Tithe: A Sign of God's Lordship

TITHE: A SIGN OF GOD’S LORDSHIP

Aniel BarbeStewardship Ministries and Trust Services

SIDCategory: Mainstreaming of Stewardship

Plan

I. The First Test

I. Signs of Lordship

II.Tithe Throughout the Bible

Part I

The First Test

The First Test

On which issue was our first parents tested ?

The First Test

Genesis 3:4,5

And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die,

for God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

The First Test

Genesis 3:4,5

And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die,

for God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

You Shall be as gods!

Adam and Eve have chosen to play the owners/lords in place of the real

Owner/Lord.

Part II

Signs of Lordship

Tests For Today!

Human existence takes place along two dimensions.

Acts 17:28“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.”• Time• Space

Tests For Today!

Who is the Owner/Lord of my time and my space?

What are the signs given by God?

The Signs have to be More than Verbal Acknowledgement!

Matthew 7:21

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Tests For Today!

How are we supposed to demonstrate our acknowledgement of God’s Lordship and Ownership?

- Time: Sabbath- Space: Tithe

The Sign of the Sabbath

Ezekiel 20:12

“Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy.”

The Sign of Tithe

Genesis 28: 20-22

“If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear21 so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the LORD will be my God 22 and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”

The Sign of TitheGenesis 28: 20-22

v. 20: Material things that God provides: Food, Clothe & Protection.

v. 22a: The Lord will be my God.

v. 22b: As signs, I will build a pillar and return tithe.

Signs of Lordship and Ownership!

When keeping the sabbath, we are reminding ourselves and acknowledging that not only the 7th Day belongs to Him but all the days of the week and all the days of my life.

When returning tithe, we are reminding ourselves and acknowleging that not only 1/10th of my revenue belongs to Him but all my belongings and the material world.

Why Talk about Money?

Should spiritual beings spend much time to speak about money?

Why Talk about Money!

1. It is a very common theme in the Bible:

a) Over two thirds of the parables deal with money or material possessions.

b) Over 2,350 biblical references to money! 650 on love, 350 on

faith, 275 on prayer.


2. Money is life. Time + Talent + Energy = Life = Money

3. Finances are a spiritual battleground:a. In the world.b. In the work place and business. c. In the home.d. In the church.

4. God uses money.5. Money competes with God (Matt. 6:24).


Money competes with God (Matt. 6:24).

Matthew 6:24

“No one can serve two masters (Lords). For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Part III

Tithe Throughout the Bible

The Original Purpose of Tithing

What is the purpose of returning tithe?

- The common quick answer is: To support the Church.

- For the 1st two occurrences, Genesis 14 and Genesis 28, corporate worship was not yet in place!

1st Occurrence of Tithing

Genesis 14

- God granted Abram a great success.

- On his way back he met Melchizedek, king

of Salem.

- His natural reaction was to offer a tithe

in response to the blessing receive.

- The sequence: Blessed he gave tithe,

Tithing was a response to God goodness.

1st Occurrence of Tithing

More Lessons:

- Tithe is calculated on all revenues.

Genesis 14: 20

“Nathan” : to give back

- Given to those who are instruments to bestow

spiritual blessings (v.19)

- Tithing is practiced by those who recognize God

as their creator/owner and protector (vv.

18,20,22)

2nd Occurrence of Tithing

Genesis 28:10-22

- Jacob cheated his elder brother and his

father concerning birth right.

- Following his mother advise he ran away

from the house of his father to escape

the anger of his brother.

- He laid down and fall asleep with a stone

as a pillow.

2nd Occurrence of Tithing

- He had a vision angels ascending and

descending on a ladder.

- The God who was at the upper end of the

ladder made promises to Jacob, vv 13-15

“I will be with you…”

2nd Occurrence of Tithing Jacob’s Response:

- Jacob wake us with comfort and assurance.

- He calls the place Bethel: House of God

- He pours oil on the stone.

- And pronounced these words: “God, if you

will be with me as you promised, if you bring

me back and bless me with possessions …

out of everything you give me, I will give

out a tenth.” Genesis 28:22

2nd Occurrence of Tithing Lessons

• The Sequence: Tithing is the response to

the blessings received.

• By tithing, one recognize and worship God

as the Provider.

• Not tithing is making oneself the owner.

2nd Occurrence of Tithing More Lessons

Before making the promise to tithe Jacob

choose God as Lord. (v.16)

It was promised to God during a worship

experience: Commitment to God,

Worshipping God, Tithe.

Clear Instructions about Tithing - Leviticus 27: 30-33

And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land orof the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.

If a man wants at all to redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one-fifth to it.

And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord.

He shall not inquire whether it is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it; and if he exchanges it at all, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.’”

Clear Instructions about Tithing

3. Leviticus 27:30-33

• Tithe belongs to God.

• It is holy to the Lord.

• God shares in the risk—no selection by quality.


Numbers 18: 21-28


4. Numbers 18:21-28

• God gives the tithe to the Levites.

• Even the Levites were to tithe.

• Tithes are an offering to the Lord


“Tithe” in the book of Deuteronomy


5. Deuteronomy 12:6-17; 14:22-28; 26:12.

• Second tithe (uniquely different).

• Worship of God.

• Sharing God's blessings to others

• Given every third year to the Levites and the poor.

• Brought to the place God chosen as a “dwelling place” for His name.

Clear Instructions about Tithing 6. Tithe and Revival

2 Chronicles 29-31

• The temple is restored

• The worship services are restored

• Passover is celebrated once again

• Levites are restored to ministry

• A Call to return tithe

Clear Instructions about Tithing Tithe and Revival

The response of the people

2 Chronicles 31: 5-8

As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything. And the children of Israel and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, brought the tithe of oxen and sheep; also the tithe of holy things which wereconsecrated to the Lord their God they laid in heaps.

Clear Instructions about Tithing Revival and Tithe/Offerings

7. Nehemiah 10:37-38; 12:44; 13:5, 12.

• Time of revival when Ezra reads the law.

• Corporate worship is restored.

• A commitment to faithfulness to God in tithes and offerings.

• Storerooms for the tithes and offerings are established.


8. Amos 4:4

• A challenge to their tithes while living a live of sin.

• We cannot separate tithe from your heart relationship.

• It has to be an external expression of what is inside.


9. Malachi 3: 7-8

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 3:7-10

• Extended dialogue over their apostasy.

• Call to return to God.

• Robbery—failure to recognize God's blessings.

The act of accusation is reading: Robbery

You are already blessed otherwise you cannot rob God.


Malachi 3:7-10

Tithe is both a response to God’s blessing and a gateway for more blessings.


Quotation from E.G.White

“When we have entire, wholeheartedconsecration to the service of Christ, Godwill recognize the fact by an outpouring ofHis Spirit without measure; but this will notbe while the largest portion of the churchare not laborers together with God. Godcannot pour out His Spirit when selfishnessand self-indulgence are so manifest.”

Counsels on Stewardship, p.52

Revival and Benevolence

Clear Instructions about Tithing Jesus and Tithing

10. Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42; 18:12.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and pharisees, you hypocrites. ! You give a tenth of you spices- mint, dill and cummin. But you rejected the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter , without neglecting the former.”

Clear Instructions about Tithing Jesus and Tithing

10. Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42; 18:12

• Tithe remains as an expected response.

• Tithe is returned in the context of a consistent lifestyle.

Clear Instructions about Tithing Paul and Tithing

11.Hebrews 7:1-10.

• Review of Abram and Melchizedek

• Tithing is presented as a Universal command.( Before the levitical system)

• Tithe does not belong to the Levi. They also gave tithe to Melchizedek through Abram. V.10

• Tithe belongs to the one who is king of righteousness, king of peace, without father or mother, without beginning of day and end of life.

Conclusion 1. The tithe belongs to and is returned to God.

2. Tithing is an act of worship to God.

3. Tithe is returned in response to God’s blessings.

4. Tithing is a test of loyalty for God’s people.

5. Tithing is part of revival.

4. God supports those who serve in corporate

worship by giving the tithe He receives to them.

Appeal

Who will recognize God as owner and

Lord by returning a faithful tithe?

OUR VISION

All of us in Full Partnership

with Him, accomplishing the

Final Mission

END

Spiritual

Tithe: A Sign of God's Lordship