{"id":287,"date":"2009-07-07T12:07:20","date_gmt":"2009-07-07T19:07:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/?p=287"},"modified":"2009-07-07T12:07:20","modified_gmt":"2009-07-07T19:07:20","slug":"the-five-covenants-of-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/site-news\/the-five-covenants-of-god","title":{"rendered":"The Five Covenants of God"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Tithing still remains a controversial issue in the church, even though I straightened everything out two weeks ago. Boy, I wish more people would read this letter.<\/p>\n

Amidst the many comments I received from \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Forget About Tithing\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/a><\/em> was one from T___.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 I did read what you said about tithing but it has been pounded into my head by the church, other Christians and my in-laws, so I didn’t fully comprehend what you were saying.\u00c2\u00a0 I did understand yet I didn’t.\u00c2\u00a0 Does that make any sense to you?\u00c2\u00a0 My husband and I are having a tough time financially with the economy the way it is and my husband being a General Contractor but we’ve been tithing even though we need more money to pay our bills and mortgage.\u00c2\u00a0 We do have some commitments to on-line Christian messengers<\/em> (here she names a list of online newsletters and ministries she supports) When I have spoken to R______ at P_________<\/em> (one of the online newsletters: \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcpartner\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 fee: $10 – $25 monthly) he was adamant about us tithing first no matter what bills we had or if we couldn’t make our house payment.\u00c2\u00a0 I’m so confused and distressed about this because I want to do what the Lord wants me to do and I’m afraid NOT to tithe at least 10%.\u00c2\u00a0 I’m going to go back and re-read your article in hopes that I understand it better and also hoping that I can use that info to explain to others, like R_____ at P_________, that they are not correct in insisting that I make that 10% no matter what.\u00c2\u00a0 Would you have any other scripture that would both make me more comfortable with this concept and also help me to discuss this with the others that insist we MUST tithe?\u00c2\u00a0 Thank you so very much, Mr. Spillman, for taking time out of your very busy life to answer my questions, it is so appreciated.\u00c2\u00a0 God Bless You.\u00c2\u00a0 Your Sister in Christ, T______.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

Here\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s my answer to T____:<\/p>\n

Just because your church, your in-laws or a guy with an internet newsletter says it, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t make it so. Opinions are like bellybuttons; everybody\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s got one. God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s opinion is the only one that matters. Test what they (we \u00e2\u20ac\u201c I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m a guy with an internet newsletter too) say against God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Word \u00e2\u20ac\u201c all of God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Word and in context of who you are \u00e2\u20ac\u201c a new covenant Christian, not an old covenant Jew. If what they (we) say is confirmed by God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Word and His Spirit, great. If not, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s toxic waste \u00e2\u20ac\u201c walk away.<\/p>\n

My opinion? You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re free. Forget about tithing. You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been born into a new covenant that makes the old covenant obsolete. Whoever wrote the book of Hebrews was trying to explain this to the Jews. Here are a few excerpts from chapters 7 and 8.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em> (Hebrew 7:18-19)<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d <\/em>(Hebrews 7:22)<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153By calling this covenant \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcnew,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em> (Hebrews 8:13)<\/p>\n

The Jews (to whom the book of Hebrews was addressed) were steeped in the Law of Moses and the traditions of men. They couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get past the old covenant because it had been pounded into their heads all of their lives (sound familiar?). That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s why the writer of Hebrews had to explain the new covenant in terms the Jewish people would understand.<\/p>\n

Moses gave 613 laws to the people of Israel to obey. Tithing was one of them.<\/p>\n

Two things I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d ask R____ at P__________: a) if he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s dead set on following the law of tithing is he dead set on following the other 612 laws as well? \u00e2\u20ac\u0153\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Romans 2:12)<\/em> b) Does he consider your $10 – $25 monthly \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcpartner\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/em> fee to his newsletter part of your tithe, a donation or a subscription fee? If he says it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s part of your tithe, he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s wrong; we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve already covered that and you can stop paying it. If he says it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a donation or a subscription fee, then you can include it or remove it from your monthly budget based on your current financial obligations and value received from the newsletter.<\/p>\n

If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re still confused about tithing and your obligation as a Christian to Jewish law, here\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s your next step. Ask God to reveal His truth to you through His Word and His Spirit. Open your Bible to the book of Hebrews and start reading.<\/p>\n

As I said a few weeks ago, the new covenant doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t reverse the old covenant; it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s supersedes it, making it irrelevant. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s like a water-use law in a drought stricken city. During a drought certain laws about water usage come into effect \u00e2\u20ac\u201c \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcdon\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t wash your car,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcdon\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t water your lawn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/em>. When rains are abundant, the drought laws are irrelevant. They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been superseded by the reality of rain.<\/p>\n

What the law of the old covenant was powerless to do (make men righteous) the law of the new covenant through Jesus the Messiah has already accomplished.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153\u00e2\u20ac\u02dcThis is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 declares the Lord. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Know the Lord,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 declares the Lord. \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcFor I will forgive their sins and remember their wickedness no more.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122\u00e2\u20ac\u009d <\/em>(Jeremiah 31: 33-34)<\/p>\n

Spiritually speaking, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no drought, the drought laws don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t apply, the rain has come. Tithing is an old obsolete drought law; there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a new law written on your heart that supersedes the old \u00e2\u20ac\u201c give freely, as He leads.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

The most profound and simply explained teaching on this subject outside of the Bible that I know about is David Pawson\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcThe Five Covenants of God.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a two part audio series (two hours of teaching). And it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s available through Purpose Weekly<\/em> as an Mp3 download or on two CD\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s; here\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a free sample: \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcclick here\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/a>.<\/a><\/p>\n

If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d like the full two hour teaching session just contribute any amount God leads you to Purpose Weekly.<\/em><\/p>\n

Whatever you give, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a contribution; not a tithe or a fee \u00e2\u20ac\u201c that way you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re free to do what He wants. (If you think He wants you to have them for a penny, remember that I have to buy them from David Pawson\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s audio distributor; CD\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s, of course, cost more to make and ship than MP3\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u201c do whatever honors God, and yes, I sent a complimentary audio download to T____ .)<\/em><\/p>\n

For MP3 download of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Five Covenants of God\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em> by David Pawson, click here:<\/p>\n

<\/span>\"\"<\/a>MP3 Download NOTE* IMPORTANT FOR YOUR DOWNLOAD! <\/strong>(After your donation a confirmation page will appear. Click on the orange box that says “RETURN TO TRUE POTENTIAL PUBLISHING, INC.”<\/strong> to begin your download. If you fail to receive the download after donating, leave me a comment in the section below and I’ll forward the download link.<\/p>\n

For audio CD\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s (2) of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Five Covenants of God\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em> by David Pawson, click here:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Audio CD\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Tithing still remains a controversial issue in the church, even though I straightened everything out two weeks ago. Boy, I wish more people would read this letter. Amidst the many comments I received from \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Forget About Tithing\u00e2\u20ac\u009d was one from T___. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 I did read what you said about tithing but it has been pounded […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[634,14,277,186,459,1,458],"tags":[882,862,78,729,728,511],"class_list":["post-287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-church","category-david-pawson","category-gods-voice","category-money","category-possessions","category-site-news","category-thriving-in-tough-times","tag-church","tag-david-pawson","tag-hebrews","tag-new-covenant","tag-old-covenant","tag-tithing"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/287","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=287"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/287\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}