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July 26th, 2015

7/26/2015

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Malachi 3:6-12 
God is concerned with how we spend, save and share our money.
6. “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed”. 
There is a New Testament verse speaks of the same concept.
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
When God met Moses in the burning bush He gave His name as “I AM THAT I AM”.
 “I AM” is conveying a meaning that God always present.
He is always present and He never changes.
We have an unchanging God in a constant changing world.
Sheer existence of nation of Israel is always linked with God’s existence.
I. ROBBING GOD (8)
Tithe started with Abraham in Gen 14:20.
“And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand. Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
Abraham started giving God the tithe – Jacob followed – Moses instituted
Lev 27:30 “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.”
Tithe is an act of worship over the centuries in the life of Israel.
It is an act of worship today – the meaning and the purpose never changed.
God does not need our money because He owns everything in the world.
When we bring our gifts as act of worship with grateful hearts it pleases the Lord.
II. ROBBING OURSELVES (9-11)
The consequence of robbing God of His tithe will result into losing of His blessings in our lives.
In obedience to God’s Law people brought tithe of everything into a designated place in the temple at Jerusalem for the sole purpose of supporting God’s ministry  (Levites & priests).
Since Israel is not fulfilling their part God also cannot fulfill His part.
God says bring the whole tithe to Him so that He can bless us much more.
One Industrialist said “If you give because it pays, it won’t pay” 
God will open the floodgates of heaven (Gen 7:11) when we give our share.
The key here is that we give with a grateful and faithful heart.
There is no financial freedom if God is not included in our planning.
Prophet Haggai tells us in 1:6 “You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
This is how we are robbing ourselves of God’s blessings in our life.
III. ROBBING OTHERS (12)
Prophet Malachi says that Israel was robbing other nations of the opportunity to tell them how great their God is.
As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we have a mandate to support His ministry.
God says bring the whole tithe into His storehouse means cheerfully giving what we can.
Mission of every bible believing Church is to support the mission work in the world.
When we keep giving cheerfully, willingly and faithfully the Lord’s work keep moving to touch many people with the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
When we don't give we deprive unbelievers the opportunity to hear the Gospel message.
We give - they hear -  they are saved - they are also blessed as we are blessed with forgiveness of sins through Lord Jesus Christ.
We do rob unbelievers the joy salvation for not doing our part.
God loves a cheerful giver to His ministry.
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    Author

    Pastor John Sesham
    Abundant Grace Community Church, Hayward.

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