Velocity Requies Energy
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Velocity Requires Energy
INTRODUCTION
ILL-- Two men crashed in their private plane on a South Pacific Island. Both survived. One of the men brushed himself off and then proceeded to run all over the island to see if they had any chance of survival.
When he returned, he rushed up to the other man and screamed, 'This island is uninhabited, there is no food, there is no water. We are going to die!'
The other man leaned back against the fuselage of the wrecked plane, folded his arms and responded, 'No we're not. I make over $250,000 a week.'
The first man grabbed his friend and shook him. 'Listen, we are on an uninhabited island. There is no food, no water. We are going to die!'
Mystified, the first man, taken aback with such an answer again repeated, 'For the last time, I'm telling you we ARE doomed. There is NO one else on this island. There is NO food. There is NO water. We are, I repeat, going to die a slow death.'
Still unfazed, the first man looked the other in the eyes and said, 'Do not make me say this again. I make over $250,000 per week, I am a Baptist, and I tithe. MY PASTOR WILL FIND US!'
Velocity always costs something.
Christianity costs us everything.
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
God is trying to help the people of Israel realize that they were claiming to give him all but they were still holding on to something.
6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.
9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.
12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
Salvation is not based on works. But when we are saved we will work.
However, God blesses us as we surrender to him. There is blessing that comes with obedience.
5 Ways God Blesses Obedience
5 Ways God Blesses Obedience
1. He Blesses With Consistency (6)
1. He Blesses With Consistency (6)
6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
vs 6= change it- switching allegiance out of convenience. Depending on what seems most advantageous at the time. FLIP FLOP.
ILL-- Flip Flop- 1888 President Grover Cleveland
A New York Tribune writer in 1888 called out President Grover Cleveland for his ‘Fisheries flip-flop,’ presumably referring to Cleveland’s handling of the fishery treaty that governed waters shared by American and Canadian vessels and perhaps making wordplay on the way fish flop and flip on a boat deck.
Foundation of truth that never changes.
The home base that gives us bearings in life.
ILL- living life without truth is liking walking in the dark after being spun around (pin the tail on the donkey)
2. He Blesses With Second Chances (7)
2. He Blesses With Second Chances (7)
7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
Return= repentance. Change direction.
When we mess up he calls us to return.
ILL-- Prodigal Son
3. He Blesses With Responsibility (8-10a, 12)
3. He Blesses With Responsibility (8-10a, 12)
Responsibility is how we show our children we trust them.
Taking out trash, mowing, dishes, feeding dogs.
important jobs that we put in their care, with some oversight.
Everyone’s responsibility to take care of those whose job it is to help others worship.
Tithing is proof that you are submitting to God. You say it all belongs to him, prove it!
Tithing is not just a practice from the Law, that no longer matters.
Tithing was practiced before the Law.
In Hebrews 7 we are told that Abraham tithed to Melchizedek before the Law was established.
Tithing was practiced by the Early Church.
11 If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?
12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?
14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
In the same way God financed worship in the Old Testament God finances worship in the New Testament.
Because of Christ we give not because we have to but because we want to. He has changed out desires. Tithing comes from our freedom out of a changed heart.
4 Consequences of Failing Our Responsibility.
4 Consequences of Failing Our Responsibility.
A. We are Thieves. (8)
A. We are Thieves. (8)
8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.
B. We are cursed. (9)
B. We are cursed. (9)
9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.
How will you ever make it financially if you are living a cursed life.
Give God 10% and he will make sure you are successful with the 90%.
C. Ministry is Hindered. (10a)
C. Ministry is Hindered. (10a)
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
God's servants and ministry is not being taken care of. (10)
Purpose of food in the Temple was to feed priests so they could tend to temple, and to do ministry.
28 “At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns.
29 And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.
D. Nations Will Not Hear. (12)
D. Nations Will Not Hear. (12)
12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
Israel was meant to be a blessing to all the nations.
Our disobedience in this area affects our ability to reach the nations.
7% of everything you give at Del Norte goes to the Cooperative Program.
IMB is having to cut back the number of missionaries they are sending. Why? Because our current generation in the church is not tithing like previous generations.
Our disobedience hurts the nations.
4. He Blesses With Reward (10b)
4. He Blesses With Reward (10b)
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
"put me to the test"= This is there to provide motivation to us. It is not there for us to get power over God. Literally, "Let me prove to you..."
David testing Saul's armour.
38 Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail,
39 and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” So David put them off.
See if giving lives up to what God says.
"until there is no more need"= Everything will be taken care of.
Don’t worry about your needs.
Jesus says in Matthew 6:26
For many giving is the result of trust/faith.
5. He Blesses With Protection (11)
5. He Blesses With Protection (11)
11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.
Spiritual protection.
“Shield of Faith”
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
Remember, faith is acting upon hope.
Step out in faith and see how God protects you.
CONCLUSION
Do you trust God?
Do you trust God?
Start where you can and work toward where God wants you to be.
What is keeping you from living in God's blessing?