₦airaland Forum

OLAADEGBU:
But there are Scriptures that encourage me to go to church, no?

vooks:
Church, fellowship yes,,but NONE gets to the specific day..those are details, just as there are countless exhortations to support ministers yet NONE stipulates a fraction or any amount.

vooks:
This is not too hard, try playing it in your mind

OLAADEGBU:
"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come" (1 Cor. 16:2).

Bingo! That verse alone deflates your theory in one go.

God doesn't play dice.

Muafrika2:
To give. Just for the sake of giving.

But I stopped putting aside "tithe" after years of searching out the spiritual or scriptural significance of the activity in this age.

Nowadays church wealth is personalised. So if someone is rich, they should stop threatening poor congregants with curses to collect money, it becomes usury.

Daily Manna
Wednesday June 1, 2016

Your Best To God

TEXT: 2 CHRONICLES 8:14-18

"Then went Solomon to Ezion-geber, and to Eloth at the seaside in the land of Edom" (2 Chronicles 8:17).

The well respected British classical scholar, Thomas Morell (1703-1784) is remembered by many for his skill in Natural History and Open Literature. One of his memorable quotes is: "The first great gift we can bestow on others is a 'Good Example'". God gave us a good example of perfect giving when He gave the very best that He has in heaven. Jesus is that good and perfect gift that came from the presence of the Father to save mankind from sin.

Jesus, Himself gave the best that He had when His blood was shed and His life taken at Calvary. The passage we have just read pictures King Solomon giving the best that he could find for the building of a worship place for God. Solomon's heart was at this time filled with love for God, and his giving reflected the love that was in his heart. As recipients of His grace, we also ought always to show our love, reverence and devotion to God by giving the most costly and valuable things we can afford in service to His Kingdom.

When it is time to give for the work of His Kingdom, we may have to recall our treasures which are stacked up in distant places to honour the Lord. It is not appropriate for those who possess His material blessings to give only a widow's mite. The God from whom we seek the greatest things for life and eternity has right to the greatest things of our possession and wealth. Therefore, what are you going to give to God this day? Your time, intellect, money or other material possessions? Yes, all these you may give, but remember to give also your very best, that is, your heart and your life.

Bible Reading in one Year: 1 SAMUEL 25 - 26

Higher Everyday for Youths - Link: http://highereveryday.dclmhq.org/

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: "Be not possessed with your possession, use them to God's glory"

See more HERE:

vooks:
How does it?

No He doesn't unlike modern 'tithers' of mint and cumin

brocab:
You are in a world of your own their brother

OLAADEGBU:
One with God is a majority.

OLAADEGBU:
I hope you saw in that verse that Sunday worship was not the invention of the Roman Catholic church and that proportional or percentage giving was practised then.

brocab:
"No" but this new day of worship came from Constantine the Emperor of Rome in the early fourth century who was believed to be the first so called Christian in the Roman Empire, but he couldn't give up his pagan religion-he had changed the Sabbath Saturday into a Sunday-worship, because he felt angry over the Jews because they had put Jesus to death, and worshipping Jesus on the Sabbath day' would course an uproar between both religions. {And many of these so called Christians back then felt the same way.}
Constantine had changed the Sabbath day, only to keep the Sun God in place.
{When we search the net-we find in the Vatican the Sun God is highly worshipped today, the Roman Catholic Priest carry their idols of Suns-with them inside the Vatican in Rome.}
Before Constantine had made his decision, protestant Christians were murdered everyday, Constantine idea-stopped the killings.
Which brought both parties together, in a much larger scale, bringing in the crowds.
Both parties worship both Queen of Heaven and the Mother of God, pagan-Isis or Christian-Mary or again the goddess Dianna in exchange by Changing the Sabbath day {Matthew 4:10, Luke 4:8, } Jesus said" you shall worship the Lord your God-and Him only you shall serve.
Constantine's changes had coursed both religions to worship other then Jesus Himself, but idol's that still stand on top of the Vatican or in each of the Roman-or Catholic Churches around the nations.
2 out of 10 commandments have been hidden away from the public by these two religions that had joined forces-they shalt not worship any other God's before Me.
They shalt not worship any images {Idol's} made either in heaven or on Earth or under the Earth.

OLAADEGBU:
Don't be deceived by conspiracy theories. Study the Word of God to arrive at the truth. Below is an article about how Christians arrived at the use of Sunday as the worship day.

The First Day of the Week

"And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight" (Acts 20:7)

Given the fact that everything about God's Word was specifically inspired by its Author, it is appropriate that this important phrase, "the first day of the week," occurs exactly eight times in the Bible. The first six of these (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2, 9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1, 19) all stress the fact that it was on this day that the greatest event in history (since the creation) had taken place. The creation of the universe had taken place on the first day of the week, and now its Creator had conquered sin and death itself on that day. In the Bible, of course, the number "seven" represents completeness, so "eight" represents a new beginning—a new creation, a resurrection.

The last two references tell us just how the early Christians remembered this day. Our text verse tells us this was a day on which the disciples assembled together, had a preaching service, and then "broke bread." This was not a special assembly called just for Paul, for he had already been waiting there six days (see previous verse). This was about 25 years after the resurrection itself, and the Jewish believers were evidently still observing the seventh day as a rest day, but then they also observed the first day of the week as the time to commemorate the Lord's death in "breaking of bread" to celebrate His resurrection, and especially to hear the preaching of His Word. The final reference tells us one other vital thing they did: "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him" (1 Corinthians 16:2). The first day of the week should always be a time of remembering Him in these joyful ways, for He is our living Lord and Savior. HMM

For more . . . .

brocab:
Jesus observed the Sabbath {Luke 14:6} He never suggested a change to Sunday, He did however "reject a strict legalistic interpretation of the Old testament commandment, He said Sabbath observance was not a duty that man kind owned to God, "Rather" God made the Sabbath as a day of rest, for man kind benefit {Mark 2:27} Jesus and His disciples did not observe the strict Jewish rules, against doing any work on the Sabbath {Matthew 12:1-14, Mark 2:23-28, 3:1-6, Luke 6:1-11, 13:10-17, 14:1-6, John 5:1-18}

brocab:
The first Christians came among the Jews, they continued to worship as Jews, to observe the Sabbath {Acts 13:14, 17:1-2, 18:1-4} But because Jesus rose from the dead on the first day, of the week Sunday, those early Christians called it the "Lord's day" {Revelation 1:10} and also met their Christ worship on Sunday {Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2}

brocab:
When Gentles non Jews began to convert into Christianity, disputes arose about whether the Gentiles had to observe the Jewish laws about circumcision, dietary restrictions, Sabbath observance etc, in 49 A.D. Paul Peter James, and other Church leaders met at the council of Jerusalem, and decided with the guidance with the Holy Spirit, that it was not necessary for the Christians to observe the Sabbath rules and other aspects of Jewish Law {Acts 15:28-29, Romans 14:5-6, Colossians 2:16}

brocab:
Now as I had stated earlier-In the earlier centuries of Christianity or the Christian communities of the world were under control of the Roman empire. Constantine was the first Roman empire, to convert to Christianity in 321 A.D. He proclaim Sunday the legal day of rest and ordered all judges, City people and craftsmen to rest. Back then the Jews didn't agree with the Christians {John 9:22, 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16} the Jews did not want the Christians to rest on the Sabbath, Constantine had seen an opportunity, and He took it.

brocab:
So it wasn't Paul that changed the Sabbath day as the story go's "Constantine had made the new Sabbath Sunday. And today some Christians observe the Sunday as a day of worship, and some keep the Sabbath day.
Both days are worshipped, but it was Constantine not the disciples-who had Changed it to a one day Law.
But for me I don't worship Jesus on just those two days, I worship Jesus everyday. This is what the disciples were asking for.

Stewardship Investment
August 19, 2015

"Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s" (Matthew 22:21)

Taxes have been a part of civilizations for thousands of years. Even our Lord Jesus found the subject important enough to comment on. We all have responsibilities to pay "tribute" or taxes to those in authority over us.

But tribute money is not ours! In fact, the whole concept of a tribute was initiated by God Himself in the tithe. God said that one tenth of the "firstfruits" belonged to Him (Malachi 3:8-10; 1 Corinthians 16:2). The Creator God, of course, is the ultimate Owner of all things (Psalm 50:7-12). We are to be His "stewards" (Luke 12:42; 1 Corinthians 4:2) and have been delegated the responsibility to "occupy" until He comes back (Luke 19:13; Matthew 25:14).

Although we have "use" of money, we also have certain obligations for that money. We may have freedom to do with the money whatever we wish, but we will suffer consequences if we choose to ignore the responsibilities to "render," or pay, our "tribute to whom tribute is due" (Romans 13:7).

We also have the freedom to invest. God richly rewarded those who made eternally wise investments with the "pounds" and "talents" that they received from Him (Matthew 25; Luke 19). The tithe belongs to the Lord and should be deposited in the Bible-preaching church where we fellowship. Our gifts and offerings may be deposited into Kingdom investments that will reap eternal dividends in the ages to come. What are you investing in?

The Institute for Creation Research invests in the ministry that confronts the godless worldview of evolutionary naturalism that is robbing the minds and wrecking the faith of so many in our day. Invest with us in this challenging work. HMM III

For more . . . .

OLAADEGBU:
Jesus rather gave the proper interpretation of what the Sabbath is meant to be.



So why can't you take you cue from Christ's disciples?



But do you see why the early Christians chose the first day of the week as a day of worship?



Sunday was proclaimed the legal day for Roman Catholics. Christians are not Roman catholics and vice versa, don't get confused.



Who said Paul changed the Sabbath day? True Christians take their example from the Scriptures and not from the Vatican.

brocab:
But not even you can change what Constantine had stated.
{1 Corinthians 10:16-17} Paul states the breaking of bread is not the communion of the Blood of Jesus, it is not the communion of the body of Christ.

brocab:
To be honest this doesn't prove we are to meet only on the first day of the week {Sunday}
Paul kept the Sabbath even after Jesus had died. Jesus died on the 6th day {Friday} and was risen in the Sabbath {Saturday} before sundown-If we Christians were to rest and worship on Sunday, then why were the women bringing spices to Jesus on the first day-and not the Sabbath day before?
Again the Roman empire Constantine had a large part changing the Sabbath to Sunday.
Searching the scriptures I agree, but I also agree the lord, opens the doors for us to learn of each other.

OLAADEGBU:
Religious folks are bound to follow what Constantine stated not genuine Christians.



I believe your objections have been answered on the thread below. Click and see the answers.

We can continue our discussion on this thread ==> https://www.nairaland.com/2842461/what-lords-day

brocab:
{1 Corinthians 10:16-17} and read what Paul had written, before you start judging who's religious and who's not, try looking up a bit of history about the Sunday worship-and who stated it, and why? Theirs a lot more to this, that meets the eye-the Lord told us there's a dark side, in everything.
But of course you may not believe, because you have never experience either side of the coin.

Offering Willingly
August 23, 2016

"Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy" (1 Chronicles 29:9)

As the people brought gifts for the construction of the temple in Jerusalem, it is mentioned no less than six times in this chapter that their offerings were willing offerings (once in verses 6 and 14, twice each in verses 9 and 17). In fact, they were not only willing but also joyful in their giving.

Joyful giving is not the usual response to a fundraising effort for a religious cause. The great proliferation of causes today—not only for churches but for multi-church or para-church projects, usually associated with high-pressure solicitations by professional money-raisers—has developed a growing cynicism in Christians toward all such appeals.

That is not the way it should be, "for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). The churches of Macedonia, though going through "a great trial of affliction" and in "deep poverty," nevertheless "abounded unto the riches of their liberality," and they did so in "the abundance of their joy" (2 Corinthians 8:2). What made the difference was that they "first gave their own selves to the Lord" (2 Corinthians 8:5).

No doubt another vital factor leading to the joyful offerings of the people for the building of the temple was the example set by David's great personal joyful generosity, followed by that of all the other leaders of Israel (1 Chronicles 29:3-8.). This encouraged the people also to give "with perfect heart" (today's verse). They had evidently, like the Philippians of Macedonia, also first given themselves to the Lord. David had led them by example, not coercion, reminding himself and his people as he prayed a prayer of thanksgiving that "all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee" (1 Chronicles 29:14). HMM

For more . . . .

Daily Manna
Tuesday August 30, 2016

More Than The Bargain

TEXT: 2 KINGS 4:8-17

"And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life" (2 Kings 4:17)

William Colgate of the famous Colgate Toothpaste discovered this truth early in life that we usually get more than we give to God and keyed into it. He felt the urge to tithe because he recognised that God was the Giver of all that he possessed, not only of opportunity, but even of the elements which were used in the manufacture of his products. William Colgate not merely tithed one-tenth of the earnings of Colgate's soap products; but he gave two-tenths, then three-tenths, and finally five-tenths of all his income to the work of God in the world. Today, the blessings he received have outlived him.

The story of the Shunemite woman in our text is a good illustration. She gave to the prophet of God and got more than she ever thought she could get. In fact, in her giving, she never expected anything in return. As for getting a child, she must have long given up the idea especially as she and her husband were now very old. But God couldn't ignore her deed of kindness. Though she did not ask for it, she got what she needed most.

God will never ignore or forget your deeds and labours of love. We need to take a cue from this woman. She gave without the mind of getting anything in return. This is the best attitude we should adopt whenever we give, either to God or our fellow mankind. But whether we expect a payback or not, God's principle is to reward every true giver and His reward is usually more than we can ever bargain for.

We should therefore not be weary in well-doing. Stay faithful in your tithing and giving to support the work of the Lord. Don't forget those who have devoted all their lives in the labour of the Lord. Remember also, your brethren and strangers who may be in need. Don't forget to entertain them - you may be reaching forth to an angel with a blessing for you.

Bible Reading in one Year: PSALM 61 - 67

Higher Everyday for Youths - Link: http://highereveryday.dclmhq.org/

Thought for the day: "You can't lose when you trade with God"

See more HERE:

OLAADEGBU:
But there are Scriptures that encourage me to go to church, no?

MarkMiwerds:
Actually, no,... there are no Scriptures encouraging us to "go to Church."

The Church is not a brick and mortar building. Stephen said in the book of the Acts of the Apostles that God no longer dwells in Temples made with hands. We who have placed our trust in Christ are the Church.

Should we assemble together? When possible, assembling is good. Paul told the Jews in the diaspora to not forsake the assembling of themselves together.

MarkMiwerds:
Funny, I can't find the phrase "have church" in my Bible.

I don't "go to" church,... I am part of the Church.

Image123:
Mark don come again with irrelevant argument. Is it not somewhere the church will meet?

MarkMiwerds:
The Church meets many places. Sometimes in a building, sometimes not.

The Church is the people,... not the place.

MarkMiwerds:
The Church meets many places. Sometimes in a building, sometimes not.

The Church is the people,... not the place.

brocab:
Well said brother, when two or three are gather the Lord is in the mist of us.

OLAADEGBU:
Have you by any chance come across what the Psalmist said Ps.122:1?

"I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord" (Psalm 122:1).

OLAADEGBU:
Have you by any chance come across what the Psalmist said Ps.122:1?

"I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord" (Psalm 122:1).

MarkMiwerds:
Have read it many times. Wonderful verse!

However, as you should know, the Psalms were written prior to the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. At that time, God dwelled in the Holy of Holies in the Temple. The Temple was the House of God.

However, in the New Testament, the Physician Luke records these words of Stephen, "Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,"

God no longer dwells in a physical structure made with man's hands. He now lives in the hearts and minds of His people.

Daily Manna
Wednesday October 12, 2016

Giving At Its Best

TEXT: 2 CORINTHIANS 9:8-15

"Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown,and increase the fruits of your righteousness" (2 Corinthians 9:10).

Among many stories told about the Great Chicago fire of 1871, the one involving Evangelist D.L. Moody remains etched in most people's memory. The respected cleric proceeded to New York to raise financial help for the victims of the inferno. Homes, factories and industries were destroyed, with value of lost property running into tens of millions of dollars. Moody was led to a rich and generous man in the economic and commercial capital of the United States. The affluent man did not disappoint him and gave Moody a cheque for a large amount in response to the massive need in Chicago. The benefactor did more: he directed Moody to several other wealthier men who also gave heavy contributions.

The evangelist was impressed and as he left New York, he told his host: "If you ever come to Chicago, be sure to call on me, I'll return your favour". But the man replied, "Mr. Moody, don't wait for me to come. Do it to the first man who comes along". Years later when the clergyman recalled this experience, he said: "I never forgot that remark. It had the ring of the true Good Samaritan".

Giving, for Christians is taking after God Who gave His best (His only begotten Son) to unworthy mankind. Giving for evangelism, Church work and to the needy, with no intention to please self or the world, moves God to give more to the donor.

When you give, you become an ally of the original Giver. You put yourself in a commanding position to rise above lack even in the midst of local and global financial crisis. That has been the testimony of those who practice cheerful and bountiful giving. This would also be your testimony as a real and unpretentious child of God.

Bible Reading in one Year: ISAIAH 26 - 29

Higher Everyday for Youths - Link: http://highereveryday.dclmhq.org/

Thought for the day: "Give until giving produces hurts."

See more HERE: