Sunday Sermon

Who Is Being Robbed? Dave Shaner June 27, 2004

Introduction: To give our best to God we must learn what it means to rob God.

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. 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."  - Malachi 3:8-10

"But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand." - I Chronicles 29:14

Trust is a must if we going to give our best.

I. The starting point for honoring God with our ____________ is the ____________.

A. Two beliefs:

1. Every believer should ____________.

2. Every believer should tithe to the local ____________.

B. The ____________ is God's agency to advance His kingdom.

C. Jesus affirmed tithing.

1. Matthew 23:23

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."

2. Jesus, always elevated the standard in his teachings.

D. Tithing is a ____________ acknowledgement of a ____________ surrender.

1. Deuteronomy 14:23

Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always.

2. The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first.

II. What does it mean to honor and not rob God?

A. God ____________ our ____________.

1. Malachi 1:8-9

When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?" says the LORD Almighty. "Now implore God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?"--says the LORD Almighty.

2. Proverbs 3:9-10

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

3. Philippians 4:19

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

4. II Corinthians 9:10-11

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

B. Giving my best means ____________ up my ____________.

1. Start a stewardship ____________ so you can tithe.

2. Undergird this by reflecting on God's ____________.

3. God may ask for a "__________ no __________ sacrifice."

Conclusion: Would you live on ten times what you are giving to God? When you trust God, you never waste a penny. It is all an investment.

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