in HIS NAME and in the NAME of JESUS

[rockriver]

we (me too) pray and commonly plea ending it praying "in the name of Jesus" or similar words..

a few years back my dad died..
I had the responsibility of doing some things "in the name of xxxxx yyyyyy (my dad's name)
these were usually legal matters or business things...
I had the right to do so because he and mom trusted that I would make the correct decision, do so honorably and fairly, etc...
their decision was based on our relationship.

so, it comes to mind that, possibly for me to pray "in the name of Jesus." it would help if I had the right relationship
with Jesus, that he had found me trustworthy, and honorable in matters relating to Him and His Kingdom. do I have His authority?

now, I'm helping a lady manage some business and personal matters... again, I find myself doing things "in the name of senior lady"
every time, I think of the responsibility.. am I worthy? will I follow through, will I do according to the purposes of senior lady?

just some thoughts!
rr

[xdpatriot]

Good post. Thank you. I know I struggle.

[610Alpha]

so, it comes to mind that, possibly for me to pray "in the name of Jesus." it would help if I had the right relationship
with Jesus, that he had found me trustworthy, and honorable in matters relating to Him and His Kingdom. do I have His authority?

just some thoughts!
rr

One way He determines if we are trustworthy is how we handle His money. Parable of talents. We also get to test His word, Malachi 3 I believe. Excellent post

[mtgrandma]

God bless you. May we all follow His example.

[Rmplstlskn]

Since testing Malachi 3 was brought up, as well as using "names" of authority, let's look at it... I LOVE Scripture studies...

And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
(Malachi 3:3-4 KJV)

This is clearly a prophecy about the Levites (Priest tribe) and Judah (Jews) and Jerusalem (Temple)...

And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
(Malachi 3:5 KJV)

All of the above abominations are violations of Torah...

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
(Malachi 3:6 KJV)

Setting the CONTEXT, even though the verse 5 above is about "lawlessness (Torah-lessness)", and verse 6 says YHWH changes not, yet the Christian Church claims a CHANGE in verse 1...

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
(Malachi 3:1 KJV)

They claim the Messiah brought in a NEW Covenant... Not sure how a NEW covenant Messiah can go to ~HIS~ Temple in Jerusalem, which is OLD Covenant, but let's roll with it...

Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
(Malachi 3:7 KJV)

Hmmm, RETURN? Return to what? What Covenant was the Messenger of?

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
(Malachi 3:8-9 KJV)

A crime of TITHE? A crime of OFFERINGS?

So what is a tithe and what is an offering? I bet most are saying in their heads now, "It is the 10% tithe, dummy..." OK, let's look at it...

First off, there isn't any TITHE described in the New Testament. The 10% tithe comes from the OLD Testament, the one the Christian Church says is "passed away, done away with, placed under the cross..." So right off the bat, the 10% tithe is not valid for a Christian (or is it).

Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
(Malachi 3:9-12 KJV)

Wow! "This will PREACH!", was the phase used by many pre-Pastors in Seminary... Indeed it does get preached in most Christian Churches. But I digress...

OK, we have details of the crime here... They have ROBBED by not bring tithes into the STOREHOUSE! What is the Storehouse?

And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house. For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.
(Nehemiah 10:37-39 KJV)

The STOREHOUSE is where the "tithe of the tithes" is kept for the Priest and all those who dwell in the Temple. The LEVITES alone are to bring it into the Storehouse... The "Storehouse" is the "Temple TREASURY." Many have taught that the Storehouse is actually embodied in the LEVITE (Pastor, teacher, minister, rabbi) and that all our tithes should go directly to them. Scripture, as shown, does not teach this. Even moreso if it is "Passed away..."

The Tithe is somewhat complex in the Old Testament, as there are THREE main tithes, and many different offerings. To read a study I did on this, here is the link: http://www.wwyd.org/Studies/Tithe.htm

But let's get back to Malachi and really find out WHO Malachi is talking to...

And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.
(Malachi 2:1 KJV)

Who? The LEVITES!

If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
(Malachi 2:2-4 KJV)

Sounds like the present state of Judaism... "For they do not give glory unto my name...," is one of their crimes. Why does YHWH say this? The first chapter of Malachi gives us an answer...

For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.
(Malachi 1:11-12 KJV)

Name shall be GREAT? He says it TWICE! But how many KNOW His name? How many USE His name in prayers, prophecy, and evangelism? How many "Gentiles" and "heathen" know His name from OUR testimony?

How is HIS NAME suppose to be GREAT if His own people don't know it or even use it? Does anyone really think when pharaoh asked Moses what his God's name was, that he actually said, "The LORD!" ??? No, he told him His name is YHWH!

Christianity, following the same man-made Jewish "tradition" that brought about the CURSES of Malachi upon LEVI and JUDAH, that brought about YHWH sending pagans to destroy His Temple in Jerusalem, has REPLACED His name, YHWH, with a generic, means nothing TITLE called, "the LORD." I submit that THIS crime is indeed "profane," as mentioned above in Malachi 1:12...

Now it gets meaty and good!

Then they that feared the LORD (YHWH) spake often one to another: and the LORD (YHWH) hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD (YHWH), and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD (YHWH) of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
(Malachi 3:16-17 KJV)

Do you see it? Book of Remembrance? This is the BOOK OF LIFE, people!

The names written are those who "fear YHWH" and "think upon His name." They are His JEWELS!

This is the Great Throne judgment here... This is FUTURE.

Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
(Malachi 3:18 KJV)

Then shall ye return? Return to WHAT? Isn't the Christian teaching about Malachi 1 bringing a NEW covenant?

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
(Malachi 4:2 KJV)

I think the context of this verse has been established... Favorite verse of the Christian Church as well!

Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
(Malachi 4:4-6 KJV)

Uh-oh! Houston, we have a problem...

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
(Malachi 3:1 KJV)

The last three verses of the Old Testament clearly tie the whole book of Malachi together here... Not a peep from YHWH was heard until John the Baptist (Elijah), the Messenger who shall make STRAIGHT the path of YHWH, came forth, and then anointed Messiah for His ministry...

And the very first words He tells us, a WARNING, is as follows:

Think not that I am come to destroy the law (Torah), or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
(Matthew 5:17-18 KJV)

So all I say, is we need to be careful of what we ask for...

(Are all things "fulfilled?" Here is my answer: http://www.wwyd.org/)

If we want Malachi TESTED among us, we had better know what we are asking for... We may be asking for judgment upon our own heads. For Malachi has ZERO to do with Pastors and Profits$ using self-confessed "passed away" laws to milk the people out of MONEY for their own Temples and their own Storehouses (often their own pockets). It has EVERYTHING to do with a return to Torah and the return of His Name, YHWH, to the lips of His people.

For Messiah himself said, "For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
(Matthew 23:39 KJV)"

But did He really say that? He is quoting Psalms...

Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD (YHWH): we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD (YHWH).
(Psalms 118:26 KJV)

Do you see it? What was He really saying? He most assuredly did NOT say, LORD!

He was speaking to the LEVITES and taking it BACK to Malachi and all "The Scriptures," as the NT wasn't written yet... He was reminding them of the curse they are under...

So if we want to SEE HIM, I hope we learn from Malachi and Messiah...

Now THAT will preach... :-)

BTW, "Malachi" means "my messenger" in Hebrew.

Rmpl

[Rmplstlskn]

In other words...

[Lowdown3]

I agree on the point that we are not OBLIGATED to tithe any longer. However my offerings to Him are much more than 10% anyways :)

Some might say this is just semantics, but usually the same pastors that preach "we are no longer under the Law" when discussing Saturday will also use the "we have to tithe" line to raise funds.

I've never understood the rationale. Essentially "force" people to give 10% or trust that the Holy Spirit will lead people to give MORE than 10%.

And I believe wholeheartedly that we get a special blessing for our offerings. That should not be the reason why we give however. I've seen the blessings in my life.

[Rmplstlskn]

I've never understood the rationale. Essentially "force" people to give 10% or trust that the Holy Spirit will lead people to give MORE than 10%.

Amen! When I am blessed by a speaker, I always give far more than 10%, and it usually continues through the year... But I no longer view my "love gifts" and "offerings" to be a "tithe." If a tithe is to go to anyone today, it is to the widows and orphans, a group of people Scripture tells us specifically to give tithes to.

But it is hard for debt-ridden Churches to give up the "Tithe Club..."

Rmpl

[Lowdown3]

A couple of extended family members were getting baptized in a big church down in Florida. The place had it's own coffee bar, bookstore, ceilings higher than the airport. Main room held probably 2,000 people. Sound stage with wrap around video display- made me think of like the grammy's or something. Everything was pretty and BIG. The pastor made a pitch for people to commit to a pretty high dollar amount because the church was in debt 12 million IIRC.

THEN he brought a message about the problem of materialism in America.... I looked around at all the family members- my wife was giving me the "don't do it" look. She and I were the only ones that got the irony of the whole deal....

[Rmplstlskn]

Yep, know that story well... I can't bear the mega Churches anymore and don't even care to step foot in one anymore... My ears were not tickled, but the rich cats in Palm Beach County were tickled and every need catered to... I won't even go into what I saw at Benny Hinn's Church... :-(

Rmpl

[justanothergunnut]

A couple of extended family members were getting baptized in a big church down in Florida. The place had it's own coffee bar, bookstore, ceilings higher than the airport. Main room held probably 2,000 people. Sound stage with wrap around video display- made me think of like the grammy's or something. Everything was pretty and BIG. The pastor made a pitch for people to commit to a pretty high dollar amount because the church was in debt 12 million IIRC.

THEN he brought a message about the problem of materialism in America.... I looked around at all the family members- my wife was giving me the "don't do it" look. She and I were the only ones that got the irony of the whole deal....

"test the spirits" test the word or the teaching by pouring the word of God on it just as you would pour acid on gold. Many "houses of God' are in fact temples to mans obsessions. I am still a immature Christian, just a child in the word so to speak but I have come to understand that just as in the humanistic world not all is as it would appear to be in the "Christian world" some are deceivers. Just as some angels were deceived by Satan so to are some Christians.

[610Alpha]

My understanding of the tithe was pre-law, Genesis 14 is when a 1/10th was first used. It is also my understanding that under the law that we were all doomed and with Jesus fulfilling the law requirment this gave us the new covenant of his blood and hope. I don't think the tithe was ended by Jesus fulfilling the law and that it does still apply, with that said I don't get hung up on it because it is NOT a salvation issue. I would much rather see people saved and not tithing than vice versa.

For me I see tithing as a part of obedience, discipline, stewardship, and not a old vs new testament thing.

The Barna group did a study several years ago on tithing for Evangelical Christians and they found 2.7% tithe. So when I hear people splitting hairs about tithing vs giving and do I tithe on the gross or the net, I think to myself it doesn't matter cause hardly anyone is tithing. Personally I tithe on the gross and when I get to heaven and I find out I was wrong I am ok with that. I also take the stance that Dave Ramsey talked about in his FPU class, just give and learn how to handle God's money.

All this coming from the guy that leads the stewardship committee and who prints out the giving statements. After leading FPU at my church I was asked to join the Stewardship Committee because of my desire to see people living in Financial Peace and my desire to see the Church debt free. At the beginning of last year I was asked to lead the committee and when the Finance Manager passed away unexpectedly I took over some of those duties as well. The church has been able to pay off everything but the mortgage on the building and we are on track to have it paid off in about 5 years with offerings that are designated for Debt Retirement. We try to be very conservative in all that we do with God's money and we keep our focus on expanding His Kingdom. If anyone thinks its easy handling the money that comes in to the church, try it. Especially when there has been a lot of bad weather or during the summer when a lot of people go on vacation.

If anyone doesn't like how their Church handles money you have two choices, leave or help them get better.