October 18th-Session 5- , , Alms Part 2

It’s pretty clear that the tithing laws do not apply to New Testament believers today, however we find the principles of tithing, generosity, first fruits, stewardship, and sacrificial giving are wonderful Biblically based principles that we all should know and walk in.

10. Robbing God?

Malachi 3:8-9 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.

Throughout the Old Testament, an offering was something you gave, but the tithe was something you owed. It belonged to the Lord and it was given to Him—it wasn’t a . On top of the importance of recognizing God’s sovereignty in the tithe, the whole priestly system relied on the tithe to stay functional. Of particular interest here is how the withholding of some in Israel put the whole nation at risk of God’s judgment.

11. Testing God in Tithe

Malachi 3:10-12

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. 1 1 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the Lord of hosts; 1 2 And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the Lord of hosts.

12. Affirms the Tithe

Jesus never commanded less than the Law. He always confirmed or added to it.

Matthew 23:23

/ / “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

13. Equal Sacrifice not Equal Amounts Mark 12:41-44

Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 4 2 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 4 4 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

14. What You Sow is what You Grow/Reap (proportional giving/proportional blessing)

Galatians 6:6-10

Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Luke 6:37-38

“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your

/ / generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever. Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

If you don’t sow you won’t grow.

He supplies seed. If you eat your seed you will never partake of the harvest.

Cultivate the seed God gives you

The cost of 10%

Ear of corn analogy- · An average stalk of corn will produce 2 ears of corn. · Average size of an ear= 504 kernels of corn. · So if a person were to take one kernel and plant it, they should receive an average of one stalk with 2 ears of corn, which should produce 1000 kernels of corn.

· If that person took 10% (100 kernels) and planted them, they should have 200 ears of corn, (100,000 kernels) of corn. · How many people or times could a person eat corn with 200 ears of corn?

Don’t eat your seed.

Action Questions:

1. Is my heart aligned with earthly treasure or Kingdom purpose?

2. What seeds has God given me that need to be planted, cultivated, and harvested?

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3. Have I aligned myself under the promises of God with my surrender and obedience?

4. What steps do I need to take before God to ensure I am walking in Biblical obedience in the area of finances?

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