1 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:06,100 Welcome to the Liberty Baptist sermon archives. 2 00:00:06,300 --> 00:00:09,100 The message you're about to hear was preached at Liberty, Baptist 3 00:00:09,100 --> 00:00:11,300 Church and Eastern Massachusetts. 4 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:15,200 You can find out more about us or contact us at my Liberty, 5 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:18,500 Baptist dot org or just look us up on Facebook. 6 00:00:18,700 --> 00:00:21,300 And now, we hope that this message from God's word will be 7 00:00:21,300 --> 00:00:26,600 a blessing to you. We are in 2nd Corinthians 8 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,400 chapter 9 and we're going to be moving all throughout the word 9 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:33,300 of God here this morning as we try to answer this question that 10 00:00:33,300 --> 00:00:35,600 we've been working towards all month. 11 00:00:35,900 --> 00:00:39,100 Now at the end of month and the stewardship month. 12 00:00:39,100 --> 00:00:41,400 And some of you might be breathing a sigh of relief, as 13 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:44,000 we are closing to the end of stewardship month. 14 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,000 But we are answering this question this morning. 15 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:49,600 What is Biblical tithing? What is Biblical, tithing? 16 00:00:49,600 --> 00:00:51,600 What does the word of God say about tithing? 17 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:53,900 And again, I understand that every week, and it certainly has 18 00:00:53,900 --> 00:00:55,300 been this way. Away for weeks. 19 00:00:55,300 --> 00:00:57,700 Now, we're so thankful to have guests and visitors and 20 00:00:57,700 --> 00:01:00,800 returning guests and visitors. Even as we preach about these 21 00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:03,600 types of issues, the Bible tells us to preach on the whole 22 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,300 counsel of God, meaning this, that we go through and we preach 23 00:01:06,300 --> 00:01:09,000 issues, no matter what they are, where they are in the word of 24 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:10,700 God. For the same time, if you are 25 00:01:10,700 --> 00:01:13,900 guest a visitor, we do want you to know that this is not an 26 00:01:13,900 --> 00:01:16,700 attempt for us to try to extract money from you. 27 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,300 That is not the point of this. But for those of us who are part 28 00:01:19,300 --> 00:01:22,200 of Liberty Baptist Church, those of us who are members and who 29 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:24,400 have come together in agreement with this. 30 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:28,100 Arch over the long term. We know that this is God's plan 31 00:01:28,100 --> 00:01:33,200 for us to be able to sustain this model of the house of God 32 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,600 here in Easton and so do want to preach that this morning but 33 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:36,700 I'll give you a little bit of levity. 34 00:01:36,900 --> 00:01:39,600 Hopefully a little bit to lighten the load here as we go 35 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:41,400 on. There were two men who were 36 00:01:41,700 --> 00:01:45,000 marooned on an island. One man paced back and forth 37 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:48,400 worried and scared. While the other man sat back and 38 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:51,500 was sunning himself, the first man said to the second man, 39 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:54,200 aren't you afraid we're about to die? 40 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,400 No. The second man said I make 41 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:01,300 100,000 dollars a week and ties Faithfully to my church. 42 00:02:01,300 --> 00:02:03,600 Every week my pastor will find me. 43 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:11,900 So you know I feel like as much as that is humorous that kind of 44 00:02:11,900 --> 00:02:15,600 encapsulates, a little bit of the idea that people have with 45 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:17,800 tithing. Now this isn't true for me but I 46 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,800 feel like it maybe for those who come to church here and 47 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,100 certainly people that I've interacted with, in the past 48 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:25,900 when people think of tithing Think of their relationship 49 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:29,500 between the tither and the pastor, or the relationship 50 00:02:29,500 --> 00:02:32,400 between the tither and the church and really biblically, 51 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:35,900 that's not what I see when we deal with the issue of tithing. 52 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:37,900 That may be natural but that's not what the Bible. 53 00:02:37,900 --> 00:02:42,200 Teaches my instruction on tithing from the word, today is 54 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:44,300 not so that you and I can have a better relationship. 55 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,000 I've been I feel like we have a pretty good relationship. 56 00:02:47,100 --> 00:02:49,000 It's not so that you can necessarily have a better 57 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,300 relationship with the church. I believe the biblical issue of 58 00:02:52,300 --> 00:02:56,500 tithing is all about our And ship with God, not our 59 00:02:56,500 --> 00:02:59,900 relationship with each other or to this church or even to me, 60 00:02:59,900 --> 00:03:05,200 no, the issue of relating, our finances, and everything that he 61 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:08,600 has given us back to him. And that's really what the issue 62 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:11,300 of tithing is all about. And so this morning, I want us 63 00:03:11,300 --> 00:03:13,000 to really go throughout the word of God. 64 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:16,400 We're not staying anywhere, very long as we look at the different 65 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:19,400 issues of tithing. And why it was important before 66 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,900 the law, why was important during the law and why it is 67 00:03:22,900 --> 00:03:25,400 still important today? Would you say I'm pleased for 68 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:27,300 the reading of God's word where in 2nd Corinthians chapter 69 00:03:27,300 --> 00:03:30,900 number 9 and we're beginning verse number 6, and I will say 70 00:03:30,900 --> 00:03:32,500 the principle that we're about to read here. 71 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:36,100 Even if you are not a tither because you're not a part of 72 00:03:36,100 --> 00:03:38,600 Liberty, Baptist Church. I believe there's a Biblical 73 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:40,300 principle here. That is good for everybody, no 74 00:03:40,300 --> 00:03:42,900 matter who you are this morning. And it says this in second 75 00:03:42,900 --> 00:03:44,500 Corinthians, chapter 9 verse number 6. 76 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:49,300 But this I say he which soweth sparingly shall reap also 77 00:03:49,300 --> 00:03:52,900 sparingly and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also 78 00:03:52,900 --> 00:03:55,100 bountifully. Listen, that's True when you're 79 00:03:55,100 --> 00:03:56,900 talking about agricultural issues. 80 00:03:57,100 --> 00:03:59,000 If you put out a little bit of seed, you get a little bit of a 81 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:00,800 harvest. If you put out a greater seed, 82 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:04,400 you get a Greater Harvest every man, according as he purposeth 83 00:04:04,500 --> 00:04:09,100 purposive in his heart. So let him give not grudgingly 84 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:15,200 or of necessity for God, loveth a cheerful giver and God is able 85 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,399 to make all grace abound toward you that. 86 00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:23,600 Ye always having all sufficiency in all things may abound to 87 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:27,000 every Good work. You may be seated as we asked 88 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,400 the Lord to bless the reading of his word this morning. 89 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:31,400 Heavenly father would just be with me. 90 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:35,100 I certainly know that this topic may be one that is not always 91 00:04:35,100 --> 00:04:38,400 the best for a Sunday morning service and it is not my desire 92 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:40,800 to make people purposely feel uncomfortable. 93 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,800 But at the same time I do know. This is a Biblical topic, it's a 94 00:04:43,808 --> 00:04:48,400 Biblical issue and it's one each of us must address, particularly 95 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:51,600 those who you have had be part of this church. 96 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:53,900 And so I pray that you would just allow us to consider these 97 00:04:53,900 --> 00:04:55,700 things. And let everyone purpose in 98 00:04:55,700 --> 00:04:59,000 their own mind between them and you what they would do. 99 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,500 And we ask this in Jesus name, amen. 100 00:05:02,100 --> 00:05:05,900 Certainly verse number 7 is a great place for us to start 101 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:10,000 because it talks about the issue of God, loving a cheerful Giver 102 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:13,400 that it doesn't are giving should not be grudgingly that. 103 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:16,800 It's not of necessity because God doesn't just want the 104 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:18,300 wallet. I would put it this way. 105 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:21,700 God wants your heart, God wants you to be joyful when it comes 106 00:05:21,700 --> 00:05:25,500 to this issue of giving and so even as we look at As we realize 107 00:05:25,500 --> 00:05:27,600 that this is not something that should cause us great. 108 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:29,800 Consternation this morning. There should not be an issue 109 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,900 that caused us to really get anxious or be filled with 110 00:05:32,900 --> 00:05:36,200 anxiety, but rather it should be one that is joyful for us as we 111 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:40,000 consider that God has given us an opportunity to invest in the 112 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,600 greatest work of all works, which is God's work here through 113 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:46,300 the local church and God can supply our needs. 114 00:05:46,300 --> 00:05:49,100 And you need to start with that. Understanding that God is the 115 00:05:49,100 --> 00:05:51,600 one who will supply all of your needs. 116 00:05:51,700 --> 00:05:55,300 God is able verse 8 to make all grace abound Abound toward you 117 00:05:55,300 --> 00:05:59,100 that ye always having all sufficiency in all things may 118 00:05:59,100 --> 00:06:01,000 abound to every good work, a my Bible. 119 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:04,000 In verse number 8, I have circled all Grace and then all 120 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,400 sufficiency, and then all things. 121 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,600 God can take care of you in all areas of your life. 122 00:06:10,300 --> 00:06:13,400 I'll say that again to make sure everyone understands God can 123 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:15,800 take care of you in all areas of your life. 124 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:19,100 He has all Grace, he has all sufficiency, and he's able to 125 00:06:19,100 --> 00:06:23,100 help you to abound in all things in every good work. 126 00:06:23,100 --> 00:06:24,900 But we ask ourselves this. Shoo. 127 00:06:24,900 --> 00:06:27,400 This question this morning, even though this might be 128 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:31,200 uncomfortable confusing or difficult for some, we see here, 129 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:33,500 it doesn't have to be. It can be an issue that can 130 00:06:33,500 --> 00:06:35,700 bring great joy to the heart of the believer. 131 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:38,600 It can be one that gives us a great excitement to know that 132 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:42,400 God has allowed us to be part of his great plan for the church in 133 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,700 this new testament age that we live in. 134 00:06:44,900 --> 00:06:49,300 And that the issue of tithing is one where it was pre-law that is 135 00:06:49,300 --> 00:06:52,700 tithing was practiced before the law was ever given to Moses. 136 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:56,200 It was ratified in the law of Moses and I believe is still an 137 00:06:56,200 --> 00:07:00,200 active force today for believers when commentary that I read 138 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:04,500 stated to this way while the tides became codified in the old 139 00:07:04,500 --> 00:07:07,700 Mosaic Covenant, it can't simply be dismissed. 140 00:07:07,700 --> 00:07:11,100 As part of the old Covenant has been fulfilled in Christ and no 141 00:07:11,100 --> 00:07:13,400 longer applies to New Testament Believers. 142 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,700 Now what does that word tithe? Even mean, if you read it you 143 00:07:16,707 --> 00:07:18,800 might even look and say what's the to thee? 144 00:07:19,100 --> 00:07:21,300 Maybe that's what you see there on the envelope. 145 00:07:21,300 --> 00:07:22,400 Well, what's the titty? I don't know that. 146 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:25,700 I understand what that is, but Really, that is one of the 147 00:07:25,700 --> 00:07:28,500 simplest things for us to even understand this morning because 148 00:07:28,500 --> 00:07:31,400 the word tithe literally means a tent. 149 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,700 In fact, if you were to look at any lexicon, if you were to look 150 00:07:33,700 --> 00:07:37,100 into any dictionary, if you go to entomology of the word and 151 00:07:37,100 --> 00:07:40,100 what it means in the Old English and even beyond that, the tithe 152 00:07:40,100 --> 00:07:42,800 literally means the 10th and that really helps us to 153 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:44,400 understand what the issue is that. 154 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:48,300 We're talking about this 10th part, that is here and God makes 155 00:07:48,300 --> 00:07:50,600 it simple and clear for us to understand. 156 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,400 So, with that understanding to start us, we need to kind of 157 00:07:53,400 --> 00:07:56,300 take a little bit of a journey. Any down the biblical Road of 158 00:07:56,300 --> 00:07:58,600 tithing, what it is and what it means to us today. 159 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:00,900 So would you turn your Bibles to Genesis chapter? 160 00:08:00,900 --> 00:08:05,600 Number 14, We're not gonna be able to stay in any one of these 161 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:07,700 places for very long. But I do want to just give you a 162 00:08:07,700 --> 00:08:09,300 Biblical Foundation this morning. 163 00:08:09,500 --> 00:08:13,900 For what we see when it comes to the issue of tithing Genesis 164 00:08:13,900 --> 00:08:19,400 chapter, number 14 and look at verse number 13, this tissue. 165 00:08:19,500 --> 00:08:25,100 This text issues her deals with the issues of Abraham and lot. 166 00:08:25,100 --> 00:08:27,400 Of course you'll remember that Abraham and lot went separate 167 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:29,100 ways when they got to the promised land. 168 00:08:29,300 --> 00:08:33,900 There is a lot who goes towards the issue, the cities of And 169 00:08:33,908 --> 00:08:38,100 Gomorrah while Abraham decides to go in the different direction 170 00:08:38,100 --> 00:08:40,900 not wanting to go towards those accursed cities. 171 00:08:41,100 --> 00:08:45,500 It ends up that lat now becoming absorbed into that City also 172 00:08:45,500 --> 00:08:49,400 gets held captive as Sodom and Gomorrah and some other towns 173 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:53,400 are taken captive by some enemies including one named 174 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:56,600 kettle eomer look at verse number 13 and we'll start 175 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:59,000 reading from there. It says and there came one that 176 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:02,900 has scaped and said told Abram that Hebrew that he dwelt in the 177 00:09:02,900 --> 00:09:05,600 plain of mamre. See the Amorite the brother of 178 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:09,200 eshkol and the brother of a Nur and these were Confederate with 179 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:12,800 Abram and when Abram heard that his brother, this is lot being 180 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:16,000 taken captive. He armed his trained servants 181 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:21,100 born in his house 318 and pursued them unto damn and he 182 00:09:21,100 --> 00:09:24,300 divided himself against them he and his servants by night and 183 00:09:24,300 --> 00:09:29,300 smoke them and pursued them unto hoba which is on the left hand 184 00:09:29,300 --> 00:09:33,600 of Damascus and he brought back all the goods and also brought a 185 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,100 In his brother lot and his goods and the woman. 186 00:09:36,100 --> 00:09:40,400 Also and the people you'll see here that Abraham and his 187 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:44,100 trained Army that he had coming from his home, was able to 188 00:09:44,100 --> 00:09:48,000 rescue lot and his family and including all those of Sodom and 189 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,200 Gomorrah as well. And it says in verse 17, and the 190 00:09:50,208 --> 00:09:53,000 king of Sodom, went out to meet him after his return, from the 191 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:56,200 slaughter of cattle, eomer and of the kings that were with him 192 00:09:56,300 --> 00:09:59,500 and the valley of shaveh, which is the Kingsdale and 193 00:09:59,500 --> 00:10:02,300 Melchizedek, do you remember brother Chuck just reading about 194 00:10:02,300 --> 00:10:05,600 Melchizedek and Is chapter 7 just a few moments ago. 195 00:10:05,700 --> 00:10:08,500 Well, here's this man. Melchizedek king of Salem 196 00:10:08,700 --> 00:10:12,100 brought forth Bread and Wine. And he was the priest of the 197 00:10:12,100 --> 00:10:15,900 most high God and he blessed him and said, Blessed Be Abram of 198 00:10:15,900 --> 00:10:19,900 the most high, god possessor of Heaven, and Earth, and blessed. 199 00:10:19,900 --> 00:10:23,700 Be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy 200 00:10:23,700 --> 00:10:27,200 hand. And he gave him, tithes of all 201 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:30,600 you see that there in verse number 20, and he gave him 202 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:33,300 tithes of all. Now, this may seem like a very 203 00:10:33,300 --> 00:10:37,100 strange Thing that Abraham has just been given this increase of 204 00:10:37,100 --> 00:10:40,600 goods that he's won in battle. And then he finds this priest 205 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:44,600 named Melchizedek and he gives Melchizedek these ties of that, 206 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:47,400 which he has received. He gives a tent portion of that, 207 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,100 which was his increase and gives him to Melchizedek. 208 00:10:50,100 --> 00:10:52,400 And well, certainly that might sound strange to us. 209 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:56,300 We realize from Reading Hebrews chapter 7, just a few moments 210 00:10:56,300 --> 00:10:59,100 ago that Melchizedek was none other. 211 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:02,500 I believed in Jesus Christ and Old Testament, appearing of 212 00:11:02,500 --> 00:11:04,200 Jesus Christ. Well how do Do we know that 213 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:07,700 because he just read in Hebrews 1 for this Melchizedek king of 214 00:11:07,700 --> 00:11:11,100 Salem priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning 215 00:11:11,100 --> 00:11:13,900 from the slaughter of the Kings and blessed him to whom gave 216 00:11:13,900 --> 00:11:16,700 Abraham. Also a tenth part of all first 217 00:11:16,700 --> 00:11:19,100 being that interpretation the king of righteousness. 218 00:11:19,300 --> 00:11:22,200 After that, the king of Salem, which is also the king of Peace, 219 00:11:22,500 --> 00:11:27,500 listen, to this without, father, without mother without descent 220 00:11:27,700 --> 00:11:31,400 having neither, beginning of days, nor end of life, but made 221 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:36,600 like unto the son of God, It's a priest continually Jesus Christ. 222 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,400 Made this Old Testament appearance here as the, I 223 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:42,300 believe the priest amount skills deck, the king of Salem, he 224 00:11:42,300 --> 00:11:46,800 comes and here Abraham, having some form of understanding that 225 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:51,200 this is God realizes that he wants to give tithe to the Lord. 226 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:54,100 And so, that's what we see that he gives the tenth of that, 227 00:11:54,100 --> 00:11:57,800 which was an increase to him and he gives it at that time. 228 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:01,500 Now, listen Abraham, people say well, Abraham wasn't given any 229 00:12:01,500 --> 00:12:04,600 kind of law or any kind of Commandments From God, but 230 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,700 that's simply not the case. We do see the law of Moses will 231 00:12:07,700 --> 00:12:10,700 come later. But Genesis 26, verse 5 says 232 00:12:10,700 --> 00:12:13,700 this because that Abraham obeyed my voice. 233 00:12:13,700 --> 00:12:15,400 This is God saying this Abraham obeyed. 234 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:19,500 My voice and kept my charge, my Commandments, my statutes and my 235 00:12:19,500 --> 00:12:22,000 laws. God had obviously spoken to 236 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:24,600 Abraham and there had been some understanding. 237 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:28,200 Although we don't have those laws and Commandments all 238 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:31,200 written for us here, in the Book of Genesis, it's obvious that 239 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:33,600 his God is inspiring, Moses to write. 240 00:12:33,700 --> 00:12:36,400 The Books of Moses which includes the Book of Genesis 241 00:12:36,700 --> 00:12:39,300 that he's trying to lay a Biblical foundation for the 242 00:12:39,300 --> 00:12:42,500 tithe, which will later be part of the law. 243 00:12:42,700 --> 00:12:46,500 But it wasn't just Abraham who was at either, if you will, it 244 00:12:46,500 --> 00:12:49,400 would also have been Jacob as well turn to Genesis chapter 245 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:58,000 number 28, Genesis, chapter number 28, Look at verse number 246 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:02,600 22, Genesis chapter 28. And then verse number 22, 247 00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:19,200 She started verse number 20, it says, and Jacob vowed. 248 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:23,700 A vow saying if God will be with me and will keep me in this way 249 00:13:23,700 --> 00:13:27,000 that I go, and will give me bread to eat and raiment to put 250 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:28,900 on. So that I come again to my 251 00:13:28,900 --> 00:13:32,200 father's house and peace, then shall the Lord be my gob. 252 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:35,000 And this Stone which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's 253 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:36,900 house and have all that thou shalt. 254 00:13:36,900 --> 00:13:41,000 Give me, I will surely give the tenth unto thee that word tenth 255 00:13:41,100 --> 00:13:44,200 still meaning a tithe. And so, what do we see? 256 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:47,400 We saw Abraham who gave Of tithes to the king of 257 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,000 Melchizedek. But we also see Jacob here, the 258 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:53,300 grandson of Abraham who also makes this valve giving tithes 259 00:13:53,300 --> 00:13:56,700 you say, Pastor what would have precipitated him doing this? 260 00:13:56,700 --> 00:13:58,900 Well, do you remember when we were called Jacob's Ladder? 261 00:13:58,900 --> 00:14:01,700 The ladder that was shown to Jacob and Bethel where the 262 00:14:01,700 --> 00:14:03,400 Angels were ascending and descending. 263 00:14:03,500 --> 00:14:05,700 He said, surely this must be the house of God. 264 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,100 This was something that had a great effect on him. 265 00:14:08,100 --> 00:14:11,600 Certainly didn't have enough effect on him to change his 266 00:14:11,700 --> 00:14:15,600 conniving ways but certainly it was something that God was using 267 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:17,100 as a way. Marker in his life, to 268 00:14:17,100 --> 00:14:19,300 continually draw him closer to you. 269 00:14:19,300 --> 00:14:22,300 In fact, later on, he'll go back to Bethel and he'll call El 270 00:14:22,300 --> 00:14:25,500 Bethel because he calls it. The god of the house of God, 271 00:14:25,500 --> 00:14:28,100 recognizing this isn't just that the house of God. 272 00:14:28,100 --> 00:14:32,200 But now the house of God's God is my God. 273 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:35,400 And so God just bring him along but he says very early on in his 274 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:37,400 life. God, you've done something great 275 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:39,800 for me. You kept me alive in the face of 276 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:42,300 Esau who wants to kill me. Well, because it was his own 277 00:14:42,300 --> 00:14:45,000 fault, but still, he says, you've kept me alive. 278 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:47,800 You show me this. Grace mercy and this great Grace 279 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:51,300 by opening up the Heavens to show me that I'll be protected. 280 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:54,400 And so I want you to know that out of this great love and out 281 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:58,200 of this, great desire to be able to give back to you. 282 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:00,000 I'm going to give a tenth of all. 283 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,500 Now we don't have all the details of how he did that when 284 00:15:03,500 --> 00:15:05,200 he did that. I'll be frank with you. 285 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:08,100 I don't see that here in our text, exactly how that happened 286 00:15:08,100 --> 00:15:11,100 or or Abraham? How he continued to give ties. 287 00:15:11,100 --> 00:15:13,100 I don't have that but I do see this. 288 00:15:13,300 --> 00:15:16,200 We see a Biblical pattern and there's a reason why Here. 289 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:19,600 Because I believe that God wants us to see before the law of 290 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,600 Moses was ever given. There were those who believed in 291 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:26,500 God, who realized that everything belongs to God and 292 00:15:26,500 --> 00:15:29,300 they wanted to give back of that, which they were given. 293 00:15:29,300 --> 00:15:32,700 And that's what I see here. In Genesis chapter, number 28, 294 00:15:32,700 --> 00:15:36,300 these Patriarchs established that the tide was given before 295 00:15:36,300 --> 00:15:38,300 the law. And really, we could go all the 296 00:15:38,300 --> 00:15:41,000 way back to Genesis chapter 4. We don't have time, but we saw 297 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:44,100 that Cain and Abel gave offerings to the Lord, didn't 298 00:15:44,100 --> 00:15:46,400 they? And that Cain gave an Offering 299 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:49,900 that was not pleasing to the Lord, but able gave one, that 300 00:15:49,900 --> 00:15:51,900 was pleasing. One was of the blood and it was 301 00:15:51,900 --> 00:15:54,400 pleasing to God. One was a fruits and vegetables 302 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:57,700 and was not pleasing to God but the issues of offerings and 303 00:15:57,700 --> 00:15:59,800 tithe. Well, they had been given really 304 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:02,300 since the beginning but that's before the law. 305 00:16:02,700 --> 00:16:07,200 But we also see that the tithe was given during the law as well 306 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:09,900 to the people of Israel. So go to Numbers Chapter number 307 00:16:09,900 --> 00:16:12,400 18. Numbers chapter 18. 308 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:15,000 I know we're moving so quickly this morning but I instead of 309 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:18,000 breaking this up into several messages, I really want to 310 00:16:18,300 --> 00:16:21,300 everyone who is here to see it together in one message. 311 00:16:21,300 --> 00:16:25,200 So Numbers, chapter 18, beginning in verse number 20, 312 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:28,700 there were several different tithes that were given in the 313 00:16:28,700 --> 00:16:30,500 law. There were three distinct tithes 314 00:16:31,100 --> 00:16:33,600 that were given. We're not going to get into all 315 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:35,400 those here. This morning that some were done 316 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:38,400 annually, there's one that was done every three years, that was 317 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:41,700 done, particularly for the poor and for the levite Was within 318 00:16:41,700 --> 00:16:45,100 your town, but we're looking at this here in Numbers, chapter 319 00:16:45,100 --> 00:16:48,300 18. And we're seeing that the tithe 320 00:16:48,300 --> 00:16:52,600 particularly was given to make sure that the house of God was 321 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:56,800 taken care of, for those who were sacrificing and those who 322 00:16:56,800 --> 00:17:01,300 were worshipping and those who were using and utilizing the 323 00:17:01,300 --> 00:17:03,700 house of God as God had commanded that, there would be 324 00:17:03,700 --> 00:17:06,700 care for God's house. And so that's here. 325 00:17:06,700 --> 00:17:09,700 In Numbers chapter 18, look at verse number 20 and the Lord 326 00:17:09,700 --> 00:17:12,200 spake unto Aaron. Thou, Don't have no inheritance 327 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:14,599 in their land. Neither shalt thou have any part 328 00:17:14,599 --> 00:17:17,200 among them. I am thy part and 9 inheritance 329 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:20,300 among the children of Israel and behold, I have given the 330 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:23,700 children of Levi, all the 10th and Israel, for an inheritance 331 00:17:23,900 --> 00:17:26,700 for their service, which they serve, even the service of the 332 00:17:26,700 --> 00:17:29,400 Tabernacle of the congregation neither must the children of 333 00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:31,800 Israel henceforth come nigh. The Tabernacle of the 334 00:17:31,808 --> 00:17:34,900 congregation less, they bear sin and die, but the Levites shall 335 00:17:34,900 --> 00:17:38,000 do the service of the Tabernacle of the congregation and they 336 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:40,700 shall bear their iniquity. It shall be a statute forever 337 00:17:40,700 --> 00:17:42,800 throughout. All your Generations that among 338 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:46,600 the children of Israel, they have no inheritance but the ties 339 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:49,600 of the children of Israel, which they offer as, in heave offering 340 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,100 unto the Lord. I have given to the Levites to 341 00:17:52,100 --> 00:17:54,400 inherit. Therefore, I have said unto them 342 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:57,700 among the children of Israel, they shall have no inheritance. 343 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:02,200 And the Lord spake unto Moses saying, the speak under the 344 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:05,500 Levites and say unto them, when you take of the children of 345 00:18:05,500 --> 00:18:08,600 Israel, the ties, which I have given you from them for your 346 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:12,000 inheritance, then you shall offer up and he offering of it 347 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,800 unto the Lord, even a tenth part of the tie. 348 00:18:15,100 --> 00:18:18,400 And this, your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you as 349 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:21,600 though it were the corn and the threshing floor and the fullness 350 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:24,500 of the winepress. Thus ye shall offer and heave 351 00:18:24,500 --> 00:18:27,000 offering unto the Lord of all your ties, which he receive of 352 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:29,600 the children of Israel and he shall give their of the Lord's. 353 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:33,100 Heave offering to Aaron the priest out of all your gifts. 354 00:18:33,100 --> 00:18:36,200 You shall offer every heave offering of the Lord and have 355 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:39,800 all the best thereof. Even the hollow part thereof of 356 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:41,600 it. That phrase, the best Rob is in 357 00:18:41,608 --> 00:18:45,500 verse number 30 as well. See God set up that the tithe 358 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:48,700 particularly was going to be used for the establishment of 359 00:18:48,700 --> 00:18:52,000 worship in the land of Israel, and also to care for the Levites 360 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:56,100 who were the ones, who well led the worship in the land of 361 00:18:56,100 --> 00:18:58,200 Israel, as well. And what I find interesting in 362 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:01,900 the second part from verse number 25 on was that God told 363 00:19:02,100 --> 00:19:04,400 the Levites. He says, as you receive the 364 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:09,000 tithe from the people of Israel, make sure that you tithe off of 365 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,000 that, which you receive, maybe you would say pass. 366 00:19:11,100 --> 00:19:12,900 Aster. This must be uncomfortable for 367 00:19:12,900 --> 00:19:15,600 you to be able to preach this kind of message because we're 368 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:17,600 all supposed to tithe. But because you're the pastor, 369 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:22,400 you don't tie the right. Doesn't work like that as a 370 00:19:22,408 --> 00:19:26,400 pastor, I should be the one who is leading as best as I can and 371 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:28,800 giving that that's something that we pray about and ask the 372 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:31,200 Lord, to be able to help us to be able to do and not just to 373 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:34,400 give, but to give over and above that, which is the tithe and our 374 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:37,700 life because we feel like God is supplied for us in such a great 375 00:19:37,700 --> 00:19:40,400 way. And so God says the Israelites 376 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:42,300 he says you tithe, and he looks at the Levites. 377 00:19:42,300 --> 00:19:45,700 He says as you receive the tithe, you tithe and make sure 378 00:19:45,700 --> 00:19:48,300 you give the best. Now, we understand that for 379 00:19:48,300 --> 00:19:50,400 them, there would be some issues. 380 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:54,400 Are as far as currency and such were sometimes, their tithes was 381 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:57,300 to give a goat and sometimes of their tithes, was to give of 382 00:19:57,300 --> 00:19:59,200 that, which was the increase of their fields. 383 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:01,800 That was be what their tithes would be sometimes. 384 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:03,500 But, you know, I don't have any goats at home. 385 00:20:03,500 --> 00:20:06,500 I live in an apartment and I don't have any kind of fields 386 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:09,300 the fields, were that I have or well, they belong to someone 387 00:20:09,300 --> 00:20:11,100 else in the farm, that's behind her apartment. 388 00:20:11,100 --> 00:20:14,100 I don't have any of that, but God has given me increase. 389 00:20:14,300 --> 00:20:17,300 And so, the first fruits of the increase, I give back to the 390 00:20:17,300 --> 00:20:20,900 Lord in these areas and God has called all of us to Ooh, and it 391 00:20:20,900 --> 00:20:22,400 was here in the law. In fact, there were some who 392 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:24,700 would compute that if you were to take all the ties that the 393 00:20:24,708 --> 00:20:28,800 Israelites were to give on the annual basis, then on the basis 394 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:32,500 of the increase of their fields, but then also on the three-year 395 00:20:32,500 --> 00:20:35,800 period, that they could have given somewhere over 20% of what 396 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:38,300 they actually gave back to the Lord. 397 00:20:38,300 --> 00:20:40,000 And they were to give of the first fruits of the increase, 398 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:42,100 meaning this that they were to give of the best. 399 00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:44,800 They were to give to God first. And I think that's important 400 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:47,800 they were to give the best and give God the first. 401 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:50,400 And I will say this this morning as well. 402 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:53,200 Our family, we've always felt that it's important that when we 403 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:56,600 tie the, we tithe off of the gross that we receive and not 404 00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:59,000 the net of what we receive you say. 405 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:02,600 Well, Pastor, I don't receive all of the gross, I only receive 406 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:04,900 the net. Well, I will say this, I want my 407 00:21:04,900 --> 00:21:08,600 giving to go to God first before the government. 408 00:21:08,900 --> 00:21:10,800 And so, for us. And this is something that we've 409 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:13,000 come to in. Our lives, is something between 410 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:15,600 you and the Lord. We want to give God of the best 411 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:17,700 of what we have. Not what's left over after the 412 00:21:17,700 --> 00:21:20,400 government gets their say second chronicles 31. 413 00:21:20,500 --> 00:21:23,600 Five says this and as soon as the Commandment came abroad, the 414 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:27,200 children of Israel brought in abundance, the firstfruits of 415 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:30,200 the Corn, the wine, the oil, and the honey, and of all the 416 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:32,800 increase of the field and the tithe of all things. 417 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:36,700 They brought abundantly. Proverbs 3 verse 9, it's funny. 418 00:21:36,700 --> 00:21:39,000 We talk about Proverbs 3:5 and 6 quite a bit. 419 00:21:39,100 --> 00:21:41,100 But verse number 9, says this honor, the Lord with thy 420 00:21:41,100 --> 00:21:44,700 substance and with the first fruits of all thine, increase, 421 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:47,600 Jeremiah 2 verse 3. Israel was Holiness unto the 422 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:50,400 Lord, and the firstfruits of his increase all that. 423 00:21:50,500 --> 00:21:53,400 Bauer him shall offend evil. Shall come upon them. 424 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:57,500 Saith the Lord. Israel was the tithe if you will 425 00:21:57,500 --> 00:22:01,300 a smaller part of the greater world and God said this Israel, 426 00:22:01,300 --> 00:22:05,300 as you are the tithe and a sense you are to tithe in the same 427 00:22:05,300 --> 00:22:08,500 way. That was during the law. 428 00:22:08,900 --> 00:22:11,900 And I think no one has an argument about whether tithing 429 00:22:11,900 --> 00:22:14,300 was part of the law. I think everyone no matter what 430 00:22:14,300 --> 00:22:17,200 theological position you might come from, would say yes. 431 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:21,000 I mean, I see tithing as part of the law, but here's a question. 432 00:22:22,100 --> 00:22:25,800 Do we live under the law today, but we know that the law itself 433 00:22:26,500 --> 00:22:29,400 was done away with by Jesus Christ, in the sense that the 434 00:22:29,408 --> 00:22:32,600 veil was rent in two or that we can come boldly Before the 435 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:33,700 Throne of Grace today, aren't you? 436 00:22:33,708 --> 00:22:36,600 Glad that you don't have to come to me to hear from God aren't 437 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:37,500 you? Glad that you want to go to a 438 00:22:37,500 --> 00:22:41,200 priest to hear from God know that you can go directly to God 439 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:43,700 himself and that when you sin that you don't have to come to 440 00:22:43,708 --> 00:22:45,800 me and bring an offering and then I will offer it before the 441 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:49,000 Lord, then I will help you to be able to be right before God 442 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:51,600 that, no, you can go right before God right now. 443 00:22:51,900 --> 00:22:54,200 And ask look right where you're sitting right now and as Lord, 444 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:57,300 forgive me because I'm just wishing he'd be done and maybe 445 00:22:57,300 --> 00:22:58,300 that's what you're thinking right now. 446 00:22:58,300 --> 00:23:00,400 God will forgive you, if that's what you're thinking about, all 447 00:23:00,400 --> 00:23:01,700 right. But whatever it is. 448 00:23:01,700 --> 00:23:04,300 You can go before the Lord and you could ask him to forgive you 449 00:23:04,300 --> 00:23:07,400 and he will that's a blessing. But what did Jesus say about the 450 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:09,600 tithe? Know it's interesting that Jesus 451 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:13,200 never condemned the time. He condemned the hearts of the 452 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:18,700 people who would give the time Jesus never condemned the tithe 453 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:22,600 he would condemn the wrong hearts of the people who would 454 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:25,000 give the tithe for instance, Matthew 23:23. 455 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:28,300 Well, once you scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites for you, 456 00:23:28,300 --> 00:23:31,100 pay tithe of mint, and anise, and cumin and have omitted, the 457 00:23:31,100 --> 00:23:33,900 weightier matters of the law and judgment, and mercy, and Faith. 458 00:23:34,100 --> 00:23:37,200 These all you have done and not to leave the other undone. 459 00:23:37,300 --> 00:23:38,800 What is Jesus saying to the Pharisees? 460 00:23:38,900 --> 00:23:41,800 I don't want your money. I don't want your herbs. 461 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:44,200 I don't want your spices. What I really want, is your 462 00:23:44,200 --> 00:23:46,800 heart. He says, sure you can be 463 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:50,200 obedient in giving and that's good, but what I really want, is 464 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:53,300 the heart behind the giving to be right, listen, just giving 465 00:23:53,300 --> 00:23:57,100 10% does it make you square? With God, giving 20% doesn't 466 00:23:57,100 --> 00:23:59,800 make you square with God. Giving 50%, doesn't make you 467 00:23:59,808 --> 00:24:03,100 square with God, be a JC Penney and give 90%. 468 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:04,900 It doesn't make you square with God. 469 00:24:06,300 --> 00:24:09,400 It's about the heart for God. Loveth a cheerful Giver. 470 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:13,600 Jesus said in Matthew chapter 5 verse number 23 and 24. 471 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:17,000 Therefore, if thou, bring thy gift to The Altar and there 472 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:19,700 rememberest that thy brother have ought against thee, leave 473 00:24:19,700 --> 00:24:21,900 there, thy gift before the Altar and go thy way. 474 00:24:22,300 --> 00:24:24,600 First be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer 475 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:27,000 thy gift. He says, it's the harmony 476 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:30,700 between the family, the harmony between the Brethren is more 477 00:24:30,700 --> 00:24:33,400 important than the offer. But Jesus himself, never 478 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:36,700 condemned the offering itself. He never condemned the tither. 479 00:24:36,700 --> 00:24:40,300 He never said, I'm doing away with the tithe and certainly you 480 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:42,900 They will didn't Jesus say in The Sermon on the Mount he says. 481 00:24:42,900 --> 00:24:46,600 So it has been said, but I say unto you so it has been said, 482 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:49,600 but I say unto you, well, sure he did say that but every time 483 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:52,900 he said that he was saying here's what the law says, but I 484 00:24:52,900 --> 00:24:57,800 want you to go above and beyond that which was I've said above 485 00:24:57,800 --> 00:25:00,100 and beyond that. Which I've said, you know, you 486 00:25:00,100 --> 00:25:02,100 say that you haven't murdered, that's great. 487 00:25:02,100 --> 00:25:04,100 Have you hated in your heart? You say that you haven't 488 00:25:04,100 --> 00:25:06,600 committed adultery, you have you lost it in your heart. 489 00:25:06,900 --> 00:25:09,800 You, you pray these long prayers Pharisees, but I know your heart 490 00:25:09,800 --> 00:25:13,400 is far from From me. And so the issue is not Jesus. 491 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:16,100 Saying the tithe is no longer important because the need is 492 00:25:16,100 --> 00:25:19,200 still there. The issue is this when we give 493 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:22,100 them the tithe, what's the heart that we give in this new 494 00:25:22,100 --> 00:25:24,300 testament era that we live in? What's the heart? 495 00:25:24,300 --> 00:25:27,300 That's behind it. And it's not necessarily that we 496 00:25:27,500 --> 00:25:29,700 give just by the wrote of the law. 497 00:25:29,700 --> 00:25:32,500 Well, I have to give, listen, I'm not to the point where I 498 00:25:32,500 --> 00:25:34,700 have to give you realize. I'm at the point where I get to 499 00:25:34,700 --> 00:25:41,300 give I get to give and I get to be part of God's plan and the 500 00:25:41,300 --> 00:25:44,400 beauty of 10% is this, is that whether you have a million 501 00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:48,500 dollars or one dollar, ten percent still 10%. 502 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:52,600 And that God has left you with that other portion. 503 00:25:53,900 --> 00:25:58,400 But I would say this as I give today, I give not by law. 504 00:25:59,700 --> 00:26:03,000 But I give by grace. In fact, sometimes you'll hear 505 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:07,300 people say this pastor. I just I don't tithe, I do Grace 506 00:26:07,300 --> 00:26:11,000 giving And I would say to that, we go to 2nd Corinthians chapter 507 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:13,400 9 where we started and see a pattern for Grace giving. 508 00:26:13,700 --> 00:26:17,700 But here's what I found. When it comes to the grace of 509 00:26:17,700 --> 00:26:20,300 God, it always comes in abundance. 510 00:26:21,300 --> 00:26:25,600 It always comes in abundance. If I'm to give by Grace it's not 511 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:28,000 going to be just the stingy part of the law. 512 00:26:29,100 --> 00:26:31,700 It's actually going to be over and above, you know, I give to 513 00:26:31,700 --> 00:26:34,000 missions. It's Grace giving you know I 514 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:36,600 give it a special offerings. It's Grace giving you know why? 515 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:39,200 When an evangelist comes and we want to be a blessing to him. 516 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:41,800 Why give its Grace giving? You know why? 517 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:43,600 When an evangelist comes and there's a love offering. 518 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:46,500 I just don't take $50 out of my tithe and put it in the love 519 00:26:46,500 --> 00:26:50,000 offering bruising wife's. I want to give by Grace, I want 520 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:51,800 to give over and above what I've given. 521 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:53,700 I'm not just reallocating the funds. 522 00:26:53,900 --> 00:26:56,000 I want to give more. I want to give above, I want to 523 00:26:56,000 --> 00:27:00,500 be part of it, because I want God to bless Say pastor. 524 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:06,700 I'm not comfortable with us. in fact, I love coming to church, 525 00:27:06,700 --> 00:27:11,100 but today, I'm not loving it so much, it's a pastor. 526 00:27:11,100 --> 00:27:13,000 Why would you say that? Because I'm looking at some of 527 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:14,400 you right now. Quite honestly. 528 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:21,700 I know, it's uncomfortable. But a couple things about that. 529 00:27:23,900 --> 00:27:25,900 God didn't call me here to preach to you. 530 00:27:25,900 --> 00:27:29,200 What you make, what you want to have comfortable in your life? 531 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:36,600 If a church ran me out because I preach the word of God that I'd 532 00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:40,500 say, so be it. No, no one's threatening to run 533 00:27:40,500 --> 00:27:42,300 me out. I'm not trying to make myself a 534 00:27:42,308 --> 00:27:45,100 martyr. I'm not trying to be overly 535 00:27:45,100 --> 00:27:48,200 dramatic, I'm not. But what I'm saying is, is that 536 00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:51,700 when I get in the Bible during the week, and even as I plan 537 00:27:51,700 --> 00:27:56,400 messages out, for instance, months out at times, I'm not 538 00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:58,700 saying, you know, what do the people really want to hear? 539 00:27:59,700 --> 00:28:02,600 You don't want to go to a church where the pastor preaches and 540 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:04,900 says, what do people want to know? 541 00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:08,300 Because that's not preaching. That's an echo chamber. 542 00:28:09,300 --> 00:28:13,300 And Jesus came to abolish that kind of preaching and teaching, 543 00:28:13,500 --> 00:28:16,600 that's what the Pharisees did. It was all about that. 544 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:20,700 So I can't take that into consideration. 545 00:28:21,800 --> 00:28:23,500 But the second part of this is this. 546 00:28:24,700 --> 00:28:28,100 Is that the issue of tithing is not one that should cause us. 547 00:28:28,100 --> 00:28:31,100 Great anxiety. It's one that should cause us. 548 00:28:31,100 --> 00:28:35,300 Great joy. And here's why Malachi chapter 549 00:28:35,300 --> 00:28:36,200 3. This is we're going to end. 550 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:38,500 And I understand, please turn to Malachi chapter 3. 551 00:28:38,700 --> 00:28:41,100 I know that we've gone through this very quickly and I can't, I 552 00:28:41,100 --> 00:28:46,000 can't discuss all the facets of what tithing is in a short 553 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:48,600 period of time like this. But I do feel like it's 554 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:52,500 important for us to see this today and so my point in 555 00:28:52,500 --> 00:28:55,300 preaching, this is not to try to make anyone feel uncomfortable 556 00:28:55,300 --> 00:28:58,200 in and of itself. That's not my desire again. 557 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:02,000 If you are visiting here, my desire is not to try to extract 558 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:03,200 funds from you. That's not why? 559 00:29:03,300 --> 00:29:07,000 I'm preaching, I'm preaching. So that those who have benefited 560 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:10,100 from Liberty, Baptist Church, understand that what God has 561 00:29:10,100 --> 00:29:14,100 ordained to move, Liberty. Baptist forward is for those who 562 00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:17,700 have benefited from this church to be able to pour back in in 563 00:29:17,700 --> 00:29:20,000 tithes and offerings unto the Lord. 564 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:23,300 And when I give I don't take all that I have down to the 10 565 00:29:23,300 --> 00:29:27,000 percent and if it's, you know, goes down to 46 cents. 566 00:29:27,300 --> 00:29:29,500 Make sure that I write the check with 46 cents the it because 567 00:29:29,500 --> 00:29:34,800 that's 10%. You know, I kind of just make 568 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:38,200 sure that I just give as it's God's blessed me. 569 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:43,000 But I look at Malachi chapter 3, I'm going to read you some 570 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:45,900 verses. That are going to be pretty 571 00:29:45,900 --> 00:29:49,200 harsh. But I'm also going to read you 572 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:52,300 some words. That are going to give even 573 00:29:52,300 --> 00:29:55,300 Greater Joy. If you'll open your heart, 574 00:29:56,500 --> 00:29:59,800 they're going to seem harsh but they'll bring great joy. 575 00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:04,200 Look at Malachi chapter 3. Look at verse number will a man. 576 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:05,600 Rob. God, well, who would want to Rob 577 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:07,000 God? That doesn't sound like a great 578 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:10,400 thing. Yeah, you have robbed me but she 579 00:30:10,400 --> 00:30:12,600 say this is the Israelites wherein. 580 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:16,500 Have we robbed thee in tithes and offerings? 581 00:30:17,700 --> 00:30:19,200 God says, why are you holding on to that? 582 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:22,900 Which belongs to me? Can I tell you? 583 00:30:22,900 --> 00:30:25,700 They're been sometimes we've been pretty low as a family 584 00:30:26,500 --> 00:30:30,800 pretty low. I've told you testimonies before 585 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:34,000 about us as a family, not getting paid when we're supposed 586 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:36,400 to get paid. When we were in Tampa, and there 587 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:37,800 were times, we didn't have a whole lot. 588 00:30:37,800 --> 00:30:41,200 In fact, the other side of that is there were times. 589 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:45,900 We didn't just have a whole lot, but then we added debt to try to 590 00:30:45,900 --> 00:30:47,900 stay alive, which, and I was working, extra jobs. 591 00:30:47,900 --> 00:30:50,500 I told you before, I worked overnight for the Tampa Bay 592 00:30:50,508 --> 00:30:53,500 Lightning, not playing for them, but, you know, cleaning up after 593 00:30:53,500 --> 00:30:56,000 them. And so, we just need someone to 594 00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:57,300 train during the night. You know, those kind of things. 595 00:30:57,308 --> 00:30:59,800 I can't ice skate because I live in Florida, but Right? 596 00:31:00,600 --> 00:31:03,000 No, I work afterwards. We were accruing debt. 597 00:31:03,200 --> 00:31:06,100 Listen, I'll just be flat honest with you, we were going to pay 598 00:31:06,100 --> 00:31:10,500 day loan stores writing checks, hoping to get the check, you 599 00:31:10,500 --> 00:31:13,600 know, the cash upfront and then getting the money and, you know, 600 00:31:13,700 --> 00:31:16,600 check in cash to a couple weeks with a fee. 601 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:19,100 Like that's where we're, I'm not suggesting anyone do that? 602 00:31:19,100 --> 00:31:20,300 I'm saying, that's, that's where we were. 603 00:31:20,308 --> 00:31:23,000 I might even say it was a wise thing to do, but here's what I 604 00:31:23,008 --> 00:31:26,400 understood during that time. I can't stop tithing. 605 00:31:27,900 --> 00:31:30,600 You say Pastor what do you like an addict or something? 606 00:31:32,500 --> 00:31:35,100 No, I just know that my situation wasn't to get better 607 00:31:35,100 --> 00:31:39,400 by robbing God. I had to keep giving to it. 608 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:42,900 See past. You just don't know when to quit 609 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:46,300 that wasn't the issue. I just want to be obedient. 610 00:31:47,900 --> 00:31:52,800 And he got bad for a while. and we were in, DET. 611 00:31:53,500 --> 00:31:55,400 I don't want to comparing ourselves among ourselves are 612 00:31:55,408 --> 00:31:56,600 not wise if I gave you the number. 613 00:31:56,600 --> 00:31:58,800 Some of you might go, some of you go hos at it. 614 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:01,600 So I'm not going to tell you what the number is so he's in 615 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:03,500 that that's it. But listen, we were in our 616 00:32:03,500 --> 00:32:08,800 mid-20s didn't know anything about life, it was bad but I 617 00:32:08,808 --> 00:32:11,900 knew enough to know. I got to go. 618 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:18,000 It was hard. There was a couple weeks, I 619 00:32:18,008 --> 00:32:22,600 didn't, and I just got paid. And the Lord Bird In My Heart, 620 00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:25,800 during the week that have to make it up the next week because 621 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:28,800 I knew I can't do this. Do I trust him or not? 622 00:32:29,800 --> 00:32:32,200 Do I trust him or not and take care of my needs? 623 00:32:33,300 --> 00:32:36,800 And so, when you read that first verse, it's harsh. and I'll be 624 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:39,700 honest, if you're not tithing, that's a sucker punch to the gut 625 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:45,200 If you're supposed to be God's if God's puts you part of the 626 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:48,700 group and and that that seems to be a sucker punch. 627 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:53,300 And it says, in verse number nine, you're cursed with the 628 00:32:53,300 --> 00:32:56,300 cursed for you've robbed me, even this whole nation. 629 00:32:57,600 --> 00:33:02,900 Do you know when you withhold that it affects others, it 630 00:33:02,908 --> 00:33:07,300 affects the group and Liberty effects are furtherance, the 631 00:33:07,300 --> 00:33:10,600 ability to move forward. Hey Pastor. 632 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:11,700 I'm so glad. I came to Liberty. 633 00:33:11,700 --> 00:33:13,100 Baptist Church get encouraged today. 634 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:17,800 Well, verse number Ten's for you because here's the thing. 635 00:33:18,700 --> 00:33:21,300 If you have a sinking feeling in your gut right now and you say 636 00:33:21,300 --> 00:33:24,300 pastor, this is crazy Pastor, you're out of your mind. 637 00:33:24,300 --> 00:33:26,800 Pastor, you've overstepped your Authority Pastor. 638 00:33:26,800 --> 00:33:30,400 You've gone too far this time. Pastor just doesn't you don't 639 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:33,700 know my situation. You don't understand how I have 640 00:33:33,700 --> 00:33:36,200 had things happen to me and you don't know what people have done 641 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:40,500 to me and you don't understand. And the answer is, I don't But 642 00:33:40,500 --> 00:33:46,800 God does, I don't know your situation but God does and he's 643 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:50,800 given us his word to guide us and encourage us, and listen, 644 00:33:50,900 --> 00:33:52,600 either and guides Us in all things. 645 00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:55,200 Were it, doesn't it? Either guides Us in the things 646 00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:59,800 we want it to or at all things. And this is in all things. 647 00:34:00,900 --> 00:34:02,200 Look at verse 10. I mean you won't get some 648 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:05,000 encouragement. Bring ye all the tithes into the 649 00:34:05,008 --> 00:34:07,600 storehouse that there may be meat in mine house. 650 00:34:07,600 --> 00:34:10,199 That's why we do it. And I'm not talking about the 651 00:34:10,199 --> 00:34:11,900 taco meat, we're having after church, I mean he's talking 652 00:34:11,900 --> 00:34:13,699 about that their baby stuff that's here. 653 00:34:14,300 --> 00:34:19,000 And prove me now, herewith saith, the Lord of hosts. 654 00:34:19,699 --> 00:34:24,000 If I will not open you up the windows of heaven and pour you 655 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:27,800 out a blessing, There shall not be room enough to receive it. 656 00:34:29,199 --> 00:34:31,699 You want some encouragement? God says this. 657 00:34:32,199 --> 00:34:35,000 Prove me. Groove Me. 658 00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:39,600 Trust me. Trust me. 659 00:34:42,100 --> 00:34:44,900 They ask you if a rich businessman came up to you. 660 00:34:46,699 --> 00:34:48,300 And you knew he owned had millions of dollars. 661 00:34:48,300 --> 00:34:53,199 He says, look you tithe and if you ever have a shortfall I'll 662 00:34:53,199 --> 00:34:57,000 cover you. He probably didn't because, you 663 00:34:57,000 --> 00:35:01,500 know, man, he's going to cover me. can I tell you someone more 664 00:35:01,500 --> 00:35:05,300 than a rich businessman has come to you and says, I'm going to 665 00:35:05,308 --> 00:35:09,500 cover you It's God. It's God. 666 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:13,300 Who me? Now, listen, those blessings 667 00:35:13,300 --> 00:35:16,500 aren't always Financial. This isn't health and wealth, 668 00:35:16,500 --> 00:35:18,000 isn't he? So a little seed, and all of a 669 00:35:18,008 --> 00:35:20,000 sudden you're going to be a millionaire driving a Lexus and 670 00:35:20,000 --> 00:35:23,400 all that. Have you seen our van That's not 671 00:35:23,400 --> 00:35:26,100 what I'm saying. But God's blessings both 672 00:35:26,100 --> 00:35:28,900 material and spiritual have been. 673 00:35:28,900 --> 00:35:32,100 So abundant there times, I need almost feel like he's got to 674 00:35:32,200 --> 00:35:35,200 turn off the spigot. I'll give you the end of the 675 00:35:35,200 --> 00:35:39,800 testimony. We were in bad shape, awful 676 00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:42,800 shame. But we committed ourselves to 677 00:35:42,800 --> 00:35:47,600 give the Lord, God provided in some pretty amazing ways to 678 00:35:47,600 --> 00:35:51,100 sustain us just to get us through Diane started getting 679 00:35:51,100 --> 00:35:53,600 babysitting, jobs, that helped us get through. 680 00:35:54,100 --> 00:35:57,400 I got the job at The Forum and became a supervisor pretty 681 00:35:57,400 --> 00:35:59,200 quickly. While I was there picking up 682 00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:02,700 trash supervising people picking up trash, not supervising the 683 00:36:02,707 --> 00:36:04,700 players you just to make sure he understood them. 684 00:36:07,900 --> 00:36:09,900 There was a time we couldn't pay our rent. 685 00:36:11,700 --> 00:36:15,600 And literally within a few days, people just started giving us 686 00:36:15,600 --> 00:36:17,000 money. People didn't know we needed it 687 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:20,300 and we had enough for rent. There were times, we were late 688 00:36:20,300 --> 00:36:23,800 on our rent. But God, provided even by making 689 00:36:23,800 --> 00:36:28,800 sure our house was stable. By the time we got to Boston, 690 00:36:29,600 --> 00:36:33,500 God had provided in such a way that not only were we able to 691 00:36:33,500 --> 00:36:37,000 pay off our debts, all those things, we incurred in Florida, 692 00:36:37,400 --> 00:36:40,600 the church that we were at in Florida still owed us about six 693 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:43,100 thousand dollars. When you consider my annual 694 00:36:43,100 --> 00:36:46,600 salary was 20,000, That's quite a bit. 695 00:36:47,700 --> 00:36:52,900 We were able to write a note of forgiveness to the church and 696 00:36:52,900 --> 00:36:55,400 say, you don't know this anymore, we don't need it 697 00:36:56,100 --> 00:37:00,900 because God blessed us. You know what's amazing is there 698 00:37:00,900 --> 00:37:03,200 are men and women that if I called on them right now would 699 00:37:03,200 --> 00:37:06,900 stand up and would say Pastor that's our story, too. 700 00:37:08,100 --> 00:37:10,500 That's our story to some of you've been in church a long 701 00:37:10,500 --> 00:37:15,500 time and you say, that's what God's done for us and it's not 702 00:37:15,500 --> 00:37:17,600 always Financial. Again, I want to be careful. 703 00:37:17,600 --> 00:37:20,300 We're not talking about that health and wealth crowd because 704 00:37:20,300 --> 00:37:25,200 you can give And the car still breaks down, you can give and 705 00:37:25,200 --> 00:37:29,200 you might get sick. But God will still bless prove 706 00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:32,500 me. Prove it. if you trust him 707 00:37:32,500 --> 00:37:36,400 enough with your salvation, What you can't see? 708 00:37:37,200 --> 00:37:38,900 Can't you trust him enough with your wallet? 709 00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:44,000 And maybe the problem is, it's because we can see it, and it's 710 00:37:44,000 --> 00:37:46,400 not Faith. Allow it to be fake. 711 00:37:46,700 --> 00:37:50,200 Trust God and healed supply. All your needs. 712 00:37:52,100 --> 00:37:54,700 Thank you for listening to this sermon from the pulpit of 713 00:37:54,700 --> 00:37:57,600 Liberty, Baptist Church. If this message was a blessing 714 00:37:57,600 --> 00:38:01,100 to you, or if there's any way we can serve you, please let us 715 00:38:01,100 --> 00:38:05,900 know by contacting us at info. At my Liberty Baptist dot org. 716 00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:09,200 Or you can visit us this Sunday at eight hundred Washington 717 00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:11,500 Street. Eat and Easton Massachusetts, 718 00:38:11,800 --> 00:38:14,600 may the Lord bless you as you grow in his word. 719 00:38:09,700 --> 00:38:13,300 Eat and Easton Massachusetts, may the Lord bless you as you 720 00:38:13,300 --> 00:38:14,600 grow in his word.