GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE TITHE
Scripture:Malachi 3:6-12
WHO WANTS TO SEE THE CHURCH GROW?
OH 1
GENERAL EVA BURROWS (R) SAID:
“THE 2 THINGS SHE HAS DISCOVERED TO BE ABSOLUTE NECESSITIES FOR A CHURCH TO GROW:PRAYERGIVING”
1.Over the next few weeks we will have
Biblical teaching on Giving
Biblical teaching on Finances
Biblical teaching on Possessions
2.First of all let’s always remember that whenever we look at the Word of God ..
OH 2
GOD’S WORD EXAMINES US
WE DON’T EXAMINE IT
“PRINCIPLES”
Principles - God’s principles - Vtally important.
GOD IS A PRINCIPLE GOD.
NO-ONE CAN VIOLATE GOD’S PRINCIPLES.
Illus.Gravity
We cannot / alter / Change / Or mess around
With God’s laws or principles
You can either “accept” His laws and principles
OR
Simply reject them, Try to distort them Water them down ...
To suit the way you want to live.
OH 3
BLESSINGS FROM GOD
OVER 400
CURSES FROM GOD
OVER 200
Promises of God
Illus.“Promise box” (always positive and sweet)
Sobering promises throughout scripture called CURSES.
God blesses us. We try to obstruct or restrict Him.
IF YOU BELIEVE IN BLESSINGS you have
NO CHOICE, BUT TO BELIEVE IN CURSES.
Don’t have to live in fear of Biblical curses
(Proverbs 26:2 NIV) “Like a ... darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.”
A curse that is without cause, wll never come upon you.
WE ARE CALLED UPON TO ALWAYS CONSIDER THE BASIC, UNCHANGING LAWS, AND PRINCIPLES OF GOD.
OH 4
1.UNDERSTANDING GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE TITHE
2.UNDERSTANDING GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS FIRST THINGS
3.SEED FOR SOWING / BREAD FOR EATING
4.OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE TITHE
PRINCIPLE 1: “THE TITHE IS THE LORD’S”
Malachi 3:8-9
SATAN:Blow out proportion, or distort it.
Keep us groveling in the dirt, keep us struggling
He wants Churches / Corps in such a place that we are always under pressure - never enough finances.
Satan doesn’t want us involved in helping missionaries
or reaching out to the needy. He doesn’t want us helping others So he will do whatever he can to get us to ignore
or water down anything biblical about giving!
(Malachi 3:8-9 NIV)
“Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you’ “In tithes and offerings.
You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me.”
What does God mean when He speaks of the tithe?
God gave Moses detailed instructions concerning how the Hebrews should live. He commanded the practice of tithing.
(Leviticus 27:30 NIV) “‘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.”
Verses 32-33 “The entire tithe of the herd and flock--every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod--will be holy to the LORD. He must not pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution....”
Instructions were quite clear.
Those who farmed gave a tenth of their produce.
Those with flocks and herds gave every tenth animal that walked past on tithe collection day irrespective of whether it was a runt or a prize piece of livestock.
The tithe is 10% of all our income: both salaries, overtime, part time jobs, investments, Christmas bonuses, Family allowances etc.
If I receive $200 a week then 10% is $20
If I receive $600 a week then 10% is $60
The tithe is the Lord’s
Does that mean then that He can do with it whatever He wants to.
YES!
NUMBERS 18:8-10; 21.
8“Then the LORD said to Aaron, “I myself have put you in charge of the offerings presented to me; all the holy offerings the Israelites give me I give to you and your sons as your portion and regular share.
9You are to have the part of the most holy offerings that is kept from the fire. From all the gifts they bring me as most holy offerings, whether grain or sin or guilt offerings, that part belongs to you and your sons.
10Eat it as something most holy; every male shall eat it. You must regard it as holy.
21“I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting.”
OH 5
THE TITHE IS DESIGNATED TO MINISTRY
LEVITES WERE THE ONES WHO
CARED FOR THE HOUSE OF GOD
THOSE INVOLVED IN SERVING IN
GOD’S HOUSE
CLEANING LEVITES
PRAYING LEVITES
SCRIBING LEVITES
PREACHING LEVITES
MAINTAINING LEVITES
God gave the TITHE to the Levites. The tithe always equals ministry.
The tithe is to be given to the place God chooses as your spiritual home
The tithe is to be sent off in all different directions.
1.To sponsor a child
2.Send to the mission field
3.Help the lady down the street
NO
That the place for “your tithe” is the place where you are being fed.
The place where you are being ministered to
and the place where you and your family learn about the Lord.
The place were the “Priests” are praying for you, and lifting you up, and encouraging you.
WHERE YOU BUY YOUR GROCERIES PAY THE BILL.
That is the place for the tithe.
THE CHURCH
YOUR SPIRITUAL HOME!
When you want to (e.g.) support a child, support the OWSOMS APPEAL OR you want a building fund.
“YOU RAISE AN OFFERING”
When God said, that he wanted a tabernacle built
He didn’t say ...
“Take a little bit of the tithe, he said ...
Have the people bring an offering.”
What did we read in Malachi?
“You have robbed me said God,
How?
By not giving your tithe and offerings.
OH 6
THE TITHE IS THE LORD’S
THE TITHE IS HOLY
ALL THE TITHE IS FOR YOUR CHURCH