The Builder and the House

Principals of the House of God: A Psalm 127 Study

Today’s Focus: The Builder and the House

Scripture: Psalm 127:1

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

When we look at principals of the House of God we will be looking at it’s construction, composition and how it functions in the earth. So let’s get right to it.

Psalm 127:1: Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

There is so much here so let’s start to deconstruct and get an understanding. First from a historical perspective we know that Solomon was given the grace by God to build the temple at Jerusalem. Now there was explicit instructions to how to build the temple. David received the vision and Solomon, his son was the one to build it. All instructions and measurements were given by the Lord. So there was no mistake to how this temple was to be built because the contractor gave the worker’s the blueprint and expected them to carry out His blueprint and this brings me to the first part of this scripture, “Except the Lord build the house”.

Now we already discussed that the Lord gave instructions and directions on how to build the temple but there is eternal reality that God was speaking through this type and shadow. The key words to unlocking this mystery is in the phrase “build the house”. The word build in Hebrew is the word “banah” and it has a very unique meaning and it means “obtain children”. The word house in Hebrew is “bayith” which means “family”. Now if that is the interpretation this is what we have: “Except the Lord obtains children for His family”. Is this not what we should know about the House of God being a family! Look at the first two words, except the Lord. What does this tell us?

It is only by the Lord can the House of God be built. Him and Him exclusively. So many people take scriptures like this and pervert it to mean the church house. Now what has happened is there is such focus on the building and its size and the ministries within it. There is focus on members and having a lot of them and doing all this ministry work. Now it may look good and it may feel good but if God did not have His Spirit, power and grace in it, it is worthless no matter how big it is. So many people put a focus on going out and drawing people into the church house to build up members and some in good intentions invite people to the church house for service, nothing wrong with that. However if your intentions are wrong then you are building in vain. Everyone who comes into the Kingdom and House of God MUST BE DRAWN BY HIS SPIRIT. We have built huge churches and many of them were built in the wrong spirit and because of the cost to build such a structure, the focus is not on discipleship but prosperity, giving, tithing and feel good messages to make people stay to pay.

The Lord knows who is supposed to be a part of what flock and household. If the children of God would just submit to His rulership and present their bodies to Him as a living sacrifice, then God can draw them in by His Spirit and then He gets the credit. It will be His Spirit that draws them and His Spirit that keeps them. But when we use gimmicks and manipulation to draw people into the church house, then you will have to continue to deceive them and manipulate them to stay. It is a modern day brainwashing because you never really experience the true power of God because you were not drawn by His Spirit to that flock of believers. The Lord knows who is to disciple who, the key is allowing Him to show you and you follow.

We will continue with study Psalm 127:1 in the next message and we will continue to discuss the building of the House.

Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Summary of the Tithe

Truth About the Tithe

Today’s Focus: Summary of the Tithe

Scripture: Matthew 6:33; 1 Timothy 5:17; Hebrews 7:1-10; Genesis 14:17-20

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

Let’s wrap this up:

Is the tithe a matter of the Law? The answer is no! We are not under the Levitical Priesthood order but under the order of Melchizedek which is a royal priesthood. Being under the Levitical priesthood, it was mandatory to pay the tithe to Levitical tribe. However when the first covenant was put in effect, we transitioned from Law to grace and now it is not a matter of law but a matter of relationship and condition of the heart.

When the scripture talks about storehouses, is it talking about bringing the tithe to a church? No. The storehouse was rooms under the temple at Jerusalem where they kept cattle and grain which was offered as the tithe from the other 11 tribes to the Levitical tribe who kept the tithe. The tithe back then was primarily grains and livestock and to preserve and protect it, it was kept in storehouses.

Who should receive the tithe? The scriptures say in 1 Timothy 5:17 that the elders are worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. Because we are under grace and the purpose of the tithe has changed to relationship, the relationship is between the older and the younger or a father and son or offspring. The tithe is given cheerfully out of love and grace toward the elder that watches over, or bishop over your souls and disciple you to maturity so that when the Lord deems you ready, you can oversee souls and rule with honor. The tithing from the son to the father is to show honor due to the elder. Is the tithe always money? No, religion has made the tithe money but the tithe is all about honor given to the elder who God has given you to watch over you and give an account. This relationship is not person to institution but person to person.

The purpose of the tithe is to be celebratory to show that you do not trust in yourself and your ways to get your provision and protection met but God is your source because you are a son and everything in your Father’s house is within our reach because we have an eternal inheritance from our Father which supplies all of our needs. Now if we could view tithing in its proper place, I know more people would cheerfully give. Not just money, but their time and whatever God has given them and then we they see Matthew 6:33 become a reality they will be on their way to maturing to be all that God has called them to be.

I pray that you are blessed by this series and understand that we must be faithful over the unrighteous mammon and when we are, the Lord will began to entrust with us the true riches of the Kingdom of God.

At Our Father’s Service

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

The Tithe and the Attitude Toward the Tithe

Truth About the Tithe

Today’s Focus: The Tithe and the Attitude toward the Tithe

Scripture: Hebrews 7:7; 1 Timothy 5:17

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

When we discuss things like the tithe, for most people attitudes shift from happy and joyous to skeptical and reluctance. But when we teach the reason for the tithe and the purpose and show people the significance through scripture, then the Word of God convicts them and when we realize why we do it, we are now more freely able to do it knowing the truth.

Now look at “Hebrews 7:7: And without contradiction, the less is blessed of the better”. Now we stated that it is a relationship model. The older (better) serves the younger (less). Hence the father serves the son. Now, the response of the younger to the older, or the lesser to the greater, brings the honor that is due to the older. We have this scripture:

“1 Timothy 5:17: Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”

The word “honour” is the word in Greek “time” (tee-may) meaning money and/or the highest degree of esteem. The honor is in the form of the tithe. Who is it that supposed to receive the double honour? The elders, a person. Now this is not a forced relationship but a relationship connected by Holy Spirit bonded in love. The elder who is to watch over your soul labours in the word and doctrine and disciples you into maturity is worthy of the tithe. The reason you give the tithe is a show of celebration of your sonship and that you do not meet your own provision and protection but realize that you are a child of God in your Father’s House and you are aware and know that your provision and protection is provided by the Father and you have a heavenly inheritance to pull from. When you become faithful over the unrighteous mammon then God will entrust you with more knowing that you still are a son but have matured to understand that what is given to you is for distribution to the people who are in need. This maturation process continues so that God can bring you to a point where you can operate in the true riches of the Kingdom and rule with honor. This giving of the tithe is not on compulsion, manipulation or fear, but out of love and grace are we to give and this brings us to our attitude towards the tithe.

Jesus says that He loves a cheerful giver. A cheerful giver is one who has a cheerful and willing heart. Your attitude toward the tithe should be more of a celebration and not forced activity. Now Abraham said that God is the possessor of heaven and earth and he recognized that it was God who met his every need. Abraham was happy to give to Melchizedek just as Melchizedek served Abraham bread and wine. The greater is serving the lesser and the lesser’s response to the greater is in the form of the tithe and it gives honor unto Melchizedek to whom it was due. This was a celebratory process and not a grievous one. When we give out of grieve it does you no good and God knows this because your heart is not in the right place to give.

Now someone may ask what if a person does not have money to give? The tithe is not a money issue, it is an honor issue. Money is the least of the blessing but it is also the test point of whether you trust God for your provision and protection or whether you solely rely on you means and abilities to get that met. Another name for money in scripture was unrighteous mammon. However God has blessed you, you should be lead of the Spirit to tithe whatever it is the Lord has given you. Now let’s deal with some scare tactics that are used in the church and squash this mess.

If you do not tithe, will you lose your sonship or salvation? No. Will the enemy attack you more and more if you do not tithe? No. So what happens when you do not? The Father cannot entrust you with the true riches of the Kingdom so your maturation process is stunted because you have not come into maturity of understanding how to be faithful over the unrighteous mammon and you have to come to the mindset that your provision and protection is God and not in your ability to meet your provision and protection. Now when you are faithful over the few things then God will increase your flow as you begin to distribute what He allows you to handle. See if God entrusted the true riches of the Kingdom to an orphan then he will rule with dishonor and bring shame to the family. However, if the son is mature then he will rule with honor and He bring honor to his Father’s House.

Give honor to those who are worthy as it pertains to your spiritual growth. Money is not the only thing because not everyone has money. However the Lord leads you, you should tithe. It should be done cheerfully and not out of compulsion or fear. If you want to mature trust God and give honor to those who He has set in your life to watch over your soul and disciple you into maturity.

At Our Father’s Service

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

The Church Building: Necessity or Luxury

Truth About the Tithe

Today’s Focus: The Church Building: Necessity or Luxury?

Scripture: Acts 17:24,25; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

In today's church culture, the tithe is primarily being used to maintain the building, staff and pastor. Where did this all come from as it pertains to the building and maintenance and paying the staff and all of this. Where did it come from?

First, it did not come from the first century church and the reason I say this is because primarily the first century church went from home to home ministering and sharing the gospel (Acts 2:42-47). There was a steep advantage to doing it this way. For one, the church had no financial responsibilities to the government and towards a building, utilities, taxes and all of these problems that arise in our churches today. Notice throughout the majority of the entire New Testament, the apostles did not run around preaching and teaching tithing. That is very unique because that means they were focused on doing what they see the Father doing and teaching the Word of God to the nations. That is a focused purpose. Now if we look at then and now, what is the difference?

For one, in these harsh economic times we are seeing more prosperity preaching and teaching and hearing more messages about give to this to get that. This is not what Jesus taught. The focus of these leaders is to maintain their lavish lifestyle at the expense of the members. Do you notice how these popular preachers live lavish lifestyles while their members are struggling and just getting by. Some have lost their homes and their families giving to these people who have preached this foolishness. But yet they still get the support and the financial gifts from the very people they are fleecing. They buy these buildings that they know is more than they can afford but they know if they can scare the people using Malachi and Haggai into giving tithes and offerings so God can open the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing. I am getting sick just typing this. Look, the first century church did not have to deal with NONE of this because when people gave, they gave cheerfully and freely and everyone had everything in common. So where did the church building concept come from? Just like most of what we know about the current church culture, Catholicism.

Constantine around 300 A.D. started to erect buildings that people can go worship their gods in the Roman Empire. Understanding the Christianity was a growing sect in the empire, Constantine had a building built for the Christians to go worship in. Now here is the twist, Constantine wanted to build a city but needed the funding to do so and so what Catholicism did was take scriptures such as Haggai and Malachi to scare the people and tell them that a curse would be put on them if they did not pay their tithes. Politicians also saw that tax money was flowing into the churches and they became "priests" to get the tithes and offerings from the people. All of this money that was collected was used by Constantine to erect a city called Constanople. This city was built off of the tithes and offerings of the people. Do we see a correlation? This trend became very popular and this started a wave of church buildings being built.

Notice it is 324 years after the Day of Pentecost is the first church building is erected. So for over 300 years the church ministered house to house. So it was Catholicism that really brought the "church building" concept to Christianity. Much of what we see in the churches came from Catholicism. Many of these prominent preachers are no different from the crooked ways of the Roman Catholic church by scaring people to give to furnish the building and the lavish lifestyle. We must get back to God and the mentality that we are the church and the temple of the Lord.

Acts 17:24-25: God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of Heaven and Earth, DWELLETH NOT IN TEMPLES MADE BY HANDS; NEITHER IS WORSHIPPED WITH MEN'S HANDS, AS THOUGH HE NEEDED ANY THING, SEEING HE GIVETH TO ALL LIFE, AND BREATH AND ALL THINGS.

So we are the building that God dwells in. The building is a luxury, not a necessity. If it was a necessity God would have told us, but He tells us about His temple and how it is to be maintained.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20: What? know ye not that YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: THEREFORE GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY, AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD'S.

The church building is not where God dwells but He dwells with you. Building a building or acquiring a building is of man and so it must be funded and supported by you. It is not God's responsibility to pay the note. When you buy a car, who pays the car note? You do. You could walk! So these are luxuries. So please I am not condemning the building but we should never allow the expenses and cares of the building to interrupt or change the very gospel that we are to preach and live. Think about it this way churches pay taxes on land, the banks own the building if there is a mortgage, in order to have utilities the church must pay the utility company. See where the tithe or offering is going, to the government just like Constantine and the Roman Catholic Church which is a mixture of false god worship of the Pope who controlled government and church. So if God is shifting people to doing home ministry, what is wrong with that if that is what God started out with? We need to be very careful classifying church as people within a building instead of people being the building in which God lives in.

At Our Father’s Service

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Religous Scare Tactics About the Tithe

Truth About the Tithe

Today’s Focus: Religious Scare Tactics About the Tithe

Scripture: Haggai 1:2-6; Malachi 3:8-10

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

Haggai 1:2-6: Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts saying, This people say, the time is not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built. Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste? Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes

Now many preachers use this scripture to say that people need to pay tithes to support the building and the ministry and this is cannot be further from the truth. First, who is the Lord speaking to and about what is the question. First He is speaking to natural Israel and second the Lord was speaking through Haggai that it is time to build the Lord’s house. God was not talking about building your own church house. God ordained the temple at Jerusalem to be a type and shadow of the temple that He will truly dwell in. A scare tactic that these money preachers use is to convict the people through guilt about their lifestyle and the need for them to give to the building of the building or project of the church. These preachers preach that if the people do not give then a curse will be on them and they will not get rich because everytime they get money it will be like putting money in a bag with holes.

Another scare tactic is Malachi 3:8-10

Malachi 3:8-10: 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, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and 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.

Carnal preachers use this scripture to say if you do not pay tithes and offerings then you are robbing God and hence you are cursed. This is crazy. Once again, who is God speaking to and about what? God is speaking to the Levitical priest who were robbing God by not fulfilling their duties appropriately. In the last message we know that the storehouse are the rooms underneath the temple to keep livestock and food from the elements that were offered. The storehouse is not the church building. Second, if we are in Christ, Romans 8 says we are “joint-heirs with Christ” hence what Christ owns, we own. There is not 90/10 but 100/100. So how can you rob God of what is dually yours? Now this leads to one big topic and we will open this can of worms in the next message.

I understand some people pass down things that have been taught for years and assume them to be correct, but when God gives us clarity and revelation we are responsible to change and adhere to His revelation. Now why would people misuse and abuse scripture this way? They do this to support their own ambitions and desires. People are told that if they do not tithe the 10% there is a curse upon them and when something happens they think it is because they did not pay their tithes. This is foolishness. There is no curse if you do not pay your tithes! Am I saying that you should not? Absolutely not! But we as the sons of God should be cheerful givers and give what is purposed in our hearts to give. We are to never force or use scare tactics to get people to give. We should never use scare tactics to get people to get saved. There is once again no curse, the devil will not attack you and destroy your house if you do not pay your tithes.

In the next message we will look at the heart of these tactics and you will be surprised what it is.

At Our Father’s Service

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Understanding the Levitical Priesthood and the Storehouse Scripture

Truth About the Tithe

Today’s Focus: Understanding the Levitical Priesthood and the Storehouse Scripture

Scripture: Malachi 3:10; Hebrews 7:12

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

So many people use Malachi 3:10 as their “tithe” scripture to get people to tithe to the church. They use that scripture to deceive people into giving something to get something. But let’s look at this scripture and put it into context.

Malachi 3:10: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and 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.”

Now preachers use this scripture to encourage people to tithe but what is the scripture talking about when it says storehouses? Many preachers say the storehouse is the church? Is it? Let’s see! Under the Levitical Priesthood the brothers of Levi tithed to the sons of Levi as required by the Law. The Levites were not given a land grant but were commanded to take care of the temple. Now during this time when the prophet Malachi spoke this, which priesthood was in the order on the Earth? Yes, Levitical. So what was God talking about when He said storehouse?

Under the Temple at Jerusalem there were huge rooms. Back then the tithe was not coinage, per say but agriculture because they were an agrarian society. So the tithe would be of the harvest and of the flocks. When they would bring the tithe, which would be food or livestock, the priest would keep the animals and food in these rooms under the Temple. These rooms were called storehouses. The reason this was done because you do not want to leave the food and/or livestock exposed to the elements to reduce the risk of disease and spoilage. Now remember this is under the Levitical Priesthood under the Law but we are not under the Law but under grace. These people had to do this to fulfill the law! The law cannot save you nor can it build relationships. Now let’s put this in the mix here.

When was the Law given? 430 years after Israel’s entrance into Egypt. Now we have already said that there was an active order before the Law in the earth as it pertains to the tithe. That of course was the order of Melchizedek. Remember Abraham met Melchizedek and Abraham tithed to Melchizedek. Now here is the big thought. The tithe was customary before the Law, but the Temple at Jerusalem would not be built until after the giving of the Law, so who or where did Abraham, Isaac and Jacob give their tithes if there was no temple? Now that is a question. Well the scripture tells us that there was an existing priesthood of the order of Melchizedek and Abraham tithed to him. All the high priests of that time were named Melchizedek and of course we know the last Melchizedek is Jesus Christ. So when the order in the earth changed, the priesthood changed (Hebrews 7:12). Notice, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did not tithe to an institution but to a person but when the order changed, the people tithed into the priesthood God set up for them which is to the Levitical Order. Let me tell you why you do not follow the Levitical priesthood model.

The Levites were priest, but they were not kings. They were not the royal bloodline. The royal bloodline comes through the tribe of Judah (Jesus Christ). We are a royal priesthood so we encompass both royalty and a priestly administration of the covenant between God and God.

WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW BUT GRACE, HENCE WE DO NOT TITHE OUT OF FORCE OR NECESSITY BUT OUT OF RELATIONSHIP, LOVE AND GRACE. Now that is a mouthful. If you tithe out of necessity or force then you are under the Law, mentally. Your tithe should be out of love, relationship and grace that the Lord gives you. So the Law shifts and gives way to relationship and what is that relationship? Between a father and a son.

In the next message we will look at other scriptures that are used out of context to get people to tithe into the church

At Our Father’s Service

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Contrasting Priesthoods: Levitical and Melchizedek

Truth About the Tithe

Today’s Focus: Contrasting Priesthoods: Levitical and Melchizedek

Scripture: Hebrews 7:1-10; 1 Peter 2:9

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

Now look at this set of scripture to set our discussion in motion:

Hebrews 7:4-6: Now consider how great this man (Melchizedek) was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take the tithes of the people according to the Law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: But he (Melchizedek) whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham and blessed him that had the promises.

Now you have two covenants and two different priesthoods. The scripture tells us this unique story of how UNDER THE LAW, the brethren of the sons of Levi, tithed into the priesthood even though they were all in Abraham. All of the sons of Israel came from the seed of Abraham. Now think about how great Melchizedek was that Abraham, carrying the seed of Israel, including the Levites tithed a tenth to Melchizedek. So even Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek because he was in the loins of his father, Abraham when Abraham met Melchizedek. Now depending upon the covenant that you live under, your mentality of the tithe will be framed.

Do you live under the Levitical Priesthood or the Priesthood of the Order of Melchizedek? Well to answer this question, if you are a son of God and Kingdom citizen then you are under the order of Melchizedek. Why are we under the order of Melchizedek? Because the order of Melchizedek is a royal priesthood. Remember Melchizedek was a king and a priest, hence royal priesthood. Now Peter says this about the sons of God:

1 Peter 2:9: But ye (saints) are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, an peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light..

So if you are a royal priesthood, a king and a priest, then you are under the first covenant and the order of Melchizedek. You are not under the order of Levi and the Levitical Priesthood.

In the next scripture we will look at the Levitical priesthood and look at the concept of “storehouses” and the use of that word in scripture because it has been used and abused and remember the truth makes you free.

At Our Father’s Service

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Understanding Melchizedek

Truth About the Tithe

Today’s Focus: Administrators of the First Covenant: Understanding Melchizedek

Scripture: Hebrews 7:1-12

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

Let’s get right to it. Hebrews 7 gives us a wonderful outline of who Melchizedek is. Let’s take a look.

Hebrews 7:1-3: For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent (genealogy), having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

Now in this set of scripture we get a complete glimpse into who this Melchizedek is. Now we know in Genesis 14:17-20 talked about the interaction between Abraham and Melchizedek. Here in Hebrews 7, we see a recount of this same story but let’s look at verse 3 because this was not discussed in Genesis and this gives us some background about Melchizedek.

Now in verse 3 it says that he does not have a mother, father, nor genealogy, neither beginning or ending of days but made like the Son of God. Please do not miss this. Notice the scripture does not say that he was like the Son of Man but the Son of God. What is the difference? Huge difference. We know that Jesus took the title Son of Man and Son of God. As the Son of Man, he had a father, mother and genealogy. His mother was Mary, His Father was God, and He had genealogy. In one of the gospels Jesus genealogy was recorded from 62 generations (Luke 3:23-38) and 42 Generations (Matthew 1:1-17). The Order of Melchizedek in Hebrew 7:3 describes for us an eternal order because the scripture says he was made like unto the Son of God. If he is eternal then He is a priest continually or forever. Now we know that Jesus is Melchizedek because He is the King of Righteousness, Prince of Peace and the Great High Priest.

In the next message we will start contrasting between the Levitical Order and the Order of Mechizedek.

At Our Father’s Service

Elder Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Administrators of the First Covenant

Truth About the Tithe

Today’s Focus: Administrators of the First Covenant

Scripture: Genesis 14:18-20; Genesis 28:19-22

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

Now we look at the class of administrators of the second covenant being the Levitical priesthood but we are now at the question of the administrators of the first covenant. Let’s look at order that governs the first covenant. Now we know that the Law was given 430 years after Israel entered Egypt. So there was a priesthood that was on the Earth governing the first covenant and that priesthood was after the Order of Melchizedek.

The title Melchizedek is two words in one. In Hebrew it is Melek meaning “king” and Tsedeq means “right”. Hence Melichizedek means King of Righteousness, King of Salem (Shalom or Peace), Prince of Peace. Now Melchizedek was a unique person in the sense that not only was he a king but he was also a priest of the Most High God (Genesis 14:18). Melchizedek is a Royal Priest. Hmm! Where have we heard this? Remember before the Law the children of Israel were offered the first covenant. Let’s look at the offer and see if we see some revelation.

Exodus 19:5,6: Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a Kingdom of Priests and an Holy Nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

So the first covenant makes the children of God a Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation. Now in Genesis 14:18-20 we see a unique exchange between Melchizedek and Abram. First, Melchizedek serves Abram bread and wine. Have we seen this before? Absolutely what we call Communion or the Lord’s Supper and then we have Abram giving Melchizedek tithes of all he had. Now the word tithes in Hebrew is “maser” or tenth. Hence this is where we get the concept of the tenth as a tithe. The tithe was not an uncommon thing under the Order of Melchizedek it was an ongoing expression. Let me show you.

Jacob in all of his generosity was in a place called Luz. In this place he had a dream where he saw angels ascending and descending on a ladder setup on earth reaching to heaven. Of course we know that the dream was a type and shadow of what Jesus would explain to Nathaneal that he will see angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man. Now after awaking from his dream Jacob calls the place Beth-El which means “House of God” and makes this unique statement.

Genesis 28:20-22: And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, if God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

So even with Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, we see him giving a tithe or a tenth. So the tithe was customary and normal in that time BEFORE the Law. For the sake of information I want to continue this in the next message. We have to go this way because it is the framework for answering our questions about the tithe. So in the next message we will look at Melchizedek more in depth and start drawing some lines in the sand.

At Our Father’s Service

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Understanding the First Covenant and Promise

Truth About the Tithe

Today’s Focus: Understanding the First Covenant and Promise

Scripture: Hebrews 6:13-20; Galatians 3:29

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

Now we have discussed that the first covenant between God and God made Abraham and his seed beneficiaries of the promise. The question is how do we get into this picture? When we look at Hebrews 6:13-20 it starts out telling us that the promise was made to Abraham and the oath was made between God and Himself. Now we saw in Galatians 3:16 that the promise was made to Abraham and His seed and we know the seed is Christ. So the promise was to Abraham and Christ but does that leave us out? Let’s see!

Hebrews 6:17,18: Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by a oath: That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, WE MIGHT HAVE A STRONG CONSOLATION, WHO HAVE FLED FOR REFUGE TO LAY HOLD UPON THE HOPE SET BEFORE US.

Do you see that! We already confirmed that the promise is between Abraham and Christ but Paul says that WE may have strong consolation. So we are an heir of the promise. So the promise is fulfilled in Christ. But you may ask how do we fit into this picture? Let’s draw the picture of the covenant for you up to this point:

Covenant (God and God) à Fully funded estate in the form of a promise à Made to Abraham and His Seed à Fulfilled in Christ which includes us.

Now let’s prove it! Galatians 3:29: “AND IF YE BE CHRIST’S, THEN ARE YE ABRAHAM’S SEED AND HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE” Can we say case closed! We are beneficiaries of the promise. This promise required a sacrifice requiring God to come in the flesh as the Lamb to reconcile us back to the Father and into our inheritance as sons. So if you are in Christ then you are Abraham’s seed and a heir. Remember back in Hebrews 6:17 it said: heirs of promise.

In the next message we will look at the concept of administrators of the covenants.

At Our Father’s Service

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Covenants and Promises Part 2

Truth About the Tithe

Today’s Focus: Foundation for the Concept of the Tithe: Covenants and Promises Part 2

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:1-5; Hebrews 6:13-20; Galatians 3:14-19

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

When we look at covenants that God makes, promises are attached to them. Now once again the promise is the result of the prior agreement or covenant. Promise is guaranteed and available because of the covenant. Now many of us have made covenants with each other and broke them easily but this covenant that God made with Himself and made us beneficiaries of the covenant is guaranteed. Because remember in Hebrews 6:13-20, it said that it was impossible for God to lie and He sealed it with an oath. So we can rest assure that we will receive the promise once we come in right position to receive it. Now let me give you an example of how promises work as it pertains to covenants so that we can understand what the scripture is saying in Galatians 3:14-20

Suppose you have a will that names beneficiaries but the beneficiaries have not arrived or exist yet. Until the beneficiaries arrive there is a fully funded estate to benefit them once they arrive. This fully funded estate is held as a promise. This promise is fully available to them once they arrive. The covenant serves as the will and God made this covenant between Himself that we would be sons. So the promise is available, to all those who call on the name of the Lord and are adopted into the House of God. With that said let’s look at parts of this scripture in Galatians.

Galatians 3:15: “Brethern I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, NO MAN disannulleth or added thereto.” Now in this scripture Paul is describing the basic concept of a covenant and how once it is confirmed no man can add or take away anything to the promise associated with it. Now God is about to make a comparison.

Galatians 3:16: “Now to Abraham and His seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many, but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ.” Now God is speaking of His covenant that He made with Himself but look who the promise or beneficiary of the covenant is made to? To Abraham and his seed were the promises made. The scripture goes on to say that the seed is singular and is Christ. Now for there to be a promise made to Abraham, there had to be a pre-existing agreement or covenant. Do we see this? The covenenant between God and God named Abraham and his seed the beneficiary of that covenant. So now we have God making a comparision between two covenants, man’s and God. Now watch this picture come into view:

Galatians 3:17,18:”And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the Law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, CANNOT DISANNUL, THAT IT SHOULD MAKE THE PROMISE OF NONE EFFECT. FOR IF THE INHERITANCE BE OF THE LAW, IT IS NO MORE OF PROMISE: BUT GOD GAVE IT TO ABRAHAM BY PROMISE. Wherefore then serveth the law? IT WAS ADDED BECAUSE OF TRANSGRESSIONS, TILL THE SEED SHOULD COME TO WHOM THE PROMISE WAS MADE; AND IT WAS ORDAINED BY ANGELS IN THE HAND OF A MEDIATOR“

Now watch this. God made a covenant before the foundation of the world and attached promises to it. God made another covenant in the Earth with Israel making them a nation. Now the first covenant is clearly the one between God and God. God created the second covenant with Israel at Sinai to protect them and preserve them due to transgressions. This second covenant DOES NOT DO AWAY WITH THE FIRST. The first covenant still stands and this is why Paul said in Galatians 3:19 “TILL THE SEED SHOULD COME TO WHOM THE PROMISE WAS MADE.” So the covenant of the Law was an intermediate covenant to bring the people back to the first covenant so that they may receive the promise made to Abraham and his seed.

This is important to understand how the covenants work and which one does what because it frames our understanding about the tithe.

At Our Father’s Service

Elder Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Covenants and Promises Part 2

Truth About the Tithe

Today’s Focus: Foundation for the Concept of the Tithe: Covenants and Promises Part 2

Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:1-5; Hebrews 6:13-20; Galatians 3:14-19

Greetings Kingdom Citizens

When we look at covenants that God makes, promises are attached to them. Now once again the promise is the result of the prior agreement or covenant. Promise is guaranteed and available because of the covenant. Now many of us have made covenants with each other and broke them easily but this covenant that God made with Himself and made us beneficiaries of the covenant is guaranteed. Because remember in Hebrews 6:13-20, it said that it was impossible for God to lie and He sealed it with an oath. So we can rest assure that we will receive the promise once we come in right position to receive it. Now let me give you an example of how promises work as it pertains to covenants so that we can understand what the scripture is saying in Galatians 3:14-20

Suppose you have a will that names beneficiaries but the beneficiaries have not arrived or exist yet. Until the beneficiaries arrive there is a fully funded estate to benefit them once they arrive. This fully funded estate is held as a promise. This promise is fully available to them once they arrive. The covenant serves as the will and God made this covenant between Himself that we would be sons. So the promise is available, to all those who call on the name of the Lord and are adopted into the House of God. With that said let’s look at parts of this scripture in Galatians.

Galatians 3:15: “Brethern I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, NO MAN disannulleth or added thereto.” Now in this scripture Paul is describing the basic concept of a covenant and how once it is confirmed no man can add or take away anything to the promise associated with it. Now God is about to make a comparison.

Galatians 3:16: “Now to Abraham and His seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many, but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ.” Now God is speaking of His covenant that He made with Himself but look who the promise or beneficiary of the covenant is made to? To Abraham and his seed were the promises made. The scripture goes on to say that the seed is singular and is Christ. Now for there to be a promise made to Abraham, there had to be a pre-existing agreement or covenant. Do we see this? The covenenant between God and God named Abraham and his seed the beneficiary of that covenant. So now we have God making a comparision between two covenants, man’s and God. Now watch this picture come into view:

Galatians 3:17,18:”And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the Law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, CANNOT DISANNUL, THAT IT SHOULD MAKE THE PROMISE OF NONE EFFECT. FOR IF THE INHERITANCE BE OF THE LAW, IT IS NO MORE OF PROMISE: BUT GOD GAVE IT TO ABRAHAM BY PROMISE. Wherefore then serveth the law? IT WAS ADDED BECAUSE OF TRANSGRESSIONS, TILL THE SEED SHOULD COME TO WHOM THE PROMISE WAS MADE; AND IT WAS ORDAINED BY ANGELS IN THE HAND OF A MEDIATOR“

Now watch this. God made a covenant before the foundation of the world and attached promises to it. God made another covenant in the Earth with Israel making them a nation. Now the first covenant is clearly the one between God and God. God created the second covenant with Israel at Sinai to protect them and preserve them due to transgressions. This second covenant DOES NOT DO AWAY WITH THE FIRST. The first covenant still stands and this is why Paul said in Galatians 3:19 “TILL THE SEED SHOULD COME TO WHOM THE PROMISE WAS MADE.” So the covenant of the Law was an intermediate covenant to bring the people back to the first covenant so that they may receive the promise made to Abraham and his seed.

This is important to understand how the covenants work and which one does what because it frames our understanding about the tithe.

At Our Father’s Service

Elder Calvin Calhoun, Jr.