Adonai’s Lesson on Tithes and Offerings

Originally received May 13, 2021

This lesson began when The Lord had told me to leave my job. I had concerns regarding tithes, offerings, since there would be no paycheck coming in, how would I accomplish those things? Also, since I am no longer a regular member at a particular church, I had been giving tithes where I had felt like He was directing, or at least, where I had been receiving preaching and teaching. There have been certain ministries where from time to time, I was receiving the majority of teaching, and so I gave my tithe to that particular ministry. As He had directed me to leave my job, and most of those ministries were based in other states, I wondered how I was to keep up my tithes and offerings. The following is His lesson regarding those two things.

As always, take all things to The Lord in prayer. Search the Scriptures to verify, for He never teaches or speaks outside His Word. When you see parentheses, it is merely me giving clarification to the reader, I understood what He was saying, but I want to ensure the reader understands, as well.

“I want you to give your money to me, to My Kingdom. Not to keep some little church going.” (Me:???)

“My Kingdom is not of this world and My resources are not of this world. I will direct you where to give. It’s not just your money, it’s your time, your food, giving to those in need.”

? Lord, I thought giving to the needy was on top of tithing.

“When the Levite priests had no job (they served only Him, and they had no farms, herds, businesses, etc. to support themselves), it (the tithe) was their support. The tithe is returning to Me the tenth to My Kingdom. What church did they (the believers) support in Paul’s day? They (the believers) gave to each other, they took care of Paul and Silas and Timothy who preached My Word and advanced My Kingdom. There was no building to keep the lights on.

They (Paul, Silas, et al) went wherever they could, preaching and teaching. The tithe was given to them, it kept them going. The tithe fed them, clothed them and sheltered them. The tithe was not like you think, in today’s terms. The tithe was food, shelter, clothing, not always in money. They (Paul and Co) did not know where the provision was coming from, until they got there (the destination). They knew I was their source, but they knew not who would help them.

So give of your food, your clothes. Give shelter when it is needed, that is your tithe, in addition to your time and money as you have it. Money in the times of the ancient priests or in the Bible in general, was not like your money, now. Yes, there were coins of gold and silver available, but most often they gave in food, shelter and clothing. Food and shelter were far more important. Gold did you no good if you had nothing to eat.” (Gold was no good if you were not in a place to buy food. Let's also keep in mind, town/city markets closed in the evening, city gates closed in the evening, and there was no such thing as a truck stop if you were out on the road. You might travel several days from one city to reach the next, and you needed enough provision to last for the journey.)

“It (gold) did you no good hiding under a rock to keep warm. Yes, it could buy you a place, but often I did not want them to buy a place. They depended on Me to be their provision. Provision might come in the form of food or clothing or even books (I was reminded when Paul was asking to be sent some items).

Don’t worry if you don't have money to give to Me. The time is fast approaching when you won’t have any money, at all. You read in Leviticus about the show bread and the grain offerings and oil. The people brought (to the Levites) 10% of their herds and their crops and they rarely had 10% in “money” to give. I have given you food. Give 10% of that and clothes.”(this was instruction to me at that particular time, but I know I am not limited to giving only food and clothes. I am to give what is needed, as needed)

JCA Notes: According to His instructions, don’t just limit tithing to merely money. There is coming a day when you, I, or any of us will not have money to give. Consider your food, clothes, shoes, shelter, blankets, books, or any other useful items as something that can be given as a tithe or an offering. God’s provision is unlimited, so why limit your own ability to give? Consider the widow who gave to Elijah the last of her food - because she fed the prophet, she and her son were provided for, during the rest of the famine. You never know, the last of your food or the last of whatever else you have may be the tithe/offering needed in order for God to bless you until the end of the famine, pandemic, war, or storm.

I will also make this point about offerings, this I learned from another ministry: what God instructs you to give, then give exactly as He instructs. Do not give more or less than what He has instructed. If you do just as He has instructed, then you are in obedience. Giving more or less, or something else, is disobedience. How many people have “sowed a seed of faith” that some preacher told them to, rather than asking God for instruction? When you give what man has told you to give, how can you expect to receive God’s blessing? If we really believe that all provision comes from Him, then why not ask Him where or how or how much He wants us to give from that provision?

Leviticus 27:30-32; Numbers 3:11-12, 40-51; 18; Deuteronomy 12:6-17; 14:22-28; 26:1-13

2 Chronicles 31:5-12; Nehemiah 10:37-38; Luke 21:1-4; 1 Kings 17:7-16

Acts 4:32-37; 11:27-30; 28:1-10, 14-15, 30-31; Romans 15:25-29; 16:1-2;2 Corinthians 8, 9;

Philippians 4:10-20; Galations 6:7-10; 2 Timothy 4:13; 1 John 3:17-23