Why Tithe - Pastor Kenneth Woolf

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New Life COTR
Sunday February 10, 2008
FIRST THINGS FIRST
“Why Tithe”

INTRODUCTION: Today it is my goal to convince you to tithe. Tithing is for your benefit.
Malachi 3:6-12- Turn and Read
If you don’t tithe you are under a curse. I believe tithing is for your good.
If I found a cure for cancer would you want me to share that with you?
GOD SAID: “I THE LORD DO NOT CHANGE.”
The Immutability of God- “I do not change.” The reason God can’t change is because He’s already perfect. If God could change He could get better. You can’t improve on perfection.
If God said 3000 years ago, “I’m 6’0” tall would He still be 6’0” tall today?
3000 years ago God said “The tithe belongs to Me.” Does it still belong to God today? YES! He can’t change!
God makes statements that are related to His person, to who He is. It’s a principle with God that He’ll always be first! He can never be second.
The tithe falls under this principle. It’s an ordinance of the Bible. Tithe was before and after the law.
Here’s what God is saying, “The tithe tells me something about you.”
TRANSITION: Four things about tithing today.

I. TITHING IS A TEST
Tithing is a test of your heart.
Why would we ever argue about being blessed? God says, “I’ll open up the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing there’s not room enough to receive.”
And we argue about that. Why would we argue? It’s the devil!
TITHING IS A TEST OF THE HEART.
Matthew 6:21- “For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 15:8- “These people honor me with there lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
They say they love me, but they don’t honor me!
If you put your treasure in the house of God, your heart will be there.
TITHE MEANS TENTH AND THE NUMBER TEN REPRESENTS TESTING IN THE BIBLE.
1. How many plagues were in Egypt? (God tested Pharoahs heart.)
2. How many commandments did God give Moses?
3. How many times did God test Israel in the wilderness?
4. How many times were Jacobs wages changed?
5. How many days was Daniel tested in Daniel chapter 1?
6. How many virgins were tested in Matthew 25?
7. How many days was the church in Revelation 2:10 tested?
THE NUMBER 10 REPRSENTS TESTING. EVERY TIME YOU GET PAID YOU’RE TESTED!
Some of you are failing that test and the Bible says you’re cursed!
I thought Jesus bore the curses on the cross?
Did Jesus bare sin on the cross? Do you still sin?
Did Jesus bare sickness on the cross? Do you still get sick?
You must appropriate what Jesus did on the cross to receive the benefit of it.
TRANSITION: WHY TITHE? Tithing is a test of our hearts.

II. TITHING IS BIBLICAL
Many people don’t tithe because they don’t believe it’s in the Bible.
Genesis 14:18-20- Turn and read
This is 500 years before the law.
Abraham represents our Spiritual Father and Melchizedek represents Jesus.
Genesis 28:22- “and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”
400 years before the law our Spiritual Fathers tithed. Why? Because it was a principal.
Leviticus 27:30- “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 26:1,2,12-15
Take your tithe with you to a place of worship.
I’ve taken the Holy tithe from my house and I’ve brought it to your house. I’ve not done anything else with it.
I didn’t send it to a TV ministry, a missionary. I didn’t pay my bills with it or pay the kids Christian school tuition.
I BROUGHT IT TO YOUR HOUSE!
The tithe goes into the storehouse. The place God has chosen to make His name abide. This is a principle all through scripture of the place the tithe is supposed to go!
I haven’t given it to a charity, it goes to the house of God!
The Biblical principle is 10% to the house of God.
Matthew 23:23 Turn and Read (A NEW TESTAMENT PASSAGE)
Hebrews 7:1-10- Turn and Read
When I give I’m not giving to man but to God!
TRANSITION: Why Tithe? Tithing is a test. Tithing is biblical.

III. TITHING IS A BENEFIT
2Chronicles 31:4-10 (MESSAGE TRANSLATION)
When they began to tithe, God blessed them.
Tithing is a benefit.
TRANSITION: Tithing is a test. Tithing is Biblical. Tithing is a Benefit.

IV. TITHING IS AN EXPRESSION OF LOVE
Do your actions back up your words?
Matthew 15:8- “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
Matthew 6:21- “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
What if I told my wife I loved her but everything I have is mine and she can’t have any?
You’d call me a hypocrite.
Tithing is an expression of my love. Tithing is personal to God!
ILLUSTRATION: I’m going away and I want three people to care for my wife. My bride.
Jesus said: “I’m going away. Take care of my wife.” Doesn’t the Bible refer to the church as the Bride of Christ.”
CONCLUSION: This is personal to Jesus. Every time you get paid you’re telling Jesus just how much you love Him. You respect Him. You love His bride.
WHY TITHE? (1) Because it’s a test (2) Because it’s Biblical (3) Because it’s a benefit. (4) Because it’s an expression of your love to God.