tabernacle. Today, our tithes support those in the five fold ministry.

The second tithe, another 10 percent, was to be set aside for the individual and his household to cover expenses to attend feast days. Today, this second tithe is to be used for travelling expenses to church meetings and conferences.

The third tithe, another 10 percent, was to be given once over three years, for the poor and needy. When translated on a yearly basis, this means three and one-third percent every year.

Some Christians will say that under the New Covenant, we are no longer under any curse. They will quote Galatians 3:13, "Christ hath 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: " Whether in the natural or spiritual realms, there are principles that work, such as the law of sowing and reaping. These applications were not, are not, and will not be suspended or superseded. A farmer cannot expect a harvest without sowing seeds. Likewise, spiritually, when we abide in Christ who is the true vine and obey His Word, we will produce much fruit.

Do we realize that in the Word of God, words such as “bless and blessings” appears almost three times more than words like “curse and cursing”. God is a God who wants to bless more than to curse. Praise God! Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Now, under the Old Covenant, the storehouse refers to the Temple. Today, in the New Covenant, we give to the house of God where we are spiritually fed. This can be a local church where we belong to and attend regularly. It can also be ministries that spread the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to support evangelistic and missions efforts that fulfill the Great Commission. Sadly, I realize that not every preacher, not every church and not every ministry are proclaiming the true gospel. Believers have been misled by so-called ministers before and are now wary about giving financially. We need to ask these questions:

· Does the minister preach the full counsel of God’s Word under the anointing of the Holy Spirit?

· Are people being saved, healed and baptized in the Holy Spirit?

We need to see not just spiritual gifts in operation but that the preacher and people’s lives also reflect the fruit of the Holy Spirit. When these spiritual characteristics are evident on a minister and a ministry, we are to support in prayer and financial gifts. God wants meat in His house. In the Old Testament, people brought lambs, fruits and other produce to the Temple and support the priesthood. Today, we bring money as tithes and offerings into God’s house. God’s house is both physical and spiritual. Physical in the sense that He can use the building of a local church so that we can come together to worship, pray, fellowship and receive His Word. He can also use a media ministry as a platform to reach out to an audience who might otherwise not step into a church facility. Above all, God’s house is spiritual. This is the crux. He calls men and women, as temple of the Holy Spirit, to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

There is abundant blessings and rewards for those who tithe. God will open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Not only will we be blessed, but God will rebuke the devourer, Satan, who seeks to steal, kill and destroy us. We will be fruitful in our work, walk in divine health and prosperity. Physically, financially and above all spiritually, we will reap a harvest of abundance. In general, the more people there are in a nation who follow the Lord, the more light there is. Socially, economically, scientifically and technologically, the country will shine. Other nations will call her blessed.

Tithes and offerings are pictures and types of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. If God the Father gave His Son as a sacrifice for our sin, we cannot outgive God. Salvation is God’s gift to us. Jesus paid the price on the cross of Calvary for our redemption. We can never ever earn salvation through our gifts and offerings. Yet, tithes and offerings are the means to support the work of God. They are acts of obedience and worship to the Lord. We are laying for ourselves treasures in heaven.

We cannot afford not to tithe. We don’t want to rob God, which brings a curse. Instead, we want Him to open the windows of heaven, and pour out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough for us to receive it. The choice is ours. Cursing or blessing. Poverty or prosperity. Barrenness or fruitfulness. Let us obey God, and see Him command supernatural abundance and reap a harvest of rewards in every aspect of our lives, physically, financially and above all, spiritually.

Experience Pentecost Now

June 17, 2023

The first Pentecost took place some 2,000 years ago. Throughout the church age, there has been moves and waves of the Holy Spirit. In 1906, there was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Azusa Street, Los Angeles, USA. This is the birthplace of the Pentecostal movement that has spread all over the world. Since then, hundreds of millions of believers have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. In the midst of this move of God, there was a prophetic utterance that declared in the last days, there will be an overemphasis on: · Praise to a God we no longer pray to, · Power rather than righteousness, and · Spiritual gifts rather than the lordship of Christ. We are to avoid these dangers and pitfalls. There are parts of the church that have become seeker-friendly, instead of Spirit-filled. Yes, we are to be sensitive to people, but we must first and foremost, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, but He is also a consuming fire. As we develop various means and methods of outreach in the church, let us not neglect the Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit who still convicts sin, call for repentance and conform God’s righteousness in our lives. We need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and not grieve or quench Him in the process of drawing large crowds to our churches. In the Gospels, when Jesus said, “Follow Me”, it meant forsaking oneself and taking up one’s cross. In the early church, the Apostle Peter preached a message that pricked the hearts of the hearers and saw 3,000 people saved. Peter’s sermon, under the work of the Holy Spirit, was convicting and hardly comfortable, yet it results in a harvest of conversion. Why? And how? The key is the anointing of the Holy Spirit. When we are sensitive and yield to the Holy Spirit in ministry, He will discern the hearts of the ones being ministered to better than any of us could expect, or at least in the way that He intends. Thank God for the Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit! We need to allow the Holy Spirit to move in the House of God. A Spirit-filled church is a church that has a heartbeat for anointed worship. True worship is a lifestyle, not just an activity. It is more than simply turning up for church services, but is a reflection of loving “the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength... ” (Mark 12:30). We are called to experience not only the visitation of the Holy Spirit, but to be His habitation too, “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22). The House of God needs to be ignited with the Holy Spirit. We need a blast of wind, a blaze of fire. We need a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit today. Thank God for the first Pentecost in the early church, as recorded in the book of Acts. Thank God for the move of God throughout different periods of the church, especially the Azusa Street revival that birthed the worldwide Pentecostal movement at the turn of the 20th century. As we move ahead in this 21st century, we need a new Pentecost now. We cry again for a sound from heaven, a rushing mighty wind. We want to see people being baptized in the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking with other tongues, to be equipped for service in the Kingdom of God. We are called as a holy people and a royal priesthood. Next, we are to be united with one accord in our hearts. In a world of racial and class divide, believers need to be united in love. We are the Body of Christ, one in communion and purpose with the Headship and Lordship of Jesus. At the same time, unity must be based on foundational and fundamental truth. The truth that Jesus saves, heals, baptizes in the Holy Spirit and is coming again. The truth that all blessings comes through the cross of Christ! Unity does not mean conformity. We are one and united in Spirit, but with have different types of gifts and ministries. A New Testament church is ignited with the fire of the Holy Spirit, is united in love, communion and purpose. It is also to sow and reap an expedited harvest of souls. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit for employment, not enjoyment. We are employed as laborers in His harvest field. We ask the Lord for open doors. Due to the pandemic, the last few years have been difficult with all the shut downs. It’s time to step up again to usher in the final hour harvest of souls. The power of the Holy Spirit will accelerate and expedite the fulfilling of the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.

Arise And Build

May 27, 2023

Nehemiah was a trusted cupbearer to the King of Persia (Nehemiah 1:11). He received report that Jerusalem was in ruins. The city walls had been torn down, the gates were burned, leaving the residents vulnerable to the enemy’s attack and invasion. There was no peace and no security. Nehemiah was heartbroken and desperate to see the hand of God move and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Today, we see devastation of false doctrines in the body of Christ. Spiritually-speaking, there are gaps in the walls of our churches. We need to proclaim that Jesus saves, heals, delivers, baptizes in the Holy Spirit and is coming again. That we are justified and sanctified by grace through faith, on the basis of the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary’s cross. It’s time for us to rise up and build the walls of sound Biblical doctrines. In our life, our ministry and in serving the house of God, there are precious truths we can learn from the life of Nehemiah. For example, there are lessons about defeating distraction, discouragement and distress. Through prayer, Nehemiah responded to God’s call to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Although God is sovereign and omnipotent, He is looking for men and women with hearts who are broken and burdened to fulfil and finish His work. Today, there is so little anguish and agony in the house of God. Do we experience the sorrow and pain of God’s heart over the sins, the backsliding and compromise in the church? Are we also grieving for lost souls and do all we can to reach them with the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ? To accomplish the task that God has set before us, we need to know that He is the Master Builder. We are to keep in step with the Spirit, know the right timing and opportunity to move in faith and boldness. When Nehemiah stood before the king with sadness on his face to seek permission to build the walls of Jerusalem, it was in essence, a ‘live or die’ moment. Thank God for the king’s compassion and favour to grant Nehemiah’s heart desire to go to Jerusalem. Yet, there are people who opposed Nehemiah. Just because we are doing God’s work does not mean that it will always be smooth-sailing. We will be distracted, discouraged and distressed at times. We can face accusation, attack, intimidation and lies against us from people. We need to stand strong, secure and steadfast in finishing the task, and not allow opponents to shut us down. We need the Word of God and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to help us not react in the flesh in such times. Nehemiah was a role model on handling criticism and misunderstanding. He did not let discouragement stop Him from obeying God and carrying out his responsibility. He kept building the wall. Today, we may face all kinds of distractions. Worldly pleasures and wrong relationships may divert our attention from fulfilling our calling. We are to stay the course and refused to be disturbed and disrupted. When God called Nehemiah to rebuild the walls, there was a lack of resources and people thought that the task was going to take a long time. In spite of hindrances, Nehemiah fixed his eyes on the Lord with undivided commitment and complete this massive task in just 52 days. Nehemiah’s motives and motivations are to give God all the glory and praise. It is all about God’s plans and purposes, not our ambitions. Once the walls were rebuilt and gates restored, Nehemiah planned to revive the authority of God’s Word in the land. Gatekeepers and musicians were appointed. Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s days is a picture of the church today. Like the Israelites, many Christians are spiritually apathetic and defeated. False doctrines, idolatry, worldliness, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life have become widespread throughout the body of Christ. The church is a called-out body, separated from worldly culture. Separated but not isolated. We need to repent of our backsliding and disobedience. Ask the Lord to revive us, restore us, and set us apart for Him, to be light that shines in our dark and evil world.

Let’s Be M.A.D. (Mission Anointed Disciples) For Jesus

March 20, 2023

We are called to be disciples for Jesus Christ, committed to follow Him as Lord and Master. We are entrusted with the mission to spread the gospel and reach the lost. We are to be filled and anointed with the Holy Spirit. Discipleship is a committed way of life, dedicated to the Person of Jesus Christ and His purpose. It is not paying lip service. Some follow Jesus out of convenience, but true disciples will experience opposition and persecution from others. Discipleship is denying oneself. This does not mean asceticism, which is the practice of strict self-denial of legitimate things in life, such as having food and sleep. Of course, it is Biblical to fast from food and sleep or some other activities, in order to spend more time in prayer and studying God’s Word. However, we must not carry out these spiritual disciplines with a holier-than-thou attitude, or to believe that we can earn God’s favour. Rather, self-denial is to surrender and give up all self-effort. To take up our cross is to put our faith in Christ and His victory on the cross. We are to commit ourselves to Christ above all persons and possessions. Our love for Christ is to be so much more than our family, friends, jobs, money, hobbies and the like. As human beings with affections, it is so easy to put relationships and riches ahead of the Lord. Yet, any excessive devotion to people and things becomes idolatry. The cares and concerns of everyday life will keep people from following the Lord wholeheartedly. We must, in essence, count the cost and ask, are we willing to pay the price? The Christian life is a journey – to fight the good fight, run and finish the race, and keep the faith. In 2 Timothy 4:7, the Apostle Paul said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" (2 Timothy 4:7). This should be our prayer and our cry too. We have a mission – to fulfil our calling and role to win the lost and equip the saints. The Great Commission of Jesus Christ involves evangelism and discipleship. We are called-out and set apart to be salt and light to the world. In the church, there is tendency to measure success in terms of the size of attendance, buildings and money. Another condition is that far too often, many Christians are spectators, when we lay the responsibility for God’s work largely on the shoulders of the five-fold ministers – the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Jesus did not call us just to be churchgoers and pew-warmers, but disciples. To carry out the work of the ministry, we need the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We need to be alive and ignited with the flaming fire of God. The book of Acts is the blueprint of what the church should be and must be. The church was born in power, with a community and worldwide vision. Jesus told the disciples that they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses unto Him, " …both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Throughout the church age, we have men and women of God who have caught the heavenly vision and were consumed with the passion and compassion to declare the good news of the gospel. As labourers, we must point people to look to God as the source. We are not celebrities, but servants with Christ-like humility. Our pride and vanity must be pulled down and removed. It’s all about Jesus, and not about us. In this age of self-esteem and promotion, we need to lose ourselves and let Christ be our everything. We need the anointing and demonstration of the Holy Spirit and of power, to fulfil our mission to win souls. Not entertainment and amusement, but the preaching of the gospel. The gospel message is not always popular with the wise and wealthy in this world. It is not easily accepted by the great and mighty in society. Even the religious are confounded and stumbled by the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. Many look at the Christian faith as foolish and weak. Yet, it is the preaching of Christ crucified that is the power of God unto salvation. In Acts chapter 17, verses 1 to 6, we read, "Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;" (Acts 17:1-6). Here, we see Paul and Silas who preached Christ boldly, and have turned the world upside down. God’s messengers have often been accused of creating mess but the truth is, for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, their lives will be turned right side up. It was sin and the fall that have brought disorder in our world. The presentation of the glorious gospel brings light and shines into the darkness of hearts. People can either receive or reject this light. As disciples of Jesus Christ, our mission is to preach the gospel and fulfil the Great Commission, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Let us follow the examples of the apostle Paul and many other men and women of God through the centuries. Let’s be M.A.D. (Mission Anointed Disciples) for Jesus!