Tag: tithing

Bible Verse of The Day – 8-21-14

Malachi 3: 10 -12 (NKJV) 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,”Says the Lord of hosts,”If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. 11 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts; 12 “And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the Lord of hosts.

How many know that there is a devourer out there, and he would love to devour us and everything we have?

That means he watches and knows who he can attack, how he can attack and when he can attack. He attacks anyone, and he has no mercy. It’s what he lives for.

But there are those whom he will not succeed with because they are the ones who obey God in their giving. They are protected and even though he may try, God will take care of him. We don’t have to worry.

This doesn’t mean that those who give will never get attacked. But it does mean that when they do get attacked, there is a certain type of protection that they have because of their obedience.

If you are feeling like you are in a constant battle, (I’m not saying once in awhile, because trials come to us all at times), but constant. It seems like one thing after another, and you are beaten down and tired, because it’s not letting up. You need protection.

You need to pray and ask God what it is that is causing this constant barrage of attacks that won’t let up. There may be something you may need to do on your end.

Sometimes it is us… something we’re failing to do. Maybe we have pulled back from what we know is right. Maybe we are taking a break from our giving or we just don’t feel like we can give at this time.

Sometimes the answer lies in taking that step of faith. We don’t how it will turn out, but we know that what we need to do is the step that will stop the attacks.

Once we’ve taken that step we may see results right away. Other times it may take a little while for us to actually see, but it takes effect immediately whether we actually see it or not.

God promises us that He will rebuke the devourer if we do our part and that part is to give.

Take a step of faith and obedience today and give.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 4-22-14

(Malachi 3:10-11 NKJV)  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. {11} “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the LORD of hosts…

God has protected us even when we have made some big mistakes. We are so very grateful for His mercy, grace and His protection that He provides for us every day.

The past two years have been a real battle for us. There were times when we just wanted to leave everything behind and run far, far away.

There were some days we didn’t know which way to turn. We’d just cry because things were so hard and the pressure was so very heavy. We were feeling drained at times, to the point where we didn’t want to even go outside of our home to face anyone.

Thank God we don’t fight our battles alone. He was with us every step of the way. We had protection all around us. We didn’t give up and that battle ended for us. It will end for you too!

I’m talking to some of you that are feeling some hard times and pressure right now. You’re struggling and can’t find the way out.

Let God’s word speak to you and your situation today… there is protection when we obey God. Tithing brings a certain kind of protection to us. God rebukes the devourer from trying to swallow us up.

We were not destroyed! Our vine still bears fruit because of the protection that comes when we do what God tells us to do.

Pray and ask God what you need to do today to help you in your situation. Let Him lead you in this. Everyone’s situation is different and God may have something specific He wants you to do.

Our heart is with you. We know what you are going through. We have felt it, we have walked in it and it’s not easy. But thank God He’s there!!  Amen.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 8-15-13

Malachi 3:8-9 (NKJV) 8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse,

For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.

Have we cursed ourselves with a curse?

When most people think of the above verses and they discuss tithing, they typically focus on the fact that if we aren’t tithing, we’re robbing God. But today, let’s look at this from a different angle.

Did you notice that it says “you are cursed with a curse”, in verse 9? Yes, it does!

And do you know why they are cursed with a curse? Because they have robbed God by not giving of their tithes and offerings.

So let’s look at this from the opposite point of view. If withholding our tithes and offerings from God brings a curse, then giving our tithes and offerings offers protection from that very same curse.

It’s true. As we give of our tithes and offerings, we are allowing God to place a layer of protection around us that prevents us from being “cursed with a curse”. If we withhold our tithes and offerings, we cause this protection to be removed and make ourselves vulnerable to this curse.

Furthermore, our tithes and offerings are more than just a “lip service” that we pay to God. Giving to God strictly out of a feeling of obligation is an insult to Him.

Tithing, giving of our finances, should be done as an act of worship to the God who supplies all our needs.

Philippians 4:19 (NKJV) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

It should be our way of saying “God, everything I have is from you and because of you and because I understand this and I’m thankful, I want to give you honor and glory by giving back to you and your work”.

This should be the true essence of tithing in the New testament church today.

So let me ask; are we cursed with a curse or are we covered by God’s protection over our finances?

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-315-0902

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Bible Verse of The Day – 9-6-12

(Mal 3:10 NKJV)  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

We had several people ask us questions about yesterday’s Bible Verse of The Day on tithing, so we wanted to address them here, just in case anyone else might have had the same questions but didn’t write to ask us.

Here are the questions that were asked:

1 – Who should we tithe to if we don’t have a church?

2 – Does the 10% have to be to the church only or can part be to other causes?

3 – Does your tithe need to be given in the church or anywhere? Maybe to someone on the street?

Below are our answers:

If you attend a local church regularly and consider it your “home church” your tithe should be given there. If, however, you don’t have a home church your tithe should be sown into whatever ministry “feeds” you on a regular basis.

For example, if there is a Christian ministry that gives you spiritual food and nourishment regularly and you look to their teaching as your source of godly inspiration, understanding and knowledge, you should sow into that ministry.

Giving your 10% to a non-Christian organization is not considered a tithe. God tells us specifically in Malachi to bring your tithes into the “storehouse”, which is God’s way of saying to “bring it into the place that feeds you”.

Regarding giving it to someone on the street; while this is honorable, it can also be dangerous. Not so much from a standpoint of physical harm to you, but that you never know where that money ends up. The person you give it to might very well need help, but then again they might be a regular panhandler who makes their living by collecting money from people on the streets. Or they could be a drug addict who will take your money and go buy their next fix.

There is a fine line between helping people and hurting people when we give to random people who are begging for money. Some of these people are more than able to work, but they “work” by spending their days on the street asking people to give them money. That might come across as harsh when you first read it, but we have learned a lot about this kind of thing over the years.

The important thing to remember in all of this is that God gives us His word and he gives us certain things that we are supposed to do. These are not optional, even though we sometimes treat them as though they are. Tithing is one of those things.

We know that this isn’t always a popular teaching, but that’s OK because we’re not in this to win any popularity contests. We’re in it to teach the word of God in an uncompromising way, with the love and compassion of God.

Don’t neglect your tithe. It’s very important.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-377-5400

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Bible Verse of The Day – 9-5-12

(Mal 3:8 NKJV)  “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.

God is looking for our tithes and offerings.

Being a Christian isn’t just about going to church, sitting in the seat and learning how to live a Christian life.

God wants all Christians to give. He wants us to obey Him in every aspect of the Bible, not just part of it.

Does He need our money? Yes; He wants to take it and use it to help those that are in need. Whether they need to hear the Gospel or they need food. Maybe they need a doctor or they may need their bills paid because they have fallen on hard times. It takes money to reach these people and to meet their needs.

Every time we forget to give or we choose not to give our tithe, we just neglected to help someone or many that are in need.

Tithes and offerings are very important to God. We need to be faithful and diligent in our giving.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-377-5400

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Bible Verse of The Day – 3-30-12

(Mal 3:10-11 NIV) Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. {11} I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty.

When people come to us and say they are having financial trouble, we ask them “do you tithe? Do you give? Do you help anyone other then you?”

A lot of times they say “well, we can’t really afford to tithe.”  We say, “OK, that’s where your problem is.” We immediately get them on track with their tithes. That is the start of a new road for them!!

Bring our tithe into the storehouse. When God says “storehouse”, this is a place where God directs us to give. It’s important to Him as to where we give our tithe.

If we don’t go to church it doesn’t mean we are exempt from this. A lot of people don’t  go to church these days. It’s hard nowadays to find a good Biblically-grounded church with heartfelt worship and accurate teachings.

(Isa 29:13 NIV) The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.

However, God will direct us to a place where it is safe for us to give our finances. Please don’t fall into the trap of not giving. We want to stay diligent about bringing our tithe into the storehouse and not take it lightly.

Why? The obedience toward God is what protects us. As we obey His Word, and do as He asks with our finances, we come under a covering and this covering breaks the chains that try to keep us in bondage.

If we are having trouble financially today, it could be because we are not faithfully giving into the storehouse or we are giving to the wrong storehouse.

Let God help us with this today!

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-377-5400

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Your Daily Bible Verse – 2-6-12

(Mark 12:41-44 NKJV)  Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. {42} Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. {43} So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; {44} “for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

We very often have people ask us how they can give of their finances when it seems that they don’t have anything to give.

Most times this is related to a situation where the person has very little because they have been through a hardship or tough financial situation. Most often, people say that they can’t afford to give.

Speaking from a Biblical perspective, we can’t afford not to give.

Giving is the key to receiving. This is a Biblical truth. Fruit can only come when seeds are sown. Whatever we sow, we will reap. If we don’t give, we can’t expect to receive. If we sow a little, we will reap a little.

How our giving is perceived is based on our abundance, or lack of it. If we have been financially blessed, we need to sow big seeds. If we are in a tough time, we will sow smaller seeds. But the key is that we still need to be sowing.

Giving out of our need is the biggest sacrifice we can make. Jesus drew attention to this when the widow gave a small amount because it’s a truth that needed to be made known. What she gave might have been small compared to what the rich men gave. But what she gave was huge for her in light of her situation.

So if you’re struggling with your finances today, don’t ask God how you can afford to give. Ask Him how much you need to give.

Trust Him in this.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-377-5400

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Your Daily Bible Verse – 1-7-12

(1 Ki 17:14-16 NKJV)  “For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth.'” {15} So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. {16} The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah.

Elijah was told by God to find a specific woman; a widow with a son. She was gathering sticks to build a fire, cook a small meal for herself and her son and then die, as the meal she was preparing was all they had.

Elijah asked her for a drink of water and a meal to eat. The woman explained to him that she was about to eat her last meal and then die.

Elijah was a man of great faith and assured the woman that if she would do as he had asked, God would supply her needs and she would not die.

As Elijah had promised, she fed him and the oil in her jar never dried up. Her flour never ran out. They ate without lack until the famine was over.

Let this woman be an example to all of us. She didn’t give out of her abundance. She gave out of her lack and her need.

We get asked a lot of questions about giving and tithing. Let me state emphatically that tithing is a necessity. Giving to God before we give to anyone or anything else is critical to our financial well-being. We have many people tell us that they don’t know if they can afford to tithe. We always respond and tell people that they can’t afford not to tithe.

Giving is necessary if we ever expect to receive. If we don’t sow, we will never reap a harvest. If we’re lacking, we have probably not been giving.

As we shared previously, we have been in situations where we were lacking and our finances were falling apart. We got there because we were not putting God first in our finances. When we changed this, He brought changes to our lives and breathed new life into our financial situation.

Show God that you trust Him. Give Him what he asks for and stand firm on it, committing to do it no matter what comes your way. You will never regret it.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-377-5400

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Your Daily Bible Verse – 1-2-12

(Mal 3:10-12 NKJV)  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. {11} “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the LORD of hosts; {12} “And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the LORD of hosts.

One Sunday morning about 13 years ago we were attending a church service. The pastor there was speaking about Abraham and how he had entered into a covenant with God, and how he was blessed because of that covenant.

It was very clear to both of us that day that God was speaking to us loud and clear about what we needed to do to get FREE from the situation we were in!

At that time in our life, my husband was laid off from a job he worked for 13yrs and was going to school. I was working a full week and all day Saturday and it still left bills unpaid. We had two children to feed and clothe. We were up to our eyeballs in debt and the bill collectors were calling our home constantly. Things were a mess! We were tired and stressed and didn’t know what to do. Can you relate?

After lunch that day, my husband and I got out every bill we had and laid them out on our bed. It was a mountain for sure! We prayed over this mountain of bills and repented to God for the wrong we had done, for this was our mess. We had made many bad decisions that had gotten us to where we were.

We made a covenant with God, that from that day forward we would give to Him first what was His. No matter how much we had, He would get His first and then we would use the rest for our needs.

The very next day my husband felt like he needed to make some phone calls to places where we had overdue balances. The first place we called was a doctor’s office, to see what kind of arrangements we could make to take care of what we owed them. To his surprise the receptionist  told him not to worry about it. They just wiped our bill clean; we had a ZERO balance! The next call,  same kind of response, no balance!

This went on to the third call that day… he couldn’t believe it!! But deep down we knew, God went before us and was cleaning house! It was the covenant we made with Him. From that day, forward, no matter what our situation looked like, we would give to Him first.

God took our situation and completely turned it around, over time. Not all of it was that easy. There still were some tough days ahead, and we had to stay disciplined, but we knew we were heading in the right direction. God was with us and fighting for us; we were no longer alone. The covenant that we made with God to faithfully give our tithe gave us protection.

You see, it was God’s knowledge that day that we listened to and acted upon! God honored that and He was right there to reward us for doing the right thing. If you are struggling in any area of your life,  break that curse that is over you today…get out from under it.

You say “how do I do that?” Take a step of obedience; give to God and get under God’s covering by being obedient to Him.

Take time to pray as to where to sow your tithe. Make sure it is in good Ground. I believe this year is going to be a BIG year as we are faithful to obey!!

God bless you.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-377-5400

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Your Daily Bible Verse – 12-21-11

(2 Cor 9:6-7 NKJV)  But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. {7} So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

I believe that as we give back to God a tenth of what He gives us, we will be blessed! I believe if we go beyond that and give more and do it with a good heart, we will see the things change in our situation.

Sometimes it’s hard to start giving if you have never been taught that this is important and is a key to getting out of debt, getting a job, or just changing your situation wherever you need change. When you sow into God and the work He is doing, you will be blessed.

Some of us are struggling today, even though we might be making good money, because it just goes to bills and other things. It goes as quick as it comes in. Well, God has away of teaching us the importance of sowing and reaping in this verse. It is one of the key things to getting out from under that feeling of never having enough and never catching up.

It’s so important to know where to sow your seed. Take for instance when you invest money in stocks; you are not going to invest in something that is not good. You do a search and you check it out and if you see its fruit, or you see it’s doing well then you invest because you know that you will see a return.

When you invest your seed where God wants you to, get ready. You will see Victory over your situation!

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808

401-377-5400

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Your Daily Bible Verse – 12-12-11

(Exo 20:15 NKJV)  “You shall not steal.

Steal: to take the property of another wrongfully and especially as a habitual or regular practice

How many of us steal and maybe we don’t even give it a second thought?

We can steal from our neighbors. We can steal from our employer. We can steal from God.

There are many different ways we can steal. It’s not always about walking into a store and leaving with something that we didn’t pay for. Most times it’s more subtle than that.

Some of us may do it without even thinking that it’s stealing. Are we using company time to take care of personal business? Are we taking company property home with us? Paper, tape, paper clips, pens, pencils, postage stamps… these are all items that can easily be taken home and used for our personal stuff.

How about our time? Are we spending company time on the phone doing personal things? Are we surfing the web for personal reasons, on company time?

How about our neighbors? Are we encroaching on the property line between our neighbor’s home and ours? Are we intentionally planting shrubs too close to the property boundary, hoping that they won’t notice?

Are we robbing God? Are we not honoring God in all we do? Are we putting God 2nd, 3rd or lower on our list of priorities? Are we not honoring God with our finances? Are we not tithing and trusting Him with our money?

Just a friendly reminder that we always need to be alert and keep ourselves sharp, not falling into any of the snares of the enemy, even in some of the subtle areas of our lives.

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie
Seven Seas Ministries
401-377-5400

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