What Test?

So tithing is a test and but here's something that you might not know it's a two-way test. God not only tests you but this is the only place in scripture that I've found where God says you can test me.

Welcome to the blessed life. Did you know that the Bible actually says in one place that you can test God? Stay tuned. Turn to two passages please. Malachi chapter 3. Last book of the Old Testament. Malachi chapter 3 and then 2 Chronicles 31. We'll go over there in a moment and we're going to go through a lot of scripture in this message and I want to show you that tithing is scriptural and it is in God's Word. So Malachi chapter 3 verse 6. This is where we'll start.

Malachi 3 6. For I am the Lord I do not change. That's very important. I don't change. I do not change. Therefore you are not consumed O sons of Jacob.

Now I think that's humorous. He says I don't change. That's why I haven't killed you yet personally.

That's what I think he's saying there. I was nice and I'm still nice. All right. Verse 7. Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from my ordinances. Now we're going to come back to that word ordinance. What does it mean?

And have not kept them. Return to me and I will return to you says the Lord of hosts. But you said in what way shall we return. Now before we read verse 8 let me just remind you this is God talking. This is God.

The God who does not change. This is the God who does not change talking. He said you go away from my ordinances.

I just need probably tell you the word ordinance means a principle of ordinary behavior. You've gone away from my principles of ordinary behavior for God's children. And they say well in what way. Now I want you to notice this because this next verse a preacher didn't make this up. Okay this is God speaking. Verse 8 will a man rob God or steal from God. Yet you have robbed me. You've stolen from me. But you say in what way have we robbed you. Now watch again this is God talking in tithes and offerings.

You are cursed with a curse for you have robbed me even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse. That would be the church.

That there may be food in my house. Again that's the church. And try the the old King James uses the word prove.

The English Standard Version uses the word test. Test me now in this says says the Lord of hosts. I just want you to notice how many times he put says the Lord of hosts so we remember who's talking here.

The one who can't change is talking. Test me says the Lord of hosts if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes for your sakes so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field says the Lord of hosts. And all nations will call you blessed for you will be a delightful land says the Lord of hosts. This is God talking and this is the God who can't change.

You have to remember that. And he says you've gone away from my ordinances. You've gone away from my ordinary principles of behavior. Tithing is an ordinary principle of behavior for God's children to thank God for their income for their harvest for their increase.

That's an ordinary principle. And he said because you've gone away from my ordinary principles you're under a curse now. And you need to understand so many times we say well Christians can't be under curse because Christ bore the curse of the law and the cross.

He did. That is in regards to our salvation. But are you saying then that you can live any way you want and it doesn't affect you? Is that what you're saying?

Because that's just crazy to think that way. See if we steal there are consequences. A curse is a consequence. If you steal there's a consequence. What have you steal from God? And so many people say well yeah but the Lord owns it all. Yes but he actually gives us stewardship over it but he reserves 10% for himself. That's why he says you've stolen because he says I have set apart the tithe for the house of God. So if you keep it you're stealing it. And this word is also used in Joshua 6 and 7 when they took the tithe they were supposed to bring he said Israel has stolen stolen.

And again please please hear me. I didn't make these words up. These are strong words. God says you've stolen from me. You've robbed me and because of that you're under curse and I don't want you under curse. I don't want you living under a curse. But you're voluntarily placing yourself under a curse because you're going away from my ordinary principles of behavior. Now I had a conversation with the Lord one time about this passage because this is probably the most famous passage on tithing although there are many passages on tithing.

I'll show you some of them today. But this is probably the most famous one and so I had a conversation with the Lord one time and I said Lord the number one reason that I hear that people don't tithe is they say well that's in the Old Testament. That's in the Old Testament. And so I said to the Lord you know Lord you put this in Malachi 3 and then there's Malachi 4 and then Matthew 1. Couldn't you have just waited?

I mean just a little while. I mean that you know these verses only missed the New Testament by like 15 verses. I mean couldn't you just waited just a little while and put it you know what the Lord said to him? I just felt in my spirit he said I put it right where I wanted it. And the reason is here's point number one because tithing is a test. Tithing is a test.

See God is testing our hearts. Even when a person argues about tithing I think to myself what is the spirit behind this? Why would this person argue when God gave his son for you and you won't even get him 10%? Why would you argue about this? It's amazingly I'm telling you it's a test of your heart.

It's a test. Now I here's why I believe he chose 10%. By the way the word tithe is a Hebrew word.

Ma'ashra is the Hebrew word and it means 10th part or 10% 10th part. Okay so that's where we we get this from that we know it's 10%. Here's why I think he chose 10%. First of all I think he chose a percentage because it's fair to everyone. It doesn't matter if you make 30,000 or 300,000 it's a penny on every dime.

It's the same for every person. But here's the reason I think he chose 10 because for some reason many times when you see the number 10 in the bible it represents testing. You'll actually see the word test with it. For instance let me let's let's take a little test all right. I'm going to ask ask you a question and I want you to answer me out loud all the campuses all the churches just say your answer out loud all right. Here's the first question. How many plagues were there in Egypt? 10 right.

Now I could have said a different way. I could have said how many times did God test Pharaoh's heart because that's what he did but we're familiar with how many plagues there were. All right here's the second question. How many commandments are there? 10. Okay now I'm going to ask another question and you might not know this but there's a pattern here okay and this is the numbers 14 where God actually says this.

You can read it later all right but and then I want you to say your answer just a little louder okay. How many times did God test Israel in the wilderness? 10.

That's correct all right. How many times again you might not know this but okay how many times were Jacob's wages changed? 10.

God was testing his heart. How many days was Daniel tested? 10. How many virgins were tested in Matthew 25? 10. How many days of testing are mentioned in Revelation? 10. How many disciples were there?

No there were 12. I was just testing. I was just testing.

So tithing is a test and but here's something that you might not know it's a two-way test. God not only tests you but this is the only place in scripture that I've found where God says you can test me. Test me. This word try that sometimes translated test or prove it comes from the way you test a metal the way you test gold to see if it's pure. You know what God is saying? Test me to see if I'm pure.

Test me. I want you to. I want you to see because I want to open the windows of heaven.

I want to bless you. I want to rebuke the devour for you but it depends on whether you're going to thank me and worship me and walk in faith and whether you're going to believe that 90% with God's blessing will go farther than 100% without. And you open an area of faith when we do this. Again I hear people say things like you know it was that old testament or someone will say well you know that's under the law.

I don't understand that argument. Well it was under the law and I'm under grace now. Now I'm not saying we do it because obviously we're saved by grace but there are principles that were under the law that we should still walk in as believers. Thou shalt not commit adultery was under the law. Are you saying as a believer you can you can walk in adultery and and no consequences? Thou shalt not murder was under the law. Are you saying that because it was wrong under the law now it's right under grace?

See it's crazy. All right here's number two. Number one tithing is a test.

Here's number two. Tithing is biblical. biblical. You need to know that it's biblical.

There are a lot of people that they don't tithe and and here's really they're you're not a bad person if you don't tithe. You're not a bad person. I'm not saying that at all.

Not at all. You're not a rebellious person. But a lot of people don't really believe it's in the bible.

They don't really believe it's for us today. So let me show you some scriptures all right. We'll get to second chronicles 31 in a moment. Genesis 14 verses 18 through 20. Then Melchizedek king of Salem.

Salem means peace. Brought out bread and wine. There's a representation of communion even in the old testament. He was the priest of God most high and he blessed him. Now that's talking about Abram Abraham Abram and said bless be Abram of God most high possessor of heaven and earth and blessed be God most high who has delivered your enemies into your hand. Now watch this and he that's Abram Abraham gave him that's Melchizedek a tithe a tithe of all. Okay you need to know if you don't know this theologically this is about 500 years before the law. And Galatians says Abraham's our spiritual father and Melchizedek Hebrew says is a type of Christ and many theologians believe it's actually Jesus Christ because it says he has no genealogy. That's what Hebrews says no mother no father no no beginning of days no end of life.

It's pretty amazing. So it's either Jesus himself or a type of Christ and our spiritual father tithes gives 10 500 years before the law. Look look at Genesis 28 verse 22. This is talking about Jacob and this stone which I've set up as a pillar shall be God's house. Again an implication that the tithe goes to God's house.

And of all that you give me I will surely give a tenth to you. This is about 400 years before the law. Leviticus 27 30 and all the tithe of the land all of it all the tithe of the land whether of the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree is the Lord's. In other words it belongs to God. It is holy to the Lord. Remember the word holy means set apart. God has set it apart for him.

That's the only reason he could say you're stealing from me because I set that apart for my house and if you keep it then you're stealing it. Deuteronomy 26 verses 1 and 2 and it shall be when you come into the land which the Lord your God has given you as an inheritance and you possess it and dwell in it that you shall take some of the first. I'll show you next week in just a moment and later down in this passage how that refers to the tithe. First of all the produce of the ground which you shall bring from bring from the land that the Lord your God is giving you and you put it in a basket. Now watch this and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to make his name abide. Again referring to church where you go to you go to church you go to a place where the Lord chooses to make his name abide. Then look at verse 13. Then you shall say before the Lord your God I have removed the holy tithe.

In other words the set apart 10 percent. The holy tithe from my house and have given them to the Levite the stranger the followers and the widow. He directed where the tithe was to go according to all your commandments which you have commanded me. I've not transgressed your commandments nor have I forgotten them.

I've not eaten any of it when in mourning. I didn't use some of the tithe when I went through a difficult time nor have I removed any of it for any unclean use nor given any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the voice of the Lord my God and have done according to all that you have commanded me look down from your holy habitation from heaven and bless your people. I've removed the holy set apart 10th part from from my house and I've given it brought it to your house Lord. And now he says you after you do that you can pray this prayer look down from heaven and bless your servant.

Okay let me ask you a question all right. If Jesus said it that you ought to tithe in the new testament in red would you do it? You want to see the verse? Matthew 23 23 Jesus is speaking woe to you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for you pay tithe 10 percent a mint anise and cumin those are spices and have neglected the weightier matters of the law justice and mercy and faith and faith watch very carefully these you ought to have done without leaving the others undone. Okay here's what Jesus said you guys give tithes not only of your first fruits but you even give tithes of the spices that you're going to put on your food but you've neglected justice mercy and faith.

Then Jesus says you ought to do that you ought to do that but don't leave the other undone. That's Jesus you tithe but you don't do this you ought to do that but don't leave this undone or you ought to do those things but don't leave that undone either way. Okay Hebrews talks about again Melchizedek and Jesus and how mortal men receive tithes on this earth but let me show you what Hebrews says talking about Jesus is our Melchizedek. Watch this Hebrews 7 verse 8 here mortal men receives receive tithes but there he receives them of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Listen you put your tithe in a plate or offering bag or basket however it is that you give your tithe mortal men take care of it manage it things like that but listen in heaven he receives it of whom it is witnessed he lives. Jesus Christ receives my tithes that makes me want to tithe. So it is biblical and here's number three tithing is a blessing tithing is a blessing. Okay so let me tell you about second chronicles 31 now we're going to read there so if you put a marker there at second chronicles 31. Hezekiah one day is reading the scriptures and he sees these verses about tithing and they're in an economic recession and he realizes we're under curse the whole nation because we're not tithing we're stealing from God. So that's where we pick up the story second chronicles 31 verse 4 moreover he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priests and the Levites that they might devote themselves to the law of the Lord. Now just one just just stop for just a moment. Remember Malachi said bring the tithe in the storehouse that there may be food in my house and again they were talking about natural food but think about it today spiritual food. Let me just ask you something all right when you when you come to church do you enjoy the food the spiritual food that you get do you enjoy it okay someone's paying for it now I know I'm being blunt I'm not trying to be blunt I'm not trying to be offensive in any way I'm just just a reality someone's paying for this building someone's paying for utility someone's paying for the staff salaries someone's paying not not just for me to devote myself to the word of God and to bring messages but for all the staff for the youth ministry for children's ministry women's ministry men's ministry for the you know teaching classes for for us we we have kairos and freedom ministry and all is it okay someone's paying for that okay let me so let me ask you a question let me just put it in a talking about food here let me give you an analogy would any of you here go to a restaurant eat a meal and then leave without paying for it any of you some christians do that every week I go to church eat a meal and skip out on the check here's here's the sad thing you're the one that's hurting I don't preach on tithing because the church needs money we're we're doing fine financially I promise you I'm doing this to help you this will change your life your family your finances your marriage your children your grandchildren this will change you I promise you all right so he puts out he says everyone needs to bring the tithe to the house of God now look at verse five as soon as the commandment was circulated the children of Israel brought in abundance the first fruits again I'll show you next week how that relates to the tithe of grain and wine oil and honey and of all the produce of the field and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything there it is right there showing you it's the tithe 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 were consecrated to the Lord their God they laid in heaps in the third month they begin laying them in heaps and they finished in the seventh month now these months relate to the harvest okay and when hezekiah and the leaders came and saw the heaps they blessed the Lord and his people Israel then hezekiah questioned the priest and the levites concerning the heaps and azariah the chief priest from the house of zadok answered him and said since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord again the tithe always comes it goes to the house of God we have had enough to eat and have plenty left for the Lord has blessed his people and what is left is this great abundance okay here's what happens the the king sends out the this commandment and says we're supposed to be tithing to the house of God so the people begin doing it they begin in the third month which is a harvest time but then there's another harvest the seventh month and they continue through that time and and so when the king comes to visit and he sees these heaps heaps that the people brought to the house of God here here's what in essence he says it says he questioned them about the heaps here's what he's saying are the people okay are they okay i mean look look how much they've given or do they have enough left and the priest said oh king as soon as the people started to do it god's way god so blessed them what you're seeing here is just the ten percent if you think there are heaps here go look at the 90 go look at how god blessed his people when they begin obeying his word i've been in ministry now for over 30 years i've heard two testimonies for that time about tithing consistent testimonies you know scripture says in the mouth of two or three witnesses okay here are the two testimonies people have said to me tithers consistently have said to me we are so blessed boy it all changed when we begin tithing we are so blessed pastor arbor we are so blessed that's what tithers have said here's what non tithers have said i can't afford to tithe that's their testimony i can't afford to tithe and and again not me not rebellious people just i can't afford that listen to me you will never be able to afford to tithe until you tithe because tithing is what breaks the curse and rebukes the devourer as soon as you start to get ahead something else will break because the devourer but tithing is what rebukes him think about this jesus said i'm going away for a while is that right i'm going away i'm coming back but while i'm gone i want you to take care of my wife 10 you can keep the nighty um let me just just remind you is the church the bride of christ okay listen to me very carefully tithing might be more personal to jesus than what you thought because it's his wife he has the power and if you say well i can't believe you just take it away and give it to others if you don't think jesus would do that read the parable of the talents when he took from the one that wasn't faithful and gave it to the one who was faithful he wants to provide for you but why would he provide and bless people who will not even be concerned about his wife it's a test and it's very important we pass this test every time we get paid we take a test and that test is whom are we going to honor for our paycheck and we want to honor god and i want to encourage you tithe to your local church put god first in every area of your life including your finances i want to also encourage you that if you'd like to get this entire series because there's a lot more that i covered when i shared this with the church that i can't cover each week on the television program or even every day as we go on television in many places so i want to encourage you get the series get the book let god speak to you and be the generous person that god created you to be see you next time the enemy will do anything to keep you from discovering god's principles for financial stewardship giving and blessing and it's because once you apply these godly principles as pastor robert has outlined in his book that the enemy robert has outlined in his series you will begin to see change in every area of your life from your marriage to your health to your finances your life will be transformed for the better and you will be positioned to make an even bigger impact for the kingdom of god we would like for you to have a copy of these life-changing messages right now for your gift of any amount we'll send you a digital download of pastor robert's signature series the blessed life and we'll include his message the seven words of christmas we'll also include the christmas story resource guide and if you give 85 or more we'll include our brand new christmas devotional emmanuel god with us pastor robert's book the seven words of christmas and a set of three beautiful christmas ornaments with the words peace hope and joy and for a gift of 155 or more we'll also include our new comfort and joy blanket and a beautiful leather bound comparative parallel bible complete with scripture from four popular bible translations visit us today at pastorrobert.com to request these resources and as always thank you for your continued support of pastor robert morris ministries for me it was kind of a stay away from that let's talk about other things and let's get got involved in all the other aspects of my life but you know what the money thing let's just kind of hold that off and it was a real struggle for me and it came down to basically if i really say i'm putting god first in my life then prove it at first the definition of tithing to me was an admission ticket to church as sad as that sounds to say it was i'd go to church and we pulled money out of the wallet and put it in the basket but i think there was like a progression i think that that that took place and really felt like the holy spirit was saying this is something that i really i want for you i want for you to do you need to do it and we talked about it a lot we prayed about it we were not in the same places probably the same time i think regarding it and stuff but you know we just prayed and i was like okay if this is something you want us to do lord then then we're gonna we're gonna need your help to kind of to move us and help to bring this about i started to feel a great sense of peace for work or for our personal life or our family i know that god's in control and if i'm doing the right thing and being a good steward of the money or i'm being a good steward with my time or being a good steward and trying to help build his kingdom he blesses me and pours into me with that sense of calm and peace and confidence i think the hardest part is starting the hardest part is the first step and my challenge would be just do it just do it you know put god first in your life doesn't mean you're always perfect but put them first in your life especially in this area and you'll be over blessed my only regret is we didn't we didn't do it sooner but better late than never better late than never you