first fruits and tithes are two different things, first fruits came before the the tithes, first fruits was first seen in Gen 4:3-4

KJV:And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
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tithe was first seen in.
Gen 14:20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into
your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

before the law we were taught that Abraham gave tithe and Jacob vowed to give God the tenth of all that he have, but the Bible said nothing about whether they continue in it, that of Abraham was only recorded once and that of Jacob Bible said nothing about that whether he give or not

Now i will go on to another instance of tithing before the law which is the story of Jacob..
Pls let quickly study him from the scriptures..
Gen 28:20-22 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 house, 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."
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From this scriptural reference, we all know the story of how Jacob tricked his brother Easu of his blessings and how he ran for his safety knowing his brother will definitely go after him Now, Jacob made a *VOW*.
why? The answer is in the above three verses
Now the like we know what preachers use to say "brethren ,you don't give tithe, we pay tithe"
Well, the idea is that they got that notion from the law of Moses, we will treat that place am just moving dispensationally ..
Now, tithe is ten percent, payed to God by instruction, because it belong to God.. If we don't give it, we have robbed God, says Malachi.. Now the issue i have with Jacob is that he *vowed*.. Meaning that if he was not in distress to find safety, he wouldn't have vowed. We wouldn't have heard the story that Jacob payed tithe before the law
The matter here is tithe shouldn't be a *Vow*,it should be paid, since it belongs to God..
You only give what belongs to you and not a *vow*..
Is someone thinking here?
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In summary for both Abraham and Jacob as a reference of tithe paying as we do traditionally in church is invalid..
I have 4 reasons
1. Abraham was not instructed by God
2. Abraham didn't give from his income, he gave from spoils from the battles (people's properties).
3. Jacob was not commanded by God to pay tithe
4. Tithe is not a vow, it is paying: In our next study, we will move to the law of Moses, the Old Testament, part of the New Testament too.. And discuss this tithe issue

I will take this teaching stage by stage,
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tithing before the law
Two cases we have before the law was Abraham and Jacob.. We will deal with that first, lets start with Abraham.
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Gen 14:20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
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We will trace what happened... In this verse, was it God that commanded Abraham or was it by volition... Was the tithe from his income..Questions to answer (plz am not against tithing).

Gen 14:1-2 At this time Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam and Tidal king of Goiim, went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).
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Sodom was were Abraham's nephew was lot... That city wanted to be attacked by kings of other cities
Gen 14:11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away.
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They actually captured Sodom and Gomorrah
What happened next? We will see.
Gen 14:12-13 They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.
One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram.
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Pls follow the verses if you are studying with me
Gen 14:14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
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Imagine Abraham, one man against four kings... What a prospered fellow..
Am going somewhere...
Gen 14:15-16 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. Recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
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He recovered the stolen goods.. Plz note
Gen 14:17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley).
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What happened next?
Gen 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High,
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This was where he saw Melchizedek
Gen 14:19 and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
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Gen 14:20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
I stop here...
You can see that we never had an idea of tithe until Abraham gave it to Melchizedek. Now, is not about the money. The question is.
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1.was it commanded by God?
2.where is the source of the tithe? Was it from his own income or spoils.
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From the Bible it was not stated that God commanded Abraham to pay the one-tenth. It was d first time dat the Bible mention someone giving one-tenth or tithe of his earnings to a priest b4 it was later commanded by God to Abraham children (the Israelites), I think Abraham recognize that it was by the help of God dat he got d victory over the four kings and He deserve to be appreciated and he was led to drop the one-tenth of the spoil recovered back to the priest that was recognized then which is Melchizedek as the Priest of the Most High God.
Now to the second question. It was from the spoil he recovered from the battle and not his personal income.

Tithe... Well i have taught about tithe ,but some people think i am running out of grace... Even some very close to me. Well, if you want to pay tithe go ahead, If you will only open your mind to the mystery God is trying to unfold through tithing you will be surprised. If tithing is what i need to give to be prosperous i think i would be very smart...
The summary of it all is that a generous giver is a new testament tither. If i have given 50% of my salary to church and people in need, am i still called a tither? We give morethan 10% of our incomes Monthly If you can sum it up - the offering, tithing, sowing of seed, thanksgiving offering, project offering, donations, first fruits, fulfilment of vow giving to those in need ps etc. If you really think the new Testament law is easy, like the grace thing then you are joking

What is tithing? It means the paying of the one tenth of your income to God as commanded by him

The first Church believes in the principle of giving all, they believe in shearing.
Acts 4:32-37says
32: All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.
33: With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.
34:that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales
35:and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
36:Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”),
37:sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Notice from above the above Scripture, the Apostles didn't say all the money collected is their own but rather the money is for all is main to take care of their needs all together.

flying as +ve, -ve meanings, it may mean you are moving forward, - flying forward

to the front page

miracles are somethings that man can't do or he can only do that with the help of some powers, let me defines miracle first,
1, Miracle is an unusual and mysterious event that is thought to have been caused by God
2, Is an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.
3, an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs etc,
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i know so many creatures especially the smaller ones do float on water, log of wood and so many debris float on water, humans can also float on water while laying down, animals like cattles, dogs, hippopotamus, crocodiles, etc can floats on water,
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Jesus and Peter walking on water is a miracle and always remember miracle is something beyond our understanding, for example before a cripple man can walk the medical ppl have to look for somebody's bones and/or parts of human body to fist it on him... and still the person may likely not walk properly and not at all, but if a miracle happened to that same person within a minute the bones and the flesh will be recover and the person will start walking that's miracle.

how old is religion, how old is atheism, i don't know the actual ground atheist are standing on. they were just recent

Samsimple:
Op is high on boiled sperm oohh.. All i see in those scriptures is God telling man to be hardworking.. Dont twist the bible in other to pass a senseless message bro..

If na those days of moses wey God dey vex well well thunder for don strike u...

no be senseless massage ooo na waiting Bible say oo, Bible say don't be lazy

OkuFaba:
U cant sit in a place and wait for God to bring u food and money and tell me you're not lazy, our christian youths are being taught how to be lazy

by ministers, not by God

are they lazy? the senators

hmmmmm

demons/demonic activities everywhere in the Islamic world, such things are highly expected

it was some ministers of God that are teaching many Christians how to be lazy indirectly, but it wasn't God's plan for us.

we are like an eagle we are not lazy.

Isaiah 40:31:But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Bible never encourages laziness, see for yourself,
*Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
*Proverbs 14:23:In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
*Proverbs 19:15:Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
*Proverbs 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
*Proverbs 26:15 :The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
*Ephesians 5:15-17 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
*Proverbs 6:9-12, How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep, So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
*2 Thessalonians 3:6-10 :Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
*Matthew 25:24-29 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
*Proverbs 24:30-34 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

Scriptural proofs that Christian youths are not lazy,

Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Ecclesiastic 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
1Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
;DGenesis 2:15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
Proverbs 10:4-5 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
Proverbs 12:11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
Proverbs 12:24 :The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

For Buhari to say Nigerian youths are lazy is and insult to Christians youths

All the things that we can't afford God has given us for free; free air, free rain, free salvation... but there are many things God want you to work for and He doesn't want you to be lazy... these things that God want you to work for is what devil may offer you for free after you must have sold your soul and paid some prices.

Christianity is not main for lazy people, everything including our activities was design by God in such a way to make us busy for Him and for one another, it was devil that make people to be lazy, he gave people things for free and illegally after they sold their souls to him.

may be is because Nigerian youths are lazy, that's why they like arguing and they love the Pharisees religious activities,
i am not the one that say you are lazy or ask baba

where u work, na their u go chop, a labourer deserve his wages,
if u need money as a member go and work get money to feed ur family, give to those in need but don't forget those who labour for the Gospel - freely give to them ur materials things as they feed you spiritually

OtemAtum:
Lol... one of the characteristics of humans is arguments. It's hard to stop it, or else the brains would not develop.

i know but that of Nairaland is beyond the normal arguments, is foolishness and hypocrisy and it must be stop

When Solomon began to misbehave, God raised two adversaries for him, what is happening between them may be from God, God must have allow it. So pls stop arguing, come back to God and seek God yourself, i believe is God your following and not any G.O or Ministers

OtemAtum:

You are still in nairaland Argument Season 1 and you are tired already. Season 2, 3, 4 are on the the way. Don't back out yet.

it doesn't take anything for the Almighty to cancel all these arguments, i end all these arguments in Jesus name.

As a Minister of God i declared the end of all argument on Nairaland region forum. Amen

Nigerians like arguing. this thread is not main to creat argument, but for us to stop all this unnecessary arguments that will not add anything to us,
All these arguments won't change the fact that Jesus is Lord, it won't even stop some from believing that man is without salvation without Christ.

As Jesus rose from the grave never to die again, so it is to all who believe in him they will rise to eternal rest.

i think is time for we stop seeing Christianity as a religion, is a way of life

kevoh:

These tiring arguments will not exist in the first place if you people could just prove that your god was the real one and it exists. Do you see anyone arguing over whether the Sun rises in the morning or that Nigeria is not located in West Africa?

Romance 1:18-32
18:The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,
19:since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
20:For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21:For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22:Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
23:and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24:Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
25:They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26:Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.
27:In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28:Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.
29:They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,
30:slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;
31:they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.
32:Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Is not all about the religion activities, is not all about the argument, i am even tired of them, i am tire of arguments, i am tire of the religion activities - activities without the actual productivity, all i want is the power from above, all i want is to be baptized in the Holy Ghost ,all i want is be used by God, all i want is to follow God's direction, all i want is to reach the world with the Gospel of Christ, and all i ever wanted is to fulfil destiny.

i pray for you that you may understand and stop arguing with the people that are not anointed by God especially the Muslims and the Atheist

good one