Truth

1. Truth Foundation of Reality and its Practice in Life

2. Truth – Helpful and Dangerous

3. If it is TRUE… We ought to practice it in our lives

4. Where is God on “Truth” • For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truthendures to all generations. • Psalm 100:5

5. Coherence Theory • Can be ascribed to individual propositions only according to their coherence with the whole.

6. Men ALWAYS brought Offerings • In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. • Genesis 4:3-4

7. Abram Gave “Tithes” • And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. • Genesis 14:20

8. Jacob Knew about “THE Tenth” • “And this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you THEtenth.” • Genesis 28:22

9. The Law of Moses • Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord. • Leviticus 27:32

10. Even Priests gave a Tenth • “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering. • Numbers 18:26

11. Tithe of EVERYTHING • “‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. • Leviticus 27:30

12. 20% Late Fee Charge • Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it. • Leviticus 27:31

13. Ministers were Compensated • “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting. • Numbers 18:21

14. Even the Levites Paid Tithes • “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering. • Numbers 18:26

15. Where do we bring it? • There (To the Tabernacle or Temple) bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. • Deuteronomy 12:6

16. Don’t consume the Tithe • You must not eat in your own towns the tithe of your grain and new wine and olive oil, or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts. • Deuteronomy 12:17

17. “Set Aside” the Tithe • Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. • Deuteronomy 14:22

18. Practical Considerations • But if that place is too distant and you … and cannot carry your tithe…, then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. Deuteronomy 14:24-25

19. Where to give the Tithe? • A priest descended from Aaron is to accompany the Levites when they receive the tithes, and the Levites are to bring a tenth of the tithes up to the house of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury. • Nehemiah 10:38

20. New Testament – Do BOTH ! • “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. • Luke 11:42

21. Expected Practice of Disciple • I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ • Luke 18:12

22. N.T. Reference to the Tithe • And Abraham gave him (Melchizedek) a tenth of everything. • Hebrews 7:2

23. Abraham Honored the Priest • Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! • Hebrews 7:4

24. No one exempted • Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. • Hebrews 7:5

25. Priest ACCEPTED the Tenth • This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. • Hebrews 7:6

26. God’s Record Keeping • One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, • Hebrews 7:9

27. Curse under the Law • “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the store-house, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. • Malachi 3:8-10

28. Pragmatic theory • Truth is verified and confirmed by the results of putting one's concepts into practice.

29. Test Me in This - Pragmatic • Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. • Malachi 3:8-10

30. Cheerful Givers • As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. • 2 Chronicles 31:5

31. Generosity Encouraged • Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. • Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. • 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

32. “Stop the Offering!” • Said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord.”…And so the people were restrained from bringing more, • Exodus 36:4-6

33. Ananias and Sapphira • Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. • 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” • 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

34. Conspiracy to Lie • About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” • “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” • 9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

35. The WHOLE Church heard… • At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. • Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.