Exodus 23:14-17 & 19 “Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year: 15You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty); 16and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field.17“Three times in the year all your males shall appear before Yahweh.
“Firstfruits, is a consecrated offering that you make before the harvest, and the tithe is what you bring after the harvest.”
Firstfruits, is based on consecrating and naming a specific offering, and with it, establishing a memorial before Yahweh concerning the expectation of the harvest that you expect to receive in the coming year.
19 The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Yahweh your Elohim.
The firstfruits offering was made when the barley was green in the ear. (The month of Abib) It was made before the harvest at the beginning of the year. (Spring Time)
Leviticus 2:12-14 As for the offering of the firstfruits, you shall offer them to Yahweh, but they shall not be burned on the altar for a sweet aroma. 13And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your Elohim to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt. 14 ‘If you offer a grain offering of your firstfruits to Yahweh, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits green heads of grain roasted on the fire, grain beaten from full heads.
The firstfruits offering was brought to the house of Yahweh once a year and then it became the High Priest portion.
Leviticus 23:10-11 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. 11He shall wave the sheaf before Yahweh, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.
Leviticus 23:17-20 You shall bring from your dwellings two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven. They are the firstfruits to Yahweh. 18And you shall offer with the bread seven lambs of the first year, without blemish, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be as a burnt offering to Yahweh, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, an offering made by fire for a sweet aroma to Yahweh. 19Then you shall sacrifice one kid of the goats as a sin offering, and two male lambs of the first year as a sacrifice of a peace offering. 20The priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering before Yahweh, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to Yahweh for the priest.
When the children of Israel brought a firstfruits offering to the house of Yahweh and the priest lifted it up and waved it before Yahweh it became a consecrated offering that established a memorial before Yahweh.
Remember, the feast and the firstfruits are all established, set apart times by Yahweh, not man. They are all established around the harvest seasons and the times of ingathering. They are times of celebrating, honoring and bringing our offerings to Yahweh. Those who appeared before Yahweh during these times did not do so empty handed.
Number 18: 12-13 “All the best of the oil, all the best of the new wine and the grain, their firstfruits which they offer to Yahweh, I have given them to you. 13Whatever first ripe fruit is in their land, which they bring to Yahweh, shall be yours. Everyone who is clean in your house may eat it.
Ref. Numbers 18
Yahweh instructed Aaron the first high priest concerning firstfruits and who could partake of them.
Nehemiah 12:44-47 And at the same time some were appointed over the rooms of the storehouse for the offerings, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions specified by the Law for the priests and Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who ministered. 45Both the singers and the gatekeepers kept the charge of their Elohim and the charge of the purification, according to the command of David and Solomon his son. 46For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to Elohim. 47In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for each day. They also consecrated holy things for the Levites, and the Levites consecrated them for the children of Aaron.
This passage of scripture contains a principle truth and pattern that should be in operation today. However, in most cases, and more times than not, all of the firstfruits, tithes and offerings are being funneled through the local work where one man and a paid secretary are the only ones benefiting from the firstfruits, tithes and offerings of the people.
I want to establish up front with you, that this is an erroneous and heretical practice that is going to lead to the destruction and elimination of all those who continue to pump their finances into that system. I cannot tell you the number of true spiritual fathers that I have personally known that have been starved out of the ministry, and have all but been forsaken and forgotten by the people of Yahweh. It is an epidemic, that to this day still plagues the body of Messiah and most of the leaders who fall into this category are spending the firstfruits, tithe and offerings that come into the local work on themselves, toys and overhead. The tithe of the people was never supposed to be used to finance the overhead of local work. The tithe is supposed to be used to finance the ministry and the love offerings are supposed to take care of the overhead of the gathering place. I believe that this practice is blatant disobedience and gross disregard of the principle truths and patterns of Yahweh’s word, and will only serve to further limit and dwarf the body of Messiah in infancy.
Now, with that said, I am not bilaterally condemning the leaders that have been operating in darkness, ignorance or paralyzing paradigms. However, I am speaking to the spirit of mammon, greed and consumer lust that continue to drive and control much of the American Church System. I cannot tell you how many men and women that I have personally encountered that have been forced to leave the word, prayer and the people with whom Yahweh has joined them, in order to just scratch out a living and provide basic needs for their family. People of Yahweh, I declare unto you today that Yahweh is not pleased with this practice and there will be Hell to pay, both now and in the future if we do not repent and return to the principle truths and patterns of Yahweh’s word in our lifetime.
As you have surmised by now, I am tired of the falsehood, manipulation, devilish control and debauchery that exist in the body of Messiah, and at the risk of sounding self serving or trying to establish the apostle’s portion, I am going to make this teaching clear, plain and understandable. So if you have the stomach for it, please know that once I have released it, and you have read it, you will be responsible to do something about it.
I love you all; but I want to share my heart with you. If I am going to suffer in ministry at this level to serve the body of Messiah, you are going to have to hear the Father’s heart in me, and bear up in your hearts the burden of apostolic and prophetic fathers everywhere. If we do not properly discern the body of Messiah, and love the brotherhood the way that Yahweh has ordained, we will all end up in the same sinking ship. Because of these erroneous and heretical practices, we are all but dead in the water right now. If you can hear it, this is a new day and we have an opportunity to rise up in this new day and really make a difference. We can represent more change to the world, and this culture in the next seven years than our forefathers have been able to produce in the last century.
People of Yahweh, I beseech you in the name of Yahshua to hear my heart and to make some adjustments in the way that you consecrate your firstfruits, pay your tithe and give your offerings. I am not trying to tell you where or to whom you should be giving; but I am telling you that the scripture teaches that He set in the Ekklesia, first apostles and secondarily prophets.
1 Corinthians 12:28 And Yahweh has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
If you can hear it, the Apostle is foundationally and governmentally to the Ministry and Ekklesia what the High Priest was to the Priesthood and the people in the Older Covenant. If you can receive that principle truth and pattern of firstfruits from the Older Covenant of the Bible, the only way that it can be practiced today is by honoring the Apostolic Ministry with the tithe of the tithe and the firstfruits of the people. A tithe of the tithe needs to become the apostle’s portion in every local for which apostolic oversight is being provided. If a work has not develop to the level that elders are in place that can tithe to the apostle, then there should be an apostle’s portion that is tithed out to the gross income of the work.
In that way the apostle will not be limited to one local work in a regional where he may be sent. If you are related to an apostle that you receive and recognize as an apostle, then you should be supporting him with no less than a tithe of the tithe of the work, and the firstfruits of the people. If you are an apostle that is providing long term care for the local work the same principle should apply to you as well. You should ultimately develop the work to a place that you receive a tithe of the tithe with the 90% of the tithe being used to finance the work of the ministry. When plurality of leadership is in place, the elders of the local work need to be paid out of the tithe. You are supposed to be sharing the leadership and tithe with the local elders and ministry team that have been raised up and set into the work.
If you are an apostle, you may also provide apostolic oversight for other works in your region and sphere of authority, and they too would then be responsible to support you with a tithe of the tithe and the firstfruit of the people. But I want to make it clear, as it pertains to the apostles and prophets that serve the body of Messiah working in and out of many regions, they should be supported by the local ministries and works for which they provide oversight and direction. I know by the Spirit that this will fly in the face of some of you reading it; but I have to say it, and you need to hear it.
Believe me when I say that I have heard every lame excuse as to why this will not work, or why we cannot do that; but none of them hold water in the light of what is right and the way things should be done. Love offerings should go to pay for the overhead of the work. Any other way will not work long term, and is contrary to the apostle’s doctrine.
Now, I realize that I have not come close to covering every possible scenario and work that is established out there; but I have given you enough information about how things should be done that it will provoke you to study and research. I am not trying to explain or answer every situation in which we have operated in the past, I am specifically addressing the apostle’s portion and from where it should come. Now, if you want to do the research I have given you a good place to start, or you can just write this article off as my opinion; but whatever you do with it, the truth still remains, that no matter how good or bad you think things are right now, they are only going to get worse if you do not listen to the voice of the Spirit and hear and obey His Word.
I challenge you to read and study the book of Acts and discover the missing components in the modern day Ekklesia when compared to the first century Ekklesia. The apostles of the first century represented something and were releasing something that caused the people based on obedience to the word that was coming out of them, as well as their mutual need to sell all that they had and come and bring the proceeds and lay them at the apostle’s feet. Think about that. What could they have been preaching and teaching that could have moved people to do something like that. I can tell you that they were preaching and teaching out of the heart of the Father concerning the apostle’s portion and financing the ministry of the day. Hear it. It will be the life of the ongoing work of the ministry and will further bring into view the structure of the house that Yahshua is building.
1Timothy 6:6-10 Now, godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
India Trip 2009 - From Start to Finish
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
The Windows Of Heaven - Part One
By Blake L. Higginbotham
Malachi 3:10-12 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, (Apostolic Centers) that there may be food in My house, (The Father’s House) and try Me now in this,” says Yahweh of hosts, “if I will not open for you (you-KJV for-is not used) the windows of heaven and pour out for you (you-KJV for-is not used) such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.11“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says Yahweh of hosts; 12and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says Yahweh of hosts.
Note: I will expound on the significance of using the King James Version Bible as a reference in this particular passage of scripture as the content of this article unfolds.
As I write this article, I realize that much of what I am going to say concerning the above passage of scripture is going to be filtered through what most of you have been taught for years about tithing and offering.
With that said, let me preface what I going to write by saying that much of what I have personally believed to be true about this subject over the last three decades has been tampered with, or altered in some way. There was a time that I did not think that I needed to take a second look at some of things that I believed to be true about anything, and I can assure you that the same bill of goods that I bought and for which I paid, has been peddled for centuries as unadulterated truth by the top salesmen in the religion business.
I challenge you to look closer at what you have been taught as absolute immutable truth. You might be surprised to discover that you have been believing, observing, practicing, and living something that is not established in Scripture, and therefore cannot be considered truth that has the ability to produce a stated or desired result.
It is past time for a new view and a better understanding as to why your tithing and offering is not working to increase Yahweh’s Kingdom in the earth, and why it is failing to produce all of the stated benefits described in the above passage of scripture.
The problem, as I see it, is that many people do not honesty or consistently tithe based on all of their increase and they only occasionally give above and beyond what they feel obligated by ritual to pay. If they are tithing on a regular basis, it is without understanding and in comparison to taking a weekly trip to the bank to deposit some money in a local branch, or the place where they attend, and more like paying dues or membership fees at the local country club.
I have now lived long enough to see and hear just about everything that is being taught out there about the subject. Much of what I have heard has caused a great deal of concern to surface in my heart about my future involvement in organized religion or Constantinian Christianity. Some modern day teachers have come along saying that tithing is optional and only if you can afford it. They basically teach that paying your tithes is an older covenant idea and that it is not a requirement for newer covenant believers. They are attempting to shift the pressure one might experience from paying their tithe to a more comfortable approach of giving as much as you can afford. At any rate, they will still extract as much money from you as they can. There are so many other variations on Biblical tithing and offering being taught that I will only be able to refer to one or two in this article.
First, let me say that tithing and offering is neither optional nor based on convenience. If you want to be a recipient of the benefits found listed in Malachi 3:10-12, then you will pray for the understanding required to receive them and then begin to obey what you have heard by the spirit. If you neither believe nor understand what you are doing right now, then you must question and possibly come to the same conclusion to which I arrived, and that may include admitting that what you are doing is not producing the desired result. If what you are doing is working, it is only producing periodic blessings that you can attribute to the favor of Yahweh.
What if I told you that the blessings and benefits of tithing and offering are automatic and that nothing can prevent them from coming to you, if you are hearing and obeying the voice of the Spirit concerning where and to whom your tithes and offerings are supposed to be paid and given. Let me clear something up for you. There is nothing in the Bible that teaches that all of your financial support should be going to the local place that you attend on a weekly basis. Now take a breath, go get your Bible and research it for yourself.
You will not find a passage of scripture that teaches that all of your tithe and offering belongs to any one religious organization. On the contrary, none of your tithe belongs to a religious organization.
Your tithe is a Holy thing and it all belongs to Yahweh and is to be used to finance the ongoing work of His ministry in the earth. Financing the Kingdom can only be accomplished by people who are willing and obedient and who have determined in their hearts to continue to hear and obey the voice of the Spirit as to where and to whom they are supposed to pay their tithes.
Tithing and offering predates the Mosaic economy and is a principle truth that Yahweh Himself established in the Garden. Seedtime and harvest, the law of like-kind, first-fruits, etc are all principle truths that were established from the foundation of the Earth. Abraham did not pay tithes to a local religious organization, he sought out, honored by referral and paid tithes to Melchizedek. Melchizedek was a Messianic prototype of Apostolic Government and Ministry today.
Genesis 14:18-24 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of ElElyon. 19And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of ElElyon, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20And blessed be ElElyon, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. ”And he gave (paid) him a tithe of all. 21Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.”22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to Yahweh, ElElyon, the Possessor of heaven and earth, 23that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’ 24except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”
Hebrews 7:9-11 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. 11Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?
Note: Abraham knew that if he was going to honor Yahweh with his tithe that he would have to pay them to the man with whom Yahweh ordained covenantal relationship. And he understood the importance of honoring that relationship with the greatest expression and only token of the covenantal relationship that Yahweh recognizes.
The release of blessing and the transference of wealth depend on our ability to hear and obey the voice of Yahweh concerning what direction, and to whom your tithe is supposed to be paid. Tithing and offering is foundational. Nothing is more important.
(To Be Continued)
Malachi 3:10-12 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, (Apostolic Centers) that there may be food in My house, (The Father’s House) and try Me now in this,” says Yahweh of hosts, “if I will not open for you (you-KJV for-is not used) the windows of heaven and pour out for you (you-KJV for-is not used) such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.11“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says Yahweh of hosts; 12and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says Yahweh of hosts.
Note: I will expound on the significance of using the King James Version Bible as a reference in this particular passage of scripture as the content of this article unfolds.
As I write this article, I realize that much of what I am going to say concerning the above passage of scripture is going to be filtered through what most of you have been taught for years about tithing and offering.
With that said, let me preface what I going to write by saying that much of what I have personally believed to be true about this subject over the last three decades has been tampered with, or altered in some way. There was a time that I did not think that I needed to take a second look at some of things that I believed to be true about anything, and I can assure you that the same bill of goods that I bought and for which I paid, has been peddled for centuries as unadulterated truth by the top salesmen in the religion business.
I challenge you to look closer at what you have been taught as absolute immutable truth. You might be surprised to discover that you have been believing, observing, practicing, and living something that is not established in Scripture, and therefore cannot be considered truth that has the ability to produce a stated or desired result.
It is past time for a new view and a better understanding as to why your tithing and offering is not working to increase Yahweh’s Kingdom in the earth, and why it is failing to produce all of the stated benefits described in the above passage of scripture.
The problem, as I see it, is that many people do not honesty or consistently tithe based on all of their increase and they only occasionally give above and beyond what they feel obligated by ritual to pay. If they are tithing on a regular basis, it is without understanding and in comparison to taking a weekly trip to the bank to deposit some money in a local branch, or the place where they attend, and more like paying dues or membership fees at the local country club.
I have now lived long enough to see and hear just about everything that is being taught out there about the subject. Much of what I have heard has caused a great deal of concern to surface in my heart about my future involvement in organized religion or Constantinian Christianity. Some modern day teachers have come along saying that tithing is optional and only if you can afford it. They basically teach that paying your tithes is an older covenant idea and that it is not a requirement for newer covenant believers. They are attempting to shift the pressure one might experience from paying their tithe to a more comfortable approach of giving as much as you can afford. At any rate, they will still extract as much money from you as they can. There are so many other variations on Biblical tithing and offering being taught that I will only be able to refer to one or two in this article.
First, let me say that tithing and offering is neither optional nor based on convenience. If you want to be a recipient of the benefits found listed in Malachi 3:10-12, then you will pray for the understanding required to receive them and then begin to obey what you have heard by the spirit. If you neither believe nor understand what you are doing right now, then you must question and possibly come to the same conclusion to which I arrived, and that may include admitting that what you are doing is not producing the desired result. If what you are doing is working, it is only producing periodic blessings that you can attribute to the favor of Yahweh.
What if I told you that the blessings and benefits of tithing and offering are automatic and that nothing can prevent them from coming to you, if you are hearing and obeying the voice of the Spirit concerning where and to whom your tithes and offerings are supposed to be paid and given. Let me clear something up for you. There is nothing in the Bible that teaches that all of your financial support should be going to the local place that you attend on a weekly basis. Now take a breath, go get your Bible and research it for yourself.
You will not find a passage of scripture that teaches that all of your tithe and offering belongs to any one religious organization. On the contrary, none of your tithe belongs to a religious organization.
Your tithe is a Holy thing and it all belongs to Yahweh and is to be used to finance the ongoing work of His ministry in the earth. Financing the Kingdom can only be accomplished by people who are willing and obedient and who have determined in their hearts to continue to hear and obey the voice of the Spirit as to where and to whom they are supposed to pay their tithes.
Tithing and offering predates the Mosaic economy and is a principle truth that Yahweh Himself established in the Garden. Seedtime and harvest, the law of like-kind, first-fruits, etc are all principle truths that were established from the foundation of the Earth. Abraham did not pay tithes to a local religious organization, he sought out, honored by referral and paid tithes to Melchizedek. Melchizedek was a Messianic prototype of Apostolic Government and Ministry today.
Genesis 14:18-24 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of ElElyon. 19And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of ElElyon, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20And blessed be ElElyon, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. ”And he gave (paid) him a tithe of all. 21Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.”22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to Yahweh, ElElyon, the Possessor of heaven and earth, 23that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’ 24except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”
Hebrews 7:9-11 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. 11Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?
Note: Abraham knew that if he was going to honor Yahweh with his tithe that he would have to pay them to the man with whom Yahweh ordained covenantal relationship. And he understood the importance of honoring that relationship with the greatest expression and only token of the covenantal relationship that Yahweh recognizes.
The release of blessing and the transference of wealth depend on our ability to hear and obey the voice of Yahweh concerning what direction, and to whom your tithe is supposed to be paid. Tithing and offering is foundational. Nothing is more important.
(To Be Continued)
The Windows Of Heaven - Part Two
By Blake L. Higginbotham
Malachi 3:10-12 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, (Apostolic Centers) that there may be food in My house, (The Father’s House) and try Me now in this,” says Yahweh of hosts, “if I will not open for you (you-KJV for-is not used) the windows of heaven and pour out for you (you-KJV for-is not used) such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.11“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says Yahweh of hosts; 12and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says Yahweh of hosts.
Hebrews 7:1-4 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of ElElyon, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 3without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of Yahweh, remains a priest continually. 4Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils.
Note: Abraham knew that if he was going to honor Yahweh with his tithe, he would have to pay them to the man with whom Yahweh ordained covenantal relationship. And he understood the importance of honoring that relationship with the greatest expression and only token of the covenantal relationship that Yahweh recognizes.
The release of blessing and the transference of wealth depend on our ability to hear and obey the voice of Yahweh concerning what direction, and to whom your tithe is supposed to be paid. Tithing and offering is foundational. Nothing is more important.
Psalm 110:1-7 Yahweh said to my Sovereign, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” 2Yahweh shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. (The Ekklesia) Rule in the midst of Your enemies! 3Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power; in the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth. 4Yahweh has sworn and will not relent, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” 5Yahweh is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. 6He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries. 7He shall drink of the brook by the wayside; therefore He shall lift up the head.
Note: This is a Kingdom view of what it means to be a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. This passage of scripture foretells the coming of Yahshua the Messiah and what His priesthood and ministry is going to be about. Yahshua’s priesthood and ministry are established forever according to the order of Melchizedek. We are a part of that priesthood and ministry in the Earth today. Yahweh sent a rod in His strength out of Zion (the Ekklesia) and we are supposed to be ruling in the midst of our enemies.
Hebrews 5:5-14 so also Messiah did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” 6As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”; 7who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10called by Yahweh as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” 11of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of Yahweh; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
One of the reasons that much of what we are doing is not working that well is because we do not fully understand how important hearing and obeying the voice of the Spirit is concerning our giving, as it pertains to the ongoing work of the ministry. We have been duped into believing that it does not really matter where our tithe ends up, as long as it appears to be good ground and it represents the place where we are being fed spiritually.
What if Holy Spirit spoke to you today, and said that most of your giving has been in vain because you refuse to honor and obey Yahweh concerning seeking out and paying your tithe to the one or ones who represent Melchizedek in your life? What if Holy Spirit spoke to you and told you that He has other men and women with whom you are supposed nurture a real and living relationship? What if He spoke to you and told you that you are supposed to identify, honor and support them in the ongoing work of the ministry?
The Scripture does not teach that the tithe (holy thing) is only to be paid at the local place where you attend and gather on a weekly basis. The Scripture does not teach that all of the tithes and offerings of the people are supposed to be received by only pastors at the local level and used any way that he determines. The Scripture does not teach that pastors and his paid staff are the only ministers that are supposed to be supported out of the tithe of the people.
My question to you is why are you still bringing all of your tithes and offerings into one house and supporting only the work that is going on at the local level? And why is it that your pastor can and will receive tithes and offerings from anybody who desires to give them; but he would probably be very uncomfortable with what I am proposing? The answer is; he believes that if you have come into his house and have been eating the spiritual food that he has prepared, that he should have exclusive rights to your first-fruits. I say that he indeed has a right to receive a fair share and portion of the tithe of all of the people under his watch. But what of the other men and women, doma and charisma gifts who serve the body of Messiah both locally and trans-locally? What about all of the willing volunteers that are equally gifted and anointed in the ministry that are not being compensated or provided for in any capacity?
My concern is that I have not seen any other ministry compensated and provided for like the pastoral ministry. In all honesty, I could count on both hands the number of ministries that even consider what I am saying to be important. And I can count on one hand the number of ministries that compensate and provide anything more than a supplemental income to the other ministry gifts serving with them. Now I ask you, do you think that something might be out of balance or absolutely corrupt?
By now you are probably assuming that I am trying to take this truth and use it as leverage to garner some additional support. But let me say that whether anyone reading this article ever decides to contribute one dime to me or not, I will still hold to the truth contained therein. Some of you are probably saying to yourself what I said to myself years ago when I began to realize the extent of the problem that we have with financing the ongoing work of the ministry.
I am speaking this truth to you out of an honest and sincere heart and from experiential knowledge that comes from pastoring 15 of 35 years of ministry. I have also logged hundreds of thousands of miles itinerating in the ministry for many of those years. I am not a novice preacher that is pursuing fame, fortune or money to burn. I am an apostle with a prophetic word to the Ekklesia that has yet to receive from the people of Yahweh at the local level, the apostle’s portion of the first-fruits, tithes or offerings. And just so you will know my true heart in this matter, I am not trying to hurt, limit or lessen the ability of the local work with what I am bringing to you. Instead, I am trying to represent true apostolic government and bring to you truth that has the ability to liberate and mature you in the ways and admonition of Yahshua. If you can hear the heart of the Father in what I am saying, then maybe there is still enough time for the leadership of the thousands of local fellowships in this country to hear and obey what the Spirit is saying the Ekklesia.
(To Be Continued)
Malachi 3:10-12 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, (Apostolic Centers) that there may be food in My house, (The Father’s House) and try Me now in this,” says Yahweh of hosts, “if I will not open for you (you-KJV for-is not used) the windows of heaven and pour out for you (you-KJV for-is not used) such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.11“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says Yahweh of hosts; 12and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says Yahweh of hosts.
Hebrews 7:1-4 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of ElElyon, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 3without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of Yahweh, remains a priest continually. 4Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils.
Note: Abraham knew that if he was going to honor Yahweh with his tithe, he would have to pay them to the man with whom Yahweh ordained covenantal relationship. And he understood the importance of honoring that relationship with the greatest expression and only token of the covenantal relationship that Yahweh recognizes.
The release of blessing and the transference of wealth depend on our ability to hear and obey the voice of Yahweh concerning what direction, and to whom your tithe is supposed to be paid. Tithing and offering is foundational. Nothing is more important.
Psalm 110:1-7 Yahweh said to my Sovereign, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” 2Yahweh shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. (The Ekklesia) Rule in the midst of Your enemies! 3Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power; in the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth. 4Yahweh has sworn and will not relent, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” 5Yahweh is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. 6He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries. 7He shall drink of the brook by the wayside; therefore He shall lift up the head.
Note: This is a Kingdom view of what it means to be a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. This passage of scripture foretells the coming of Yahshua the Messiah and what His priesthood and ministry is going to be about. Yahshua’s priesthood and ministry are established forever according to the order of Melchizedek. We are a part of that priesthood and ministry in the Earth today. Yahweh sent a rod in His strength out of Zion (the Ekklesia) and we are supposed to be ruling in the midst of our enemies.
Hebrews 5:5-14 so also Messiah did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” 6As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”; 7who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10called by Yahweh as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” 11of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of Yahweh; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
One of the reasons that much of what we are doing is not working that well is because we do not fully understand how important hearing and obeying the voice of the Spirit is concerning our giving, as it pertains to the ongoing work of the ministry. We have been duped into believing that it does not really matter where our tithe ends up, as long as it appears to be good ground and it represents the place where we are being fed spiritually.
What if Holy Spirit spoke to you today, and said that most of your giving has been in vain because you refuse to honor and obey Yahweh concerning seeking out and paying your tithe to the one or ones who represent Melchizedek in your life? What if Holy Spirit spoke to you and told you that He has other men and women with whom you are supposed nurture a real and living relationship? What if He spoke to you and told you that you are supposed to identify, honor and support them in the ongoing work of the ministry?
The Scripture does not teach that the tithe (holy thing) is only to be paid at the local place where you attend and gather on a weekly basis. The Scripture does not teach that all of the tithes and offerings of the people are supposed to be received by only pastors at the local level and used any way that he determines. The Scripture does not teach that pastors and his paid staff are the only ministers that are supposed to be supported out of the tithe of the people.
My question to you is why are you still bringing all of your tithes and offerings into one house and supporting only the work that is going on at the local level? And why is it that your pastor can and will receive tithes and offerings from anybody who desires to give them; but he would probably be very uncomfortable with what I am proposing? The answer is; he believes that if you have come into his house and have been eating the spiritual food that he has prepared, that he should have exclusive rights to your first-fruits. I say that he indeed has a right to receive a fair share and portion of the tithe of all of the people under his watch. But what of the other men and women, doma and charisma gifts who serve the body of Messiah both locally and trans-locally? What about all of the willing volunteers that are equally gifted and anointed in the ministry that are not being compensated or provided for in any capacity?
My concern is that I have not seen any other ministry compensated and provided for like the pastoral ministry. In all honesty, I could count on both hands the number of ministries that even consider what I am saying to be important. And I can count on one hand the number of ministries that compensate and provide anything more than a supplemental income to the other ministry gifts serving with them. Now I ask you, do you think that something might be out of balance or absolutely corrupt?
By now you are probably assuming that I am trying to take this truth and use it as leverage to garner some additional support. But let me say that whether anyone reading this article ever decides to contribute one dime to me or not, I will still hold to the truth contained therein. Some of you are probably saying to yourself what I said to myself years ago when I began to realize the extent of the problem that we have with financing the ongoing work of the ministry.
I am speaking this truth to you out of an honest and sincere heart and from experiential knowledge that comes from pastoring 15 of 35 years of ministry. I have also logged hundreds of thousands of miles itinerating in the ministry for many of those years. I am not a novice preacher that is pursuing fame, fortune or money to burn. I am an apostle with a prophetic word to the Ekklesia that has yet to receive from the people of Yahweh at the local level, the apostle’s portion of the first-fruits, tithes or offerings. And just so you will know my true heart in this matter, I am not trying to hurt, limit or lessen the ability of the local work with what I am bringing to you. Instead, I am trying to represent true apostolic government and bring to you truth that has the ability to liberate and mature you in the ways and admonition of Yahshua. If you can hear the heart of the Father in what I am saying, then maybe there is still enough time for the leadership of the thousands of local fellowships in this country to hear and obey what the Spirit is saying the Ekklesia.
(To Be Continued)
The Windows Of Heaven - Part Three
By Blake L. Higginbotham
Malachi 3:10-12 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, (Apostolic Centers) that there may be food in My house, (The Father’s House) and try Me now in this,” says Yahweh of hosts, “if I will not open for you (you-KJV for-is not used) the windows of heaven and pour out for you (you-KJV for-is not used) such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.11“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says Yahweh of hosts; 12and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says Yahweh of hosts.
Note: When I started writing this article, I told you that I would explain why I chose to reference the King James Version Bible in the above passage of scripture.
Not long ago, as I heard this scripture read from the pulpit of a fellowship where I was ministering, I actually quoted the scripture from where I sat as it was being read. But then, as it was being read something began to stand out and I heard something within this verse of scripture that I had never heard before. As with all revelation truth it should be weighed out against other scriptures where possible and certainly should be prayed about before sharing it publicly. As I prayed in the Spirit about what I was hearing, it seemed clear to me that there was a truth emerging that before that time I had not seen, so I asked for permission to share it with the fellowship. As I shared it with the fellowship, the leadership picked up on it and began to shake their heads in an up and down motion indicating that they agreed. The people of the fellowship were not sure what to believe and I still do not understand the depths of all that is being said. But I will share what little I have at this time.
When this scripture was being read out of the King James Version Bible I heard something that shifts the responsibility in tithing and offering to the person who is bringing their tithes and offerings. While it was being read, I heard that if you will bring your tithes and offerings into the storehouse (apostolic centers) that represent the Father’s House I will open you the windows of Heaven and I will pour out you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. Holy Spirit showed me that we are the windows of Heaven as it pertains to the world in which we live. We are the windows by which the world peers into the house that Yahshua is building.
When we bring our tithes and offerings into apostolic centers that represent the Father’s House we become an open window through which light and sounds are heard and through which movement and activity are seen. Our life becomes a window of opportunity in the lives of people with whom we come in contact and Heavenly insight to those seeking entrance into the Father’s House. Believe me when I tell you, that there are hundreds and thousands of people in your world that are looking for the real and your life is either a testimony of the Kingdom and house that Yahshua is building, or it is something else. When the people of your world encounter you and observe your life as it compares to their own what are they hearing and seeing? Consider this, is there any difference in the way you or the average Joe is living your life?
How you manage your money, pay your bills, love your family, stand for truth and deal with problems all speak to the people of your world. But the most important thing speaking to them is the priority that you place on financing the ministry and increasing the Kingdom. When honoring Yahweh with the first-fruits of your increase becomes more important than your own selfish ambitions and secret dreams, then you will begin to understand how much the testimony of your life really means to your family and the people of your world. Yahweh is trying to open you up so that everyone that you encounter sees the Father’s hand on your life and experiences the Father’s blessing by knowing you.
Yahweh wants to pour you out a blessing in the earth that brings hope and life everywhere you go. The Life and love of Yahweh is the drink offering that is being poured out of you. Yahweh wants to offer you and all that your life represents as a prototypical example of the pattern Son. When we bring our tithes and offerings into the Father’s House we are honoring the Father and become a living expression of Yahshua the pattern Son.
John 2:1-10 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Yahshua was there. 2Now both Yahshua and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Yahshua said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4Yahshua said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” 5His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” 6Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7Yahshua said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.8And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 9When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”
Six is the number of man and we are the six waterpots that have been filled with water. If you can hear it, there has been a wedding, and we must do whatever He says right now. We have been filled with water and now we are going to be poured out as new wine and the best vintage that this world has ever tasted. This is the third day and we are all under an open Heaven. We are seeing and hearing things that our forefathers longed to see and hear but could not because it was kept to be revealed at this time. We are the open windows in the house that Yahshua is building and He is pouring us out into a thirsty land where people are waiting to be refreshed and made whole.
Hebrews 7:8-10 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
Leviticus 27:31-33 If a man wants at all to redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one-fifth (20%) to it. 32And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to Yahweh. 33He shall not inquire whether it is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it; and if he exchanges it at all, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.’”
One of the reasons that many people are in debt, broke, and have no living testimony is because they continue to touch the holy thing (the tithe) and buy for themselves a world of hurt and financial ruin.
Note: If you have just been treating your tithes and offerings like a bill that must be paid when you get your pay check, that may be reason that your tithes and offerings are not being received by Yahweh, and could give you a clue as to why your life has not been an open window of Heaven or a blessing poured out. It may be time to reconsider the importance of your tithes and offerings as well as the direction that you are bringing them…
Malachi 3:10-12 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, (Apostolic Centers) that there may be food in My house, (The Father’s House) and try Me now in this,” says Yahweh of hosts, “if I will not open for you (you-KJV for-is not used) the windows of heaven and pour out for you (you-KJV for-is not used) such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.11“And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says Yahweh of hosts; 12and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says Yahweh of hosts.
Note: When I started writing this article, I told you that I would explain why I chose to reference the King James Version Bible in the above passage of scripture.
Not long ago, as I heard this scripture read from the pulpit of a fellowship where I was ministering, I actually quoted the scripture from where I sat as it was being read. But then, as it was being read something began to stand out and I heard something within this verse of scripture that I had never heard before. As with all revelation truth it should be weighed out against other scriptures where possible and certainly should be prayed about before sharing it publicly. As I prayed in the Spirit about what I was hearing, it seemed clear to me that there was a truth emerging that before that time I had not seen, so I asked for permission to share it with the fellowship. As I shared it with the fellowship, the leadership picked up on it and began to shake their heads in an up and down motion indicating that they agreed. The people of the fellowship were not sure what to believe and I still do not understand the depths of all that is being said. But I will share what little I have at this time.
When this scripture was being read out of the King James Version Bible I heard something that shifts the responsibility in tithing and offering to the person who is bringing their tithes and offerings. While it was being read, I heard that if you will bring your tithes and offerings into the storehouse (apostolic centers) that represent the Father’s House I will open you the windows of Heaven and I will pour out you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. Holy Spirit showed me that we are the windows of Heaven as it pertains to the world in which we live. We are the windows by which the world peers into the house that Yahshua is building.
When we bring our tithes and offerings into apostolic centers that represent the Father’s House we become an open window through which light and sounds are heard and through which movement and activity are seen. Our life becomes a window of opportunity in the lives of people with whom we come in contact and Heavenly insight to those seeking entrance into the Father’s House. Believe me when I tell you, that there are hundreds and thousands of people in your world that are looking for the real and your life is either a testimony of the Kingdom and house that Yahshua is building, or it is something else. When the people of your world encounter you and observe your life as it compares to their own what are they hearing and seeing? Consider this, is there any difference in the way you or the average Joe is living your life?
How you manage your money, pay your bills, love your family, stand for truth and deal with problems all speak to the people of your world. But the most important thing speaking to them is the priority that you place on financing the ministry and increasing the Kingdom. When honoring Yahweh with the first-fruits of your increase becomes more important than your own selfish ambitions and secret dreams, then you will begin to understand how much the testimony of your life really means to your family and the people of your world. Yahweh is trying to open you up so that everyone that you encounter sees the Father’s hand on your life and experiences the Father’s blessing by knowing you.
Yahweh wants to pour you out a blessing in the earth that brings hope and life everywhere you go. The Life and love of Yahweh is the drink offering that is being poured out of you. Yahweh wants to offer you and all that your life represents as a prototypical example of the pattern Son. When we bring our tithes and offerings into the Father’s House we are honoring the Father and become a living expression of Yahshua the pattern Son.
John 2:1-10 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Yahshua was there. 2Now both Yahshua and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Yahshua said to Him, “They have no wine.” 4Yahshua said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” 5His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” 6Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 7Yahshua said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim.8And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. 9When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”
Six is the number of man and we are the six waterpots that have been filled with water. If you can hear it, there has been a wedding, and we must do whatever He says right now. We have been filled with water and now we are going to be poured out as new wine and the best vintage that this world has ever tasted. This is the third day and we are all under an open Heaven. We are seeing and hearing things that our forefathers longed to see and hear but could not because it was kept to be revealed at this time. We are the open windows in the house that Yahshua is building and He is pouring us out into a thirsty land where people are waiting to be refreshed and made whole.
Hebrews 7:8-10 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
Leviticus 27:31-33 If a man wants at all to redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one-fifth (20%) to it. 32And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to Yahweh. 33He shall not inquire whether it is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it; and if he exchanges it at all, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.’”
One of the reasons that many people are in debt, broke, and have no living testimony is because they continue to touch the holy thing (the tithe) and buy for themselves a world of hurt and financial ruin.
Note: If you have just been treating your tithes and offerings like a bill that must be paid when you get your pay check, that may be reason that your tithes and offerings are not being received by Yahweh, and could give you a clue as to why your life has not been an open window of Heaven or a blessing poured out. It may be time to reconsider the importance of your tithes and offerings as well as the direction that you are bringing them…
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