Who does Malachi 3:8-10 apply to?

When you come to a subject like tithing, I think it is important to see that there are two extremes to avoid. The first is the temptation to conclude that tithing is not for this age, so that I feel no obligation to give, and can keep as much money for myself as possible. The other is to use the tithing texts to make people feel obliged to give more, and to feel guilty if they don’t. Preachers are usually the guilty ones with respect to the latter. The sad reality is that in most churches, at least half of those who attend give nothing —that’s right, nothing—at all to the Lord’s work.

In the King James Version, “tithing” (“tithe,” “tithes,” “tithing”) occurs 40 times in the Bible, 32 times in the Old Testament, and 8 times in the New. In the New Testament, 5 of the 8 occurrences are found in Hebrews 7:5-9, which are referring to the “tithe” of Abraham to Melchizedek in the Old Testament. Two of the remaining 3 occurrences occur in Luke. In Luke 11:42 we find a parallel text to the one remaining text (Matthew 23:23). Here, Jesus accuses the Pharisees of tithing in the small, inexpensive, things (mint, dill, cummin), but neglecting the weightier matters. Thus, Jesus does not condemn tithing, but says that there are more important matters. (One could point out that at this point Jesus was still talking as One in the old dispensation, and not the new.) In Luke 18:12 we see the self-righteous Pharisee, boasting about his tithing as a proof (in his mind) of his righteousness. So far as I can find in the New Testament, neither Jesus or any of His apostles taught the necessity of tithing. Neither can we find any statement that they did tithe—that they practiced tithing. Jesus did pay the temple tax (Matthew 17:24-27), but we do not read of Him paying His tithe.

The question one always must ask when dealing with Old Testament practices and commands is this: “Does the New Testament (1) embrace and continue, or (2) modify, or (3) do away with this Old Testament practice? The New Testament surely set aside the “clean/unclean” food regulations of the Old Testament (Mark 7; Acts 10-11). By and large, the Ten Commandments have been carried over into the New Testament. Those laws which pertained to the administration of justice have (at least some of them) been modified. It is no longer our duty or obligation to stone disobedient children. The state/government does administrate justice, which may even include capital punishment (this is debated by some, but lets leave it at this for the moment). Certainly we are not to stone adulterers today, though we are to “hand them over to Satan” (1 Cor. 5) for the destruction of their flesh. So, the question must be, where does tithing fit into this scheme? Has it been brought over into the New Testament age, or has it been set aside, or modified?

I would have to say that the whole tithing system cannot be brought over, in a  the New Covenant. The Concept of tithing is from the Old Covenant.
However you can tithe if you purpose in your heart to do so. We should pray and ask God what we should do.  I believer Apostle Paul told us in 2 Cor 9:6-8. Give as we purpose in our heart. Just wanted to provoke you to thinking. God Bless Dr. E areskridge6840@att.net. Merry Christmas and Happy Blessed New Year.

Word of Wisdom from DrE’sCorner

Praise God for another day and another year in my life. December 10, 2017 I will celebrate 73 years old. I give God all of the praises and adoration for all that He continues to do in my life. I thank Him for my husband although we don’t always agree, then for my children. I am thankful although each personality is completely different. Then, my grandchildren, they all think they are fully growned up doing their own thing. Wow, how time has flown, but I have one granddaughter, Alexandria is my baby because she is the youngest granddaughter. She is special, her gift and talent. She has always enjoyed singing and drawing. The others have their unique gift, but Alexandria is special.

Then my pride and joy my two great granddaughters, Isabell and Sarai. Both have their own personality but they are so precious. Their grandmothers are very touchy with their granddaughters. No one wants me to spoil their little princesses. Glory be to God for all of my offspring’s. I am truly grateful to say that I am your wife, grandmother and great-grandmother. All of the praises belongs to God. I pray for all of you daily. It’s my prayer that you will succeed at whatever you put your hands to do.

Today one item I will share from my heart. The Church will never clean up the streets until it is right. Too many are not teaching the Uncompromised Word of God. The Bible should be taught as it is written and not from a slant. The world doesn’t want any part of the Church for the way things are.

I know some refer to the Church as the Cash Church. I was asked why the younger generation why this is so. They ask for money all of the times and many are not concerned about people getting saved. The church has become like the moneychangers. Lord, please help us to put the Great Commission back into God’s house. For some reason, we have gotten off track. If the Bible is taught and there’s a change, people will start coming and getting saved. All of the church obligations will be met if we are teaching correctly from God’s Word. We need to stop repeating what is being said across the pulpit. My prayer is Lord saved the church before it get Lost. Just a Word of Wisdom from DrE. You may email your comments…areskridge6840@att.net

Testimony Part 2

Even today I have been faced with many challenges, but God! It's trough fasting & prayer that I am able to conqueror every mountain. This year along I hae been in the hospital several times, but God! All tests result came back negative. on my last procedure I flat out told teh doctor, he would not have any complications. Guess what! the doctor told me after the procedure everything was just as I had said. But God! If you live right no good thing will God withhold from you.

Just a few nights ago God gave me an answer regarding my face. He told me exactly what to do and how to do it. But God! Awesome and powerful God!. Evangelist Mahalia Washington poured out in her book."Life is a temporary assignment. We must give ourselves to God, so that He can use us for His glory"(34). Awesome book filled with real life experiences and struggles, but God! She was victorious.
After reading Evangelist Washington's book I was reminded of Lady Patricia Phillip Roberts' book, Song of Survivor. Through everything she had been through she survived it all. the daily mediation Scriptures were the same one that I had quoted and still do over and over. They have helped me to build my faith stronger each day as I walked tot he valleys.

The Holy Bible was my main focus, but the two books were also inspiration to me.Both books were very touching and I fel compassion books. I often wondered how they were able to have faith in God throughout their challenges. My first thought was be faithful God and He will never leave you or fail you. He will be with you until the very end. God Bless you! Dr. Annie Dennis Eskridge, DMin.

Testimony-Annie Dennis Eskridge

From time I was born until the age of fourteen my speech was impaired. I lived in a world of darkness not being ablt to talk to anyone. There were times I wanted to speak but my stuttering was so bad until I would cry.  Many times mother would say, God please help this child to speak. My mother actually felt hurt because I could not speak. She  was the only one that understood what I was trying to say.

Evangelist Mahalia Washington shared in Victorious:My Life Experiences and Struggles, How I Overcame Them All. There were obstacles that she experienced over the years were hurtful. However they taught her how to stand still and depend on God to order her steps. This was similar to what I experienced at school. Children at school made fun of me, because I was unable to speak cleary. Many wanted to copy my homework assignment because I was very bright in school. Most of the times I would stay to myself unless my sister, Katie was with me.

Our parents taught us how to pray at an early age. My mother and My sister told me not to worry that I would be able to talk one day, so I believed that. My English teacher in high school signed me up with the Girls Glee Club. I had to sing the musicial scale for months,then I was able to sing with Club at the first concert for the year. I was trained to sing second soprano. To God be the glory!

My family attended this program and they were very happy for me. This was the first day I spoke where Mama and Daddy understood me. My family began to cry because their prayers had been answered. Part 1 . The Second blog has the ending. Dr. Eskridge areskridge@sbcglobal.net

Bearing in God's Love

In John 15:1-17 Jesus is giving instructions to His disciples because He knew His time with them would soon come to an end. He let them know that He was the true vine. The believers are the branches that are abiding in Him and those who does not bear fruit was not His. At the end of this chapter Jesus let His disciples know that the Holy Spirit would come to help them but they must abide in Him.

Jesus compared Himself as a vine in which they were the branches. This is why they needed to stay connected to Him. In the Old Testament God spoke to Israel as the vineyard. Jesus remind His disciple  that He was the vine and they were the branches and without Him they were nothing.
John 15:7,  "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." 

Today many have walked away from their first love. Jesus wants His disciples to stay connected by abiding in Him. The Church was stronger in the old days because they were together. We find the Church so divided that we are not stronge enough to create an atmosphere that will compel the sinners to come in to be saved.

Those who are truly saved must let the world know it. If we are not connected to the vine, we are lost. People in the Church must have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Too many in the  Church have lost their love to stay connected. You can not abide in Christ and hating people due to their skin color when God made us all.  Then when we bleed there is only one color for blood, red. God did not make a mistake when He made us.

We need to bring the sinners in and show God's love to all. Remember, we can catch a fish  and the first tis to clean him up. This is the same way with the unchurched. If we  would show love then we would have an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In closing do you remember the day you got saved? Then share your testimony with others. Just remember love comes from the heart.

 If the old method isn't working, then it's time to change that method, but never change God's Word. Then, love all people and you will be blessed. Remember the Word of God tells us that we have been commanded that we would love one another. God Bless......Dr. Annie Eskridge