Ebola. What it is? What causes it? Should I be afraid?
Here is an article and a news report I found helpful.
As Ebola begins to spread to countries around the world, and the outbreak in West Africa continues to grow at an alarming rate, we break down what you need to know about the virus, how it’s transmitted and what you can do to help those suffering. Read more here.
Last week we saw that we can “Test”
God in one area, our giving. 10 “Bring the whole tithe… Test me in this,” Malachi 3:10. Tithe means giving a “tenth” of our income back to God.
Today we will look at the last part of verse 10 where it talks about the result of our giving 10%: God opening “the floodgates of heaven.” God’s response to the people’s faithful obedience would be the opening of “the floodgates of heaven” and his “pouring out” on them an abundance of blessing.
The phrase “floodgates of heaven” also occurs in Gen 7:11; 8:2 as the source of the rain that flooded the earth.
The promise to open the “floodgates of heaven” in response to our obedience is significant in two ways.
1. The first is that the flood would be not rain but blessings! “So much blessing” (vs. 10)
2. Secondly, the phrase “there will not be room enough to store it.” (vs. 10) means that God will pour out beyond human need. God is able to give more than we can handle. A flood is too much water. A flood of blessings would be that we have more than we need. Excess of what we actually need. I have found this to be true in my own life. God gives me so much! I am flooded with his blessings.
I want us to understand clearly that God’s blessings are not only money, but peace of mind, health, joy, a better marriage, spiritual satisfaction and the list would go on and on. One of our members says it this way, “When I tithe, God changes my heart. I love my husband more, I love my children more, I am more thankful and more content with what I have.”
Jesus said, “Where your heart is there your treasure will be.” (Matt. 6:21) When we take the time to make our treasure God, by obeying and giving back to him, our hearts change! I know that by giving I actually realize how much I have, and how much God has given me. The spiritual blessings, the emotional blessings, the relational blessings and the physical blessings are too many to count.
Giving changes my heart so that I not only think of myself, (which comes all too natural) but think about God, and all that He is, and all that He has done for me. I remember that I am flooded by so many good things that I don’t even deserve! It’s because God is faithful, He is amazing, and His word is true. I pray you will know all the ways God has blessed you in these three months.
May you know “the floodgates” of God’s blessing as I have,
Darrell
P.S. Please share as God works in your life. I would love to hear your stories of how God is working in your life!
Not signed up? Just post a comment that says, “Sign me up” and I will email you.
If you haven’t already, try Giving online by clicking here:
https://upwards.church/give-online
Watch Messages: YouTube-Upwards Church
We have started 90 Day test of giving 10% of our income to God to see what happens! I am praying for those of you who are signed up and I am excited about what God will do in our lives. I have learned personally that I cannot out give God. He is faithful. My prayer is that you discover God’s faithfulness as well. This is the first post during our next 12 weeks in this challenge together.
Questions
Questions people often have are, “Why a challenge? Why use the word tithe and challenge together?” Because the Bible does! I find it interesting that it says, “Do not test the LORD your God…” Deuteronomy 6:16 (NIV) in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, Jesus even quoted this verse when tempted by Satan in the wilderness (Matt. 4:7) We are told not to tempt the Lord in any area, but one.
“Test Me” In Tithing
The one area where God says, “TEST ME” is in the area of giving 10%. It’s the place where our finances and our faith intersect. “Test Me”, God says. Since He gives us permission to challenge or test Him, I have no problem calling this the “Tithe Challenge.” It’s biblical.
Let’s look at this particular passage in Malachi 3:10.
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty. Malachi 3:10-11 (NIV)
What Is A Tithe?
The word “tithe” comes from a Hebrew word that means “ten.” A tithe is 10 percent of one’s income, whether it’s grain, fruit, animals, or money (Lev. 27:30-34; Neh. 13:5). There were special storage rooms in the temple for keeping the grain, produce, and money that the people brought to the Lord in obedience to His Law. If people didn’t want to carry heavy produce all the way to the temple, they could convert it into cash, but they had to add 20 percent to it just to make sure they weren’t making a profit and robbing God (Lev. 27:31).
Isn’t Tithing Old Testament Law?
Actually tithing predates the law. Tithing, as an act of worship, is as old as Abraham, who gave tithes to Melchizedek, acknowledging that Melchizedek was the representative of the Most High God (Gen. 14:18-20; Heb. 7). Jacob vowed to God that he would tithe (Gen. 28:22), so tithing pre-dates the Law of Moses. Later tithing was included in the Law of Moses as a part of Israel’s worship. In bringing the tithes and offerings, the people were not only supporting the ministry of their public worship system, but they were also giving thanks to God for His abundant provision for their own needs.
What About Tithing In The New Testament?
The word “tenth” or tithe is used 10 times in the New Testament. Interesting number! It’s found in Matthew 23:23-24 and Luke 11:42. In these two passages, Jesus told the Pharisees they SHOULD tithe as they had been without neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness. The other 8 times are found in Hebrews 7: 4-10 where it describes Abraham’s relationship to Christ by drawing a parallel between Abraham’s tithe and his acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty.
What About Grace Giving?
1 Corinthians 16:1-2 suggests proportionate giving, “grace giving” in mentioned in 2 Corinthians 8-9, is actually beyond 10 percent which is why the term “Generous” is used to describe it. Most biblical commentators suggest that if believers under the Old Covenant brought their tithes, how could Christians under the New Covenant begin with anything less? Someone said, “To Give Less Under Grace is a Disgrace.”
Thanks again for taking the time to grow and be challenged by God’s word and to be challenged to give. Next time we will explore more of these concepts that relate to giving, God’s blessing, and how God blesses when we take this step of faith.
P.S. Please share as God works in your life. I would love to hear your stories of how God is working in your life.
Not signed up? Just post a comment that says, “Sign me up” and I will email you.
Darrell
PS. Try Giving online by clicking here:
https://upwards.church/give-online
Watch Messages: YouTube-Upwards Church
Are you living in Financial Chaos? Many Americans are but in this blog and through our church we want to provide you resources to help.
Consider this:
Is that you? If so, how do you Overcome Financial Chaos?
With a Clear Financial Plan.
Have you ever said, “I just don’t know where all my money goes”?
It’s a warning light that says to you need a financial plan to determine where your money is going instead of wondering where it went. God says that you need to have a financial plan.
“Plan carefully and you will have plenty. If you act too quickly, you will never have enough.” Proverbs 21:5
Do you ever struggle with your kids at the store, because they want to buy everything? I have learned to tell them before I go in, “we are buying ___& ____ and that’s it!’ As parents it’s our job to teach our kids they can’t have everything. Let me ask you, what can stop adults from trying to buy everything? Its like we need someone to slap us on the hand to say, “No! You can’t buy that!” Who does that for adults? I’ll tell you. It’s a spending plan. How do you break the habit of impulsive buying? You have to nip it in the budget! A budget is simply planning your spending.
We are excited to offer the following resources:
I’m excited about this semester’s Growth Groups, especially these that will help people overcome the chaos in their finances!
Darrell
For more about our Overcomer Series or Fall Growth Groups go to
http://www.RidgeFellowship.com
[1] http://money.cnn.com/2013/06/24/pf/emergency-savings
[2] http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/money101/lesson9
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