Next Living Giving (1)

NEXT LIVING GIVING INVOLVES WARFARE, INCREASE and MIRACLES!

Matthew 6:13 And do not lead us into temptation, but DELIVER us from the evil one . . . No one can serve two masters . . . You cannot serve God and mammon!

For many, a sermon about Giving is the least desired sermon to hear, but it’s the most beneficial sermon to embrace!

When Jesus was teaching His disciples how to pray, Jesus said to pray do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one!

And then Jesus said No one can serve two masters . . . you cannot serve God and mammon!

The word Jesus used for mammon is an Aramaic word the Assyrians borrowed from the Babylonians.

It refers to a demonic spirit that seeks to rest upon our soul through temptations we face through our finances!

One of the things to remember about the spirit of mammon is that it does not operate alone. It partners with worry, fear and unbelief.

In order to take our Giving to the Next Level of abundance, we must understand these three principles:

I. RETURNING God’s portion to Him attracts WARFARE!

Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse . . .

A. What is God’s portion?

Leviticus 27:30 Thus all the tithe . . . is the Lord’s!

B. Why does returning God’s portion to Him attract warfare?

Leviticus 27:30 . . . It is holy to the Lord!

*Satan attacks anything God says is holy and tries to destroy it, so that he can try and hurt God’s heart!

*God says the tithe is holy and so we must treat it as holy too!

*God says we are holy and we must treat each ourselves as holy!

Leviticus 20:26 You are holy to Me!

C. Why is returning God’s tithe to Him valid for us today?

Malachi 3:6 For I the Lord, do not change . . .

D. What is the context for God reminding His covenant people that He does not change?

Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse . . . and test Me know in this, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows!

E. Where is the storehouse that we use to Return God’s Portion to Him?

Deuteronomy 12:5 But you shall seek the Lord at the place which the Lord your God will choose . . . to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come

Deuteronomy 12:6 There you shall bring your offerings . . . your tithes . . . your freewill offerings!

F. What does the God who does not change promise to do for you when you return His portion to Him?

Malachi 3:11 Then, I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy . . . (your harvest)!

G. Who is the devourer?

Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters . . . you cannot serve God and mammon!

Mammon is a SPIRIT that partners with spirits of FEAR, WORRY, UNBELIEF and REBELLION to inhabit you SOUL.

These spirits TALK to you and seek to convince you that GOD cannot be TRUSTED.

If God cannot be trusted, you don’t need to believe His PROMISES or Return His Portion to Him as part of your worship!

H. What does God warn you not to do with His portion?

Deuteronomy 12:13 Be careful that you do not offer your . . . offerings in every place that you see!

Deuteronomy 12:14 but offer them in the place which the Lord chooses . . . there you shall offer your . . . offerings!

Returning God’s portion to Him into the storehouse He chooses is a test of obedience and maturity.

After we grow in this grace, we are ready to advance to the next level of giving:

II. SOWING from your Pleasure attracts INCREASE!

2 Corinthians 9:10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing!

*Say this with me, RETURNING is returning and SOWING is sowing!

*Why should we NOT sow our financial seed with God’s portion?

Leviticus 27:30 Thus all the tithe . . . is the Lord’s!

Leviticus 27:30 . . . It is holy to the Lord!

*What is God’s promise to those who sow their financial seed?

2 Corinthians 9:10 Now, He who supplies seed to the sower . . . will supply and multiply your seed for sowing!

III. GIVING from God’s Prompting attracts MIRACLES!

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all SUFFICIENCY in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed!

*I believe there are at least three levels of maturity in our financial stewardship: Returning—Sowing—Giving!

In fact, giving that attracts a miracle is listed as one of the Spiritual gifts available to Believers!

Romans 12:8 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly . .. he who gives, with liberality!

*In closing, I call your attention to lesson Jesus taught His disciples about miracle level giving!

Matthew 14:15 . . . send the crowds away, that they might go into the villages and buy food for themselves

Matthew 14:16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!”

Matthew 14:17 We have here only five loaves and two fish

Matthew 14:18 and He said, “Bring them here to Me”

Matthew 14:19 . . . He took the five loaves and the two fish, and . . . He BLESSED the food (that was given to Jesus), and He gave them to the disciples and the disciples gave them to the crowds!

The miracle of multiplication did not happen in the Master’s hands, it happened in the disciple’s hands!

1) Something must be blessed in order for it to multiply!

The young boy gave what he had away to the disciples and the disciples gave away what they had been given to Jesus!

2) Only what is given away can multiply!

Finances given over and above the tithe can multiply when we share them with others who are in need!

But if we share God’s portion with those who are in need, their need might be met

but our finances will not be blessed, and they certainly will not multiply!

Does the Spirit of God rest on your finances or does the spirit of mammon rest on your finances?

If the spirit of mammon is on your finances, say this out loud with me . . .

Spirit of Mammon, come to attention! I recognize you, and today I renounce you, as being a counterfeit spirit, that has come to rest on my finances!

I rebuke you, the spirits of fear, worry, unbelief, and rebellion through my obedience to God, I release you from my life and my finances! Today I say to you, BE GONE and in the Name of Jesus Christ come off of my finances!

Dear God, I repent of serving the spirit of Mammon, fear, worry, unbelief, and rebellion, and I ask you to forgive me and release Your Spirit and supernatural blessings onto my finances . . .

Today, it is my desire to encourage you to make a fresh, new commitment in 2024 to Returning God’s Portion to the storehouse He has chosen for you.

It is also my desire to encourage you to make a fresh new commitment to Sowing according to your pleasure and attract divine increase in your finances.

It is also my desire to encourage you to Give according to divine promptings through the Holy Spirit that will activate miracles through your obedience and giving!

TITHER’S BLESSING: