How to Achive Financial Freedom
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Mal. 3
Now, the scripture I'm going to bring to you today is one that you've already heard. If you have ever attended a church for any length of time, you have heard the scripture I am about to share with you. And many of you will mentally disconnect because you say, "Oh, I know that. Oh, I've heard that." Well, I want you to listen to it again, like you've never heard it before. Listen to it again, as if for the first time. Because It is one of the most incredible promises in the entire Word of God. - Teaches us how to achieve financial freedom
So listen to what we have here, starting in verse 7:
7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.
“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’
8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’
“In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 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. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.
The Topic - Financial Stewardship: how we get money, how we save money, how we invest money, how we spend money and how we give money.
There are at least three people who are very interested in what I have to say today.
I. Who is interested in your money?
I. Who is interested in your money?
A. God is interested
A. God is interested
Number one: God is interested. Did you know that God repeatedly talks about stewardship in the Bible? Why does God talk about stewardship?
BEFORE anything else, let me tell you something: God doesn't need your money, you know? God is God. He owns everything. God is not interested in what you have. God is interested in who you are, and God wants you. And God wants to bless you. God wants to give it to you. God wants to give it to you.
And repeatedly in the Bible we see God dealing with the issue of our finances or our resources.
Of the 38 parables Jesus taught, 16 of them deal with stewardship.
In fact, about one in every ten verses in the New Testament addresses this issue of stewardship.
Take the New Testament verses that deal with faith - there are about 500 of them.
Take the New Testament verses that deal with prayer - there are about 500 of them.
Take the verses that deal with stewardship - there are over 2,000 of them.
God is interested in our stewardship: how we acquire and use our money.
In fact, one of the great tests of your spirituality, how much you love God and how much you believe in the Word of God is stewardship.
B. Satan is interested
B. Satan is interested
Now I will tell you someone else who is interested in your stewardship: not only God, but Satan is very interested, he knows this word Malachi 3:9
9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me.
Satan- wants to see you and me under a curse - he is the father of thieves - he comes to steal, kill and destroy -
Satan knows that if he can defeat you in this area of your life, if he can keep you captive, if he can keep you under a curse, he has you right where he wants you.
But I'm talking today about freedom!
God sent me today with a message to set you free. I have the mission of liberation today, I came here to free you - not through my ideas, but through the Word of God!
I'm here to speak to those in financial captivity:
Those who do not have enough money to pay basic daily expenses.
Someone who took out loans to pay fixed expenses, rent, utilities, etc!
You don't know how much you owe in cc!
You have creditors, people, calling you about late bills!
The couple who often argue about money!
Anyone who is thinking about being dishonest with money
You have difficulty returning your tithe to the house of God
Many Americans are currently up to their necks in debt. Many of us are in a situation of financial slavery.
You say, "Well, I'm not in a situation of financial slavery. I've got a lot. I've got it all saved up. I've got it all saved up in a bank account. Man, if you could just see what I've got."
You can have too much and be in a situation of financial slavery. Rich people are in financial slavery when they try to find satisfaction in their money and fail.
The Bible says, Ecclesiastes 5:10
10 Whoever loves money never has money enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.
This too is meaningless.
Someone asked J. D. Rockefeller, "How much is enough?" He replied, "Just a dollar more."
You are in financial captivity if your money increases your worries.
6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure,
but the income of the wicked brings them trouble.
You are in financial slavery when you are a slave to your money, when your main goal in life is to make money.
If You work to be rich - then you are in trouble, because Proverbs 23, verse 4, says:
4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
have the wisdom to show restraint.
I can tell you this: If your goal in life is to be rich, you are a miserable person.
Proverbs 23:4–5
4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
have the wisdom to show restraint.
5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.
“Money Talk” Money talks... English: it says bye-bye...
You are in financial slavery if you have lots of money in the bank but no treasures in Heaven!
But understand one thing…
The Bible never condemns riches. The Bible says:
18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
The Bible is not against wealth. But when that is your goal, you are a miserable person, because when your goal is to get money, money will dominate you and enslave you.
Satan is very interested in giving you some ideas on how to handle your finances.
C. You are interested
C. You are interested
Now, God is interested in your finances. Satan is interested in your finances because he wants to keep you in bondage. I'll tell you who else is interested: YOU. Don't tell me you're not - you are. I'm not talking today about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin; I'm talking to you about something very vital, because we need money and finances to live, and this is part of our normal life. And God knows that, right?
II. How will you achieve financial freedom?
II. How will you achieve financial freedom?
Now, how will you achieve financial freedom? Let's take a look at the Bible. Straight from the Bible, I'm going to give you three principles, and I want you to see them.
A. Returning Personally to God
A. Returning Personally to God
First, you must personally return to God. Look again at verse 7:
7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.
“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’
Notice: God doesn't want your money; God wants you! Did you hear that? He is telling you, "Return to me and I will return to you."
God loves us for who we are... God wants our fellowship. God doesn't need our money.
And the gift without the Donor is null. What you don't give joyfully, lovingly and liberally to God, He neither needs nor wants. Did you understand? You are not doing God a great favor.
God says, in Psalm 50, verse 12:
12 If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
"Return to me and I will return to you." Come back to me, he says - God loves us for who we are... God wants our fellowship. God doesn't need our money....
the Apostle Paul says: “...what I want is not your possessions but you....” 2 Corinthians 12:14
God loves you!
God is saying, "Come back to me." Before you give your money, you need to give it to yourself.
5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.
You see, God is not in the business of collecting money; God is the business of cultivating Christians. God wants us to grow in grace and knowledge and to love Him.
Therefore, first of all, there needs to be a personal return. And many of us say:
"Well, how should I go back?"
"Well," says God, "I'm glad you asked."
They say in verse 7,
7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.
“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’
8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’
“In tithes and offerings.
One of the greatest signs that you have returned to God is not the songs you sing, the tears you shed during praise... but rather your finances - when you stop stealing from God.
The regret that doesn't reach the wallet hasn't really reached the heart.
ill. Zacchaeus/Young Rich Man
You see, why are so many people in financial captivity?
And why are many people far from God?
Because they put things first and God second! It never works out - it never works that way.
One of the greatest promises of the New Testament is Matthew, chapter 6 and verse 33-it says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and"-what? - "all these things will be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).
Well, you say: "Well, I want to go to such and such school because .... make lot’s of money... - to look for things first - and then, if I have time, I will seek God." This is a setback // "Seek first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33). "Return to me" (Malachi 3:7). ""Come back to me"". Return to the Lord.
Listen to one very important thing: no offering and no tithe can please God if they do not come from a loving heart completely surrendered to Him. And the point of return is always the starting point. And, for many, it has been about stewardship.
When we fail in stewardship, we rob God. But we don't just rob God - we rob the Church/the bride. We don't just steal the Church/bride - we steal from missions/fail the great commission. We don't just steal from missions - we steal from those in need. You steal from yourself!
Tithing is not God's way of impoverishing you; It's God's way of enriching you.
Why not turn to God and do things God's way?
Do you know what Jesus said? Luke 20:25 “" give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.””
Now do you know what's coming soon? right after Christmas? … April 15th! April 15th is coming!
And Caesar says, "Fill out this form. How much did you earn? How much do you have left? Send it to me." "give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s." - most of you will do this with the greatest care. No I wonder… is it just because the Bible says, "give to Caesar what is Caesar’s?"
I want to ask you a question: Do you fear Caesar more than you fear God? I mean, would you rather be more careful with Caesar than with God?
You see, in fact the correct expression is not “giving your tithe”; we return the tithe. Tithe belongs to the Lord.
Look at this please:
Leviticus 27:30 (NIV84)
30 “ ‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.
In my opinion, it would be better to rob Caesar than to rob God.
Tithing is God's way of blessing. There is always a blessing when we give it and always a curse when we steal it - always a blessing when we give it and always a curse when we steal it.
"Will a man rob God?" (Malachi 3:8). When he robs God, he robs himself.
So here's the first point - I want the Holy Spirit to impress this on your heart: There must be a personal return to the Lord. Again, God is not after his money. God loves us for who we are... God wants our communion.
Second principle to obtain financial freedom…
B. Financial Release
B. Financial Release
Let’s See, for example, verse 10…
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.
You begin YOUR Financial Liberation by tithing. You begin by returning Your tithe Lord.
1. Tithing has a defined proportion
1. Tithing has a defined proportion
First of all, what is tithing? Well, it's a set proportion. The word tithe literally means "tenth."
22 and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”
..."Is tithing legalistic?"… I'll tell you something: Tithing began long before the Mosaic Law.
The Bible reports that Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek. And Melchizedek is a type, a figure of the LORD Jesus Christ.
Abraham came centuries before Moses saw the light of day. And after him, Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, who we just read about, he made a covenant with God, long before the Mosaic Law, to give tithes - Genesis 28 and verse 22.
And after the Mosaic Law, in the New Testament, Jesus said, in Matthew 23, verse 23, to the scribes and Pharisees:
23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
There is no competition between tithing and the New Testament. Jesus said, You must tithe, but do not neglect justice, mercy and faithfulness.
You see, friend, Abraham began; Jacob continued; Moses commanded; and Jesus recommended it. Who am I to cancel all this?
Well, you say, "But that is part of the law. The law commanded them to give tithes. The law also commanded them not to kill. It was also commanded by the law that they should not commit adultery. Now, since that is the law of the Old Testament, do you think you are free to kill? Do you think you are free to commit adultery? Listen - listen.
Romans 3, verse 31 - put this in your Bible:
31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Hello!// Listen. Romans 3, verse 31 //
You say, "I don't understand what that means."
Do you have children? Do you have the joy of feeding and caring for them? ... Do you feed your children because the law forced you to do it? … Of course Not! Why do you feed your children? Why do you dress your children? Because you love them!
But now, suppose you decide, "Well, I'm not going to do that anymore." The law is with open arms and sword in hand waiting for you. You understand what I want to say? We don't do this because we are under the law.
Now do you believe Jesus fulfilled all the law and said, "Now you can go and do less than they did" He never did that.
Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
The Christian does not tithe because the law says so, he does it out of love.
And God says, There is a definite proportion. Tithe (A tenth of my entire income)
Prov.3:9
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
2. Tithing Has a Designated Place
2. Tithing Has a Designated Place
God says there is a set proportion and there is a designated place for you to return your tithe.
see verse 10:
Malachi 3:10 (NIV84)
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.
Well, you say, "What does it mean - “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse”? Now, when this verse was written, the “storehouse” was a place in the temple. They had a place in the temple called a storehouse/deposit and there people took their tithes so that there was what was necessary to make the sacrifices, and so on, in the Old Testament.
Well, you say, "We don't have a temple today." Of course we do! We have a temple, the true Temple. 1 Cor. 3:17 God said to the church in Corinth: "God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple," (1 Cor. 3:17) -
17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.
"You are the temple of God." And then, He said, in
1 Cor.16:1-2
1 Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
There is a defined proportion and a designated place. God's tithe must be brought to God's house on the Lord's day so that God's work can be done in God's way.
3. Tithing has a Defined Purpose
3. Tithing has a Defined Purpose
Malachi 3:10 (NIV84)
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house...
A definite proportion, an appointed place, and a definite purpose: "That there may be food in my house" (Malachi 3:10). Temple work was to be accomplished through tithing.
Now you can donate gifts to other good projects, and I do this, and I know you do - to many other projects.
Andrea and I helped support some children in Peru. … And we give it to other things.
But we bring our tithe to NUBC regularly, We bring here and always had. We've been doing this since we got married, and I did it before I got married. And so did she... We tithed every penny - since I learned about tithing - that I earned, I gave it back to God. And I'm so glad I did!
I Believe in the local church.... I Believe the Bible says:
Ephesians 3:21
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
As a child of God I have a duty to be faithful to God's family.
Bring tithes to the house of God on the Lord's day, so that God's work may be done in God's way.
Now you can and should give for other projects; bring your tithe to the church. And then, bring your love offerings to the church as well.
Someone did some research and presented statistics: if all the members of any church were living off SS (social security income) and gave tithes, that church's offerings would double.
Don't you think this is a shame? If all the members of a church were on social security and everyone paid tithing, that church's income would double.
Second principle to obtain financial freedom: Financial Liberation - We need to be faithful to God in our finances.
C. There will be a Spiritual Renewal
C. There will be a Spiritual Renewal
Now here's a third thing, and I need to be very quick about this: There must be a personal return; there must be a financial release; and then, there will be a spiritual renewal.
Look again, if you will, at verse 10 and see what God says. Here is the promise:
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.
11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.
1. God Will Renew Your Faith
1. God Will Renew Your Faith
Here is the threefold blessing. God will renew your faith. Number one: God will renew your faith. God says,
Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, "Test me. Test me." - Your faith will begin to grow.
You say, "Pastor, I want to have faith." Do you want to have faith? Would you like God to be real to you? God says, "Okay, test me. Try me." I'm going to give you one of the most insightful scriptures in the entire Bible. Write it down
10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
What are the true riches? It's not money. Faith, love, spiritual power, knowledge. I mean, if God can't trust you with ten cents on the dollar, what makes you think He can trust you with the power of the Holy Spirit? I mean, if you have not been faithful with the riches of this ungodly world, who will trust you, as a steward, with the true riches?
2. God Will Rebuke Your Enemies
2. God Will Rebuke Your Enemies
Number one: God will renew your faith. "Put me to the test." Your faith will begin to grow.’; Number two: God will rebuke your enemies. Look, verse 11:
11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord Almighty.
We all have enemies and we need God to rebuke them.
At the time, they were farmers. Therefore, he said: "I will prevent pests from devouring your crops" (Malachi 3:11).
"Well," you say, "I'm not a farmer." Yes, but you have enemies: hospital bills, car repairs, job loss, recession, depression; all these things - they are your enemies. And God says, "I will prevent enemies devouring your finances”. I will renew your faith. I will rebuke your enemies."
3. God Will Restore Your Productivity
3. God Will Restore Your Productivity
11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.
I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the Lord Almighty.-
And I will restore your Productivity.”
"Pastor, are you trying to tell me that if I start tithing, I will become rich?" No, I don't want to tell you that and I will never say that. Maybe it's not God's plan for you to get rich.
But I'll tell you this - and I believe it with all my heart:
When you tithe, you can do more with 90% blessed than with 100% cursed.
Malachi 3:9 "You are cursed with a curse, because you rob me of me,"
This I believe
God will restore your productivity.
You say, "But Pastor, I'm poor. I know you're talking to rich people today, but you're not talking to poor people.
Are you saying that a poor widow who receives a minimum pension should tithe?" YES! Of course Yes!
You say, "you're so hard-hearted." No, I'm not! I'm good. If there is someone who needs God's blessing, is the widow who receives a minimum pension, yes or no? God doesn't want her money; He wants her! He wants to bless her. He says, "Test me. Test me." Your faith will begin to grow. Turn to me and trust me. Try me." God will restore your productivity.
Listen. (I am finishing now) Tithing is a key. It opens the windows of heaven. Offerings are seeds; they bring a harvest.
If you sow bountifully, you will reap bountifully. See, we got to put the two things together.
The Bible says that man steals from God in tithes and offerings. You tithe; and give offers!
Tithing is the key; the offering is the seed. And learn to be a good financial steward, and do it God's way!
You will not give more than God.
You will not be able to make God owe you a debt.
Conclusion
In Naples, there are the ruins of Pompeii. It was buried under volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted many years ago in biblical times. It says that there, in Pompeii, you can see the body of a man who was covered in ash. He is on the floor of a magnificent house. And at his fingertips there was a bag--it was a bag of gold. And he's reaching for the bag. Ash is falling around him. And in trying to win that gold, he lost his life.
Jesus said: Mark 8:36
36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
Are you saved? I want to tell you one more thing and please listen to me. If you think I came here this morning for your money, you're wrong by light years.
I want you to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and LORD. And after you know Him, I want you to trust Him in such a way that He can open the windows of Heaven over your head and bless you...
Bow your heads in prayer. While heads are bowed and eyes are closed, if you do not know the LORD Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and LORD - no one moving, no one moving, everyone praying - if you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal LORD and Savior, I want to invite you to say a prayer like this, right now: "Dear God..." - just talk to Him - "Dear God, I know that You love me and I know that You want to save me; and I need to be saved. The Lord knows my sins. I need your forgiveness. I need cleansing. I want a place in heaven. I want your power in my life. Jesus, thank you for dying for my sins on the cross. Thank you for paying my sin debt. Now I trust You as my LORD and Savior. Come into my heart, into my life, now. Receive me, Lord. Save me, Lord." Just pray like this: "Save me, Lord Jesus." The Bible says, "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Acts 2:21). Pray, say and speak, "Save me, Lord Jesus. Save me."
If You cried out to Him? Then, by faith, pray this way: "Thank you for saving me. I receive your forgiveness by faith.
The Lord is now my LORD, my Savior, my God and my friend.
And, LORD Jesus, if you give me strength, I will make it public and be baptized in water. I will not be ashamed of the Lord. The Lord died for me. I will publicly confess him as my Lord and Savior. Just give me strength, Lord Jesus, to do this. In his name, I pray. Amen.