chapter 7
multiply disciples, workers, and churches
The New Testament church was a multiplying church! They believed that everything that the Word said must be fulfilled, and that their righteousness by Grace must surpass that of the Jews who obeyed the Old Testament Law (Matt. 5: 17-20). Jesus declared Himself to be the Lord of the Harvest. He said that the Harvest was ready but the workers were few (Matt. 9: 35-38). The Great Commission clearly sent them to the nations to make disciples and to teach them to obey everything Jesus taught (Matt. 28: 16-20). Those early disciples realized they would eventually give an account to Jesus at the Judgment Seat. So in the fear of God, their goal was to please him always (2 Cor. 5: 9-11).
Jesus had commanded them to send and support the workers so they could go to the Harvest (Matt. 10: 10; 1 Tim. 5: 17-18). The New Testament teaches that God loves a cheerful giver, and that it is better to give than to receive (2 Cor. 9: 6-7; Acts 20: 35). Jesus also rebuked the Jews for neglecting justice and mercy even though they would meticulously give their tithes. Yet He encouraged them to continue tithing (Luke 11: 42). Hebrews tells us that Abraham gave the tithe to Melchizedek (Heb. 7: 1-10). And Jacob promised his tithe to God (Gen. 28: 11-22). Both cases were before the Law of Moses. So these patriarchs had the revelation of the importance of giving the tithe to God.
Moses was commanded to collect the tithe from the people in order to support the full time workers in Israel, the Levites. The Lord told Moses that the tithe of the people was God’s and it was holy. The Jews had to give their tithes on everything that produced income for them. If they tried to withhold part of the tithe they were penalized for doing so. The tithe was given to the Levites and priests to support them (Lev. 27: 30-33; Num. 18: 21-28). When the Jews refused to tithe, they came under the judgment of God. The only solution for the Jews was repentance and obedience. When they were obedient, the blessings of the Lord came abundantly upon them. The Lord promised the faithful ones an eternal inheritance (Mal. 3: 6-12; 16-18).
Paul the apostle gives us an important teaching in the New Testament concerning the support of elders. He makes it clear that the one who sows Spiritually into the lives of people should receive material support from them. Then he makes a direct comparison between the support of the Old Testament Levites and priests in the temple to financial support for those who preach the Gospel. He tells us that those elders who preach the Gospel should be supported in the same way as the Old Testament full time workers. This is a clear command to support New Testament elders with tithes and offerings (1 Cor. 9: 1-14; Gal. 6: 6-10).
So a key to being successful in multiplying disciples and churches is the faithful financial support of elders by the church through the giving of tithes and offerings. This is not legalism, but the means to fulfilling the work of the church. There are more than 7 billion people living on earth today. There were probably less then 1 billion people living during that time Jesus ministered on the earth. There is a greater need for workers today than ever before in history. The need to send (finance) workers to make disciples and plant churches was not fulfilled through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Therefore the principle from the Law concerning tithing to support workers has not been fulfilled.
I have much experience teaching church leaders in many nations. After I teach this lesson about sending workers, the vast majority of the church leaders come forward to repent because they are robbing God. Experts tell us that the international church gives an average of less then 2% of our income to the work of the Lord! My experience confirms this. This lack of generosity is one of the big reasons why the church is not successful. The modern church misuses most of their tithes and offerings on church buildings, land, equipment, programs, and unnecessary staff. God is still calling his workers to go to the Harvest! But the modern church neglects to send the necessary workers who are called and gifted of God.
Another God-called priority of the early church was ministry to the poor. The Bible commands us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. We should defend the rights of the poor and the needy (Prov. 31: 8-9). Jesus taught us that the poor are blessed, but the rich are in danger of judgment (Luke 6: 20-26; James 2: 5; 5: 1-6). We are to send our treasure in Heaven by serving the poor (Luke 14: 12-14; Matt. 25: 31-46). The Grace of God will lead us into ministry to the poor (2 Cor. 8: 1-15; 9: 6-15). Jesus was our example (1 John 3: 16-18).
Yet the modern church does little to minister to the desperately poor among the nations as a percentage of their church income. Once again the investment in local church buildings, land, equipment, programs, and unnecessary staff consumes the majority of the church finances.
There is no teaching in the New Testament concerning church buildings, for sending workers, making disciples and multiplying churches were the priorities of the early church. In the Old Testament tithes were used to support the Levites and priests. Tithes were never used for either the tabernacle or the temples. Only the free will offerings of the people were used to build those buildings (Ex. 25: 1, 2, 8; 30: 11-16; 1 Chron. 29: 1-9; 2 Kings 12: 1-16; Ezra 6: 1-10; 7: 11-23).
Yet in the modern church both tithes and offerings are used for church buildings. We have two unbiblical problems in the modern church concerning finances. First of all, most of the people are robbing God of tithes and offerings. Therefore there is not enough money to send out workers, as we should. Secondly the tithes and offerings that are received are misused on traditional, not Biblical priorities.
Jesus had commanded them to send and support the workers so they could go to the Harvest (Matt. 10: 10; 1 Tim. 5: 17-18). The New Testament teaches that God loves a cheerful giver, and that it is better to give than to receive (2 Cor. 9: 6-7; Acts 20: 35). Jesus also rebuked the Jews for neglecting justice and mercy even though they would meticulously give their tithes. Yet He encouraged them to continue tithing (Luke 11: 42). Hebrews tells us that Abraham gave the tithe to Melchizedek (Heb. 7: 1-10). And Jacob promised his tithe to God (Gen. 28: 11-22). Both cases were before the Law of Moses. So these patriarchs had the revelation of the importance of giving the tithe to God.
Moses was commanded to collect the tithe from the people in order to support the full time workers in Israel, the Levites. The Lord told Moses that the tithe of the people was God’s and it was holy. The Jews had to give their tithes on everything that produced income for them. If they tried to withhold part of the tithe they were penalized for doing so. The tithe was given to the Levites and priests to support them (Lev. 27: 30-33; Num. 18: 21-28). When the Jews refused to tithe, they came under the judgment of God. The only solution for the Jews was repentance and obedience. When they were obedient, the blessings of the Lord came abundantly upon them. The Lord promised the faithful ones an eternal inheritance (Mal. 3: 6-12; 16-18).
Paul the apostle gives us an important teaching in the New Testament concerning the support of elders. He makes it clear that the one who sows Spiritually into the lives of people should receive material support from them. Then he makes a direct comparison between the support of the Old Testament Levites and priests in the temple to financial support for those who preach the Gospel. He tells us that those elders who preach the Gospel should be supported in the same way as the Old Testament full time workers. This is a clear command to support New Testament elders with tithes and offerings (1 Cor. 9: 1-14; Gal. 6: 6-10).
So a key to being successful in multiplying disciples and churches is the faithful financial support of elders by the church through the giving of tithes and offerings. This is not legalism, but the means to fulfilling the work of the church. There are more than 7 billion people living on earth today. There were probably less then 1 billion people living during that time Jesus ministered on the earth. There is a greater need for workers today than ever before in history. The need to send (finance) workers to make disciples and plant churches was not fulfilled through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Therefore the principle from the Law concerning tithing to support workers has not been fulfilled.
I have much experience teaching church leaders in many nations. After I teach this lesson about sending workers, the vast majority of the church leaders come forward to repent because they are robbing God. Experts tell us that the international church gives an average of less then 2% of our income to the work of the Lord! My experience confirms this. This lack of generosity is one of the big reasons why the church is not successful. The modern church misuses most of their tithes and offerings on church buildings, land, equipment, programs, and unnecessary staff. God is still calling his workers to go to the Harvest! But the modern church neglects to send the necessary workers who are called and gifted of God.
Another God-called priority of the early church was ministry to the poor. The Bible commands us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. We should defend the rights of the poor and the needy (Prov. 31: 8-9). Jesus taught us that the poor are blessed, but the rich are in danger of judgment (Luke 6: 20-26; James 2: 5; 5: 1-6). We are to send our treasure in Heaven by serving the poor (Luke 14: 12-14; Matt. 25: 31-46). The Grace of God will lead us into ministry to the poor (2 Cor. 8: 1-15; 9: 6-15). Jesus was our example (1 John 3: 16-18).
Yet the modern church does little to minister to the desperately poor among the nations as a percentage of their church income. Once again the investment in local church buildings, land, equipment, programs, and unnecessary staff consumes the majority of the church finances.
There is no teaching in the New Testament concerning church buildings, for sending workers, making disciples and multiplying churches were the priorities of the early church. In the Old Testament tithes were used to support the Levites and priests. Tithes were never used for either the tabernacle or the temples. Only the free will offerings of the people were used to build those buildings (Ex. 25: 1, 2, 8; 30: 11-16; 1 Chron. 29: 1-9; 2 Kings 12: 1-16; Ezra 6: 1-10; 7: 11-23).
Yet in the modern church both tithes and offerings are used for church buildings. We have two unbiblical problems in the modern church concerning finances. First of all, most of the people are robbing God of tithes and offerings. Therefore there is not enough money to send out workers, as we should. Secondly the tithes and offerings that are received are misused on traditional, not Biblical priorities.
conclusionWe are not commanded to preach seeker-friendly messages in order to fill the seats and increase offerings, but are called to preach the Gospel of repentance. The church must be comprised of true disciples, not religious goats. All teaching is to be first foundational (milk), then instructions for maturity (meat), not perpetual entertainment and babysitting. A team of multiple, God-called, and gifted elders must be appointed in each church, not one traditional pastor who lords it over the flock. We should see the fruit of radical devotion to the Word, fellowship, breaking of bread (including Communion), and prayer in the church, not lukewarm, compromised, and double-minded meeting attendees. Every disciple should participate in ministry when the church meets together, not just one or two as everyone else observes. Finally, the finances of the church (tithes and offerings) should be used to send out God-called and gifted elders into the Harvest to multiply disciples and churches, not to support buildings, land, equipment, programs, and unnecessary staff.
My prayer is that Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Harvest, will use this simple message to challenge you and change you to become the radically devoted disciple that He wants you to be for His Glory! Please share this complete booklet freely! May God bless you as you seek first His Kingdom! Chuck King Frontier Harvest Ministries of Ford City, PA 757 Prospect St. Ford City, PA 16226 USA www.charlesjking.com charlesjking@yahoo.com |
