TITHES AND OFFERINGS ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE By: Dr. Josimar Salum

TITHES AND OFFERINGS ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE By: Dr. Josimar Salum

Some considerations:

1 - It is impossible to pay God for anything we receive from Him.

A person who is transformed, healed, freed from drug addiction or who receives any great blessing from God in the Church cannot possibly afford anything to repay God. 

It is absurd to despise the price Jesus paid with His blood for that person's complete salvation when the very salvation, blessing, healing, and deliverance are monetized.

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." 1 Peter 1:18‭-‬19 

2- Tithing was not instituted or practiced as a payment for God to bless His children, much less a compensation for what He already blessed.

Once God blesses His children, recognizing that He is the possessor of heavens and earth, one delivers the tithe. So, in any case, first God blessed them, then they tithe. I sow because He gave me the seed so I can sow. Even what I sow (the seeds) comes from God!

Tithing and honoring the Lord with the firstfruits are acts of faith "without which no one can please the Lord." Hebrews 11:6.

It has been this way from the beginning, from when Abram and Jacob gave their tithes.

The Bible shows that Abraham did not tithe everything he owned, but only the spoils he got for the victory that God gave him in the war against some kings. Genesis 14.

"Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” Genesis 28:20‭-‬22 

In the time of the prophet Malachi, the reason the Jews were challenged to bring the tithes to the Treasure House was that they weren't being faithful. When they brought an offering, it was a deceiving act, because they brought the worst and not the best for the temple of God. In fact, the priests were doing that. They received the blameless animal to be offered, but instead of offering it, they kept for themselves and offered the one with defects.

God stated that they should give tithes and offerings and prove Him. He would open the windows of heaven and shower on them such a blessing until there was not enough room to gather it. Please check the Book of Malachi, especially chapter 3 verse 10.

"But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." 1 Samuel 15:22 

The blessing would keep flowing if they brought their tithes and offerings to the Treasure House because that's how God had already blessed them. They needed to obey the Lord because He is a Father of blessings.

The New Covenant made with the blood of Jesus on the Cross is based on the fact that God has already given us His Son and has blessed us so abundantly that with Him He has given us all things.

"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:32 

 3 - The tithes and the offerings are not means of bargaining with God.

God loves a cheerful giver, not one who gives out of necessity or compulsion.

"Now he who gives seed to the sower, also bread to eat, and multiply your sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness." 2 Corinthians 9:10

God has already rescued man on the Cross of Calvary and has already blessed him with all sorts of blessings.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Ephesians 1:3

There is nothing to bargain with or to negotiate with God.

4 - God loves those who give with joy

In 2 Corinthians chapter 9, sowing and reaping are the principle of the New Covenant. As a principle, the contribution can be greater than the tithe, that is, greater than ten percent, as is understood today.

The contribution can be greater than the tithe, because anyone contributes according to what he has purposed in his heart.

And he does it according to his faith and never out of greed, but he can also happily contribute with less than 10%, according to what he proposes in his heart, not with regret or obligation, that is, through a person establishing the value of his offering. 

There are no tithes in the New Testament. There is not a single mention that the disciples neither Jews nor Gentiles gave their tithes in their meetings, that is, in the Church. In Mathew 23 Jesus mentioned tithes as a practice of the Pharisees who were forfeiting the most important of the Law, which are justice, mercy and faithfulness. 

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” Matthew‬ ‭23:23-24‬ 

They, the Pharisees should not neglect the more important matters of the Law, justice, mercy and faithfulness. The disciples, however, follow Jesus, not the Law. 

This is how the disciple of Jesus can sow little or sow abundantly, but always according to what is proposed in his heart.

"He who sows little will also reap little; and he who sows in abundance will reap in abundance." 2 Corinthians 9:6

As a principle, the sowing of God's people is totally and exclusively related, that is, the collected resources have these objectives:

1 - Assistance to the saints;

2 - Distribution and donation of goods to the needy;

3 - The supply of the needs of God's people;

4 - Sharing goods with others.

Any other application of the seed outside these terms is unbiblical. This is robbing God!

The contributions of the saints are also designed to meet the needs of those who preach the Gospel.

"For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?" 1 Corinthians 9:9‭-‬11 

"Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need." Ephesians 4:28

5 - Jesus rescued all men and conquered everything on the Cross of Calvary

It is indisputable biblical truth that everything we have received from God has already been conquered by Jesus on the Cross of Calvary. including all "our rewards."

It is an indisputable biblical truth that the first time the word "reward" appears in Scripture, it refers to God himself.

"After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in vision, saying, Fear not, Abram, I am your shield, your great reward." Genesis 15:1

"By faith Moses, being grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than for a little while to have the joy of sin; Having the reproach (infamy) of Christ for greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; because he had the reward in view. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; because he stood firm, as seeing the invisible." Hebrews 11:24-27

In the context of Philippians 3:13-14, Paul regarded all things as loss for the excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus.

 "All things" refers as much to the religious things he enjoyed in Judaism as to everything else related to his life, riches included!

It is because of Jesus that Paul suffered the loss of all things.

Paul considered all things dung - from the Greek “skubala” meaning “human excrement”. I'm sorry, don't be scandalized, please, that I wrote this expression here, but that's literally what “dung” means in the original text. It is the word people use in the streets, not even exactly this translation. 

How can anyone renounce all he has to follow Jesus and then seek from God the very things he renounced?

 How can anyone try to bargain with God, giving him offerings to be blessed materially for one's own benefit?

In that text, what is the goal that Paul refers to when he says that he goes on advancing and forgetting the things (those things) that are behind?

"I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death," Philippians 3:10 

What reward will we receive as we proceed to the goal because of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross? Knowing Christ, suffering for Christ, and being made according to his death and, ultimately, the resurrection of the dead.

In conclusion, I would like to state the following:

Inequity is everything that opposes equity, equivalence or equality.

Having established this concept, I affirm that it is an iniquity within an Christian church, for a pastor to earn 10, 20, 30 times more than another in the "ministry", because a church is not a company and a worker of God is not compensated based on his class or level, but with a salary.

Salary, in the Scriptures, has to do with subsistence, because the one who preaches the Gospel must live from the Gospel and not be enriched by the Gospel.

"If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. 

They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 

Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." 1 Timothy 6:3‭-‬11 

 Amen.

Translated by: Filipe S.S. Gouvea

JESUS PREACHED THE KINGDOM! Rabbi Peter Oliveira & Josimar Salum

JESUS PREACHED THE KINGDOM! Rabbi Peter Oliveira & Josimar Salum 

“For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.” ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:10‬ 

The Savior of all men, specially of those who believe, since the beginning, preached the Kingdom. 

“From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”” Matthew‬ ‭4:17‬

What brings reproach and labor is the message of the Kingdom and not the message of salvation. 

The message of the Kingdom is about the rulership of God over everyone and everything. 

This is why Yeshua (Jesus) didn't preach about salvation. Yeshua preached the Kingdom. 

You preach salvation when you are trying to get people into heaven. 

You preach the Kingdom when you bring Heaven into people. 

Bringing heaven into people is not bringing the blessings of heaven, but primarily the rulership of God. It has to do with His will being obeyed. 

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew‬ ‭6:10‬

Before the governor Pilate, the ruler of the powerful Roman Empire the arguments were not about the man who saves, but the One who reigns. 

“From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.” 

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. 

And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” 

The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” 

Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away. 

And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. 

Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” John‬ ‭19:12-19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

THE KING DIED, THEREFORE HE SAVES. 

The salvation is based on the fact that the Creator and Rule of the Universe became flesh as the King Jesus. 

““Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. 

Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 

When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. 

“The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 

Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 

Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 

“But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 

So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 

“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”

 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.” 

Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 

“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 

Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.” 

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 

They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.” Matthew‬ ‭21:33-46‬ 

Paul said: “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” Romans ‭13:11‬ 

Paul said ... 

Let me repeat: "Yeshua never preached salvation"

THE KINGDOM IS THE BULL’S EYE

A target has many circles,  and they are all 100% part of the target... BUT, it only has one bull's eye! 

The Kingdom message is the bull's eye. Salvation is the largest circle on the target. 

The Kingdom is the heart of the King... It is the dot at the center of the bull's eye! So... 

It's ok that Paul spoke about salvation. But I am not in this world to preach Paul. I AM here to preach Yeshua, and He never preached salvation.

THE SON OF MAN CAME TO SEEK WHAT WAS LOST, NOT SIMPLY WHOM WAS LOST

For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost.”‭ Luke 19:10. What, which; not whom!

“For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”‭ Matthew 18:11

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”‭ Colossians 1:16-17, 20 KJV‬

This is the Kingdom, the bull's eye! I AM the bull's eye! I AM the kingdom. And I AM not alone!

“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 

Then comes the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 

For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.” 1 Corinthians ‭15:21-25‬ 

SALVATION IS NOT ABOUT MEN, IT IS ABOUT RESTORATION OF EVERYTHING.

“Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’” Acts ‭3:21, 25‬ ‭

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. 

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.” Revelation ‭1:5-7‬ 

“The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: 

“The kingdoms of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”” Revelation ‭11:15‬ ‭NIV‬

JESUS DIDN’T PREACH SALVATION 

So let me repeat again: Jesus didn't preached salvation. Jesus preached the Kingdom. 

The apostles didn't preach salvation. The apostles preached the Kingdom. 

Even John the Baptist didn’t preach salvation. John the Baptist preached the Kingdom. 

I hope you get this right! I hope your feet are beautiful on the mountains. The beauty is from who that bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”” Isaiah ‭52:7‬

GOD Reigns! That is your message! Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done! 

"I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.” Luke ‭1:38‬

And the Word stayed! Alleluia!

#ASONE

KOINONIA, IT IS ABOUT A TABLE NOT A CHURCH Josimar Salum

KOINONIA, IT IS ABOUT A TABLE NOT A CHURCH

Josimar Salum

Communion means mainly communication. We have to come together frequently at a table to have fellowship. When there is fellowship there is communication, participation and contribution . 

Koinonia which is translated communion means eating bread together. When Jesus desired to be with His disciples He did not bring them into an altar, but to a house, to a table and they ate together.

#ASONE

WHEN WE DON'T LEARN MORE BECAUSE WE THINK WE KNOW TOO ENOUGH. By Dr Josimar Salum

WHEN WE DON'T LEARN MORE BECAUSE WE THINK WE KNOW TOO ENOUGH. By Dr Josimar Salum

The Lord awakened me this morning to something very serious and important in our lives.

God sets before us people who are His Voice. But as time goes by, we “mature” and purposefully silence this Voice of God.

“Said person does not always speak correctly! By what right does he or she speak like this to me? I'm not a child anymore!"

This happens first with our parents.

“They no longer talk within reason, they no longer know as much as they knew, they have become obsolete and inadequate. Today we know more!”

In addition to parents are friends and our parents in faith. Those who discipled us lost the right to correct us, because we are already enough. We don't learn anymore because we don't need to. We become masters and judges.

 “By what right can they continue to correct me?”

The apostle Paul scoffed at the Corinthians on this: “Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings." 1 Corinthians 4:8‭-‬9 

In fact, we feel humiliated and ashamed when we are corrected in front of others. A sense of irritation takes over because of our feeling of inferiority. Both this and the feeling of superiority is in fact a great spiritual imbalance of the sin of pride.

When I stop listening to my brothers and sisters who correct me to justify my ability, I may have already erased the Holy Spirit in my life.

Don't grieve the Holy Spirit. Don't resist the Holy Spirit. Don't quench the Holy Spirit.

The path between saddening and quenching may be shorter than we think.

May we clothe ourselves with humility without which we can never truly learn and not be transformed in a religious world of so many myths, false teachings and traditions that try to invalidate the Word of God.

#ASONE

MY WORD MUST BE EQUALLY VALUABLE. Dr Josimar Salum

MY WORD MUST BE EQUALLY VALUABLE. 

Dr Josimar Salum   

If what I say or promise to you is less important than the word I say and any promises I make to Jesus, then my Love for you is not the Love of God. 

“All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew‬ ‭5:37‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” I John‬ ‭3:11, 16, 18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” I John‬ ‭4:7-9, 12‬ ‭NKJV

“If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” I John‬ ‭4:20-21‬ ‭NKJV

“Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind … Whoever does these things will never be shaken.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭15:1-2, 4-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#ASONE

REPENTANCE IS THE CHANGING OF CONCEPTS Dr Josimar Salum

REPENTANCE IS THE CHANGING OF CONCEPTS

Dr Josimar Salum

"My thoughts are not your thoughts."

It is necessary to repent, to change our thoughts, because what we believe, what we say, what we learn, what we study in theology, what we have been taught, needs to be revised. We need to change our thinking.

You have to discover the revelation of the Gospel, the revelation of Jesus.

What does the Bible really teach? It is necessary to make an enormous effort to remove all these heavy things that have trapped us, that are not satisfying.

Sometimes we don't even feel the Presence of God. When we hear sermons, they are empty; knowledge preaching only.

Week after week, Sunday after Sunday, and now with the advent of the cell phone you hear messages of all kinds, from everywhere, your choice. 

Then, in the pandemic, believers could choose who they would listen to, right?

Who would they watch on Sunday? Then they heard the 8:00 preaching, the 10:00 preaching, the midday preaching, the 2:00 preaching and it continues the same way.

Why?

"Because My thoughts are not your thoughts."

Repenting has to do with a change of concept, it has to do with a change in thinking, understanding, knowing,  intellection, practice that will bring about a transformation and change in your life.

I told Carlinhos Felix this when he wrote the song, "I want to go back to the beginning of everything, I want to review my concepts, I want to go back to the first Love."

Returning to the first Love does not mean returning to the "jesus" you encountered in childhood, it may not be.

Returning to the first Love does not mean returning to the day you were converted, the day you decided to follow Jesus.

To return to the first Love is to return to Jesus.

I hear a lot of people saying, "Ah, we have to go back to the early church."

We don't have to go back to the early church at all!

There are others who say that we are going back to Eden! We don't have to go back to Eden, we don't have to go back to Paradise, we have to turn totally to God, to Jesus, before the creation of the world, before He had done anything, that's where we have to go back.

#ASONE

DOES THE BIBLE REALLY TEACH THAT JESUS WENT TO HEAVEN TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR US? Dr. Josimar Salum

DOES THE BIBLE REALLY TEACH THAT JESUS WENT TO HEAVEN TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR US? Dr. Josimar Salum 

Someone very special asked me:

“So that place is called at the right hand? What does John 14 says? Is it also talking about that place, the Father's place?

I must tell you directly and up front. Jesus is not preparing any place to us. This concept does not even make sense, that He is in heaven after 2000 years preparing a place for us. To think such thing is to blasphemously ignore His complete work of redemption at the Cross. He said at last: “It is finished!” This means that His work is completed and finished, that His blood shed and His death are totally enough for our redemption. He left the disciples a little while while He died on the Cross and three days later He was risen from the dead and He came back to His disciples. 

“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.” I Corinthians‬ ‭15:1-8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” Acts‬ ‭1:1-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Jesus says He went to the Cross to prepare a place (dwelling) for us. In fact in John chapter 13, 14 and in the subsequent chapters He made no reference to heaven. The word heaven does not even appear in these texts. Jesus was going to lay down His life for us. 

“Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.” Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.” John‬ ‭13:36-38‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

John 14 says clearly He was going to the Father ... That He would not leave the disciples orphans. That He would come back and He did when He sent His Holy Spirit to live in them. Read carefully with the new understating of the Spirit.

“Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in me. There are many dwelling places in my Father’s house.”

“God does not really live on the earth! Look, if the sky and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this temple I have built!” 1 Kings‬ ‭8:27‬ ‭NET‬‬

“Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you. And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you have known me, you will know my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him.”

“If you love me, you will obey my commandments. Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he resides with you and will be in you. “I will not abandon you as orphans, I will come to you. In a little while the world will not see me any longer, but you will see me; because I live, you will live too.

Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him. We will dwell in them.” 

You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am.” John‬ ‭14:1-7, 15-19, 23, 28‬ ‭NET‬‬

The eternal dwelling of GOD is His people.

 “And I saw the holy city – the new Jerusalem – descending out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Look! The residence of God is among human beings. He will live among them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them.” Revelation‬ ‭21:2-3‬ ‭NET‬‬

The Father’s place, the place where  GOD dwells is US. 

“Now I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God – the All-Powerful – and the Lamb are its temple.” Revelation‬ ‭21:22‬ ‭NET‬‬

“But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” ‭‭I Timothy‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

And the following passage introduces a higher revelation about the eternal dwelling of GOD that I prefer not to comment now, but just share the scripture. 

“He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross – through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your minds as expressed through your evil deeds, but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him –” Colossians‬ ‭1:18-22‬ ‭NET‬‬

“I am not praying only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their testimony, that they will all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me. The glory you gave to me I have given to them, that they may be one just as we are one – I in them and you in me – that they may be completely one, so that the world will know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me.” John‬ ‭17:20-23‬ ‭NET‬

We have to understand what the Bible really teach us and not perpetuate what we have received a tradition. If it is not biblical indeed, we should not be resistant to reject it. We will not go and we will not live in heaven forever. There is no such teaching in the Bible. The Bible teach us about inheriting the Kingdom and not eternal life in heaven. Our lives actually is not about heaven. Heaven is not our goal or our aim. Jesus is. 

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” Matthew‬ ‭25:34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Attention to the fact that the  kingdom has been prepared for us since the creation of the world. There is no ongoing preparation for us in heaven and in any other circumstances. 

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the first-fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:20-26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This false teaching which have been sustained and shared years that the heaven is the place God prepared for us, that heaven is our eternal home must be denounced and rejected. GOD has never promised heaven to men, GOD has given us eternal life and promised His Kingdom. 

“The heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to mankind.” Psalms‬ ‭115:16‬ ‭NET‬‬

Heaven is not the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of heaven is grater than heaven and the whole creation.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.” Matthew‬ ‭19:23-24‬ ‭NET‬‬

“For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you.” 2 Peter‬ ‭1:11‬ ‭NET‬‬

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”” John‬ ‭3:3, 5-8‬ ‭NKJV‬

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭6:9-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” Ephesians‬ ‭5:5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:12-14

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’ Matthew 6:9-10

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:10-11

#ASONE

WHAT KINGDOM MINDED PROPLE DO. Dr. Paul Taylor & Dr. Josimar Salum

WHAT KINGDOM MINDED PROPLE DO. 

Dr. Paul Taylor & Dr. Josimar Salum 

WHAT KINGDOM MINDED PROPLE DO. 

Dr. Paul Taylor & Dr. Josimar Salum 

“It is very unique when godly leaders are teaching business principles and business building to those God has brought to them. 

Most of the time church leaders just want money given to them so that they can pray and preach.  

But what these Kingdom people are doing are not only unique but if is wonderful because they understand the incredible power of prayer and yet know that if people do not learn a trade for business, they will become beggars, and not what God has created them to be.  

We are believing with people who have a Kingdom mindset that  combine prayer and work, value the gathering of God’s people in church, that do not have a sacred / secular worldview but see work as true worship, for tremendous favor and business success.  

Together we can create a different Burundi.  A prosperous and Godly Burundi.

COMMENT BY PR. JEREMIE MANIRAKIZA

So powerful and instructive !

Many people in Burundi believe that prayer is sacred and work is secular which is not true. Most of our pastors could tell us not to work but to go to church to live there and this has created to much trouble and poverty in the church of Burundi.

I like when you say that with a kingdom mindset work is considered as a true worship, for tremendous favor and business success. Thank you for that.

May God transform us so that we may think according to His will.

Thank you.

#ASONE

Comment from Tharcisse Nzosaba

Thank you. Christians from pentecost churches are very poor. Pastors don't teach their members about business. In my association, we are helping young people from churches to know the principles of business things will change if  pastors change the mentalities and know  that to work is worship, we hope that God will change their bad mentalities through our advices. I want you to be my mentor and my coach.

 #I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me#

WHAT CHURCH LEADERS MISS. Dr. Josimar Salum

WHAT CHURCH LEADERS MISS.

Dr. Josimar Salum

“It is very important for church leaders to understand how their church members can do business to get money and give tenth of what they gain and other offerings. If really the Kingdom of God is in our hearts, why do we miss this wisdom and knowledge?” 

We miss the part that God requires only the tithe (10%). 

This is not true for the old covenant neither or much less to the new covenant. 

Why GOD would require 10% for Him? 

“Listen, my people, and I will speak; I will testify against you, Israel: I am God, your God. I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me. I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.

Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” Psalms‬ ‭50:7-10, 13-15‬ 

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” Isaiah‬ ‭58:6-7‬ 

"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

Matthew‬ ‭25:34-40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

#ASONE