Creflo A Dollar - The covenant connector : how to get connected to the promises of God through the tithe

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Tithing brings about manifestation.

The manifestation of God's glory is the visible, tangible, physical evidence that the Word of God is operating in your life. It's when what you've read within the pages of the Bible is reflected in you and on you. When you have manifestation, no one has to wonder whether or not the promises of God have been kept, because you're the very picture of healing, prosperity, deliverance and soundness .

It's time for us as the Body of Christ, to see touch and experience all that the Bible says we can have. It's not enough for us to just come and hear the Word. We all know how important hearing is, (Romans 10:17) but I'm talking about that touchable "there it is" manifestation coming to pass in our lives.

The Spirit of God spoke to my heart and said, "If folks are going to enter into abundance, manifestation or promotion, they're going to have to sow until there's a breakthrough."

Child of God, there are three things that will hinder the manifestation of God's glory in your lifenot tithing, strife and faithlessness. Of these three, tithing is an area that has not been adequately dealt with from God's perspective until now.

Some of you are believing God for and confessing change of status in certain situations and circumstances. When you don't tithe, you cut yourself off from the promises of God, and in effect, stand in the way of your own blessings. Although you have rights as a Christian, you can cancel your own rights by not tithing.

In this in-depth study of tithing, we'll search the scriptures from both the old and new testaments to find out just what God has to say on the subject. You will see that tithing is not something your pastor has made up for his benefit, but instead is something God requires. I'll explain what tithing is, how it's done, the benefits of tithing and the consequences of not tithing. I've even included declarations of repentance you can make to show God you've turned your back on the sin of withholding the tithe.

There have been times in the past when I've taught on this subject at our church, and a few of the members got offended and left. When I preach against adultery or reefer smoking, the only ones who get upset are the people who are smoking reefer, those who are in adultery, or both. Likewise, when I preach on tithing, the people who get upset are those who are not tithing. When you touch on areas of people's lives where they are not living according to the Word, they tend to get defensive. If tithing is one of those areas for you, allow the Word of God to mature you. Allow what He has to say on the subject fix what needs to be fixed in your life. There is no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ Jesus, (Romans 8:1) but there is restoration and growth. You're never going to change until you recognize that the first step is to get in the presence of God's Word. You'll know you're mature in the things of God if you don't get offended by what you read in this book.

Make a quality decision to get all that God has promised you, and in all your getting, get understanding.

THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S

For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. (1 Corinthians 10:26) We are owners of nothing, but called to be faithful stewards of all that God blesses us with. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (1 Timothy 6:7) In other words, everything on the face of this earth belongs to God. Everything. There is absolutely nothing we brought into this world, and there is likewise nothing we can take with us when we leave. As simple as that is to grasp when it comes to most material things, Christians have traditionally been unable or unwilling to accept that idea when it comes to what they label as their money. The truth of the matter is , God has blessed you with whatever increase you obtain, and requires only that you return to Him the tithe, or ten percent of your increase.

To tithe is to return to God ten percent of what He has given to you. Inherent in our willingness to tithe is the acknowledgment of God's ownership of everything in the earth, including our finances. Therefore, the tithe should be an expression of your appreciation and thanksgiving to God for what He has done in your life. It should not be seen as a burden or a loss, but should be seen as the opportunity it is for you to prosper in the things of God.

And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.

And if a man will at all redeem aught of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.

And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall he holy unto the LORD.

He shall not search whether it he good or had, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.

These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai. (Leviticus 27:30-34)

Notice in the first verse we are told that the tithe belongs to the Lord. It is not yours or mine to do with whatever we choose, because it doesn't belong to us, it belongs to God. In Proverbs 3:9 we are instructed to "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase" The substance of our finances is what we are to honor the Lord with, thanking Him for the provision to have our needs met. The firstfruits are equal to the tithe. So anywhere in the Bible it refers to firstfruits , you know that also belongs to the Lord.

Now, if you're a good businessman, you know the tithe of your business belongs to God. Only ninety percent of your business is yours, and the firstfruits of all your profit should be presented as tithes in honor to the Lord. As a Christian, only ninety percent of your time is yours. The remainder should be spent in time of prayer, fasting and communion with God. Likewise, your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, on loan to you from above. It was purchased with a price, and on the day of Judgment, you will have to give an account of how you carried yourself.

What I need for you to see Child of God, is that tithing is not an option. It is not something that has been put up for a vote, for us to decide whether or not it is the right thing to do. No, God says that the firstfruit , the initial ten percent of your increase is His. It is dedicated and set aside for His use. Folks come up with all sorts of reasons as to why they should not, could not or would not tithe. They say things like, "Well, it's an Old Testament thing, and since it's not mentioned in the New Testament, we don't have to tithe." Others try to justify not tithing by saying that "God surely is not moved by something as basic as money." The problem is that up until now, we've not understood God's heart on this subject, and in so doing, have missed out on the blessings we're supposed to inherit through tithing. Working our way through scripture, we will prove that tithing is a biblical mandate, a covenant issue and an opportunity to honor God. Victory in your life is determined by how you handle the tithe.

THE TITHE IS HOLY

As we discovered in the previous chapter, the tithe is holy. It belongs to the Lord, and it is holy. Being holy has nothing to do with how you dress. It's not in outward things. Holiness is the state of being in agreement with God. It is the state of being of one mind with God. To be holy is to find out what the Bible says, and to be in agreement with what God says.

In the Old Testament, there was something else deemed holy and sacred unto God, and that was the Ark of the Covenant. This sacred, portable chestalong with its two related items, the mercy seat and cherubimwas the most important, sacred object to the Israelites during the wilderness period. Also known as the Ark of the Lord, it was the only article of furniture in the innermost room, or Holiest of Holies of Moses' tabernacle and of Solomon's temple. This was something so special, that a person could not just touch it irreverently. It was so holy, that even if you touched it unintentionally you would die. In the Bible, the word "death" is literally translated as a separation. And, when a man touches the tithe, or mishandles the tithe, separation from God takes place.