Finances and the Apostolic

My concern in writing this booklet is to try and address the subject of supporting ministry biblically and practically. I want to lay a biblical foundation as it relates to money and God's perspective in terms of giving support to kingdom business.

I am making an assumption that you have studied the Word of God regarding finances and have a basic understanding of the biblical foundations relating to giving and support of ministry. I want to mention a few areas so that we are tracking together in our thinking as we go along here and consider "How to Finance the Apostolic and Prophetic Ministries". 

There are three primary concepts regarding money to keep in mind:

First, Money is a means of exchange.    Webster says in partial quote, "It is issued as a medium of exchange. It is recognized and accepted throughout cultures around the world."

Secondly, finances are related to covenant. When we deal with finances in terms of the Kingdom of God, it is always covenantal. Even in the world systems, money is connected with various covenant agreements (contracts). 

Thirdly, finances are related to the heart. A good example is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-10

So exchange, covenant, and the heart are foundations to the subject of finances and this booklet. The first reference, interestingly enough, in the Word of God dealing with finances as it relates to exchange is found in Genesis 12:16 Abraham, in a moment of fear, exchanged his wife for some goods. He was afraid because she was so beautiful and desirous that Abimelech would take her and kill him, thus he exchanged her.  Abraham did not need more things (he was quit wealthy), but he felt he needed security. So Abimelech gave him herds and other gifts increasing Abraham's wealth, while his wife was with Abimelech. Obviously God wasn't pleased about this transaction. The results of this transaction was nearly disastrous, but God was merciful.

God dealt with Abimelech. Abimelech had some choice words for Abraham, and then there was another exchange. This time it was a pretty good deal. Abraham gets his wife back, untouched because of God's intervention, he gets more goods, (in spit of his treachery). God's apostle in the Old Testament laid his hands on Abimelech, and his whole household was healed. Abraham's blessing even produced babies.

The concept of apostle is not new to the New Testament. In fact, Jesus Himself says to Israel:

"Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation..." (Luke 11:49-50)

God has always had apostles, "sent men of God" that were carrying a message of the Kingdom of God. It wasn't just prophets who had a message, but apostles and prophets. Though different in operation, the office was the same as in the Old Testament. Let us look closer at this office Abraham had before God.

The first biblical example of tithing is seen in Abraham's life. Abraham comes out of a war with five kings with spoils. He meets a king on the way who came out to meet Abraham. This Kings name was Melchizedek and most scholars believe he was none other than the Pre-incarnate Christ.  Hebrews 7 tells us that we have no record of his birth, no record of his death. He was the king of Salem which meant king of peace. And He came with the covenant meal while Abraham brought to Melchizedek the tithe of the spoils.

"...to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated "king of righteousness," and then also king of Salem, meaning "king of peace," 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually." (Hebrews 7:2-3)

It is vital to see the connection between the tithe and the covenant meal. The tithe is covenantal, just as the meal. It is not just a good idea. It is not just something that we are to practice. Giving is covenantal in its very nature. Abraham brought what he had, the spoils of overcoming these wicked kings. He brings from the spoils, a tenth or tithe, and gives it to Melchizedek. Melchizedek in turn gives to Abraham the bread and the wine or the "covenant meal". Melchizedek brought what he had to express covenant with Abraham, "Peace". Abraham brought what he had to express covenant, spoils. You can't die for anyone else's sins. Only Jesus can! Jesus brings to us the bread and the wine. He is the Covenant Maker and He offers to us of His own life, the bread and the wine.

Please understand, we bring our life also when we bring the tithes or any of our money to God. We bring our lives because it is the sweat of our brow. Our tithe represents a part of the hours spent working; it represents our life. So when we bring our money, we are giving life, not just money.

A pastor had a problem receiving a donation from money gained by gambling. A contribution was made to a Christian Organization and this pastor asked, "How can you take that money, it is dirty money?" The minister of the Christian Organization replied "well, it has served the kingdom of darkness long enough so let us get it into the kingdom of God, clean it up, and get it working for the gospel". Money that is given covenantally is sacred to the Lord, regardless of the source.

The second Biblical example is really a confirmation of the first. Jacob, after he survives wrestling with God. Makes an oath Have you ever wrestled over giving money? When he finished wrestling with God, that is, the angel of the Lord, he said,

"All that you have increased me of, I will give you a tenth."

Do you think God needed his tenth? Certainly not! But Jacob was saying, "I recognize that all I have is from you. I commit myself." He learned this from his grandfather. Probably his father, Isaac practiced giving the tithe as well, although the Bible doesn't mention it.

Can you see the biblical pattern established? It is a pattern of giving, not legalism, of but a pattern of giving from the heart, with covenant in mind. In the pre-law a pattern of giving, a minimal amount of giving was standard. It is a recognition of God's grace; "God, I recognize that everything I have is from You, so I am giving this tenth as a recognition that everything I have comes from you." That is Old Testament and New Testament thinking.

The third example of the tithe has to do with what was established in the context of the Law for the Holy Nation. Notice what the Lord says in Leviticus 27:32:

Many argue that this is Old Testament teaching and not New Testament. I will argue that this is biblical pattern that crosses over the line between the two covenants and becomes the law written in our heart.         Jesus said: 

He didn't remove the tithe, but He brought clarity in connecting it with mercy and justice. The New Testament doesn't spend time talking about the tithe because the first converts were Jews who brought the value system of the Law into the new Creation work of the Spirit. Not the sacrificial part of the Law, but the value system of the Law. The Ten Commandments weren't done away with when Jesus went to the cross. The cross fulfilled what the law could not seeing it was weak through the flesh. Jesus death on the cross satisfied the requirement of the law for sin. The power of the Spirit imparts the resurrection life of Christ enabling the believer to fulfill the law.

There is nothing wrong with the Law. The problem is you and me. And the Law couldn't satisfy God's eternal justice. The law can only expose man's problem. So God sent Jesus to deal with the problem of sin. Jesus made it clear that His coming was bringing clearer understanding of the Law. He fulfilled all that the Law required. Tithing is rooted in Him because God established this law of giving in the Lord Jesus Christ.

For further evaluation of my point, please consider Leviticus 27. It appears as though God is a businessman too. He allowed loans to be made on the tithe. If a man didn't pay his tithe, the Lord said, I understand. You've got bills to pay, but I require you to pay back 20% or 1/5 interest, thank you.  If you use the tithe on yourself, because it is holy to the Lord, then just pay me 20%. Don't complain about MasterCard, God set the 20% level. If we handle our finances biblically, we would not have to deal with the 20%, whether it is God or MasterCard.

An illustration:

I had a family that I pastored a number of years ago. This couple had been faithful tithers. Suddenly they had become unfaithful tithers. They stopped giving regularly and I was wondering what was happening in their lives to affect this change. In fact they were going through, struggles justifying their changed pattern of faith-full giving. I was led to preach on tithing one Sunday. In my message I mentioned the Leviticus 27 passages. As a result they started tithing, and they added 20% on their tithe for a year until they paid God back. Hallelujah. This wasn't legalism; it came from their heart! They had received a revelation from the Word of God by the Spirit of God. As their pastor, I didn't put it on them. They received a revelation, and responded to the Spirit's prompting to obey the Word.

That doesn't mean God will reveal to everyone the twenty percent principle, but He did it with them. Thank God for their integrity to obey the Word and the Spirit. Then I watched God bless them and help them as they were faithful to obey the Word of God. God blessed them

Here are some bullet points for consideration in summary:

• the tithe belongs to God
• the tithe is used for the support of the priesthood
• the tithe is commanded by the law
• the law requires 20% interest when the tithe is used on self

This is the Old Testament pattern given to the community of God within the context of the law of Moses. As New Testament believers we are not limited to the tithe, but can go beyond as God gives grace.