10: The Number of Testing

“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—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 there will not be room enough to store it." Malachi 3:8-10

You are going to think I am strange when I tell you this but when I was in high school and college I liked tests.

Go ahead, hate me.

At least I liked them when they were announced in advance, as in the teacher saying on Monday, "Take good notes this week because there will be a test on Friday." I took that as a challenge like game day and I wanted to be prepared to win!

Of course, I was also the guy who wanted to be at the free throw line when the game was on the line, or the batter coming to the plate with the winning run on base, or the one who has to sink the four-foot putt to sin the match.

A little weird, I know.

On the other hand, I cringed with everyone at the words, "Good morning class! Please pull out a clean sheet of notebook paper and a sharp number two pencil. We will have a pop quiz this morning.

Pop quizzes must be unconstitutional or something! At least they should be!

Malachi Chapter shows us that God gives you a test. What test?

Every time you get paid you are faced with a test whether you will worship God with the tithe or not. If you bring the first ten percent to God you will past the test and receive His blessing. If you don't God will not bless you and you will bring a curse on yourself.

Where do I get that?

The word "tithe" means "ten" and the number ten is the number for testing throughout the Bible. For example:

How many plagues did God send to test the Pharaoh in Egypt?

10! You're right!

How many commandments did God give Moses?

10.

How many times did God test Israel in the wilderness?

10.

How many times were Jacob's wages changed by Laban?

10!

How many days was Daniel tested?

10!

How many virgins were tested in Matthew 25?

10!

There's a theme developing here, right?

But, if you pass the test there is something much better than a smiley face or a gold star! Listen to this amazing promise:

"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 there will not be room enough to store it."

When it comes to tithing, there is no pop quiz! God has given notice for thousands of years that He will test us every time payday comes!

So, are you prepared for the test?

January 26, 2017

"Where your treasure is there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:21

Sunday I preached a message entitled "It's All About the Heart" and I challenged people to examine their hearts by studying the Sermon on the Mount over the next few weeks. To illustrate that point and serve as a reminder I put a small heart in the bulletin for people to keep with them as they meditate in the Word.

I hope you are one who is taking that challenge. I invite you to give your heart back to me once you are sure your heart is right.

As Jesus teaches in this verse from the Sermon on the Mount, one way to get your heart right is to put your treasures in the right place so your heart will follow. 

Thinking about this gets me excited about our "Compelled By Love" Capital Campaign. You already love FredWes and the amazing people who are part of it. And you already give faithfully to support the ministry. But imagine how much more you will love the Lord and the church when you pledge some serious treasure toward the campaign! You heart will follow your treasure!

Now multiply that by 40 or 50 times as our FredWes families commit more treasure to the future of our church! Imagine what an environment and spiritual climate that will create each Sunday as we gather for worship at FredWes!

"Compelled By Love" is a catching phrase right now as we plan and promote the upcoming campaign but for the two years following the April 2nd commitments it will be a reality! We will have put our treasure in FredWes' future and our hearts are going to follow!

It's all about the heart!

How's your heart?

Why not take your heart and hang out in Matthew Chapters 5 and 6 and 7? God will do some precious things to your heart!

The First 10th Belongs To The Lord

“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings." Malachi 3:6-9

When you were a child one of the first lessons your parents taught you was not to take things that do not belong to you. That is called stealing and it is wrong. No doubt they made their point by reminding you how you hate it when someone takes something that belongs to you. If you don't people taking your stuff then don't take theirs.

If you had brothers and sisters you were taught to respect them and their toys by not taking them without their permission. To do so is stealing and stealing is wrong. 

Perhaps, if you were brought up in a Christian home you were taught that stealing is not only wrong it is a sin because it violates one of God's commandments - "Thou shall not steal".

Later, when you started going to school your teacher forbade you from stealing from the other students in the class. If you stole lunch money or a candy bar or a pencil from another student and you got caught, you were sent immediately to the principal's office and that visit didn't end well. Or, shall I say it didn't end well on the end part of your body!

One way or another you learned that stealing is wrong and that you should not do it! That was an important lesson to learn!

While all responsible parents teach their children not to steal from others, how many parents teach their children not to steal from from God?

Were you taught not to steal from God?

Have you taught you children not to steal from God?

As indicated in these verses above it is possible to rob God and it is a very serious offense. Very serious!

That is why God is reminding His children and chastising them that failure to give their tithes is the same as robbing Him.

What is the tithe?

The tithe is the first tenth of the income you receive. That first tenth belongs to the Lord, so if you keep it and fail to offer it to Him you become a thief.

In these verses above, the Prophet Malachi writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit notes that robbing God of His tithe caused Him to turn away from them.

Did you know that God requires the tithe of you?

Do you know that tithing brings God's blessing on your life?

Have you taught that to your children?

Did you know that failure to bring the tithe to God is a sin?

Do you know sin separates you from God?

You'd better remember what your mom and dad told you about stealing!

January 24, 2017

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

It has been said, "You can't take it with you but you can send it ahead."

How does that happen? How do I turn temporary tangible objects into eternal treasures?

You do that by using them in support for the evangelistic work of the Gospel!

When you financially support your local church you are using something temporary (money) to support something eternal (The Kingdom). That then, becomes a heavenly treasure as hearts are transformed and lives are changed!

Your heart will follow your treasure! Jesus said so! 

If you want your heart to end up in Heaven then send your treasures there!

What are treasures?

People are treasures!

They are the only thing that Jesus died for and the only thing that can last forever.

What do you treasure more than your family?

Possessions are treasures!

Look for ways to use the material things God has blessed you with to reach people with the Gospel of Christ. 

Use your car to bring people to church or to run errands for a home bound person.

Open your house to welcome a hurting person or someone who is homeless.

Withdraw some savings to give to a person in need.

These are some ways to leverage material possessions to win eternal people into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Passions are treasures!

Everyone is passionate about something! 

What excites you?

What motivates you?

What brings you joy as you use it, do it or think about it?

What moves other people when you say it or do it?

What do you feel God wired you to do with your talents and gifts?

Whatever it is that makes you passionate use it to draw people closer to Jesus!

So, what on earth will you do today for Heaven's sake?

January 23, 2017

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." Romans 12:11

Perhaps you buy into the notion that passion is a spontaneous and intense emotional response to some great spiritual experience or a move of God.

Maybe you understand passion to be something that springs up within randomly or capriciously and then disappears just a unpredictably.

Verse 11 presents a different idea of passion.

Passion happens intentionally, "Never be lacking in zeal", v. 11 a

Like most other things in life, passion happens because someone wants it to happen and does what it takes to make it happen. What needs to happen is zeal. Zeal is a form of passion or even a synonym for it. An intentional decision must be made to be zealous toward the Lord, His Church and the people that make up your local church. You decide that you will maintain the emotional, spiritual, and intellectual commitment necessary to stay zealous for the Lord. You devote body, mind and, spirit to knowing and serving the Lord. You aggressively pursue it or preserve it.

Second, passion happens internally.

Passion is something that stirs within you once you decide to pursue it and possess it. Zeal comes to your mind and spirit as a result of committing them to God's Spirit. It comes from His Word as you hide it in your heart and meditate on it in your mind. Once you intentionally commit to pleasing God, His pleasure fills you from the inside out.

Passion happens in service to God.

Zeal increases as it is expressed by self-sacrificing service. Passion is something you can put your hands around. Zeal cannot be contained. What obedience and surrender allow the Spirit to stir within in you will have to express itself by serving others. Passion that seeks God must also service God.

Passion is a decision. Zeal is a determination to know God, to experience God, and to show God in your piety, your personal relationship to him and your personal investment ministering to the needs of others.

Are you zealous for the Lord? Are you passionate in the Lord?

January 22, 2017

“You must cancel your debts at the end of every seventh year. This is the way to conduct remission: every creditor must cancel the loan that his friend borrowed, and he must not pressure his friend or brother to repay it,because remission to the Lord will be proclaimed. You may exact payment from a foreigner, but cancel whatever your brother owes you. Moreover, there will be no poor person among you, for the Lord will surely bless you in the land that he is about to give you to possess. Only be certain to obey the voice of the Lord your God. Carefully observe all of these commands that I’m commanding you today, because the Lord your God will bless you just as he promised. You are to lend to many nations, but not to borrow. Also, you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.” “If there should be a poor man among your relatives in one of the cities of the land that the Lord your God is about to give you, don’t be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your poor relative. Instead, be sure to open your hand to him and lend him enough to lessen his need. Be careful not to think this wicked thought to yourselves: ‘The seventh year, the year of remission, is drawing near…’ and you show ill will toward your poor relative and not give to him. He may then call to the Lord on account of you, and you will be guilty of sin. You must certainly give to him and not feel regret for doing so. Because of this, the Lord your God will bless all your works and everything you do. Since poor people won’t cease to exist in the land, I’m commanding you: Be sure to display generosity to your poor and needy relatives in your land.” “When a fellow Hebrew male or female slave is sold to you and serves you for six years, then in the seventh year you are to set them free. But when you set them free, don’t send them away empty-handed. Provide for them liberally from your flock, threshing floor, and wine vat. As the Lord your God has blessed you, so give to them. Don’t ever forget that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, yet the Lord your God redeemed you. Therefore, I’m giving you these commands today." Deuteronomy 15:1-15

Here God is getting ready to set up His nation on earth. It is important to note how He planned to set up the economy of that nation and how it would relate to His future plans for His spiritual kingdom on earth.

Moses, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit offers four progressive steps to help gain a giving heart.

Deal with a greedy heart. 

“Be careful not to think this wicked thought to yourselves: ‘The seventh year, the year of remission, is drawing near… and you show ill will toward your poor relative and not give to him. He may then call to the Lord on account of you, and you will be guilty of sin.” 15:9

At every significant event between God and His people He makes known His intention to bless them so they can become a blessing to others in the land where they dwell.

No one has been blessed like Adam and Eve!

God's call to Abraham included a Covenant to bless him and make all the nations through him.

A Christ-follower cannot afford a greedy heart because a greedy heart can't receive God's blessing or become a blessing to others.

Greed equals selfishness! God warned that greed is a wicked thought! And He referred to it as "ill will". Finally, He pronounces it a sin!

You may have a greedy heart if you are calculated in your giving.

Deal with  a grieving heart.

“You must certainly give to him and not feel regret for doing so. Because of this, the Lord your God will bless all your works and everything you do.” 15:10

Give freely with no strings attached. God doesn't bless regretful giving.

How do you feel if someone gives you a gift and you can tell they are reluctant about giving it? 

And how can God bless others through you if you give with a grieving heart?

Develop a generous heart.

“Provide for them liberally from your flock, threshing floor, and wine vat. As the Lord your God has blessed you, so give to them.” 15:4


God expects you to give in the same measure that He gives to you! 

This is the same truth Jesus emphasizes in the Sermon on the Mount as characterized in Matthew 6:21 - "For where your treasure is there will your heart be also."

Don't wait to feel generous before you give. Your heart follows your treasure, so give generously and you will begin to feel generous!

                                        

Develop a grateful heart. 

^“Don’t ever forget that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, yet the Lord your God redeemed you. Therefore, I’m giving you these commands today.” V. 15

I think this is the most powerful of the four helps to a giving heart. Here Moses says, "Whenever you start feeling a little possessive Remember where you came from!"

A generation ago they were slaves and had nothing. There have have still been some among them who bore the marks of slavery on their backs. Then God sent Moses to deliver them and set them free. God led them and fed them and protected them and blessed them in every way so they could be a blessing to others.

You will live under a blessing or under a curse.

If you can live under God’s blessing why wouldn’t you?

It’s all about having the heart of a giver and God’s Word offers clear counsel on how to have a giving heart.

It’s all about the heart!

How is it with your heart?

Where are your treasures?

January 21, 2017

“Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

There are moments that mark our lives and become forged in our mind as memories. 

For instance, I'm sure you remember the day you put your child on the school bus for the very first time. You choked back a big gulp and watched the bus until it disappeared over the horizon. Your whole world was on that bus! You prayed for you child and you also offered one up for the bus driver!

And then as your child reaches those mid-teen years and obtains a driver's license your anxiety level reaches never before imagined levels. You never forget the day when you hand the keys to your kid and he backs the car down the driveway, onto the street and off your radar. A huge check of your world has just headed into a world of potential disaster.

While you pray and fight back your fears and tear, you just hope that you have prepared his heart and mind to handle this responsibility. You hope your long discussions about the potential dangers and risks of driving have lodged somewhere in his thought process. You pray that his driver's education experience has trained him adequately.

Then, there's the time you drop him off at college and you unload his things, get him settled in his dorm room, resist the urge for one final lecture, hug him tight and head the car toward home feeling like you've been clubbed with a ball bat.

All the way home you review all the discussions you and your spouse had with him trying to prepare him for the potential pitfalls of college campus life. You pray that you have successfully shaped his heart and mind to make responsible decisions and avoid devastating ones.

Parenting is all about preparing your child(ren) for those moments when they step into new freedoms and responsibilities. You hope you have put their heart and mind in a good place. You pray they have learned to make decisions based on long-term success not short-term temptations.

This is what is going on in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is beginning to prepare His disciples for the day when He will hand over to them the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is where Heaven touches earth and the temporary connects to the eternal. The Kingdom of God is living on earth with heavenly values. The Kingdom of God is about using the temporary things of earth into eternal treasures! It is what Jesus came to bring us and succeeded in doing! And it is what he came to call and prepare His disciples to do. He knew He had three years to shape their hearts and mold their minds before He handed off the keys to God's Kingdom.

The verses above are taken from the middle of this message. Jesus is instructing His disciples to keep their focus fixed on eternity and eternal values. Money and material possession will tug their hearts toward selfishness and greed so they must consciously and intentionally have eternity in their hearts.

Jesus knew the powerful pull of materialism. He needed to impress that on His disciples, warn them of it's dangers and try to turn their hearts toward eternity.

If you are a follower of Christ this morning, you have been given the keys to the Kingdom of God. Your assignment today is to "lay up treasures in heaven" by how you handle the material things and relationships with people you interact with today. "Treasures in heaven" refers not just to stuff it refers to souls as well!

So, how do you want God to feel today as you take the keys to His Kingdom and head off to live life on planet earth today? Will you make choices that will help His Kingdom to come and His will to be done?

Will you lay up treasures in eternity or gather up things than bind you to this world?