God will keep us from the devourer

Sharing on Tithes and Offering.

Definitions:
- Tithes : Giving of a tenth of our first fruits to God and church
- Offering : Presentation as an act of worship and giving to help (for example Christmas offering or offering for tsunami victims, etc)
- First fruits: The first gathered fruits of a harvest, offered to God in gratitude. The first results of an undertaking.

1. God initiated giving
God sets the example of giving in salvation and in beginning of creation. He supplies to us to give. As the Father gave in John 3:16, so we give in the same spirit which is sacrificially. God is the giver of life and of salvation (Genesis).

And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
(Gen 22:13-14)

God also gave out of His grace : Noah, Rahab, Solomon, for the church the giving of the Holy Spirit.... and our salvation!

One of the true signs of receiving a giving from the highest Heaven is that grace becomes a hallmark of their ministry.

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
(Act 4:33)

2. Giving starts with giving our own selves first

2 Cor 8:
5 And [this they did], not as we hoped , but first gave their own selves to the Lord , and unto us by the will of God .

The Macedonian church’s example to give their substance by first giving of themselves to the Lord, then out of that they gave sacrificially.

Out of a heart of thankfulness for salvation, the early church gave to support each other generously. This is done with genuine love for each other, a true mark of discipleship. Obeying the second of the two greatest commandment to love others.

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
(Act 4:32)

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
(John 13:35)

3. God’s promises if we give tithes and offering

Mal 3:
6 For I [am] the LORD , I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed . 7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances , and have not kept [them]. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts . But ye said , Wherein shall we return ? 8 Will a man rob God ? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say , Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings . 9 Ye [are] cursed with a curse : for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation . 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse , that there may be meat in mine house , and prove me nowherewith , saith the LORD of hosts , if I will not open you the windows of heaven , and pour you out a blessing , that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].

- If we don’t five our tithes and offering, the judgment is very strong ; do we rob God?
- Robbing God in not giving tithes and offering shows our ungratefulness in receiving salvation, not acknowledging that He is our Provider. It also means that there will be the house of God being neglected and the poor uncared for. In other words when we deprive the poor, we also rob God!

To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
(Isa 10:2)

And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.
(Lev 19:10)

Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.
(Jer 22:3)

And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
(Mal 3:5)

- God will not only judge workers of iniquity, but also to those who overlook the needs of the poor in our offering.
- Note that the judgment for both is the same, God’s heart reaches out to the poor
- God doesn’t curse us, but rather we are cursed because of lack of generosity
– both in acknowledging God as provider (by our first fruits, tithing) and offering for the poor
- Know for a fact that God will bless us with Heavenly blessings! Blessings that are not just for today, but for eternal.
- The today’s blessings are easy to define. They are our daily needs for food and clothing (shelter included).

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
(Mat 6:31-33)

God know our every need. Like wise we consider the needs of others

- What are the eternal blessings then?... His Kingdom! Jesus spoke a lot of the Kingdom of God as well as the inheritance laid out for us. Matt 5:3,10, 20 Jesus talks about the poor and the righteous inheriting His Kingdom. Jesus ask us to pray His Kingdom to be established on earth (Matt 6:10). Jesus taught the parables of the Kingdom. It was the subject in His heart, as well as in His heart that we inherit His Kingdom.

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
(Rom 14:17)

- We give our external (money and first fruits) but God bless us with Heavenly Blessings
– His Kingdom and fullness of life thereof.

4. How are we then rich

- Definition of being ‘rich’ is being able to bless out of our abundance. Nothing to do with the quantum we have. Able to give is the rich-ness that we are able to give.

2 Cor 8:
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ , that , though he was rich , yet for your sakes he became poor , that ye through his poverty might be rich .

- That we know the grace--the act of gratuitous love whereby the Lord emptied Himself of His previous heavenly glory (Php 2:6, 7) for your sakes. Became poor--Yet this is not demanded of you (2Co 8:14); but merely that, without impoverishing yourselves, you should relieve others with your abundance. If the Lord did so much more, and at so much heavier a cost, for your sakes; much more may you do an act of love to your brethren at so little a sacrifice of self. Might be rich--in the heavenly glory which constitutes His riches, and all other things, so far as is really good for us (compare 1Co 3:21, 22).

Duet 8:17,18
17 And thou say in thine heart , My power and the might of [mine] hand hath gotten me this wealth . 18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God : for [it is] he that giveth thee power to get wealth , that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers , as [it is] this day .

- Recognize that it is God that gives us the ability to work, his providence of our intellect and skill. He sustains us by giving us health to be able to work. Therefore we have to than honor God from whom all blessings flow.

Prov 3:9,10
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance , and with the firstfruits of all thine increase : 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty , and thy presses shall burst out with new wine .

5. God protects us from the devourer

And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
(Mal 3:11)

- That’s why Job won’t curse God because of the Righteousness in him.
- What about storage of earthly treasures ( Matt 6:19-21) where neither moth, nor rust destroys and thieves can’t steal. Job had the qualities that the devil couldn’t touch, although the body suffered and losing everything dear to Job.

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
(Rom 1:4)

- God’s holiness protects us from corruption as it did Christ. Basically protects us from being devoured by the devourer who comes to kill, steal and to destroy.
- His peace that passes all understanding that keeps us in sanity is only when He reigns as Prince of Peace.
- Joy of the Lord which is our strength will not fail us (Neh 8:10).
Suicides getting younger in age, people who live a cursed live, not having any salvation to their living hell. For us to live is Christ, to die is gain means we have a greater life in eternity to look forward to.