TREASURE (2)
Kingdom Character • Sermon • Submitted
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TREASURE
TREASURE
Open up to Matthew chapter 6 as we continue.....
Kingdom Character
Jesus talking to his followers…teaching them what it means to be a christian… follower of Christ.
What this sermon that Jesus teaches, and the series that we are teaching, is about if you havent notice is one word..... OBEDIENCE.
Obedience, Integrity, Character of a Christian.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Matthew 6:
Focus right now on verse 21 “FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO.”
I’ve heard pastors misquote this.... “Where your heart is, there your treasure is.”
That’s not what this is saying.... that implies that your heart makes the decision. How many of you know that in order to have total obedience to Jesus and his teachings that sometimes… many times.... we have to deny what our heart wants. Sometimes we have to simply OBEY....
What this scripture is telling you… is that if you want your heart to be in something.... if you want your heart to care… put your treasure there.
For example… for those of you in here that don’t have any money in stock… im willing to bet… that you never check the stock report in the paper, news, or on your phone. Your heart isn’t there....
But i’m also willing to bet that if you placed ten grand in a certain stock.... that starting tomorrow morning you would pretty consistently check the reports. all of a sudden your interest, your heart would be there…
this is what this verse is saying… you want your heart in the kingdom work? you want your heart in the ministry? you want your heart with the homeless? with foreign countries? THEN PUT YOUR TREASURE THERE.
SO… this morning… we will be discussing TITHES AND OFFERINGS.
NOTHINGS SILENCES THE AMENS OF THE CHURCH LIKE A SERMON ON TITHE AND OFFERING.
Now… i have a plea with you this morning. I have a challenge. I have a deal for you.
Society/Devil tries their best to program people to be turned off by a pastor preaching on money. Sure theres manipulators out there… sure theres money hungry people out there. But this morning i want to start out by saying this....
If you are in here this morning and your automatically turned off by the pastor preaching on money. If you are aggravated. If you don’t trust this church… if you think we are money hungry… if you think i’m money hungry… then please please please please please please please. DO NOT GIVE. DO NOT TITHE. DO NOT GIVE OFFERING. DO NOT GIVE ANYTHING.
now because i believe so strongly in the tithe’s blessing for you…i will strongly encourage you to send your money to a church you trust that you don’t think is money hungry.
But i want you to keep coming here… and you will soon notice that we, i will treat you the exact same as the biggest giver in the church.
ALSO.... i dont say this to brag but i say this to be transparent and open… percentage wise… income based… you will have a really hard time giving more than my wife and I. I believe in giving. i dont preach something i dont practice myself.
I tithe to the district office, i tithe to the church.... in fact we tithe 20% and give over more than that.
so this is the way i wanted to start it
now.... there’s usually some statements… questions… worries… that come from people when you start talking about tithe and offerings.
#1- I don’t have enough money. barely can pay the bills now. barely can put food on the table now.
I want you to notice what jesus says right after telling us that where our treasure is, our heart is also....
Matthew 6:25-
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
# 2- I don’t make enough money for it to matter....
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Giving has never been about how much you have. It’s always about what you do with what you do have.
Giving has never been a financial problem.... it has always been a heart problem.
#3- Pastor… I do not tithe and God has still blessed me!
AMEN!! What a praise report… but if thats the case then you of all people surely want to give back to the God who has blessed you.
“Jacob said ‘if you give me food to eat and what i need i’ll give back to you 10% of everything i have”
last one #4- Pastor… this is an Old Testament teaching.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. 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.
Jesus reaffirms and reapllies here…
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
But heres the best part....
“Pastor Dustin… this is an Old Testament teaching… I base what I do off the New Testament church only. Our guidance is the church of Acts”
“Oh my word!! THANK YOU!! THAT IS SO AMAZING!! YOU’RE A GENEROUS GENEROUS MAN!!”
huh??
Word tells us that the church of acts came together and sold everything and gave what they had.
We’re teaching 10% but if you want to give everything you have then who am i to stop you?
New Testament… Acts.... Jesus.... Paul actally teach to give above the tithe. That the tithe is bare minimum.
So lets move on to the heart of the matter.....
Malachi chapter 3
here in Malachi Israel has returned from Babylonian captivity.
Apathy has set in
for the priest… and the people.
the people were bring torn, mamed, sick animals to be sacrificed to the Lord.
serious offense.
treasure is. heart is.
so what they were doing was bringing God what they didn’t need. They were bringing God leftovers.
that’s why when people say this is Old Testament. Today we are covered by grace… this is a heart issue. Grace is not a pass to bring God your leftovers.
the people here, the Israelites were being DISOBEDIENT.
they thought they were ok because they were being PARTIALLY OBEDIENT.
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.
Malachi 3:
send my messenger, prepare the way
People are in NEED of repentance… in NEED of renewal. Why? Because God is coming to his Temple.
Jesus… People NEED repentance… turn from you current way and go the opposite. Change what you’re doing.
“HE WILL PURIFY THE LEVITES AND REFINE THEM LIKE GOD AND SILVER”
Then…after repentance…after purifying of hearts… then the Lord will have men who will bring in offerings that will be acceptable.
He’s saying then it will be acceptable because what they were currently bringing in are NOT. they were leftovers. They were bringing God what he had asked for.
“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors 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?’
RETURN TO GOD!! RETURN TO ME!! RETURN TO YOUR LORD AND I WILL RETURN TO YOU!!
BUT HOW??? HOW ARE WE TO RETURN LORD?
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings.
WOW!!! SUCH HARD AND HEAVY WORDS!!
You are ROBBING ME in Tithe’s and Offerings!!
How?
They were robbing him in two ways....
#1- some weren’t tithing at all.
#2- some were bringing leftovers.
So how is that considered robbing God?
God COMMANDED his people to tithe. it was a requirement. Why??? IT WAS TO SUPPORT HIS MINISTRY. HIS PEOPLE HERE ON EARTH ARE TO SUPPORT WHAT HE IS TRYING TO DO. THE MINISTRY TODAY HASN’T CHANGED. IN FACT IT’S EVEN MORE SO. WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST. GOD EXPECTS HIS BELIEVERS TO FOLLOW THIS PRINCIPLE.
So to answer that question we must first ask what is a tithe...
TITHE literally means a “tenth”. 10%. and God commanded for it to be the FIRST FRUITS! THIS IS SO IMPORTANT.
So the people were robbing him by either not giving their 10% at all.... or they were giving their 10% but it wasn’t the first fruit.
They were waiting till the end of the harvest… to make sure they had all they needed and then they say… oh… here God… here’s these ruined crops… or heres this sick animal…
How does that first fruit and 10% principle work today… “if you get paid $10…God wants the first $1… if you get paid $100 he wants the first $10… but what so many of us do is this… well im not gonna tithe but i’ll drop in a 5 to tip God… what that is is partial obedience… therefore disobedience… or heres the next one… well i’m going to wait and my pay check on everything i want this month and then i’ll see how much i have leftover… and if i have enough left i’ll give God 10%… partial obedience… disobedience...
I know testimonies of people who tithed the 10% for years… and didn’t see a real power in it. But when they understood the principle of FIRST FRUITS and began to give the first 10% and TRUST GOD they began to see the blessings of God fall on them, financially, spiritually, family, marriage, job.... it’s a principle that God HONORS!!!
listen there was a time… youthpastor salary… Jen was getting her masters… youthpastor income… there was times that i would write a check on sunday knowing i’d have to get my paycheck to the bank before my check cleared.... why???? BECAUSE I TRUSTED GOD WITH THAT PRINCIPLE....
these next scriptures i want you to FOCUS on.... if you’re not a tither and you’re offended because of my message… listen to these next verses in Malachi and lets check this out...
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 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 there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty.
First thing here… YOU ARE ROBBING ME.... because it’s his. He blesses you with what you have… first 10% God considers his. YOU ARE ROBBING ME!
love the fact that God says to “BRING THE WHOLE TITHE INTO THE STOREHOUSE.”
BRING....not give… we have to change our attitudes for it. I’m not giving God his tithe because i cant give to someone what is already theres. I can only bring it.
But check what verse 9 says… “you are under a curse because you rob me.”
in essence… you not tithing is effecting every aspect of your life.
Maybe if we look honestly at our lives… we will see that the reason we cant find a breakthrough financially… spiritually.... bondage.... curse… we are robbing God.
Maybe the devil has gained a foothold and access through this principle that we ignore.
Now.... I told you to focus and let me show you why we preach this.... look at verses 10 and 11 again with me.
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 there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty.
GOD SAYS TEST ME!! TEST ME!! ONLY PROMISE THAT HE SAYS TEST ME!! HE SAYS IF YOU’RE NOT TITHING… IF YOU DONT BELIEVE ME… TEST ME!!
BECAUSE OF YOUR TITHE I WILL OPEN THE FLOODGATES OF HEAVEN!!
BLESSING ON YOUR FINANCES! FAMILY! JOB! MARRIAGE! KIDS! EVERYTHING! TITHE OPENS MY WINDOW OF BLESSING!
Offering determines how much he pours out!
If you give your tithe and offering with a sincere heart i will pour my blessings on you where there wont be enough room for you to store it.
So when i preach on tithe… it’s not because i want your money. it’s not because the church wants your money. it’s because God wants to BLESS YOU!
“well if God wanted to bless me then he would just bless me.... he wouldn’t expect me to bring him the tithe. just bless me”
Really??? he’s a good father… how many good fathers bless disobedience....
how many of you in here want to bless and encourage your kids to keep being disobedient.
no, it’s a principle a standard, an expectation of God’s people.
Look at verse 11 again...
I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty.
WOW! WOW! WOW!
I WILL PREVENT THE DEVOUR FROM YOUR CROPS!
What was the devour? Worms, insects, ravens..... destroy the crops of the people....
love this..
NO NEED FOR A SCARECROW BECAUSE I WILL PROTECT IT!! YOU BRING THE TITHE AND I WILL BLESS AND PROTECT YOU!
US TODAY… I WILL BLESS YOUR FAMILY, FINANCES, MARRIAGE, SPIRIT, EVERYHING AND I WILL ALSO PROTECT IT!!
SATAN WALKS AROUND LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO DEVOUR.... HE’S THE DEVOURER IN OUR LIFE… WANTS TO DESTROY US. GOD SAYS I WILL PROTECT YOU!!!
AMOST DONE!!!
WORSHIP TEAM TO COME… NOT DONE YET SO DONT CLOSE UP SHOP.... I JUST WANT SOME MUSIC..... DONE SHORTLY
These are the decrees and laws you must be careful to follow in the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you to possess—as long as you live in the land.
You must not worship the Lord your God in their way. But you are to seek the place the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you.
Deuteronomy 12:
LOVE THIS!!!
SEEK THE PLACE THE LORD HAS CHOSEN FOR HIM TO DWELL!!
CHURCH!!
GO THERE AND BRING YOUR BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES, YOUR TITHES, AND SPECIAL GIFTS.
THERE YOU SHALL REJOICE!
when we are connected to God’s church, Body of Christ this is what we do...
meet in UNITY in one place....
Feast together… feast on the word...
under
One God
One Spirit
REJOICE TOGETHER!
God is saying here… “not to do whats right in our own eyes”.... connect to the church body… connect to the body of Christ....
BE A PART OF IT!! BE A PART OF WHAT GOD’S DOING! BE A PART OF MY MINISTRY!
So many church members today believe the church exist for the member. for the benefit of the member. Not biblical.
truly the member exist for the church. Body of christ… work together to do what Jesus would do.
WE ALL ARE TO SERVE… GIVE… SACRIFICE...
THAT’S WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST… PICK UP YOUR CROSS....
KINGDOM CHARACTER!
Studies show that around 6% of claiming christians TITHE to their local church.... 6%…
so if you don’t tithe trust me you’re not alone… no need to panic....
but could you imagine this with me.... what if there was a church somewhere that actually had 100% tithing....
CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN???
NEVERMIND THE RESOURCES....
BLESSINGS OF GOD???? HIS SPIRIT WOULD POUR OUT IN SUCH A WAY!!!
If all the christians in the world tithed.... put an end to world hunger… poverty.. homelessness.... revival like never before…
Where your treasure is, there your heart is also…
tithing is a form of worship… one reason why people struggle during praise and worship is because the window of heaven is closed above them…
In the Bible… people brought their tithes, offerings, and sacrifices down to the altar in a state of worship and prayer....
TITHES/OFFERINGS… someone… you love God… you love Jesus.... he’s saying trust me.. i want to bless you.
worship team plays lets stand and worship…