"LET  THERE  BE  LIGHT"  Ministries
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AN  UNKNOWN  THIEF,  part  4  quotes

1)    In order to be a faithful and wise steward of God’s sacred tithe, we must test all messages of the different ministers and Ministries of God, in order to know if they are preaching present truth, or just partial truth, or truth mixed with error.  The test we use is the Bible and the Testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of Prophecy.
     “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20.

     “I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10.  

     These verses reveal that the different ministers and Ministries whom we think are worthy to be supported are first to be tested by the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy in order to know if they are preaching the complete present truth or not.  This means that we must first know the truth ourselves!

     We cannot rely upon feelings, or upon the testimony of others.  But we ourselves must know the present truth before we can intelligently decide who to support!
      “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  But shun profane [and] vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” 2 Timothy 2:15-16.




2)     What is the gospel message that is to be preached today?
     “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-2.
     “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” Acts 20:27.  

     All the counsel of God would be a whole gospel message, and this whole gospel message is composed of 2 parts - being Jesus Christ AND Him crucified.





3)    Preaching the first half of the whole gospel message is uplifting Jesus Christ as the only Saviour for any person to obtain justification and sanctification from all past and present personal sins through Christ’s precious blood, merits and righteousness.  This salvation is not found in any church, or in any person, but is found only in Jesus Christ alone.
     “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6.

     “Be it known unto you all...that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole....Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:10, 12.

     “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” 1 John 5:11-12.





4)    Preaching the second half of the whole gospel message is more than just telling people that Jesus was crucified on the cross.

     "Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach." Hebrews 13:12-13.

     This inspired passage reveals that Jesus was not crucified within Jerusalem, but outside of it.  This meant that any who wanted to follow Jesus could not find Him within Jerusalem or within the Jewish church, but only outside of it.  Remaining connected with the corrupt church meant that you could not become personally connected with Jesus or sanctified through Christ’s precious cleansing blood, and thus could not be saved!  This truth also reveals that Jesus was not just separated from all sin, but He was also separated from all determined sinners!
     “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens”. Hebrews 7:26.

     History is repeating today.  Jesus is also not to be found within any of the established churches of today.  They have all become apostate and corrupt, just like the Jewish church of old, and thereby have become part of Babylon the Great, and if we refuse to leave them and join with Jesus outside, then we also cannot be saved.





5)    Which ministers or ministries or churches should not receive tithe?

  – Are those who knowingly remain unfaithful or apostate to be supported with tithe?  No, because if you support them then this would make you responsible for helping them to continue remaining unfaithful and apostate.

  – Are those who knowingly disregard God’s health reform to be supported with tithe?  No, because if you support them then this would make you responsible for encouraging them in their rebellion against health principles, as well as their choice to commit slow suicide by an unhealthful lifestyle.

  – Are those who are knowingly involved in politics to be supported with tithe?  No, because if you support them then this would make you responsible for aiding them to continue in their love and union with the world.

     If you support any unfaithful, rebellious, or world-loving minister, Ministry, church, organization, then you are misapplying God’s tithe and are guilty of robbing Him - even though you are paying tithe!





6)    If you are guilty of stealing God’s tithe, then is repentance all that is required by God?

     “Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.  None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.” Ezekiel 33:14-16.

     These verses reveal that if you are guilty of robbing the Lord in any of these areas of tithing, and you have repented, then you are also to make restitution as far as possible and repay back to the Lord His stolen sacred monies.  After you have done so, then you know that God will completely forgive you for this greatest of crimes, that He will fully remove His curse from off of you, and will then open the windows of heaven and bless you abundantly.
     “...prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10.





7)    #5B - How can we rob God in offerings?

     “Will a man rob God?  Yet ye have robbed me.  But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee?  In tithes and offerings.  Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me”. Malachi 3:8-9.

     If you are not giving to God offerings in addition to your tithes, then you are guilty of robbing God and breaking this 8th Commandment.  But what exactly is an offering?
     The Hebrew word used for “offering” is “teruwmah” and it translates and means “a present offered in sacrifice, gift, offering” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, word #8641).  An offering consists of anything of value that you willingly sacrifice and donate to God in addition to the tithe.





8)    How much should offerings be?
     “...every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD.” Ezra 3:5.

     The Hebrew word for “freewill” is “nedabah”, and it translates and means “a spontaneous or abundant gift, freely, plentiful, voluntary, willing offering” (Strong’s, word #5071).  Offerings are gifts that are voluntarily given to the Lord from a willing grateful heart, and can be of any amount or percentage of our increase.
     “...a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee...Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.” Deuteronomy 16:10, 17.





9)    What can offerings be used for?

     Offerings can also be given to the true ministers and Ministries of God, but they can also be used in many other areas.

     Such as: supporting canvassers or colporteurs or other workers in the Lord’s cause who are not ministers; covering operating expenses of churches or meeting houses; helping needy ministerial students; helping care for the aged, poor and needy, or orphans and widows; purchasing Bibles; Spirit of Prophecy books and materials, tracts, booklets, as well as the postage to mail out these items; purchasing CD or DVD duplicators; copy machines; sanitarium buildings and supplies; spreading of the printed truth; etc.





10)    Anciently, God’s people devoted 1/4 to 1/3 of all their income to support God’s ministers and His cause, and they were greatly blessed by doing so.
     “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Psalms 37:25.

     In like manner, God’s people today would also experience a greater love for, rejoicing in, and sanctification through the truth if they would also do the same – placing God’s will and His cause first above their own will and cause.
     “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33.





11)    What if you do if you are guilty of robbing God by not giving offerings in addition to your tithe?
     “Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.  Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die...?  For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” Ezekiel 18:30-32.

     These verses reveal that if you are guilty of robbing the Lord in this area of offerings, then please begin now to deny and sacrifice self in order to give Him offerings.  After you have done this, then you can ask the Saviour to pardon you for this greatest of crimes against God, and you know assuredly that He will completely forgive you, will fully remove His curse from off of you, and will then open the windows of heaven and bless you abundantly.
     “Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right...without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.  None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.” Ezekiel 33:14-16.