Giving 3

I.Looking at the ________ A.What does it mean?

Hebrews 7:6-7 He (Melchizedek… i.e. Jesus) whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. NKJV Genesis 28:20-22 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, 21 so that I come back to my father's house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. 22 And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You." NKJV Deuteronomy 14:22-23/Nehemiah 10:35-38 "You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. NKJV

I.Looking at the ________ The Problem =

2 Chronicles 31:5-6 As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the first fruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything. 6 And the children of Israel and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, brought the tithe of oxen and sheep; also the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the Lord their God they laid in heaps. NKJV Nehemiah 13:10-13 I also realized that the portions for the Levites had not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field. 11 So I contended with the rulers, and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their place. 12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse. NKJV

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 tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. NKJV

II.LOOKING AT THE __________ A.The Old Testament saints gave _____________ that 10 Deuteronomy 12:6 There you shall take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, your vowed offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. NKJV

The __________ of tithing Matthew 23:23-24 "How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You give God one-tenth of your mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the most important things in Moses' Teachings. You should have done these things without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides! You strain gnats out of your wine, but you swallow camels.

Luke 18:9-14 Jesus also used this illustration with some who were sure that God approved of them while they looked down on everyone else. 10 He said, "Two men went into the temple courtyard to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed, 'God, I thank you that I'm not like other people! I'm not a robber or a dishonest person. I haven't committed adultery. I'm not even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my entire income.' 13 "But the tax collector was standing at a distance. He wouldn't even look up to heaven. Instead, he became very upset, and he said, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 14 "I can guarantee that this tax collector went home with God's approval, but the Pharisee didn't. Everyone who honors himself will be humbled, but the person who humbles himself will be honored."

Tithing in the new testament 1 Corinthians 16:1-3 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. NKJV EXAMPLES TO FOLLOW: 1.Zacchaeus, who gave half to the poor - Lk 19:8 The widow and her two mites - Lk 21:1-4 2.The Christians in Jerusalem - Ac 2:44-45; 4: Barnabas, who sold land - Ac 4: The disciples in Antioch - Ac 11: The churches in Macedonia and Achaia - Ro 15:25-26; 2Co 8:1-5 6.The brethren in Philippi, who helped Paul once and again – Ph. 1:3-5; 4:14-18

III.Considering the _________ Amos 4:3-9 The Lord declares this. 4 Go to Bethel and sin. Go to Gilgal and sin even more. Bring your sacrifices every morning. Bring a tenth of your income every three days. 5 Burn bread as a thank offering. Brag and boast about your freewill offerings. This is what you people of Israel love to do. The Almighty Lord declares this. 6 I left you with nothing to eat in any of your cities. I left you with no food in your entire land. And you still didn't return to me, declares the Lord. 7 I stopped the rain from falling three months before the harvest. I sent rain on one city and not on another. One field had rain. Another field had none and dried up. 8 So people from two or three cities staggered as they walked to another city in order to get a drink of water. But they couldn't get enough. And you still didn't return to me, declares the Lord. 9 I struck your crops with blight and mildew. Locusts repeatedly devoured your gardens, vineyards, fig trees, and olive trees. And you still didn't return to me, declares the Lord. I struck your crops with blight and mildew. Locusts repeatedly devoured your gardens, vineyards, fig trees, and olive trees. And you still didn't return to me, declares the Lord. 10 I sent plagues on you as I did to Egypt. With swords I killed your best young men along with your captured horses. I made the stench from your camps fill your noses. And you still didn't return to me, declares the Lord. 11 I destroyed some of you as I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning log snatched from a fire. And you still didn't return to me, declares the Lord. 12 This is what I will do to you, Israel. PREPARE TO MEET YOUR GOD.

THREE FINAL THOUGHTS I tithe because THIS IS GOD’S I tithe because GOD HAS BLESSED ME I tithe because IT KEEPS ME IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD 2 Corinthians 8:8-9 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. NKJV

Giving 3