Sermon Tone Analysis

!!! “FINANCIAL FREEDOM IN 2009”

*(Part 6)*

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*Questions regarding tithing*

 

*WHAT IS TITHING?*

A response to God for His provision.

The method whereby God has chosen to finance His Kingdom work on earth.

God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, He owns all the Gold and Silver but He is looking for those who walk by faith and not by sight.

*Malachi 3:8-12*

"Will a man rob God?  Yet you have robbed Me!

But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?'

In tithes and offerings.

9You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, /Even/ this whole nation.

10Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house,

And try Me now in this," Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you /such/ blessing That /there will/ not /be room/ enough /to receive it./

11"And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the Lord of hosts; 12"And all nations will call you blessed,

For you will be a delightful land," Says the Lord of hosts.

[NKJV]

 

*TESTIMONIES*

 

 

*HOW MUCH IS A TITHE?*

Tithe simply means tenth.

One tenth of all of our increase belongs to God.

 

*IS THE TITHE NET OR GROSS?*

What do you get paid per hour?

Some people pray their making $30.00 per hour but they only tithe on their net which is about $20.00 per hour.

Do you think you’re fooling God or maybe God should reduce our hourly wage to what we are comfortable to tithe.

*CAN I TITHE MY TIME?*

                Tithe is in regard to increase

                When was the last time you had an increase of time?

Time is more about stewardship and giving of your time not tithing your time.

Again examine the heart issue.

*WHERE DOES THE TITHE BELONG?*

In the O.T. it all went to the temple where it was redistributed to the local communities.

The temple acted as the storehouse, where God’s people were cared for.

The local church acts in that function today.

*CAN I DISTRIBUTE MY TITHE ACCORDING TO NEEDS OR MINISTRIES I SEE?*

This is more about who controls the tithe.

The scripture says bring all the tithe into the storehouse.

I’ve heard some say they’re going to tithe to this or that particular ministry.

The church acts as the covering for all those ministries.

Example:  someone wanted to tithe to the music ministry,  if everyone practiced this then where would the finance come to pay the wages for that music minister.

Again it’s about control.

1.        Tithe is the Lord’s

2.        When you distribute it according to your desire – you are back in control.

*WHEN SHOULD I TITHE?*

*1 Corinthians 16:1-2 (NKJV) * 

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2On the first /day/ of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

Weekly or systematically.

There are those who tithe once a year.

If you get paid once a year that would be fine.

It just helps to better budget the finances of God.

 

*Principles of tithing*

 

*Tithing is about control:  *

*                Who is in control?*

*                You or God.*

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*Luke 12:15-21 (NKJV) * 

And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."

16Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.

17And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?' 18So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.

19And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, /and/ be merry."

' 20But God said to him, 'Fool!

This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'

21So /is/ he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

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V20 “then whose will those *things* be”

 

God is in control.

God is who we need to honor.

When we bring our firstfruits, our tithe it honors Him.

 

*Malachi 1:6 (NKJV) * 

"A son honors /his/ father, and a servant /his/ master.

If then I am the Father, where /is/ My honor?

And if I /am/ a Master, where /is/ My reverence?

Says the Lord of hosts to you priests who despise My name.

Yet you say, 'In what way have we despised Your name?'

 

 

 

*CAN YOU TITHE ANONYMOUSLY?*

1.        no scriptural basis

2.        do we want to remain anonymous because we’re dealing with pride

3.        do we want to remain anonymous because we don’t want accountability

Acts 4:36, 5:1

Barnabas, a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, were not anonymous

Abraham was not anonymous

Jacob was not anonymous

The widow though anonymous was still under the scrutiny of accountability

*Mark 12:42-43 (NIV) * 

But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.

*Matthew 6:1-4 (NKJV) * 

"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them.

Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men.

Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

3But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

This has nothing to do with the tithe.

But in our giving are we giving to be seen of men or are we giving because God has spoken to us to do it.

This is about heart condition.

*What the Bible teaches on tithing:*

 

Genesis 14:16-24 (v20) Abraham – before the command – the law or torah (teachings)

 

Genesis 28:22 - tithing pattern followed by grandson Jacob

 

*Proverbs 3:1 (NKJV) * 

My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; 2for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.

Satan is still in the business of twisting God’s Word – “yea hath God said?”

 

Deuteronomy 14:22-29