Tithing Brings Blessing

Today we are going to learn about the Word of GOD which brings blessing from GOD for HIS people through tithe. Tithe does not make GOD’s people lacking, but it actually brings great blessing for GOD’s people who obey HIS decrees/commandments. Let us study this matter!!!
1. GOD loves His people, but HIS people do not obey HIM.
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It is shown in verse 6 how GOD’s love to HIS people and HIS promise that the descendants of Jacob will not be destroyed. It is an expression of GOD’s love to care for HIS chosen people.
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However, in verse 7a they have turned away from GOD’s commandment and have not kept them.
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That is why they live in all kinds of suffering. For example: Adam and Eve turned away from GOD’s commandment so that they lived in suffering.2.. Return to GOD is the key for restoration (v. 7b).
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“Return to ME, and I will return to you, says the LORD Almighty”. This is GOD’s promise to HIS people who want to return to GOD, so that their situation/life/being will be restored by GOD.
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It is the same with us who want GOD to restore our situation/problem/family/ business ? return to GOD. For example: The prodigal son.3. How do we return to GOD?
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Many people do not realize that they have turned away from GOD’s commandments, in what way and how they could turn away from GOD’s commandments. So they also do not know how to return to GOD’s commandments. Just as GOD’s people asked in verse 7c: “How are we to return?”
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The Israelites (GOD’s people) was wrong in front of GOD in tithe and special offerings.
Tithe is 10% offering from all of our income which we must return to GOD (90% is given to us to manage and 10% must be returned for GOD’s work). For example: businessman, employee, etc.
While special offering is an offering for special need outside tithing. For example: special offerings for church building, sponsor children in need, the establishment of “Pelita Nusantara Kasih” Christian School, etc.
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Which caused the Israelites (GOD’s people) to be under a curse (verse 9).
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A person who is under a curse is like being shadowed by failure/diseases/repeated divorces, etc. For example: Like Adam who was under the curse of poverty and Eve who was under the curse of diseases.4. Why do we have to bring the tithe into the House of the LORD (church)?
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The sign of acknowledgement of GOD’s authority over ourselves.
Every year when the governors and prince come before the King, they have to bring gifts to the King as a sign that they acknowledge the authority of the King over them.
All fruits in the Garden of Eden were allowed to be eaten by Adam and Eve, but the fruit of the knowledge of good and bad was not allowed to be taken and eaten by them, because it symbolizes the authority of GOD.
All of the authority in Egypt was given to Joseph, except for Pharaoh’s throne, because it symbolizes the authority of Pharaoh over Joseph.
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The sign of our acknowledgement that all blessing is from GOD and belongs to GOD.
When we feel that the blessing we get is the result of our struggle and belongs to us alone, we will feel difficult to give it back to the Lord.
However, when we truly acknowledge that all blessing we receive is from GOD and belongs to GOD, we will not find it difficult to do the GOD’s commandment to give our tithe to GOD.
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The sign that we love GOD.
Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.
What GOD requires of us is not our wealth but our heart.
Explanation: If we place much of our wealth in our car, then in fact our heart is in that car. And the same if we dare to place much of our wealth in GOD/ the work of GOD, then our heart is in GOD/ the work of GOD.
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So that there is food in the house of the Lord (verse 10a).
If we don’t bring our tithe to the House of the Lord, then there will be no fund to meet all the needs in the House of the LORD. So in the end there will be no spiritual food in the House of the Lord.
If the tithe is not brought to the House of the LORD but somewhere else, then there will be no fund to meet the needs in the House of the LORD. So finally there will be no spiritual food in the House of the LORD.
We have to bring our tithe to the House of the LORD as members of the church where we receive the spiritual food. So there will be sufficient spiritual food for us, and the church where we worship the LORD can save many souls.
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So that the blessing from the Lord can be poured into abundance (verse 10b).
The blessing from GOD means: health, unity, happiness, wealth, etc.
Tithe offering will not make the congregation lacking. On the other hand, it will make the congregation in abundance because the blessing GOD will be poured abundantly.
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So that every locust/ pest will be stopped and destroyed (verse 11).
Every locust describes the sickness, theft, deceit, that always eating the blessing of GOD in our life. Example/testimony.
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So that our life will be a testimony for many people (verse 12).
By obeying the Word of GOD, the promise of GOD will be realized in our life. Testimony: The finance of the church was provided by GOD when the senior pastor started to give back the tithe; Seller of fried bananas who gives back tithe.
Let us return to GOD by bringing back our tithe, so that GOD’s blessing will be poured upon our life.