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Monday, January 17, 2011

Tithing...a Way of Life (Part 3)

Tithes are HOLY unto the Lord.  Anything that belongs to God has to be considered holy.  Therefore, tithing is separated unto Him.

Holiness is being in TOTAL AGREEMENT with God.

How is tithing related to the covenant?  First, you have to answer this:  WHAT EXACTLY IS A COVENANT?
  • A covenant is an agreement or pact between two or more parties to carry out the terms that are agreed upon.
  • It is a pledge, a vow, a promise.
  • It is a will or a testament.
Consider the BLOOD COVENANT...it's a little different...however, it too is an agreement between two or more parties to carry out the agreed terms.  If you make that covenant in blood, it becomes binding for life.  The only thing that can nullify a blood covenant is death.  If one party were to break the covenant, the other party has the right to take your life.

In essence, the two parties would split the backbone of a heifer and lay it open.  Then they would walk around each end and meet in the middle and announce the terms of the covenant.  They would then shake hands, cut their palms or wrists and mix their blood, pointing it toward the sacrifice, and say, "if I break this covenant, God, then you do to me what I have done to this animal."

A blood covenant is the strongest covenant known to man and is only breakable by death.  It holds a great deal of accountability.

Question:  What if the covenant of marriage was made by blood today?
Answer:  If it were broken by infidelity or divorce, like so many are today, one party would have the right and obligation to kill the other.

WOW...the divorce rate would certainly not be what it is today.

Tithing is more than just putting money in the plate.  It is an agreement with God.  It is the only way to be connected to your covenant with God.  This means the tithe is your COVENANT CONNECTOR.  In other words, the only way you can receive the promises of God is through tithing; tithing connects you to the promise.

More to come...