How much is a tithe? The word tithe literally means "tenth," so a tithe is one tenth of what you make. If that were not enough, after Jacob dreamed about the ladder going to Heaven in Genesis 28, he vowed to the Lord, "And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that You give me I WILL SURELY GIVE A TENTH TO YOU" (Genesis 28:22).

An example of offering or giving is Luke 6:38, where Jesus says, "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."

Notice, He says, "with the same measure" — not one like it or similar to it. Remember, the incoming is based on the outgoing. If you do not like the incoming, you had better change the outgoing, because Jesus says, "For with the same measure..."

Jesus very plainly tells us how to pray in John’s Gospel. In chapters 13 through 17, Jesus is teaching His disciples about His soon departure at Jerusalem, and about all that will be involved in His offering Himself up as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. The disciples had never asked anything in Jesus’ name while Jesus was here. They did not have to. He was with them. They also did not have to ask the Father for anything. They had God manifested in the flesh right in front of them.

Every Christian should know the basic ingredients in how to pray. It is not true to blanketly say that the Bible says we do not know how to pray. The Bible does not say that. However, it does say that, relative to intercessory prayer, we do not always know what to pray for as we ought. Christians need to understand the ingredients of prayer, because many of them have the idea that prayer is some kind of perfunctory recital they go through. When I pray, I am not just speaking a few words into the empty air. I am speaking words of faith to my Heavenly Father.

When Jesus ascended into Heaven, He gave the Body of Christ (the Church) the power of attorney. That is when you delegate someone else to act on your behalf legally. That person has the right to sign your name on documents, and to take care of business on your behalf in your absence. Jesus has given God’s children this power of attorney, and He said, "Whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you."

The name of Jesus is the only name that has authority in Heaven and in the earth. It is not just some sentimental something to say, or some kind of religious monotone that we use. It is not some kind of spiritual epitaph. When we say, "In Jesus’ name," we are doing Kingdom business for the King in His name in the earth realm.

Do not believe that you are going to receive whatever things you desire. When you pray, you must believe you receive them when you pray, right at the very time you pray. If I pray at 10:39 AM on any given day, what Jesus is telling me to do is, when I pray at 10:39, I have to believe right then that I receive what I pray for. If I do that, in future conversations concerning my desire, I would have to say I believe I received my desire at 10:39 AM on January such-and-such.

Notice something very important. If I believe I receive at 10:39 AM, I cannot pray that prayer again at 10:40. If I pray the exact same prayer at 10:40, I am saying I did not receive what I asked for at 10:39. I will cancel out the prayer I prayed at 10:39.What Jesus does not say is also interesting. He does not say, "Whatever things you desire, when you pray, see that you receive them. Feel that you receive them. Know that you receive them." He said all you have to do is believe it. God has really made it the easiest thing in the world, because believing something, basically, is just taking someone at his word.

It is personally, individually accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord that does it.

Jesus lives because He was resurrected for our justification. He defeated Satan in his own domain and bought back for us everlasting redemption and salvation.

If you want to accept this invitation to be what is called "Born-again" and become a Christian, to settle your relationship with God - - then pray the following prayer aloud.

"Dear God: I come to You with a humble heart and with gratitude for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to take away my sin that I might have right-standing with You.

I accept Jesus now as my Savior and Lord, and I turn from my past life to a renewed life in You through Him.

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You now for accepting me as Your child. You said in Your Word that if I confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead, I would be saved (Romans 10:9-10). I have just made this confession. I believe Your Word. I believe that I am now saved and I thank You for Your gift of salvation, in Jesus’ name. Amen."

If you made that confession, you are now a Christian. You are a new creature in Christ Jesus. You have been set free from sin and its dominion. God has forgotten your past sins. He does not remember them any more.

You may experience feelings when you receive salvation, but do not make the mistake of determining the validity of that salvation by virtue of the fact that you either have or you do not have a feeling. That is where many people have gotten confused. We should not allow our feelings to dictate the terms of our existence.

Redemption and salvation mean every aspect of your life revolves around your relationship with Jesus Christ. When you understand that, and begin to truly appreciate it, you will be able to live your life with vim, vigor, and vitality, because you will really understand what your life is all about.

Determine in your heart to follow God's teachings as outlined in the Bible. As you learn to trust in His Word, you can expect to grow spiritually, and to learn what God's best is for your life.

Satan has his foot on the neck of so many Christians because they permit him to do it. Colossians 1:13 says, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness…" (NKJV) Satan is the power of darkness. He doesn't have any legal authority to hold us in bondage. The Word of God says we've been set free. No man can hold you in bondage. No situation or circumstance or condition can bind you, for the Bible says that God's Word is forever settled in Heaven - therefore, it cannot fail.

As a Born-again Believer, you must learn to see yourself as God sees you. You should not see yourself as Satan sees you or as other men see you. You are a new creature.

Let's examine what the Word of God says about us: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (II Corinthians 5:17 - NKJV).

Are you in Christ? The Bible says that if you are in Christ, you are a new creation, or new creature. You must understand that "all things" refers to things in the spirit realm, not in the natural realm. In other words, not "all things" in the flesh, or the body, are new. You are in the same body. That is why you are still tempted. That's the reason why you can still yield to temptation. Your body has not been redeemed yet.

If you feel like you're a sinner, then you ought to stop living like a sinner. Then you won't feel like one. Remember that as far as God is concerned, all of your past life is gone. It's dead, buried, done away with! It's already been judged, and it will never rise against you on the day of judgment. You've been set free from it. You are not weak and forlorn. You are not down at the bottom of the ladder crying, "Oh, Lord, have mercy on me." He has already had mercy on you. Gird up the loins of your mind, pull your britches up, and stand tall, for you are a son of God. You are an heir to all that Heaven has to offer. You don't have to back into anybody's door. You can walk in boldly because you have the mandate of Heaven that all things are yours. You are a child of God. You have been Born-again. You are a new creature in Christ Jesus. You have been set free from sin and its dominion. God has forgotten about your past sins. He doesn't remember them anymore. Thank Him for His grace and walk on as a child of God! Take those things that God has made available to you through Christ's redemptive work on Calvary and begin to live the victorious, overcoming life that belongs to you through Christ Jesus.

Television is one of the ways God is allowing us to share the message of faith today. But He didn't intend for it to take the place of church.

If you are sick or disabled, hospitalized or incarcerated, you can enjoy a measure of fellowship through television. But there is nothing quite like worshipping with other Believers in the public assembly. That's a great privilege we have. Some communities may not have strong Bible believing churches.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (KJV)

The word "sleep" as used in verses 13 and 14 of this passage is a synonym for the word "death." In other words, God views His children as being asleep when they die.

We humans think of people as being only what we see with our natural, physical eyes. When what we see with our natural eyes ceases to be animated or alive, then that person or thing is what we call dead. When a person dies, we think that individual has ceased to exist. However, God considers only the physical part of that person as being asleep.

There are several scriptures that give credence to this. In John 11:11 Jesus, talking about Lazarus, who has died, said, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up" (NKJV). And, when speaking of Jairus’ 12 year old daughter, He said that she was not dead, but was sleeping (Matthew 9:24 - NKJV). Then, we read in 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (KJV)

Sleep is designed to allow the body an opportunity to recuperate and to re-energize. We ought to think of death this way.

The Bible says that God is the God of the living because there is no death in Him, in terms of a person ceasing to exist. (There is no such thing as a person ceasing to exist.) He is simply "put on hold" for a while.

In Hebrews 13:5, we can see that God’s Word promises His children, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (NKJV). So, as a Born-again Believer, be assured that your Heavenly Father has not abandoned you.

Tests and trials come to all mankind because Satan is the god of this world. And though prosperity belongs to the children of God, it takes faith to obtain it because we have an enemy [Satan] who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). But, praise God that Jesus has already defeated him, and He [Jesus] is the one who brings abundant life to those who believe God’s promises.

There are many different reasons why a negative occurrence may take place in a person’s life. We know that the devil is ultimately behind evil; however, our choices and decisions in life play a major role in determining the results we get. And though we may repent from one thing, we cannot always immediately undo the effects that an action may have already set in motion. The good news is that we don’t have to stay in our present situation, regardless of the circumstances!

The only purpose God has for you is to win. So, don’t be discouraged, and don’t give up.

God has provided all you need to live above the circumstances that face you. He gave us each a free will and then gave us the Bible (God’s Word) to exercise our wills on. If we fail, it is either out of ignorance (Hosea 4:6) or out of disobedience to the Word. We have to understand the whole plan of God, His modus operandi -- how He operates -- and we have to put things together. That’s why it’s important to take the time to study the Word of God on a consistent basis. With knowledge of the Word, you can pray in faith. Prayer and faith combined allow God to work in the circumstances of our lives. As we invite God into our situations through prayer and faith, we give Him the opportunity and the permission once again to get involved in this earth realm on our behalf.