Guest Post By Tom Elmore
Tom Elmore is the founding pastor of Thrive Church in Katy, Texas and the former Student Pastor of Lakewood Church (Joel Osteen) in Houston.
2 Corinthians 9:13-14 (NLT)
As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you.
BIG BLESSING MISTAKES :
- Some IGNORE God’s Blessings
- Some APOLOGIZE for God’s Blessings
- Some HOARD God’s Blessings
MONEY PROMISES WHAT ONLY GOD CAN PROVIDE
- SECURITY
- FREEDOM
- POWER
- SIGNIFICANCE
WHAT IS THE BLESSED TEST?
“I will give my first and my best so He can bless the rest!”
Matthew 6:24 (NLT)
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NLT)
Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!
THE BLESSINGS OF THE TITHE
1. TITHING PROVIDES FOR GOD’S WORK THROUGH HIS CHURCH
Malachi 3:10a (NLT)
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do, “says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
2. TITHING TEACHES ME TO PUT GOD FIRST
Deuteronomy 14:23 (TLB)
Bring this tithe to eat before the Lord your God at the place he shall choose as his sanctuary; this applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn of your flocks and herds. The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.
3. TITHING INCREASES MY FAITH IN GOD
Mal 3:10b (NLT)
“I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!
IT REQUIRES FAITH TO GIVE FIRST – IF YOU GIVE LAST, IT DOES’NT REQUIRE FAITH
Romans 5:8 (NLT)
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
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