3-26-23 AM Service: What is Biblical Tithing?

Welcome to the Liberty Baptist sermon archives.

The message you're about to hear was preached at Liberty, Baptist

Church and Eastern Massachusetts.

You can find out more about us or contact us at my Liberty,

Baptist dot org or just look us up on Facebook.

And now, we hope that this message from God's word will be

a blessing to you. We are in 2nd Corinthians

chapter 9 and we're going to be moving all throughout the word

of God here this morning as we try to answer this question that

we've been working towards all month.

Now at the end of month and the stewardship month.

And some of you might be breathing a sigh of relief, as

we are closing to the end of stewardship month.

But we are answering this question this morning.

What is Biblical tithing? What is Biblical, tithing?

What does the word of God say about tithing?

And again, I understand that every week, and it certainly has

been this way. Away for weeks.

Now, we're so thankful to have guests and visitors and

returning guests and visitors. Even as we preach about these

types of issues, the Bible tells us to preach on the whole

counsel of God, meaning this, that we go through and we preach

issues, no matter what they are, where they are in the word of

God. For the same time, if you are

guest a visitor, we do want you to know that this is not an

attempt for us to try to extract money from you.

That is not the point of this. But for those of us who are part

of Liberty Baptist Church, those of us who are members and who

have come together in agreement with this.

Arch over the long term. We know that this is God's plan

for us to be able to sustain this model of the house of God

here in Easton and so do want to preach that this morning but

I'll give you a little bit of levity.

Hopefully a little bit to lighten the load here as we go

on. There were two men who were

marooned on an island. One man paced back and forth

worried and scared. While the other man sat back and

was sunning himself, the first man said to the second man,

aren't you afraid we're about to die?

No. The second man said I make

100,000 dollars a week and ties Faithfully to my church.

Every week my pastor will find me.

So you know I feel like as much as that is humorous that kind of

encapsulates, a little bit of the idea that people have with

tithing. Now this isn't true for me but I

feel like it maybe for those who come to church here and

certainly people that I've interacted with, in the past

when people think of tithing Think of their relationship

between the tither and the pastor, or the relationship

between the tither and the church and really biblically,

that's not what I see when we deal with the issue of tithing.

That may be natural but that's not what the Bible.

Teaches my instruction on tithing from the word, today is

not so that you and I can have a better relationship.

I've been I feel like we have a pretty good relationship.

It's not so that you can necessarily have a better

relationship with the church. I believe the biblical issue of

tithing is all about our And ship with God, not our

relationship with each other or to this church or even to me,

no, the issue of relating, our finances, and everything that he

has given us back to him. And that's really what the issue

of tithing is all about. And so this morning, I want us

to really go throughout the word of God.

We're not staying anywhere, very long as we look at the different

issues of tithing. And why it was important before

the law, why was important during the law and why it is

still important today? Would you say I'm pleased for

the reading of God's word where in 2nd Corinthians chapter

number 9 and we're beginning verse number 6, and I will say

the principle that we're about to read here.

Even if you are not a tither because you're not a part of

Liberty, Baptist Church. I believe there's a Biblical

principle here. That is good for everybody, no

matter who you are this morning. And it says this in second

2 Corinthians 9 · chapter mention

Corinthians, chapter 9 verse number 6.

But this I say he which soweth sparingly shall reap also

sparingly and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also

bountifully. Listen, that's True when you're

talking about agricultural issues.

If you put out a little bit of seed, you get a little bit of a

harvest. If you put out a greater seed,

you get a Greater Harvest every man, according as he purposeth

purposive in his heart. So let him give not grudgingly

or of necessity for God, loveth a cheerful giver and God is able

to make all grace abound toward you that.

Ye always having all sufficiency in all things may abound to

every Good work. You may be seated as we asked

the Lord to bless the reading of his word this morning.

Heavenly father would just be with me.

I certainly know that this topic may be one that is not always

the best for a Sunday morning service and it is not my desire

to make people purposely feel uncomfortable.

But at the same time I do know. This is a Biblical topic, it's a

Biblical issue and it's one each of us must address, particularly

those who you have had be part of this church.

And so I pray that you would just allow us to consider these

things. And let everyone purpose in

their own mind between them and you what they would do.

And we ask this in Jesus name, amen.

Certainly verse number 7 is a great place for us to start

because it talks about the issue of God, loving a cheerful Giver

that it doesn't are giving should not be grudgingly that.

It's not of necessity because God doesn't just want the

wallet. I would put it this way.

God wants your heart, God wants you to be joyful when it comes

to this issue of giving and so even as we look at As we realize

that this is not something that should cause us great.

Consternation this morning. There should not be an issue

that caused us to really get anxious or be filled with

anxiety, but rather it should be one that is joyful for us as we

consider that God has given us an opportunity to invest in the

greatest work of all works, which is God's work here through

the local church and God can supply our needs.

And you need to start with that. Understanding that God is the

one who will supply all of your needs.

God is able verse 8 to make all grace abound Abound toward you

that ye always having all sufficiency in all things may

abound to every good work, a my Bible.

In verse number 8, I have circled all Grace and then all

sufficiency, and then all things.

God can take care of you in all areas of your life.

I'll say that again to make sure everyone understands God can

take care of you in all areas of your life.

He has all Grace, he has all sufficiency, and he's able to

help you to abound in all things in every good work.

But we ask ourselves this. Shoo.

This question this morning, even though this might be

uncomfortable confusing or difficult for some, we see here,

it doesn't have to be. It can be an issue that can

bring great joy to the heart of the believer.

It can be one that gives us a great excitement to know that

God has allowed us to be part of his great plan for the church in

this new testament age that we live in.

And that the issue of tithing is one where it was pre-law that is

tithing was practiced before the law was ever given to Moses.

It was ratified in the law of Moses and I believe is still an

active force today for believers when commentary that I read

stated to this way while the tides became codified in the old

Mosaic Covenant, it can't simply be dismissed.

As part of the old Covenant has been fulfilled in Christ and no

longer applies to New Testament Believers.

Now what does that word tithe? Even mean, if you read it you

might even look and say what's the to thee?

Maybe that's what you see there on the envelope.

Well, what's the titty? I don't know that.

I understand what that is, but Really, that is one of the

simplest things for us to even understand this morning because

the word tithe literally means a tent.

In fact, if you were to look at any lexicon, if you were to look

into any dictionary, if you go to entomology of the word and

what it means in the Old English and even beyond that, the tithe

literally means the 10th and that really helps us to

understand what the issue is that.

We're talking about this 10th part, that is here and God makes

it simple and clear for us to understand.

So, with that understanding to start us, we need to kind of

take a little bit of a journey. Any down the biblical Road of

tithing, what it is and what it means to us today.

So would you turn your Bibles to Genesis chapter?

Number 14, We're not gonna be able to stay in any one of these

places for very long. But I do want to just give you a

Biblical Foundation this morning.

For what we see when it comes to the issue of tithing Genesis

chapter, number 14 and look at verse number 13, this tissue.

This text issues her deals with the issues of Abraham and lot.

Of course you'll remember that Abraham and lot went separate

ways when they got to the promised land.

There is a lot who goes towards the issue, the cities of And

Gomorrah while Abraham decides to go in the different direction

not wanting to go towards those accursed cities.

It ends up that lat now becoming absorbed into that City also

gets held captive as Sodom and Gomorrah and some other towns

are taken captive by some enemies including one named

kettle eomer look at verse number 13 and we'll start

reading from there. It says and there came one that

has scaped and said told Abram that Hebrew that he dwelt in the

plain of mamre. See the Amorite the brother of

eshkol and the brother of a Nur and these were Confederate with

Abram and when Abram heard that his brother, this is lot being

taken captive. He armed his trained servants

born in his house 318 and pursued them unto damn and he

divided himself against them he and his servants by night and

smoke them and pursued them unto hoba which is on the left hand

of Damascus and he brought back all the goods and also brought a

In his brother lot and his goods and the woman.

Also and the people you'll see here that Abraham and his

trained Army that he had coming from his home, was able to

rescue lot and his family and including all those of Sodom and

Gomorrah as well. And it says in verse 17, and the

king of Sodom, went out to meet him after his return, from the

slaughter of cattle, eomer and of the kings that were with him

and the valley of shaveh, which is the Kingsdale and

Melchizedek, do you remember brother Chuck just reading about

Melchizedek and Is chapter 7 just a few moments ago.

Isaiah 7 · chapter mention

Well, here's this man. Melchizedek king of Salem

brought forth Bread and Wine. And he was the priest of the

most high God and he blessed him and said, Blessed Be Abram of

the most high, god possessor of Heaven, and Earth, and blessed.

Be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy

hand. And he gave him, tithes of all

you see that there in verse number 20, and he gave him

tithes of all. Now, this may seem like a very

strange Thing that Abraham has just been given this increase of

goods that he's won in battle. And then he finds this priest

named Melchizedek and he gives Melchizedek these ties of that,

which he has received. He gives a tent portion of that,

which was his increase and gives him to Melchizedek.

And well, certainly that might sound strange to us.

We realize from Reading Hebrews chapter 7, just a few moments

Hebrews 7 · chapter mention

ago that Melchizedek was none other.

I believed in Jesus Christ and Old Testament, appearing of

Jesus Christ. Well how do Do we know that

because he just read in Hebrews 1 for this Melchizedek king of

Salem priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning

from the slaughter of the Kings and blessed him to whom gave

Abraham. Also a tenth part of all first

being that interpretation the king of righteousness.

After that, the king of Salem, which is also the king of Peace,

listen, to this without, father, without mother without descent

having neither, beginning of days, nor end of life, but made

like unto the son of God, It's a priest continually Jesus Christ.

Made this Old Testament appearance here as the, I

believe the priest amount skills deck, the king of Salem, he

comes and here Abraham, having some form of understanding that

this is God realizes that he wants to give tithe to the Lord.

And so, that's what we see that he gives the tenth of that,

which was an increase to him and he gives it at that time.

Now, listen Abraham, people say well, Abraham wasn't given any

kind of law or any kind of Commandments From God, but

that's simply not the case. We do see the law of Moses will

come later. But Genesis 26, verse 5 says

Genesis 26:5

this because that Abraham obeyed my voice.

This is God saying this Abraham obeyed.

My voice and kept my charge, my Commandments, my statutes and my

laws. God had obviously spoken to

Abraham and there had been some understanding.

Although we don't have those laws and Commandments all

written for us here, in the Book of Genesis, it's obvious that

his God is inspiring, Moses to write.

The Books of Moses which includes the Book of Genesis

that he's trying to lay a Biblical foundation for the

tithe, which will later be part of the law.

But it wasn't just Abraham who was at either, if you will, it

would also have been Jacob as well turn to Genesis chapter

number 28, Genesis, chapter number 28, Look at verse number

22, Genesis chapter 28. And then verse number 22,

Genesis 28 · chapter mention

She started verse number 20, it says, and Jacob vowed.

A vow saying if God will be with me and will keep me in this way

that I go, and will give me bread to eat and raiment to put

on. So that I come again to my

father's house and peace, then shall the Lord be my gob.

And this Stone which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's

house and have all that thou shalt.

Give me, I will surely give the tenth unto thee that word tenth

still meaning a tithe. And so, what do we see?

We saw Abraham who gave Of tithes to the king of

Melchizedek. But we also see Jacob here, the

grandson of Abraham who also makes this valve giving tithes

you say, Pastor what would have precipitated him doing this?

Well, do you remember when we were called Jacob's Ladder?

The ladder that was shown to Jacob and Bethel where the

Angels were ascending and descending.

He said, surely this must be the house of God.

This was something that had a great effect on him.

Certainly didn't have enough effect on him to change his

conniving ways but certainly it was something that God was using

as a way. Marker in his life, to

continually draw him closer to you.

In fact, later on, he'll go back to Bethel and he'll call El

Bethel because he calls it. The god of the house of God,

recognizing this isn't just that the house of God.

But now the house of God's God is my God.

And so God just bring him along but he says very early on in his

life. God, you've done something great

for me. You kept me alive in the face of

Esau who wants to kill me. Well, because it was his own

fault, but still, he says, you've kept me alive.

You show me this. Grace mercy and this great Grace

by opening up the Heavens to show me that I'll be protected.

And so I want you to know that out of this great love and out

of this, great desire to be able to give back to you.

I'm going to give a tenth of all.

Now we don't have all the details of how he did that when

he did that. I'll be frank with you.

I don't see that here in our text, exactly how that happened

or or Abraham? How he continued to give ties.

I don't have that but I do see this.

We see a Biblical pattern and there's a reason why Here.

Because I believe that God wants us to see before the law of

Moses was ever given. There were those who believed in

God, who realized that everything belongs to God and

they wanted to give back of that, which they were given.

And that's what I see here. In Genesis chapter, number 28,

these Patriarchs established that the tide was given before

the law. And really, we could go all the

way back to Genesis chapter 4. We don't have time, but we saw

Genesis 4 · chapter mention

that Cain and Abel gave offerings to the Lord, didn't

they? And that Cain gave an Offering

that was not pleasing to the Lord, but able gave one, that

was pleasing. One was of the blood and it was

pleasing to God. One was a fruits and vegetables

and was not pleasing to God but the issues of offerings and

tithe. Well, they had been given really

since the beginning but that's before the law.

But we also see that the tithe was given during the law as well

to the people of Israel. So go to Numbers Chapter number

18. Numbers chapter 18.

Numbers 18 · chapter mention

I know we're moving so quickly this morning but I instead of

breaking this up into several messages, I really want to

everyone who is here to see it together in one message.

So Numbers, chapter 18, beginning in verse number 20,

Numbers 18 · chapter mention

there were several different tithes that were given in the

law. There were three distinct tithes

that were given. We're not going to get into all

those here. This morning that some were done

annually, there's one that was done every three years, that was

done, particularly for the poor and for the levite Was within

your town, but we're looking at this here in Numbers, chapter

Numbers 18 · chapter mention

18. And we're seeing that the tithe

particularly was given to make sure that the house of God was

taken care of, for those who were sacrificing and those who

were worshipping and those who were using and utilizing the

house of God as God had commanded that, there would be

care for God's house. And so that's here.

In Numbers chapter 18, look at verse number 20 and the Lord

Numbers 18 · chapter mention

spake unto Aaron. Thou, Don't have no inheritance

in their land. Neither shalt thou have any part

among them. I am thy part and 9 inheritance

among the children of Israel and behold, I have given the

children of Levi, all the 10th and Israel, for an inheritance

for their service, which they serve, even the service of the

Tabernacle of the congregation neither must the children of

Israel henceforth come nigh. The Tabernacle of the

congregation less, they bear sin and die, but the Levites shall

do the service of the Tabernacle of the congregation and they

shall bear their iniquity. It shall be a statute forever

throughout. All your Generations that among

the children of Israel, they have no inheritance but the ties

of the children of Israel, which they offer as, in heave offering

unto the Lord. I have given to the Levites to

inherit. Therefore, I have said unto them

among the children of Israel, they shall have no inheritance.

And the Lord spake unto Moses saying, the speak under the

Levites and say unto them, when you take of the children of

Israel, the ties, which I have given you from them for your

inheritance, then you shall offer up and he offering of it

unto the Lord, even a tenth part of the tie.

And this, your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you as

though it were the corn and the threshing floor and the fullness

of the winepress. Thus ye shall offer and heave

offering unto the Lord of all your ties, which he receive of

the children of Israel and he shall give their of the Lord's.

Heave offering to Aaron the priest out of all your gifts.

You shall offer every heave offering of the Lord and have

all the best thereof. Even the hollow part thereof of

it. That phrase, the best Rob is in

verse number 30 as well. See God set up that the tithe

particularly was going to be used for the establishment of

worship in the land of Israel, and also to care for the Levites

who were the ones, who well led the worship in the land of

Israel, as well. And what I find interesting in

the second part from verse number 25 on was that God told

the Levites. He says, as you receive the

tithe from the people of Israel, make sure that you tithe off of

that, which you receive, maybe you would say pass.

Aster. This must be uncomfortable for

you to be able to preach this kind of message because we're

all supposed to tithe. But because you're the pastor,

you don't tie the right. Doesn't work like that as a

pastor, I should be the one who is leading as best as I can and

giving that that's something that we pray about and ask the

Lord, to be able to help us to be able to do and not just to

give, but to give over and above that, which is the tithe and our

life because we feel like God is supplied for us in such a great

way. And so God says the Israelites

he says you tithe, and he looks at the Levites.

He says as you receive the tithe, you tithe and make sure

you give the best. Now, we understand that for

them, there would be some issues.

Are as far as currency and such were sometimes, their tithes was

to give a goat and sometimes of their tithes, was to give of

that, which was the increase of their fields.

That was be what their tithes would be sometimes.

But, you know, I don't have any goats at home.

I live in an apartment and I don't have any kind of fields

the fields, were that I have or well, they belong to someone

else in the farm, that's behind her apartment.

I don't have any of that, but God has given me increase.

And so, the first fruits of the increase, I give back to the

Lord in these areas and God has called all of us to Ooh, and it

was here in the law. In fact, there were some who

would compute that if you were to take all the ties that the

Israelites were to give on the annual basis, then on the basis

of the increase of their fields, but then also on the three-year

period, that they could have given somewhere over 20% of what

they actually gave back to the Lord.

And they were to give of the first fruits of the increase,

meaning this that they were to give of the best.

They were to give to God first. And I think that's important

they were to give the best and give God the first.

And I will say this this morning as well.

Our family, we've always felt that it's important that when we

tie the, we tithe off of the gross that we receive and not

the net of what we receive you say.

Well, Pastor, I don't receive all of the gross, I only receive

the net. Well, I will say this, I want my

giving to go to God first before the government.

And so, for us. And this is something that we've

come to in. Our lives, is something between

you and the Lord. We want to give God of the best

of what we have. Not what's left over after the

government gets their say second chronicles 31.

Five says this and as soon as the Commandment came abroad, the

children of Israel brought in abundance, the firstfruits of

the Corn, the wine, the oil, and the honey, and of all the

increase of the field and the tithe of all things.

They brought abundantly. Proverbs 3 verse 9, it's funny.

Proverbs 3:9

We talk about Proverbs 3:5 and 6 quite a bit.

Proverbs 3:5

But verse number 9, says this honor, the Lord with thy

substance and with the first fruits of all thine, increase,

Jeremiah 2 verse 3. Israel was Holiness unto the

Jeremiah 2:3

Lord, and the firstfruits of his increase all that.

Bauer him shall offend evil. Shall come upon them.

Saith the Lord. Israel was the tithe if you will

a smaller part of the greater world and God said this Israel,

as you are the tithe and a sense you are to tithe in the same

way. That was during the law.

And I think no one has an argument about whether tithing

was part of the law. I think everyone no matter what

theological position you might come from, would say yes.

I mean, I see tithing as part of the law, but here's a question.

Do we live under the law today, but we know that the law itself

was done away with by Jesus Christ, in the sense that the

veil was rent in two or that we can come boldly Before the

Throne of Grace today, aren't you?

Glad that you don't have to come to me to hear from God aren't

you? Glad that you want to go to a

priest to hear from God know that you can go directly to God

himself and that when you sin that you don't have to come to

me and bring an offering and then I will offer it before the

Lord, then I will help you to be able to be right before God

that, no, you can go right before God right now.

And ask look right where you're sitting right now and as Lord,

forgive me because I'm just wishing he'd be done and maybe

that's what you're thinking right now.

God will forgive you, if that's what you're thinking about, all

right. But whatever it is.

You can go before the Lord and you could ask him to forgive you

and he will that's a blessing. But what did Jesus say about the

tithe? Know it's interesting that Jesus

never condemned the time. He condemned the hearts of the

people who would give the time Jesus never condemned the tithe

he would condemn the wrong hearts of the people who would

give the tithe for instance, Matthew 23:23.

Matthew 23:23

Well, once you scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites for you,

pay tithe of mint, and anise, and cumin and have omitted, the

weightier matters of the law and judgment, and mercy, and Faith.

These all you have done and not to leave the other undone.

What is Jesus saying to the Pharisees?

I don't want your money. I don't want your herbs.

I don't want your spices. What I really want, is your

heart. He says, sure you can be

obedient in giving and that's good, but what I really want, is

the heart behind the giving to be right, listen, just giving

10% does it make you square? With God, giving 20% doesn't

make you square with God. Giving 50%, doesn't make you

square with God, be a JC Penney and give 90%.

It doesn't make you square with God.

It's about the heart for God. Loveth a cheerful Giver.

Jesus said in Matthew chapter 5 verse number 23 and 24.

Matthew 5 · chapter mention

Therefore, if thou, bring thy gift to The Altar and there

rememberest that thy brother have ought against thee, leave

there, thy gift before the Altar and go thy way.

First be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer

thy gift. He says, it's the harmony

between the family, the harmony between the Brethren is more

important than the offer. But Jesus himself, never

condemned the offering itself. He never condemned the tither.

He never said, I'm doing away with the tithe and certainly you

They will didn't Jesus say in The Sermon on the Mount he says.

So it has been said, but I say unto you so it has been said,

but I say unto you, well, sure he did say that but every time

he said that he was saying here's what the law says, but I

want you to go above and beyond that which was I've said above

and beyond that. Which I've said, you know, you

say that you haven't murdered, that's great.

Have you hated in your heart? You say that you haven't

committed adultery, you have you lost it in your heart.

You, you pray these long prayers Pharisees, but I know your heart

is far from From me. And so the issue is not Jesus.

Saying the tithe is no longer important because the need is

still there. The issue is this when we give

them the tithe, what's the heart that we give in this new

testament era that we live in? What's the heart?

That's behind it. And it's not necessarily that we

give just by the wrote of the law.

Well, I have to give, listen, I'm not to the point where I

have to give you realize. I'm at the point where I get to

give I get to give and I get to be part of God's plan and the

beauty of 10% is this, is that whether you have a million

dollars or one dollar, ten percent still 10%.

And that God has left you with that other portion.

But I would say this as I give today, I give not by law.

But I give by grace. In fact, sometimes you'll hear

people say this pastor. I just I don't tithe, I do Grace

giving And I would say to that, we go to 2nd Corinthians chapter

9 where we started and see a pattern for Grace giving.

But here's what I found. When it comes to the grace of

God, it always comes in abundance.

It always comes in abundance. If I'm to give by Grace it's not

going to be just the stingy part of the law.

It's actually going to be over and above, you know, I give to

missions. It's Grace giving you know I

give it a special offerings. It's Grace giving you know why?

When an evangelist comes and we want to be a blessing to him.

Why give its Grace giving? You know why?

When an evangelist comes and there's a love offering.

I just don't take $50 out of my tithe and put it in the love

offering bruising wife's. I want to give by Grace, I want

to give over and above what I've given.

I'm not just reallocating the funds.

I want to give more. I want to give above, I want to

be part of it, because I want God to bless Say pastor.

I'm not comfortable with us. in fact, I love coming to church,

but today, I'm not loving it so much, it's a pastor.

Why would you say that? Because I'm looking at some of

you right now. Quite honestly.

I know, it's uncomfortable. But a couple things about that.

God didn't call me here to preach to you.

What you make, what you want to have comfortable in your life?

If a church ran me out because I preach the word of God that I'd

say, so be it. No, no one's threatening to run

me out. I'm not trying to make myself a

martyr. I'm not trying to be overly

dramatic, I'm not. But what I'm saying is, is that

when I get in the Bible during the week, and even as I plan

messages out, for instance, months out at times, I'm not

saying, you know, what do the people really want to hear?

You don't want to go to a church where the pastor preaches and

says, what do people want to know?

Because that's not preaching. That's an echo chamber.

And Jesus came to abolish that kind of preaching and teaching,

that's what the Pharisees did. It was all about that.

So I can't take that into consideration.

But the second part of this is this.

Is that the issue of tithing is not one that should cause us.

Great anxiety. It's one that should cause us.

Great joy. And here's why Malachi chapter

Malachi 3 · chapter mention

3. This is we're going to end.

And I understand, please turn to Malachi chapter 3.

Malachi 3 · chapter mention

I know that we've gone through this very quickly and I can't, I

can't discuss all the facets of what tithing is in a short

period of time like this. But I do feel like it's

important for us to see this today and so my point in

preaching, this is not to try to make anyone feel uncomfortable

in and of itself. That's not my desire again.

If you are visiting here, my desire is not to try to extract

funds from you. That's not why?

I'm preaching, I'm preaching. So that those who have benefited

from Liberty, Baptist Church, understand that what God has

ordained to move, Liberty. Baptist forward is for those who

have benefited from this church to be able to pour back in in

tithes and offerings unto the Lord.

And when I give I don't take all that I have down to the 10

percent and if it's, you know, goes down to 46 cents.

Make sure that I write the check with 46 cents the it because

that's 10%. You know, I kind of just make

sure that I just give as it's God's blessed me.

But I look at Malachi chapter 3, I'm going to read you some

Malachi 3 · chapter mention

verses. That are going to be pretty

harsh. But I'm also going to read you

some words. That are going to give even

Greater Joy. If you'll open your heart,

they're going to seem harsh but they'll bring great joy.

Look at Malachi chapter 3. Look at verse number will a man.

Malachi 3 · chapter mention

Rob. God, well, who would want to Rob

God? That doesn't sound like a great

thing. Yeah, you have robbed me but she

say this is the Israelites wherein.

Have we robbed thee in tithes and offerings?

God says, why are you holding on to that?

Which belongs to me? Can I tell you?

They're been sometimes we've been pretty low as a family

pretty low. I've told you testimonies before

about us as a family, not getting paid when we're supposed

to get paid. When we were in Tampa, and there

were times, we didn't have a whole lot.

In fact, the other side of that is there were times.

We didn't just have a whole lot, but then we added debt to try to

stay alive, which, and I was working, extra jobs.

I told you before, I worked overnight for the Tampa Bay

Lightning, not playing for them, but, you know, cleaning up after

them. And so, we just need someone to

train during the night. You know, those kind of things.

I can't ice skate because I live in Florida, but Right?

No, I work afterwards. We were accruing debt.

Listen, I'll just be flat honest with you, we were going to pay

day loan stores writing checks, hoping to get the check, you

know, the cash upfront and then getting the money and, you know,

check in cash to a couple weeks with a fee.

Like that's where we're, I'm not suggesting anyone do that?

I'm saying, that's, that's where we were.

I might even say it was a wise thing to do, but here's what I

understood during that time. I can't stop tithing.

You say Pastor what do you like an addict or something?

No, I just know that my situation wasn't to get better

by robbing God. I had to keep giving to it.

See past. You just don't know when to quit

that wasn't the issue. I just want to be obedient.

And he got bad for a while. and we were in, DET.

I don't want to comparing ourselves among ourselves are

not wise if I gave you the number.

Some of you might go, some of you go hos at it.

So I'm not going to tell you what the number is so he's in

that that's it. But listen, we were in our

mid-20s didn't know anything about life, it was bad but I

knew enough to know. I got to go.

It was hard. There was a couple weeks, I

didn't, and I just got paid. And the Lord Bird In My Heart,

during the week that have to make it up the next week because

I knew I can't do this. Do I trust him or not?

Do I trust him or not and take care of my needs?

And so, when you read that first verse, it's harsh. and I'll be

honest, if you're not tithing, that's a sucker punch to the gut

If you're supposed to be God's if God's puts you part of the

group and and that that seems to be a sucker punch.

And it says, in verse number nine, you're cursed with the

cursed for you've robbed me, even this whole nation.

Do you know when you withhold that it affects others, it

affects the group and Liberty effects are furtherance, the

ability to move forward. Hey Pastor.

I'm so glad. I came to Liberty.

Baptist Church get encouraged today.

Well, verse number Ten's for you because here's the thing.

If you have a sinking feeling in your gut right now and you say

pastor, this is crazy Pastor, you're out of your mind.

Pastor, you've overstepped your Authority Pastor.

You've gone too far this time. Pastor just doesn't you don't

know my situation. You don't understand how I have

had things happen to me and you don't know what people have done

to me and you don't understand. And the answer is, I don't But

God does, I don't know your situation but God does and he's

given us his word to guide us and encourage us, and listen,

either and guides Us in all things.

Were it, doesn't it? Either guides Us in the things

we want it to or at all things. And this is in all things.

Look at verse 10. I mean you won't get some

encouragement. Bring ye all the tithes into the

storehouse that there may be meat in mine house.

That's why we do it. And I'm not talking about the

taco meat, we're having after church, I mean he's talking

about that their baby stuff that's here.

And prove me now, herewith saith, the Lord of hosts.

If I will not open you up the windows of heaven and pour you

out a blessing, There shall not be room enough to receive it.

You want some encouragement? God says this.

Prove me. Groove Me.

Trust me. Trust me.

They ask you if a rich businessman came up to you.

And you knew he owned had millions of dollars.

He says, look you tithe and if you ever have a shortfall I'll

cover you. He probably didn't because, you

know, man, he's going to cover me. can I tell you someone more

than a rich businessman has come to you and says, I'm going to

cover you It's God. It's God.

Who me? Now, listen, those blessings

aren't always Financial. This isn't health and wealth,

isn't he? So a little seed, and all of a

sudden you're going to be a millionaire driving a Lexus and

all that. Have you seen our van That's not

what I'm saying. But God's blessings both

material and spiritual have been.

So abundant there times, I need almost feel like he's got to

turn off the spigot. I'll give you the end of the

testimony. We were in bad shape, awful

shame. But we committed ourselves to

give the Lord, God provided in some pretty amazing ways to

sustain us just to get us through Diane started getting

babysitting, jobs, that helped us get through.

I got the job at The Forum and became a supervisor pretty

quickly. While I was there picking up

trash supervising people picking up trash, not supervising the

players you just to make sure he understood them.

There was a time we couldn't pay our rent.

And literally within a few days, people just started giving us

money. People didn't know we needed it

and we had enough for rent. There were times, we were late

on our rent. But God, provided even by making

sure our house was stable. By the time we got to Boston,

God had provided in such a way that not only were we able to

pay off our debts, all those things, we incurred in Florida,

the church that we were at in Florida still owed us about six

thousand dollars. When you consider my annual

salary was 20,000, That's quite a bit.

We were able to write a note of forgiveness to the church and

say, you don't know this anymore, we don't need it

because God blessed us. You know what's amazing is there

are men and women that if I called on them right now would

stand up and would say Pastor that's our story, too.

That's our story to some of you've been in church a long

time and you say, that's what God's done for us and it's not

always Financial. Again, I want to be careful.

We're not talking about that health and wealth crowd because

you can give And the car still breaks down, you can give and

you might get sick. But God will still bless prove

me. Prove it. if you trust him

enough with your salvation, What you can't see?

Can't you trust him enough with your wallet?

And maybe the problem is, it's because we can see it, and it's

not Faith. Allow it to be fake.

Trust God and healed supply. All your needs.

Thank you for listening to this sermon from the pulpit of

Liberty, Baptist Church. If this message was a blessing

to you, or if there's any way we can serve you, please let us

know by contacting us at info. At my Liberty Baptist dot org.

Or you can visit us this Sunday at eight hundred Washington

Street. Eat and Easton Massachusetts,

may the Lord bless you as you grow in his word.

Eat and Easton Massachusetts, may the Lord bless you as you

grow in his word.