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September 2005 Newsletter

 

A KEY TO KINGDOM LIVING

POWER OF THE TITHE

Many of God’s people have discovered the power of the tithe. Personally God revealed tithing to me as a new-born Christian and has shown me over thirty-one years now the power of the tithe. Some argue that New Testament believers do not necessarily tithe but are called to give. However the clear teaching and practice in the word of God is for the people of God to tithe. Tithing was practised by Abraham five hundred years before the law was given. Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek in Gen.14:20 having met this ‘king/priest’ who had ministered the bread and wine to Abraham and had blessed him in “the name of God Most High” (v.18-19). God had promised to bless Abraham and to make him a blessing in the whole earth, but it was when Abraham met Melchizedek that he received the heavenly blessing. Part of this encounter with God was the giving of the tithe. Melchizedek, in  blessing Abraham, was giving dominion to Abraham in God’s earth.

 

In Malachi 3:8-12, the Scripture shows that the failure to tithe results in living under a curse, separated from the Lord, but the one who “brings the whole tithe” will be blessed abundantly, “the devourer will be rebuked by God” and tithing people “will be called blessed, a delightful land.” This is a work of grace: it is not the result of keeping the law. So many people have testified in our midst of the blessing and release that has come to their lives when they have been released into the revelation and practice of tithing. Rains have come to break the drought on farms and even in cities; financial miracles have happened for individuals and families; great authority has been released in prayer, resulting in salvation of family members. As a ministry for nearly eight years now, we have walked in great security financially, paying all of our bills, releasing much printed and recorded material freely and going to the nations to preach and teach, as well as sowing much finance into the church in developing countries, and we know that this is because of the power of the tithe.

As a ministry we have always set the Lord’s tithe aside and not used it for ourselves.

 

PROMISE OF THE TITHE

God promises that if we tithe He “will open the windows of heaven and pour out for us such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.” God promises that if we tithe He “will rebuke the devourer for our sakes, so that the devourer will not destroy the fruit of our ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit.” God promises a tithing people, “all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land.” Mal.3:10-12. We testify individually, as families, and as an apostolic company, that God fulfils His promise.

Because there are such powerful promises from God to those who tithe, whenever we receive tithes and offerings into our ministry, we purposefully pray these promises for the people who have given. A number of folk hand their tithe personally to us, others send in the mail, some transfer to our bank account and yes we do receive tithes and offerings in Sunday meetings. We give and receive in the context of God’s word. We give joyfully and thankfully knowing from experience that God will supply all of our need and continue to expand and grow us individually and corporately.

 

PRACTICE OF THE TITHE

When I was saved in 1974, within the first few days the Lord convicted me that I needed to tithe on some money I had banked for work previously done. I had never heard about tithing before but the Lord revealed this to me. As Paul the apostle says concerning the Lord’s Table “that which I received from the Lord I also delivered unto you” 1Cor.11:23a, so I received from the Lord the revelation and conviction of tithing; I did not receive it from man, nor had I read about tithing in the Scripture. I knew that ten percent of the money belonged to the Lord, so I went to the bank and withdrew the money and God miraculously showed me where to tithe the money. Ever since I have been a tithing man, even as Jacob in Gen.28:22 after he had met the Lord at Bethel, committed himself to being a tithing man.

 

In Mal.3:10 God says “try[prove]Me now in this” by bringing your tithe to Him. This word ‘try’ means ‘to test [especially testing metals], to investigate’ and is translated:- examine, prove, tempt, try. God invites us to test Him by tithing; this is the way He gives us to receive His blessing. Therefore, tithing is to be practised  regularly and purposefully thus ensuring that the “windows of heaven will be opened.”

 

In Matt.23:23 Jesus says, referring to tithing, “it should not be left undone”. Jesus affirms tithing as a legitimate, Godly, Scriptural practice along with “justice and mercy and faith”. In Heb.7:1-10 the writer teaches us that Abraham, the father of the faith, tithed to Melchizedek, and that Levi, yet to be born, figuratively tithed to Melchizedek through Abraham. Levi, “who receives tithes [under the law], paid tithes to Abraham”.

 

Often I have heard people say ‘I cannot afford to tithe’ and in developing countries I often find that tithing is demanded of the people but the ministers and the church are not tithing. I observe that sometimes bishops receive tithes but do not tithe. The principle and practice of tithing is a key to release. It is the key to release from poverty: if we tithe to God on all that we receive then He promises to undertake for us and provide all that we need and more. In both the West and in developing countries many churches operate in realms of witchcraft [control] when it comes to tithes and offerings. Heavy demands are made, and many false promises are told to the people if they will give, and yet the people remain in poverty and the churches struggle financially. However when a people are released in tithing and giving and the ministry [church] tithes then I witness great blessing. That ministry is empowered to reach nations with the gospel. And that is our experience in Revival Ministries Australia.

 

Testimonies: last year two amazing stories were told in East Africa. Two senior ministers were in the two-week apostolic training school with us. One brother went home for the middle Sunday because he had pre-arranged a special day of giving. During the teaching I had addressed the issue of witchcraft being practised in the church through the way that ministers demanded the people give. This brother was convicted and he stood in front of his church fellowship and apologised to them and asked their forgiveness for being controlling and demanding. They forgave him readily and on that day instead of receiving an expected offering of 6000 Kenya shillings, 52,000 ksh. was received.

The other senior minister shared how he had taught and expected tithing from the people but had not tithed himself and his expectancy each week was from the offering box, not the Lord. After he had heard teaching on tithing he repented and began to tithe personally, no longer worrying about the offering box but trusting God and further he appointed a brother to look over the finances and the church began to tithe on the tithes received. This brother and the ministry are both now prospering as the result.

 

The practice of tithing preceded the law, was practised by the father of the faith, is confirmed by Jesus and taught in the book of Hebrews as a fulfilment of the Old Testament. Therefore the practice of tithing is a key to kingdom living.

 

Dare to tithe! Dare to put aside ten percent of all that you receive as an individual, as a family, as a ministry, as a fellowship, as a children’s home and see what God will do.

Plan to tithe! Plan your giving as a family! Plan your giving as a ministry and allow all the members to share in the joy of giving.

When we take up a love offering for a visiting minister, we tell the people how much they have given and we thank them. When God blesses us financially we share those blessings with all the people and rejoice together. We are learning not to ask God for our needs but to thank Him for His provision.

 

September Fri. 23^rd evening & all day Sat. 24^th – Ps. Tony Vogel, prophet, at Killarney, Restoration and

                                  Revival Ministries, contact Ps. Ros Fraser, 0746641274, Alan Rippenhausen, 0746613661

October 7^th Pastors and leaders 9.30 – 1.30 at SHILOH, lunch included, for those interested in apostolic

                      restoration and reformation of the church

Oct. 8^th Training Day 10 – 4.30pm at SHILOH for all leaders and disciples to be built up in our most holy

              faith: apostle Paul and Ps. Janet home from Pakistan

Oct 15^th Seminar West Brisbane: contact S. Thomas Kurian mob. 0402535337

Oct. Fri. 21^st evening to Sun. 23^rd lunch-time – Apostolic Conference at Dorrigo, contact Fely Young,

                                                                                                                                                      0266572450 

Oct. Sun. 30^th Cessnock visit, contact Wayne Kembrey, mob. 0433125291

Nov. Sat. 5^th  Rev Christine Wren, prophetic ministry, seminar at SHILOH

  

TRIP TO INDIA/PAKISTAN

Sept.8^th team departs Brisbane late in evening

Sept. 9^th arrives in Chennai for 7 days

Sept. 12^th –14^th three-day conference for pastors and ministry leaders

Sept. 16^th depart for Lahore, Pakistan.

Sept. 17^th – 23^rd ministering in Lahore

Sept. 19^th-21^st three-day conference for pastors and ministry leaders

Sept. 24^th – 29^th ministering in Faisalabad

Sept. 26^th – 28^th three-day conference for pastors and ministry leaders

Sept. 30^th –  Oct.3^rd weekend ministry in Lahore and depart for Australia.

Oct.5^th arrive home.

However Ps. Peter De Bressac is travelling on to Beijing for a further two weeks to visit his daughter and other friends. Ps. Lezette De Bressac leaves Australia on the 5th Oct to join Peter in Beijing.