Rodney Howard Browne

Thoughts on Stewardship – Lesson 25 from Deuteronomy

The Law of the Tithe
Foundation Scriptures: Deuteronomy 14 verses 22 – 29

You shall surely tithe all the yield of your seed produced by your field each year. 23 And you shall eat before the Lord your God in the place in which He will cause His Name [and Presence] to dwell the tithe (tenth) of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstlings of your herd and your flock, that you may learn [reverently] to fear the Lord your God always. 24 And if the distance is too long for you to carry your tithe, or the place where the Lord your God chooses to set His Name [and Presence] is too far away for you, when the Lord your God has blessed you, 25 Then you shall turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and shall go to the place [of worship] which the Lord your God has chosen. 26 And you may spend that money for whatever your appetite craves, for oxen, or sheep, or new wine or strong[er] drink, or whatever you desire; and you shall eat there before the Lord your God and you shall rejoice, you and your household. 27 And you shall not forsake or neglect the Levite [God's minister] in your towns, for he has been given no share or inheritance with you. 28 At the end of every three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase the same year and lay it up within your towns. 29 And the Levite [because he has no part or inheritance with you] and the stranger or temporary resident, and the fatherless and the widow who are in your towns shall come and eat and be satisfied, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.  Deuteronomy 14:22-29 AMP

1.  The tithe was to be brought as an act of worship, to honor God, by all those who feared His Name

a. It was to be brought with joy – not with sadness or with reservations. It was a time to feast and rejoice and give thanks.
b. The whole family was involved – you and your house. God continually emphasizes the importance of His people personally obeying His word and also teaching these principles to their children and establishing them as a way of life so that every generation would love and serve the Lord. Joshua says, “As for me and my house, we WILL serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15b)

2.  Give according to the increase.

a. You are to tithe and give, according to the blessing of the Lord. As He has blessed you – give.
b. You are supposed to bring a tithe to God off of your increase. You are expected to increase – not decrease. God expects you to increase. You are to expect increase in your own life. God tells us to bring a tithe of that increase.

3.  Every one doing their part – taking responsibility – this is how the kingdom of God functions.

a. Don’t forget the Levites – the priests – the ministers of the Gospel. Don’t forget to bless and support them. The Body of Christ is responsible to take care of their own. Bring your tithe to your local church. Pray and give offerings as the Holy Spirit leads you. This is God’s way of taking care of ministers and the ministry. God does not want us to forget those who labor in the ministry.
b. God says that those who labor in the ministry are worthy of double-honor. When Jesus sent the disciples out to preach and minister, He told them not to make provision for themselves, because “the workman deserves his support (his living, his food). (Matthew 10:10 AMP) Also, 1 Timothy 5:17 AMP says, “Let the elders who perform the duties of their office well be considered doubly worthy of honor [and of adequate financial support], especially those who labor faithfully in preaching and teaching.”   
c. Today, so many people are totally focused on themselves and their own needs and they forget the stranger, the fatherless (orphans), and the widows. Hebrews 13:2 NIV says, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”  James 1:27 NIV says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” Bless them as God blesses you.

4.  If you obey God in this, He promises to bless you and to bless all the work of your hands.

Pastor Adonica’s Thoughts:
Every one of us, in the Body of Christ, has a responsibility toward God and His Kingdom. God’s plan for His people is blessing and more blessing. Some of us are called to ministry; some of us are called to business; ALL of us are called to support the Gospel and each other. God does not want us to fearfully sit on what we have – He wants us to spread the blessing around. As the blessing is spread around, the Lord increases it. The more we give, the more increase comes to our life.

Pastor Rodney’s Thoughts:
There are many people, in the church world today, who want to be blessed even though they are disobedient to the word of God. With every one of the promises, there is a condition. If we meet the condition, we receive the promise. The tithe is Holy – it tells God you love Him, and fear Him, and put Him first, above all. Take care of God’s servants, the stranger, the orphans, and the widows. These are the basics of our financial responsibility in and to the Kingdom of God. If you don’t get this, then, as far as spirituality goes – you are still in pre-school!

Prayer and Confession:
Father, thank you today that I have the privilege of blessing You, even as You have blessed me. I honor you and covenant with You to obey Your word. I expect the increase and I thank and praise You for it.

Thoughts on Stewardship – Lesson 21 from Deuteronomy

God’s Supernatural Provision
Foundation Scriptures: Deuteronomy 8 verses 1 – 10

All the commandments which I command you this day you shall be watchful to do, that you may live and multiply and go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers. 2 And you shall [earnestly] remember all the way which the Lord your God led you these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and to prove you, to know what was in your [mind and] heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3 And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you recognize and personally know that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothing did not become old upon you nor did your feet swell these forty years. 5 Know also in your [minds and] hearts that, as a man disciplines and instructs his son, so the Lord your God disciplines and instructs you. 6 So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and [reverently] fear Him. 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; 8 A land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey; 9 A land in which you shall eat food without shortage and lack nothing in it; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. 10 When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for all the good land which He has given you.  Deuteronomy 8:1-10 AMP

1.    In verse 1 the Lord says that if His people are watchful to do all His commandments then they will live and multiply.

a. God’s plan is to bless His people and to provide for them.
b. One of the greatest problems we deal with today in believer’s lives is that they don’t see their heavenly Father as their Provider.
c. He loves us so much and wants to provide for us. He wants us to recognize Him as our source of supply.
d. He wants us to go in and possess the land He has provided for us.

2. In verse 2, the Lord reminds His people of their journey through the wilderness – how they were dependant upon Him for absolutely everything – and He does not want them to forget it. He wants them to continue to keep their eyes on Him.

a. A wilderness journey is where you find out what you are made of – everything that’s in you will come out. You will find out if your heart really belongs to God; whether you will continue to obey and serve Him; whether you will trust Him or blame Him.
b. Man shall not live by bread alone – but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Life is about more than food for your mouth right now – it’s about eternal choices.
c. The Lord tells His people that they should respect Him and receive His correction.

3. God promised His people certain things if they obeyed Him. For 40 years:

a.Their clothing would not become old upon them.
b.Their feet would not swell.

4. The land that God was bringing them into was:

a. A good land.
b. A land of brooks of water.
c. A land of fountains and depths that spring out of valley’s and hills.
d. A land of wheat and barley, vines and fig trees and pomegranates.
e. A land of olive oil and honey.
f. A land in which they would eat their bread without scarceness and in which they would not lack anything.
g. A land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills they could dig brass.   

5. God says when you have eaten, and are full, then you should bless the Lord your God for the good land that He has given you.

Pastor Adonica’s Thoughts:
The Lord constantly tried to remind the Israelites of what He had done for them and emphasized that they should tell their children about it too. Not because He is an ego-maniac, but because if they forgot that God was their source and supply and giver of life, they would go off and serve the devil and take a curse on themselves. God never wants you cursed – He only ever wants you blessed. You are a stupid person if you forget Him after He has blessed you and you go and serve your enemy!
 
Gratefulness for the past ensures blessings for the future. Be grateful for what the Lord has already done for you; be grateful for what you have right now. Thank Him for His provision for tomorrow. Having faith for God to provide for you is not just about asking – it’s about thanking and praising Him for those things for which you have already asked.

Pastor Rodney’s Thoughts:
In this passage it is evident what the Lord has in mind is to bless His people abundantly! All He asks is that, when you are blessed, you thank Him for His abundant, supernatural provision. Many times I just stop and thank God for all His abundant blessings upon my life, remembering where He brought us from and where I could have been, and thanking Him once again for His goodness.

Prayer and Confession:
Father, I pray that I will always bless you for blessing me and that I would always remember where all my blessings come from. Please help me to remember to always be grateful, and to pass the blessing on to others. As I remember to thank and serve You, I thank You for Your continued blessings on my life.

Giving So Much They Had To Be Restrained
Foundation Scriptures: Exodus 36 verses 1 – 7

Bezalel and Aholiab and every wisehearted man in whom the Lord has put wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work for the service of the sanctuary shall work according to all that the Lord has commanded. 2 And Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab and every able and wisehearted man in whose mind the Lord had put wisdom and ability, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work; 3 And they received from Moses all the freewill offerings which the Israelites had brought for doing the work of the sanctuary, to prepare it for service. And they continued to bring him freewill offerings every morning. 4 And all the wise and able men who were doing the work on the sanctuary came, every man from the work he was doing, 5 And they said to Moses, The people bring much more than enough for doing the work which the Lord commanded to do. 6 So Moses commanded and it was proclaimed in all the camp, Let no man or woman do anything more for the sanctuary offering. So the people were restrained from bringing, 7 For the stuff they had was sufficient to do all the work and more.  Exodus 36:1-7 AMP

1. People were stirred to come and give their best and those who were wise and skilled in their work were stirred to sow to the Lord by working with their hands to build the tabernacle.

a. They were stirred so much so that they brought the Lord free will offerings every morning and every night.

b. The people brought, and brought, and brought—so much that they needed to be restrained.

c. There was sufficient all around. There was enough for the tabernacle and the people still had much left over.

2. God asked only for those who were willing and generous to bring stuff for the sanctuary. Can you imagine their excitement; can you imagine their joy? There was no hesitation; no regrets; no doubts; no second thoughts. They came to the Lord with willing and generous hearts and with a continual flow of offerings.

a. They gave every day—in the morning and in the night.

b. When enough had been given for the sanctuary, they had to be restrained from bringing anything else. Most people have to be begged to give—these people were begged to stop!

c. Sufficient means: enough for a particular purpose. Verse 7 says that the STUFF they had was sufficient for ALL the work—not just sufficient, but more than enough—to make whatever was needed.

N. B.  What a day that will be when we see God’s people willingly and generously bringing to the Lord, so much, that they need to be restrained.

Pastor Adonica’s Thoughts:
If anyone would want to stop the building of the Kingdom of God or His sanctuary, it would be the devil. The devil always tries to ply us with fear about parting with what we have and to supply us plenty of reasons why not to give to God’s work. He knows that money gives power on earth and he does not want the church to have the power to expand or extend God’s Kingdom on earth. Don’t be fooled by him; don’t play into his hands. What we must do is move in the opposite spirit. We must confront our fears and see God’s call to give for what it is: an opportunity, to bless God, bless the work of God and to receive a great blessing in return. It is not merely your action of giving that matters, but your attitude in giving. Stepping out in faith to give generously and willingly breaks a spirit of poverty and poverty-mindedness off your life.

Pastor Rodney’s Thoughts:
Putting God first place in our life means that we give His House and His Kingdom top priority. Can you imagine a day, in the 21st century, when God’s people would take His Kingdom and His purpose and make it theirs? Malachi says that each man runs to his own house—eager to build it—and to his own plans. But God says, “seek ye first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). We started building our first house back in 1993, and moved in 1994. When the foundation was laid, I stood on it and lifted up my hands, thanking the Lord for our house, when I heard the Lord say, “Son you have built my house for the past 14 years and now I am going to build yours!” God so blessed us with that house and provided everything we needed for the house including all the furniture. It was exceedingly above all that we could have done on our own. When God builds something, He does it well!

Prayer and Confession:
Father, I put your house first; I make your priorities my priorities. I am a willing and generous giver. I pray that I come to the place where I am so blessed that I am able to give so much that I have to be restrained in my giving because it is more than enough for what needs to be done to build God’s Kingdom. Thank you, Lord, for all your abundant blessings bestowed on me!

Thoughts on Stewardship
Lesson No. 6 from Genesis

Don’t Eat of the Tree
Foundation Scriptures: Genesis 3 verses 1-7

In Genesis 2:15-17, God took Adam and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard and keep it. He gave him a commandment that he could freely eat of every tree of the garden, but not of the tree of good and evil because, “in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Now the serpent was more subtle and crafty than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. And he [Satan] said to the woman, Can it really be that God has said, You shall not eat from every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat the fruit from the trees of the garden, 3 Except the fruit from the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. 4 But the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die, 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing the difference between good and evil and blessing and calamity. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good (suitable, pleasant) for food and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she gave some also to her husband, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves apronlike girdles. Genesis 3:1-7 AMP

1. Have you ever wondered why God would  put a tree in the Garden if He did not want Adam and Eve and their kids to eat the fruit of it?

a. God made us to be stewards of all that He has given us and all that He has placed on the earth.

b. However, He always sets something aside, keeping it for Himself, and tells us not to eat of it. It’s Holy; it belongs to God alone.

c. It’s all about obedience and the free will of man. God gave us a free will so we could choose to obey. Obedience pleases God.

2. This is what Satan used to tempt Eve and cause her to sin. His plan was to get her to eat of that which was under their stewardship, but was not to be touched.

a. They could eat of every tree—including the tree of life, but they were not allowed to eat of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and of Evil. God told them, “the day that you eat of the tree in dying thou shalt die.” They would die spiritually (be cut off from God) and then die physically.

b. The scripture declares that if you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land (Isaiah 1:19). The devil knows that the only way that he can trap us is to get us moving in the direction of disobedience and against God’s Word.

3. In this day and this age, there is still a tree that is Holy, and it belongs to God. It is called the Tithe.

a. It is tempting to someone, who has not been taught how Holy the tree (tithe) is, to want to eat it.

b. To eat the tithe tree is to use the tithe for your personal use.

c. The tithe is Holy. Don’t eat that which belongs to God. Set it aside and bring it to the altar of worship where you are fed the Word of God.

d. Giving it as an act of worship as a first fruit to the Lord.

4. Many of those who have eaten from the tithe tree are now barren and naked and suffer lack. They have removed themselves from God’s protection.

Pastor Adonica’s thoughts:
From the time I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior, at the age of 17, I was taught about tithing. I fell in love with Jesus and fully committed to Him. I worked for my father at the time and when I received my monthly pay of 175 South African Rands, I immediately set aside my tithe, rounding it up to R20, and then sowed it into the offering the very next church service I attended. This became a committed habit for me, as it did for Rodney, and as God blessed and increased us, we continued to tithe on everything we earned. It is not a difficult thing to do because we committed to do it a long time ago and we would not dream of using the tithe for anything else. As a result, we expect—and receive—God’s blessing and favor on our lives and He has never let us down!

Pastor Rodney’s thoughts:
I can remember, as a child, being taught the principle of the tithe. I would tithe on my allowance. I would also tithe on the income I earned as a child working at whatever job I could find during school vacations. I knew that I wanted to do my part and sow seed into the Gospel. When we first arrived in America we heard that 20% of the body of Christ tithed. Apparently, the current statistic is that 6% actually tithe! This means that 94% spend their time eating of the tithe tree that is Holy and yet they wonder why they struggle financially and are unprotected—naked and barren.

I so desire God’s people to be blessed! God so desires to bless and increase all of our lives!  Even though He has a strong desire to bless you, His hands are tied when you eat that which does not belong to you. Don’t forget—the tithe is the Lord’s!  You are stewards over the tithe—don’t eat it—set it aside as Holy unto the Lord and allow the blessing of God to transform your life and overtake you from every side!

Prayer and Confession:
Father, I worship you with that which has been set apart for You—the tithe—it is Yours and I honor you with it and thank you that I will never be naked or barren or ashamed, and Your provision and protection will be upon me, all the days of my life.