Tithes & Alms

Shepherd of Hermas Mandate 11:

1:1 He shewed me men seated on a couch, and another man seated on a chair. And he saith to me, "Seest thou those that are seated on the couch?" "I see them, Sir," say I. "These," saith he, "are faithful, but he that sitteth on the chair is a false prophet who destroyeth the mind of the servants of Alahayim--I mean, of the doubtful-minded, not of the faithful. ​2 These doubtful-minded ones then come to him as to a soothsayer and enquire of him what shall befall them. And he, the false prophet, having no power of a divine Spirit in himself, speaketh with them according to their enquiries and according to the lusts of their wickedness, and filleth their souls as they themselves wish. 3 For being empty himself he giveth empty answers to empty enquirers; for what-ever enquiry may be made of him, he answereth according to the emptiness of the man. But he speaketh also some true words; for the devil filleth him with his own spirit, if so be he shall be able to break down some of the righteous. 4 So many therefore as are strong in the faith of the Lord, clothed with the truth, cleave not to such spirits, but hold aloof from them; but as many as are doubters and frequently change their minds, practice soothsaying like the Gentiles, and bring upon themselves greater sin by their idolatries. For he that consulteth a false prophet on any matter is an idolater and emptied of the truth, and senseless. 5 For no Spirit given of Alahayim needeth to be consulted; but, having the power of Deity, speaketh all things of itself, because it is from above, even from the power of the divine Spirit. 6 But the spirit which is consulted, and speaketh according to the desires of men, is earthly and fickle, having no power; and it speaketh not at all, unless it be consulted." 7 "How then, Sir," say I, "shall a man know who of them is a prophet, and who a false prophet?" "Hear," saith he, "concerning both the prophets; and, as I shall tell thee, so shalt thou test the prophet and the false prophet. By his life test the man that hath the divine Spirit. 

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The Life of a True Prophet

8 In the first place, he that hath the divine Spirit, which is from above, is gentle and tranquil and humble-minded, and abstaineth from all wickedness and vain desire of this present world, and holdeth himself inferior to all men, and giveth no answer to any man when enquired of, nor speaketh in solitude (for neither doth the Holy Spirit speak when a man wisheth Her to speak); but the man speaketh then when Alahayim wisheth him to speak. 9 When then the man who hath the divine Spirit cometh into an assembly of righteous men, who have faith in a divine Spirit, and intercession is made to Alahayim by the gathering of those men, then the angel of the prophetic spirit, who is attached to him, filleth the man, and the man, being filled with the Holy Spirit, speaketh to the multitude, according as the Lord willeth. 10 In this way then the Spirit of the Deity shall be manifest. This then is the greatness of the power as touching the Spirit of the deity of the Lord.

Testament of Benjamin 6:1-7

The inclination of the good man is not in the power of the deceit of the spirit of Beliar, for the angel of peace guideth his soul. 2 And he gazeth not passionately upon corruptible things, nor gathereth together riches through a desire of pleasure. 3 He delighteth not in pleasure, he grieveth not his neighbour, he sateth not himself with luxuries, he erreth not in the uplifting of the eyes, for the Lord is his portion. 4 The good inclination receiveth not glory nor dishonor from men, and it knoweth not any guile, or lie, or fighting or reviling; for the Lord dwelleth in him and lighteth up his soul, and he rejoiceth towards all men alway. 5 The good mind hath not two tongues, of blessing and of cursing, of contumely and of honor, of sorrow and of joy, of quietness and of confusion, of hypocrisy and of truth, [of poverty and of wealth]; but it hath one disposition, uncorrupt and pure, concerning all men. 6 It hath no double sight, nor double hearing; for in everything which he doeth, or speaketh, or seeth, he knoweth that the Lord looketh on his soul. 7 And he cleanseth his mind that he may not be condemned by men as well as by Alahayim. And in like manner the works of Beliar are twofold, and there is no singleness in them

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The Life of a False Prophet

1:11 Hear now," saith he, "concerning the earthly and vain spirit, which hath no power but is foolish. 12 In the first place, that man who seemeth to have a spirit exalteth himself, and desireth to have a chief place, and straight-way he is impudent and shameless and talkative and conversant in many luxuries and in many other deceits and receiveth money for his prophesying, and if he receiveth not, he prophesieth not. Now can a divine Spirit receive money and prophesy? It is not possible for a prophet of Alahayim to do this, but the spirit of such prophets is earthly. 13 In the next place, it never approacheth an assembly of righteous men; but avoideth them, and cleaveth to the doubtful-minded and empty, and prophesieth to them in corners, and deceiveth them, speaking all things in emptiness to gratify their desires; for they too are empty whom it answereth. For the empty vessel placed together with the empty is not broken, but they agree one with the other.

1[43]:14 But when he comes into an assembly full of righteous men who have a Spirit of deity, and intercession is made from them, that man is emptied, and the earthly spirit fleeth from him in fear, and that man is struck dumb and is altogether broken in pieces, being unable to utter a word. 15 For, if you pack wine or oil into a closet, and place an empty vessel among them, and again desire to unpack the closet, the vessel which you place there empty, empty in like manner you will find it. Thus also the empty prophets, whenever they come unto the spirits of righteous men, are found just such as they came. 

The Evidence of a False Prophets, Apostles, and Ministers

Acts of Thomas 78

...But there shall come false apostles and prophets of lawlessness, whose end shall be according to their deeds; preaching indeed and commanding others to flee from unholiness, but they themselves at all times are identified in sins, clothed in sheep’s clothing, but within are ravening wolves. Who doesn’t associate themselves with one wife but corrupt themselves with many women; who in saying that they admire children, destroy many children (boys), for whom they will pay the penalty; they aren’t satisfied with their own possessions, but desire that all useless things should belong to them only; professing to be His disciples; and with their mouth they say one thing, but in their heart they think another; warning other men to beware of evil, but they themselves perform nothing that is good; they who seem to be pleasant, and who command other men to abstain from fornication, theft, and covetousness, but in all these things they walk secretly doing these things themselves, while teaching other men not to do them.

2 Peter 2:1-3, 10-19

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

3Co 2:11 

For the unrighteous ruler who wanted to be Alahayim laid hands on them and delivered all humans to the bondage of pleasure.

2 Thessalonians 2:12 

That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

• The pleasure in unrighteousness and unwillingness to leave off from it is the cause of the devil being able to keep his hold on false ministers of any sort through the pleasure they’re continuing to fulfill in his works;

2 Corinthians 11:14 

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

• The works will always declare who’s minister a person really is as Satan’s works are twofold, having no singleness in good works only, so a servant of his cannot be hid by his deceitful dealing and manner of operating;

2 Timothy 3:2-8

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of Alahayim; 5 Having a form of holiness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

• In their corruption of mind, they’ll teach against the Truth of the Gospel and the sound doctrine thereof, for strife and debate;

1 Timothy 6:3-5

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Yache Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to holiness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is holiness: from such withdraw thyself.

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 A Man Pleaser

Psalms of Solomon 4:1-15, 22-24

Wherefore sittest thou, O profane man, in the council of the pious, Seeing that thy heart is far removed from Ahayah, Provoking with transgressions the Alahayim of Israel? 2. Extravagant in speech, extravagant in outward seeming beyond all men, Is he that is severe of speech in condemning sinners in judgement. 3. And his hand is first upon him as though he acted in zeal, And yet he is himself guilty in respect of manifold sins and of wantonness. 4. His eyes are upon every woman without distinction; His tongue lieth when he maketh contract with an oath. 5. By night and in secret he sinneth as though unseen, With his eyes he talketh to every woman of evil compacts. 6. He is swift to enter every house with cheerfulness as though guileless. 7. Let Alahayim remove those that live in hypocrisy in the company of the pious, Even the life of such an one with corruption of his flesh and penury. 8. Let Alahayim reveal the deeds of the men-pleasers, The deeds of such a one with laughter and derision; 9. That the pious may count righteous the judgement of their Alahayim, When sinners are removed from before the righteous, 10. Even the man-pleaser who uttereth law guilefully. 11. And their eyes are fixed upon any man's house that is still secure, That they may, like the Serpent, destroy the wisdom of . . . with words of transgressors, 12. His words are deceitful that he may accomplish his wicked desire. 13. He never ceaseth from scattering families as though they were orphans, Yea, he layeth waste a house on account of his lawless desire. 14. He deceiveth with words, saying, There is none that seeth, or judgeth. 15. He fills one house with lawlessness, And then his eyes are fixed upon the next house, To destroy it with words that give wing to desire. Yet with all these his soul like Sheol, is not sated. 22. Let ravens peck out the eyes of the hypocrites. 23. For they have laid waste many houses of men, in dishonour, And scattered them in their lust; 24. And they have not remembered Alahayim, Nor feared Alahayim in all these things;

Which spirit should We Trust?

Hermas Mandate 11

16 I have given thee the life of both kinds of prophets. Therefore test, by his life and his works, the man who says that he is moved by the Spirit.​ 17 But do thou trust the Spirit that cometh from Alahayim, and hath power; but in the earthly and empty spirit put no trust at all; for in it there is no power, for it cometh from the devil. 18 Listen then to the parable which I shall tell thee. Take a stone, and throw it up to heaven--see if thou canst reach it; or again, take a squirt of water, and squirt it up to heaven--see if thou canst bore through the heaven." 19 "How, Sir," say I, "can these things be? For both these things which thou hast mentioned are beyond our power." "Well then," saith he, "just as these things are beyond our power, so likewise the earthly spirits have no power and are feeble. 20 Now take the power which cometh from above. The hail is a very, small grain, and yet, when it falleth on a man's head, what pain it causeth! Or again, take a drop which falls on the ground from the tiles, and bores through the stone. 21 Thou seest then that the smallest things from above falling on the earth have great power. So likewise the divine Spirit coming from above is powerful. This Spirit therefore trust, but from the other hold aloof."

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For further edification on "How to Identify Who is Walking in the Spirit," please visit the playlist on the topic:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEIZO-3m3InAdwZTf9Vmr0MNpjQw4OgMQ&si=r_jWGsc6I7Jcvezg