A Faithful Tithe

Undue Carelessness Permitted.

Many presidents of State conferences do not attend to that which is their work.--to see that the elders and deacons of the churches do their work in the churches, by seeing that a faithful tithe is brought into the treasury. Malachi has specified that the condition of prosperity depends upon bringing to God's treasury that which is his own. This principle needs to be often brought before the men who are lax in their duty to God, and who are neglectful and careless in bringing in their tithes, gifts, and offerings to God. "Will a man rob God?" "Wherein have we robbed thee?" is the question asked by the unfaithful stewards. The answer comes plain and positive. "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." Please read this whole chapter, and see if words could be spoken that would be more plain and positive than these. They are so positive that no one who desires to understand his whole duty to God, needs to make any mistake in the matter. If men offer any excuse as to why they do not perform this duty, it is because they are selfish, and have not the love and fear of God in their hearts. {SpTA07 20.1}

No Excuse for Neglect in Payment of Tithes.

The Lord has always required this response to his arrangements in carrying forward his work in our world. He has never changed his own devised plan. He lays claim to all as his own, and of that entrusted to man, he claims his portion. "For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of Hosts." {SpTA07 21.1}

Those who plead that they cannot understand this plain and decisive statement,--which if they are obedient, means so much to them, in blessings which will be received, when even the windows of heaven will be opened, and blessings poured out to overflowing,--are not honest before God. Their excuse that they did not know the will of God, will be of no avail for them in the great day of judgment. {SpTA07 21.2}

God is merciful. His requirements are reasonable, in accordance with the goodness and benevolence of his character. The object of the Sabbath was that all mankind might be benefited. Man was not made to fit the Sabbath; for the Sabbath was made after the creation of man, to meet his necessities. God rested, after he had made the world in six days. He sanctified and blessed the day upon which he rested from all his work which he had created and made. He set apart that special day for man to rest from his labor, and reflect, as he should look upon the earth beneath, and the heavens above, that God made all these in six days, and rested upon the seventh; and that his heart might be filled with love and reverence to his Maker, as he should behold the tangible proofs of his infinite wisdom. { RH May 30, 1871, Art. B, par. 1 }

In order to keep the Sabbath holy, it is not necessary that we inclose ourselves in walls, shut away from the beautiful scenes of nature, and also deprive ourselves of the free, invigorating air of heaven. We should in no case allow burdens and business transactions to divert our minds upon the Sabbath of the Lord which he has sanctified. We should not allow even our minds to dwell upon things of a worldly character. The mind cannot be refreshed, enlivened, and elevated, by being confined nearly all the Sabbath hours within walls, listening to long sermons and tedious, formal prayers. The Sabbath of the Lord has been put to a wrong use, if thus celebrated. The object is not attained for which the Sabbath was instituted. The Sabbath was made for man, to be a blessing to him, by calling his mind from secular labor, to contemplate the goodness and glory of God. It is necessary that the people of God assemble to talk of him, to interchange thoughts and ideas in regard to the truths contained in the word of God, and to devote a portion of time to appropriate prayer. But these seasons, even upon the Sabbath, should not be made tedious by their length and lack of interest. During a portion of the day, all should have an opportunity to be out of doors. { RH May 30, 1871, Art. B, par. 2 }

AN ABOMINATION UNTO GOD

Deuteronomy 22:5 

The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man,
neither shall a man put on a woman's garment:
for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

BEcho - The Bible Echo

April 23, 1894 - The Living Testimony

“Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” { BEcho April 23, 1894, par. 1 }

It is not enough to contemplate the glory of [[Christ]]; we should speak of His excellences. Isaiah not only beheld His glory, but he also spake of Him. While David mused, the fire burned; then spake he with his tongue. While he mused upon the wondrous love of God, he could not but speak of that which he saw and felt. Who can by faith behold the wonderful plan of redemption, the glory of the only begotten Son of God, and not speak of it? Who can contemplate the unfathomable love that was manifested upon the cross of Calvary in the death of Christ, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life, and have no words by which to extol the Saviour’s glory? We cannot become partakers of His love, and give no expression to our reverence and adoration. { BEcho April 23, 1894, par. 2 }

As believers behold Christ, they will be led to assemble together and to speak one to another words that will express their fervent love. They will say, “He is the chiefest among ten thousand,” “Yea, He is altogether lovely.” “In His temple doth every one speak of His glory.” The sweet singer of Israel praised Him upon the harp, singing, “I will speak of the glorious honour of Thy majesty, and of Thy wondrous works.” “And men shall speak of the might of Thy terrible acts; and I will declare Thy greatness. They shall abundantly utter the memory of Thy great goodness, and shall sing of Thy righteousness.... They shall speak of the glory of Thy kingdom, and talk of Thy power; to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom.” This will be the character of the conversation of those who fear the Lord and think upon His name. God is represented as listening to their words, and writing them in a book. { BEcho April 23, 1894, par. 3 }

ST - The Signs of the Times

June 3, 1886 - The Permanence of Truth

During all the wanderings of the children of Israel in the wilderness, Jesus, who was equal with the Father, was their leader and guide. Enshrouded in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, his presence was ever with them. There were symbols and shadowy types pointing to a Saviour to come; there was also a present Saviour, who gave commands directly to Moses for the children of Israel, and who was set forth before them as the only channel of blessings. The sacrificial system was designed to typify the Saviour, who was to become the perfect offering for sinful man. { ST June 3, 1886, par. 1 }

In the Jewish age, all the revealings of God to his people, everything relating to his worship, was closely connected with the sanctuary,—with the tabernacle in the wilderness, and afterward with the temple. Here God was worshiped; here the sacrificial offerings were presented before him. Here was the breastplate of the high priest, set with precious stones, from which messages from Jehovah were received. Here, in the holy of holies, overshadowed by the wings of cherubim, dwelt the perpetual token of the presence of the Holy One, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Here was the ark of the covenant, containing the tables of the law,—the ark which was to Israel the symbol of the divine presence, and the pledge of victory in battle. Idols could not stand before the sacred ark of God, and death was the penalty of a rash, irreverent touch or the glance of curiosity. { ST June 3, 1886, par. 2 }

All through the pages of sacred history, where the dealings of God with his chosen people are recorded, there are burning traces of the great I AM. Never has he given to the sons of men more open manifestations of his power and glory than when he alone was acknowledged as Israel’s ruler, and gave the law to his people. Here was a scepter swayed by no human hand; and the stately goings forth of Israel’s invisible King were unspeakably grand and awful. { ST June 3, 1886, par. 3 }

JESUS' PRAYER FOR BELIEVERS
John 17:20-26  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;  (21)  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.  (22)  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:  (23)  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.  (24)  Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.  (25)  O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.  (26)  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

TO THE LITTLE FLOCK
Luke 12:29-32  And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.  (30)  For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.  (31)  But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.  (32)  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

THE GOLDEN RULE
Matthew 7:12-14  Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.  (13)  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  (14)  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

BIND ABOUT THE EDGES OF THE SABBATH
We should jealously guard the edges of the Sabbath. Remember that every moment is consecrated, holy time. Whenever it is possible, employers should give their workers the hours from Friday noon until the beginning of the Sabbath. Give them time for preparation, that they may welcome the Lord's day with quietness of mind. By such a course you will suffer no loss even in temporal things. {6T 356.1}

Ezekiel 22:26 
Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 

Hebrews 4:7,6
Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 

Leviticus 22:31-32 
Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the LORD. Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow you,

GOD'S RESTRICTIONS NOT TO BE DISREGARDED
Jeremiah 8:8-9 
How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.   The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them? 

Romans 12:9 
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 

Speak not lightly of the restrictions paced upon Israel in Sinai, regarding the cooking of manna. The Lord has placed barriers around His Sabbath, that it may not be regarded with the least carelessness or irreverence. When the Lord said, Tomorrow is the rest day of the holy Sabbath; bake that ye will bake today, and seeth that ye will seeth,” he means that Friday shall be our preparation day on which we are to do all our cooking. The Sabbath is not to be a day went tidbits shall be prepared or cooked. If it is really essential to have beans on the Sabbath, let them be cooked on Friday, and kept warm in the oven. They need not be eaten cold unless preferred. But let no remarks be made as though it were a very light thing whether we regard the special requirements of God in regard to the Sabbath or not. It is not left to any man or woman to venture to disregard any commandment of God. {Ms21-1897}

We will look at why some Christians feel dry or distant from God.

THE WORD OF GOD STANDS FOREVER

Isaiah 40:6-8  The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:  (7)  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the Spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.  (8)  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Psalms 89:34  My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

Psalms 119:89  LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

Psalms 119:160  Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

Ecclesiastes 3:14-15  I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.  (15)  That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

Isaiah 46:9-10  Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,  (10)  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

John 1:1-5  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  The same was in the beginning with God.  (3)  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  (4)  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  (5)  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Malachi 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Matthew 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

James 1:16-17  Do not err, my beloved brethren.  (17)  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/DykL6lpCdTk

2 Corinthians 5:17
Philippians 1:6
Romans 12:2
Philippians 2:12–13
Ezekiel 36:26

Simple enough to understand and get started

Marriage was ordained by God in Eden before the fall, for the benefit of humanity, and its sanctity is guarded by one of the ten commandments (see Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:18-25; Exodus 20:14; Proverbs 18:22; Hebrews 13:4).

The Christian is called unto sanctification and their life should be characterized by carefulness in conduct and in modesty and simplicity in dress.

This will serve as a topical hub for smaller, more focused studies - which will be linked to this one.

Matthew 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 

1st Peter 1:2 
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Isaiah 34:16-17 
Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them. And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein. 

Philippians 1:8-11 
For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. 

2nd Timothy 3:17 
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Question: Will the Almighty send prophets in the last days?

Answer: Acts 2:17-18, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens__ I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy__:"

Joel 2:27-29  And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids ____.

John 6:27 
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed
1st Corinthians 4:12-14 
And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 
Ecclesiastes 3:13 
And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. 
Exodus 20:8-9 
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 
2nd Corinthians 5:9-10 
Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Isaiah 14:7 
The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. 

Psalms 100:2-3 
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Psalms 133:1
A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 

Ephesians 4:3,12-13 
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 

Luke 15:18-19 
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 

Judges 17:11 
And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons. 

Proverbs 8:29-31 
When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. 

John 10:30-31 
I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 

1st John 5:7-9 
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 

1st Corinthians 3:8-9
Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 

Romans 12:5 
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Romans 8:5-9 
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh;
but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 
For to be carnally minded is death;
but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 

Nehemiah 9:20 
Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst. 

It is the privilege and duty of Christians to seek to refresh their spirits and invigorate their bodies by innocent recreation, with the purpose of using their physical and mental powers to the glory of God. Our recreations should not be scenes of senseless mirth, taking the form of the nonsensical. We can conduct them in such a manner as will benefit and elevate those with whom we associate, and better qualify us and them to more successfully attend to the duties devolving upon us as Christians. We cannot be excusable in the sight of God if we engage in amusements which have a tendency to unfit us for the faithful performance of the ordinary duties of life, and thus lessen our relish for the contemplation of God and heavenly things. The religion of Christ is cheering and elevating in its influence. It is above everything like foolish jesting and joking, vain and frivolous chit-chat. In all our seasons of recreation we may gather from the Divine Source of strength fresh courage and power, that we may the more successfully elevate our lives to purity, true goodness, and holiness.
[The Health Reformer; July 1st, 1871; Article A; par. 3; Christian Recreation]

Leviticus 24:8 
Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. 

Exodus 31:16-18 
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. 

Hebrews 4:1,4,6,9 
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 

Isaiah 56:6,4 
Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; 

Luke 1:72 
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; 

Exodus 20:8 
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.