2. Series : “The Blessed Life” Part 2 “Making God Your 1ST. Priority”
Genesis 4:3-7; Genesis 14: 11-20; 2 Chronicles 31:3-10

3. Genesis 4:3–7
3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

4. Genesis 14:11–14
11 So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. 12 They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way. 13 Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.

5. Genesis 14:15–17
15 And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people. 17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).

6. Genesis 14:18–20
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

7. 2 Chronicles 31:1–2
1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke in pieces the pillars and cut down the Asherim and broke down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, and in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the people of Israel returned to their cities, every man to his possession. 2 And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, division by division, each according to his service, the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and peace offerings, to minister in the gates of the camp of the Lord and to give thanks and praise.

8. 2 Chronicles 31:3–5
3 The contribution of the king from his own possessions was for the burnt offerings: the burnt offerings of morning and evening, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, the new moons, and the appointed feasts, as it is written in the Law of the Lord. 4 And he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the Law of the Lord. 5 As soon as the command was spread abroad, the people of Israel gave in abundance the firstfruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field. And they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.

9. 2 Chronicles 31:6–8
6 And the people of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of the dedicated things that had been dedicated to the Lord their God, and laid them in heaps. 7 In the third month they began to pile up the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. 8 When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and his people Israel

10. 2 Chronicles 31:9–10
9 And Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites about the heaps. 10 Azariah the chief priest, who was of the house of Zadok, answered him, “Since they began to bring the contributions into the house of the Lord, we have eaten and had enough and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed his people, so that we have this large amount left.”

11. Lesson 2: Making God Your 1ST. Priority
Point 1: God Must Get First!!! (Gen. 4:3-7)
Point 2: How Much Should We Give? Why? (Gen. 14:11-20 & Malachi 3:10)
Point 3: Tithing is a Blessing (2 Chron. 31:3-10)

12. Lesson 2: Making God Your 1ST. Priority
Point 1: God Must Get First!!! (Gen. 4:3-7)

13. Genesis 4:3–7 God Must Be 1St.
3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

14. Lesson 2: Making God Your 1ST. Priority
Point 2: How Much Should We Give? Why? (Gen. 14:11-20 & Malachi 3:10; & Rom.11:16)

15. How Much Should We Give?
Genesis 14:18–20
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

16. Question: Why Give God 10%?
Answer: God said so
Malachi 3:10–12
10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.

17. Question: Why Can’t We Give 1, 2, 5, 7, or 8%?
Divine Order
Completeness 10
10% Redeems the whole (It, removes the curse, thus the 100% becomes Holy) “If the first is Holy?”
Romans 11:16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

18. Lesson 2: Making God Your 1ST. Priority
Point 3: Tithing is a Blessing (2 Chron. 31:3-10)

19. 2 Chronicles 31:3–5
3 The contribution of the king from his own possessions was for the burnt offerings: the burnt offerings of morning and evening, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, the new moons, and the appointed feasts, as it is written in the Law of the Lord. 4 And he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the Law of the Lord. 5 As soon as the command was spread abroad, the people of Israel gave in abundance the firstfruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field. And they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.

20. 2 Chronicles 31:6–8
6 And the people of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of the dedicated things that had been dedicated to the Lord their God, and laid them in heaps. 7 In the third month they began to pile up the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. 8 When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and his people Israel

21. 2 Chronicles 31:9–10
9 And Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites about the heaps. 10 Azariah the chief priest, who was of the house of Zadok, answered him, “Since they began to bring the contributions into the house of the Lord, we have eaten and had enough and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed his people, so that we have this large amount left.”

22. Lesson 2: Making God Your 1ST. Priority
Tithing aligns the believer with two divine principles. (God in 1ST. place & Divine Order)

23. Point 1: Tithing is a Divine Order
Point 2: Tithing is a Blessing

24. Lesson 2: Making God Your 1ST. Priority
Point 1: God Must Get First!!! (Gen. 4:3-7)
Point 2: How Much Should We Give? Why? (Gen. 14:11-20; Malachi 3:10; Rom.11:16)
Point 3: Tithing is a Blessing (2 Chron. 31:3-10)

25. Lesson 2: Making God Your 1ST. Priority
What Is God Saying To You?
Is God asking you to trust Him with your finances?
Is God asking you to test Him?
It is time for our Tithe & Offering?

26. Lesson 2: Making God Your 1ST. Priority
What Is God Saying To You?
Is God asking you to trust Him with your doubts, fears?
Is God asking you to trust Him with your sickness?
Is God asking you to trust Him with your people around you? child(ren), parents, coworkers, classmates, neighbors?

27. Benediction
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, may He cloth you with His anointing, may His face shine upon you, and equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in you that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.