The Bible tells us, "In
the beginning was the Word,
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and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God."
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It says, "To receive with
meekness the implanted Word,
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which is able to
save your souls."
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And to, "Be diligent to
present yourself approved to God
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rightly dividing
the Word of truth."
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Join us now for the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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Our study today is,
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Stewardship,
Motives of the Heart.
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Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn,
and we welcome you once again
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to the 3ABN
Sabbath School Panel.
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You know, so many of
you have written or called
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and said this is one
of your favorite programs
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and we are glad
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because it's one of our
favorite programs to do.
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It is so much fun to,
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with people we work
with daily to get together
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and really
study the Word of God.
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So let me
introduce our panel to you.
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We have Jill Morikone,
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Danny Shelton is joining
us again, we are so glad,
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Mollie Steenson, and
Pastor John Lomacang.
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Good to be here.
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And thank you all for
the study that you've put
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into this week's lesson.
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We are studying the
first quarter of 2018,
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this is "Stewardship,
Motives of the Heart".
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And if you don't
have a quarterly,
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you can go to ABSG.Adventist.org
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and download the quarterly,
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or better yet, go to your local
Seventh-day Adventist church,
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get a quarterly from them,
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and maybe, do you
even want to join them
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for the Bible study,
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it's so much fun.
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Well, what we would
like to do before we begin,
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this is lesson seven,
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in this coverage,
the week of February,
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the 10 through the 16,
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and it is titled,
"Honesty with God".
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And what I'd like to do is,
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I'm gonna have
Jill open with prayer
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and then we'll get
right into our study.
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Let's pray.
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Father, we come before
You in the name of Jesus
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and we thank You
for the privilege
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of being able to
come into Your presence
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as Your sons and daughters.
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Right now, we
ask for the anointing
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of the Holy Spirit
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that You would open
up our minds and hearts
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to what You have in Your Word
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and that we would
receive it with gladness
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and put it into
practice what you show us,
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and we thank You in Jesus' name.
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Amen. Amen.
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Before we do our memory
text, I want to set this up
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for people who may not
know what this is about.
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Jesus was telling a
parable about the sower.
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And there were four
different kinds of soils,
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places where, when he
cast his seed, where it landed.
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The seed He
explained is the Word of God.
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Now there was some seed though
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on the wayside, on the pathway,
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and the devil came
and snatched it up.
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These were people
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who did not really let the
Word penetrate their heart,
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they refused to believe.
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Then there was seed that
fell on the rocky ground.
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It had a little
thin layer of dirt
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and it sprung up quickly,
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but then when the sun came
out, it withered up and died
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because it just
didn't have any roots.
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These are people who
believe it when they hear it
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but they don't do
anything about it.
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Then the ground that accepted it
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and started off
with the good crop
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let the thorns come in,
the weeds and the thorns,
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and it began to choke
out the life of the seed.
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And Jesus said
that this was people
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who received the
Word with gladness
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but then they get
the world's concerns
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and maybe the
allure of materialism
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actually begins to
choke off the Word.
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But then He said, "There is
some that lands on good soil
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and this good soil,
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these people
hide it in their heart
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and they encourage
the growth of the seed
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by meditating on it
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and it may persevere
through testing and temptation.
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So let's read
together our memory text
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because this is
about the good seed.
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And He says in Luke 8:15,
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"But that on the
good ground are they,
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which in an
honest and good heart,
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having heard the
word, they keep it,
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and bring forth
fruit with patience."
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Here's the good news though.
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Soil can be improved,
soil can be tilled up,
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soil can be fertilized.
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And if you come
to God and just say,
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"Lord, give me a new heart."
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He will. Amen.
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So what we are going to do is,
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study this
spiritual concept of honesty
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through the practice of tithing
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and we are going to see
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why tithing is so
important to our Christian life
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and to the church.
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I have Sunday's
lesson, so let's look at that.
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Sunday is called a
matter of simple honesty.
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One thing that we
all have in common
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is we don't like
dishonesty, do we?
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When you see it
manifested in somebody else,
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you kind of avoid that
person if they are dishonest.
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But you know
something that's interesting?
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Sometimes we don't
recognize it in our self.
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Maybe we've
exaggerated just a little,
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or maybe we are kind of
wiggling around something,
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and we make excuses.
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Well, I didn't want
to hurt their feelings.
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What we've got to do is
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know that we might fool
our self some of the time,
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but we never fool God.
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E.G. White said in
Testimonies for the Church,
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"Dishonesty is
practiced all through our ranks
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and this is the
cause of lukewarmness
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on the part of many who
profess to believe the truth.
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They are not
connected with Christ.
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They're
deceiving their own souls."
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So our lesson
points us to Luke 16:10,
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let's look at Luke 16:10,
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and here Jesus is the one
who is speaking and He says,
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this is a principle that Christ
is going to clearly state,
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He says, "He who is
faithful in what is least,"
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with the little things,
"Is faithful also in much.
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And he who is
unjust in what is least,
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is unjust also in much."
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So what He's doing
here is exhorting us
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to be trustworthy with
the use of our resources.
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No matter how little we have,
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and our faith is
measured by what we do
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with what God has
supplied to us, right?
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So we can only
be trusted with more
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when we develop the habit
of being faithful with a little
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because the habit follows
as, you know, some people think,
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"Oh, if I were rich,
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I would give
generously to support 3ABN,
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or I'd give generously
to support this charity
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or that charity."
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And you are
only fooling yourself
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because if you are not
faithful with a little,
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when you get a lot
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you're not going to be faithful.
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Jesus clearly says that that
this is a biblical principle,
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so if we're
careless and unprincipled
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in the way we
support God's work now,
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if we neglect God's work,
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wouldn't matter
what God gives us,
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we'll be careless with
eternal matters as well.
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So the time, and the
talents, and the treasures
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that God has
given to us are really,
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He has entrusted them to us
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to use for the
benefit of the church
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and we are to be the
stewards of the divine things.
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Now, let's look
at Leviticus 27:30,
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and this is a
very important text,
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Leviticus 27:30,
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and it says, "All of
the tithe of the land,
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whether of the seed of the
land or the fruit of the tree,
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is the Lord's."
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It is holy to the Lord.
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Tithe is not a human invention.
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Tithe is a command.
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Tithe is 10% of your
increase, it belongs to God.
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You know, somebody said,
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"Well, why does
God give us His money?"
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And I'll tell you why.
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I think, it's because
He's trying to develop in us...
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Tithing is a powerful antidote
to overcome selfishness.
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Absolutely.
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It is a powerful reminder
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that we need to be
honest and disciplined
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and that everything
comes from the Lord,
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but that 10% that He
gives us that is His,
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we don't pay tithe,
we return the tithe.
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Amen, that's right.
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So there's a story
that is written in Genesis,
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the first book of the Bible,
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and it is the
story about Abraham.
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And as Abraham goes
out, he meets Melchizedek,
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who is a priest
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the Bible says for ever.
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And obviously, Abraham was used
to the principle of tithing.
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He paid a 10%
tithe to Melchizedek.
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Now when we look at
Jacob, who was the son of Isaac,
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the grandson of Abraham,
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Jacob also, he was
in exile and a fugitive
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but he pledged to God to
pay 10% of all of his incomes
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upon his safe return.
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And that's found
in Genesis 28:22,
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he says, "Of all
that you give me, Lord,
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I will surely
give the tenth to you."
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Now, when Israel was
established as a nation,
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after they had left Egypt
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then what we find in Leviticus,
Numbers, and Deuteronomy,
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is that God reaffirmed,
is the way to say it,
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God reaffirmed tithing
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and as the divine
institution that it was,
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and explained to them
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that their
prosperity depended upon it,
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so returning tithe has always
been a very important part
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of religious worship.
00:10:08.97\00:10:10.64
And during the
reign of King Hezekiah,
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a great reformation broke out
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and the first
thing the people did
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when their hearts were touched
and reformation broke out
00:10:18.41\00:10:21.48
was to return the
tithe to the Lord.
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Now the New Testament
assumes the validity of tithing.
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There is no New Testament writer
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that does away with tithing.
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Jesus approved tithing,
let's look at Matthew 23:23,
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Jesus said, in Matthew 23:23,
00:10:41.10\00:10:45.54
He is upholding tithing
as necessary and He says,
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"Woe to you, scribes
and Pharisees, hypocrites!
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For you pay tithe of
mint, and anise, and cumin,
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and have neglected
the weightier matters
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of the law, justice,
and mercy, and faith,"
00:11:00.16\00:11:04.13
then listen to what He says,
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"These you ought to
have done," in other words,
00:11:05.83\00:11:09.00
paying the tithe of your mint,
and your cumin, and the anise,
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but He says, "These
you ought to have done
00:11:14.47\00:11:17.04
without leaving
the others undone."
00:11:17.07\00:11:19.87
Yes.
00:11:19.91\00:11:21.24
So the most, to me the most
compelling argument for tithing
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is found in Hebrews 7
00:11:27.72\00:11:30.09
as far as it being
in the New Testament,
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because here in Hebrews
7, it is comparing Christ
00:11:32.39\00:11:37.09
to the order of the Melchizedek,
00:11:37.13\00:11:39.33
as a priest forever,
00:11:39.36\00:11:41.70
and it repeats the story
of Abraham paying the tithe,
00:11:41.73\00:11:45.43
and it is, you
know, it sets it up
00:11:45.47\00:11:49.17
that we are to
pay tithe to Christ
00:11:49.20\00:11:52.41
as a divine institution.
00:11:52.44\00:11:54.94
But it is so casually
mentioned that it shows you
00:11:54.98\00:12:00.18
that the New Testament church
00:12:00.22\00:12:02.38
was already
used to paying tithe,
00:12:02.42\00:12:04.85
you know, this
is a good indicator
00:12:04.89\00:12:07.66
that this at the early state,
the church was doing this.
00:12:07.69\00:12:11.09
So here's my
question for all of us.
00:12:11.13\00:12:14.36
Would you be
brash enough to rob God?
00:12:14.40\00:12:17.93
Turn to Malachi 3:8,
00:12:17.97\00:12:22.40
Malachi 3:8,
00:12:22.44\00:12:25.24
this is probably
00:12:25.27\00:12:26.81
one of the most important
scriptures there is on tithing.
00:12:26.84\00:12:31.95
And this is God
speaking, "Will a man rob God?
00:12:31.98\00:12:37.02
Yet you have robbed me!
00:12:37.05\00:12:39.49
But you say, 'in what
way have we robbed you?'"
00:12:39.52\00:12:43.79
And God says, "In
tithes and offerings."
00:12:43.83\00:12:47.63
The tithe belongs to God.
00:12:47.66\00:12:50.27
It is used for His
purposes, and He equates,
00:12:50.30\00:12:55.70
when we don't
return that tithe to Him,
00:12:55.74\00:12:57.84
He equates that to robbing him,
00:12:57.87\00:13:01.51
and if we know that
we're supposed to pay a tithe
00:13:01.54\00:13:04.48
and we don't,
00:13:04.51\00:13:05.85
then we are breaking
the eighth commandment,
00:13:05.88\00:13:08.18
"Thou shalt not steal."
00:13:08.22\00:13:09.98
So everything that
we have belongs to God
00:13:10.02\00:13:13.66
and if we selfishly
held on to a 100% of it,
00:13:13.69\00:13:17.16
we are just saying,
00:13:17.19\00:13:18.53
God, we don't trust
you to take care of us.
00:13:18.56\00:13:21.40
Let me just
quickly go through this,
00:13:21.43\00:13:24.07
the lesson asks,
00:13:24.10\00:13:26.43
"How can paying
tithe help you remember
00:13:26.47\00:13:28.74
who ultimately
owns all that you have?
00:13:28.77\00:13:31.87
Why is it important?"
00:13:31.91\00:13:33.24
Never to forget who
owns all of our positions,
00:13:33.27\00:13:36.61
stewardship is a privilege that
has been given to us by God.
00:13:36.64\00:13:39.95
It nurtures Christian maturity,
00:13:39.98\00:13:42.42
it increases a
responsible attitude,
00:13:42.45\00:13:45.22
it develops His
self-sacrifice and love in us,
00:13:45.25\00:13:49.56
and it gives us victory over
selfishness and Covetousness.
00:13:49.59\00:13:53.23
Amen.
00:13:53.26\00:13:54.60
God hasn't trusted us
00:13:54.63\00:13:55.96
with time and opportunities,
positions, and abilities,
00:13:56.00\00:14:00.10
and we are to be a blessing.
00:14:00.14\00:14:03.61
All the earth's resources
that He has given to us,
00:14:03.64\00:14:06.51
we're just
managing His estate here.
00:14:06.54\00:14:09.04
It's in a estate
we're going to inherit
00:14:09.08\00:14:11.15
because we're going to be
joint heirs with Jesus Christ.
00:14:11.18\00:14:14.95
So tithe and offering
represents a proper attitude
00:14:14.98\00:14:21.32
toward all of our
possessions being God's,
00:14:21.36\00:14:23.96
and Christians
have a great motive
00:14:23.99\00:14:26.73
to return the tithe
and give God offerings
00:14:26.76\00:14:30.33
when we consider everything
that God has done for us,
00:14:30.37\00:14:35.47
and when we're faithful
in our tithe and offering,
00:14:35.50\00:14:37.61
guess what happens?
00:14:37.64\00:14:38.97
Jesus Christ becomes our partner
00:14:39.01\00:14:41.11
in everything that we do.
00:14:41.14\00:14:42.71
Amen. Amen.
00:14:42.74\00:14:44.08
That's beautiful,
Shelley, thank you so much.
00:14:44.11\00:14:46.05
What a
privilege we have... Amen.
00:14:46.08\00:14:47.68
To return to God our tithe
00:14:47.72\00:14:49.62
and, I know, in
a subsequent lesson
00:14:49.65\00:14:51.99
we'll look at offering as well
00:14:52.02\00:14:53.36
and that's a
tremendous privilege.
00:14:53.39\00:14:54.72
Where you talk
about honesty and tithing,
00:14:54.76\00:14:56.62
I know, Mr. Danny,
you have faith in tithing.
00:14:56.66\00:14:59.53
Mollie, you're talking
about holiness in tithing.
00:14:59.56\00:15:01.63
And, Pastor John, revival,
reformation, and tithing.
00:15:01.66\00:15:04.70
And my day,
initially, you would think,
00:15:04.73\00:15:06.53
has nothing at all
to do with tithing,
00:15:06.57\00:15:08.34
we're talking
about the life of faith,
00:15:08.37\00:15:10.44
that's Monday.
00:15:10.47\00:15:11.81
Let's look at Genesis 22,
00:15:11.84\00:15:14.78
if you want to turn
in your Bibles with me,
00:15:14.81\00:15:16.98
Genesis 22.
00:15:17.01\00:15:19.68
I kind of divided this
segment up into three parts.
00:15:19.71\00:15:23.28
We're going to look at
tested faith, growing faith,
00:15:23.32\00:15:28.42
and joyful faith.
00:15:28.46\00:15:30.53
So as we have the
journey of the life of faith,
00:15:30.56\00:15:33.36
we'll look at tested
faith, growing faith,
00:15:33.40\00:15:36.40
and joyful faith.
00:15:36.43\00:15:37.77
The first faith,
the tested faith,
00:15:37.80\00:15:39.47
we see this ultimate test.
00:15:39.50\00:15:41.90
Abraham, when he
was called by God
00:15:41.94\00:15:43.61
to sacrifice his son
Isaac upon Mount Moriah.
00:15:43.64\00:15:47.28
So we pick up the
story in Genesis 22:1,
00:15:47.31\00:15:51.45
"Now it came to
pass after these things
00:15:51.48\00:15:53.28
that God tested Abraham,
and said to him, 'Abraham!'
00:15:53.31\00:15:58.69
And he said, 'Here I am.'"
00:15:58.72\00:16:00.76
Now let's pause a
moment, the word for tested,
00:16:00.79\00:16:03.73
most translations
say God tested Abraham,
00:16:03.76\00:16:07.00
the King James
would say, God did tempt,
00:16:07.03\00:16:09.70
that's right, Mollie,
00:16:09.73\00:16:11.07
God did tempt Abraham.
00:16:11.10\00:16:13.37
In the Hebrew,
00:16:13.40\00:16:15.04
the word literally
means to test, try, or prove.
00:16:15.07\00:16:18.84
But it is not a term to
invite someone to do evil
00:16:18.87\00:16:23.68
rather it's to test a person
to develop positive qualities
00:16:23.71\00:16:28.48
in that person.
00:16:28.52\00:16:30.02
To me that's fascinating,
00:16:30.05\00:16:31.42
because God looks
at Abraham and he says,
00:16:31.45\00:16:34.06
"There is positive qualities
in you that I want to develop
00:16:34.09\00:16:37.86
and that I want to bring out."
00:16:37.89\00:16:39.86
So God is not
testing him to bring evil,
00:16:39.89\00:16:42.56
He's trying to bring
out the positive qualities,
00:16:42.60\00:16:45.20
the good in Abraham.
00:16:45.23\00:16:47.04
And God said, Abraham,
00:16:47.07\00:16:48.40
and Abraham
said, what did he say?
00:16:48.44\00:16:50.41
"Here I am."
00:16:50.44\00:16:52.31
It reminds me of Isaiah 6. Yes.
00:16:52.34\00:16:54.28
Remember the call of Isaiah,
00:16:54.31\00:16:56.18
"And he saw the
Lord, high, and lifted up,
00:16:56.21\00:16:58.31
and the holiness of
the Lord filled the temple,
00:16:58.35\00:17:00.95
and he said, 'Woe
is me, I'm undone!'"
00:17:00.98\00:17:03.45
And remember God called to him
and said, "Who will go for us?"
00:17:03.49\00:17:06.92
And what did he say,
00:17:06.96\00:17:08.29
the same thing
Abraham said here.
00:17:08.32\00:17:09.82
"Here I am, send me."
00:17:09.86\00:17:12.33
And as we talk
about tested faith,
00:17:12.36\00:17:14.96
to me there's five lessons that
I learned from Abraham's test.
00:17:15.00\00:17:19.20
The first is to
answer God with a yes.
00:17:19.23\00:17:21.74
You might be going
through a test right now
00:17:21.77\00:17:24.07
and you might want to say no.
00:17:24.11\00:17:25.77
You might want to say,
00:17:25.81\00:17:27.14
"God, I don't want
to go this direction,"
00:17:27.18\00:17:29.74
but answer God with a yes.
00:17:29.78\00:17:31.78
Let's look at verse 2,
00:17:31.81\00:17:33.75
then He said, meaning God,
00:17:33.78\00:17:35.55
"Take now, your son,
your only son, Isaac,
00:17:35.58\00:17:39.25
whom you love and go
to the land of Moriah
00:17:39.29\00:17:41.86
and offer him
there as a burnt offering
00:17:41.89\00:17:43.73
on one of the mountains
of which I shall tell you."
00:17:43.76\00:17:46.80
Now initially, when I
look at this, Mr. Danny,
00:17:46.83\00:17:48.76
this seems kind of harsh.
00:17:48.80\00:17:50.30
"Take now your son,"
like God's giving a command,
00:17:50.33\00:17:53.94
but if you look at
the word "now" in Hebrew,
00:17:53.97\00:17:56.97
it's actually please.
00:17:57.01\00:17:58.44
Oh, wow.
00:17:58.47\00:17:59.81
Or I pray you, or I besiege you,
00:17:59.84\00:18:02.48
So God's saying,
"Please, take your son,
00:18:02.51\00:18:05.88
your only son, and
offer him as a sacrifice."
00:18:05.91\00:18:09.18
Now, what God was
asking Abraham to do
00:18:09.22\00:18:11.82
is definitely against
anything in the Word of God.
00:18:11.85\00:18:15.56
Human sacrifice is
clearly forbidden in God's Word,
00:18:15.59\00:18:19.36
and not only in God's Word,
00:18:19.39\00:18:21.20
in ancient times,
in the pagan culture,
00:18:21.23\00:18:24.63
we know that they
did childhood sacrifices,
00:18:24.67\00:18:27.14
but they never sacrificed people
00:18:27.17\00:18:28.97
who were more grown,
00:18:29.00\00:18:30.34
they would do maybe
an infant sacrifice.
00:18:30.37\00:18:32.14
So God is asking
Abraham to do something
00:18:32.17\00:18:34.78
that's forbidden
in the Word of God.
00:18:34.81\00:18:36.95
And he's also asking
him to do something that,
00:18:36.98\00:18:39.08
even the heathen
cultures would not do.
00:18:39.11\00:18:42.55
Now, if I were Abraham,
I'd be going, "Is that God?"
00:18:42.58\00:18:45.95
Yeah, I would do it.
00:18:45.99\00:18:47.32
Did I really hear God's voice?
00:18:47.36\00:18:49.06
Is that God talking to me?
00:18:49.09\00:18:51.79
So how did Abraham
know it was God's voice?
00:18:51.83\00:18:55.40
First he had heard
God talk to him before,
00:18:55.43\00:18:57.93
he had
communicated with God before.
00:18:57.97\00:19:00.30
You look previously
in Genesis, you see that,
00:19:00.34\00:19:03.10
he had communicated with God.
00:19:03.14\00:19:05.31
The other thing is that
Abraham is identified in James 2
00:19:05.34\00:19:09.71
as the friend of God.
00:19:09.74\00:19:12.71
You know, if I'm in a crowded,
say a crowded restaurant,
00:19:12.75\00:19:15.08
there's a lot of people
and Greg's way across the room
00:19:15.12\00:19:18.09
and he says something,
00:19:18.12\00:19:19.45
guess what? I know
my husband's voice,
00:19:19.49\00:19:21.42
because he is my
friend, because I know him,
00:19:21.46\00:19:24.93
and instantly, I
would recognize his voice.
00:19:24.96\00:19:27.86
So Abraham, even though
the command seemed contrary
00:19:27.90\00:19:30.37
to everything in God's nature,
00:19:30.40\00:19:32.87
he said, "I know God's
voice, I recognize His voice,
00:19:32.90\00:19:36.64
and I will obey."
00:19:36.67\00:19:38.17
So the second,
00:19:38.21\00:19:39.97
the first is to
answer God with a yes,
00:19:40.01\00:19:41.94
the first lesson
when you're being tested,
00:19:41.98\00:19:43.81
the second lesson is learn
to identify the voice of God
00:19:43.85\00:19:47.02
and you learn to
identify the voice of God,
00:19:47.05\00:19:49.05
by becoming His friend,
by spending time with Him.
00:19:49.08\00:19:53.52
Third is to walk in obedience.
00:19:53.56\00:19:56.46
We see the next verse, verse 3,
00:19:56.49\00:19:58.46
So Abraham rose
early in the morning
00:19:58.49\00:20:00.26
and saddled his donkey.
00:20:00.30\00:20:01.83
I think I'd want
to be like Jonah.
00:20:01.86\00:20:03.40
Greg and I don't have kids
00:20:03.43\00:20:04.77
but if God said,
"Sacrifice your child,"
00:20:04.80\00:20:08.00
I'd wanna run away.
00:20:08.04\00:20:09.37
And yet, Abraham
rose early in obedience
00:20:09.40\00:20:13.54
to a command he
could not even understand,
00:20:13.58\00:20:16.61
that is tested faith.
00:20:16.64\00:20:19.08
His faith was surely
tested at that moment,
00:20:19.11\00:20:22.15
so he walked in obedience.
00:20:22.18\00:20:23.62
Lesson Number four,
withhold nothing from God.
00:20:23.65\00:20:26.65
We see that in verse 12,
00:20:26.69\00:20:28.42
we won't go
through the whole story
00:20:28.46\00:20:29.79
but we know he
went up to Mount Moriah,
00:20:29.82\00:20:31.63
he actually,
Isaac's on the altar
00:20:31.66\00:20:34.46
he held out his
hand with the knife.
00:20:34.50\00:20:37.40
Verse 12, God said,
00:20:37.43\00:20:38.87
"Do not lay your hand on the Lad
00:20:38.90\00:20:40.47
or do anything to him.
00:20:40.50\00:20:42.10
For now I know
that you fear God,
00:20:42.14\00:20:43.77
since you have
not withheld your son,
00:20:43.81\00:20:45.77
your only son from me."
00:20:45.81\00:20:47.74
So withhold nothing from
God, give Him everything.
00:20:47.78\00:20:51.48
And Lesson Number five
00:20:51.51\00:20:52.85
is to trust God in
spite of everything.
00:20:52.88\00:20:56.32
When it's the end of
your hopes and dreams
00:20:56.35\00:20:58.25
and you're in a testing time,
00:20:58.29\00:20:59.62
it seems like, it's dark
00:20:59.65\00:21:01.32
and you don't even
know what God is doing,
00:21:01.36\00:21:03.32
trust Him anyway,
00:21:03.36\00:21:06.26
one of my favorite
quotes from Ellen White
00:21:06.29\00:21:08.23
is Desire of Ages 225,
00:21:08.26\00:21:10.03
it says, "Of all the gifts
that heaven can bestow upon men,
00:21:10.07\00:21:13.57
fellowship with
Christ in His sufferings
00:21:13.60\00:21:16.81
is the most weighty
trust and the highest honor."
00:21:16.84\00:21:20.31
So you might be
being tested today,
00:21:20.34\00:21:23.81
trust God, in the
midst of your testing time
00:21:23.85\00:21:26.85
as Abraham did.
00:21:26.88\00:21:28.52
Now we talked
about tested faith,
00:21:28.55\00:21:30.49
now we have growing faith.
00:21:30.52\00:21:32.82
Faith is not
static... That's right.
00:21:32.85\00:21:35.09
We can't say
that I wake up today
00:21:35.12\00:21:37.23
and I can just continue,
00:21:37.26\00:21:38.69
we're either
growing, developing strength,
00:21:38.73\00:21:41.33
and deepening,
00:21:41.36\00:21:42.73
or my faith is atropine.
00:21:42.76\00:21:44.60
My faith is
getting smaller and weaker.
00:21:44.63\00:21:48.44
Let's see, if you all
can look up some scriptures,
00:21:48.47\00:21:50.34
Mr. Danny, can
you take Romans 10:17?
00:21:50.37\00:21:52.97
Shelley, can
you take James 2:17?
00:21:53.01\00:21:57.25
Pastor John, will
you take Romans 4:17?
00:21:57.28\00:21:59.81
And, Miss Mollie,
can you take Romans 12:3?
00:21:59.85\00:22:04.35
Romans 12:3.
00:22:04.39\00:22:05.95
And we'll start with Mollie's,
00:22:05.99\00:22:07.32
I should've
given you, yours first,
00:22:07.36\00:22:08.69
I apologize for that.
00:22:08.72\00:22:10.23
Romans 12:3.
00:22:10.26\00:22:12.39
Romans 12:3,
00:22:12.43\00:22:14.36
"For I say, through
the grace given unto me,
00:22:14.40\00:22:18.20
to every man that is among you,
00:22:18.23\00:22:20.44
not to think of
himself more highly
00:22:20.47\00:22:22.64
than he ought to think,
00:22:22.67\00:22:24.34
but to think soberly
00:22:24.37\00:22:25.77
according as God
has dealt to every man,
00:22:25.81\00:22:29.48
the measure of faith."
00:22:29.51\00:22:31.08
So God has given
what each one of us,
00:22:31.11\00:22:33.68
a measure of faith.
00:22:33.72\00:22:36.12
Everyone, you at home,
00:22:36.15\00:22:37.65
have been given
a measure of faith.
00:22:37.69\00:22:39.82
How do you help
that faith to grow?
00:22:39.85\00:22:42.62
Mr. Danny, you
have Romans 10:17?
00:22:42.66\00:22:45.63
I do.
00:22:45.66\00:22:47.00
Okay, 10:17, "So then
faith cometh by hearing,
00:22:47.03\00:22:51.20
and hearing by the Word of God."
00:22:51.23\00:22:53.47
So how does our faith grow?
00:22:53.50\00:22:55.00
Comes through hearing,
00:22:55.04\00:22:56.64
and then it says,
"Faith comes by hearing
00:22:56.67\00:22:58.84
and then hearing
by the Word of God."
00:22:58.87\00:23:00.88
So our faith grows
00:23:00.91\00:23:02.24
when I spend time
in the Word of God.
00:23:02.28\00:23:04.88
That's right, Miss
Shelly, you have James 2:17.
00:23:04.91\00:23:08.08
"Thus also faith by itself,
00:23:08.12\00:23:10.29
if it does not
have works, is dead."
00:23:10.32\00:23:13.39
So faith grows by our actions,
00:23:13.42\00:23:16.62
faith is not faith
if we just sit on it.
00:23:16.66\00:23:18.86
We have to step
out and act on that
00:23:18.89\00:23:22.56
and as we do
that, our faith grows.
00:23:22.60\00:23:24.67
Pastor John, you
have Romans 4:17.
00:23:24.70\00:23:27.70
"As it is written,
00:23:27.74\00:23:29.07
I have made you a
father of many nations
00:23:29.10\00:23:32.31
in the presence of
Him whom He believed.
00:23:32.34\00:23:36.14
Even God, who
gives life to the dead
00:23:36.18\00:23:38.78
and calls those
things which do not exist
00:23:38.81\00:23:41.25
as though they did."
00:23:41.28\00:23:42.62
So faith grows as we
spend time in the Word of God,
00:23:42.65\00:23:45.72
faith grows as we exercise it,
00:23:45.75\00:23:48.79
and faith grows when we
speak God's Word over our lives.
00:23:48.82\00:23:53.43
We speak His word
aloud over our lives.
00:23:53.46\00:23:56.73
We talked about tested faith,
we talked about growing faith
00:23:56.77\00:24:00.94
and I'll do one
verse for joyful faith
00:24:00.97\00:24:03.27
because I'm out of time.
00:24:03.30\00:24:04.64
Hebrews 12:2,
00:24:04.67\00:24:06.01
we know, Hebrews 11
is the faith chapter,
00:24:06.04\00:24:09.11
and then Hebrews 12:1
00:24:09.14\00:24:10.55
talks about the
great cloud of witnesses,
00:24:10.58\00:24:12.51
those men and woman of faith
00:24:12.55\00:24:15.12
who have run the
race with endurance,
00:24:15.15\00:24:17.82
and you and I are
called to do that as well.
00:24:17.85\00:24:20.09
Verse 2, "Looking unto Jesus,
00:24:20.12\00:24:21.62
the author and
finisher of our faith,
00:24:21.66\00:24:23.63
for the joy that
was set before him
00:24:23.66\00:24:25.89
endured the cross."
00:24:25.93\00:24:28.43
Why did Jesus endure the
test, the trial and the cross?
00:24:28.46\00:24:31.87
Because of the joy
that was set before Him.
00:24:31.90\00:24:35.17
God is working
something in your life that,
00:24:35.20\00:24:37.54
even right now, you cannot see.
00:24:37.57\00:24:39.87
So trust God in the midst of
00:24:39.91\00:24:41.68
while your
faith is being tested,
00:24:41.71\00:24:43.68
trust Him to grow your faith
00:24:43.71\00:24:46.28
and you can be
joyful in the midst of it.
00:24:46.31\00:24:48.82
Wow, that's beautiful. Amen.
00:24:48.85\00:24:50.69
You can take as much
of my time as you want.
00:24:50.72\00:24:52.65
I can just sit down and learn,
00:24:52.69\00:24:54.02
I'm learning a lot, I
don't know about you at home,
00:24:54.06\00:24:56.39
but mine is a statement of faith
00:24:56.42\00:24:59.16
and tithes and offerings
are indeed a statement of faith,
00:24:59.19\00:25:01.83
because faith is
something that continually grows
00:25:01.86\00:25:06.37
and our giving,
if we think about it
00:25:06.40\00:25:09.10
who gives to something
that you don't believe in?
00:25:09.14\00:25:12.11
So it's a statement of faith
00:25:12.14\00:25:13.74
because I'm not going to give
00:25:13.78\00:25:15.41
to something I don't believe in,
00:25:15.44\00:25:16.78
so when I give my
tithes and my offerings to God,
00:25:16.81\00:25:20.45
I am showing
that I believe in God,
00:25:20.48\00:25:23.45
that I believe in the work
of the church and ministries
00:25:23.49\00:25:27.19
that our
commission is to do what?
00:25:27.22\00:25:30.29
Take the gospel
into part of the world.
00:25:30.33\00:25:32.29
All the world.
Oh, thank you, Jill.
00:25:32.33\00:25:33.73
It's right, all right.
00:25:33.76\00:25:35.10
Into all of the world.
00:25:35.13\00:25:36.46
So it's an action and
it's a growth process,
00:25:36.50\00:25:40.24
and so I'm so thankful for that.
00:25:40.27\00:25:42.10
But when, it's just like this
00:25:42.14\00:25:45.34
if I tell God, "I
really love You, Lord,
00:25:45.37\00:25:47.91
I love you, I praise Your name."
00:25:47.94\00:25:49.84
I can lift my hands up, I
can shout, I can do a dance,
00:25:49.88\00:25:53.11
I can do all of these things
00:25:53.15\00:25:54.65
but if I don't show
Him that I love Him,
00:25:54.68\00:25:57.39
how does He say to
show us that you loves Him?
00:25:57.42\00:26:00.39
In John 15:14, He says...
00:26:00.42\00:26:02.56
"If you love Me,
keep My commandments."
00:26:02.59\00:26:04.99
14:15. Keep my commandments.
00:26:05.03\00:26:07.00
14:15, "If you love
Me, keep My commandments."
00:26:07.03\00:26:10.57
So you all, you
women have your husbands',
00:26:10.60\00:26:14.40
if your husband say to
you, "Mollie, I love you,"
00:26:14.44\00:26:17.81
"Jill, I love you,"
00:26:17.84\00:26:20.81
"Shelley, I love you," JD says,
00:26:20.84\00:26:23.75
but he's never nice to
you, he's not kind to you,
00:26:23.78\00:26:27.15
he never spends time with you,
00:26:27.18\00:26:30.35
he never puts
you in place of him,
00:26:30.39\00:26:35.32
then does he really love you?
00:26:35.36\00:26:36.93
Absolutely, not.
00:26:36.96\00:26:38.29
So we've already gone through
00:26:38.33\00:26:39.66
which was one of the scriptures
I had, the Malachi 3:8-10,
00:26:39.69\00:26:44.17
so what God is saying is
00:26:44.20\00:26:45.73
if you love Me then
let's see some action
00:26:45.77\00:26:49.50
and this action is not for Him.
00:26:49.54\00:26:51.21
Does God
actually need our tithes?
00:26:51.24\00:26:55.01
He doesn't,
Shelley, you kind of hit it,
00:26:55.04\00:26:56.64
it keeps us from
being too selfish.
00:26:56.68\00:26:58.91
Yes. Really.
00:26:58.95\00:27:00.28
And the principle of tithing
00:27:00.32\00:27:02.58
was started in
the Old Testament.
00:27:02.62\00:27:04.22
We can look back
00:27:04.25\00:27:05.59
at all the
firstfruits and things they did
00:27:05.62\00:27:07.26
and how the Lord even said,
00:27:07.29\00:27:08.62
"Go off to a place
and get in my presence,
00:27:08.66\00:27:10.89
and do all of these."
00:27:10.93\00:27:12.26
So it's really
interesting for me
00:27:12.29\00:27:13.63
when you're
studying for these things,
00:27:13.66\00:27:15.30
'cause you learn,
we learn ourselves.
00:27:15.33\00:27:16.90
Hopefully, we're working
with you in learning together,
00:27:16.93\00:27:21.40
but the principle of
tithing is the Old Testament,
00:27:21.44\00:27:24.14
I think, it's very interesting
that we just said that,
00:27:24.17\00:27:28.24
if you love Me,
keep My commandments
00:27:28.28\00:27:29.78
but if I watch and
some of you probably do,
00:27:29.81\00:27:31.88
I watch sometimes,
00:27:31.91\00:27:33.25
especially if I'm
traveling in a hotel
00:27:33.28\00:27:35.28
and you turn on the television,
there'll be televangelist.
00:27:35.32\00:27:37.99
Now, people know televangelists,
00:27:38.02\00:27:39.75
some of them say,
"What are you talking about?
00:27:39.79\00:27:41.12
You all are televangelists."
00:27:41.16\00:27:42.49
Well, I guess if you
preach on television, you are
00:27:42.52\00:27:44.96
but some of them
make a specialty.
00:27:44.99\00:27:47.13
John out of, I'm
glad you're not that way,
00:27:47.16\00:27:50.17
but televangelist,
00:27:50.20\00:27:51.77
and the fact is that
they hit this tithing thing
00:27:51.80\00:27:55.57
from a totally
different perspective.
00:27:55.60\00:27:57.77
Many of these
televangelists say,
00:27:57.81\00:27:59.64
when you talk to them
00:27:59.67\00:28:01.01
about keeping the
commandments of God,
00:28:01.04\00:28:02.78
they say all those
commandments there're,
00:28:02.81\00:28:04.41
that's Old Testament.
00:28:04.45\00:28:05.78
I don't believe
in the Old Testament.
00:28:05.81\00:28:07.45
We don't, you know, I
don't subscribe to that,
00:28:07.48\00:28:10.59
you don't have to
keep the Sabbath anymore,
00:28:10.62\00:28:12.95
that's the Old Testament.
00:28:12.99\00:28:14.36
But boy, when it comes
to tithing and offerings
00:28:14.39\00:28:17.43
they really believe
in the Old Testament.
00:28:17.46\00:28:18.99
They all go back and tell
you about all the firstfruits
00:28:19.03\00:28:21.26
and all the things
that God will bless you,
00:28:21.30\00:28:24.30
so we use the Bible
sometimes when it fits us
00:28:24.33\00:28:28.27
to what we really want.
00:28:28.30\00:28:29.64
So I wonder, well,
if they're consistent,
00:28:29.67\00:28:31.41
if they really
believe in the tithing system,
00:28:31.44\00:28:33.44
because they do,
00:28:33.48\00:28:34.81
because it sometimes
turns into great wealth.
00:28:34.84\00:28:37.88
So what I really
want to hit on today is
00:28:37.91\00:28:39.71
why do we give tithe,
00:28:39.75\00:28:42.38
and what's our
purpose and what our motives.
00:28:42.42\00:28:45.95
The Bible is
clear but, excuse me,
00:28:45.99\00:28:48.52
but there is so much
teaching that's very confusing
00:28:48.56\00:28:52.69
when you watch
television and listen to radio.
00:28:52.73\00:28:55.96
And that's, you
give your tithes to get.
00:28:56.00\00:29:00.64
Right.
00:29:00.67\00:29:02.00
That's called the
prosperity gospel maybe.
00:29:02.04\00:29:03.51
Yeah, it is. Right.
00:29:03.54\00:29:04.87
Healthy, wealthy and wise.
00:29:04.91\00:29:06.51
You know, name it, claim it.
00:29:06.54\00:29:08.38
This type of things,
so people will preach,
00:29:08.41\00:29:11.55
they are preaching all the time,
00:29:11.58\00:29:13.18
if you, well, one preacher said,
00:29:13.21\00:29:14.68
I heard him,
00:29:14.72\00:29:16.05
"If you'll give
me your Cadillac,"
00:29:16.08\00:29:17.72
one of his members had a
nice, really nice Cadillac,
00:29:17.75\00:29:20.82
he said, "you've
got a nice Cadillac,"
00:29:20.86\00:29:22.79
and he named the guy by name,
reached out in the audience,
00:29:22.82\00:29:25.73
there must have been
a thousand people there.
00:29:25.76\00:29:27.66
"You've got a
really nice Cadillac
00:29:27.70\00:29:29.30
but if you give that to me,
God will give you a better one.
00:29:29.33\00:29:32.63
He'll give you some
better car, but you need to..."
00:29:32.67\00:29:35.77
Another preacher said,
00:29:35.80\00:29:37.74
because these are
things I have heard,
00:29:37.77\00:29:39.27
I have witnessed
with my own eyes,
00:29:39.31\00:29:42.04
but he said to his
audience, "You need to give,
00:29:42.08\00:29:45.25
you have to sow
into my ministry,
00:29:45.28\00:29:47.42
you have to sow
into my ministry.
00:29:47.45\00:29:49.22
God wants you to
sow into ministry.
00:29:49.25\00:29:52.35
So here's what I want you to do,
00:29:52.39\00:29:54.16
I don't really need the
money, I have five homes.
00:29:54.19\00:29:57.43
He said, I have a
piano that's gold plated,
00:29:57.46\00:30:00.63
but because you need it,"
00:30:00.66\00:30:02.00
there must have been
00:30:02.03\00:30:03.37
2,000 or 3,000 people out there,
00:30:03.40\00:30:04.73
"because you need
blessed, and you want to sow
00:30:04.77\00:30:08.20
so God will bless you,
make you wealthy like me,
00:30:08.24\00:30:10.94
when the offering
plate goes around,
00:30:10.97\00:30:12.91
women, I want you to
turn your purses upside down.
00:30:12.94\00:30:16.41
Every penny in there must
go in that offering plate.
00:30:16.44\00:30:20.08
Men don't hold back a penny.
00:30:20.12\00:30:23.25
Open your wallets,
put it all in there.
00:30:23.28\00:30:25.39
Now, do I need it?
00:30:25.42\00:30:26.76
I'm not doing this for
me, I'm doing it for you."
00:30:26.79\00:30:28.96
But guess pastor,
who took the money home?
00:30:28.99\00:30:31.13
He did.
00:30:31.16\00:30:32.49
He took the money home,
maybe got the sixth home.
00:30:32.53\00:30:36.56
So why do we give?
00:30:36.60\00:30:38.03
We give tithes
because we love God.
00:30:38.07\00:30:40.37
That's right. Amen.
00:30:40.40\00:30:41.74
And because we have faith,
it's a statement of our faith
00:30:41.77\00:30:45.04
that we believe that
Jesus is coming very soon
00:30:45.07\00:30:48.41
in the clouds of glory
00:30:48.44\00:30:49.91
and in order to get
the gospel to the world,
00:30:49.94\00:30:53.08
it takes finances.
00:30:53.11\00:30:55.72
And so we
encourage you, we thank you
00:30:55.75\00:30:59.39
for finances that
you send here to 3ABN.
00:30:59.42\00:31:03.29
Because without it,
00:31:03.32\00:31:04.66
we couldn't take
this great gospel,
00:31:04.69\00:31:06.09
the kingdom into all the world.
00:31:06.13\00:31:07.90
So we're gonna study later
about tithes and offerings,
00:31:07.93\00:31:11.27
and all of this is giving.
00:31:11.30\00:31:13.20
Again, and it's really not,
00:31:13.23\00:31:14.57
God doesn't have
to have our money
00:31:14.60\00:31:16.74
because money
won't finish the work,
00:31:16.77\00:31:19.01
but God finishes
work through His people,
00:31:19.04\00:31:22.04
if we allow Him to
work in us and through us,
00:31:22.08\00:31:25.88
and when we're willing
to give out of a good heart.
00:31:25.91\00:31:29.35
He says He loves
a cheerful giver.
00:31:29.38\00:31:32.05
I want to read a couple of,
00:31:32.09\00:31:33.42
my time, I'm talking a lot here,
00:31:33.46\00:31:34.79
many time is, Jill,
you're much more organized
00:31:34.82\00:31:37.19
and you go right to the point,
00:31:37.23\00:31:38.89
and I get more down
00:31:38.93\00:31:40.26
to what I've seen
and what I've heard.
00:31:40.30\00:31:41.63
But I'd like to
bring it to practicality...
00:31:41.66\00:31:43.67
It's Good.
00:31:43.70\00:31:45.03
And why we tithe.
00:31:45.07\00:31:47.07
It's not out of
the legalistically
00:31:47.10\00:31:48.47
that Jesus gave
numbers of scriptures
00:31:48.50\00:31:51.07
and we won't read them all,
00:31:51.11\00:31:52.44
but you can
write some of them down
00:31:52.47\00:31:53.81
if you want to.
00:31:53.84\00:31:55.18
I have some of them down
00:31:55.21\00:31:56.54
but I do want to
read 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.
00:31:56.58\00:31:58.31
If Jill, maybe
you'll read that for us.
00:31:58.35\00:32:01.15
Yes. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.
00:32:01.18\00:32:04.22
"But this I say,
He who sows sparingly
00:32:04.25\00:32:06.89
will also reap sparingly
00:32:06.92\00:32:08.36
and he who sows bountifully
will also reap bountifully.
00:32:08.39\00:32:11.59
So let each one give as
he purposes in his heart,
00:32:11.63\00:32:14.50
not grudgingly or of necessity,
00:32:14.53\00:32:16.73
for God loves a cheerful giver."
00:32:16.77\00:32:19.03
So the point here is that
00:32:19.07\00:32:20.40
we give because we want to give,
00:32:20.44\00:32:22.84
not because we have to,
00:32:22.87\00:32:24.21
but a lot of these preachers
I've been talking about,
00:32:24.24\00:32:27.38
they use this and
they use scripture
00:32:27.41\00:32:29.51
like the Matthew
23:23, Luke 11:42,
00:32:29.54\00:32:33.21
you can write those
down and look them up later,
00:32:33.25\00:32:35.15
Luke 18:12,
00:32:35.18\00:32:37.19
and when Jesus is talking
about in the New Testament
00:32:37.22\00:32:42.19
about tithes and offerings,
00:32:42.22\00:32:44.73
He basically was getting on to
00:32:44.76\00:32:47.00
and you covered
it, both of you some,
00:32:47.03\00:32:49.13
getting on to the
scribes and Pharisees
00:32:49.16\00:32:51.00
because he says
you're given legalistically
00:32:51.03\00:32:53.44
but you are
passing basically, justice,
00:32:53.47\00:32:57.27
you are passing mercy,
00:32:57.31\00:32:58.77
you're not saying justice,
you're not saying mercy.
00:32:58.81\00:33:01.34
You're standing out
on the streets, saying,
00:33:01.38\00:33:02.98
"Lord, I'm glad
I'm not as other men,
00:33:03.01\00:33:04.88
as you brought out."
00:33:04.91\00:33:06.58
And so we're
missing the big point,
00:33:06.61\00:33:08.52
the love of God.
00:33:08.55\00:33:09.88
So it's legalistic,
00:33:09.92\00:33:11.79
so maybe, we
should ask ourselves
00:33:11.82\00:33:13.66
and ask yourself,
00:33:13.69\00:33:15.02
why do you give your
tithes and offerings.
00:33:15.06\00:33:16.99
And why do you give?
00:33:17.03\00:33:18.56
There is something
else that I want to bring up
00:33:18.59\00:33:20.56
in the last minute and a half
00:33:20.60\00:33:22.40
and there's so much
I'd like to bring up
00:33:22.43\00:33:23.90
but I'm not too organized today
00:33:23.93\00:33:25.47
but, I think, this
is really important,
00:33:25.50\00:33:27.80
is we're talking about finances,
00:33:27.84\00:33:30.44
but how about of what
your gifts and your talents?
00:33:30.47\00:33:33.27
We should be tithing our
gifts and our talents to God.
00:33:33.31\00:33:37.11
What is that that you can do,
00:33:37.15\00:33:38.91
you can volunteer
in a prison ministry.
00:33:38.95\00:33:42.95
We have prison ministries here,
00:33:42.98\00:33:44.59
quite a few people
are involved in that.
00:33:44.62\00:33:46.45
Nobody's getting paid for that.
00:33:46.49\00:33:48.09
We're giving time to others,
00:33:48.12\00:33:50.73
you can be a
deacon, you can be an elder,
00:33:50.76\00:33:52.53
those who sing, those who teach,
00:33:52.56\00:33:54.66
those who volunteer,
00:33:54.70\00:33:56.73
you can be a good
neighbor to someone,
00:33:56.77\00:33:58.93
I think that God expects
us to do spiritual tithing
00:33:58.97\00:34:02.64
is probably better for us
than the physical tithing.
00:34:02.67\00:34:05.21
It's good.
00:34:05.24\00:34:06.57
Because spiritual
tithing draws us close to Jesus
00:34:06.61\00:34:09.84
because we keep our eyes on Him,
00:34:09.88\00:34:11.71
so turn your eyes upon Jesus,
look full in His wonderful face
00:34:11.75\00:34:15.22
and the things of
earth will grow strangely,
00:34:15.25\00:34:17.62
dim in the light of
His glory and His grace.
00:34:17.65\00:34:20.36
So tithing of
ourselves, not just our finances
00:34:20.39\00:34:23.89
but say, "Lord,
here I am, send me."
00:34:23.93\00:34:26.23
And I promise you that
00:34:26.26\00:34:27.70
if you do that, God
is going to send you out,
00:34:27.73\00:34:29.80
the fields are
waiting to harvest
00:34:29.83\00:34:32.23
but the reapers, where are they?
00:34:32.27\00:34:34.27
So today, I know that
you want to be a reaper,
00:34:34.30\00:34:36.40
we do here at 3ABN.
00:34:36.44\00:34:38.17
So I want to
thank you for your love,
00:34:38.21\00:34:40.04
and your prayers, and
your financial support,
00:34:40.08\00:34:42.48
and prayers
00:34:42.51\00:34:43.85
and those of you
who come and volunteer,
00:34:43.88\00:34:45.41
we appreciate that also.
00:34:45.45\00:34:47.65
Appreciate that, Danny,
00:34:47.68\00:34:49.02
stretching the,
defining of tithing
00:34:49.05\00:34:52.09
past just the financial aspect
00:34:52.12\00:34:54.76
but every aspect that
God has blessed us with.
00:34:54.79\00:34:56.59
That's right.
00:34:56.62\00:34:57.96
That's being good stewards
00:34:57.99\00:34:59.46
of everything God
has made available to us.
00:34:59.49\00:35:02.43
Well, I have Wednesday
and Wednesday is honest tithe,
00:35:02.46\00:35:07.67
holy to the Lord.
00:35:07.70\00:35:09.04
And I'm going to
read Leviticus 27:30,
00:35:09.07\00:35:12.37
just to lay it as a
foundation, you know,
00:35:12.41\00:35:14.88
Shelley covered earlier, honesty
00:35:14.91\00:35:18.15
and how we want to
be around honest people,
00:35:18.18\00:35:22.08
and people that have shown
us dishonesty in their life,
00:35:22.12\00:35:26.29
we become very
suspect of anything they say.
00:35:26.32\00:35:29.69
So let's look again,
laying the foundation,
00:35:29.72\00:35:32.63
Leviticus 27:30,
00:35:32.66\00:35:35.23
"And all the tithe of the land,
whether of the seed of the land
00:35:35.26\00:35:39.90
or of the fruit of
the tree is the Lord's.
00:35:39.93\00:35:43.37
It is holy to the Lord."
00:35:43.41\00:35:45.51
Two important points here,
00:35:45.54\00:35:47.88
the first 10% of
our increase is who's?
00:35:47.91\00:35:53.28
God's.
00:35:53.31\00:35:54.65
It's God's,
00:35:54.68\00:35:56.02
doesn't belong to
us, it belongs to God.
00:35:56.05\00:35:58.75
Amen.
00:35:58.79\00:36:00.12
The first 10% of
our increase is holy.
00:36:00.16\00:36:05.99
Now here's a quote
from Angel Rodriguez,
00:36:06.03\00:36:08.96
he's the stewardship
ministries department
00:36:09.00\00:36:11.60
at the General Conference.
00:36:11.63\00:36:14.30
Tithes belongs to the
Lord and therefore is holy.
00:36:14.34\00:36:18.17
It does not become
holy through a veil
00:36:18.21\00:36:22.41
or a consecrated act.
00:36:22.44\00:36:25.45
It is simply holy
by its very nature,
00:36:25.48\00:36:29.25
it belongs to God.
00:36:29.28\00:36:31.45
No one except God
has a right to it.
00:36:31.49\00:36:35.72
No one can
consecrate it to the Lord
00:36:35.76\00:36:38.36
because tithe is never
part of a person's property.
00:36:38.39\00:36:44.30
We don't own that
tithe. That's right.
00:36:44.33\00:36:45.87
Who owns that tithe? God.
00:36:45.90\00:36:47.40
See that's God's
tithe and it's holy,
00:36:47.44\00:36:50.51
not by anything we've done
00:36:50.54\00:36:52.87
but nature of who it belongs to.
00:36:52.91\00:36:55.34
We don't make the
tithe, we return to God, holy,
00:36:55.38\00:36:58.41
God already did it.
00:36:58.45\00:37:00.42
He has that right.
00:37:00.45\00:37:02.32
As stewards, all we are doing is
00:37:02.35\00:37:05.19
returning to Him what is His.
00:37:05.22\00:37:08.72
Tithe is dedicated to
God for a specific task,
00:37:08.76\00:37:12.79
holding it for any
other designation is,
00:37:12.83\00:37:17.23
now remember what my
title is, honest tithe,
00:37:17.27\00:37:21.84
withholding that
tithe or holding that tithe
00:37:21.87\00:37:25.67
for another
purpose is dishonest.
00:37:25.71\00:37:29.08
There's the word.
00:37:29.11\00:37:30.45
How many of you
want to be honest?
00:37:30.48\00:37:31.81
Amen.
00:37:31.85\00:37:33.18
We want to be honest.
00:37:33.21\00:37:34.75
Okay, we've covered
a couple of times this
00:37:34.78\00:37:37.85
out of Hebrew 7:1-4,
00:37:37.89\00:37:40.02
where the Apostle
Paul gives an account
00:37:40.06\00:37:42.36
of Abraham and Melchizedek.
00:37:42.39\00:37:44.43
And I just,
00:37:44.46\00:37:45.96
first let's look at
it for just a moment,
00:37:45.99\00:37:48.66
I only have a few minutes
00:37:48.70\00:37:50.37
for Melchizedek,
this is Hebrews 7:1,
00:37:50.40\00:37:54.80
"For this Melchizedek,
king of Salem, priest of,"
00:37:54.84\00:37:57.91
what?
00:37:57.94\00:37:59.27
"Priest of the Most High God,
00:37:59.31\00:38:01.24
who met Abraham
returning from the slaughter,"
00:38:01.28\00:38:03.91
you know what,
Abraham was coming back
00:38:03.95\00:38:06.92
with a huge bounty
that he had received
00:38:06.95\00:38:12.02
from this war
that he had just been.
00:38:12.05\00:38:15.19
And you know what Abraham
did with this huge bounty,
00:38:15.22\00:38:18.79
all that he had
taken, he gave a 10%, 10% of,
00:38:18.83\00:38:24.67
he tithed to the Melchizedek.
00:38:24.70\00:38:27.47
Now, did Melchizedek
ask him to tithe to him?
00:38:27.50\00:38:32.27
Do we have any indication
that Abraham was instructed
00:38:32.31\00:38:35.88
to tithe it to Melchizedek.
00:38:35.91\00:38:37.71
It was just a biblical
principle, Abraham knew,
00:38:37.75\00:38:40.68
and he learned, and he lived by,
00:38:40.72\00:38:42.82
he knew that biblical principle
that 10% of this is God's,
00:38:42.85\00:38:47.59
and so what did
Melchizedek do in return?
00:38:47.62\00:38:51.99
He blessed him. He blessed him.
00:38:52.03\00:38:54.06
How many of you want
to be blessed of the Lord?
00:38:54.10\00:38:58.20
Now, let me ask you this
00:38:58.23\00:38:59.77
who was Abraham
really tithing to?
00:38:59.80\00:39:03.41
Was he tithing to a
man, was he tithing to God?
00:39:03.44\00:39:07.78
That's right.
00:39:07.81\00:39:11.65
And then I want to, I
want to do a parallel.
00:39:11.68\00:39:16.82
We have Abraham
tithing to Melchizedek
00:39:16.85\00:39:20.32
and really tithing to
God, and why is he doing this?
00:39:20.36\00:39:23.53
A biblical principle
that has been embedded
00:39:23.56\00:39:25.89
in Abraham's heart,
00:39:25.93\00:39:27.26
he didn't have to be told to
do what he already knew to do.
00:39:27.30\00:39:31.53
Now, I want to parallel
the Sabbath and tithing.
00:39:31.57\00:39:36.34
You know, there is a
parallel between the two.
00:39:36.37\00:39:40.34
As the Sabbath is holy,
is the habit Sabbath holy?
00:39:40.38\00:39:44.58
Remember the Sabbath to...
00:39:44.61\00:39:46.75
Keep it holy. Keep it holy.
00:39:46.78\00:39:48.12
Now we are Seventh-Day Adventist
00:39:48.15\00:39:49.82
here at 3ABN,
00:39:49.85\00:39:51.75
and something we
teach adhered to and hold to
00:39:51.79\00:39:56.42
is remembering the Sabbath.
00:39:56.46\00:39:58.16
Danny, should we
worship on the Sabbath?
00:39:58.19\00:40:00.16
Absolutely.
00:40:00.20\00:40:01.53
It's that part of
the in time message
00:40:01.56\00:40:03.83
God has committed into the...
00:40:03.87\00:40:05.20
Everyone should.
00:40:05.23\00:40:06.57
We should teach, proclaim,
00:40:06.60\00:40:09.47
and share this
truth of the Sabbath.
00:40:09.50\00:40:11.87
Well, the word holy means
set apart for sacred service.
00:40:11.91\00:40:16.95
The Sabbath and the
tithe are connected in that.
00:40:16.98\00:40:21.12
We set apart the Sabbath
day, Sabbath as sacred, as holy.
00:40:21.15\00:40:27.26
And we set apart the tithe
as God's sacred possession.
00:40:27.29\00:40:32.83
And what did it
say in Leviticus?
00:40:32.86\00:40:35.06
It is holy unto the Lord.
00:40:35.10\00:40:37.17
Do you see that parallel?
That's right, that's good.
00:40:37.20\00:40:39.53
And we are so
strong as Sabbath keepers
00:40:39.57\00:40:44.11
to instruct and to
drive the point home
00:40:44.14\00:40:47.74
of keeping the Sabbath.
00:40:47.78\00:40:49.94
The paying of our
tithe, of returning
00:40:49.98\00:40:52.25
it's not paying, it's retuning,
00:40:52.28\00:40:54.28
it's giving back to
God what is already His.
00:40:54.32\00:40:57.29
It is just as
sacred and just as holy.
00:40:57.32\00:41:00.82
Now who made this
Sabbath holy? God.
00:41:00.86\00:41:03.73
Who made the tithe holy? God.
00:41:03.76\00:41:05.96
God did.
00:41:05.99\00:41:07.33
God has
sanctified the seventh day,
00:41:07.36\00:41:09.46
that specific portion of
time set apart by God himself
00:41:09.50\00:41:14.27
for us to give to
Him and it continues.
00:41:14.30\00:41:17.24
Is keeping the
Sabbath as sacred today
00:41:17.27\00:41:21.14
as it was the day
that God hallowed it?
00:41:21.18\00:41:24.51
Yes! Amen!
00:41:24.55\00:41:25.88
Key is returning
our tithe unto God
00:41:25.91\00:41:29.75
just as sacred today
as it was in Leviticus.
00:41:29.78\00:41:33.49
That's good.
00:41:33.52\00:41:36.09
Sister White tells us
00:41:36.12\00:41:38.53
the New Testament does not
re-enact the law of the tithe
00:41:38.56\00:41:43.10
as it does not
that of the Sabbath
00:41:43.13\00:41:45.87
for the validity
of both is assumed
00:41:45.90\00:41:49.10
and they are deep
spiritual import explained.
00:41:49.14\00:41:52.84
Well, we as people are seeking
faithfully to give God the time
00:41:52.87\00:41:58.58
which He has
reserved as His own.
00:41:58.61\00:42:00.82
Shall we not also render
Him that portion of our means
00:42:00.85\00:42:05.35
which He claims,
the parallel of the two.
00:42:05.39\00:42:08.29
Now I want us to
go back to Malachi,
00:42:08.32\00:42:11.39
I want to look at a command
00:42:11.43\00:42:13.40
and I want to look at a promise.
00:42:13.43\00:42:15.10
And I know we've looked
at this, this is Malachi 3.
00:42:15.13\00:42:18.77
And I want to
start with verse 6 says,
00:42:18.80\00:42:21.84
"For I am God," Malachi 3:6,
00:42:21.87\00:42:25.27
"For I am God I change not."
00:42:25.31\00:42:30.01
And then he says, verse
8, "Will a man rob God?"
00:42:30.05\00:42:35.85
And how on earth
could we be robbing God
00:42:35.88\00:42:39.12
and what does He say, what?
00:42:39.15\00:42:40.96
By not returning
our tithe under Him.
00:42:40.99\00:42:44.29
And verse 9 is what we
did, we hadn't touched on yet.
00:42:44.33\00:42:48.73
If you don't return your tithe
give that tithe back to God.
00:42:48.76\00:42:53.47
What does it say in verse 9?
00:42:53.50\00:42:55.70
You are cursed with a curse.
00:42:55.74\00:42:58.67
We don't want to
be cursed and it says,
00:42:58.71\00:43:02.04
"For you have robbed
me, even the whole nation."
00:43:02.08\00:43:05.05
Now here is a blessing,
00:43:05.08\00:43:06.72
listen at what happens
when we bring our tithe.
00:43:06.75\00:43:10.59
Verse 10, "Bring all your
tithe in to the storehouse
00:43:10.62\00:43:13.66
that there may be meat in
my house and prove me now."
00:43:13.69\00:43:18.19
You wanna prove God,
00:43:18.23\00:43:19.56
"Prove me now herewith,
saith the Lord of hosts,
00:43:19.59\00:43:22.56
if I will not do," what?
00:43:22.60\00:43:24.53
"Open you the windows of heaven
and pour you out a blessing
00:43:24.57\00:43:29.17
that there shall not be
room enough to receive it."
00:43:29.20\00:43:31.81
Now I've got a little
time so let me do this.
00:43:31.84\00:43:34.51
I want to show you the
promise concerning the Sabbath
00:43:34.54\00:43:39.48
and that's in
Isaiah, Isaiah 58:13-14.
00:43:39.51\00:43:44.95
Now we have this promise
concerning paying our tithes,
00:43:44.99\00:43:48.66
"Prove me," says the Lord,
00:43:48.69\00:43:50.36
"If I will not
pour you out a blessing
00:43:50.39\00:43:53.83
that you won't even
have room enough to contain."
00:43:53.86\00:43:56.53
Well, now
concerning the Sabbath,
00:43:56.56\00:43:58.53
I love the parallel
between keeping the Sabbath
00:43:58.57\00:44:01.37
and paying our tithes.
00:44:01.40\00:44:02.74
So Isaiah 58:13-14,
00:44:02.77\00:44:05.17
"If you turn away
your foot from the Sabbath,
00:44:05.21\00:44:07.34
from doing your
pleasure on my holy day,
00:44:07.38\00:44:10.01
and call the Sabbath a delight,
00:44:10.05\00:44:11.75
if you do this,"
Isaiah is saying,
00:44:11.78\00:44:13.98
"the holy day of
the Lord, honorable,
00:44:14.02\00:44:16.32
and shall honor him,
not doing your own ways,
00:44:16.35\00:44:19.69
nor finding your own pleasure,
nor speaking your own words."
00:44:19.72\00:44:23.83
Look at verse 14,
00:44:23.86\00:44:25.19
"Then you shall
delight yourself in the Lord
00:44:25.23\00:44:28.30
and I will cause you to ride
on the high hills of the earth,
00:44:28.33\00:44:33.70
and feed you with the
heritage of Jacob your father,
00:44:33.74\00:44:37.11
the mouth of the Lord
has spoken to be blessed."
00:44:37.14\00:44:40.64
You've got to
have an honest heart.
00:44:40.68\00:44:43.35
You in the honest heart,
00:44:43.38\00:44:45.18
you return that honest tithe
unto the Lord you are blessed,
00:44:45.21\00:44:48.85
if you don't, you are cursed.
00:44:48.88\00:44:51.19
And if you keep the Sabbath,
00:44:51.22\00:44:53.22
you'll ride on the
high places of the Lord,
00:44:53.25\00:44:55.89
isn't that what we want,
00:44:55.92\00:44:57.39
be in right
relationship with God.
00:44:57.43\00:44:58.79
Amen! Halleluiah!
00:44:58.83\00:45:00.16
Thank you, Mollie.
00:45:00.20\00:45:01.53
Wow, you guys have
left me some crumbs
00:45:01.56\00:45:03.63
but I'm gonna try to find
some, praise God for that.
00:45:03.67\00:45:06.17
Just to dive right
into it when we talk about
00:45:06.20\00:45:09.54
the relationship
we have with God,
00:45:09.57\00:45:10.97
it is a covenant,
it is not a membership.
00:45:11.01\00:45:13.01
That's right!
00:45:13.04\00:45:14.38
You think of membership,
but it is a covenant.
00:45:14.41\00:45:16.38
Covenant
relationships have obligations.
00:45:16.41\00:45:18.75
Membership, you could
have a membership to gym,
00:45:18.78\00:45:21.12
a membership to a bi column,
00:45:21.15\00:45:22.85
a membership to
American Airlines,
00:45:22.88\00:45:25.69
you could, that's optional.
00:45:25.72\00:45:27.06
You could take what you
want and leave what you want,
00:45:27.09\00:45:28.46
but in a covenant relationship
there are no options.
00:45:28.49\00:45:31.36
First of all, God never
breaks the covenant He makes.
00:45:31.39\00:45:34.13
We cannot say we are
in a covenant relationship
00:45:34.16\00:45:36.36
and break it or
violate the conditions of it.
00:45:36.40\00:45:39.43
Let's go back to what
Mollie talked about the Sabbath
00:45:39.47\00:45:41.17
is sanctified, is it not?
00:45:41.20\00:45:42.54
It is. Amen!
00:45:42.57\00:45:43.91
Because it's holy,
00:45:43.94\00:45:45.27
therefore if the tithe is
holy it is also sanctified.
00:45:45.31\00:45:47.28
Yes, it is.
00:45:47.31\00:45:48.64
If you say you are
00:45:48.68\00:45:50.01
in a sanctified
relationship with God
00:45:50.05\00:45:51.38
you don't,
tithing is not optional
00:45:51.41\00:45:52.75
as a Sabbath is not optional.
00:45:52.78\00:45:54.12
But we live in a world today
00:45:54.15\00:45:55.48
where the Sabbath
has become optional.
00:45:55.52\00:45:56.85
Yes.
00:45:56.89\00:45:58.22
And therefore the tithing,
to many, have become optional.
00:45:58.25\00:46:00.06
Now here's the quandary.
00:46:00.09\00:46:02.92
How can people honoring Sunday
say that Sabbath is optional?
00:46:02.96\00:46:06.53
How can those
who keep the Sabbath
00:46:06.56\00:46:07.90
say tithing is optional?
00:46:07.93\00:46:09.26
That's right.
00:46:09.30\00:46:10.63
Notice the devil says,
"I'm going to get those
00:46:10.67\00:46:12.83
who say the Sabbath is optional,
00:46:12.87\00:46:14.77
they keep another day."
00:46:14.80\00:46:16.14
I'm going to get
those who keep the Sabbath
00:46:16.17\00:46:17.64
to say that tithing is optional,
00:46:17.67\00:46:19.31
so I will give what I want.
00:46:19.34\00:46:20.68
That's good.
00:46:20.71\00:46:22.04
So there is a demonic,
you know, the boat, Danny
00:46:22.08\00:46:24.91
whatever side you fall out of.
00:46:24.95\00:46:26.28
Right. Yes.
00:46:26.31\00:46:27.65
So when the church that
says they keep the Sabbath
00:46:27.68\00:46:30.19
say tithing is optional,
00:46:30.22\00:46:33.12
they are just as guilty
00:46:33.15\00:46:34.49
as those who say
that Sabbath is optional
00:46:34.52\00:46:36.42
and keep Sunday.
00:46:36.46\00:46:37.99
So you cannot
be a Sabbath keeper
00:46:38.03\00:46:40.13
that recognizes the sanctity
and the holiness of the day
00:46:40.16\00:46:43.97
and say that
Sabbath is not optional,
00:46:44.00\00:46:46.74
so I am gonna keep
it, come what it may.
00:46:46.77\00:46:49.30
I am gonna keep the Sabbath
because my mother did it,
00:46:49.34\00:46:51.57
my dad did it,
this is my obligation,
00:46:51.61\00:46:53.78
God says it's holy, I
have no option to violate it.
00:46:53.81\00:46:57.05
But we say we're in
the Sabbath covenant
00:46:57.08\00:46:59.61
but we're not in
a tithing covenant.
00:46:59.65\00:47:02.12
We are falling out
of the boat anyway.
00:47:02.15\00:47:03.55
That's right, yes.
00:47:03.59\00:47:04.92
The other thing is,
00:47:04.95\00:47:06.29
and I want to correct something,
00:47:06.32\00:47:07.66
I know what you meant, Jill,
00:47:07.69\00:47:09.02
but the Lord did not try to
bring out any good in Abraham,
00:47:09.06\00:47:12.23
because there is
no good in Abraham,
00:47:12.26\00:47:14.10
there is no good in any of us.
00:47:14.13\00:47:15.96
So God does not
bring out the good in us,
00:47:16.00\00:47:20.34
he tries to develop us
so that they will be good.
00:47:20.37\00:47:24.07
Thank you, that's
what I meant. Thank you.
00:47:24.11\00:47:25.74
And I know
that's what you meant.
00:47:25.77\00:47:27.11
Because Jesus told
the rich young ruler,
00:47:27.14\00:47:30.38
"Why do you call me good,
there is none good but one
00:47:30.41\00:47:33.38
and that is God."
00:47:33.42\00:47:34.88
And then the
Apostle Paul, and Psalms,
00:47:34.92\00:47:36.48
and two other Old
Testament writers says,
00:47:36.52\00:47:39.25
"None of us, there is none
that does good, no not one."
00:47:39.29\00:47:43.19
So what's the
purpose of the Sabbath,
00:47:43.22\00:47:45.06
the purpose of the
Sabbath is to sanctify us
00:47:45.09\00:47:47.33
so that the
reflection of Jesus' character
00:47:47.36\00:47:49.66
will be reflected in us.
00:47:49.70\00:47:51.60
Now let's look at the
tithing in the very same way.
00:47:51.63\00:47:53.87
How much did
Jesus give to save us?
00:47:53.90\00:47:56.14
Everything. Everything.
00:47:56.17\00:47:57.51
So that He didn't hold
back a thing for our salvation,
00:47:57.54\00:48:02.08
how can we hold back anything
00:48:02.11\00:48:04.45
if we say we are in
a saving relationship?
00:48:04.48\00:48:06.51
Amen!
00:48:06.55\00:48:07.88
So that's why He said,
00:48:07.92\00:48:09.25
"You robbed me in
tithe and offering."
00:48:09.28\00:48:11.12
He didn't say, "Well,
you kept back some tithe.
00:48:11.15\00:48:13.05
Well, you kept
back some offering."
00:48:13.09\00:48:15.26
When I sit down
with my treasurers
00:48:15.29\00:48:17.09
and I have intentionally,
I have, as the Pastor,
00:48:17.13\00:48:19.83
I have the right to look at
the giving of every membership,
00:48:19.86\00:48:23.53
of every member.
00:48:23.57\00:48:24.90
You know the
Levites could not be Levites
00:48:24.93\00:48:26.67
if they were
dishonest in their giving
00:48:26.70\00:48:29.30
and nobody could
serve in the conference.
00:48:29.34\00:48:31.41
Nobody could be on
the executive committee
00:48:31.44\00:48:33.24
if they are not financially
supporting the church.
00:48:33.27\00:48:35.61
How can you verbally say
this is what the church does
00:48:35.64\00:48:40.32
if you don't even
financially support the church?
00:48:40.35\00:48:42.55
Absolutely. That's right.
00:48:42.58\00:48:43.92
Am I right, Mollie? Absolutely.
00:48:43.95\00:48:45.29
You can't give your word
if you don't give your heart.
00:48:45.32\00:48:49.82
And tithing is not
a test of the pocket,
00:48:49.86\00:48:53.16
it's a test of the heart.
00:48:53.19\00:48:54.56
Where your treasure is,
00:48:54.60\00:48:56.26
there is your
heart going to be also.
00:48:56.30\00:48:57.63
Also giving is evidence
of a covenant relationship,
00:48:57.67\00:49:00.64
not a membership.
00:49:00.67\00:49:02.17
You know, the Lord
gave Deuteronomy 18:18,
00:49:02.20\00:49:04.94
I am moving fast,
Deuteronomy 18:18,
00:49:04.97\00:49:07.54
look at the
covenant that God made,
00:49:07.58\00:49:10.35
"And you shall
remember the Lord your God
00:49:10.38\00:49:12.11
for it is He who gives you power
00:49:12.15\00:49:13.85
to get wealth
00:49:13.88\00:49:16.58
that He may
establish His covenant
00:49:16.62\00:49:19.42
which is for to your
fathers as it is this day."
00:49:19.45\00:49:23.96
The Lord made a covenant,
00:49:23.99\00:49:25.33
so when He gave the Israelites
the power to get wealth.
00:49:25.36\00:49:29.06
It was to
establish the covenant.
00:49:29.10\00:49:30.83
It was a covenant,
00:49:30.87\00:49:32.63
it wasn't just
because He liked them.
00:49:32.67\00:49:34.54
He said, "I didn't choose you
00:49:34.57\00:49:35.90
because you are a greater number
00:49:35.94\00:49:37.27
or because you are
better than everybody else."
00:49:37.31\00:49:39.24
He made a covenant with them,
so the covenant relationship,
00:49:39.27\00:49:42.18
and even there are
still people today that says,
00:49:42.21\00:49:44.25
"The Lord is gonna
bring the Jews back in
00:49:44.28\00:49:45.78
because He made a
covenant with them."
00:49:45.81\00:49:48.75
Well, the Lord makes
a covenant with anybody
00:49:48.78\00:49:50.55
who makes a covenant with Him.
00:49:50.59\00:49:52.29
Let me go further, He
makes a covenant with everybody,
00:49:52.32\00:49:55.42
but we have to
accept that covenant.
00:49:55.46\00:49:57.63
He's coming back the
second time for those,
00:49:57.66\00:50:01.23
this is powerful tithing,
00:50:01.26\00:50:02.90
who makes a covenant
with Him by sacrifice."
00:50:02.93\00:50:08.80
And there will be no
evidence of your sacrifice
00:50:08.84\00:50:12.04
if you say you are in a covenant
00:50:12.07\00:50:13.54
but you do nothing to
evidence that covenant.
00:50:13.58\00:50:16.11
Let's look at this,
00:50:16.14\00:50:17.48
let's look at the
evidence of the covenant.
00:50:17.51\00:50:22.95
Isaiah 66:16,
let's look at something,
00:50:22.98\00:50:26.15
now this is powerful,
00:50:26.19\00:50:27.52
we are talking
about sanctification.
00:50:27.56\00:50:28.89
He says, "He is
coming back for those
00:50:28.92\00:50:30.26
who make a covenant
with Him by sacrifice."
00:50:30.29\00:50:33.23
Tithing is intended,
00:50:33.26\00:50:36.50
tithing is intended to show
00:50:36.53\00:50:38.93
that your covenant with
God is in fact a valid one,
00:50:38.97\00:50:42.70
all right?
00:50:42.74\00:50:44.07
I am going to bring about,
00:50:44.11\00:50:45.44
I am going to
talk about the values
00:50:45.47\00:50:46.81
in just a moment here.
00:50:46.84\00:50:48.18
But Isaiah 66,
00:50:48.21\00:50:49.54
we have often quoted this
text to bring out the swine.
00:50:49.58\00:50:52.41
You know those who eat
swine and eat unclean things,
00:50:52.45\00:50:56.58
but it's deeper than that.
00:50:56.62\00:50:57.95
Isaiah 66:16,
Mollie, do you have it?
00:50:57.99\00:51:00.76
Isaiah 66:16? Yes.
00:51:00.79\00:51:02.79
"For by fire and by His sword
00:51:02.82\00:51:05.06
will the Lord
plead with all flesh
00:51:05.09\00:51:08.33
and the slain of
the Lord shall be many."
00:51:08.36\00:51:10.77
Why? Look at verse 17.
00:51:10.80\00:51:12.27
"They that
sanctify themselves..."
00:51:12.30\00:51:14.67
Okay, let's stop right there
00:51:14.70\00:51:16.04
because this is all
I want in the verse.
00:51:16.07\00:51:17.41
Because it talks about
swine, flesh, and idols,
00:51:17.44\00:51:19.07
and all the abominable things.
00:51:19.11\00:51:20.84
But those who
sanctify themselves,
00:51:20.88\00:51:22.51
now let's get even deeper,
00:51:22.54\00:51:23.88
the Sabbath is
sanctified, is it not?
00:51:23.91\00:51:25.25
Yeah, it is.
00:51:25.28\00:51:26.61
Because it's
holy, the tithe is holy,
00:51:26.65\00:51:27.98
therefore it is sanctified.
00:51:28.02\00:51:29.35
If I am in a
relationship with God
00:51:29.38\00:51:30.72
and I am not
living up to the covenant,
00:51:30.75\00:51:34.29
I am gonna sanctify myself.
00:51:34.32\00:51:35.99
So in my own
sanctification I say,
00:51:36.02\00:51:38.39
"I don't have
to give the tithe,"
00:51:38.43\00:51:39.86
because the conditions of
my sanctification are these.
00:51:39.89\00:51:43.20
But if we are sanctified by Him,
00:51:43.23\00:51:45.00
He has
established the conditions
00:51:45.03\00:51:46.50
of our sanctification,
00:51:46.53\00:51:47.87
so we don't
say, "Well, you know,
00:51:47.90\00:51:49.47
I can't afford to give."
00:51:49.50\00:51:52.61
There's a text in the Bible,
I want to find very quickly,
00:51:52.64\00:51:54.44
go with me to,
go with me to Psalm.
00:51:54.48\00:52:00.78
Let's go ahead.
00:52:00.82\00:52:02.15
I want to, no Ecclesiastes,
00:52:02.18\00:52:05.69
because we were using
the phrase here quite often
00:52:05.72\00:52:08.66
and I want to go
ahead and hit this one.
00:52:08.69\00:52:10.46
Yeah, it is...
00:52:12.89\00:52:15.60
Let me go and type
it in here, I got it.
00:52:15.63\00:52:18.53
I was looking at
this early and I thought,
00:52:18.57\00:52:20.07
"Wow, how wonderful this is."
00:52:20.10\00:52:21.94
That when we make a vow,
it's better not to make a vow
00:52:21.97\00:52:24.84
than to make a vow
and not to pay, all right?
00:52:24.87\00:52:27.61
The Lord has said,
00:52:27.64\00:52:28.98
"If you make a vow, be
quick to pay that vow."
00:52:29.01\00:52:32.11
But if you say that
00:52:32.15\00:52:33.48
that vow does not require
any kind of obligation...
00:52:33.52\00:52:36.45
Here it is, okay.
00:52:36.48\00:52:38.55
When you make a vow.
00:52:38.59\00:52:39.92
What verse?
00:52:39.95\00:52:41.32
Ecclesiastes
5:4, thank you, Lord.
00:52:41.36\00:52:44.53
Ecclesiastes 5:4,
00:52:44.56\00:52:46.53
one of the most
ridiculous things is that
00:52:46.56\00:52:49.10
we stand up on
baptismal day and make a vow.
00:52:49.13\00:52:53.40
Look at this Ecclesiastes 5:4,
00:52:53.44\00:52:58.07
"When you make a vow to
God, do not delay," to do what?
00:52:58.11\00:53:03.21
Pay it.
00:53:03.24\00:53:04.58
He could have said to live it,
00:53:04.61\00:53:07.22
but here He is
talking about something deeper
00:53:07.25\00:53:09.18
than just live.
00:53:09.22\00:53:10.59
"Do not delay to pay it
00:53:10.62\00:53:13.22
for He has no pleasure in fools,
00:53:13.25\00:53:16.79
pay what you have vowed."
00:53:16.83\00:53:18.93
Now, we don't want to
pay tithe, we return it,
00:53:18.96\00:53:21.26
but through out we saw that
00:53:21.30\00:53:22.73
the Pharisees paid
tithe of mint and anise
00:53:22.76\00:53:25.57
and all these various things
00:53:25.60\00:53:26.94
as an evidence of their
"Jewish covenant with God".
00:53:26.97\00:53:30.31
The sanctifying
covenant as a Christian,
00:53:30.34\00:53:32.31
look what He says
in the very next verse.
00:53:32.34\00:53:34.98
"Better not to vow," verse 5,
00:53:35.01\00:53:38.58
"than to vow and not to pay,
00:53:38.61\00:53:40.85
do not let your mouth
cause your flesh to sin
00:53:40.88\00:53:44.25
nor say before
the messenger of God
00:53:44.29\00:53:46.89
that it was an error.
00:53:46.92\00:53:48.56
Why should God be
angry at your excuse
00:53:48.59\00:53:51.13
and destroy the
works of your hands."
00:53:51.16\00:53:53.80
Now what is the covenant
with God when we return tithe.
00:53:53.83\00:53:58.13
Did He not say it Malachi?
00:53:58.17\00:53:59.60
Just look at how this connects.
00:53:59.63\00:54:01.54
Now the works of our hands
00:54:01.57\00:54:02.90
God promises to
bless, does He not?
00:54:02.94\00:54:04.44
He just said,
00:54:04.47\00:54:05.81
"If you don't follow the
covenant that you are in,
00:54:05.84\00:54:07.44
if you say I am going to
covenant with You and pay
00:54:07.48\00:54:10.11
and you don't,
00:54:10.15\00:54:11.48
I am going to destroy
the works of your hands."
00:54:11.51\00:54:12.98
But what is the
covenant promise in Malachi?
00:54:13.01\00:54:15.22
I will rebuke the
devour for your sin.
00:54:15.25\00:54:18.55
Amen!
00:54:18.59\00:54:20.62
And He will not destroy
the fruit of your ground.
00:54:20.66\00:54:24.46
So the Lord will
the keep the enemy
00:54:24.49\00:54:26.09
from destroying your work.
00:54:26.13\00:54:27.93
But if you're not, if
you don't keep your covenant,
00:54:27.96\00:54:29.73
He will destroy your work.
00:54:29.76\00:54:31.70
That's powerful.
00:54:31.73\00:54:33.07
So when you think about
the covenant relationship
00:54:33.10\00:54:34.44
when it comes to God,
00:54:34.47\00:54:36.17
remember this point,
00:54:36.20\00:54:39.14
if we hold back from
God what He ask of us,
00:54:39.17\00:54:42.88
we cannot expect Him to
respond to what we ask of Him.
00:54:42.91\00:54:46.58
Amen!
00:54:46.61\00:54:47.95
If we don't honor the covenant
that we have made with Him,
00:54:47.98\00:54:52.62
He will not honor the covenant
that He has made with us.
00:54:52.65\00:54:56.26
And tithing is
simply the evidence
00:54:56.29\00:54:59.16
that the covenant is
made between two individuals.
00:54:59.19\00:55:02.56
And both, God has
always keeping His obligation
00:55:02.60\00:55:05.40
and, so must we
00:55:05.43\00:55:06.77
if we are in a
covenant relationship with God.
00:55:06.80\00:55:08.14
Good. Amen.
00:55:08.17\00:55:09.50
You know, thank you, John.
00:55:09.54\00:55:10.87
That was so beautiful
00:55:10.91\00:55:12.24
and this whole
lesson on honesty with God
00:55:12.27\00:55:13.61
has been so beautiful.
00:55:13.64\00:55:14.98
When you think about that
the unifying theme of scripture
00:55:15.01\00:55:18.55
is that God is a covenant
maker and a covenant keeper.
00:55:18.58\00:55:22.75
And His, there is a
progressive Revelation,
00:55:22.78\00:55:26.72
His covenants all
build one upon the next,
00:55:26.76\00:55:30.13
and when we
mention that validity,
00:55:30.16\00:55:34.66
the New Testament writers
00:55:34.70\00:55:36.03
didn't just have
to come right out
00:55:36.06\00:55:37.40
and say to tithe,
00:55:37.43\00:55:38.87
it's because you know
what scriptures they use
00:55:38.90\00:55:41.50
for this New Testament's church?
00:55:41.54\00:55:44.14
They were using
the Old Testament.
00:55:44.17\00:55:46.01
The Old
Testament still vary valid
00:55:46.04\00:55:48.18
the New Testament
wasn't even written.
00:55:48.21\00:55:50.18
I have to just say one thing,
00:55:50.21\00:55:51.98
when we were
thinking about Abraham
00:55:52.01\00:55:54.52
and God testing him to
give up his grown son Isaac,
00:55:54.55\00:55:58.25
big boy, Isaac have to
really trust his father
00:55:58.29\00:56:01.26
that his father
had heard God's voice.
00:56:01.29\00:56:03.53
But do you ever wonder
00:56:03.56\00:56:05.69
why does God ask us
to do this kind of thing?
00:56:05.73\00:56:07.96
Listen to Hebrews 11,
00:56:08.00\00:56:10.00
and I am gonna
start with verse 17,
00:56:10.03\00:56:11.77
"By faith Abraham,
when he was tested,
00:56:11.80\00:56:14.14
offered up Isaac,
00:56:14.17\00:56:15.77
and he who had
received the promises
00:56:15.80\00:56:18.47
offered up his
only begotten son,
00:56:18.51\00:56:20.78
of whom it was said,
00:56:20.81\00:56:22.24
'In Isaac your
seed shall be called.'"
00:56:22.28\00:56:25.41
So he knew this
was God's gift to him,
00:56:25.45\00:56:29.25
and here he is God's asking
him to do something unheard of,
00:56:29.28\00:56:34.12
but see Abraham trusted
God 'cause he knew God's heart.
00:56:34.16\00:56:39.09
Jesus said, "Abraham
saw my day and was glad."
00:56:39.13\00:56:43.40
So when God was
making covenant with Abraham
00:56:43.43\00:56:46.23
and passing between the
torn parts of the animals,
00:56:46.27\00:56:51.37
Abraham knew that God's
was going to give his only son.
00:56:51.41\00:56:54.84
In verse 19 says, "He
gave him up concluding that
00:56:54.88\00:56:58.91
God was able to raise
him up even from the dead
00:56:58.95\00:57:02.38
from which he also received
him in a figurative sense."
00:57:02.42\00:57:06.72
Abraham knew God was
going to give his only son.
00:57:06.76\00:57:10.13
God gave his son for you,
00:57:10.16\00:57:12.79
and we hope that you will accept
00:57:12.83\00:57:16.10
the gift of salvation
that you will turn to the Lord
00:57:16.13\00:57:19.30
and enter in to
covenant with Him.
00:57:19.33\00:57:21.90
We thank you so
much for joining us today
00:57:21.94\00:57:24.94
and we ask that
you join us next week
00:57:24.97\00:57:27.68
as we continue
in our Bible study.
00:57:27.71\00:57:31.11