The Truth about the Tithe 11/24/19

 

Acts 20:27  (NKJV)

27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

 

• Sometimes we think that the sermon on money is a “someone else” sermon.

 

• In our church, there is no “Someone Else.”

 

 And the next door your possessions and your money and hanging on the doorknob is a “Do Not Disturb” sign.

• The meaning of the word Tithe - 10%

 

• Tithe vs. Offering

 

• The Tithe is God’s

 

Haggai 2:8  (NLT)

The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

 

In the book of Job chapter 41 verse 11 God says this:

 

Job 41:11  (NKJV)

11 Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.

 

• 12 tribes
• 11 received land

 

Point number 1 in your notes this morning:

God created the path for funding the ministry of His church.

 

 

Numbers 18:1 (NLT)

18 Then the Lord said to Aaron: “You, your sons, and your relatives from the tribe of Levi will be held responsible for any offenses related to the sanctuary.

 

Numbers 18:2-4  (NLT)

2 “Bring your relatives of the tribe of Levi to assist you and your sons as you perform the sacred duties . . . 3 But as the Levites go about all their assigned duties at the Tabernacle . . . 4 The Levites must join you in fulfilling their responsibilities for the care and maintenance of the Tabernacle.

 

 

Numbers 18:20-21  (NLT)

20 And the Lord said to Aaron, “You priests will receive no allotment of land or share of property among the people of Israel. 21 As for the tribe of Levi, I will compensate them for their service in the Tabernacle. Instead of an allotment of land, I will give them the tithes from the entire land of Israel.

Look why God put the tithe in place:

Numbers 18:31  (NLT)

31  for it is your compensation for serving in the Tabernacle.

 

Point number 2 in your notes this morning:

God has written a prescription for our finance.

 

First Fruits:

• First of the harvest
• First of our paycheck 10% = 8 hours

 

Leviticus 23:10  (NLT)

10 “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. When you enter the land I am giving you and you harvest its first crops, bring to the temple a bundle of grain from the first cutting of your grain harvest.

  

Is the Tithe only an Old Testament idea?

 

Point number 3 in your notes this morning:

The New Testament followers of Jesus knew how to tithe, and how much.

  

Jesus praised the Pharisees about their tithing

 

Matthew 23:23  (NLT)

23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

 

We wouldn’t reach our hand in the offering bag to take money out, but that is what God says we are doing:

 

Malachi 3:8-12  (NLT)

8 “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple.

 

There is a command, and then God gives a blessing for obedience.

 

 If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! 11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 12 “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

 

 

Point number 4 in your notes this morning:

Can we trust God to help us live on the remaining 90%?

 

 

When you look at the New Testament 1/6 of all the words that Jesus spoke are about finance. When we read the parables of Jesus 1/3 of his parables dealt with money.

 

 

In our church, there is no “Someone Else.”