1 + 1 = 2.
00:00:01.40\00:00:03.86
2 x 2 = 4.
00:00:03.89\00:00:07.46
4 / 8 = 0.5.
00:00:07.49\00:00:11.28
Or E = mc2.
00:00:11.31\00:00:14.76
Whether mathematics
is our forte or not?
00:00:14.79\00:00:18.04
We have to appreciate its
consistency, its predictability.
00:00:18.07\00:00:22.35
Numbers are logical, concrete,
00:00:22.38\00:00:25.00
and as such we can depend
on them to give us accuracy.
00:00:25.03\00:00:29.02
That's why they are
our source of statistics,
00:00:29.05\00:00:31.70
ratios, and measures.
00:00:31.73\00:00:34.08
But in my spiritual
journey, I notice that God,
00:00:34.11\00:00:37.18
the Author and
Master of mathematics
00:00:37.21\00:00:39.83
is not limited by numbers.
00:00:39.86\00:00:42.58
His power far
exceeds arithmetic logic.
00:00:42.61\00:00:46.53
For example, five loaves
of bread and two little fish,
00:00:46.56\00:00:50.72
no matter how small you cut them
00:00:50.75\00:00:52.94
would never feed over
5,000 men, women, and children,
00:00:52.97\00:00:57.22
but they did.
00:00:57.25\00:00:59.29
Twelve
uneducated poor motley men
00:00:59.32\00:01:02.68
would hardly make it in life,
00:01:02.71\00:01:04.10
but the same
unlikely ragtag band
00:01:04.13\00:01:07.48
turned the world upside down
00:01:07.51\00:01:09.33
and created a
whole new world era
00:01:09.36\00:01:12.71
known as Christianity.
00:01:12.74\00:01:15.68
Somehow, God's
mathematics figuring something
00:01:15.71\00:01:19.21
human mathematicians have
never been able to replicate.
00:01:19.24\00:01:23.15
Even though every
possible method of figuring
00:01:23.18\00:01:25.67
and calculating shows only
absolute failure and inadequacy.
00:01:25.70\00:01:30.67
God turns it around
to a smashing victory,
00:01:30.70\00:01:34.64
like a thunderstorm that
challenges our very existence.
00:01:34.67\00:01:38.64
God's arithmetic miracles
are still at work today,
00:01:38.67\00:01:43.22
and He invites us
to participate in it.
00:01:43.25\00:01:47.01
God is still working numbers
in ways that just don't add up.
00:02:39.63\00:02:44.11
Logically everything says,
it can't happen, it won't work,
00:02:44.14\00:02:48.43
but over and over
again, it not only works,
00:02:48.46\00:02:52.40
but it exceeds all possibility.
00:02:52.43\00:02:55.94
What am I talking about?
00:02:55.97\00:02:57.98
From father Abraham until
today, God's chosen people,
00:02:58.01\00:03:01.90
those who have made him
the Supreme Lord of their lives
00:03:01.93\00:03:05.35
have returned to
God a faithful tithe.
00:03:05.38\00:03:09.02
With no basis and logistics,
God has unfailingly made
00:03:09.05\00:03:12.89
the nine-tenths exceed
the ability of the ten-tenths.
00:03:12.92\00:03:17.77
While even eternity
may not be enough time
00:03:17.80\00:03:20.30
to learn God's
method of figuring numbers,
00:03:20.33\00:03:23.36
we can learn and experience
the principle He basis it on.
00:03:23.39\00:03:28.71
We catch a
glimpse of this principle
00:03:28.74\00:03:30.75
in a statement Jesus made
shortly before His crucifixion.
00:03:30.78\00:03:35.13
"Verily, verily, I say unto you,
00:03:35.16\00:03:37.49
except the corn of wheat
fall into the ground and die,
00:03:37.52\00:03:41.31
it abideth alone, but if it die,
it bringeth forth much fruit."
00:03:41.34\00:03:47.50
Jesus reiterated
this principle many times
00:03:47.53\00:03:50.25
and in many ways
while ministering on earth.
00:03:50.28\00:03:53.40
He said things like,
00:03:53.43\00:03:55.22
"Whoever will save
his life shall lose it,
00:03:55.25\00:03:58.45
and whosoever will lose his
life for my sake shall find it.
00:03:58.48\00:04:03.77
And, Give, and it
will be given to you,
00:04:03.80\00:04:07.14
good measure, pressed down
00:04:07.17\00:04:08.74
and shaken
together, and running over.
00:04:08.77\00:04:11.83
For with the same
measure that you use,
00:04:11.86\00:04:14.77
it will be
measured back to you."
00:04:14.80\00:04:17.62
What does this
principle of giving away
00:04:17.65\00:04:19.88
and getting greater in
return have to do with tithe?
00:04:19.91\00:04:23.99
Actually, a lot.
00:04:24.02\00:04:26.20
And perhaps
that's why Jesus said
00:04:26.23\00:04:28.30
that a faithful
tithe should be returned
00:04:28.33\00:04:31.17
because He
understood this principle
00:04:31.20\00:04:33.26
and He wanted the privilege
of blessing us with it.
00:04:33.29\00:04:36.82
So, when did Jesus
talk about tithing?
00:04:36.85\00:04:40.81
Levi.
00:04:40.84\00:04:42.21
It's interesting that
Jesus talked about tithing
00:04:42.24\00:04:45.14
in the form of the
rebuked religious leaders.
00:04:45.17\00:04:48.21
In a voice trembling
with tears of love trampled,
00:04:48.24\00:04:51.62
Jesus cried,
"Woe unto you, scribes
00:04:51.65\00:04:54.46
and Pharisees, hypocrites.
00:04:54.49\00:04:56.85
For ye pay tithe of
mint and anise and cumin,
00:04:56.88\00:04:59.95
and have omitted the
weightier maters of the law,
00:04:59.98\00:05:02.96
judgment, mercy and faith,
these ought ye to have done,
00:05:02.99\00:05:07.65
and not to leave
the other undone."
00:05:07.68\00:05:10.64
Well, the hearts of these men
00:05:10.67\00:05:12.04
were not in
agreement with their profession
00:05:12.07\00:05:13.89
and Jesus
rebuked their hypocrisy,
00:05:13.92\00:05:16.61
He commended their
precise and systematic tithing.
00:05:16.64\00:05:20.42
You see, even before the
words Jew or Israelite existed,
00:05:20.45\00:05:25.01
the worshippers of
God knew and followed
00:05:25.04\00:05:28.08
this principle of returning
to God a faithful tithe.
00:05:28.11\00:05:31.91
Abraham, a Chaldean,
00:05:31.94\00:05:33.67
who later became the
father of the faithful
00:05:33.70\00:05:36.35
paid tithe on
the spoils of battle,
00:05:36.38\00:05:39.00
after seeing the heavens open
00:05:39.03\00:05:40.56
and angels of God
ascending and descending,
00:05:40.59\00:05:43.96
Jacob the man
who'd become Israel
00:05:43.99\00:05:46.57
vowed to return a tithe or tenth
of all the God blessed him with.
00:05:46.60\00:05:51.51
Even the wisest
and wealthiest of kings
00:05:51.54\00:05:54.22
extols the blessing of
returning to God as own.
00:05:54.25\00:05:57.79
"Honor the Lord
with thy substance
00:05:57.82\00:06:00.49
and with the firstfruits
of all thine increase,
00:06:00.52\00:06:04.29
so shall thy barns
be filled with plenty,
00:06:04.32\00:06:07.41
and thy presses shall
burst out with new wine."
00:06:07.44\00:06:10.81
God claims a tenth of
all our increase as His
00:06:10.84\00:06:14.26
and in return, He
gives back to us even more.
00:06:14.29\00:06:17.99
In Malachi, God specifically
invites us to prove or test Him.
00:06:18.02\00:06:23.85
"Bring ye all the
tithes into the storehouse,
00:06:23.88\00:06:26.77
that there may be
meat in mine house,
00:06:26.80\00:06:29.22
and prove me now herewith,
saith the Lord of hosts,
00:06:29.25\00:06:31.97
if I will not open to
you the windows of heaven,
00:06:32.00\00:06:35.52
and pour you out a blessing,
00:06:35.55\00:06:37.84
that there shall not be
room enough to receive it.
00:06:37.87\00:06:41.21
And I will rebuke the
devourer for your sakes,
00:06:41.24\00:06:43.87
and he shall not destroy
the fruits of your ground,
00:06:43.90\00:06:47.44
neither shall your
vine cast her fruit
00:06:47.47\00:06:50.17
before the time in the
field, saith the Lord of hosts.
00:06:50.20\00:06:53.68
And all nations
shall call you blessed,
00:06:53.71\00:06:57.19
for ye shall be
a delightsome land,
00:06:57.22\00:06:59.40
saith the Lord of hosts."
00:06:59.43\00:07:02.16
You see, God has
abundant blessings
00:07:02.19\00:07:04.60
He longs to pour out on us.
00:07:04.63\00:07:06.71
But He can only give them
to us when we placed ourselves
00:07:06.74\00:07:09.55
within the
conditions of those blessings.
00:07:09.58\00:07:12.57
That's why He
says that we rob Him,
00:07:12.60\00:07:14.12
when we fail to return to
Him our tithes and offerings.
00:07:14.15\00:07:18.19
We're not
robbing Him of finances,
00:07:18.22\00:07:20.40
it's all His anyway
and if He wanted it,
00:07:20.43\00:07:23.05
He could take that anytime.
00:07:23.08\00:07:25.03
But we're robbing Him of
the opportunity to bless us
00:07:25.06\00:07:28.49
and to make us a living
example of His generosity.
00:07:28.52\00:07:32.61
Heaven works on the principle
that by giving away, we gain.
00:07:32.64\00:07:36.46
The constant cycle of giving
and receiving and giving again
00:07:36.49\00:07:40.57
is one that with
only one exception
00:07:40.60\00:07:43.64
all of nature is based on.
00:07:43.67\00:07:45.51
And when we break
that God appointed rhythm,
00:07:45.54\00:07:48.50
our lives become very much like
00:07:48.53\00:07:51.05
this one
exception, the Dead Sea.
00:07:51.08\00:07:56.77
Fresh water is
constantly flowing into it,
00:07:56.80\00:07:59.65
but it never gives,
00:07:59.68\00:08:01.05
it never passes on
the blessing it receives
00:08:01.08\00:08:03.52
and its waters
are dead and caustic,
00:08:03.55\00:08:06.79
lifeless and bitter
00:08:06.82\00:08:08.94
that stands as a vivid
parable of our own lives,
00:08:08.97\00:08:12.93
when lived for self.
00:08:12.96\00:08:16.53
That's a great object lesson
00:08:16.56\00:08:18.13
and that's why
tithing is so important to me
00:08:18.16\00:08:21.08
because in today's
materialistic culture,
00:08:21.11\00:08:23.53
we need the reminders
that tithing gives us.
00:08:23.56\00:08:27.06
Like, reminding us that
God is Lord of our lives,
00:08:27.09\00:08:30.09
not just in a spiritual aspect,
00:08:30.12\00:08:32.16
but in a
practical daily life way,
00:08:32.19\00:08:35.06
returning a tithe
means we acknowledge
00:08:35.09\00:08:37.46
and surrender to His lordship.
00:08:37.49\00:08:40.38
Another thing that
tithing makes me more aware of
00:08:40.41\00:08:42.99
is that we are dependent on Him.
00:08:43.02\00:08:45.91
Everything is a trust from Him.
00:08:45.94\00:08:47.82
It's His and we're not
for His goodness to us,
00:08:47.85\00:08:51.43
we would not be alive.
00:08:51.46\00:08:53.51
Returning the tithe reminds us
00:08:53.54\00:08:55.14
that all good
things come from Him.
00:08:55.17\00:08:58.47
And one more thing
tithing does for me
00:08:58.50\00:09:00.26
is that it
encourages me to give.
00:09:00.29\00:09:03.00
It's so easy to think
that it's mine, to be selfish,
00:09:03.03\00:09:07.34
but we have the constant
reminder that God is our Lord
00:09:07.37\00:09:11.05
and because of His generosity,
we have our very existence.
00:09:11.08\00:09:15.60
It encourages us to
be generous to others.
00:09:15.63\00:09:18.52
After all, in
response to our tithing,
00:09:18.55\00:09:20.76
He pours out so many
blessings that we have to share.
00:09:20.79\00:09:25.16
In Malachi, God not
only talks about tithe,
00:09:25.19\00:09:28.43
He talks about
offerings as well.
00:09:28.46\00:09:30.67
A tithe by its very
definition is a tenth,
00:09:30.70\00:09:34.08
so a tenth of all of
our increase belongs to God,
00:09:34.11\00:09:37.80
but He also says we
should return an offering.
00:09:37.83\00:09:40.97
According to Paul, the offering
is not any stated amount.
00:09:41.00\00:09:45.90
"But this I say, He
which soweth sparingly
00:09:45.93\00:09:49.45
shall reap also sparingly,
00:09:49.48\00:09:51.79
and he which soweth bountifully
shall reap also bountifully.
00:09:51.82\00:09:56.89
Every man according as
he purposeth in his hearth,
00:09:56.92\00:10:00.16
so let him give, not
grudgingly, or of necessity,
00:10:00.19\00:10:04.94
for God loveth
a cheerful giver."
00:10:04.97\00:10:08.80
The offering given
above and beyond the tithe
00:10:08.83\00:10:11.79
would be whatever we wanted
to give out of the abundance
00:10:11.82\00:10:14.98
of our love for God and
His working in our lives.
00:10:15.01\00:10:18.84
And offering again
reinforces the goodness of God.
00:10:18.87\00:10:22.78
Our dependence on Him,
His lordship of our lives
00:10:22.81\00:10:26.19
and is an expression of
our grateful acknowledgement
00:10:26.22\00:10:29.53
of His benefices.
00:10:29.56\00:10:31.94
The wise man said
it right when he wrote.
00:10:31.97\00:10:35.15
"There is one who
scatters, yet increases more,
00:10:35.18\00:10:39.00
and there is one who
withholds more than is right,
00:10:39.03\00:10:42.06
but it leads to poverty.
00:10:42.09\00:10:44.17
The generous soul
will be made rich,
00:10:44.20\00:10:46.57
and he who waters will
also be watered himself."
00:10:46.60\00:10:51.07
So tithing helps
keep the natural cycle.
00:10:51.10\00:10:53.86
But perhaps an obvious
question is how do we return
00:10:53.89\00:10:57.05
tangibles to an intangible God?
00:10:57.08\00:11:00.07
Has He given specific directions
for the proper depository
00:11:00.10\00:11:03.27
for these tithes and offerings?
00:11:03.30\00:11:05.57
Actually, He has.
00:11:05.60\00:11:07.58
God has always had designated
recipients of His funds.
00:11:07.61\00:11:11.46
During the sanctuary system,
00:11:11.49\00:11:12.86
the sanctuary was
the appointed depositary
00:11:12.89\00:11:15.11
for the tithes and offerings
00:11:15.14\00:11:16.56
and the priests
who were dedicated
00:11:16.59\00:11:18.42
exclusively to the
Lord's work or to use them
00:11:18.45\00:11:21.19
for the work of the
temple and their own testaments.
00:11:21.22\00:11:24.63
In the New Testament, we find
virtually in the same order,
00:11:24.66\00:11:27.88
only this time with the church
rather than the sanctuary.
00:11:27.91\00:11:31.76
The Apostle Paul
said, "Even so hath the Lord
00:11:31.79\00:11:34.89
ordained that they
which preach the gospel
00:11:34.92\00:11:37.74
should live of the gospel."
00:11:37.77\00:11:40.57
And where did Paul learn
this financial principle?
00:11:40.60\00:11:43.46
From the
teachings of Jesus Himself.
00:11:43.49\00:11:46.46
When He
commissioned the 12 apostles
00:11:46.49\00:11:48.13
to go out two
by two, Jesus said,
00:11:48.16\00:11:50.98
"The workman is
worthy of his meat."
00:11:51.01\00:11:54.86
Again, in Galatians 6:6,
00:11:54.89\00:11:57.03
Paul tells the church
that those who are blessed
00:11:57.06\00:11:59.38
by the teachings
of the Word of God
00:11:59.41\00:12:01.57
have a responsibility
to support the teachers.
00:12:01.60\00:12:05.44
This is best done
through the medium
00:12:05.47\00:12:07.50
of the church organization,
00:12:07.53\00:12:08.90
so that the funds are
distributed judiciously.
00:12:08.93\00:12:11.74
This is how the
early church handled funds,
00:12:11.77\00:12:13.96
according to Acts 4,
00:12:13.99\00:12:16.07
"And with great
power gave the apostles
00:12:16.10\00:12:18.56
witness of the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus,
00:12:18.59\00:12:21.60
and great grace
was upon them all.
00:12:21.63\00:12:24.91
Neither was there any
among them that lacked,
00:12:24.94\00:12:27.93
for as many as were possessors
of lands or house sold them,
00:12:27.96\00:12:32.22
and brought the prices of
the things that were sold,
00:12:32.25\00:12:34.75
and laid them down
at the apostles' feet,
00:12:34.78\00:12:37.42
and distribution
was made unto every man
00:12:37.45\00:12:39.84
according as he had need."
00:12:39.87\00:12:42.64
And this point brings us
00:12:42.67\00:12:44.04
to another very important
aspect of tithes and offerings.
00:12:44.07\00:12:47.62
Stephen is waiting
to tell us about it.
00:12:47.65\00:12:49.94
Thanks, Andrea.
00:12:49.97\00:12:51.34
Talking about the
tithes and offerings
00:12:51.37\00:12:52.74
being brought to God's
house, temple or church,
00:12:52.77\00:12:55.27
reminds me one of the most
00:12:55.30\00:12:56.67
beautiful
stories in the gospels.
00:12:56.70\00:12:58.49
This story is heartwarming
00:12:58.52\00:13:00.00
because it
embodies the whole reason
00:13:00.03\00:13:01.65
for giving tithes and
offerings and that is worship.
00:13:01.68\00:13:05.07
We find the story in
Mark 12 beginning at verse 41.
00:13:05.10\00:13:08.62
Jesus is sitting in the
temple across from the treasury
00:13:08.65\00:13:11.50
which was in the women's court.
00:13:11.53\00:13:13.12
The mission
estates that there were
00:13:13.15\00:13:14.52
13 depositaries in this temple
00:13:14.55\00:13:16.53
and likely all were
close to this treasury.
00:13:16.56\00:13:19.40
On this particular day,
00:13:19.43\00:13:20.80
Jesus is observing
His people come and go,
00:13:20.83\00:13:23.15
all apparently
there to worship God.
00:13:23.18\00:13:25.32
Many pour a lot or
some things in the coffers,
00:13:25.35\00:13:27.11
but none of
these catches interest.
00:13:27.14\00:13:29.44
Finally, He see
something that warms His heart,
00:13:29.47\00:13:32.20
summoning His
disciples close to Him,
00:13:32.23\00:13:34.23
He points out the
tattered and poor widow,
00:13:34.26\00:13:36.61
she gathers her
courage and furtively cast
00:13:36.64\00:13:38.51
in her precious gift, two mites.
00:13:38.54\00:13:41.21
According to Mark,
the gift was so small
00:13:41.24\00:13:43.97
that totaled it came to
only a fraction of a denarius
00:13:44.00\00:13:47.05
or 1/64th of a day's wages.
00:13:47.08\00:13:50.02
Puzzled, the disciples
looked at each other questioning
00:13:50.05\00:13:52.74
why Jesus called their attention
00:13:52.77\00:13:54.14
to such an
insignificant offering?
00:13:54.17\00:13:56.54
Then Jesus explains,
"Assuredly, I say to you
00:13:56.57\00:14:00.22
that this poor widow has
put in more than all those
00:14:00.25\00:14:02.80
who have given to the treasury,
00:14:02.83\00:14:04.56
for they all put in
out of their abundance,
00:14:04.59\00:14:06.54
but she out of her
poverty put in all she had,
00:14:06.57\00:14:09.64
her whole livelihood."
00:14:09.67\00:14:11.56
You see, the significance of
this gift was not the amount,
00:14:11.59\00:14:15.42
but the heart of
worship it represented.
00:14:15.45\00:14:17.92
She had given her whole heart
00:14:17.95\00:14:19.88
and that was the
offering Jesus saw.
00:14:19.91\00:14:22.08
That's what worship
is all about after all.
00:14:22.11\00:14:24.39
The word worship
literally means worthy-ship.
00:14:24.42\00:14:27.78
God is worthy of all our
reverence or an adoration
00:14:27.81\00:14:31.93
and this lady grasped that.
00:14:31.96\00:14:33.82
She was so in love with her Lord
00:14:33.85\00:14:35.55
that she held
nothing back for herself.
00:14:35.58\00:14:37.96
She counted Him worthy for all
00:14:37.99\00:14:40.19
and her only
discontent in giving
00:14:40.22\00:14:42.36
was actually
could not give more.
00:14:42.39\00:14:44.80
God does not ask or expect us
00:14:44.83\00:14:46.46
to literally give
Him all of our income,
00:14:46.49\00:14:48.84
but He does
require all of our heart
00:14:48.87\00:14:50.91
because that
alone is true worship.
00:14:50.94\00:14:53.71
And while worship is something
00:14:53.74\00:14:55.11
we refer to doing at
church or similar service,
00:14:55.14\00:14:58.27
really worship should be
a state of being constantly.
00:14:58.30\00:15:02.16
And while external accoutrements
00:15:02.19\00:15:03.56
like, music or a
people sermons etcetera,
00:15:03.59\00:15:06.73
may assist in our
worship experience.
00:15:06.76\00:15:09.06
Worship is something
that happens on the inside
00:15:09.09\00:15:11.77
and more often than that alone
in our Garden of Gethsemane.
00:15:11.80\00:15:16.15
It is not so much a feeling
00:15:16.18\00:15:17.55
as it is a very
conscious choice,
00:15:17.58\00:15:19.99
a choice to give our all
to His will with no reserve.
00:15:20.02\00:15:24.75
So very true, Stephen.
00:15:24.78\00:15:27.29
And while we're talking about
full surrender in real worship,
00:15:27.32\00:15:30.60
let me bring up one more thing.
00:15:30.63\00:15:32.70
While God specifically
says to return to Him,
00:15:32.73\00:15:35.37
tithe and free will offerings
that doesn't let us off the hook
00:15:35.40\00:15:39.52
to do whatever we
like with the rest.
00:15:39.55\00:15:42.22
Everything we have even
the very breath we breathe
00:15:42.25\00:15:45.81
is God's and we are
accountable to Him for it.
00:15:45.84\00:15:50.40
Jesus parable of the ten talents
00:15:50.43\00:15:52.40
pointedly
teaches us this lesson.
00:15:52.43\00:15:55.38
The blessings He
gave His trustees
00:15:55.41\00:15:58.42
were to be used for Him,
00:15:58.45\00:16:00.65
not be stuffed in a
corner and neglected or wasted
00:16:00.68\00:16:04.26
on their own interests,
00:16:04.29\00:16:06.22
but to be wisely
invested for His cause.
00:16:06.25\00:16:10.41
In our short sightedness,
00:16:10.44\00:16:12.27
we often think we
are the possessors,
00:16:12.30\00:16:15.04
but in reality we
are only the stewards
00:16:15.07\00:16:17.84
of a microscopic portion
of the eternity of wealth
00:16:17.87\00:16:22.30
which belongs to
the King of kings.
00:16:22.33\00:16:24.83
And He holds us
responsible for every use
00:16:24.86\00:16:27.60
we make of all that
He has entrusted to us.
00:16:27.63\00:16:32.22
That's why we desperately
need to experience real worship
00:16:32.25\00:16:36.69
which in reality is just another
result of true repentance.
00:16:36.72\00:16:41.44
Only as we cast
our all on His altar
00:16:41.47\00:16:44.66
and follow His direction,
00:16:44.69\00:16:46.50
can we properly
manage His trust?
00:16:46.53\00:16:50.31
When we honestly view
all that we have is His,
00:16:50.34\00:16:54.07
when we have given Him
our whole heart saying,
00:16:54.10\00:16:56.94
yes to Him with
all our known choices,
00:16:56.97\00:16:59.53
then He can guide and
direct us in properly managing
00:16:59.56\00:17:04.00
the rest of the
money He entrusts to us.
00:17:04.03\00:17:07.56
And this is the
essence of worship,
00:17:07.59\00:17:09.91
complete
abandonment of ourselves to God.
00:17:09.94\00:17:14.02
It doesn't come naturally and
it certainly isn't always easy,
00:17:14.05\00:17:17.60
but by directing us
to pay a faithful tithe
00:17:17.63\00:17:20.64
and to be generous in offerings,
00:17:20.67\00:17:22.90
He has attempted to
loosen our selfish hold
00:17:22.93\00:17:26.10
on the vaporous stuff of earth
00:17:26.13\00:17:28.11
and to place our
grasp on eternal substance.
00:17:28.14\00:17:32.27
I know we talked
about it at the beginning,
00:17:32.30\00:17:34.33
but I'd like to mention it again
00:17:34.36\00:17:35.79
because God offers
an incredible promise
00:17:35.82\00:17:38.92
which I think we can
well afford to experience.
00:17:38.95\00:17:43.64
Remember the verses we
read earlier in Malachi 3.
00:17:43.67\00:17:47.05
God actually
challenges us to test Him.
00:17:47.08\00:17:51.18
Look at verse 10 again.
00:17:51.21\00:17:53.55
"Bring ye all the
tithes into the storehouse,
00:17:53.58\00:17:56.29
that there may be
meat in mine house,
00:17:56.32\00:17:58.94
and prove me now herewith,
saith the Lord of hosts,
00:17:58.97\00:18:02.93
if I will not open to
you the windows of heaven,
00:18:02.96\00:18:07.56
and pour you out a blessing,
00:18:07.59\00:18:09.26
that there shall not be
room enough to receive it."
00:18:09.29\00:18:13.15
God is extending a
huge promise to those
00:18:13.18\00:18:16.34
who are surrendered to
Him and trust Him enough
00:18:16.37\00:18:19.18
to return to Him a
faithful tithe and offering.
00:18:19.21\00:18:23.62
So I have a question for you.
00:18:23.65\00:18:26.15
Can God be trusted still today
00:18:26.18\00:18:28.99
or is this promise
limited to Bible times?
00:18:29.02\00:18:32.91
I would submit to you
that God's word is as good now
00:18:32.94\00:18:36.91
as it was that day He spoke it.
00:18:36.94\00:18:39.76
And God would like
to take a few moments
00:18:39.79\00:18:41.84
to introduce you to just a few
00:18:41.87\00:18:43.76
of the countless numbers
of individuals and families
00:18:43.79\00:18:47.23
who have chosen to worship
God, in spirit and in truth
00:18:47.26\00:18:50.89
and have taken on His challenge
00:18:50.92\00:18:52.65
to prove Him in the
area of tithes and offerings.
00:18:52.68\00:18:56.23
And perhaps,
after you have heard
00:18:56.26\00:18:58.14
their compelling testimonies,
00:18:58.17\00:19:00.11
you too will agree that we serve
an amazing promise keeping God.
00:19:00.14\00:19:05.41
Hello.
00:19:07.45\00:19:08.82
My name is Steve Varro, and
I'm a Christian illusionist.
00:19:08.85\00:19:12.50
Early in my career,
things weren't going so well.
00:19:12.53\00:19:16.45
Money was tight.
00:19:16.48\00:19:18.74
All of my bills
were paid for the month,
00:19:18.77\00:19:20.27
but we were only one week
away from the first of the month
00:19:20.30\00:19:23.63
and of course on
the first, rent is due.
00:19:23.66\00:19:27.33
I needed $315 with
which to pay my rent.
00:19:27.36\00:19:32.03
I had no bookings in the works.
00:19:32.06\00:19:34.39
I had no idea where that
money was going to come from.
00:19:34.42\00:19:37.96
So I prayed to God, I said,
00:19:37.99\00:19:39.77
"Lord, You
promise to supply my needs
00:19:39.80\00:19:42.43
and I'm going to
hold You to that,
00:19:42.46\00:19:45.05
I depend on You to supply my
needs for this upcoming rent."
00:19:45.08\00:19:50.49
Well, I get off my knees
00:19:50.52\00:19:51.89
and within 30
minutes of that prayer,
00:19:51.92\00:19:53.51
the telephone rang.
00:19:53.54\00:19:55.63
And it was a
gentleman calling asking,
00:19:55.66\00:19:57.27
if I could come and perform at
the weekend event that weekend.
00:19:57.30\00:20:01.71
Somebody had cancelled,
they needed a replacement.
00:20:01.74\00:20:05.62
He said that the amount
that they paid was $350.
00:20:05.65\00:20:08.64
Would that acceptable?
00:20:08.67\00:20:10.40
I said, "Yes, it would."
00:20:10.43\00:20:11.80
And I hung up the phone
and rejoiced and praise God.
00:20:11.83\00:20:14.81
Then I thought, why $350?
00:20:14.84\00:20:18.92
I only needed $315.
00:20:18.95\00:20:22.93
And then
suddenly, it came to me.
00:20:22.96\00:20:25.65
Tithe on $350 is $35,
00:20:25.68\00:20:31.11
leaving $315, the
exact amount that I needed.
00:20:31.14\00:20:36.83
God was so faithful
00:20:36.86\00:20:38.23
to supply not only my needs,
00:20:38.26\00:20:40.23
but the ability for
me to be faithful to Him
00:20:40.26\00:20:42.42
and paying back my tithe.
00:20:42.45\00:20:45.15
That had a huge impact
on me throughout my career.
00:20:45.18\00:20:49.42
I know God is
going to take care of me.
00:20:49.45\00:20:51.57
If I am faithful to Him,
00:20:51.60\00:20:53.29
I know He is going
to be faithful to me.
00:20:53.32\00:20:56.66
Hi, my name is Bob Ivanenko.
00:20:56.69\00:20:58.55
I'm from a little town
called Butte, North Dakota.
00:20:58.58\00:21:00.98
And this is my lovely wife.
00:21:01.01\00:21:02.75
Shelley Ivanenko
00:21:02.78\00:21:04.15
and I grew up in a little town
called Lansford, North Dakota.
00:21:04.18\00:21:08.01
And of course, we have
been returning faithfully
00:21:08.04\00:21:10.89
our tithe and offerings.
00:21:10.92\00:21:12.83
But that's just the minimum
then we started thinking,
00:21:12.86\00:21:15.61
what more can
we do for the Lord?
00:21:15.64\00:21:17.66
The Lord has been so good to us.
00:21:17.69\00:21:20.28
So we decided that we
should open up a savings account
00:21:20.31\00:21:24.20
and any
unexpected money that came in
00:21:24.23\00:21:26.81
would be used for ministry.
00:21:26.84\00:21:28.92
Unexpected
money, you maybe asking,
00:21:28.95\00:21:31.35
old stings like, you know,
00:21:31.38\00:21:33.23
we get $3 rebate
check from a company
00:21:33.26\00:21:36.34
that goes into
that savings account.
00:21:36.37\00:21:38.59
We get all of our loose change
goes into that savings account.
00:21:38.62\00:21:43.12
Some people hunt on my land
00:21:43.15\00:21:45.17
and every year they've
been hunting on my land
00:21:45.20\00:21:46.99
and, you know, I've
never charged them anything,
00:21:47.02\00:21:49.09
but the minute we
started the savings account,
00:21:49.12\00:21:51.66
these two
gentlemen came into my office
00:21:51.69\00:21:54.04
and each one gave me $100 bill.
00:21:54.07\00:21:56.62
Another person a
week later comes in,
00:21:56.65\00:21:58.74
he gave me a check for $500
00:21:58.77\00:22:00.71
just for letting
him hunt on my land.
00:22:00.74\00:22:03.23
So far we have raised
over $51,000 on this fund.
00:22:03.26\00:22:08.35
$51,000, can you believe it?
00:22:08.38\00:22:11.54
No. It's been lot of fun
spending God's money too.
00:22:11.57\00:22:16.76
Yes, it has. Believe me.
00:22:16.79\00:22:19.40
And maybe you're wondering
where we're spending it at.
00:22:19.43\00:22:21.99
We've built some
one day churches,
00:22:22.02\00:22:25.01
some one day schools
in third world countries.
00:22:25.04\00:22:28.88
And we've also spent
on our missionary work.
00:22:28.91\00:22:33.03
We've done evangelism with it.
00:22:33.06\00:22:35.41
Oh, it's just amazing what
could be done with this money.
00:22:35.44\00:22:39.51
So imagine, me, the town drunk,
00:22:39.54\00:22:42.63
the one who couldn't
take care of his family,
00:22:42.66\00:22:44.98
provide for his children.
00:22:45.01\00:22:46.50
Can you make--me, the
town drunk having money?
00:22:46.53\00:22:50.74
God has given me $51,000,
00:22:50.77\00:22:53.92
over $51,000 to use in
His ministry and His work.
00:22:53.95\00:22:58.46
So now you're
probably asking yourself,
00:22:58.49\00:23:00.03
"Well, what does
this have to do with me?
00:23:00.06\00:23:03.18
What can I do?"
00:23:03.21\00:23:05.42
Well, I want to challenge
you to do what we've done,
00:23:05.45\00:23:09.30
like I always said, you
can't out give the Lord.
00:23:09.33\00:23:14.83
Even though I have
returned my tithes and offerings
00:23:14.86\00:23:17.44
faithfully for many years
00:23:17.47\00:23:19.56
and I've personally seen God
meet my and my family's needs.
00:23:19.59\00:23:23.33
These
testimonies still inspire me.
00:23:23.36\00:23:26.37
They make me want to give
more, to be more surrendered,
00:23:26.40\00:23:29.94
to live my worship of Him.
00:23:29.97\00:23:33.30
God is so good and so desiring
00:23:33.33\00:23:35.92
to pour His
blessings out on all of us.
00:23:35.95\00:23:39.50
And He has told us
that no good thing will be
00:23:39.53\00:23:42.53
withheld from
those who seek Him first.
00:23:42.56\00:23:46.40
In fact, that
reminds me of one more person
00:23:46.43\00:23:49.36
I want to tell you about.
00:23:49.39\00:23:51.30
You may have even heard of him,
00:23:51.33\00:23:53.06
but you may not be aware
of what really made him great.
00:23:53.09\00:23:56.97
R.G. LeTourneau was an
entrepreneurial inventor
00:23:57.00\00:24:00.03
of heavy earth moving equipment.
00:24:00.06\00:24:02.39
He secured 299
pattern strings his lifetime.
00:24:02.42\00:24:06.26
And is responsible for
designing and producing,
00:24:06.29\00:24:09.22
70% of the
earth moving equipment
00:24:09.25\00:24:11.59
and vehicles used
during World War II.
00:24:11.62\00:24:15.52
RG was affectionately
known as God's businessman.
00:24:15.55\00:24:19.68
And although, he
died a multi-millionaire.
00:24:19.71\00:24:22.75
When he started he
was uneducated, poor,
00:24:22.78\00:24:25.96
and even heavenly in debt.
00:24:25.99\00:24:28.51
But early on, he made
Matthew 6:33 his motto.
00:24:28.54\00:24:33.31
"Seek ye first the kingdom
of God and His righteousness
00:24:33.34\00:24:38.14
and all these things
shall be added unto you."
00:24:38.17\00:24:42.68
This is what made him great.
00:24:42.71\00:24:45.10
And like we talked about before,
he put God first in everything.
00:24:45.13\00:24:50.10
Money and life in general.
00:24:50.13\00:24:53.17
Letourneau tells the
story in his biography
00:24:53.20\00:24:55.98
God runs my business of
being late on a deadline
00:24:56.01\00:24:59.44
for the design and manufacture
of a new piece of equipment,
00:24:59.47\00:25:03.69
but the design for
one part that he needed
00:25:03.72\00:25:06.09
just wasn't coming to him.
00:25:06.12\00:25:08.54
He wrestled over it for hours.
00:25:08.57\00:25:11.23
When suddenly he
remembered his commitment
00:25:11.26\00:25:13.79
to lead the mid week
youth service that night.
00:25:13.82\00:25:17.48
If he dropped everything,
he could make it in time,
00:25:17.51\00:25:21.03
but he was up
against the deadline,
00:25:21.06\00:25:23.81
but remembering his
commitment to keep God first
00:25:23.84\00:25:26.90
in every area of his life
he rushed off to the meeting.
00:25:26.93\00:25:31.64
Several hours later and
late at night he returned,
00:25:31.67\00:25:35.08
sat briefly at his
drawing board again
00:25:35.11\00:25:37.61
and suddenly the
exact design he needed
00:25:37.64\00:25:40.15
was impressed on his mind.
00:25:40.18\00:25:42.23
In a few minutes, he
had the whole plan drawn
00:25:42.26\00:25:44.75
and on the engineer's desk
00:25:44.78\00:25:46.79
for building first
thing the next morning.
00:25:46.82\00:25:49.98
He had
deliberately put God first
00:25:50.01\00:25:51.89
and God honored him, giving him
another cutting edge invention
00:25:51.92\00:25:55.93
that eventually
made his machines
00:25:55.96\00:25:58.21
the best on the market.
00:25:58.24\00:26:00.35
R.G. LeTourneau's
pocket book wasn't excluded
00:26:00.38\00:26:03.04
from his seeking
God first pledge either.
00:26:03.07\00:26:05.94
Early on, he learned
that God requires a tithe.
00:26:05.97\00:26:09.74
At first he
struggled with the idea.
00:26:09.77\00:26:11.96
He was barley
scrapping by as it was.
00:26:11.99\00:26:14.60
He couldn't afford the tithe.
00:26:14.63\00:26:16.99
But he had given
his life to the Lord
00:26:17.02\00:26:19.26
and he determined
that no matter what
00:26:19.29\00:26:22.03
God was getting His 10%.
00:26:22.06\00:26:25.18
He wasn't disappointed either.
00:26:25.21\00:26:27.51
God blessed him and his work.
00:26:27.54\00:26:30.15
And he determined to give more.
00:26:30.18\00:26:32.62
By the time Robert
Gilmore Letourneau died
00:26:32.65\00:26:35.23
at the age of 80 in 1969,
00:26:35.26\00:26:37.89
he was giving 90% of
his income to the Lord
00:26:37.92\00:26:41.45
and leaving off just 10%.
00:26:41.48\00:26:44.25
He had learnt and
was completely convinced
00:26:44.28\00:26:47.05
that it is
impossible to out give God.
00:26:47.08\00:26:51.54
His grave is on the
LeTourneau University Campus
00:26:51.57\00:26:54.47
in Longview, Texas.
00:26:54.50\00:26:56.11
And inscribed on the head stone
00:26:56.14\00:26:58.19
is his life's
motto from Matthew 6:33.
00:26:58.22\00:27:02.61
"Seek ye first the kingdom
of God and His righteousness
00:27:02.64\00:27:07.37
and all these things
shall be added unto you."
00:27:07.40\00:27:11.82
His life is a
testimony to the goodness of God
00:27:11.85\00:27:15.63
and what God will
do when we trust Him.
00:27:15.66\00:27:19.34
After all like R.G. once said,
00:27:19.37\00:27:21.96
"You will never know
what you can accomplish
00:27:21.99\00:27:24.96
until you say a
great big yes to the Lord."
00:27:24.99\00:27:28.96
So, what about you, friend?
00:27:28.99\00:27:31.07
Will you be a Dead Sea just
taking God's myriad of blessings
00:27:31.10\00:27:35.89
or will you return to
God all that He asks for
00:27:35.92\00:27:39.34
and then more
from a heart of love?
00:27:39.37\00:27:42.54