11/12/2024
"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Thanksgiving is a spiritual acknowledgment of the Blesser and His blessing that bears very little on whether the blessing is visible or not. Ephesians 1:3 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." The usage of blessed toward God doesn't imply that we can bless God with anything. It implies that we can bestow thanksgiving and praise to the Lord.
In Genesis 14:18-20, we find that our ancestor, Abraham had just won a remarkable victory having routed some kings in battle and then he encountered Melchizedek. The Bible says, "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all." Notice, Abram's response to the Blesser and the blessing was the tithe of everything. In other words, he gave thanks with his tithe. Hebrews 7: 4,7 says, "Now consider how great this man [Melchizedek] was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils...Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better."
In essence, tithing is a spiritual acknowledgment of the Blesser. This is why Jacob, following in the footsteps of Abraham, invoked tithing as his response to the blessing that was made available to his as the seed of Abraham. "Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You" (Genesis 28:20-22). This wasn't a transaction, it was a spiritual acknowledgment of God's capacity to bless stupendously. Hear me, the Lord is tired of getting you by. He desires to channel stupendous blessings to others through you.
Now let me show you a mystery. In Luke 17: 12-14, Jesus healed ten lepers. Then in Luke 17:15-16, the Bible says, "And one of them [the tithe], when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan." The tithe of those healed lepers went back to God and glorified God. Guess what happened?
The Bible says that wholeness was produced. "And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole." (Luke 17:17-19). Wholeness is a state of completeness; of autarky; of always having and never coming short in any situation or circumstance.
As we continue in this season of preparation, part of the things into which the Lord is ushering us, involves stewarding people and resources at an increased capacity. The tithe is not something you should be casual about at this new level of promotions, expansions and fruitfulness.
Read today's devotional again and again if you have not been faithful with tithing until faith arises in your heart. It is a time of increase and wholeness for you and your eyes will see the glory of God.
Have a great day.
Faith-Filled Confession
I am a tither. I have been blessed with faithful Abraham as his seed. Therefore, nothing in this world is beyond my reach for the spreading of the Kingdom of God. I am Christ's ambassador and I demonstrate my ambassadorship through the resources that have been made available to me by the Blesser. Hallelujah !
Prayer Direction
Psalm 103:2-3
Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
Let’s begin by acknowledging all the benefits of the Lord in our lives. Let’s call to mind the faithfulness of God in our lives yesterday and Thank Him for answered prayer.
Luke 9:62 TLB
But Jesus told him, “Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
. Pray against anything that will distract the brethren from fulfilling their God given mandate.
Ephesians 3:16
May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].
. Pray that they will be strengthen and inspired in their devotion to the guidance and instruction of the Holy Spirit.
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