Joshua 7:6 Then Joshua rent his clothes and lay on the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.
In the Old Testament, we see that the OT saints tended to rent their clothes and put dust on their heads. Why did they do this? When they especially repented before the Lord, they rented their clothes and put dust on their heads. Today, we do not rent our clothes nor do we put dust on our heads. But what is the spiritual significance?
In the OT, the garments were considered very valuable. In many cases, the OT saints may have had only a couple or one in which they can afford. So to rent their clothes would end up costing them a great deal of money. Even the Romans soldiers threw lots for the garments of Jesus at the cross.
But when God's people came to truly remorse or repent, they rented their clothes. They were telling God, their repentance was sincere and was willing to give up something most valued. They rented their clothes or garment. Today, God's requires us to rent our hearts or spirits in remorse or repenting. But what have you given up that is so valuable to HIM as you come to HIM in repentance or in petition to your prayers. Where is your offering? In the OT, they always brought HIM an offering. They did not come empty handed.
Deuteronomy 16:16 (AMP) Three times a year shall all your males appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed:
Today's Christians are like the Pharaoh that Moses dealt with. Even after the ten judgements and after losing his first born, he asked Moses for a blessing. Today's Christians are like the world, we are always looking to get things for free. We come to God empty handed looking for a physical or spiritual breakthrough.
What did the dust represent? The dust represented dirt. What is the value of dirt? As they put the dust on their heads, they were telling God, they were nothing before HIM. They were willing to rent their clothes giving up something most valuable to tell God they were sincere and they put dust on their heads to state they were nothing.
Many today are in bondage, addictions, chaos, sickness, depression, poverty, etc, and they come to the altar looking for God to answer them but many come empty handed and they do not receive their breakthrough. But we are willing to make an offering to our doctors. We are willing to make an offering to the pharmacist. We are willing to make an offering to the government. We are willing to make an offering to the lottery system. We are willing to make an offering to ourselves buying nice things for ourselves.
I personally have experienced and witnessed people receiving physical and spiritual breakthrough when they come to HIM humbly and with a offering that has cost them. Many prosperity preachers have abused the tithe and offering message and have made people weary in offering to God. But you must not let that prevent you from doing right. Otherwise, their curses fall on you as well.
If you are in a home church, you must continue to make your tithes and offering before the Lord. If you are not in a church, you must still make tithes and offering to where HE designates to you. You cannot choose on your own. You must continue to make 10% tithes to continue in the blessings. We do not tithe to receive the blessing but to continue in it. But we make offerings to receive more blessings. Otherwise, we are robbing God.
Joel 2:12-13 (AMP) Therefore also now, says the Lord, turn and keep on coming to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning [until every hindrance is removed and the broken fellowship is restored]. 13 Rend your hearts and not your garments and return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness; and He revokes His sentence of evil [when His conditions are met].
What price have you paid to follow Jesus? Has it costed you your time? Has it costed you your money? Has it costed you your job or career? Has it costed you your future? Has it costed you your family? What has it costed you to follow Jesus? What has changed besides going to church once a week for most of us? If you have lost nothing, then perhaps you should ask yourself if you are even following Jesus.
Fire of God Church
An International Holy Fire Ministry
Pastor Steve Yong Kim
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