Taking God At His Word - Part 2
TAKING GOD AT HIS WORD
“I WANT YOU TO TITHE AND GIVE SO I CAN REWARD YOU”
PART 2 OF SERIES
DECEMBER 14TH, 2003
KEY TEXT:
MALACHI 3:10 – BRING THE WHOLE TITHE INTO THE STOREHOUSE, THAT THERE MAY BE FOOD IN MY HOUSE. TEST ME IN THIS, ‘SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY’, AND SEE IF I WILL NOT THROW OPEN THE FLOODGATES OF HEAVEN AND POUR OUT SO MUCH BLESSING THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE ROOM ENOUGH FOR IT.”
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS……..GOD HAS RELEASED GREAT BLESSINGS WHEN HIS CHILDREN WHOLEHEARTEDLY FOLLOWED HIM!!!
IF YOU ‘HONOR THE LORD WITH YOUR WEALTH, WITH THE FIRSTFRUITS OF ALL YOUR CROPS; THEN YOUR BARNS WILL BE FILLED TO OVERFLOWING, AND YOUR VATS WILL BRIM OVER WITH NEW WINE.”
(PROV. 3:9)
THIS IS A FANTASTIC SET OF PROMISES FROM THE WORD OF GOD.
BUT DO YOU REALIZE THAT THESE INSPIRED PROMIESES STILL APPLIES TO US TODAY??
AFTER ALL…..
THIS SECOND PROMISE COMES JUST THREE VERSES AFTER THIS GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT…
TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING, IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM…….(NOW HERE’S THE PROMISE)…….AND HE WILL MAKE YOUR PATHS STRAIGHT!!!
SINCE WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OUR FATHER TO GIVE US WISDOM AND GUIDANCE IN OUR DAILY LIFE…..
THEN WHY NOT TRUST HIM COMPLETELY TO PROVIDE FOR US FINANCIALLY WHEN WE PUT HIM FIRST IN OUR GIVING???
TODAY I WANT TO FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON THE INCREDIBLE BLESSINGS THAT GOD HAS PROMISED US ONCE WE DECIDE TO GIVE OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS TO HIM!!!
THE BIBLE CLEARLY TEACHES THAT THE LORD IS LOOKING TO BLESS US AS A RESULT OF OUR IMPORTANT STEPS OF FAITH!!!
WE ESTABLISHED THAT LAST WEEK!!!
NOW TODAY……….WE WILL LET GOD GET SPECIFIC WITH US!!!
THE BOOK OF MALACHI REVEALS HOW IMPORTANT THE TITHE IS TO GOD!!!
TITHE MEANS 1/10…….OR 10% OF OUR INCREASE.
IT COMES TO GOD BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE IS DONE
WE PUT GOD FIRST EVERYTIME WE GIVE!!!
WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE REFUSED TO HONOR HIM WITH THEIR WEALTH…….GOD ACTUALLY ACCUSED THEM OF STEALING FROM HIM!!!
IMAGINE THAT!!!
BEING ACCUSED BY GOD HIMSELF OF STEALING!!!
WILL A MAN ROB GOD????
YET YOU HAVE ROBBED ME!!!
BUT YOU ASK, ‘HOW DO WE ROB YOU/”
IN TITHES AND OFFERINGS!!!
AND THEREFORE YOU ARE UNDER A CURSE – THE WHOLE NATION OF YOU – BECAUSE YOU ARE ROBBING ME!!!
BRING THE WHOLE TITHE (THAT MEANS OFFERINGS TOO)…..INTO THE STOREHOUSE, THAT THERE MAY BE FOOD IN MY HOUSE!!!
TEST ME IN THIS, ‘SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY’….AND SEE IF I WILL NOT THROW OPEN THE FLOODGATES OF HEAVEN AND POUR OUT SO MUCH BLESSING THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE ROOM ENOUGH FOR IT” (MAL. 3:8-10)
GOD’S WORD SAYS….THAT WHEN HIS PEOPLE OBEYED HIM BY GIVING THEIR TITHES AND OFFERINGS…….HE WOULD SHOWER THEM WITH MATERIAL BLESSING!!!
BUT WHEN THEY REFUSED TO FOLLOW HIS WISHES REGARDING THEIR GIVING……………THE BIBLE SAYS….THEY FELL….’UNDER A CURSE!!!!!
NOW……..
I WATCH CHRISTIANS……….AND WE CAN BE FUNNY SOMETIMES ABOUT MONEY…..
AS FUNNY AS THE WORLD!!!
SOMETIMES CHRISTIANS …….GOOD MEANING CHRISTIANS GET SWEPT UP IN A DEBATE OVER WHETHER OR NOT WE’RE REQUIRED TO GIVE OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS…???
WHEN THAT’S NOT THE REAL QUESTION AT ALL!!!!
THE REAL QUESTION IS……….DOES THE PROMISE OF MALACHI 3:9 AND PROVERBS 3:9 STILL APPLY TODAY?????!!!
WELL PASTOR………YOU KNOW……THAT TITHE THING…..AND THAT OFFERING THING (FIRST FRUITS) …
THAT’S OLD TESTAMENT CONCEPTS!!!
WELLL…..
SO ARE MANY OF THE PROMISES THAT YOU ENJOY STANDING ON!!!
BUT ALL OF GOD’S WORD IS YEAH AND AMEN!!!
ALL OF HIS PROMISES ARE TRUE!!!
WHEN HE SAYS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THAT WHAT A MAN SOWS HE WILL REAP….
THAT APPLIES TO OLD TESTAMENT PRINCIPLES AS WELL AS NEW TESTAMENT ONES!!!
THAT ARGUMENT IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO WASH WITH GOD!!!
SO MY QUESTION IS THIS…
DO YOU BELIEVE GOD WILL NEVER DESTROY THE EARTH BY WATER AGAIN???
(YES!!)
WELL HOW DO YOU KNOW???
YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THAT IS BASED ON AN OLD TESTAMENT PROMISE FOUND IN GENESIS 9:12-16…
IN THAT PASSAGE GOD SAID…
“THIS IS THE SIGN OF THE COVENANT I AM MAKING BETWEEN ME AND YOU AND EVERY LIVING CREATURE WITH YOU……A COVENANT FOR ALL GENERATIONS TO COME….(THAT INCLUDES US THEN)……..I HAVE SET MY RAINBOW IN THE CLOUDS…..AND IT WILL BE THE SIGN OF THE COVENANT BETWEEN ME AND THE EARTH……..
NEVER AGAIN WILL THE WATERS BECOME A FLOOD TO DESTROY ALL LIFE!!!
WHENEVER THE RAINBOW APPEARS IN THE CLOUDS, I WILL SEE IT AND REMEMBER THE EVERLASTING COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND ALL LIVING CREATURES OF EVERY KIND ON THE EARTH”!!!!
THIS PROMISE DID NOT HAVE TO BE RESTATED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT…..IN ORDER TO BE VALID TODAY…
JUST AS THE PROMISE OF PROV 3:5, 6 ABOUT GUIDANCE DID NOT HAVE TO BE RESTATED!!!
OUR DECISION TO TITHE AND GIVE OUR FIRST FRUITS OFFERING…………IS NO DIFFERENT!!!
WHEN WE DO THESE THINGS…..ACCORDING TO GOD’S WORD…
IT REFLECTS OUR RELIANCE ON HIM AS THE SOURCE OF ALL OUR BLESSINGS!!!
THIS KIND OF FAITH PLEASE THE LORD AND BRINGS ABUNDANT BLESSING!!!!
DON’T GET CAUGHT UP….AND FALL PREY TO ‘LEGALISTIC RIGHTEOUSNESS” AND REQUIRE THE NEW TESTAMENT TO COMMAND US TO TITHE AND GIVE OUR OFFERINGS BEFORE WE USE THIS SIMPLE MEASURE AS A GENEROSITY STANDARD.
WE COULD MISS MANY OF GOD’S RICHEST BLESSINGS IF WE REFUSE TO TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD!!!
(pp. POWER PRINCIPLES OF TITHING AND GIVING)
BOTH BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES DEMONSTRATE THE POWER OF TITHING AND GIVING IN A CHRISTIAN’S LIFE!!!
SINCE GOD’S WORD REPEATEDLY USES THE SOWING AND REAPING ILLUSTRATION TO ENCOURAGE GIVING BACK TO HIM,
IT’S A POWERFUL EXERCISE TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN WE TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD AND TITHE AND GIVE OUR FIRST FRUITS OFFERINGS AS A STARTING POINT FOR GIVING!!!
WHAT WILL WE REAP????
I’VE DISCOVERED FOUR AWESOME THINGS………..THAT TAKE PLACE IN THE LIFE OF A BELEIVER WHEN THESE COMMITMENTS ARE MADE AND FOLLOWED THROUGH ON!!!
POWER PRINCIPLE 1 – TITHING MOTIVATES GREATER FAITHFULNESS!!
DID YOU KNOW THAT JESUS ACTUALLY TAUGHT HIS FOLLOWERS TO LIVE BY A HIGHER STANDARD THAN THE ONE GIVEN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT?
OBVIOUSLY, WE, TOO, WANT TO PLEASE HIM AND BE FAITHFUL TO HIS CALL!!!
JESUS CONTRASTED THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW WITH THE PLAN FOR HIS FOLLOWERS!!!
LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT I MEAN!!!
IN FACT THE FOLLOWING CHART CITES SEVERAL EXAMPLES AND RAISES THE QUESTION: WHICH IS THE HIGHER STANDARD….THE LAW OF MOSES….OR THE WAY OF CHRIST???
OLD TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENT
DO NOT MURDER ANYONE WHO HATES HIS
(EXODUS 20:13) BROTHER IS A MURDERE
(I JOHN 3:15)
DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY ANYONE WHO LUSTS
(EXODUS 20:14) COMMITS ADULTRY IN
HEART (MATT 5:28)
DO NOT SWEAR FALSELY DO NOT SWEAR AT ALL
BY GOD’S NAME (LEV 19:12) (MATT 5:28)
THE ENTIRE TITHE WILL BE GIVE AS YOU ARE
HOLY TO THE LORD PROSPERED
(LEV 27:32) (I COR 16;2)
IF YOU’RE A STUDENT OF THE WORD AT ALL………YOU WILL FIND…..THAT
JESUS’ WAY….ALWAYS CALLS FOR GREATER FAITHFULNESS….AND COMMITMENT THAN WAS REQURIED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT!!!!
WHY DO YOU THINK THEY CRUCIFIED HIM????
AND WE DO SO AGAIN……EVERYTIME WE SAY…..WE WILL NOT FOLLOW!!!!
CAN GIVING…….POSSIBLY……BE AN EXCEPTION??
IT FOLLOWS CLEARLY…THAT NO ONE WHO WANTS TO BE FAITHFUL TO GOD WOULD EVER THINK OF DOING LESS THAN THE O.T. BELEIVERS….
REMEMBER……CHRIST CAME TO FULFILL THE LAW….NOT TO DESTROY IT……….AND HEBREWS 10:1 SAYS…”THE LAW IS ONLY A SHADOW OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE COMING - NOT THE REALITIES THEMSELVES!!!!
BY THE WAY……………IF YOU’RE REALLY CURIOUS….REGARDING….O.T. GIVING…..
TAKE A WALK THROUGH YOUR OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE ONE DAY…..AND FIND OUT JUST HOW MANY OFFERINGS THE LAW COMMANDED….!!!!
BESIDES THE TITHE AND THE FIRST FRUIT OFFERINGS………YOU WILL EASILY FIND ANOTHER 8-10 DIFFERENT TYPES OF OFFERINGS THAT TOOK PLACE WITHIN ANY GIVEN YEAR….
AND SEVERAL MORE THAT WERE RESERVED FOR SPECIAL TIMES!!!!
AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT BIBLE STUDY…..CONSIDER WHAT JESUS CALLS YOU AND ME TO!!!
JESUS CAME TO BRING US….’THE GOOD THINGS!!!
IF WE WANT THESE THINGS IN OUR LIFE….THEN WE MUST SOW THE SEED NECESSARY TO REAP THEM!!!
HIS WORD TEACHES THAT FAITHFULNESS IN TITIHING AND GIVING IS ONE OF THE PATHWAYS TO RECEIVING THE SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL BLESSINGS HE DESIRES FOR US!!!
IT AMAZED ME ONE DAY…..WHEN I LEARNED THAT TITHING WAS NOT UNIQUE TO GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE!!!
OTHER ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS ALSO PRACTICED GIVING A TENTH OF THEIR INCOME TO VARIOUS PAGEN DEITIES!!!
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THE PEOPLES OF EGYPT, BABYLON….AND ASSYRIA……ALSO TITHED!!!
IMAGINE THAT!!!
BOTH JEWISH FOLLOWERS OF GOD AND PAGANS DEVOTED TO FALSE AND DEAD GODS…..SAW THAT SPIRITUAL FAITHFULNESS INCLUDED TITHING AND GIVING!!!
2. POWER PRINCIPLE 2 – TITHING AND GIVING RELEASES GOD’S FINANCIAL BLESSINGS!!!
MALACHI 3:10 SAYS….”BRING THE WHOLE TITHE INTO THE STOREHOUSE, THAT THERE MAY BE FOOD IN MY HOUSE…..AND TEST ME IN THIS!!!……AND SEE IF I WILL NOT THROW OPEN THE FLOOD GATES OF HEAVEN AND POUR OUT SO MUCH BLESSING THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE ROOM ENOUGH FOR IT”!!!
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE PASSAGES IN THE WHOLE BIBLE!!!
THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE ACTUALLY TOLD HIS PEOPLE TO TEST HIM….
AND THE HEBREW WORD HERE FOR TEST MEANS TO ‘EXAMINE”
GOD SAID……THEY COULD CHECK HIM OUT…….AND SEE IF HE WAS TELLING THE TRUTH!!!
THIS IS THE ONLY TIME IN SCRIPTURE WHEN GOD ALLOWED HIS CREATION TO SEE IF HE REALLY MEANT WHAT HE SAID!!!
THE LORD TOLD THEM THAT IF THEY WOULD ONCE AGAIN PUT HIM FIRST AND PROVE THEIR LOYAL DEVOTION TO HIM BY BRINING IN THEIR WHOLE TITHE…….
HE WOULD DRENCH THEM WITH MATERIAL BLESSINGS!!!
THEY COULD GO TO THE BANK ON THIS PROMISE!!!
I AM CONVINCED GOD HAS NOT CHANGED!!!
HE IS THE SAME ……YESTERDAY…….TODAY…..AND FOREVER!!!
I KNOW TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAKEN GOD AT HIS WORD AND TITHED………HAVE GIVEN ADDITIONALLY OF THEIR OFFERINGS…….WHEN THEY DIDN’T KNOW HOW THEY POSSIBLY COULD!!!
SO THE QUESTION ALWAYS COMES ALONG…
WHAT IF I’M FINANCIALLY STRAPPED???
TEST GOD!!!
AND AT THE LEAST………..LISTEN TO STORIES AROUND YOU OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR OTHERS!!!
HE IS NO RESPECTOR OF PERSONS!!!
IF HE CAN DO IT FOR SOLO AND SARAH….
HE WILL DO IT FOR YOU!!!
AFTER YEARS OF LISTENING TO THE FAITH STORIES OF OTHERS……I HAVE YET TO HEAR OF A SINGLE STORY WHERE GOD DID NOT ABUNDANTLY BLESS OBEDIENT……GRATEFUL……LOVE LIKE THIS!!!
JUST REMEMBER………WE DON’T GIVE TO BE BLESSED……………WE GIVE BECAUSE WE ARE BLESSED!!!!
TITHES AND OFFERINGS DECLARE OUR REALIZATION THAT GOD HAS ALREADY BLESSED US…………..AS WELL AS OUR CONVICTION THAT HE WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF US!!!
POWER PRINCIPLE 3 – TITHING EXPANDS KINGDOM WORK!!!
THE AVERAGE PERCENTAGE OF CHRISTIAN GIVING IS ONLY 2.8%!!!
IT DOESN’T TAKE A MATHEMATICAL GENIUS TO SEE THAT CHURCHWIDE GIVING WOULD ALLOW MINISTRY EFFORTS TO VIRTUALLY EXPLODE!!!
IMAGINE HOW MUCH GREATER GOD WOULD BE GLORIFIED IF THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST QUADRUPLED ITS RESOURCES!!!
YOU ALLOW GOD TO HAVE A GREATER INFLUENCE IN THE WORLD AROUND YOU WHEN YOU HONOR HIM WITH YOUR FINANCIAL TITHES AND OFFERINGS!!!
WHEN GIVING IS UP…………….VISION IS UP!!!
WHEN 100% OF THE PEOPLE ARE TITHING AND GIVING……..THEN 100% OF THE MINISTRY THAT GOD HAS CALLED THIS CONGREGATION TO IS BEING DONE!!!
RIGHT NOW…………………IN OUR FIRST FRUITS WE ARE AT 58% PARTICIPATION……..
AND OUR TITHING APPEARS TO BE AROUND……….___50__% OF THE CONGREGATION BELEIVING GOD!!!
NOW 50/60% IS GREAT…….AND BEATS THE NATIONAL AVERAGES…
AND YET OUR BIBLES TELL US THAT GOD COMMANDS ……..COMMANDS BLESSINGS!!!…….WHEN AND WHERE THERE IS UNITY!!!!!! EVEN GOES SO FAR AS TO COMMAND BLESSING AND LIFE EVERMORE!!!!!
I’M ALWAYS AMAZED AT HOW NON-TITHERS NON-GIVERS THINK:
- THEY TYPICALLY THINK……THAT TITHERS ARE ABLE TO AFFORD TITHES AND GIVING
- WHILE TITHERS AND GIVERS DON’T THINK ABOUT ‘AFFORDING IT’ AT ALL……IN FACT….THE OPPOSSITE IS USUALLY TRUE…..”THEY THINK…..THEY CAN’T AFFORD NOT TO!!!”
LISTEN………WHEN A CONGREGATION IS FULLY TITHING……AND PARTICIPATING IN GIVING (IN THIS CASE – FIRST FRUITS)………..NEW PLANS AND MINISTRIES BEGIN TO SPROUT UP………
INVOLVEMENT INCREASES DRAMATICALLY………
AND THE MINISTRY IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY EXPANDS WITH A FRESH VISION!!!!
AS WE CONTINUE TO STRETCH OURSELVES IN THE AREA OF FINANCES……..NOT ONLY ARE WEEKLY BUDGETS MET…………BUT NEEDS GALORE IN AND OUT OF THE BODY ARE MET!!!
(WENDELL SMITH AND THE CHECK FOR $1MILLION…THIS WEEK)
POWER PRINCIPLE 4 – GIVING OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS CHANGES OUR SPENDING HABITS!!!!
IF YOUR GIVING STANDARD HAS BEEN LOW………STARTING TO TITHE…….OR MAKING A FIRST FRUITS COMMITMENT MAY SEEM TO STRETCH YOU FINACIALLY AT FIRST!!!
BUT IN THE PROCESS OF GIVING……YOU LEARN TO PRIORITIZE YOUR SPENDING PATTERNS AND DEVELOP A SOUND FINANCIAL BUDGET!!!
THIS WILL ALLOW YOU MORE MONEY TO GIVE!!!
YOU’LL ALSO FIND THAT THE DISCIPLINE BROUGHT ON BY TITHING AND GIVING WILL HELP YOU FIGHT THE MATERIALISTIC URGES PROMPTED BY THE MARKETING GURU’S OF OUR CONSUMER-DRIVEN SOCIETY!!!
PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO TITHING AND GIVING EVALUATE THEIR SPENDING HABITS MORE CLOSELY!!!
THEY FOLLOW SPIRITUALLY AND FINACIALLY HEALTHY PRACTICES THAT PROTECT THEIR ABIBLITY TO TRUST GOD TO PROVIDE FOR THEM!!!!
THESE PRACTICES INCLUDE SETTING ASIDE THEIR WEEKLY OFFERING FIRST………………..MAKING PURCHASING DECISIONS IN LIGHT OF HOW THOSE DECISIONS WILL IMPACT THEIR OFFERINGS TO THE LORD…..AND THINKING AOBUT WHAT THEY REALLY NEED VERSUS WHAT THEY THINK THEY NEED!!!!
BY THE WAY…………..I’M NOT MAKING THIS UP……….IT’S SCRIPTURE!!!!
BIBLE SAYS….SEEK FIRST!!!!….THE KINGDOM OF GOD!!!!
THIS IS A LOT LIKE ESTABLISHING A GOOD NUTRITION PLAN!!!
WHEN YOU EAT RIGHT…………YOU STAY HEALHTY…………I DON’T CARE WHAT DIET YOU’RE CURRENTLY ON…………
BUT THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS EAT HEALTHY!!!!
AND IF YOU DO……….YOU’LL STAY HEALTHEIR AND HAPPIER…..AND PROBABLY LIVE LONGER………
AND YOU’LL LIVE LONGER SO YOU CAN TITHE LONGER!!!!!!
IN THE SAME WAY……………..WHEN YOU ESTABLISH A SOLID COMMITMENT TO TITHE…..YOU WILL TRIM THE FAT OUT OF YOUR SPENDING…….LEAVING MORE FOR THE KINGDOM………AND MORE FOR YOU TO SPEND WISELy!!!!
NOW……
I WOULDN’T BE FAIR TO YOU AS A PASTOR IF I DIDN’T GIVE YOU THE OTHER SIDE OF ALL THIS OBEDIENCE AND BLESSING!!!!
(PP> LIVING UNDER A CURSE)
THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY IS A QUESTION:
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON’T TAKE GOD AT HIS WORD IN TITHING???
WELL TO SEE WHAT CAN HAPPEN…..LOOK AT THE BOOK OF MALACHI CHAPTERS 1-3 .
THERE IS THE ILLUSTRATION OF THE WICKED STATE OF AFFAIRS IN ISRAEL!!!
THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE AND THEIR PRIESTS WERE CORRUPT!!!
THEY WERE PLAGUED WITH SIN, DIVORCE…..AND SOCIAL INJUSTICE ON EVERY HAND!!!
MALACHI 3:9 REVEALS THAT THEY WERE UNDER A CURSE SIMPLY BEC THEY FAILED TO HONOR GOD WITH THEIR TITHE!!!
NOW THOSE ARE CHILLING WORDS!!!
THE BIBLE USES THE WORD CURSEB TO DESCRIBE THE FRUIT OF THEIR UNFAITHFULNESS TOWARD GOD AND HIS PURPOSES FOR THEM!!!
THE GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURE OF THIS PHRASE IN HEBREW IS EVEN MORE SHOCKING!!!
THIS PASSAGE LITERALLY SAYS….THAT GOD’S PEOPLE WERE CURSED WITH A CURSE!!!
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEFINITION OF CURSE………..AND SEE HOW IT’S USED IN OTHER PASSAGES IN THE SCRIPTURE….IT’S CLEAR THAT IT REFERS TO THE EXPERIENCE OF GOD EITHER BRINGING PUNISHMENT OR WITHHOLDING BLESSING!!!
FOR EXAMPLE…
MALACHI 2:2 SAYS….IF YOU DO NOT LISTEN…..AND IF YOU DO NOT SET YOUR HEART TO HONOR MY NAME…….I WILL SEND A CURSE UPON YOU AND I WILL CURSE YOUR BLESSINGS!!!………YES……I HAVE ALREADY CURSED THEM…..BEC YOU HAVE NOT SET YOUR HEART TO HONOR ME!!!!
NOW THINK FOR A MOMENT…….OF THE MANY WAYS THAT YOU COULD BE “UNDER A CURSE” AND HAVING TO ENDURE A SITUATION THAT YOU KNOW IS NOT GOD’S BEST!!!
PERHAPS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH A LOVED ONE IS IN SHAMBLES…..OR YOUR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES SEEM EXTREMELY LIMITED!!!
OR IT COULD BE THAT JESUS DOESN’T SEEM REAL TO YOU!!!
ON THE OTHER HAND……WOULDN’T YOU LIKE TO EXPEREINCE THE FAVOR OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE???
GOD CLEARLY PRONOUNCES BOTH SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL BELSSINGS ON THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIS WILL!!!
GOD’S BELSSINGS AFFECT LIFE’S HAPPINESS………FINANCES…..GOVERNMENT……..LONGEVITY OF LIFE……AND OUR ETERNAL DESTINATION!!!
LET ME RUN THROUGH QUICKLY SOME SCRIPTURES ON THE OVERHEAD FOR YOU OF HOW GOD WITHHOLDS CURSES……….AND RELEASES BLESSINGS!!!!
PSALM 128:1-4
PROVERBS 10:22
PROVERBS 11:11
EPHESIANS 6:1-3
JAMES 1:12
AND THE LIST GOES ON………..TOO MANY FOR US TO LOOK AT THIS MORNING………BUT THE LORD WANTS TO BRING MANY KINDS OF PRACTICAL ….AND PHYSICAL BLESSINGS TO US!!!
· HE WANTS TO GIVE HIS PEOPLE PRODUCTIVE AND PROSEROUS BUSINESS
· HE WANTS US TO EXPERIENCE JOY IN MARRIAGE
· HE WANTS US TO DELIGHT IN PARENTING OUR CHILDREN
· HE DESIRES THAT WE BENEFIT FROM A LONG LIFE!!
· HE WANTS TO GIVE US STRENGTH AND HOPE UNDER TIMES OF ADVERSITY!!!
THESE REPRESENT ONLY A FEW OF THE WAYS GOD WANTS TO BRING TANGIBLE….PERSONAL FAVOR INTO OUR LIVES!!!
THEY ILLUSTRATE THE ‘FRUIT OF RIGHTEOSNESS” THAT CAN BE OURS AS A RESULT OF OBEDIENT LOVING TRUST IN GOD!!!
JUST LIKE WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR CHILDREN HOWEVER……GOD DOES HAVE BLESSING AND HE DOES HAVE CURSES!!!
SIMPLY PUT…
IF WE OBEY…..GOOD THINGS WILL HAPPEN…
IF WE DISOBEY ….NOT SO GOOD THINGS WILL HAPPEN!!!
ALL BEHAVIOR HAS CONSEQUENCES!!!!!
THIS IS THE SAME WAY GOD DEALS WITH US!!
HE WANTS US TO LEARN TO TRUST HIM WITHOUT QUESTION OR HESITATION!!!
WHEN WE TRUST AND FOLLOW HIM…
HE NEVER FAILS TO KEEP HIS PROMISES OF BLESSING!!!
BUT BEC OUR TENDENCIES TEND TO BE STUBBORN AND SELFISH….WE OFTEN NEED POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT………TO HELP US LEARN TO OBEY AND PUNISHMENT WHEN WE DISOBEY!!!!
IT IS NOT AN ENJOYABLE CONCEPT TO TEACH……BUT THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WHEN WE DO NOT TAKE GOD AT HIS WORD….ON ANY AREA OF LIFE….
WE PUT OURSELVES AT RISK OF FALLING UNDER “A CURSE” JUST AS THE ISRAELITES DID!!!!
NOW…….IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO …..IF WE FIND OURSELVES LIVING UNDER A CURSE???
YOU BETCHA!!!
THANKFULLY…..THE LORD IS A “FORGIVING….GRACIOUS….AND COMAPSSIONATE GOD…..WHO IS SLOW TO ANGER AND ABOUNDING IN LOVE!!!!
NO MATTER WHAT YOUR PAST EXPEREINCE WITH TITHING AND FIRST FRUITS IS…..IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO TAKE GOD AT HIS WORD!!!
IF YOU TITHE…..YOU WILL RECEIVE GOD’S BLESSINGS……IF YOU DON’T TITHE…….YOU ROB GOD…….AND CHEAT YOURSELF!!!!
GOD RELEASES HIS POWER WHEN WE PUT OUR FAITH IN HIM!!!
TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD AND HE WILL RESPOND WITH BLESSING!!!
THE WORD SAYS…
IF ANY OF YOU LACKS WISDOM….HE SHOULD ASK GOD….WHO GIVES GENEROUSLY TO ALL WITHOUT FINDING FAULT…..AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO HIM.
BUT WHEN HE ASKS HE MUST BELIEVE AND NOT DOUBT….BEC HE WHO DOUBTS IS LIKE A WAVE OF THE SEA…..BLOWN AND TOSSED BY THE WIND!!!
THAT MAN SHOULD NOT THINK HE WILL RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM THE LORD…..FOR HE IS A DOUBLE-MINDED MAN…..UNSTABLE IN ALL HE DOES!!!
(JAMES 1:5-8)
THIS MORNING……AND FOR 2004 AND BEYOND…..AVOID DOUBLE-MINDED THINKING!!!
LET FAITH TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR HEART……AS YOU TAKE HOLD OF GOD’S PROMISES!!!
IT’S NOT A MATTER OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN AFFORD TO TITHE AND GIVE…..IT’S WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN AFFORD NOT TO!!!
WHEN YOU PUT THE LORD FIRST!…….HE PROMISES TO OPEN UP HEAVEN AND POUR OUT HIS BLESSINGS!!!!!
{LET ME TALK ABOUT FIRST FRUITS THIS MORNING…….AND THEN WE’RE GOING TO PRAY FOR OURSELVES}
- SEVERAL YEARS AGO…..GOD SPOKE TO US ABOUT FIRST FRUITS AS A MEANS OF DISCIPLINED GIVING BEYOND THE TITHES………
- FOUND IN THE BIBLE WITH NUMEROUS EXAMPLES.
- WAS ALWAYS THE GIVING BEFORE OR IN ANTICIPATION OF THE INCREASE OF HARVEST……IN OTHER WORDS……..A FAITH GIVING OF THE VERY FIRST FRUITS THAT CAME UP……..BEFORE THE WHOLE OF THE CROP……..AND ATTACHED TO IT WAS A REPONSE ON THE PERSONS PART THAT GOD WOULD BLESS THE INCREASE OF THE FIELD
- IT WAS THEN THE ACTUAL INCREASE OF THE FIELD…….THE HARVEST THAT TITHES (10%) WAS GIVEN!
- SO THE ISSUE FOR US HAS ALWAYS BEEN……..HOW GREATLY DO YOU WANT YOUR YEAR TO BE BLESSED……..THEN GIVE TO THAT DEGREE…..YOUR FIRST FRUITS!!!.
- WE COULD DO THIS AT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR…..BUT WE CHOSE TO BRING IT IN EVERY FIRST OF THE MONTH……BELEIVENG THAT GOD WOULD BLESS THE REMAINDER OF OUR MONTH AND YEAR!!!….THAT HARVEST WOULD BE BOUNTIFUL…….AND FULL!!!!!
THIS YEAR………….WE HAVE CHOSEN TO COMMIT OUR FIRST FRUITS FOR 2004 IN A BIT DIFFERENT WAY……
- HE BECAME FIRST FRUIT FOR US……..AND BEC HE HAS….WE ARE MAKING OUR FIRST FRUIT COMMITMENTS TO HIM THIS WEEK!
- WE ARE GOING TO USE THESE NAILS AS A SYMBOL AND REMINDER……….AND WE ARE GOING TO HANG THEM ON THIS TREE…..(WHICH REPRESENTS THE SYMBOL OF A BROKEN CURSE!!!!)
- THE CURSE WILL BE BROKEN IN OUR LIVES…..WHEN WE TITHE AND GIVE!!!….THAT’S THE WORD OF THE LORD!!!!
- (READ “SYMBOLS OF CHRISTMAS” PAMPLET!!!!