What Test
September 11, 2020
27:29
Pastor Robert continues The Blessed Life series with “What Test?” as he defines what tithing is and explains how it’s really a test of our hearts.
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What Test
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- ROBERT MORRIS: So,tithing is the test.
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- And, but, here's somethingthat you might know;
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- it's a two-way test.
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- God not only tests you,but this is the only place
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- in Scripture that I've foundwhere God says,
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- "You can test Me."
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- Welcome to The Blessed Life.
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- Did you know that the Bibleactually says in one place
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- that you can test God?
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- Stay tuned.
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- ♪ ♪
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- ROBERT: Turn to two passages,please, Malachi 3.
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- Last book of the Old Testament,Malachi 3
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- and then 2 Chronicles 31,we'll go over there in a moment.
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- And we're going to go througha lot of Scripture
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- in this message.
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- And I want to show you thattithing is Scriptural
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- and it is in God's Word.
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- So, Malachi 3:6,this is where we'll start.
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- Malachi 3:6, "For I amthe Lord, I do not change."
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- That's very important.
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- I don't change.
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- "I do not change.
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- Therefore, you are not consumed,O sons of Jacob."
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- Now, I think that's humorous.
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- He says, "I don't change,that's why I haven't
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- killed you yet, personally."
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- That's what I thinkHe's saying there.
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- I was nice andI'm still nice.
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- All right?
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- Verse 7, "Yet from the daysof your fathers,
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- you have gone awayfrom My ordinances."
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- Now, we're going to come backto that word, "ordinance,"
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- what does it mean?
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- "And have not kept them.
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- Return to Me and I willreturn to you,'
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- says the Lord of Hosts.
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- 'But you said, 'In what wayshall we return.'"
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- Now, before we read Verse 8,let me just remind you,
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- this is God talking,this is God,
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- the God who does not change.
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- This is the Godwho does not change talking.
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- He said, "You go awayfrom My ordinances."
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- I just need to probably tellyou, the word, "ordinance,"
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- means a principleof ordinary behavior.
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- You've gone away from myprinciples of ordinary behavior
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- for God's children.
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- And they say,"Well, in what way?"
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- Now, I want you to noticethis because this next verse,
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- a preacher didn't make this up.
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- OK?
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- This is God speaking.
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- Verse 8, "Will a man rob Godor steal from God?
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- Yet you have robbed Me,you have stolen from Me.
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- But you say, 'In whatway have we robbed you?'"
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- Now, watch again.
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- This is God talking.
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- "'In tithes and offerings.
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- You are cursed with a curse,for you have robbed Me,
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- even this whole nation.
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- Bring all the tithes intothe storehouse,'"
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- that would be the church,"'that there may be food
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- in My house,'" again,that's the church,
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- "'and try,'" the old King Jamesuses the word, "prove."
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- The English Standard Versionuses the word, "test."
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- "'Test Me now in this,'says the Lord of Hosts."
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- I just want you tounderstand how many times
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- He puts says Lord of Hosts sowe remember who's talking here,
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- the one who can't changeis talking.
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- "'Test Me,' saysthe Lord of Hosts.
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- 'If I will not open for youthe windows of heaven
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- and pour out for you suchblessings, that there will not
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- be room enough to receive it,and I will rebuke the devourer
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- for your sakes --for your sakes.
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- So that He will not destroythe fruit of your ground,
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- nor shall the vine fail to bearfruit for you in the field,'
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- says the Lord of Hosts.
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- 'And all nations will call you,blessed, for you will be
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- a delightful land,'says the Lord of Hosts."
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- This is God talking and this isthe God who can't change.
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- You have to remember that.
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- And He says, "You've goneaway from My ordinances.
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- You've gone away from Myordinary principles of behavior.
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- Tithing is an ordinary principleof behavior for God's children
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- to thank God for their income,for their harvest,
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- for their increase.
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- That's an ordinary principle.
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- And He said, "Becauseyou've gone away
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- from my ordinary principles,you're under a curse now."
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- Now, you need to understandso many times we say,
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- "Well, Christians can't be undera curse because Christ
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- bore the curse of the lawon the cross."
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- He did.
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- That is in regardsto our salvation.
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- But are you saying then thatyou can live anyway you want
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- and it doesn't affect you?
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- Is that what you're saying?
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- Because that's just crazyto think that way.
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- See, if we steal,there are consequences.
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- A curse is a consequence.
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- If you steal,there's a consequence.
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- What if you steal from God?
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- And so many people say,"Well, yeah, but the Lord
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- owns it all."
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- Yes, but He actually givesus stewardship over it,
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- but He reserves ten percentfor Himself.
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- That's why He says you'vestolen because He says,
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- "I have set apart the tithefor the house of God."
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- So, if you keep it,you're stealing it.
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- And this word is also usedin Joshua 6:7,
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- when they took the tithe theywere supposed to bring,
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- He said, "Israel has stolen."
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- And again, please hear me.
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- I didn't makethese words up.
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- These are strong words.
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- God says,"You've stolen from me.
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- You've robbed me and becauseof that, you're under a curse
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- and I don't want youunder a curse.
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- I don't want you livingunder a curse,
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- but you're voluntarily placingyourself under a curse
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- because you're going awayfrom my ordinary principles
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- of behavior."
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- And so, I had a conversationwith the Lord one time,
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- and I said, "Lord, the numberone reason that I hear
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- that people don't tithe isthey say, "Well,
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- that's in the Old Testament."
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- That's in the Old Testament.
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- And so, I said to the Lord,"You know, Lord,
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- You put in this in Malachi 3and then there's a Malachi 4
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- and then Matthew 1.
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- Couldn't youhave just waited?
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- I mean, just a little while.
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- I mean, that, you know,these verses only missed
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- the New Testamentby like 15 verses.
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- I mean, couldn't you havejust waited just a little while
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- and put it..."
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- You know what the Lord said?
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- I just felt in my spirit.
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- He said, "I put it rightwhere I wanted it."
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- And the reason is,here's point number one,
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- because tithing is a test.
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- Tithing is a test.
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- See, God is testing our hearts.
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- Even when a person arguesabout tithing,
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- I think to myself, what isthe spirit behind this?
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- Why would this person arguewhen God gave His Son for you
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- and you won't even give Himten percent?
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- Why would you argue about this?
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- It's amazing to me.
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- I'm telling you,it's a test of your heart.
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- It's a test.
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- Now, here's why I believeHe chose ten percent.
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- By the way, the word, "tithe,"is a Hebrew word.
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- "Maasrah," is the Hebrew wordand it means tenth part
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- or ten percent,tenth part, tenth, ok.
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- So, that's where we get thisfrom that we know
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- it's ten percent.
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- Here's why I thinkHe chose ten percent.
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- First of all, I think Hechose a percentage
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- because it's fair to everyone.
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- It doesn't matter if youmake $30.000 or $300.000,
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- it's a penny on every dime.
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- It's the samefor every person.
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- But here's a reasonI think He chose ten.
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- Because for some reason,many times when you see
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- the number ten in the Bible,it represents testing.
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- You'll actually see the word,"test," with it.
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- For instance,let's take a little test.
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- All right?
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- I'm going to ask you a questionand I want you to answer me
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- out loud.
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- All the campuses,all the churches,
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- just say your answer out loud,all right?
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- Here's the first question.
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- How many plagueswere there in Egypt?
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- Ten, right?
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- Now, I could have said ita different way.
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- I could have said,how many times did God test
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- Pharaoh's heart?
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- Because that's what He did.
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- But, we're familiar with howmany plagues there were.
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- All right?
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- Here's the second question.
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- How many commandmentsare there?
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- Ten.
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- OK.
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- Now, I'm going to askanother question
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- and you might not know this,but there's a pattern here.
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- OK?
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- And this is Numbers 14 whereGod actually says this,
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- you can read it later,all right?
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- But -- and then I want youto say your answer just
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- a little louder, OK?
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- How many times did God testIsrael in the wilderness.
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- That's correct. All right.
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- How many times -- again, youmight not know this, but -- OK.
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- How many times wereJacob's wages changed?
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- Ten.
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- God was testing his heart.
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- How many days wasDaniel tested?
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- How many virgins weretested in Matthew 25?
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- How many days of testingare mentioned in Revelation?
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- How many discipleswere there?
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- No, there were 12.
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- I was just testing you.
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- I was just testing.
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- So, tithing is a test.
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- But here's something thatyou might not know,
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- it's a two-way test.
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- God not only tests you,but this is the only place
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- in Scripture that I've foundwhere God says,
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- "You can test Me."
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- Test Me.
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- This word, "Try," that issometimes translate "test,"
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- or "prove," comes fromthe way you test a metal,
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- the way you test goldto see if it's pure.
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- You know what God is saying,"Test Me to see if I'm pure.
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- I want you to.
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- I want you to seebecause I want to open
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- the windows of Heaven.
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- I want to bless you.
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- I want to rebuke the devourfor you, but it depends on
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- whether you're going tothank Me and worship Me
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- and walk in faith and whetheryou're going to believe
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- that 90% with God's blessingwill go farther
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- than 100% without.
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- And you open an area of faithwhen we do this.
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- All right, here's number two.
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- Number one, tithing's a test.
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- Here's number two,tithing is biblical.
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- Biblical.
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- You need to knowthat it's biblical.
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- There are a lot of peoplethat don't tithe.
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- And here's really,you're not a bad person
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- if you don't tithe.
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- You're not a bad person.
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- I'm not saying that at all.
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- Not at all.
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- You're not arebellious person.
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- But a lot of peopledon't really believe
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- it's in the Bible.
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- They don't really believeit's for us today.
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- So, let me show you someScriptures, all right?
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- We'll get to 2 Chronicles 31in a moment.
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- Genesis 14:18-20, "ThenMelchizedek, King of Salem,"
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- Salem means peace,"brought out bread and wine."
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- There's a representationof communion
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- even in the Old Testament.
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- "He was the priestof God Most High.
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- And He blessed him," nowthat's talking about Abram,
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- Abraham, Abram, "and said,'Blessed be Abram of God
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- Most High, possessor ofheaven and earth,
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- and blessed be God Most Highwho has delivered your enemies
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- into your hand.'"
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- Now watch this.
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- "And he," that's Abram Abraham,"gave him," that's Melchizedek,
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- "a tithe of all."
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- OK.
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- You need to know,if you don't know this,
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- theologically, this is about500 years before the law.
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- And Galatians says, "Abrahamis our spiritual father."
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- And Melchizedek, Hebrews says,is a type of Christ,
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- and many theologians believeit's actually Jesus Christ,
- 00:10:57.305 --> 00:10:59.941
- because it says he hasno genealogy.
- 00:11:00.041 --> 00:11:01.843
- That's what Hebrews says.
- 00:11:01.943 --> 00:11:03.344
- No mother, no father,no beginning of days,
- 00:11:03.445 --> 00:11:06.481
- no end of life.
- 00:11:06.581 --> 00:11:08.249
- IT's pretty amazing.
- 00:11:08.349 --> 00:11:09.417
- So, it's either Jesus Himselfor a type of Christ,
- 00:11:09.517 --> 00:11:11.219
- and our spiritual father,tithes, gives ten percent,
- 00:11:11.319 --> 00:11:14.989
- 500 years before the law.
- 00:11:15.090 --> 00:11:21.396
- Look at Genesis 28:22,this is talking about Jacob.
- 00:11:21.496 --> 00:11:24.966
- And this stone,which I've set up as a pillar
- 00:11:25.066 --> 00:11:27.202
- shall be God's house.
- 00:11:27.302 --> 00:11:30.205
- Again, an implication thatthe tithe goes to God's house.
- 00:11:30.305 --> 00:11:32.941
- And of all that you give me,I will surely give
- 00:11:33.041 --> 00:11:35.677
- a tenth to you.
- 00:11:35.777 --> 00:11:37.712
- This is about 400 yearsbefore the law.
- 00:11:37.812 --> 00:11:40.482
- Leviticus 27:30,"And all the tithe of the land,"
- 00:11:40.582 --> 00:11:44.185
- all of it.
- 00:11:44.285 --> 00:11:45.520
- "All the tithe of the land,whether of the seed of the land
- 00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:48.790
- or the fruit of the treeis the Lord's."
- 00:11:48.890 --> 00:11:53.128
- In other words,it belongs to the God.
- 00:11:53.228 --> 00:11:55.563
- "It is holy to the Lord."
- 00:11:55.663 --> 00:11:57.799
- Remember the word, "holy,"means set apart.
- 00:11:57.899 --> 00:11:59.534
- God has set itapart for him.
- 00:11:59.634 --> 00:12:01.169
- That's the only reason Hecould say, "You're stealing
- 00:12:01.269 --> 00:12:03.505
- from me because I set thatapart for my house
- 00:12:03.605 --> 00:12:07.108
- and if you keep it,then you're stealing it."
- 00:12:07.208 --> 00:12:09.511
- Deuteronomy 26:1-2, "And itshall be when you come into
- 00:12:09.611 --> 00:12:13.681
- the land, which the Lordyour God has given you
- 00:12:13.782 --> 00:12:15.550
- as an inheritance and youpossess it and dwell in it,
- 00:12:15.650 --> 00:12:18.119
- that you shall take some of youthe first, I'll show you
- 00:12:18.219 --> 00:12:22.090
- next week in just a moment,and later down in this passage
- 00:12:22.190 --> 00:12:24.225
- how that refers to the tithe,first of all the produce
- 00:12:24.325 --> 00:12:27.862
- of the ground, whichyou shall bring from the land
- 00:12:27.962 --> 00:12:30.799
- that the Lord your Godis giving you
- 00:12:30.899 --> 00:12:32.500
- and you put it in a basket,"now watch this,
- 00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:34.302
- "and go to the place wherethe Lord, your God,
- 00:12:34.402 --> 00:12:38.273
- chooses to make His name abide,again, referring to church.
- 00:12:38.373 --> 00:12:42.911
- Where you go to church.
- 00:12:43.011 --> 00:12:44.279
- You go to a place where the Lordchooses to make His name abide.
- 00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:46.714
- Then look at Verse 13.
- 00:12:46.815 --> 00:12:48.082
- "Then you shall say beforethe Lord your God,
- 00:12:48.183 --> 00:12:50.351
- "I have removed the holy tithe."
- 00:12:50.451 --> 00:12:52.620
- In other words,the set apart ten percent.
- 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:55.290
- "The holy tithe from my houseand have given them
- 00:12:55.390 --> 00:12:59.093
- to the Levite, the stranger,the fathers and the widow."
- 00:12:59.194 --> 00:13:01.863
- He directed wherethe tithe was to go.
- 00:13:01.963 --> 00:13:03.765
- "According to allYour commandments,
- 00:13:03.865 --> 00:13:05.366
- which You have commanded me.
- 00:13:05.466 --> 00:13:06.467
- I've mot transgressedYour commandments,
- 00:13:06.568 --> 00:13:08.670
- nor have I forgotten them.
- 00:13:08.770 --> 00:13:10.405
- I've not eaten any ofit when in mourning."
- 00:13:10.505 --> 00:13:12.640
- I didn't use some of the tithewhen I went through
- 00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:14.742
- a difficult time.
- 00:13:14.843 --> 00:13:15.944
- "Nor, have I removed any ofit for any unclean use,
- 00:13:16.044 --> 00:13:18.780
- nor given any of itfor the dead.
- 00:13:18.880 --> 00:13:21.115
- I have obeyed the voice ofthe Lord, my God
- 00:13:21.216 --> 00:13:24.185
- and done according to all thatYou have commanded me.
- 00:13:24.285 --> 00:13:26.654
- Look down from Your holyhabitation from heaven
- 00:13:26.754 --> 00:13:29.090
- and blessed Your people."
- 00:13:29.190 --> 00:13:31.259
- I've removed the holy set aparttenth part from my house
- 00:13:31.359 --> 00:13:36.798
- and I've given it,brought it to Your house, Lord.
- 00:13:36.898 --> 00:13:40.535
- And now, He says,"After you do that,
- 00:13:40.635 --> 00:13:43.104
- you can pray this prayer.
- 00:13:43.204 --> 00:13:44.405
- Look down from heavenand bless Your servant."
- 00:13:44.505 --> 00:13:46.174
- OK.
- 00:13:46.274 --> 00:13:47.075
- Let me ask you a question,all right?
- 00:13:47.175 --> 00:13:48.509
- If Jesus said it, that youought to tithe, would you do it?
- 00:13:48.610 --> 00:13:54.549
- You want to see the verse?
- 00:13:54.649 --> 00:13:57.652
- Matthew 23:23, Jesus isspeaking, "Woe to you scribes
- 00:13:57.752 --> 00:14:03.625
- and Pharisees, hypocrites!
- 00:14:03.725 --> 00:14:05.193
- For you pay tithe," ten percent,"a mint, anise, and cumin,"
- 00:14:05.293 --> 00:14:12.166
- those are spices,"and have neglected
- 00:14:12.267 --> 00:14:14.836
- the weightier mattersof the law:
- 00:14:14.936 --> 00:14:17.739
- justice and mercy and faith."
- 00:14:17.839 --> 00:14:20.508
- Watch very carefully.
- 00:14:20.608 --> 00:14:21.743
- "These you ought to have donewithout leaving
- 00:14:21.843 --> 00:14:26.948
- the others undone."
- 00:14:27.048 --> 00:14:30.351
- OK, here's what Jesus said.
- 00:14:30.451 --> 00:14:32.654
- "You guys give tithes notonly of your first fruits,
- 00:14:32.754 --> 00:14:37.692
- but you even give tithes ofthe spices that you're going to
- 00:14:37.792 --> 00:14:40.962
- put on your food,but you've neglected justice,
- 00:14:41.062 --> 00:14:44.999
- mercy, and faith."
- 00:14:45.099 --> 00:14:46.601
- Then Jesus says,"You ought to do that.
- 00:14:46.701 --> 00:14:51.306
- You ought to do that.
- 00:14:51.406 --> 00:14:53.875
- But don't leavethe other undone."
- 00:14:53.975 --> 00:14:57.211
- That's Jesus.
- 00:14:57.312 --> 00:15:01.215
- You tithe, but you don'tdo this.
- 00:15:01.316 --> 00:15:03.751
- You ought to do that,but don't leave this undone."
- 00:15:03.851 --> 00:15:09.190
- Or, "You ought to dothose things,
- 00:15:09.290 --> 00:15:10.892
- but don't leave that undone."
- 00:15:10.992 --> 00:15:12.894
- Either way.
- 00:15:12.994 --> 00:15:13.895
- OK.
- 00:15:13.995 --> 00:15:16.364
- Hebrews talks about,again, Melchizedek and Jesus
- 00:15:16.464 --> 00:15:19.667
- and how mortal men receivetithes on this earth.
- 00:15:19.767 --> 00:15:23.104
- But, let me show you whatHebrew says, talking about
- 00:15:23.204 --> 00:15:25.039
- Jesus is our Melchizedek.
- 00:15:25.139 --> 00:15:27.241
- Watch this.
- 00:15:27.342 --> 00:15:28.343
- Hebrews 7:8, "Here,mortal men receive tithes,
- 00:15:28.443 --> 00:15:34.615
- but there He receives themof whom it is witness
- 00:15:34.716 --> 00:15:41.622
- that He lives."
- 00:15:41.723 --> 00:15:43.157
- Listen, you put your tithein a plate or offering bag
- 00:15:43.257 --> 00:15:46.194
- or basket, however it isthat you give your tithe,
- 00:15:46.294 --> 00:15:48.896
- mortal men take care of it,manage it, things like that,
- 00:15:48.997 --> 00:15:52.133
- but listen, in Heaven,He receives it,
- 00:15:52.233 --> 00:15:55.003
- of whom it is witnessed,He lives.
- 00:15:55.103 --> 00:15:57.705
- Jesus Christ receivesmy tithes.
- 00:15:57.805 --> 00:16:01.676
- That makes me want to tithe.
- 00:16:01.776 --> 00:16:03.511
- So, it is biblical.
- 00:16:03.611 --> 00:16:05.480
- And here's number three.
- 00:16:05.580 --> 00:16:06.748
- Tithing is a blessing.
- 00:16:06.848 --> 00:16:09.083
- Tithing is a blessing.
- 00:16:09.183 --> 00:16:11.152
- OK.
- 00:16:11.252 --> 00:16:12.854
- So, let me tell youabout 2 Chronicles 31.
- 00:16:12.954 --> 00:16:15.289
- Now, we're going toread there.
- 00:16:15.390 --> 00:16:16.624
- So, if you put a markerat 2 Chronicles 31.
- 00:16:16.724 --> 00:16:19.293
- Hezekiah one day is readingthe Scriptures.
- 00:16:19.394 --> 00:16:24.098
- And he sees these versesabout tithing.
- 00:16:24.198 --> 00:16:27.035
- And they're in aneconomic recession.
- 00:16:27.135 --> 00:16:30.204
- And he realizes,"We're under a curse,
- 00:16:30.304 --> 00:16:33.274
- the whole nation,because we're not tithing.
- 00:16:33.374 --> 00:16:35.877
- We're stealing from God."
- 00:16:35.977 --> 00:16:37.145
- So, that's where we pick upthis story, 2 Chronicles 31:4,
- 00:16:37.245 --> 00:16:41.783
- "Moreover, he commandedthe people who dwelt
- 00:16:41.883 --> 00:16:43.985
- in Jerusalem to contributesupport for the priest
- 00:16:44.085 --> 00:16:48.022
- and the Levites thatthey might devote themselves
- 00:16:48.122 --> 00:16:51.492
- to the law of the Lord."
- 00:16:51.592 --> 00:16:53.694
- Now, I just want -- juststop for just a moment.
- 00:16:53.795 --> 00:16:55.997
- Remember, Malachi said,"Bring the tithe
- 00:16:56.097 --> 00:16:58.533
- in the storehouse that theremay be food in my house."
- 00:16:58.633 --> 00:17:01.702
- And again, they weretalking about natural food.
- 00:17:01.803 --> 00:17:03.805
- But think about it today,spiritual food.
- 00:17:03.905 --> 00:17:07.241
- In fact, let me justask you something.
- 00:17:07.341 --> 00:17:08.976
- All right.
- 00:17:09.077 --> 00:17:10.978
- When you come to church,do you enjoy the food,
- 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:12.313
- the spiritual food that you get?
- 00:17:12.413 --> 00:17:13.848
- Do you enjoy it?
- 00:17:13.948 --> 00:17:14.949
- Someone's paying for it.
- 00:17:15.049 --> 00:17:16.951
- So, let me askyou a question.
- 00:17:17.051 --> 00:17:18.052
- Let me just put it in a --talking about food here,
- 00:17:18.152 --> 00:17:19.654
- let me give you an analogy.
- 00:17:19.754 --> 00:17:20.888
- Would any of you here go toa restaurant, eat a meal,
- 00:17:20.988 --> 00:17:25.860
- and then leavewithout paying for it?
- 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:29.230
- Any of you?
- 00:17:29.330 --> 00:17:42.643
- Some Christians do thatevery week.
- 00:17:42.743 --> 00:17:47.515
- They go to church, eat a meal,and skip out on the check.
- 00:17:47.615 --> 00:17:53.688
- Here's the sad thing.
- 00:17:53.788 --> 00:17:56.824
- You're the onethat's hurting.
- 00:17:56.924 --> 00:17:58.960
- I don't preach on tithingbecause the church needs money.
- 00:17:59.060 --> 00:18:01.963
- We're doing fine financially.
- 00:18:02.063 --> 00:18:04.031
- I promise you I'm doing thisto help you.
- 00:18:04.132 --> 00:18:06.601
- This'll change your life,your family, your finances,
- 00:18:06.701 --> 00:18:09.504
- your marriage,your children,
- 00:18:09.604 --> 00:18:11.272
- your grandchildren.
- 00:18:11.372 --> 00:18:12.740
- This will change you.
- 00:18:12.840 --> 00:18:14.876
- I promise you.
- 00:18:14.976 --> 00:18:19.614
- All right.
- 00:18:19.714 --> 00:18:21.282
- So, he puts out -- He says,"Everyone needs to bring
- 00:18:21.382 --> 00:18:23.751
- the tithe to the house of God."
- 00:18:23.851 --> 00:18:25.920
- Now, look at Verse 5,"As soon as the commandment
- 00:18:26.020 --> 00:18:29.991
- was circulated, the children ofIsrael brought in abundance
- 00:18:30.091 --> 00:18:32.560
- the first fruits."
- 00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:34.095
- Again, I'll show you next weekhow that relates to the tithe.
- 00:18:34.195 --> 00:18:36.531
- "Of grain and wine,oil, and honey,
- 00:18:36.631 --> 00:18:39.634
- and of all the produceof the field, and they brought
- 00:18:39.734 --> 00:18:42.737
- in abundantly the titheof everything."
- 00:18:42.837 --> 00:18:45.640
- There it is right thereshowing you it's the tithe.
- 00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:47.408
- "And the children of Israeland Judah,
- 00:18:47.508 --> 00:18:49.677
- who dwelt in the cities of Judahbrought the tithe
- 00:18:49.777 --> 00:18:51.546
- of oxen and sheep.
- 00:18:51.646 --> 00:18:53.514
- Also, the tithe of holy things,which were consecrated
- 00:18:53.614 --> 00:18:56.050
- to the Lord, their God,they laid in heaps.
- 00:18:56.150 --> 00:18:59.086
- In the third month,they begin laying in heaps
- 00:18:59.187 --> 00:19:02.023
- and they finishedin the seventh month."
- 00:19:02.123 --> 00:19:04.091
- Now, these months relateto the harvest.
- 00:19:04.192 --> 00:19:05.927
- OK?
- 00:19:06.027 --> 00:19:06.894
- "And when Hezekiahand the leaders came
- 00:19:06.994 --> 00:19:09.096
- and saw the heaps they blessedthe Lord
- 00:19:09.197 --> 00:19:10.865
- and His people Israel.
- 00:19:10.965 --> 00:19:12.099
- Then Hezekiah questionedthe priest and the Levites
- 00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:15.436
- concerning the heaps.
- 00:19:15.536 --> 00:19:17.505
- And Ezeriah, the Chief Priestfrom the House of Zadok
- 00:19:17.605 --> 00:19:19.974
- answered him and said,'Since the people began
- 00:19:20.074 --> 00:19:22.777
- to bring the offerings intothe house of the Lord,'"
- 00:19:22.877 --> 00:19:26.247
- again the tithe always comes --goes to the House of God,
- 00:19:26.347 --> 00:19:28.649
- "'we have had enough to eatand have plenty left for
- 00:19:28.749 --> 00:19:32.820
- the Lord has blessed His peopleand what is left
- 00:19:32.920 --> 00:19:38.192
- is this great abundance.'"
- 00:19:38.292 --> 00:19:39.794
- OK.
- 00:19:39.894 --> 00:19:40.595
- Here's what happens.
- 00:19:40.695 --> 00:19:41.762
- The King sends out the --this commandment and says,
- 00:19:41.862 --> 00:19:45.233
- "We're supposed to be tithingto the House of God.
- 00:19:45.333 --> 00:19:47.101
- So, the peoplebegin doing it.
- 00:19:47.201 --> 00:19:48.636
- They begin in the third month,which is a harvest time,
- 00:19:48.736 --> 00:19:51.572
- but then there is anotherharvest, the seventh month.
- 00:19:51.672 --> 00:19:54.075
- And they continuethrough that time.
- 00:19:54.175 --> 00:19:55.977
- And so, when the king comesto visit and sees these heaps,
- 00:19:56.077 --> 00:19:59.880
- heaps that the peoplebrought to the house of God.
- 00:19:59.981 --> 00:20:01.749
- Here's what inessence he says.
- 00:20:01.849 --> 00:20:03.184
- It says, "He questioned themabout the heaps."
- 00:20:03.284 --> 00:20:05.086
- Here's what he was saying.
- 00:20:05.186 --> 00:20:06.187
- "Are the people OK?
- 00:20:06.287 --> 00:20:08.356
- Are they OK?
- 00:20:08.456 --> 00:20:09.290
- I mean, look how muchthey've given
- 00:20:09.390 --> 00:20:10.992
- or do they have enough left?"
- 00:20:11.092 --> 00:20:13.661
- And the Priest said, "Oh, King,as soon as the people
- 00:20:13.761 --> 00:20:19.100
- started to do it God's way,God so blessed them,
- 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:24.772
- what you're seeing hereis just the ten percent.
- 00:20:24.872 --> 00:20:27.775
- If you think there heaps here,go look at the 90%.
- 00:20:27.875 --> 00:20:32.013
- Go look at how God blessedHis people when they began
- 00:20:32.113 --> 00:20:34.215
- obeying His Word."
- 00:20:34.315 --> 00:20:37.118
- I've been in ministrynow for over 30 years.
- 00:20:37.218 --> 00:20:41.389
- I've heard two testimoniesfor that time about tithing --
- 00:20:41.489 --> 00:20:45.593
- consistent testimonies.
- 00:20:45.693 --> 00:20:47.161
- You know, Scripture saysin the mouth of two
- 00:20:47.261 --> 00:20:49.130
- or three witnesses.
- 00:20:49.230 --> 00:20:50.364
- OK, here are the two testimoniespeople have said to me.
- 00:20:50.464 --> 00:20:53.901
- Tithers consistently havesaid to me, "We are so blessed.
- 00:20:54.001 --> 00:20:58.239
- Boy, it all changedwhen we began tithing.
- 00:20:58.339 --> 00:21:00.374
- We are so blessed,Pastor Robert.
- 00:21:00.474 --> 00:21:01.642
- We are so blessed."
- 00:21:01.742 --> 00:21:02.743
- That's what tithers have said.
- 00:21:02.843 --> 00:21:03.911
- Here's what non-tithershave said.
- 00:21:04.011 --> 00:21:06.047
- "I can't afford to tithe."
- 00:21:06.147 --> 00:21:08.983
- That's their testimony.
- 00:21:09.083 --> 00:21:10.518
- I can't afford to tithe.
- 00:21:10.618 --> 00:21:11.652
- And again, not mean,not rebellious people, just,
- 00:21:11.752 --> 00:21:14.555
- "I can't afford to tithe."
- 00:21:14.655 --> 00:21:15.790
- Listen to me, you will neverbe able to afford to tithe
- 00:21:15.890 --> 00:21:19.026
- until you tithe.
- 00:21:19.126 --> 00:21:21.762
- Because tithing iswhat breaks the curse
- 00:21:21.862 --> 00:21:24.432
- and rebukes the devourer.
- 00:21:24.532 --> 00:21:26.701
- As soon as you start to getahead, something else
- 00:21:26.801 --> 00:21:28.536
- will break because the devourer.
- 00:21:28.636 --> 00:21:31.372
- But tithing iswhat rebukes him.
- 00:21:31.472 --> 00:21:34.208
- Think about this, Jesus said,"I'm going away for a while."
- 00:21:34.308 --> 00:21:39.113
- Is that right?
- 00:21:39.213 --> 00:21:41.515
- "I'm going away,but I'm coming back.
- 00:21:41.615 --> 00:21:44.819
- But, while I'm gone, I want youto take care of My wife.
- 00:21:44.919 --> 00:21:52.026
- Ten percent,you can keep the 90."
- 00:21:52.126 --> 00:21:57.198
- Let me just -- just toremind you, is the church
- 00:21:57.298 --> 00:22:00.668
- the Bride of Christ?
- 00:22:00.768 --> 00:22:03.337
- OK.
- 00:22:03.437 --> 00:22:04.305
- Listen to me very carefully.
- 00:22:04.405 --> 00:22:05.639
- Tithing might be more personalto Jesus than what you thought
- 00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:15.983
- because it's His wife.
- 00:22:16.083 --> 00:22:21.422
- He has the power --and if you say, "Why?
- 00:22:21.522 --> 00:22:23.624
- I can't believe you justtake it away
- 00:22:23.724 --> 00:22:24.759
- and give to the others."
- 00:22:24.859 --> 00:22:25.693
- If you don't think Jesuswill do that,
- 00:22:25.793 --> 00:22:27.128
- read the parableof the talents."
- 00:22:27.228 --> 00:22:30.865
- When he took from the onethat wasn't faithful
- 00:22:30.965 --> 00:22:32.600
- and gave it to the onewho was faithful.
- 00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:36.670
- He wants to provide for you.
- 00:22:36.771 --> 00:22:39.607
- But why would He provideand bless people
- 00:22:39.707 --> 00:22:42.343
- who will not even beconcerned about His wife.
- 00:22:42.443 --> 00:22:49.683
- It's a test.
- 00:22:49.784 --> 00:22:52.520
- And it's very importantthat we pass this test.
- 00:22:52.620 --> 00:22:55.189
- Every time we get paid,we take a test.
- 00:22:56.190 --> 00:22:59.727
- And that test is, whom arewe going to honor
- 00:22:59.827 --> 00:23:02.997
- for our paycheck.
- 00:23:03.097 --> 00:23:05.833
- And we want to honor God.
- 00:23:05.933 --> 00:23:07.501
- And I want to encourage you,tithe to your local church.
- 00:23:07.601 --> 00:23:10.771
- Put God first in every areaof your life,
- 00:23:10.871 --> 00:23:14.775
- including your finances.
- 00:23:14.875 --> 00:23:16.777
- I want to also encourage you,that if you'd like to get
- 00:23:16.877 --> 00:23:19.480
- this entire series,because there's a lot more
- 00:23:19.580 --> 00:23:21.782
- that I covered when I sharedthis with this the church
- 00:23:21.882 --> 00:23:24.518
- that I can't cover each weekon the television program,
- 00:23:24.618 --> 00:23:26.954
- or even every day as we goon television in many places,
- 00:23:27.054 --> 00:23:30.658
- so, I want to encourage you,get the series,
- 00:23:30.758 --> 00:23:32.460
- get the book,let God speak to you,
- 00:23:32.560 --> 00:23:34.595
- and be the generous personthat God created you to be.
- 00:23:34.695 --> 00:23:39.066
- See you next time.
- 00:23:39.166 --> 00:23:40.668
- ANNOUNCER: It's our desire foryou to live a blessed life.
- 00:23:41.602 --> 00:23:43.671
- But all too often greedand materialism
- 00:23:43.771 --> 00:23:45.973
- can choke out the true spirit ofgenerosity that's found only
- 00:23:46.073 --> 00:23:49.143
- in Christ.
- 00:23:49.243 --> 00:23:50.478
- The enemy will do anythingto keep you from discovering
- 00:23:50.578 --> 00:23:53.581
- God's principles forfinancial stewardship,
- 00:23:53.681 --> 00:23:56.250
- giving, and blessing.
- 00:23:56.350 --> 00:23:57.818
- And it's because, once youapply these godly principles
- 00:23:57.918 --> 00:24:00.654
- as Pastor Robert hasoutlined in this series,
- 00:24:00.754 --> 00:24:03.457
- you will begin to see changein every area of your life,
- 00:24:03.557 --> 00:24:06.160
- from your marriage, to yourhealth, to your finances.
- 00:24:06.260 --> 00:24:09.129
- Your life will be transformedfor the better
- 00:24:09.230 --> 00:24:11.265
- and you will be positionedto make an even bigger impact
- 00:24:11.365 --> 00:24:14.235
- for the kingdom of God.
- 00:24:14.335 --> 00:24:15.503
- We would like for youto have a copy of these
- 00:24:15.603 --> 00:24:18.405
- life-changing messages.
- 00:24:18.506 --> 00:24:20.007
- Right now, for you gift ofany amount, we'll send you
- 00:24:20.107 --> 00:24:22.610
- Pastor Robert's signatureseries, "The Blessed Life,"
- 00:24:22.710 --> 00:24:25.246
- on CD, as our thank youfor helping us
- 00:24:25.346 --> 00:24:27.147
- to continue ministeringto people around the world.
- 00:24:27.248 --> 00:24:29.783
- And if you give a gift of$75 or more, we'll send you
- 00:24:29.884 --> 00:24:33.621
- this series on both CD and DVD,as well as "The Blessed Life,"
- 00:24:33.721 --> 00:24:37.491
- book and companion study guide.
- 00:24:37.591 --> 00:24:40.160
- Finally, if you were able togive a gift of $95 or more,
- 00:24:40.261 --> 00:24:43.664
- we'll add a second copy ofthe book and companion
- 00:24:43.764 --> 00:24:46.200
- study guide so you can sharethis incredible message
- 00:24:46.300 --> 00:24:49.169
- with someone else in your life.
- 00:24:49.270 --> 00:24:51.272
- Logon to pastorrobert.comor give us a call today
- 00:24:51.372 --> 00:24:54.208
- and thank you for your continuedsupport of "The Blessed Life."
- 00:24:54.308 --> 00:24:58.012
- For me, it was kind of,a stay away from that
- 00:25:02.650 --> 00:25:04.585
- and let's talk about otherthings and let's get
- 00:25:04.685 --> 00:25:06.520
- God involved in all the otheraspects of my life,
- 00:25:06.620 --> 00:25:08.422
- but, you know what,the money thing,
- 00:25:08.522 --> 00:25:09.990
- let's just kind of holdthat off.
- 00:25:10.090 --> 00:25:11.325
- And it was a real strugglefor me.
- 00:25:11.425 --> 00:25:12.560
- You know, it came down to,basically, if I really say
- 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:15.362
- I'm putting God first inmy life, then prove it.
- 00:25:15.462 --> 00:25:18.132
- At first, the definitionof tithing to me was,
- 00:25:18.232 --> 00:25:20.668
- an admission ticket to church,as sad as that sounds to say.
- 00:25:20.768 --> 00:25:24.204
- It was, I'd go to churchand we'd pull money
- 00:25:24.305 --> 00:25:26.740
- out of the walletand put in the basket.
- 00:25:26.840 --> 00:25:29.410
- But, I think therewas like a progression.
- 00:25:29.510 --> 00:25:30.744
- I think that that took placeand really felt like
- 00:25:30.844 --> 00:25:33.247
- the Holy Spirit was saying,"This is something that
- 00:25:33.347 --> 00:25:35.082
- I really I want for you.
- 00:25:35.182 --> 00:25:36.483
- I want for you to do.
- 00:25:36.584 --> 00:25:37.851
- You need to do it."
- 00:25:37.952 --> 00:25:39.119
- And we talkedabout it a lot.
- 00:25:39.219 --> 00:25:40.988
- Prayed about it.
- 00:25:41.088 --> 00:25:42.222
- We were not in the same placesprobably the same time,
- 00:25:42.323 --> 00:25:46.794
- I think regarding it,and stuff.
- 00:25:46.894 --> 00:25:51.432
- But, you know, we just prayed,and I was like, OK,
- 00:25:51.532 --> 00:25:53.467
- if this is somethingyou want us to do, Lord,
- 00:25:53.567 --> 00:25:54.702
- then we're going to need yourhelp to kind of --
- 00:25:54.802 --> 00:25:58.072
- to move us and to helpbring this about.
- 00:25:58.172 --> 00:26:00.541
- I started to feel a greatsense of peace for work,
- 00:26:00.641 --> 00:26:03.477
- or for our personal life,for our family.
- 00:26:03.577 --> 00:26:06.213
- I know thatGod's in control.
- 00:26:06.313 --> 00:26:08.716
- And if I'm doing the rightthing and being a good steward
- 00:26:08.816 --> 00:26:10.718
- of money or I'm beinga good steward of my time
- 00:26:10.818 --> 00:26:13.554
- or being a good stewardin trying to help build
- 00:26:13.654 --> 00:26:16.323
- His kingdom, He blesses meand pours into me with that
- 00:26:16.423 --> 00:26:20.561
- sense of calm and peaceand confidence.
- 00:26:20.661 --> 00:26:22.630
- I think the hardest partis starting.
- 00:26:22.730 --> 00:26:24.565
- The hardest partis the first step.
- 00:26:24.665 --> 00:26:26.967
- And my challengewould be just do it.
- 00:26:27.067 --> 00:26:30.437
- Just do it.
- 00:26:30.537 --> 00:26:31.372
- Put God first in your life.
- 00:26:31.472 --> 00:26:33.207
- It doesn't mean you'realways perfect,
- 00:26:33.307 --> 00:26:34.642
- but Him first in your life,especially in this area,
- 00:26:34.742 --> 00:26:36.744
- and you'll be over blessed.
- 00:26:36.844 --> 00:26:40.014
- My only regret is wedidn't do it sooner.
- 00:26:40.114 --> 00:26:45.853
- Better late than never.
- 00:26:45.953 --> 00:26:47.054
- Better late than never.
- 00:26:47.154 --> 00:26:48.822
- ♪ ♪
- 00:26:49.089 --> 00:27:02.603
- ANNOUNCER: Living your best lifeisn't about having a dream home,
- 00:27:02.703 --> 00:27:05.939
- wonderful kids,or the ideal job.
- 00:27:06.040 --> 00:27:09.043
- It's about changesin your family, health,
- 00:27:09.143 --> 00:27:11.779
- and relationships.
- 00:27:11.879 --> 00:27:13.447
- When God changes your heart,you'll discover
- 00:27:13.547 --> 00:27:15.616
- that there is so muchmore to life.
- 00:27:15.716 --> 00:27:18.719
- With humor, passion,and clarity,
- 00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:21.255
- Pastor Robert presents,
- 00:27:21.355 --> 00:27:22.823
- "The Secretsof Living Your Best Life."
- 00:27:22.923 --> 00:27:25.159
- ♪ ♪
- 00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:29.763