On
Offerings and Giving
Leviticus
19:23-24 And when ye shall come into the
land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be
as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of. But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise
the LORD withal.
Regarding building
Churches and the receiving of offerings we find a curious passage
in Leviticus that says that any new plantings that are done
in the land shall be uncircumcised unto you for three years
but in the forth year the fruit can be eaten and it can be accepted
as holy to praise God with. To the planter and to all in Israel
the fruits thereof are to be uncircumcised (unclean) The planter
is not to eat thereof, Israel is not to eat thereof and it is
not acceptable to offer thereof unto God.
Why is that, and
what does that mean to the church? This was written to us that
the new believers of those planted in our orchards are not to
be fleeced by their ministers; or by those at large in the church
specifically by predatory evangelists or tele-evangelists. And
that their increase and fruit are not even to be given
as offerings unto God. This prevents the preachers from having
their heads turned by bribes. This prevents the new believers
from doing things to be seen of men in order to be rewarded
by the same. This prevents believers from wrongfully associating
that we give to God to get.
So what is to become of this fruit of these
trees for three full years – it is to be food for the uncircumcised
the beasts of the field (the lost)
as well as the poor the fatherless and widows.
In other words the
new believers fruit (Their
tithes and offerings) is to be concentrated on the lost, the poor, the fatherless,
and widows that come to them for sustenance, and those that
they see around them that are unable to repay them in kind or
with any kind of favor. And only as they learn to pour out to the uncircumcised
for three long years does their offerings become acceptable
to their pastor, the church at large and unto God.
Isaiah 58:6-7 Is not this the fast
(the tithe) that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, (of the Talmudized
Scribes and Pharisees and their oppressive tithes and offerings) and (Is it not) to let the oppressed go free, and that
ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring
the poor that are cast out (those that have been sundered) to
thy house(hold)? (This is the making of
those without a household part of your household – aka a Church.) when thou seest
the naked, that thou cover him; (Thou
shalt not rebuke him for his nakedness, and a sundering of him
but a covering him – that is a taking it upon one’s self to
the seeing of his needs being met – that he might be saved,
healed deliverd and
made whole.) and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
In the Book of Acts
we see that the Apostles understood the above passage in Leviticus,
and they understood the above passage in Isaiah, so much so
that – they waited upon the tables of the widows, (the
poor, and fatherless) among their number – as Christ had donned the apron of a
servant and washed their feet and had waited upon them even
after his death and resurrection.
Acts
6:1-2 And in those days, when the
number of the disciples was multiplied, (because of the number the apostles themselves could no longer meet
this need, as well as read scripture daily in the temple.) there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews,
because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude
of the disciples (Everyone in that hour was a disciple of Christ and Christ alone.) unto them, and said, It is not reason that we
should leave the word of God (which was located in the temple), and serve tables. (So they appoint in their stead seven men filled with the Holy Ghost
to continue this daily ministration equally to all.)
This selfless
giving of one’s self and serving is the basis for: Give and it shall be given unto you pressed
down shaken together. This
was not a message of Tithing or offerings; for the disciples
had forsaken all to follow Christ as testified by Peter when
the said “What shall we have
therefore, for we have forsaken all” – As testified in the
Gospels they carried no purses (except
Judas), and had no money.
When Jesus and peter needed to pay the temple tax –Jesus sent
Peter out fishing and their was a single coin just enough to
pay both their temple taxes and no more.
They were to give
and pour out the healing and deliverance and message of salvation
to the poor without cost.
We find this law
as stated in the above passage from Leviticus was also in practice
in the ministry of Christ it was only
after three years that Christ accepted the personal offering of the alabaster
box.
Mark14:3-9 And being in Bethany in the
house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman
having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious;
and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. And there
were some that had indignation within themselves, and said,
Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been
sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given
to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said,
Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work
on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever
ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She
hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my
body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this
gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also
that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
Deuteronomy 12:17-18 Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of
thy herds or of thy flock,(The tithe is only agricultural goods) nor any of thy vows which thou vowest,
nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine
hand: But thou MUST eat them before the LORD
thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son(s), and thy daughter(s), and thy manservant(s), and thy maidservant(s), and the Levite (singular) that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD
thy God in all that thou puttest (4916 to give) thine hands
unto. And at the place when and where that God shall appoint.
A better translation of the words of this verse in the greek Septuagint
would read; “Rejoice
in the Lord your God in all the gifts thou sowest.”
Look
now at the words of the actual commandment of the Lord. 1) What
is the tithe? Thy corn,
thy wine, thy oil, the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flocks.
2) Thou MUST EAT of the tithe. Thou MUST EAT of the Vows, Thou MUST EAT of they freewill offerings, and Thou MUST EAT of Thy Heave offerings. 3) who MUST EAT of all of these tithes and
offerings?
THOU and we could assume your wife,
Your son(s) and daughter(s) MUST eat of the tithe Your servant(s) and you employee(s) MUST eat of the tithe. Oh! And the
Levite if he bothers showing up to this appointed place, he
can eat as well. “No Shows” at the appointed place and time
don’t get to eat. 4) All these tithes and offerings were meals
to be eaten in communion with God.
So . . . if we were to tithe to the church how could
this be done/ the early church had love feasts (An expanded practice of the
Lord’s Supper)
where they all communed before the Lord and ate and fellowshipped
together. – The Apostles rebuked some of these Love feasts
in some of the Churches saying that they had brought
in corruption and allowed their love feasts to be marred by
allowing self-seeking self-aggrandizing false teachers entrance
and allowed them to pollute these feasts with their corrupt
words and teachings. THE TITHE or THE LOVE FEAST –was
to be unto those that were of the household and NOT to
those that were without and especially not to those who had
been “rightly” cast out of their midst.
Isaiah 33:14-18 The
sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites.
Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among
us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously,
and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions.(This is the false tithe of today that is preached to oppress
and fleece the flock of God.) HE that shaketh his
hands from holding of bribes, (The Prosperity
Gospel Faith message is a elaborate Ponzy scheme, in which God
is the head bribe taker, and his surrogates sit around having
the people pour indulgences into their laps so that this bribe
taking god will grant on their own terms the desires of their
heart, AKA healing, deliverance, power, riches etc.) that stoppeth his ears from
hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He
shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions
of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
In the largest ministry in the New Testament
Paul traveled with a cadre of Teachers and helps all over the
Middle East and Asia Minor that used ships Paul practiced what
was written in Leviticus 19:23-24, Isaiah 58:6-7 and it appears he had the people honor Deuteronomy 12:17-18, We
find all of these things in practice in the ministry of Paul.
We see that he takes no tithes of offerings fro himself or his
ministry in his new churches or the churches that he is preaching
in. We see his ministry is provided for by the older established
churches (three years or older –
but he limits these offering strictly to his needs).
Paul speaks quite pointedly on this regard in several of his
Epistles – but up until now we have had no reason to understand
this practice.
1
Corinthians 9:11-12 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we
shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this
power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest
we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:14 Even so
hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should
live of the gospel. But I have used none of these things.
2 Corinthians 12:16-17 I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty,
I caught you with guile. Did I make
a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
2
Corinthians 12:18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit?
walked we not in the same steps?
Phillipians 4:14-18 Notwithstanding
ye have well done, that ye did communicate
with my affliction. Now ye
Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel,
when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me
as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound
to your account. But
I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus
the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell,
a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.
2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 For yourselves
know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves
disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread
for nought; but wrought with labour and
travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any
of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto
you to follow us.
What
we see here is that Paul again and again has the “Power “ to
take up offerings, but he does not.
I am willing to say that he has a scriptural basis for
what he is doing. This is not an accident or because Paul is
just trying to be nice. We
can see that he does not take offerings from the churches that
he is building, and currently ministering in. It is only the
Philippians one of his oldest Churches that he derives support
from. And more particularly Paul only accepts for his needs,
and when he has enough he says I am full.
Exodus 35:4-6 And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying,
This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying, Take ye
from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart,
let him bring it, an offering of the LORD
Exodus 36:3-7 And they received of Moses
all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for
the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal.
And
they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning. And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary,
came every man from his work which they made; And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than
enough for the service of the work, which the
LORD commanded to make. And Moses gave commandment, and
they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying,
Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering
of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.
For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make
it, and too much.
1
Samuel 12:2-4 And now, behold,
the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and,
behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from
my childhood unto this day. Behold,
here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his
anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken?
or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose
hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith?
and I will restore it you? And they said, Thou hast
not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken
ought of any man's hand.
Paul Like Samuel received no bribes
to blind his eyes. Paul in obedience to Moses did not take fruit
for three years from the trees he planted. Paul like Moses did
not want anything beyond what they needed lest he be tempted
to heap upon himself that wealth and riches and be corrupted
with it.
The
Didache on
Offerings and Giving
When we consider
the words in The Didache about offerings, giving, and true and
false apostles and prophets we can some further insight in the
practices of Paul and enactments of scripture as The Didache
was written as a catechism specifically for new believers.
Is
any wonder that the instructions say that a believer is to:
"Let thine
alms sweat into thine hands until thou knowest to whom thou
art giving."
If any man will take from thee what is thine, refuse it not –
“not even if thou canst.”
Give to everyone
that asks thee, and do not refuse, for the Father's will is
that we give to all from the gifts we have received. Blessed
is he that gives according to the commandment; for he is innocent.
Be not one who
stretches out his hands to receive, but shuts them when it comes
to giving. Of whatsoever thou hast gained by thy hands thou
shalt give a ransom for thy sins. Thou shalt not hesitate to
give, nor shalt thou grumble when thou givest, for thou shalt
know who is the good Paymaster of the reward. Thou shalt not
turn away the needy, but shalt share everything with thy brother,
and shalt not say that it is thine own, for if you are sharers
in the imperishable, how much more in the things which perish?
Note that the above
words are in regards to our giving to unbelievers,
Now
look at what the Didache says in regards to giving to believers.
“Woe
to him who receives; for if any man receive alms under pressure
of need he is innocent; but he who receives it without
need shall be tried as to why he took and for what, and being in prison he shall be examined as to his deeds, and
he shall not come out thence until he pay the last farthing.”
***
1/07/06 While meditating the Lord spoke to me most unexpectedly
on this subject. That Pastors and Teachers in calling for tithes
and offerings and then partaking of them themselves are false
brethren in the same manner that when a prophet calling for
a feast and partakes thereof he is a false prophet.
And in the passage
above we see that he that partakes of the free will offerings
that are given unto the Lord without need that uses this money
to consume upon their own lusts is to be tried by the brethren
– this leads to the thought that God himself will hold them
accountable for their sins.
In the New Testament
we see certain passages that speak of offerings being called
for, we note that without exception they are taken in the behalf
of others.
Acts
11:27-29 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by
the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all
the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Then the disciples, every man according
to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren
which dwelt in Judaea:
Romans 15:26-28 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and
Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which
are at Jerusalem. It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if
the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is
also to minister unto them in carnal things. When therefore I have performed
this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you
into Spain.
Note that here to the called for contribution is given elsewhere
– it is not locally partaken of nor is it consumed by Paul the
Apostle. The Gentiles being made partakers of their (the Jews) spiritual things, their (The Gentiles) duty is also to minister unto them (The Jews) in carnal things.
If their were translated the church at Jerusalem this would indicate that Paul and the Church held that the Church
at Jerusalem was the seat of all authority – Yet Paul steadfastly
stands against Peter and the men from James on the issue of
circumcision. So we see that this is not the case
If their was translated The Apostles then why did not Paul himself partake of the bounty collected and
take his rightful portion?
1 Corinthians 16:1-3 Now concerning
the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the
churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the
first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store,
as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I
come. And when I come, whomsoever
ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to
bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
1 Corinthians 9:10-12 Or saith he it altogether for our
sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that
ploweth should plow in hope; (In
hope of what? Receiving a bountiful Harvest) and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of
his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a
great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? (But
we are told by Christ and Paul that the kingdom of heaven is
not an earthly kingdom) If others be partakers
(Who are these others who
do reap carnal things and lay up earthly treasures? It is Caesar, and the rulers
of the Gentiles. Paul
is referring here to Christ’s words that we are to render unto
Caesar what is Caesar’s and he also refers next that we are
Not to exercise authority over believers and non-believers by
exerting authority over them as the rulers of the Gentiles do
– and one of those enumerated rights of rulers is to collect
tribute from those they have conquered.) Paul next says a most
curious thing:
If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather?
(You would believer that if Caesar and the rulers of the Gentile
exercise this right over you that we (I and the other Apostles)
as the leaders of the Church have all the more right to do this
to you.) Nevertheless we (I and the other Apostles) have not used this power; but suffer
all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
Paul is saying
here if he and the Apostles w to partake of tithes and offerings
of those that would willing hand over in their gratitude for
salvation it would hinder the gospel – and I would suggest here
that the hindrance is not the transmission of the preaching
of the Gospel but a hindrance of God bearing witness to the
Gospel with signs wonders and diverse miracles, because He can
not bare witness of a Gospel that is preached for gain and for
profit as has been done from the time of the Apostolic Fathers
on.
1 Corinthians 9:14 Even so
hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should
live of the gospel. But I have used none of these things.
Paul Contrasts
his actions with the practices of the False Apostles of his
day
2 Corinthians 11:13,19,
20 - For such are false
apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the
apostles of Christ. -- For ye suffer fools (These
false apostles, and workers of deceit) gladly, seeing
ye yourselves are wise. For ye suffer, if
a man bring you into bondage, if
a man devour you, if a man take of you, if
a man exalt himself, if
a man smite you on the face.
This is an astonishing
passage: Here Paul tells us that in his day . . .
1) False
Apostles and False workers of Christ were bringing men into
personal bondage to themselves – that is they were making men
their disciples. We call this discipleship shepherdship,
spiritual submission, being under a covering.
2) False
Apostles and False workers of Christ were devouring their sheep
that is they were demanding tithes and offerings – as tribute
by those who they had preached to. When preachers demand
that we must give them tithes and offerings or else we are cursed
of God – this is sin on par with Hophni and Phineas Eli’s two
son’s of Belial that were destroyed for such.
1 Samuel 2:12-16 Now
the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.
And the priest's custom with the people was, that, when any
man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the
flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his
hand; And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron,
or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for
himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that
came thither. Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant
came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast
for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but
raw. And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn
the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth;
then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now:
and if not, I will take it by force. Wherefore the sin of the
young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the
offering of the LORD. (Such
an abomination was what Eli, allowed his sons to do with the
tithes and offerings of God, that in judgment the Lord cuts
of not only the house of Eli and His entire father’s house but
the entire house of Levi and the entire Levitical priesthood
off from before ministering before the Lord. -- Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house. NOT Eli’s physical father but the
Father of his entire priestly order Aaron and his son’s.) How do we know that this
is so? Because in verse 35 the Lord says He shall raise up a
Faithful (High) Priest in place of all of them and He Christ
shall supercede the house and sins of Aaron and his sons.
I Samuel 2:29, 34-35 Wherefore
kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, (This was God’s tithes and offerings
of the day) which I have commanded in my
habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves
fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?
And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon
thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall
die both of them.(They were utterly destroyed and blotted from the book of life) And I will raise me up a faithful priest,
(This
is prophesied of Christ, NOT the klesia) that
shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my
mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before
mine anointed for ever.
All
that partake in the perverted practices of Hophni and Phineas
know that God has not changed He is the same yesterday today
and forever. And all that partake in such things yet commit
a sin unto death and bring damnation not only upon themselves
but upon their entire houses.
3) False Apostles
and False workers of Christ were taking also material items
from their sheep as well – which indicates that they were preaching
to the wealthy to merchants and local politicians for personal
gain. This has been a common practice in bible belt for over
a hundred years. This is simply abuse of ones office and
the outright acceptance of bribes.
Exodus 23:8 And
thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and
perverteth the words of the righteous. Note that Christ strictly obeyed this – and the money was given to
the poor, to buy bread for the poor and to minister to the needs
of His disciples. When the Apostles received all that money
they used it to give to the poor in the church and to provide
all their needs – they did not build churches and temples with
it. And in acts when special offerings were called it was for
others not the local church. The local church was also bound
to feed the poor windows and orphans. Christ the Apostles and
all the early pastors and teachers lived as Abram, they lived
as Levites with no earthly portion – no houses and lands of
their own. And all this was acceptable to
the early church because they all were well versed in what it
meant to be called of God has a Holy priests to minister before
him. And that their heavenly bread and earthly bread was to proceed from
the mouth of the Father – not from their converts, parishioners or disciples lest they turn their
heads from the Lord and become dependant on their congregations
for all their needs.
4) False
Apostles and False workers of Christ do not exalt Christ alone.
They exalt themselves exalt their ministries and exalt their
churches.
5) False
Apostles and False workers of Christ smite their sheep – If
revival fails it’s the sheep’s fault because they didn’t pray
enough they didn’t fast enough. If they didn’t get healed – it is because the
sheep didn’t believe enough it is because the sheep did not
tithe or give enough. This is your Pastor’s Teachers and
Evangelists of this hour pretending they have gifts operations
of the Spirit and a relationship with God that they never had
and when anything fails they lay it at the feet of their hears.
Abusing them and raking them over the coals until they the unwashed
below the corrupt men’s exalted office make something happen
themselves.
Paul then points
out that he has done none of these things and Paul says that
the Corinthians were being increasingly drawn to the boasting
claims and flagrant abuses of these false Apostles and these
false workers.
2 Corinthians 12:16-17 I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty,
I caught you with guile. Did I make
a gain (become rich or wealthy) of you by any of them (that he sent to minister unto them) whom I sent
unto you?
2
Corinthians 12:18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? (Did I become rich and wealthy of you? Heaping upon myself
tithes and offerings from you and the dozens of churches I am
apostle to?) walked we not in
the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps? (was it not just as poor and needy as you?)
Phillipians 4:14-18 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that
ye
did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in
the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia,
no church communicated with
me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica
ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but
I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus
the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell,
a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.
Note here that
in Paul speaking to the Philippians that the offerings were
not asked of by the Apostle but they originated from the Philippians
Only ye communicated (gave) with me concerning giving and receiving
– and Paul notes that the gifts were unto the Apostle’s
necessity – not because he sought
or called for gifts and offerings of support. It is when the
church of the Philippians was led by the Spirit to do so that
these offerings and gifts that they became a sweet odor and
a sweet savor before the Lord and acceptable unto
Him. "Let
thine alms sweat into thine hands until thou knowest to whom
thou art giving."
Not because it was “sacrificial giving,” or giving into the
demands of Hophni and Phineas, for all who do so, defile the
offering unto the Lord as well, and shall be made a partaker
of the sins of all those who greedily follow after the sins
of Hophni and Phineas.
We
now return to the words of the didache:
That no man shall live among you in idleness because he is a Christian.
But if he will not do so, he is making traffic of Christ; beware
of such.
In the ways of death these qualities are listed: lovers of
vanity, followers
after reward, unmerciful to the poor,
not working for him who oppresses with toil, turning
away the needy, oppressing
the distressed, advocates
of the rich, unjust judges of the poor.
Concerning
true and false Prophets and Apostles
And concerning the
Apostles and Prophets, act thus according to the ordinance of
the Gospel. Let every Apostle who comes to you be received
as the Lord, but let him not stay more than one day, or if need
be a second as well; but if he stay three days, he is a false
prophet. And when an Apostle goes forth
let him accept nothing but bread till he reach his night's
lodging; but if he ask for money, he is a false prophet.
But not everyone who speaks in a spirit is a prophet, except he have
the behavior of the Lord. From his behavior, then, the false
prophet and the true prophet shall be known.
And no prophet who orders a meal in a spirit shall eat of it: otherwise
he is a false prophet. And every prophet who teaches the truth, if he do not what he teaches,
is a false prophet.
But whosoever shall say in a spirit
`Give me money, or something else,' you shall not listen to
him; but if he tell you to give on
behalf of others in want, let none judge him.
Hear now the word
of the Lord unto the priests in the house of the Lord if thou
wilt give up they salaries, if thou wilt wash thy hands of the
taking of bribes, if thou shalt refrain from the demanding of
tithes and offerings, if thou will refuse to take of my offerings
to heap upon your own lusts then shall the offerings become
clean unto you.
To the Churches if
thou wilt be my disciples indeed, sell thy churches thy temples
and they lands and give it unto the poor and instead meet you
everyone in one’s houses. And if the membership be too great
for the pastor or teacher to meet in the course of a week then
subdivide the klesia under other men and women that fear the
Lord and will righteously teach and preach my words.
For the time comes
when all those that would refuse to obey this word shall have
what they think they have taken away from them. For the governments
of the world shall indeed seize all the lands and possessions
of these earthly churches made with hands and even seize the
names of their memberships to persecute and despoil them. Even
with civil court actions as is done with stockholders bondholders
and officers of a bankrupt corporation.
– This word shall not occur in one year or five years
but it shall come to pass within a single generation.
To the Laity I would
advise thee to sell thy big houses, thy lands, and all that
you have amassed and glory in before men. Take it and distribute
it unto the poor and move ye into smaller, and humbler abodes
and thou shalt have great riches in heaven. Hoard not up these
rich unto yourselves unto the last days for – they shall be
found and taken from you and your end shall be worse than if
you had ever heaped these riches upon yourselves. Instead humble
yourself before me seek cleansing, and seek my face for only
those who know me shall be guided by me and have their needs
provided by my.
Soon the overwhelming
scourge shall come, even the great tribulation and the rise
of the Antichrist. Be thou wise virgins and prepare yourselves.
