TITHE AND OFFERINGS

 TITHE AND OFFERINGS

1. Tithe: Traditionally, a tithe is one-tenth (10%) of a person's income or produce given to God. It is often seen as a biblical mandate to support the work of the church, clergy, and community needs. There are different types of tithes in the Old Testament, including the Levitical tithe for the priests and other tithes for festivals and the poor.
2. Offerings: Offerings are gifts given to God beyond the tithe. They can be voluntary and express devotion, gratitude, or commitment. In the Old Testament, offerings included Burnt Offering (complete sacrifice to God), Grain Offering (gift of produce), Peace Offering (thanksgiving and fellowship), Sin Offering (atonement), and Trespass Offering (reparations).
3. Pledges: Pledges are promises or vows to give a set amount or type of offering in the future. They are commitments made by believers as acts of faith or devotion.
4. Sacrifices: Sacrifices in biblical times often involved animals or grain given as a means to atone for sin, show devotion, or express thanksgiving. Sacrifices have symbolic meanings of purification and reconciliation with God.
5. First Fruit: The offering of the first fruits is giving the first and best of the harvest or income to God as an acknowledgment that all comes from Him. It symbolizes dedication and thanksgiving.
6. Seed: "Seed" giving is a concept in some Christian teachings that giving (often money) is like planting a seed that God will multiply and bless in return.
7. Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving offerings are voluntary gifts expressing gratitude to God for His blessings, protection, or answered prayers. These are part of Peace Offerings.
8. Altar: The altar is the place where sacrifices and offerings are presented in the temple or church as acts of worship and dedication to God.
9. Revival: Revival refers to a spiritual renewal or awakening within a church or community, often accompanied by increased prayer, repentance, and giving.
10. Church Project: A church project is an initiative by a church body, such as building renovations, community outreach, or mission work, often funded by offerings, tithes, and pledges from church members.

These elements form significant parts of worship, stewardship, and community life in the Christian faith, emphasizing giving as an expression of devotion, faith, and gratitude towards God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apostle Richard Takim teaches that tithing is not a way to get healing or wealth, but rather a form of worship and an expression of a covenant relationship with God, begun with Abraham under grace, not the Mosaic law. He emphasizes giving out of a revelation of God's spirit and a personal walk with God, not out of fear of a curse, intimidation, or to manipulate God into granting blessings. Takim also warns against preachers who use scripture out of context to extract money, stating that tithing should not be a transaction but an act of stewardship and love for God.
 

Key Points on Tithing by Apostle Takim:

• Rooted in Covenant, Not Law:

Tithing's foundation is in Abraham's covenant relationship with God, not the Levitical law which was abolished. 

• Worship, Not a Transaction:

Giving a tithe is an act of worship and a way to confirm the covenant, not a way to "pay" God for miracles, healing, or prosperity. 

• Guided by Revelation:

Tithing should be a response to the Holy Spirit's guidance and a personal revelation, not driven by fear or intimidation from preachers. 

• Not a Curse-Breaker:

While the law included a curse for non-tithing, Christ's redemption frees believers from that curse, so fear of it should not motivate giving today. 

• Instrument of Stewardship:

Tithing is an instrument for responsible stewardship of God's resources and a demonstration of friendship and love for God. 

• Against Misuse of Scripture:

Takim critiques preachers who quote scripture out of context to collect tithes or use tithing as a tool for intimidation and control. 

• Focus on Spiritual Connection:

He highlights that genuine spiritual growth and the "measure of the Spirit" are more valuable outcomes of attending church than financial gain. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apostle Richard Takim teaches that offering is for financing the work of God, not for manipulating God into healing or prosperity. He emphasizes that breakthroughs come from aligning with God's timing, not from offerings or tithes. Giving should be done cheerfully and without financial strain, clearing debts first and without guilt or fear. Furthermore, Takim states that the spiritual prosperity enabled by giving is to fund God's purposes, such as spreading the word and helping the needy. 

Purpose of Giving

• Fund God's Work:

Offerings and tithes are meant to finance the Lord's work, not to convince God to provide healing or wealth. 

• Support God's Purposes:

Prosperity from offerings helps spread the word of God, support the poor and homeless, and fund educational initiatives. 

Prerequisites for Giving

• God's Timing: Breakthroughs are tied to God's seasons and times, not offerings. 
• Financial Stability: People should clear their debts and ensure their families have enough for their needs before giving. 
• Cheerfulness and Freedom: Giving should be a free and cheerful act, not driven by fear or guilt. 

Understanding the Impact of Giving

• It is Not Transactional:

You cannot pay God to heal or make you prosperous; rather, you should pray for His help. 

• Focus on True Faith:

True faith involves placing substance into God's hands, which leads to rest from adversity, according to the covenant of tithing. 

• Total Prosperity:

God's prosperity is a total package that includes spiritual and economic well-being, sound health, and a prosperous mind. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apostle Richard E. S. Takim's teachings on pledges and tithing focus on the principle of God's provision and blessing when His people give tithes to His house, emphasizing that the return is not through demonic means but from God's opened portals. He also stresses the importance of giving with a truthful and sanctified spirit, ensuring that the offerings are acceptable sacrifices to God, leading to His presence resting in one's life. 

Key Aspects of Apostle Takim's Teachings on Tithing:

• Malachi 3:10 Principle:

Takim references the promise in Malachi where God declares He will open the "windows of heaven" and pour out blessings when all tithes are brought to His house. 

• God's Presence:

He explains that God's "house" is not just a building but the place of His manifested presence, suggesting that tithes should be given to a church that truly functions as God's house. 

• Spiritual Offerings:

He teaches that acceptable spiritual sacrifices come from a sanctified life, where truth is taught, and the individual offers sacrifices from a place of purity. 

• God's Provision:

The blessing that comes from tithing is portrayed as God's swift intervention and a powerful manifestation of His faithfulness. 

• Contrast with Deceptive Practices:

Takim warns against deceptive practices of some preachers, such as "raising altars" or employing "Isaac offerings," as these are not from God but are demonic gimmicks to get people's money. 

• Sanctification:

He highlights that salvation without sanctification is a form of "stupidity" and that proper teachings lead to sanctification, enabling one to offer true, acceptable sacrifices to God. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apostle Richard E.S. Takim teaches that "first fruit" is not about money but about giving the first and best of your new life in Christ to God. He emphasizes that in the dispensation of grace, this means offering your body as a living sacrifice and your possessions, not just physical first fruits of the harvest, but also your time and attention, demonstrating the resurrected power of Christ in your life. He also warns against a "scam" where greedy preachers reduce first fruit to a monetary offering, stating that Jesus is the ultimate first fruit, and we, as new creations, should manifest His first character.
 

Key Teachings on First Fruits by Apostle Takim:

• Beyond Money:

First fruit is not a monetary offering but a spiritual act of giving the best and earliest part of your new life to God. 

• Living Sacrifice:

Under grace, a person's body is to be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your true possession to offer. 

• Christ as the First Fruit:

Jesus Christ is the "firstfruit" of the resurrection, and through Him, we receive the new life that allows us to bear fruit for God. 

• Resurrection Power:

The blessing of first fruit includes the power of resurrection, leading to spiritual victory over demonic forces and displays of healing and divine power. 

• Warning Against Scams:

Takim warns that reducing first fruit to just an offering of money is a "scam" by greedy preachers, as the true substance of first fruit is a spiritual reality. 

• Manifesting New Life:

The practical, spiritual application is to allow the new life in Christ to be evident, manifesting God's glory and power rather than focusing on shadows of the past. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apostle Richard Takim teaches that our actions and decisions are seeds that, when sown, result in a harvest, emphasizing that we must persistently sow good seeds to please the Spirit for a glorious harvest. He also stresses the importance of sowing to please God over the flesh and understanding the principle of seed, time, and harvest, which applies to both good and bad decisions. Additionally, he highlights the significance of planting oneself in the right spiritual soil to ensure a good harvest. 

Key Principles of Seed Planting

• Actions as Seeds:

Every action and decision is a seed planted into time, which will yield a harvest. 

• Sowing to Please the Spirit:

We should focus on sowing to please the Spirit rather than the flesh, as this leads to a good harvest. 

• Persistence is Key:

Do not grow weary or faint in well-doing; persistence in sowing good seeds will result in a great harvest. 

• The Soil Matters:

The spiritual soil where one is planted determines the outcome of their life and harvest. 

• The Principle of Seed, Time, and Harvest:

This universal principle states that what you sow you will also reap, so it's crucial to understand what you are planting. 

Practical Application

• Discern Your Soil:

Choose your environment and the people you associate with wisely to ensure you are planted in the right spiritual soil. 

• Be a Consistent Sower:

Continuously sow good deeds and decisions to please God to bring about righteousness, peace, and joy. 

• Don't Observe the Wind:

Do not let discouraging people or circumstances (like gossip or backbiters) deter you from doing good and sowing the right seeds. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apostle Richard E.S. Takim teaches that the true altar is Christ, specifically the cross of Calvary, which fulfills the Old Testament sacrificial system, and believers should "raise an altar" by continually offering their lives to God in worship and fellowship rather than creating or seeking out physical "evil altars" associated with financial offerings, deliverance rituals, or demonic forces. He emphasizes that spiritual afflictions are caused by sinful lives, not by "evil altars," and that alignment with the shadow of the Old Testament covenant leads to blessings of the shadow, while alignment with the substance (Christ) leads to the substance's blessings. 

The True Altar is Christ and the Cross

• Calvary is the Ultimate Altar:

Takim states that Calvary is the fulfillment of all Old Testament altars, where Jesus' sacrifice outside the camp sanctified people with His blood. 

• Christ Was the Final Sacrifice:

Christ's coming fulfilled all the altars God commanded in the law, rendering physical altars and the sacrifices made upon them obsolete. 

What It Means to "Raise an Altar"

• A Living Sacrifice: To "raise an altar" today means to lift up one's spirit to God in worship and to offer your body as a "living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him". 
• Fellowship and Worship: This happens every time believers gather in fellowship for worship. 
• Personal Encounter: It can also refer to a memorial of a personal encounter with God established in the heart. 

Rejecting "Evil Altars" and Deliverance Doctrines

• Sinful Lives, Not Evil Altars:

Takim argues that people are afflicted because of their sinful lives and that these sinful lives lead them into spiritual consequences, not because of "evil altars" in their father's house. 

• The Spirit of Christ:

He teaches that those who teach or participate in raising, breaking, or silencing "altars" might not have the Spirit of Christ because the coming of the Holy Spirit brings the revelation of Jesus Christ, not a revelation of altars. 

• Focus on Discipleship:

He also points out that the focus should be on discipleship and the word of God rather than on doctrines of "altar" and "deliverance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apostle Richard E.S. Takim's views on church projects are primarily cautionary, emphasizing that many churches and ministers use fundraising for projects as a decoy to extort money from members for personal gain, leading to unending collections for never-finished buildings. He stresses that true ministry focuses on the spiritual purpose of the Great Commission, not on material wealth or the construction of grand structures for personal glory or profit. 

Key Aspects of Apostle Takim's Critique:

• Misappropriation of Funds:

He highlights instances where money collected for legitimate church projects, such as buildings, is instead used for the personal needs of ministers or their elders. 

• Unending Fundraising:

A sign of a fraudulent project, in his view, is a collection that never ends, with the project itself never being completed, as the goal is to keep the money coming in. 

• Focus on Material Gains:

He argues that some ministers prioritize building larger churches and accumulating wealth, which deviates from the eternal and spiritual purpose of ministry. 

• "Decoy" Projects:

He labels such projects as "decoys" to "milk money" from people who are often ignorant of the true intentions. 

• Spiritual vs. Material Goals:

The true goal of ministry, according to Takim, should not be centered on material gains or building impressive structures, but on fulfilling the spiritual mandate of the Great Commission. 

In summary, Apostle Takim warns against churches and leaders who engage in misleading fundraising practices for building projects, stressing that the focus should always remain on spiritual growth and the integrity of the ministry. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apostle Richard E.S. Takim states that the church today needs reformation, not revival, emphasizing that the spirit of the holy place calls for reformation after revival has occurred. He warns that a focus on revival in the current season could be a sign of judgment, or reckoning, if the church has strayed from its spiritual place. Instead of revival, the focus should be on silencing false prophets, exposing false doctrines, and discerning what is not of God through reformation. 

The Church's Need for Reformation 

• Apostle Takim argues that the church is currently in a season that requires reformation, not revival .
• He explains that revival is a precursor to reformation; after a period of revival, the next step is to carry out reforms.
• The emphasis should be on reformation to cleanse the church from false prophets, false doctrines, and anything that is not from God.

The Warning Against a Revival Mentality

• Apostle Takim suggests that if the church is crying for revival while in the holy place, it could signal an approaching judgment. 
• He states that reckoning (judgment) follows revival. 
• If revival is rejected or misunderstood, then reckoning is imminent. 

The Purpose of Reformation

• Sing a new song: The new song is not a melody but a paradigm shift, which is reformation. 
• Realigning Priorities: Tough times (adversity) serve to rearrange priorities, fine-tune repentance, test faith, and conform believers to the image of Christ. 
• Exposure of Error: Reformation helps expose and silence false prophets and expose false doctrines within the church.