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Spiritual Warfare

August 10, 2013

Temptation of Jesus

As we are all aware, in war there is a supreme requirement– preparation. That is to prepare, to plan, to execute. What army does not calculate who, what and where the enemy is, and how to formulate their battle? The greatest “war” of all time is happening in our midst, it’s the final Spiritual war happening in an intense battle. The souls of the world and particularly the Seventh Day Adventists (God’s remnant church) , are being fought over. Christ our King and holy angels against Satan and his army of angels.

Obviously we know who wins this battle, but does that make the battle go away? Do we have to remain in this war, to endure it’s struggles? The answer is that only a “few” are active in this battle. The evil ones have no problem with the vast majority who haven’t decided to engage in the battle. The “rich and increased with goods” people are just who the devils enjoy. So what is this battle centered on? The last word from the Lord–His Elijah message of hope and life saving instructions.

In describing the plans and words of Satan to counter this last message of warnings, admonitions,  and instructions, we read, ” I will have unbelieving ones present who will express doubts in regard to the Lord’s messages of warnings to His church. Should the people read and believe these admonitions, we could have little hope of overcoming them. But if we can divert their attention from these warnings, they will remain ignorant of our power and cunning, and we shall secure them to our ranks at last.” (Test. to Ministers, p.475)

Let us now look at the many facets of this war and learn more about this enemy we are fighting.

In (Eph.6:12) we read, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

In the above we find powerful and clear clues to this spiritual warfare.  First, we see that our struggles are against the ones in power, the rulers, the powers of the dark world and the spiritual forces of evil surrounding us. This clearly points out that Satan and his army is behind our struggles and battles. Our family, neighbors or friends may upset us, but the real upsetting comes from the “dark forces” behind it all. But as hard and tough as this battle becomes, we must ever remember “greater is He who is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

As we go into this post, it’s important to ask yourself — “Am I having spiritual struggles, battles on a somewhat regular basis?” If you are not, and find that your walk with Christ is mostly a coasting experience, a mellow all’s well  and comfortable experience, then you should be awoke to the fact that something may be amiss. You may not have decided to enter the war.  For we are directly told that, “.. all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,“(2 Tim. 3:12). This “persecution” isn’t like the days of old, the throwing you into the lions den, or going to the stake, but rather the murmurs against you, the demotions and dis-fellow shipping from positions in the church, the loss of friends, the mental struggles because of the dark forces surrounding you. All these are evidences that you are in the war. You’re not a looker on or bystander.

Let’s briefly speak about the mental struggles. Once you begin to stand up for the Lord and his purpose for you, you’ll notice that your sighing and crying, your warnings, will sometimes place a burden upon you. After all it’s tough to speak of the negative of situations, instead of the positive. But because we serve a “HOLY GOD” we must view sin as HE sees it.

Ellen White spoke about this, “The class who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension, nor mourn over the sins of others, will be left without the seal of God.” (Test. for the Church, Vol. 5, p.211). “Those who have excused these wrongs have been thought by the people to be very amiable and lovely in disposition, simply because they shunned to discharge a plain Scriptural duty. The task was not agreeable to their feelings; therefore they avoided it…The true people of God, who have the spirit of the work of the Lord and the salvation of souls at heart, will ever view sin in it’s real, sinful character.” (Test. for the Church, vol.3 , p.266)

So now let us look at our enemy and some of his devices he uses today to trip us, to even make us fall if possible.

1) Rich and increased with goods. This is so prevalent today. The devils are active in whispering in the lukewarm member’s ears–“You’re safe you got the knowledge concerning your walk with Christ. Who needs any more messages from the Lord? You have “need of nothing”(Rev. 3:17).

The messages from the pulpit today are largely peace and safety. The same ol same ol. You are saved just because you show up to church.

“The crisis is fast approaching. The rapidly swelling figures show that the time for God’s visitation has
about come. Although loath to punish, nevertheless He will punish, and that speedily. Those who walk
in the light will see signs of the approaching peril; but they are not to sit in quiet, unconcerned
expectancy of the ruin, comforting themselves with the belief that God will shelter His people in the
day of visitation. Far from it. They should realize that it is their duty to labor diligently to save others,
looking with strong faith to God for help.” (Test. for the Church, vol. 5 p.209)

Remedy- Learn all you can about the Elijah message. This strikes the enemy in his heart. This message helps you survive the upcoming church purification. The instructions given are specific and clear. In (Mal 4:5) we read, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” Obviously the focal point of Elijah’s message is to warn us how we are to survive the great and dreadful day.

2) Murmurs and slander against you.  The evil ones are not letting anyone who decides to accept the sealing message of Elijah, get away from people saying things against you. This is a center piece in their drive to divide the people of God. What better way to do it than to get the unconverted to talk against you? If we are silent and speak no words of warning to our brethren, then we can rest assured we won’t have this problem. For the devils love those who look the other way at sins in our midst. Does the speaking against us bother us- of course. But does this ploy by Satan and his unsuspecting workers become effective in stopping us from proclaiming the Elijah message of warning? Absolutely not. Did the multitude against Joshua and Caleb succeed in persuading them that the land of Canaan wasn’t able to be taken? They looked to God and believed in Him, not man.

Ellen White describes the actions of Satan in the last days. “We must cause distraction and division. We must destroy their anxiety for their own souls, and lead them to criticize, to judge, and to accuse and condemn one another, and to cherish selfishness and enmity. ” (Test. to Ministers, p.475)

“…The messages from heaven are of a character to arouse opposition. The faithful witnesses for Christ and the truth will reprove sin. Their words will be like a hammer to break the flinty heart, like a fire to consume the dross. There is constant need of earnest, decided messages of warning. God will have men who are true to duty. At the right time He sends His faithful messengers to do a work similar to that of Elijah.” (Test. for the Church, vol.5, p.254).

Remedy- Keep on doing what you are suppose to–warn, counsel and admonish when needed. As we read, it is our “duty to labor diligently to save others.”

3) Neglect to sigh and cry. This is a real biggie. For we know from the Lord’s  Elijah message that “only” those who sign and cry for the abominations done in the church and our own life, will be sealed. God is not playing around when He says in Ezekiel 9 –“..put a mark (seal) on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done in the midst. To the others He said in my hearing, “Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. (Ezek. 9:4-5)

But the devils are very active in countering these words of God. One of the sure ways they deceive is to say that this was past. Ezekiel 9 happened in the old days of Israel. But when you study and learn the truth you can tell anyone who doubts to  read Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, p.260.  “Study the ninth chapter of Ezekiel, these words will be literally fulfilled.”

Remedy– Learn the specific abominations being done in the church. Then protest against them. There are many ways to do this. You can mention the wrongs to the fellow church members, elders, or even pastor. For example, a while back we had noticed that cell phones were going off in the sanctuary. We brought to the pastor’s attention. Shortly after, the church now prints on the Sabbath program flyer “please silence all electronic devices in sanctuary”.

You can start a blog and speak out about them. You can email brethren. You can from a small study group to discuss them. You can spread the posts and studies of present truth to the brethren. You can post your comments on Facebook. The main point is that you sigh and cry. You let the Lord know you are not a partaker and therefore you have the real chance of getting that eternal seal in your forehead.

4) Dark forces surrounding you. One can look at the situation like this. The whole world is in much darkness. Yet the ones who are converted, the ones who “sell-out” to Jesus and walk in all the light given them, are shining in the midst of the darkness. In other words the devils can spot them right away. In the spiritual realm this is obvious to them. So what happens? They concentrate on these elect of God. Satan has his army stationed around the ones who are doing the most damage to his cause.

Ellen White describes the dark forces surrounding the people of God in the last days.

“I saw some, with strong faith and agonizing cries, pleading with God. Their countenances were pale and marked with deep anxiety, expressive of their internal struggle. Firmness and great earnestness was expressed in their countenances; large drops of perspiration fell from their foreheads. Now and then their faces would light up with the marks of God’s approbation, and again the same solemn, earnest, anxious look would settle upon them.

Evil angels crowded around, pressing darkness upon them to shut out Jesus from their view, that their eyes might be drawn to the darkness that surrounded them, and thus they be led to distrust God and murmur against Him. Their only safety was in keeping their eyes directed upward. Angels of God had charge over His people, and as the poisonous atmosphere of evil angels was pressed around these anxious ones, the heavenly angels were continually wafting their wings over them to scatter the thick darkness.

As the praying ones continued their earnest cries, at times a ray of light from Jesus came to them, to encourage their hearts and light up their countenances. Some, I saw, did not participate in this work of agonizing and pleading. They seemed indifferent and careless. They were not resisting the darkness around them, and it shut them in like a thick cloud. The angels of God left these and went to the aid of the earnest, praying ones. I saw angels of God hasten to the assistance of all who were struggling with all their power to resist the evil angels and trying to help themselves by calling upon God with perseverance. But His angels left those who made no effort to help themselves, and I lost sight of them.”(Early Writings, p269-270)

We see that only the ones with “strong faith and pleading” are the ones having to deal with the “pressing darkness”. But then she describes the others who are “indifferent and careless”. Notice that these put up no resistance and go through no “agonizing and pleading” for the Lord. The hard stance of proclaiming the unpopular message of Elijah of church warnings,  is the all consuming truth for today from the Lord, and hence the devils continue to press their “poisonous atmosphere” at the ones with the “earnest cries.” The sighers and criers are the ones in the battle!

In describing this darkness we read, “Moral darkness, like a funeral pall, covers the earth. All manner of false doctrines, heresies, and satanic deceptions are misleading the minds of men. Without the Spirit and power of God it will be in vain that we labor to present the truth.” ( Test. for the Church, vol. 5, p.158)

Let us remember a very important Scripture, which we have brought up several times in past sudies. It  is the Lord’s first description of those who won’t make it to heaven. “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly...shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Rev. 21:7-8).  The Lord has always rewarded those who have stood up. David, Noah, Elijah,  Caleb, Joshua, Moses, among others were steadfast in courage.  In this final war we must be of courage and not be afraid.

Remedy- Stay focused on Him who gives you strength. Read the Scriptures, SOP, and the Elijah message often. Know that because you are taking a stand in the battle that the evil ones will come at you. But because you know their schemes you can be better prepared to withstand their arrows. “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Eph. 6:11)

Here’s an appropriate  quote from the Elijah prophet, “The old devil well knows that this is the last message the world will ever receive and that it will chain him for a thousand years and at last reduce his being down to ashes as though he never was.”(Symbolic Code News, vol. 2, no.3-4, p.3)

5) No need to worry about the Tithes.  In our present system, there is no doubt that “money makes the world go round.” The Lord knows full well that His work needs funds to reach the honest and willing souls. But Satan and his angels know this just as well. EGW states what Satan says about it , ” We must do our utmost to prevent those who labor in God’s cause from obtaining means to use against us. Keep the money in our own ranks. The more means they obtain, the more they will injure our kingdom by taking from us our subjects. Make them care more for money than for the up building of Christ’s kingdom and the spread of the truths we hate, and we need not fear their influence; for we know that every selfish, covetous person will fall under our power, and will finally be separated from God’s people.” (Test. to Ministers, p.474)

The tithe we must remember is the Lord’s, it’s not ours. So if we deny the Lord His money, we are in effect–thieves. And breakers of His 8th Commandment. His blood can cleanse us of our sins if we repent and turn away from them . But if we continually trespass without asking for repentance (such as stealing from him on a regular basis) are we not in a very dangerous position?

We also know that our Lord pleaded His case to us in His final letter to us in the Old Testament. “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, “In what way have we robbed You?” In tithes and offerings. (Mal 3:8)

But this has two elements to it. One, we must be loyal to tithing to Him. Two, we must bring the tithe into His “storehouse”, so that their will be “food in My house.”(Mal. 3:10). The big problem today in our churches is that there is no food (present truth). Meaning that their message is not one of present truth, but past truth.  The message of peace and safety week after week is largely what we see. And the devils are perfectly fine with it! So the tithes must be sent to God’s storehouse of present truth. Where the latest and most applicable truth from the Lord is proclaimed.

Remedy- Be faithful in providing the Lord’s money to the right storehouse. If we pay our tithes faithfully yet they go to places where the Lord’s end time truths are not spoken of, are we not defeating the whole purpose of “food in His house”?

Our final quote says the following, ”

“Satan’s snares are laid for us as verily as they were laid for the children of Israel just prior to their
entrance into the land of Canaan. We are repeating the history of that people. Lightness, vanity, love of
ease and pleasure, selfishness, and impurity are increasing among us. There is need now of men who
are firm and fearless in declaring the whole counsel of God; men who will not sleep as do others, but
watch and be sober.” (Test. for the Church, vol. 5, p.160)

In closing, I must say that prior to accepting and proclaiming the Elijah message, the comfort and ease in my walk was much more prevalent. But what kind of servant, relaxes on the couch and takes life’s ease? They go to work, but in this case it’s war– the great spiritual war of all-time. The above 5 points are just a small example of some of the ways we are tempted and pursued by Satan and his angels. The enemy can and will be defeated. It’s only when we can look to our all powerful Lord and His word that we gain strength in this battle of all-time. As I am active in this spiritual war, I have found one of the best ways to combat the arrows thrown (and I feel many ),  is to sing to the Lord in the middle of your moments of trial. When things seem very tough, that’s when I turn the tables and sing as if all is just fine. This flusters the evil ones to no end! And it also pleases the Lord! Remember Paul singing in jail?(Acts 16:25).

Ok, let’s put on that armor and go to work, knowing that “.. For the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” (Isaiah 52:12)

Posted in End times, Satan, Sighing and Crying, Tithes and Offerings, Warning our brethren | 6 Comments »

The SDA’s Original “Systematic Benevolence”

June 22, 2013

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In one of Doug Batchelor’s sermons, he presented  a very interesting story of the “Cuckoo” bird. Simply put, this bird searches for other bird nests and then deposits its own egg into the unsuspecting bird’s nest. Then later when it hatches,  the original nest bird probably wonders where the strange bird came from. In much the same way something has been “laid” into our church that wasn’t there in the beginning. And for the longest time we have not been truly aware of it, until it’s been exposed (hatched) more clearly through the Elijah message (to restore all things).

What you are about to read will surprise some of you no doubt. But it really shouldn’t. Why? Because that ol deceiver has been at his  bag of tricks for millenniums!  When I came across this eye-opening information, I read it in amazement. How could these  clear instructions have been  stamped upon and  ignored for nearly a century now? Especially since our prophetess received direct approval from the Lord for its original benevolence system and methods?

Before we get into the matter,  let’s recap on something very important. As we have shown  in our previous studies, our church will soon be the “first” to feel the wrath of God. After describing Ezekiel 9, our prophetess lays it out for us, “Here we see that the church– the Lord’s sanctuary– was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God.” (Test. for the Church, Vol. 5, p.211).

So how do we “survive” this judgement, this wrath of God? This is our most pressing concern, right? This is serious business!  Our prophetess answers it, “The day of God’s vengeance is just upon us. The seal of God will be placed upon the foreheads of those only who sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land. ” (Test. for the Church, Vol. 5, p.212). So we must be sealed in the forehead, similar to those who posted the blood on the door posts (their seal) in the Egypt midnight destruction from the Lord. The angel passed over those who have that blood seal. Same with us in the upcoming beginning phase of the “judgment for the living”(“first stroke”).

Contrarily, if we don’t “sigh and cry” over the sins in our life and the church, we will not receive the seal on our foreheads–plain and simple. Our lukewarmness will cause us to be “spewed out”.  The Lord’s words are too simple to be mis-understood here. Can we be considered “sighing and crying” when we  ignore the sins in our midst or worse yet — take part in them?

We needed to refresh the Elijah message  because we are about to learn of a serious sin that has crept within our church that happens every Sabbath. Something that certainly must be “sighed and cried” about. And once we are “aware” of a wrong doing in our midst,  we must turn from it and want no part of it.

Although our SDA church wasn’t formally established until 1863, the body of believers existed many years prior, from about 1844- 1845. But it wasn’t until 1859 that the SDA members were committed to establishing a formal system of “Tithing”. Apparently prior  to that there was some confusion as to what, where and when tithes were to be paid. No “Lord approved” system had been put in place yet.

Before we study this plan, it’s important to see what Ellen White,a founder of the SDA, revealed about it. Arthur White, her grandson, and head of the White estate for many years,  wrote–

“As Testimony No. 5 came from the press in June 1859, it bore the assurance that “the plan of systematic benevolence is pleasing to God.” Ellen White told of how in vision she “was pointed back to the days of the apostles, and saw that God laid the plan by the descent of His Holy Spirit, and that by the gift of prophecy He counseled His people in regard to a system of benevolence.”

So we see that this plan started with God’s approval through His prophetess and founding members.  Let us now look at Arthur White’s  historical study of the SDA’s beginning plan of the  “Systematic Benevolence” plan of tithing within our church.

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Some Documentation on Systematic Benevolence and the Tithe as Launched in 1859

The following plan was recommended at the January 1859 meeting in Battle Creek:

“1. Let each brother from 18 to 60 years of age lay by him in store on the first day of each week from five to 25 cents.

“2. Each sister from 18 to 60 years of age lay by her in store on the first day of each week

  from two to ten cents.

“3. Also, let each brother and sister lay by him or her in store on the first day of each week from one to five cents on each and every $100 of property they possess ….

“The lowest sums stated are so very small that those in the poorest circumstances (with very few exceptions of some widows, infirm, and aged) can act upon this plan; while those in better circumstances are left to act in the fear of God in the performance of their stewardship, to give all the way up to the highest sums stated, or even more, as they see it their duty to do.”-RH February 3, 1859, p. 84

“With only slight modification, this plan was adopted at the General Conference session, June 4, 1859. Reported in RH June 9, 1859, p. 20.”

                _________________________________________

As we highlighted in bold we see that the day to collect the tithes was “the first day of the week”–Sunday.   Sabbath collecting as far as can be gathered, did not exist nor even was mentioned. The next excerpt from his study reveals more.

               _________________________________________

The Perfected Plan Delineated in an 1878 Pamphlet

“According to conference action the perfected plan was set before the believers in a pamphlet significantly bearing the title Systematic Benevolence or the Bible Plan of Supporting the Ministry. It was but a refinement with a better way of figuring the tithe and the presentation made under the familiar title of “Systematic Benevolence.” In the introductory statement in the pamphlet we read:

“The subject of Systematic Benevolence has been under practical consideration by Seventh-day Adventists for a period of twenty years or more. And no material changes from the system first adopted were seen necessary until two years since. The reasons for these changes are given in the pages that follow.

“‘How much ought I to give for the support of the gospel?’ After carefully viewing the subject from all points, we answer, ‘A tithe of all our income.’

“This does not mean a tenth of our annual increase of property after the cost of food and clothing, and other expenses, are paid, but that nine parts of our income are to meet all these expenses, while a tithe of our income is the Lord’s, to be sacredly devoted to the support of the ministry. We regard the plan of pledging a sum equal to one percent annually on our property defective in several respects:”

“We solemnly promise, before God and to each other, conscientiously to pay to the Systematic Benevolence treasurer a tithe of all our income, to be laid by when received, and paid on the first Sunday of each one of the four quarters of the year; namely, the first Sunday in January, the first Sunday in April, the first Sunday in July, and the first Sunday in October.”

__________________________________________

We see that in 1878 ,  some adjustments and recommendations were made . These concerned subjects such as –what constituted proper tithes and so forth.What we notice in reading the above adjustments (and through out the full article) is that no where is there mention of any statement as to changing the “day” of paying the tithes. Sunday was confirmed as the day to pay the tithes.  So for 20 years,the official tithe paying olan within our SDA church was the first day–Sunday.  And as we mention, this had the full backing from the Lord per Ellen White’s aforementioned statement.

We also found these two confirming statements that this system was in place in 1868 and 1880.

“Nothing on the Battle Creek scene escaped this teenager. At the first Seventh-day Adventist camp meeting in Wright, Michigan (1868), Maud  rode on  a wagon to pitch tents made out of sheets. She also went to work in the composing room of the Review and Herald (for 10 cents an hour). After the plan of paying tithes was presented to the believers, Maud was usually one of the first in line when the collector came by on Sunday mornings.” (Adventist Review, March 3, 1994)

“Sunday there were no meetings in the other churches, and the house was crowded. The best of attention was given to words spoken from 1 John 3:1-3.
In the evening we again addressed an interested company. Monday we took the cars for Napa, where we spoke to the brethren and sisters there assembled in the evening. Some of the members of this church have moved away, and some have died, so that there are but few left. Although so few in numbers, one hundred and thirty-four dollars were paid in as their quarterly tithe ( *as per the benevolence plan stated above). When every church member does his part cheerfully in tithes and offerings the general treasury will be supplied. Napa needs judicious ministerial labor.”(April 22, 1880 St. Helena, Cal., ( * my comment)

Ok, we can see , so far, that from its inception through to 1880 (about 22 years) that the day of paying tithes was confirmed as Sunday.  Another statement found that confirms the Sunday paying of tithes.

In 1878 James White, JN Andrews and Uriah Smith further confirmed the Sunday plan of paying tithes, “We solemnly promise, before God and to each other, to conscientiously pay to the Systematic Benevolence Treasurer a tithe of all our income, to be paid on the first Sunday of each one of the four quarters of the year ; namely, the first Sunday in January, the first Sunday in April, the first Sunday in July, and the first Sunday in October. ” (Review and Herald , August 29, 1878)

Signed James White (Contributing editors are JN Andrews and Uriah Smith)  

“The directions given by the Holy Spirit through Paul in regards to gifts, present a principle that applies also to tithing: “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him…and what more appropriate time could be chosen for setting aside the tithes and presenting our offerings to God?”  (Counsels on Stewardship, p.80, Review and Herald, 1902)

Also we noticed she specifically mentions our tithes to be stored  “at home” in the Testimonies– “Each member of the different families in our churches who believes the truth may act a part in its advancement by cheerfully adopting systematic benevolence. “Let every one of you lay by him in store [by himself at home], . . . that there be no gatherings when I come.” The burden of urging and pressing individuals to give of their means was not designed to be the work of God’s ministers.(Test. for the Church, Vol.3, p.412)

So we see that from 1878 to 1902, the stance was still the same–Sunday was tithe paying day. So now in 1902,  it’s 43 years since inception of the plan that the official tithe collecting day occurred on Sunday.

So it’s safe to assume that at least until Ellen White’s death in 1915, the official stance from our church was not altered.

So it appears that somewhere from 1915 to 1930, the Roman church custom of plate passing crept into our church and became the church norm.

Also it’s important to note,  along with Sabbath collections, there are other important aspects occuring  concerning paying of God’s money into His storehouse. Particularly what constitutes His storehouse. For more on this see the link below.

As we mentioned before, the Lord’s Elijah message is to be for us the anti-type of the type.The type being the original Elijah message of calling out the sins of God’s people and pleading for reformation. As such brother Houteff’s writing must be considered as they are the very last from the Lord. And he certainly called out this tithe situation. Remember there is no other prophet prophesied to come before the great and dreadful day, except “Elijah”.

“In order to eliminate money changing for tithe and offering, paying for books, etc. on the Sabbath, a Laodicean practice which the word of God condemns, let us carefully attend to all such matters on the first day of the week (1 Cor.16:2) by placing all monies in envelopes.” (Vol. 1 Symbolic news code, no.9, p.11)

Here we see that brother Houteff  in 1935 gives us an update on the tithing activity. Apparently, some of the churches where changing money and buying and selling books, etc. on the Sabbath, and he makes mention of it as a “Laodicean practice”. So it appears this practice had established some type of foothold by then. But clearly he instructs us to “attend” the matter on the first day, just as our prophetess gave our Lord’s instructions on tithing.

One of the last publications after 1950 from brother Houteff, was the “Jezreel Letters”. He made 9 of them.The quote below confirms that the Roman custom had taken solid hold within the SDA church.

“Look and see what a difference there is between God’s method for supporting His work, and the Roman system that is now carried on by the church: plate-passing, high-powered speeches, Big Day, Book Day, high pressuring, campaigning, selling, auctioneering, Harvest Ingathering, birthday offerings, Christmas-tree hangings, baby weighings, Dorcas sales, investment funds, and what not!  As none of these squeezings are Biblical, and as all of them are Pagan in origin and condemned by the Scriptures, they could not possibly be considered freewill offerings. Search and see.“(Jezreel Letter, No. 9, p.8)

So there we have it. There can be no doubt that we are witnessing each and every Sabbath a gigantic “Cuckoo bird egg”  in our midst. The question is– are we going to participate in this? Or are we going to mail in our tithes of the first day of the week-Sunday?

The question may be asked–“Is it ok to send it in on Monday or other day of the week? The scripture says “let” each. I think it’s a good foundation to know that Sunday is not a command day. The main point being to keep the Sabbath holy by not dealing in money.

Some may also say, “This really is not such a big deal, why get worried over it?”  I would answer– because God specifically instructed our church to NOT pay tithes on His Sabbath as evidenced by never authorizing this custom throughout all of scripture history and his two last prophets as well.  Here’s something to ponder. What do you think would happen if we as His remnant church started obeying in this regard?  Our Great God would bless us for it and the money would be much greater into the church! Obedience always results in blessings.

Furthermore, what is the house of God for anyway? Is it not for prayer and the reading of His word? “He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!” (Matt.21:13)

We recall our Master whipping the money exchangers from the temple courts. Can we imagine if  He found the people dealing and handling money in His house??

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The devil trick is “You are doing a good cause, the Lord accepts the handling , discussing and requesting of money and raising goals within His house.”

Let us close with appropriate words from our prophetess,  “The true people of God, who have the spirit of the work of the Lord and the salvation of souls at heart, will ever view sin in its real, sinful character. They will always be on the side of faithful and plain dealing with sins which easily beset the people of God. Especially in the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand who are to stand without fault before the throne of God, will they feel most deeply the wrongs of God’s professed people.” (Test. for the Church, Vol. 3, p.266)

“It is not safe for us to linger to contemplate the advantages to be reaped through yielding to Satan’s suggestions.  Sin means dishonor and disaster to every soul that indulges in it; but it is blinding and deceiving in its nature, and it will entice us with flattering presentations.  If we venture on Satan’s ground, we have no assurance of protection from his power.  So far as in us lies, we should close every avenue by which the tempter may find access to us.”(Mount of Blessings, p.171)

For the full article from Arthur White, click here —http://www.whiteestate.org/issues/Tithe-H&U.html#Some

For a more indepth look into tithing, such as where is God’s true storehouses are, and other important aspects, click our post “Tithes and offerings” —https://godsloveandlaw.com/2012/09/22/offerings-and-tithes-part-1-of-2/

Posted in Present Truth, Proper teachings, Tithes and Offerings | 5 Comments »

Tithes and Offerings (Part 2 of 2)

September 29, 2012

In continuing our study on the very important subject of  tithes and offerings, we shall address question 2 and 3. “What amount does the Lord require?” and “When are we to pay it?”.  But before we discuss this, I wanted to share with you two very important quotes I found from our prophetess.

In speaking of the importance of tithing, she says “As the Giver of every blessing, God claims a certain portion of all we possess.This is His provision to sustain the preaching of the gospel. And by making this return to God, we are to show our appreciation of His gifts. But if we withhold from Him that which is His own, how can we claim His blessing?  If we are unfaithful stewards of earthly things, how can we expect Him to entrust us with the things of heaven? It may be that here is the secret of unanswered prayer.(Christ Object Lessons, p.144)

Wow, can we  fully comprehend that? So important is this subject that inspiration dares even bring up this point!  How many times have we all wondered — why hasn’t God answered my prayers? As we continue on in this study, let’s keep that powerful statement in mind. Not only are we to be blessed in material ways but spiritual – the answering of prayer!

 In order to keep and have God’s blessings He has always held certain conditions for us to obey.  “All who obey Him may with confidence claim the fulfillment of His promises.”(COL.p.145)

The other quote is “Those who are ready and willing to invest in the cause of God, will be blessed in their efforts to acquire money.” (Review and Herald, Sept 18, 1888). So we see that  God will provide a financial reward to those who step out in faith and “invest” in God’s work .

In answering question number 2,  “What amount does the Lord require?”, we should first look at the following Scriptures , to see that our attitude is important in giving. “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver…Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness.” (2 Cor.9:6-7,10)

So we approach our duty to repay God with a smile and a joyful heart. Knowing and claiming His promise.

Due to the depth of this subject in Scripture, we can’t go into all the Scripture to back up the support of 10% of our income (increase) is to go toward tithing,  but suffice to say it has been 10 % since Abraham (see Gen.14:20 and Heb.7:2) and Jacob ( Gen 28:22). The word “tithe” actually means one tenth. We do have a quote from EGW concerning this — 

“A tithe of all our income is the Lord’s. He lays His hand upon that portion which He has specified that we shall return to Him, and says, I allow you to use My bounties after you have laid aside the tenth, and have come before Me with gifts and offerings.” (Review and Herald, Dec. 1, 1896).

Also you can read (Lev.27:32) (Deut. 14:22-29 and 10:8-9) and (Numbers 18:23-24).

But there is also Scripture to indicate that offerings above and beyond the 10% should be made (Deut 12:6-14). However upon the research I’ve done, it appears that the “offerings” are left to the giver’s heart and disposition.But it is important to note that the Lord does want offerings. In the (Mal. 3:8) we saw where the Lord said He was being robbed of tithes and offerings.

 To learn more on “Tithes and offerings”   see sister White’s book “The Story of Patriarchs and Prophets”. Chapter 50 is dedicated to this subject.  Below we see  the issue  of amounts paid in tithing was addressed by bro. Houteff in  “The Answerer” publication.

WHAT IS SUBJECT TO TITHING?

Question No. 99:

   Deuteronomy 14:22 says: “Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.” How shall I tithe my crop?

Answer:

   To facilitate answering this question, let us consider for example the case of a potato grower. Say that he is without expense for hired labor, irrigation, rent, etc. If free from such overhead and if his gross returns are $50 an acre, then the whole amount would be subject to tithe, which of course would be $5 an acre. If, however, he must operate with an overhead expense to produce his crop, then obviously such expense should be  deducted from the gross value of the produce, and only the remainder tithed. For instance, if the gross value of the crop be $50 an acre, and the overhead expense $10 an acre, then the net increase, the amount subject to tithe,

Answerer Book 4                                  47

would be $40 an acre, and the tithe only $4 instead of $5 an acre.

   If, on the other hand, one is a wage earner, sustaining  the expense of social security, transportation to and from work, etc., then he deducts the amount of such expenses from his wages before tithing them. For example, if he receives $100 a month wages, and if he must spend 10 cents a day, or about $2.60 a month, for transportation, he then deducts $2.60 from $100, which leaves $97.40 to tithe.

   If one’s income is from rentals, then he deducts the amount spent on upkeep of the property from his untithed gross income. Thus figuring one’s income, one tithes all his increase.

In answering our final question, “When are we to pay it?”  We shall see a BIG mistake in how we as a general body in the church are hood winked by the evil one in this issue. Scripture, sister White, and brother Houteff are unanimous in “when” we should pay our tithes.

In the beginning of this post I mentioned that new light had just came into my path. The following inspired words I read from sister White. “The directions given by the Holy Spirit through Paul in regards to gifts, present a principle that applies also to tithing: “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.” … And what more appropriate time could be chosen for setting aside the tithe and presenting our offerings to God?” (Counsels on Stewardship, P.80)

“Some Documentation on Systematic Benevolence and the Tithe as Launched in 1859. The following plan was recommended at the January 1859 meeting in Battle Creek:

“1. Let each brother from 18 to 60 years of age lay by him in store on the first day of each week from five to 25 cents.“2. Each sister from 18 to 60 years of age lay by her in store on the first day of each week from two to ten cents.“3. Also, let each brother and sister lay by him or her in store on the first day of each week from one to five cents on each and every $100 of property they possess .“The lowest sums stated are so very small that those in the poorest circumstances (with very few exceptions of some widows, infirm, and aged) can act upon this plan; while those in better circumstances are left to act in the fear of God in the performance of their stewardship,to give all the way up to the highest sums stated, or even more, as they see it their duty to do.” —RH,February 3, 1859, p.84. With only slight modification, this plan was adopted at the General Conference session, June 4, 1859. Reported in RH June 9, 1859, p. 20. (Source – Biblical research.gc.Adventist.org)

To see that the above plan was the very first plan of paying Tithes  within the SDA church and endorsed by the founding members,  see this extensive researched article — http://www.whiteestate.org/issues/Tithe-H&U.html#Some

In the above article compiled by Arthur White, he confirms, “Ellen G. White early linked the tithe with “Systematic Benevolence.” First, she assured the church in June 1859: “The plan of systematic benevolence is pleasing to God” (1T 190).  This is solid and confirmed evidence of “first day” paying of tithes NOT Sabbath paying.

As can be seen from above, this custom was practiced by the early SDA church, but as time went on, we as a church body, steadily retreated toward Egypt. A new abomination crept in, right beneath our noses! This custom (Sabbath plate passing) was brought over from the heathen churches. Absolutely no doubt about it.

Brother Houteff also confirms this. “In order to eliminate money changing for tithe and offering, paying for books, etc. on the Sabbath, a Laodicean practice which the word of God condemns, let us carefully attend to all such matters on the first day of the week (1 Cor.16:2) by placing all monies in envelopes.” (Vol. 1 Symbolic news code, no.9, p.11)

So let us recap what we have learned. First, we saw that the tithes should go to the ministers and preachers of the present truth. This is VERY important. We must be sure we are paying God’s faithful servants who are supplying the flock with truth for today, not yesterday.

Second, we confirmed the custom of a tenth of our income (increase) is to go to the Lord’s storehouse. Offerings should be made and can only result in corresponding blessings. For a list of this author’s  researched true storehouses see our post at this link –https://godsloveandlaw.wordpress.com/2012/03/17/gods-storehouse-blessings/

Lastly, we saw that the first day of the week (Sunday)is the true day to pay the tithes and offerings.This may be done by mailing it in or if your church happens to be open on that day–drop it off. Also you notice that not once in all of Scripture do we ever find someone paying or handling money inside the temple or sanctuary. Infact to the contrary, we saw our Lord whip the money changers out of the temple courts (matt.21:12). So today we are actually doing a double abomination! Paying it on the Sabbath and in the Sanctuary!

In closing, as we have learned,  our Lord will bless us and give us rewards that each of us will be thrilled about. But they come with conditions. If we study to show ourselves approved, we shall indeed claim His great promise here. The Lord has built in a kind of circular method. We return to Him His own, and He returns even more to us, so that we can increase more back to Him to win more souls to the Truth. A Win-Win-Win situation!

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Tithes and Offerings (Part 1 of 2)

September 22, 2012

When we continue on our walk with the Lord, new light will continue to shine in our path. We see things or are revealed things that make us say “Wow, I didn’t know that, thank you Lord!”. Such may be the case with tithes and offerings for many of us. What you will see based on the inspired writings of God’s prophets will likely surprise you. Why? Because the master deceiver himself has done an effective job in hiding this information from us, just one of many deceptions he has planted in God’s remnant church. Not the least of which is passing the offering basket/bag around on the Sabbath!

The truth of this will  make us stop and think , and hopefully start doing the right thing in regards to paying what belongs to God and on the right day.

Most of us are familiar with the frequently used quote regarding tithes. “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try 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 such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.”(Mal 3:8-10)

The above words of the Lord have a rebuke,  an instruction and a promise. It’s also interesting to note that these words come in His “sign off” letter, His last book of the Old Testament, the book of Malachi. His summation of some very important issues for us to understand.

In my own example, I was a happy giver into the offering bag every Sabbath up until about 1 month ago ( to help our local church’s utilities and upkeep). Little did I know that this was indeed a serious wrong before the Lord. Don’t get the wrong idea, I am not advocating to stop paying tithes, only that we do it the Lord’s way.  If we do, we are promised great blessings.

We must remember that a certain portion of our money is His and we must return it to God. Ellen White explains “God says that there should be meat in His house, and if the money in the treasury is tampered with, if it is regarded as right for individuals to make what they please of the tithe, the Lord cannot bless. He cannot sustain those who think that they can do as they please with that which is His.” (Counsels on Stewardship, p.106)

How many of us can use the Lord’s blessings? Absolutely we can. The great Giver of all good things can bring each of us a blessing we can be thrilled about. But in order to receive it we must do as He has asked and instructed. Let’s look at His plan in this regard as spoken through His prophets.

On this subject of tithes and offerings we will look at the following  1) Where and who do we pay are tithes and offering’s to?  2) What amount does the Lord require?  3) When are we to pay it? Each of these 3 are very important rules required by the Lord, and if we disobey in any of the 3 , we cannot expect His blessings. Let’s look at number 1.

We shall see that the money is to go to those who are His “shepherds”, ministers who are “feeding ” His flock, ie.the truth for this time, his current message (see the below link).  “God’s ministers are His shepherds, appointed by Him to feed His flock. The tithe is His provision for their maintenance, and He designs that it shall be held sacred for this purpose.” (Phamplets, Vol.1, p.40)

“..a great mistake is made when the tithes is drawn from the object for which it is to be used,–the support of the ministers.” (Testimonies for the Church, Vol.9, p.248)

There are many other quotes from EGW that support the general idea that those who teach the true word of God as their profession, explaining the Scriptures, going door to door, or spreading the truth of the Lord in other endeavors, are to be paid from the tithes. However, what do we do when we clearly see that the local pastor isn’t teaching present truth? For information explaining more on present truth see this post https://godsloveandlaw.wordpress.com/2012/03/10/what-is-present-truth/

“There are many precious truths contained in the word of God, but it is “present truth” that the flock needs now.” (Early Writings, p.63)

Note: As we are told to always do the right thing when possible, I believe that when we go to our local church and cannot in good conscience pay our tithes to it , for it’s lack of teaching the Lord’s present truth, we should at least help  in regards to it’s upkeep (utilites, maintenance, etc.). We go every week there and use their water, lights, pews,  take part in their lunchs, etc.

Another good way to know if the pastor is preaching present truth is to ask these questions. Is the pastor teaching ways your church can stay on the straight and narrow path? Is he frequently looking for ways to improve the worship service? Is he admonishing the church at times as necessary.  Or is he teaching peace and safety week after week? Smooth sermons of safety, implying that each and every one who shows up to church needn’t worry, we’re all saved, converted or not.

This is one of the BIG differences between the DSDA and the SDA. The DSDA cannot in good conscience support those who fail to preach the present truth. Time is too short for this dereliction of duty. As we have learned, present truth specifically is the Elijah message, just as our Lord said. One prophet and one only would come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord,  Elijah (Mal. 4:5).

During his ministry bro. Houteff was asked several questions (in his publication called The Answerer) about tithes. Here is a response concerning whether we ourselves can be a “storehouse” and keep the tithes for God’s work.

CANNOT MY HOME BE HIS “STOREHOUSE”?

Question No. 97:

   Is it Scriptural for one to retain and personally use his tithe and offerings in order to carry on the gospel work in his own community, according to his own plans?

Answer:

   Nowhere in the Scriptures do we find permission to use the Lord’s money at our

Answerer Book 4                                  44

own discretion. The only justification for so doing would be sheer inability, for some reason to send it to the Lord’s “storehouse.” Should one voluntarily, though, engage in such a practice then he would set the wrong example before others. And if following in his lead, others assume  the same right, their course must inevitably  result in seriously handicapping the Lord’s work, bleeding and subverting His treasury, and thus disorganizing His work and reducing the church to a mere shell, while her members are hiring themselves as laborers in the Lord’s vineyard, helping themselves to the Lord’s money, and running without having been sent! What a Babylon that would be!

   Though the Lord commands, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse” (Mal. 3: 10), He does not say to bring all the offerings. Thus, He shows that if we would engage in some personal charity or missionary activity, we should sustain it from offerings, not from the tithe.

   “Angels keep a faithful record of every man’s work, and as judgment passes upon the house of God, the sentence of each is recorded by his name, and the angel is commissioned to spare not the unfaithful servants, but to cut them down at the time of slaughter….And the crowns they might have worn, had they been faithful, are put upon the heads of those saved by the faithful servants….”Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 198

In the above we see an interesting point. He points out that the tithes go to the storehouse, but if we engage in some type of personal ministry, we can use this from the offerings.

Then we see bro. Houteff address a direct question “To whom should my tithe go?”

” Since I am responsible for the light which is now shining upon my pathway, and since I must help give it to my brethren, should I pay my tithe to the Denomination(SDA) so that the ministry may have money with which to fight both the message and my personal endeavors to reach the people with it, and thereby, working at cross-purposes, only help to keep them in darkness?

Or, should I pay it to the Davidians, the “storehouse” of Present Truth, where it naturally should go to promote the advancement of a heart-searching reformation and to rescue my Seventh-day Adventist brethren from eternal ruin? And as they themselves  are not prepared to meet the Lord (Testimonies,  Vol. 6, p. 371), then how can they adequately prepare the heathen?

In view of all these facts, shall my tithe go to the Seventh-day Adventist denomination in behalf of the heathen or to the sealing message in behalf of the brethren?  If I dare not place my tithe to the support of what I believe to be Present Truth, then how will it be supported, and where else can I conscientiously place my tithe?

   Furthermore, if I place it in the Denomination(SDA) to be used largely for the evangelizing of worldlings, rather than in the storehouse of Present Truth to be used for the benefit of my brethren, then am I not doing so to the neglect of my own brethren, and thus denying that I am my brother’s keeper?

   And ought I, moreover, obey the ministers’ order to go in search of sheep in the house of Baal, instead of heeding the Lord’s express command to take the heaven-sent remedy to the sin-sick sheep in the house of Israel  (Matt. 10:6)? Which of these two endeavors would be the more sure to gain for me the commendation,  “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord”? Matt. 25:21.

   “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing.” Matt. 24:45, 46. (parenthesis added) (Answer Book, vol. 4, 42-43)

In our last quote for the answers to where/who should we pay tithes to, EGW says ” The tithe is to be used for one purpose,–to sustain the ministers whom the Lord has appointed to do His work. It is to be used to support those who speak the words of life to the people, and carry the burden of the flock of God.” (Manuscript 82, 1904).

So we see that the tithes should go to the present truth ministers, who actively “speak the words of life” and who “carry the burden of the flock of God” in other words–present truth. The offerings are directed to the same unless you have an active personal ministry of some type, in which case you can provide the offering to this cause. Today’s present truth is one of revival and reformation, is that what is being taught in your church?

Next week we’ll look at answering questions 2 and 3. May the Lord’s light shine upon you concerning this important requirement of God’s. Get ready to discover that the Lord is ready to keep His promise to bless you abundantly.

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