Apostle Don Meares
Tithing Principles
22 “You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. 23 And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. 24 But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the Lord your God has blessed you, 25 then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses. 26 And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household.
God is saying to us that He will cause us to reap a hundredfold. Not 30, not 60, but a hundredfold. He says to us, “I’m gonna do the extraordinary and the unusual.” But for us to receive these overflowing blessings, we need to learn how to tithe. God is very specific, and we need to follow His commands to honor Him. We must obey God’s divine principles for us to get desired results.
Tithing doesn’t stop in the book of Malachi. Jesus teaches us in the New Testament that we ought to tithe (see Matthew 23:23). But do you know how to eat of the tithe? Do you know how to tithe on the tithe?
We all have different eating habits. Some like to eat alone. Others like to eat while cooking. Some enjoy eating in the presence of others. When it comes to the tithes, the Lord instructs us to eat the tithe before Him.
Where should we eat the tithe?
We can only eat the tithe where His Name is. Not only are we to bring the tithe, but we also have to learn how to eat it. Most Christians don’t have a clue what this means. You have to eat in the place where His Name abides. To eat of the tithe is to bring the tithe to the right location. In the Bible, names are very important as they speak to one’s character, personality, and purpose. In the same way, we must remember that the names of God are indicative of His personality and character. Sadly, many Christians don’t have a clue what this means. You have to eat in a place where His Name abides. In Deuteronomy 14:22-23, we are told that we must bring the tithe to the place where God places His Name.
Wherever God’s character is being displayed, and wherever His character is being manifest, we have to understand that this is the place where the tithe belongs. If you tithe in a place where His Name and character aren’t manifest, you can tithe what you want, but you will get nothing.
How do we determine giving our tithes? By seeking a place to gather where God’s Name and character are on display. God only recognizes a church if it displays His true attributes. That is the place where we are to gather together and bring our tithes.
God’s Name is Salvation. So, if you are going to a place where nobody is getting saved when you bring your tithe there, God will never accept it.
God is Jehovah Tsidkenu. He is our righteousness. If the place where you bring your tithes is a place where righteousness is not taking place, what you bring and offer will not gain the benefit it is supposed to have. Righteousness means to be in the right standing and the right relationship with God. If the people in the place where you bring your tithes don’t exhibit this, your tithe will not reap the benefits it is supposed to have.
God is Jehovah Shalom. He is our peace. Don’t go to a place and tithe where there is vision and confusion. Don’t tithe in a church where the people are not united because God will not make His presence manifest in this kind of place. You must know that God will not dwell in division. Instead, God blesses us when we come together in unity (see Psalm 133:1). We also must endeavor to keep the unity in faith (see Ephesians 4:3).
God’s Name is Jehovah Rapha. Jesus never separates forgiveness of sins from healing. And contrary to what other churches teach, healing still happens today. God’s nature is to heal and forgive.
You should also bring the tithe where you receive spiritual feeding. We should bring our tithes and offerings to a place where 2 Timothy 3:16-17 is being practiced.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
How should we eat of the tithe?
We must present our tithes during the Lord’s day. You must expect to eat a meal, a portion of His blessing, on the day that you bring the tithes. But, what kind of things will God put on a plate for you? God will give you healing, peace, answers, and deliverance. When you come and present your tithe during the Lord’s day, you have to be expectant. Be glad. He will give you the fullness of joy. He will provide you with a spiritual meal that will satisfy you.
If you’re not coming during the Lord’s day and eating of His nature, you need to understand what you should be doing. Expect great things to happen. Bring your spiritual knife, fork, and spoon with you. Bring whatever you can best use.
When we bring the tithes to God, we are bringing Him something in the natural. We bring Him our money or, in other cases, the tenth of our harvest or products. In return, what we give to Him will become spiritual food. He gives to us something in the spiritual — healing, prosperity, answers, and deliverance. His Presence becomes manifest in our lives. When we bring the tithes, we expect God to prepare a bountiful table just for us. And this is not the completion of what He has in store for you. This is only the beginning.
Expect a miracle. Expect that something good is going to happen when you tithe. In the Old Testament, we must bring our tithes and offerings to the priest. And, in turn, the priest will bring it to the high priest. In the New Testament, under the new covenant, we are the priests. Therefore, we must personally bring the tithe to the High Priest — Jesus. He will set the table with His nature and character on display.
Jesus wants to feed us. We need to understand that He wants to fill us with His goodness. However, when you bring your tithe, heed this warning: you can’t come short of it. What you have received. If you have exchanged your goods for money, you need to bring exactly the tenth. You can’t keep some of the money. The tithes and offerings should also come from a righteous source. It should follow the specificities set by God. When you bring the tithes, give it completely to God.
How to tithe on the tithes
There are things you have to say to God when you present the tithe. Tithing is not an act. It is a lifestyle. You have to be intentional in bringing your tithe. If we bring our tithe to the Lord out of habit, tradition, or guilt, then we won’t receive anything from God. God has given us specific instructions to receive a specific result.
When we bring our tithes, we are to do the following:
- Say something about what God has done in your life.
- Worship the Lord.
- Give your tithes by faith.
Deuteronomy 26 tells us that when we bring the tithe to the Lord, we must confess, speak about what God has done for us, and move into worshipping Him. Then and only then will we have a table set before us in the presence of our enemy where we eat of who God is.
The last step is the most crucial, as tithing has to be by faith. The only way you can receive promises from God is through faith and patience. If you bring your tithes without these, you will receive nothing. God wants you to say some things and worship before you eat your meal.
Another important aspect of giving our tithes and offerings is that we need to do it together. This is why we march to the center. This gives us a chance to speak to God and worship. When we do this, He promises to bless us when we come in and go out (Deuteronomy 28:6).
Tithing is also an act of corporate obedience and worship. We do this as part of Christ’s Body. And when we tithe, it’s not just an act we do on the Lord’s day. We do it all week by praising God and being aware that everything we have belongs to Him. We do it by setting apart the tenth that belongs to Him. And when we come before Him on His day, we must be prepared to say things to Him in worship. We must declare to Him that we are trusting in His promises.
As we give our tithes, we are to tell, test, prove, and worship God. We are bringing into His remembrance what He said. Let us start walking and moving into praise. Let us continue watering the seed with His Word. Continue to declare what God has done for you. Dwell in the new covenant He has given you. Allow Him to open the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing. Claim His promise that He will rebuke the devourer (Malachi 3:11). When you tithe, you can trust God that your fruit will come forth in the due season God has for your life. And, as you obey God by bringing and eating the tithe, He will show you that all your needs are met in Him.
God fulfills His Word. If you are a tither, you can claim His promises. Remember to bring your tithes by faith. Otherwise, you will be sinning. Claim a rhema word from the Lord so you can test and grasp the revelation you have received from Him. If we need healing, finances, guidance, and all that we need we will see provided at the table of the Lord.
Learn more about the principles of tithing from Apostle Don Meares.
For more powerful messages from the Word of God, follow the Evangel Cathedral YouTube page here.
