Today at our launch team meeting after opening with worship I (Pastor Terrance) got to share with the team how God has provided for us with some of the sound equipment we need for our worship service. This was the spring board into why tithing is important in the life of a church. God's economic program is twofold: For the temporal needs of his people, and financial aid in the promotion of the gospel. The tithing system is God's original plan for promoting and maintaining the gospel and has never been changed.
The tree of knowledge of good and evil was an everlasting reminder that God is the rightful owner of the earth and everything in it. Adam was guilty of stealing something that did not belong to him. Today we are tested by the tithe. It is a safeguard against selfishness, which is the root of all other sins.
What two distinct things belong to God? The Sabbath and the tithe. We can recognize or disregard either of them--the seventh part of our time and the tenth part of that which we possess. We can steal God's time, His money or both.
Bible Basics
Old Testament
A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the Lord. Leviticus 27:30 (NIV)
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; (10) then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10 (NIV)
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. Malachi 3:10 (NIV)
New Testament
Freely you have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8 (NIV)
Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's. Matthew 22:21 (NIV)
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Luke 6:38 (NIV)
So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? Luke 16:11 (NIV)
It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35 (NIV)
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV)
On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 1 Corinthians 16:2 (NIV)
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. (7) Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NIV)
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 1 Timothy 6:18 (NIV)
T-I-T-H-E
T - Tenth (10%) off the top for God
A tithe of everything ... is holy to the Lord. Leviticus 27:30
I - Investment in God's Kingdom But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Matthew 6:20 (NIV)
T - Test of our faith
"Test Me in this," says the Lord Almighty Malachi 3:10
H - Habit for spiritual growth
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will
enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 2 Corinthians 9:10 (NIV)
E - Exhibition of our love
But just as you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us see
that you also excel in this grace of giving. 2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV)
I have never met a Spirit-filled, committed, dynamic Christian who was still arguing about whether to give God ten percent of his income. ~ Dr. Charles Stanley
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Back To The Basics
The Four Azimuths of The Compass:
(A direction set on a fixed position, in this case Christ)
• (North) Believing firmly in the power of prayer. (Ephesians 6:18)
Whatever you believe about the book of Acts, it is certainly clear that the early church was a supernatural church. There were no seminars on "if you do A+B you will get C." We should believe that God's kind of church is a supernatural church. It is a place where things are happening that are not humanly explainable. We are not talking about bizarre or unbiblical manifestations—just dramatic conversions, physical and emotional healing, and direct answers to specific prayers. You know, real miracles.
Many times our minds say, "I can't do it without Him." Yet our day planners indicate that we are trying to go it alone. Only when we get on our knees and get desperate for God does our true need for Him become more than intellectual assent. From day one The Compass will know that the most consistent barometer of God's blessing upon our fellowship will be our willingness to "pray the price." By that we do not mean that God does the work we desire when a certain amount of prayer has been prayed. Rather, God does His deepest works when His people are spiritually fit to receive them. Prayer is preparation for that work. Nowhere does Satan attack the church more than when it begins to pray. Early morning prayer meetings, all night prayer meetings, small group prayer, 24 hour prayer vigils, weeks of prayer, months of prayer, and more —all of this we will do and must increas¬ingly do because we will believe firmly in the power of prayer. What we are after is God informing us about what needs to be done in the world and not us informing God about what He needs to be doing in the world.
This is why we continue to study prayer and in fact why we are making sure the basics are covered. At our launch team meeting on Sunday afternoon we looked at what scripture had to say about where to pray, when to pray, how to pray and what to pray.
Where to Pray
In your private room or secret place
But you, when you pray, enter into your room. And shutting your door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly. Mat 6:6
We noted that God’s Word talks about going into your prayer closet. A clear understand of close was shared. A closet in the times of Kings was not a closet, as we know it. It was a room that people were invite into by the king to do the kings business. When we going into our prayer closet it is to do our Kings business. It was a place that a community of people gathered. Prayer is both a private and public activity.
In church
My foot stands in an even place; in the congregations I will bless the LORD. Psa 26:12
And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward the heavens. 1Ki 8:22
Everywhere and anywhere
Therefore, I desire that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 1Ti 2:8
If you look at the all the verses around the above text you get a clear understanding that praying for those in leadership is very important and requires discipline.
When to Pray
In the morning
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct my prayer to You, and I will look up. Psa 5:3
Morning, noon, and night
Evening and morning, and at noon, I will pray and cry aloud; and He shall hear my voice. Psa 55:17
Day & night
O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before You. Psa 88.1
Every day of the week
Be merciful to me, O Lord; for I cry to You daily. Psa 86:3
Do you get it? God is "on duty" to hear YOUR prayers 24/7/365! You will NOT be put on hold.
Then Jesus spoke a parable to them that men always ought to pray and not lose heart Luke 18:1
We noted that if we are in right relationship with God, God stands ready to act on our behalf. This is not about God being our butler. It is about God being ready to do His will in us and through us.
How to Pray
Pray boldly
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 4:16 [for an example of bold prayer, see Gen 18.22-25]
Pray with an attitude of deep love and respect for God
Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. Ezr 8:21
Pray "conversationally."
God is a person -- namely, your Father. Prayer is a deeply personal, intimate CONVERSATION with your Father -- not some *magical incantation* or religious babbling.
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Mt 6:7
What to Pray
In "the Model Prayer," Jesus taught you to...
Pray to the Father.
Acknowledge God's holiness.
Seek God's kingdom and God's will.
Request God's daily provision.
Confess your sins, and seek forgiveness.
Request strength to resist evil and temptation.
Offer praises unto God.
(Jesus taught you...) After this manner therefore pray ye...
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Mt 6.9-13
Share your sorrows and joys with God.
Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Jam 5.13
Pray for spiritual and physical healing for yourself and others.
Pray for one another, that you may be healed. Jam 5.16b
Pray for those who govern your nation and the world, that we may live in peace and godliness.
(Pray...) for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity. 1 Tim 2.2
Pray for wisdom and discernment.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. Jam 1.5 (see also 1 Kings 3.5-14)
Pray for your enemies.
(Jesus said...) I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you Mt 5.44
Pray for all your needs. Give thanks always unto God. Seek and receive God's peace that surpasses all understanding.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philipp 4.6-7
I pray that this posting is a blessing as you continue to seek after God's heart.
(A direction set on a fixed position, in this case Christ)
• (North) Believing firmly in the power of prayer. (Ephesians 6:18)
Whatever you believe about the book of Acts, it is certainly clear that the early church was a supernatural church. There were no seminars on "if you do A+B you will get C." We should believe that God's kind of church is a supernatural church. It is a place where things are happening that are not humanly explainable. We are not talking about bizarre or unbiblical manifestations—just dramatic conversions, physical and emotional healing, and direct answers to specific prayers. You know, real miracles.
Many times our minds say, "I can't do it without Him." Yet our day planners indicate that we are trying to go it alone. Only when we get on our knees and get desperate for God does our true need for Him become more than intellectual assent. From day one The Compass will know that the most consistent barometer of God's blessing upon our fellowship will be our willingness to "pray the price." By that we do not mean that God does the work we desire when a certain amount of prayer has been prayed. Rather, God does His deepest works when His people are spiritually fit to receive them. Prayer is preparation for that work. Nowhere does Satan attack the church more than when it begins to pray. Early morning prayer meetings, all night prayer meetings, small group prayer, 24 hour prayer vigils, weeks of prayer, months of prayer, and more —all of this we will do and must increas¬ingly do because we will believe firmly in the power of prayer. What we are after is God informing us about what needs to be done in the world and not us informing God about what He needs to be doing in the world.
This is why we continue to study prayer and in fact why we are making sure the basics are covered. At our launch team meeting on Sunday afternoon we looked at what scripture had to say about where to pray, when to pray, how to pray and what to pray.
Where to Pray
In your private room or secret place
But you, when you pray, enter into your room. And shutting your door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly. Mat 6:6
We noted that God’s Word talks about going into your prayer closet. A clear understand of close was shared. A closet in the times of Kings was not a closet, as we know it. It was a room that people were invite into by the king to do the kings business. When we going into our prayer closet it is to do our Kings business. It was a place that a community of people gathered. Prayer is both a private and public activity.
In church
My foot stands in an even place; in the congregations I will bless the LORD. Psa 26:12
And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward the heavens. 1Ki 8:22
Everywhere and anywhere
Therefore, I desire that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 1Ti 2:8
If you look at the all the verses around the above text you get a clear understanding that praying for those in leadership is very important and requires discipline.
When to Pray
In the morning
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct my prayer to You, and I will look up. Psa 5:3
Morning, noon, and night
Evening and morning, and at noon, I will pray and cry aloud; and He shall hear my voice. Psa 55:17
Day & night
O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before You. Psa 88.1
Every day of the week
Be merciful to me, O Lord; for I cry to You daily. Psa 86:3
Do you get it? God is "on duty" to hear YOUR prayers 24/7/365! You will NOT be put on hold.
Then Jesus spoke a parable to them that men always ought to pray and not lose heart Luke 18:1
We noted that if we are in right relationship with God, God stands ready to act on our behalf. This is not about God being our butler. It is about God being ready to do His will in us and through us.
How to Pray
Pray boldly
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 4:16 [for an example of bold prayer, see Gen 18.22-25]
Pray with an attitude of deep love and respect for God
Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. Ezr 8:21
Pray "conversationally."
God is a person -- namely, your Father. Prayer is a deeply personal, intimate CONVERSATION with your Father -- not some *magical incantation* or religious babbling.
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Mt 6:7
What to Pray
In "the Model Prayer," Jesus taught you to...
Pray to the Father.
Acknowledge God's holiness.
Seek God's kingdom and God's will.
Request God's daily provision.
Confess your sins, and seek forgiveness.
Request strength to resist evil and temptation.
Offer praises unto God.
(Jesus taught you...) After this manner therefore pray ye...
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Mt 6.9-13
Share your sorrows and joys with God.
Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Jam 5.13
Pray for spiritual and physical healing for yourself and others.
Pray for one another, that you may be healed. Jam 5.16b
Pray for those who govern your nation and the world, that we may live in peace and godliness.
(Pray...) for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity. 1 Tim 2.2
Pray for wisdom and discernment.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. Jam 1.5 (see also 1 Kings 3.5-14)
Pray for your enemies.
(Jesus said...) I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you Mt 5.44
Pray for all your needs. Give thanks always unto God. Seek and receive God's peace that surpasses all understanding.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philipp 4.6-7
I pray that this posting is a blessing as you continue to seek after God's heart.
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