Consecrated - Message 3: A consecrated wallet
INTRODUCTION: TURN TO GENESIS 14:18
We are talking about LIVING CONSECRATED FULLY TO CHRIST.
Consecration means that you are dedicated to a single purpose: Loving God.
Today, I’m going to talk about the issue of TITHING and how tithing can demonstrate love for God.
PRAYER
1. WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT TITHING
• The Old Testament
Abram and Melchizedek – Genesis 14:18-20
The first time we see the word ‘tithe’ in the Bible is in the first book of the Bible – Genesis. Look at Genesis 14:18… The people of God have been robbed and kidnapped by neighboring tribes and Abram and 318 trained men went after them! They had a great victory and after the victory we read this:
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” Genesis 14:18-20, NIV.
Abram gave Melchizedek a tithe – 10% of everything that had been reclaimed in the battle! The word ‘tithe’ literally means “10% or a tenth”.
I want you to notice some really cool things in this passage:
• Melchizedek – in the Hebrew means: King of Righteousness
• And Melchizedek comes from “Salem” which means “Peace” – So Melchizedek is the King of Righteousness and Peace.
• Melchizedek brings Abram ‘bread and wine’ – a foretelling of the King of Righteousness and Peace (Jesus) bringing bread and wine as a symbol of His body and blood!
• Most Biblical scholars believe that Abram was visited by Christ Himself in the person of Melchizedek!
• And Abram gives the Christ figure a tithe. GET THIS: Abram didn’t have to – he chose to!
The Law of Moses – Leviticus 27:30, Malachi 3:10
The second time we see the word ‘tithe’ in the Old Testament is in Leviticus 27:30 – in the middle of the Law of Moses.
“‘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.” Leviticus 27:30
The Law of Moses says that all of God’s people are to bring a tithe of everything they produce to the Lord – that in fact, the tithe BELONGS to the Lord.
In the last book of the Old Testament, the prophet Malachi lays this promise of blessing to those who will tithe to the Lord:
“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 you will not have room enough for it.” Malachi 3:10
This demonstrates the purpose of the tithe: That God’s work will be provided for.
But God also lays down a challenge: “Test me… see if blessings will come!”
I have never known a faithful Christian who regrets tithing to the Lord. They have benefited far more than they have given out!
• The New Testament – 2 Corinthians 9:7
There is no scripture in the New Testament that directly tells Christians that they must tithe. Yet, how can we – permanently rescued from sin do possibly do less than people who were under law?
The Apostle Paul wrote of this freedom in 2 Corinthians 9:7…
“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV.
New Testament teaching concerning tithing identifies several things that the Old Testament doesn’t:
1. Giving is a matter of the heart.
2. Giving that honors God isn’t done reluctantly.
3. Giving that honors God doesn’t come from obligation.
4. Giving that honors God is giving that is done cheerfully!
Beth and I – before we were ever married – chose to give at least a tithe – at least 10% - to the work of the Lord – because we knew that any less than 10% wouldn’t require faith and wouldn’t really be a stretch for us. And God has blessed up incredibly. In a million different ways that I can’t even list.
I want to talk to you about what happens inside a believer who becomes a consistent tither. TURN TO MATTHEW 6:19
2. WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE – Matthew 6:19-33
In 25 years of ministry, I’ve seen these truths I’m about to share with you lived out in hundreds of lives. Let me put it simply: There is a distinct and measurable difference in the level of spiritual maturity between those who learn to tithe and those who won’t. You may not like me saying that – but it is true.
Jesus is teaching some important truths in Matthew 6 – we begin at verse 19-21
19 ¶ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
• Consistent tithing breaks the stronghold of materialism – Matthew 6:19-21
By tithing – you are investing in things that last, things that cannot be taken away by rust and robbers! You are investing in God’s economy – and God’s economy is eternal. And as you make this investment, your heart goes with it! The core of you becomes more and more about God and His Kingdom! Your spirit aligns with His Spirit and you experience a taste of eternity!
When you begin to tithe, you’ll start seeing material possessions more accurately. They don’t define you. They don’t make you special. They aren’t the goal of life. They exist to serve you – you don’t exist to serve them. Materialism no longer controls you! And isn’t that what you desire?
And – now look at verse 22-23
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
• Tithing frees me to move forward in the life of the Spirit! 6:22-23
When your ability to see the value of the things of God’s Spirit is made clear – everything else in your life will become clear as well! And you’ll be able to break free from the lesser things so that you can experience the BEST things – the things of God! And isn’t that what you desire?
Now look at verse 24:
24 “No-one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
• Tithing focuses my love where it belongs! 6:24
So long as I keep control over my wallet, I’m stopping God from leading me deeper into love with Him! I’ve got a divided heart – part of me wants to grow, part of me won’t let go and trust.
But when I finally release control into His hands, I find my love relationship with Him focused and moving forward! My heart is no longer divided. And isn’t that what you desire?
Now we go to verse 25-26:
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 important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
26 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?
• Tithing overcomes my fear and anxieties. V. 25-26
Why don’t we let go? Because we are afraid.
What are we afraid of? That God won’t come through for us. That ultimately we are on our own.
So we grasp and cling to what we have, as if there is no God.
Listen with your heart right now: “Aren’t you more valuable than the birds of the air? Don’t you matter to God?”
When you begin to live in this kind of faith and trust – your fears are relieved and your anxieties dissipate. Why? Because God comes through – every time! And isn’t that what you desire?
Now, look at verse 27…
27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 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, O you of little faith 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
• Tithing demonstrates the care and provision of God for His people. 6:27-32
When you begin to live a consistent lifestyle of tithing, your eyes will be opened to His care and to His provision for you. You’ll stand in awe about how God comes through just in the nick of time!
But when you hold on to the control, you’ll begin to believe that ‘if it’s to be, it’s up to me!’ And what a sad way to live. For what happens to you if you are disabled and cannot work? What happens to you if the winds of the economy shift and you are left out in the wind?
When you tithe consistently – you are saying: “God, I believe that you will meet all of my needs according to your riches in glory!” Which is exactly what Paul wrote to another church:
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
And isn’t that what you desire?
NOW, look at verse 33:
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
• Tithing involves me in the purposes of God on earth! 6:33
Tithing is a vital part of involving yourself in God’s purposes on earth! It isn’t all of it, but it is an important part.
And when I think of the people of this church – I think: There’s a group of people who could go to church anywhere – they could go disappear in the anonymity of the local mega-church – but they stay. Why? Because – I believe – it is because you see that we are increasingly becoming a Body of Believers who are taking God’s promises seriously and we are seeking to become a truly spiritual people. And, isn’t that what you desire?
So, if I’m not a tither -
3. WHAT DO I DO TO TITHE? - 2 Corinthians 9:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2
We look again at 2 Corinthians 9:7
“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV.
• Make a decision of the heart to give
Now, 1 Corinthians 16:2 says:
“On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.” 1 Corinthians 16:2
• Every Sunday after payday – give what your heart has decided to give.
Do this even when you miss Sunday services or go on vacation – because you are tithing to the Lord, not paying an admission ticket to church services.
Do this – every time you get paid – week after week, month after month – and before you know, you’ll be a consistent tither!
CONCLUSION:
PRAYER – BREAKING THE STRONGHOLDS
• Acknowledge that you’ve trusted more in money than you have in God
• Confess that as sin
• Repent
• Confess that you believe that He is not only able to provide, but you are depending upon Him to do so.
• Ask Him to reorient your mind, your priorities and your finances to be consecrated to Him
• Decide in your heart to be – as of today – a consistent tither.
• Take action based upon your desire to love Christ!
• Praise Him for helping you make this change.
We are talking about LIVING CONSECRATED FULLY TO CHRIST.
Consecration means that you are dedicated to a single purpose: Loving God.
Today, I’m going to talk about the issue of TITHING and how tithing can demonstrate love for God.
PRAYER
1. WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT TITHING
• The Old Testament
Abram and Melchizedek – Genesis 14:18-20
The first time we see the word ‘tithe’ in the Bible is in the first book of the Bible – Genesis. Look at Genesis 14:18… The people of God have been robbed and kidnapped by neighboring tribes and Abram and 318 trained men went after them! They had a great victory and after the victory we read this:
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” Genesis 14:18-20, NIV.
Abram gave Melchizedek a tithe – 10% of everything that had been reclaimed in the battle! The word ‘tithe’ literally means “10% or a tenth”.
I want you to notice some really cool things in this passage:
• Melchizedek – in the Hebrew means: King of Righteousness
• And Melchizedek comes from “Salem” which means “Peace” – So Melchizedek is the King of Righteousness and Peace.
• Melchizedek brings Abram ‘bread and wine’ – a foretelling of the King of Righteousness and Peace (Jesus) bringing bread and wine as a symbol of His body and blood!
• Most Biblical scholars believe that Abram was visited by Christ Himself in the person of Melchizedek!
• And Abram gives the Christ figure a tithe. GET THIS: Abram didn’t have to – he chose to!
The Law of Moses – Leviticus 27:30, Malachi 3:10
The second time we see the word ‘tithe’ in the Old Testament is in Leviticus 27:30 – in the middle of the Law of Moses.
“‘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.” Leviticus 27:30
The Law of Moses says that all of God’s people are to bring a tithe of everything they produce to the Lord – that in fact, the tithe BELONGS to the Lord.
In the last book of the Old Testament, the prophet Malachi lays this promise of blessing to those who will tithe to the Lord:
“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 you will not have room enough for it.” Malachi 3:10
This demonstrates the purpose of the tithe: That God’s work will be provided for.
But God also lays down a challenge: “Test me… see if blessings will come!”
I have never known a faithful Christian who regrets tithing to the Lord. They have benefited far more than they have given out!
• The New Testament – 2 Corinthians 9:7
There is no scripture in the New Testament that directly tells Christians that they must tithe. Yet, how can we – permanently rescued from sin do possibly do less than people who were under law?
The Apostle Paul wrote of this freedom in 2 Corinthians 9:7…
“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV.
New Testament teaching concerning tithing identifies several things that the Old Testament doesn’t:
1. Giving is a matter of the heart.
2. Giving that honors God isn’t done reluctantly.
3. Giving that honors God doesn’t come from obligation.
4. Giving that honors God is giving that is done cheerfully!
Beth and I – before we were ever married – chose to give at least a tithe – at least 10% - to the work of the Lord – because we knew that any less than 10% wouldn’t require faith and wouldn’t really be a stretch for us. And God has blessed up incredibly. In a million different ways that I can’t even list.
I want to talk to you about what happens inside a believer who becomes a consistent tither. TURN TO MATTHEW 6:19
2. WHAT HAPPENS INSIDE – Matthew 6:19-33
In 25 years of ministry, I’ve seen these truths I’m about to share with you lived out in hundreds of lives. Let me put it simply: There is a distinct and measurable difference in the level of spiritual maturity between those who learn to tithe and those who won’t. You may not like me saying that – but it is true.
Jesus is teaching some important truths in Matthew 6 – we begin at verse 19-21
19 ¶ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
• Consistent tithing breaks the stronghold of materialism – Matthew 6:19-21
By tithing – you are investing in things that last, things that cannot be taken away by rust and robbers! You are investing in God’s economy – and God’s economy is eternal. And as you make this investment, your heart goes with it! The core of you becomes more and more about God and His Kingdom! Your spirit aligns with His Spirit and you experience a taste of eternity!
When you begin to tithe, you’ll start seeing material possessions more accurately. They don’t define you. They don’t make you special. They aren’t the goal of life. They exist to serve you – you don’t exist to serve them. Materialism no longer controls you! And isn’t that what you desire?
And – now look at verse 22-23
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
• Tithing frees me to move forward in the life of the Spirit! 6:22-23
When your ability to see the value of the things of God’s Spirit is made clear – everything else in your life will become clear as well! And you’ll be able to break free from the lesser things so that you can experience the BEST things – the things of God! And isn’t that what you desire?
Now look at verse 24:
24 “No-one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
• Tithing focuses my love where it belongs! 6:24
So long as I keep control over my wallet, I’m stopping God from leading me deeper into love with Him! I’ve got a divided heart – part of me wants to grow, part of me won’t let go and trust.
But when I finally release control into His hands, I find my love relationship with Him focused and moving forward! My heart is no longer divided. And isn’t that what you desire?
Now we go to verse 25-26:
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 important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
26 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?
• Tithing overcomes my fear and anxieties. V. 25-26
Why don’t we let go? Because we are afraid.
What are we afraid of? That God won’t come through for us. That ultimately we are on our own.
So we grasp and cling to what we have, as if there is no God.
Listen with your heart right now: “Aren’t you more valuable than the birds of the air? Don’t you matter to God?”
When you begin to live in this kind of faith and trust – your fears are relieved and your anxieties dissipate. Why? Because God comes through – every time! And isn’t that what you desire?
Now, look at verse 27…
27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 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, O you of little faith 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
• Tithing demonstrates the care and provision of God for His people. 6:27-32
When you begin to live a consistent lifestyle of tithing, your eyes will be opened to His care and to His provision for you. You’ll stand in awe about how God comes through just in the nick of time!
But when you hold on to the control, you’ll begin to believe that ‘if it’s to be, it’s up to me!’ And what a sad way to live. For what happens to you if you are disabled and cannot work? What happens to you if the winds of the economy shift and you are left out in the wind?
When you tithe consistently – you are saying: “God, I believe that you will meet all of my needs according to your riches in glory!” Which is exactly what Paul wrote to another church:
“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
And isn’t that what you desire?
NOW, look at verse 33:
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
• Tithing involves me in the purposes of God on earth! 6:33
Tithing is a vital part of involving yourself in God’s purposes on earth! It isn’t all of it, but it is an important part.
And when I think of the people of this church – I think: There’s a group of people who could go to church anywhere – they could go disappear in the anonymity of the local mega-church – but they stay. Why? Because – I believe – it is because you see that we are increasingly becoming a Body of Believers who are taking God’s promises seriously and we are seeking to become a truly spiritual people. And, isn’t that what you desire?
So, if I’m not a tither -
3. WHAT DO I DO TO TITHE? - 2 Corinthians 9:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2
We look again at 2 Corinthians 9:7
“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7, NIV.
• Make a decision of the heart to give
Now, 1 Corinthians 16:2 says:
“On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.” 1 Corinthians 16:2
• Every Sunday after payday – give what your heart has decided to give.
Do this even when you miss Sunday services or go on vacation – because you are tithing to the Lord, not paying an admission ticket to church services.
Do this – every time you get paid – week after week, month after month – and before you know, you’ll be a consistent tither!
CONCLUSION:
PRAYER – BREAKING THE STRONGHOLDS
• Acknowledge that you’ve trusted more in money than you have in God
• Confess that as sin
• Repent
• Confess that you believe that He is not only able to provide, but you are depending upon Him to do so.
• Ask Him to reorient your mind, your priorities and your finances to be consecrated to Him
• Decide in your heart to be – as of today – a consistent tither.
• Take action based upon your desire to love Christ!
• Praise Him for helping you make this change.
posted by Doug Love at 10:20 AM
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