Lesson from God in Tithing

In prayer today (after reading Chapter 2 of Hearing God), I had a vision that I believe came from the Holy Spirit.  I was a little boy, and I was with a man (who I understood to be the Father), and we were basically in a blank space (nothing around us but empty space, but not dark).  I asked for a large sum of money (which I recently did do in prayer, for which I believed the response was affirmative).  When the Father figure gave it to me, I saw myself (as a little boy) run around and then throw a huge pile of the money.  I took this to mean that I would just ‘throw the money away’.  After denial and then reflection, I responded that "yes, I would just throw it away, but I am dependent upon you, Lord.  Your will be done through me."

Then the scene seemed to ‘reset’ and this time, the Father gave me small pieces of money at a time.  I thought about how I have been tithing with the money that has seemed to me to be above and beyond my salary (bonus and website development).  Then as He was giving me more money, I was distributing that money like cards on a card table, small stacks spread out.  I took this to mean that I am to distribute my money to various causes and ministries in small increments.  Then I saw one of the piles ‘light up’ (so to speak), or somehow became more noticeable.  I then put more money in that pile.  I took this to mean that as I see how each cause or ministry uses the money toward God’s kingdom on earth, I am to increase my investment / gift accordingly.

That was the end.  I then had a repeated feeling to write the experience down.  I tried to fight it off for a while, but it was very persistent, so here I am.

I love you Lord and I trust you.  Thank you for molding me into the man you want me to be.  I live to grow in my relationship with you and bring others into, and strengthen their, relationship with you.

The Rock San Diego – 1/25/09 – Treasure Potential

• Treasure is something that has exchangeable value
• Wealth is having a bunch of stuff that has exchangeable value
• Stewardship is how you manage your treasure and to what end do you manage it
• Someday money will be worthless
• Riches cannot protect you from judgment
• Riches cannot protect you from the devil
• Your riches do have eternal impact

1 – The stewardship of your earthly treasure will identify your eternal master

• Your checkbook is a theological document
• You don’t even belong to yourself
• He is trusting you with your earthly treasures

2 – The stewardship of your earthly treasure will reveal the intent of your heart

• God will adorn you based on how faithful you were on earth
• If your intent was faithfulness, you will be adorned accordingly
• If your intent was selfish, you will be adorned accordingly
• Tithing (10%) is just the beginning
• Tithing is an issue of trust
• The only time the Bible says to test God is with tithes and offerings ("I dare you to trust me")
• God always provides to those who are faithful

3 – The stewardship of your earthly treasure will indicate your investment in the kingdom of God

4 – The stewardship of your earthly treasure will determine your eternal worship experience

• We reflect the glory of God – like diamonds
• Works are tried by fire – selfish works will burn up in smoke
• You can’t fake the fire – even with all the trash you may talk
• Your faithfulness are being kept by account in heaven
• Faith in the spiritual world is risk in the physical world
• It feels like sacrifice because you think it’s yours

Doug Batchelor

Every time you give, you are starving the selfishness of your nature

Amazing Facts – session 25

• All (100%) of our resources (time and money) belong to God (we are ‘holding’ God’s possessions – He has entrusted us with His resources).  He asks us to show that we believe that by asking for 10% of our money and one day per week.
• Purpose of the tithe is to support God’s work through ministry
• The more that God can trust you to give, the more He will provide for you to give
• Sea of Galilee – full of life, fresh, resources in and out
• Dead Sea – dead, stagnant, resources only flow in
• Christians are meant to be channels
• Every time you give, you are starving the selfishness of your nature
• 90% of your money that God blesses goes a lot farther than 100% that’s cursed
• Trust the Lord – He will provide
• There is a biblical difference between tithes and offerings
• Tithes are commanded at 10%
• Offerings are the resources above and beyond the 10%
• Give so that people enter the Kingdom
• How much is a soul worth?
• God does not give us money to make us ‘successful’.  He blesses us with resources to relieve suffering
• Christians should earn all they can, save all they can, and give all they can
• Giving must be of the right heart – cheerful – not out of necessity or grudgingly
• Give God your very best – sacrificially – not your leftovers – don’t tip God
• Possessions can be converted into souls
• Malachi 3:8 – Will a man rob God?
• For a person who makes $50k per year, it takes faith to tithe $5k.  However, it takes no faith at all for a person who makes $200k per year to tithe $5k.  The ‘wait until I have more to give’ holds no weight
• God would perform incredible miracles for us if we’d only allow it
• Seek first His Kingdom and righteousness, and He’ll take care of your needs
• Wherever your treasure is, is where your heart is.  Don’t sit on your heart (wallet)