Who's The Boss - Part 1 - Tithing & Dominion
by Kevin Allen
August 9, 2026 · Centerpointe Apostolic Church (Murfreesboro, TN)
Kind: sermon
Scripture: Genesis 1:26, Hebrews 2:9, 1 Peter 2:11, Luke 16:13, Mark 8:36, Leviticus 27, Hebrews 7, 1 Corinthians 9:13-14, Psalms 24:1, 1 Corinthians 10:26, Colossians 3:5, Genesis 14, Genesis 14:17-18, Ezekiel 16:49, Genesis 14:19-20

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/kevin-allen--who-s-the-boss-part-1-tithing-dominion
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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Today, I'm going to start a series that's going to carry us on for the next few weeks besides next Sunday with Brother Shock, but for the Sundays preceding that, I'm going to start something that I felt been feeling in the Lord to do for about a month now, >> >> and we're going to talk about who's the boss? And no, not the television show from the '90s. But I'm going to talk about the reason for the title in just a minute, but I've been feeling a strong pull in my spirit to discuss some truths that are sometimes not discussed in the word of God openly or in churches don't often get talked about because of the content that is there.

So, what I'm going to do starting today is we're going to we're going to dive into some things that I feel like God has for us, and what I feel like, if you can just let me say some very bold things at the very beginning of this message, is there are some strongholds that are in the room that I feel like God desires to break. >> >> He desires to break. And in order for that to take place, faith has to operate. It's not a matter of God's power being limited. He's not limited by anything. But there's something about when you and I engage our faith in this process, we become a participant in there, and he's looking for our faith to be engaged.

So, I'm calling in on the all the spirit-filled people in the room today to allow that Holy Ghost that he's filled you with to let your faith rise. Can you do that with me? I want to pray one more time for faith to operate in this place. Will you will you specifically help me pray about that right now? Jesus, God, I turn this service over to you. You are God of all. You are King of kings. You are Lord of lords. You are more than able to take care of any problem and situation that is present in this room or anywhere else around this world.

I pray today, God, that our faith could grow in you, Lord, that we would exercise it today in this service the very beginning and the onset, God, that you would break the strongholds that are in this room. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. I believe in applying the word of God. I believe in living a life that's not just Christian by t-shirt or bracelet or bumper sticker. I believe there's something very valid when we take the word of God and we live it out in our life every day. Not just the parts that I like because let's be honest, there's a whole lot of scripture that really makes me happy.

There's some candy stick verses that I that I like to hang on to, but there's also some other things that require a higher uh involvement of me that sometimes I don't always like looking at those. Being honest with you, the fleshly side of me says, "Yeah, God, but let's just not read that verse." It's almost like I can know it's there, but I don't have to acknowledge it's there and that way I'm not held accountable to it, but it doesn't work that way. You know, the word of God is given to us as a whole for us to apply in our life. Today, I want to talk about advancing the kingdom of God.

Now, as a start, some of this is going to sound familiar, but my prayer is for you not just to dismiss this or glaze over it because maybe you've heard it before. If you've been raised in church and you grew up around this, maybe I'm going to talk about some things today and you're like, "Yeah, yeah, I've already heard that before." So, I uh what I want to do is I want to immediately just kind of push back on that and say, "Just because maybe you've heard it, how about this? How about we have fresh ears today to hear again? Fresh eyes to see. Would that be okay?" So, why don't you do a favor?

I believe in crowd participation. Everybody ready? Just kind of stretch your arms out a little bit. Don't hit anybody. Like, all right, we're going to be active in this. Yeah, yeah, let's warm up stretching for service. All right, here we go. Now, what you look at your neighbor right now and say this very kindly. Say, "I want you to pay attention to pastor." Because this message because this message is for you and for me. Amen. You guys are already doing a great job. The word of God says that we are to have dominion. Everybody say dominion. I got to explain that word because it's not something that we often use in our everyday language.

But it's a part of God's plan for you and I. In fact, as you as you study out dominion and what God had intended from the very beginning, way back in the book of Genesis when it all started, back in the beginning, God had established for you and I to rule and reign with him. Isn't that really cool? That you and I were created to rule and reign with God almighty. But somewhere along the way things got a little tripped up. We're going to talk about that at the the beginning of this. But when I talk about dominion today, here's what I want you to pay attention to.

When I say dominion, I want this to be in your mind. Advancing the rule of God in the kingdom of God. Dominion is advancing the rule of God in the kingdom of God. I'm not talking about a political party or a political movement. I'm not about that. I'm not talking about Christians somehow taking over the government, ruling the world. Look, I have no hope in our government. And you shouldn't, either. You shouldn't. Now, there I do believe there are well-intended people who are in elected offices, and we are instructed in the word of God to pray for them. And And man, if there's ever been a time for us to pray for them, it is now.

We need They need Jesus bad. So, please pray for them. But I don't have hope in this earthly kingdom. But I do have hope in the eternal kingdom. I believe and trust Jesus. Do you? >> >> So, when I say dominion, I'm talking about advancing the rule of God in the kingdom of God. I'm talking about something much bigger than just believing that God is here, but that God has a part for you and I to play in his kingdom advancement. Do you believe that? You're important. Look back at the neighbor that same neighbor and say, "You're important." Yeah, that will make you feel good today.

Here's the idea. This idea of dominion goes all the way back to the beginning. Genesis chapter 1, verse number 26. Then God said, "Let Let us make man in our image according to our likeness, and let them have There's the word dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over the cattle, over all the earth, and over all creeping things that creeps in the earth." Notice something important here. Dominion was given to Abram. Now, Adam. Given to Adam. Now, I want you to stay with me for just a minute cuz I want to teach. I'm going to go slow on purpose and then we're going to ramp up and get into more apostolic preaching, but but I don't want you to miss from the beginning how important it is for me to lay this out for you.

Adam was created by the love of God. Dominion was a blessing. It was a gift from God, but it also brought with it a responsibility. He was placed in the garden by grace and he was given authority by God. But what Adam forfeited because he partook of the forbidden fruit, he ended up giving away the very thing God had established and gave to him as a gift. In essence, Adam reached for something. Listen to this. He reached for something through human effort that God had already provided by divine grace. He was just impatient in the process of it developing inside of him. Oh, may I speak to somebody today?

Be patient with God. He has not forgotten where you are. He knows exactly what you're going through and he has a purpose and a plan to everything that comes into your life for a reason. Don't rush the process. More often than not, we get ourself into a whole heap of trouble when we try to go outside of what God has already ordained for us. He's established that Adam was to rule and reign. He was given dominion, but all of a sudden there became an enticement placed before him of a way to shortcut the process to knowledge. And oh, what a mistake that was. And how you and I are still suffering with that decision today.

So, I'll say this again. Adam forfeited what God had given him when he decided that he could do life on his own terms. When they partook they partook of the forbidden fruit. Adam reached for something through human effort that God had already provided through grace. But thanks be to God, that's not the end of the story. Amen. I'm glad that God always has a plan. I'm glad that God's never taken by surprise. I'm glad that God wasn't like, "I don't know I don't know what to do now." He already had something in order. In fact, Hebrews 2:9 says this, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor that he, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone." I don't know about you, but I'm thankful for that.

That he took our place. That I don't have to die on a cross. He took my place. He provided a way for you and I to escape the penalty of death. Amen. Amen. Amen. What Adam lost through sin, Jesus came to reclaim. He was crowned, as the Bible says, with glory and with honor. Jesus defeated sin, and he defeated death, and he restored us in a broken and he he paved the path back to you and I to have the ability to reclaim the dominion that was lost in the garden. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. I don't have to be bound by sin.

It doesn't have to have rule and reign over my But I have the ability to be a blood-bought, to be an overcomer in this life. Amen. Biblical dominion is not about me becoming more powerful. Listen to this. I'm going to slow down because you got to get it. If you're a note taker, take this note down. Biblical dominion is not about me becoming more powerful. It's about Jesus becoming Lord of my life. >> >> It's about Jesus becoming Lord of all of my life. Not just the parts I'm content with him taking over. Now, here's the here's the part where some of you going to want to check out on me.

I'm going to tell you, you do this, it's going to cost you much more a higher price than you want to pay. That Holy Ghost power that's in you, that resurrection power that he fills you with, is not about you being more powerful. It's about you allowing him to become Lord of all of your life. It isn't me building my kingdom, it's his kingdom advancing through my life. That everywhere I go, the atmosphere changes because the king of kings and the lord of lords has filled me with his spirit. That I walk with authority as an ambassador, a representative of Jesus Christ. And I want you to know that that same power is in you as well.

That everywhere you go, you change the atmosphere. You're a representative. Do you walk worthy of what God has given you? Because what I'm afraid of is more often than not, we all and I got both hands in here are guilty of by not living up to what I'm required to do. Then when I truly own it, that I have the ability to see the kingdom grow through me. Think about that. The God who created the universe and spoke it all into existence says, "You know what? I want to partner with you." I don't know about I I can't speak about you, but I'll tell you what.

When he When he said he wanted to do that with me, uh I'm I'm pretty broken. I'm not qualified. I'm not. My resume is lacking significantly in all the areas that would help him advance his kingdom. But he said, "You know what? I'll make up for your loss." How good is our God? He says, "You know what? I want to partner with you." Think about that. Now, you may be great. You probably You guys have got high IQ. I'm just a I'm just a bumpkin from Wilson County. I struggle with Velcro shoes, guys. I need help. And Jesus said, "You know what? In spite of you, I still love you." In spite of you, I still love you.

In spite of all of the things that disqualify you, I'm going to go ahead and QUALIFY YOU. THAT'S OUR GOD. HE WANTS us to rule and reign and have dominion and power, but we don't always process it. Now, I don't believe that victory is going to be complete until Jesus comes again. But thanks be to God, he's coming back. He didn't leave us here by ourselves, but he says, "I'm going to prepare a place for you that where I am, there you may be also." How many times do you remind yourself of that every day? How many How many is ready? How many is praying, "Lord, come quickly"?

>> [applause and cheering] >> You may I may have a bunch of y'all nervous. These young people are going to Pastor Kevin, I don't like that prayer. >> >> I ain't even got married yet. Biblical dominion is not about me. It's about him. Using me to advance his kingdom. Peter reminds us in 1 Peter 2:11, "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims." Everybody say strangers and pilgrims. We're still strangers and pilgrims. We don't rule this present world. But here's what I want you to know, we are to influence it. That's a part of being in the kingdom is we are we are responsible to influence the world, at least the part that we were that we are in.

Is See, this isn't about you having a a a preacher's license in your pocket. This is about you understanding that he filled you with the same spirit he filled me with. I don't have extra Holy Ghost. The same one that's in me is in you. And we are to use it to influence the area in which we are placed. To know that I represent him and have all authority just like he did. That if you're living the way you're supposed to live, and you're being obedient following after where he is leading you to, that you have that same authority in your life to speak and things will happen.

That's faith. That's living it out is to know when I walk in, it's not by my power. Right? It's not by my might, but it's by his spirit. Why? Because I'm a vessel that contains that same spirit. And when I'm living the way I'm supposed to live, your workplace ought to be different when you walk in. Your school ought to be different when you walk in. When you walk down the hall, something ought to ought to ought to ought to affect people because of the way that you're living. Why? Not because of you, because of him. To be that light and to be that salt, to walk into places and somebody not even know what's going on, but say, "Whoa, something just changed." What was it?

Jesus just walked into the place. Why? Because he's in me and he's in you. Are you living that way? ARE YOU A REPRESENTATIVE? >> >> TO rule and reign, to have the dominion that is there. Think about Joseph. Joseph didn't sit in Pharaoh's throne, but he influenced the man who did. Or more maybe a better one is Daniel. When you think about Daniel, Daniel wasn't the king of Babylon, but he lived with such faithfulness and integrity and wisdom and conviction that the king listened when Daniel spoke. That's what the people of God are supposed to do. That's what you and I are supposed to be doing in our lives.

We should influence our families and we should influence our neighborhoods and our workplaces and our schools and our communities to be the salt and the light that God called us to be. Listen to this, you cannot truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ without eventually influencing the environment around you. I'm going to say that again. I'm going to say it slow so you note takers get it. You cannot truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ without eventually influencing the environment around you. It's impossible. It's impossible. It is impossible for you to be filled with His spirit and it not affect everywhere you go. They may not understand it.

They may be confused by it, but I PROMISE YOU, JESUS CHANGES THINGS. And when you're living the way you're supposed to be living, it changes the environment that you go into to represent him well. Here's what the It did it to me that this message gets really personal right now. If the kingdom of God is going to advance through me, and if the kingdom of God is going to advance through you, then the kingdom of God has to first advance in me. Now, I've done this last 10 minutes worth of talking to actually start the message now of who's the boss. I'm going to say it again, if the kingdom of God is going to advance through me, then the kingdom of God has to first advance in me.

Before I can talk about God's authority over the world around me, I have to ask a much more uncomfortable question. God does God have authority over me? In order for that to take place, here's what I know. There's one area that this question gets tested perhaps more than almost anywhere else. Are you ready for it? Are you ready for it? Cuz here's what's going to happen, I promise you. Now now now I'm not a prophet. I'm not. But I'm going to be prophetic for a moment. The room's fixing to get tense. Cuz I can talk about change in your life. I can talk about lifestyle convictions.

I can talk about miracle signs and wonders. I can even talk about the book of Revelations. But the moment I mention money Did y'all feel that? Some of you just inched backwards in the seat a little bit. But here's what I know. Here is what I am seeing in my in my time in ministry. Tithing and dominion are not two unrelated subjects. They are connected. Because the dominion of the kingdom of God cannot advance through my life while there are areas in my life that I refuse to allow God to be lord over. Jesus said it this way in Luke 16:13. No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he'll be loyal to the one and despise the other.

You cannot serve God and mammon. Now if you and I were writing this verse we probably would have finished a little differently. We would probably would have said, "You cannot serve God and Satan." But that's not what he said. That's not what Jesus said. These these were don't confuse these are red-lettered words. These are the words from the Messiah. Says, "You cannot serve God and money." Why did he say that? Why? Because money has an incredible ability to compete for the place in our lives that belongs only to God. Because money money promises security money promises freedom and happiness and control and and before long something God intended to be a tool in our hands becomes the master of our hearts.

That's why this isn't really a message about dollars. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a message about dominion. It's about authority. It's about lordship. It's about answering this very simple question, who's the boss? Who's the boss in your life? Because either I have dominion over my money under authority of Jesus Christ or eventually my money will have dominion over me. Money will be the one of the single greatest forces that you and I will have to fight with. Money has a way of affecting everything around it. You can preach evangelism and baptism. Like I said, lifestyle convictions. And those things that will fly over pretty well, but the moment you say money, everything gets tense.

Everybody feels that money affects everything. Because without money, you don't have food and clothes and roof over your head and a bed to sleep in. And without money, you don't have a marriage. Live on love, they say. Yeah. That's funny. Yeah, money affects where you live, what you drive, where you go to school, what you hang out with, what you eat, what you wear. It has influence, ladies and gentlemen. It is important. Money, listen to me, note takers. Money sets itself up as the single greatest competitor to to God. Money does. That's why Jesus says, "No man can serve two masters." Either love the one or hate the other.

Serve the one, turn your back on the other. You cannot serve God and money. Jesus knew this is this one area of life that we have will have the biggest fight and the biggest struggle with when it comes to this. One of the ways God measures your loyalty to him is by measuring your loyalty to him with your money. And I can tell you who the real God of your life is by looking at two things, your calendar and your checkbook. I can tell where your God is, what your priority is, what you're really living for if you just let me see your calendar and your checkbook.

You cannot seek first the kingdom and seek first money at the same time. God is looking for you to see what your greatest allegiance is. Is it to your bank account, to your stuff, or do we owe it to him? Where you at right now? Money has the potential to have a stronghold on every one of us. And as there's only one way to break the the money stronghold, and that's this, you got to give it away. Now, stay with me cuz you're tempted to turn me off right now, but I promise you you're going to miss out something very important in life. I feel with everything in me that what I said at the beginning of this message is 100% true.

There are strongholds that need to be broken in this room when it comes to how you view your finances. It is holding some of you back from the things that God wants to do because you have decided your own way about how you should handle your finances that goes contrary to what the word of God says. The Bible calls this money and you uh the you and I struggle with, calls it filthy lucre. Sounds like something you need a shot of penicillin for. So, you go see the doctor, I got a case of the filthy lucre. Unrighteous mammon. Money has a potential to get a hold of us, and there's only one way to break this power, you got to learn how to give it away.

Because when you give it away, it begins to break its control over you. You break its dominion over you and refuse to allow it to control your life because of the pursuit of money or the stuff that money can buy has a way of con- consuming our thoughts. Can you imagine the day of judgment? When you and I are to give an account of what we have done with our life, and the account has everything to do with your pursuit of you acquiring wealth. Well, Pastor Kevin, I believe that the the the by me pursuing these things, I'm able to give more to the kingdom of God.

I'm I'm sorry, I didn't realize God was broke. I didn't realize his kingdom was suffering and needed finances. Last time I checked, Brother Freeman, I don't think God's really sweating about money. Yeah. But isn't it interesting how we do? Isn't it amazing how it has a way of seeping into the back back corners of our mind when we're processing thoughts that are there? So, I'm going to I'm going to here to tell you like stay open in this message today. Don't shut me down. The only thing that we get to take with us in the hereafter is our own souls and the souls of the ones we helped in the process of salvation.

Mark 8:36, "For what shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Now, do not misunderstand me. I do not believe that we have to have a vow of poverty. I believe very much that God loves lavishing gifts on his kids. I'm not preaching a prosperity message. That message is from hell. I reject it and constitutionally wholeheartedly. I'm not looking for you to sow some seed in my airplane. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about breaking the power that money has the ability to have over us. To go back to having dominion and authority in our life the way God intended it to be.

There should be nothing in our lives that competes with God. That includes money. But we live in a society in this North American culture where the more you have, the better off you are. But we know that's not true because how many millionaires and billionaires do we know of that are absolutely miserable people? But we're going to be the ones who would be different. Well, God, if you would just give me a few million, I'll promise you I would be so happy. God, you can't even imagine how joyful my life would be, God. I mean, I would be the one that I would be the poster child for the one who could handle it.

Do you think maybe, just maybe, God knows what you can and can't handle? As I have said on occasions from this pulpit, I would love for God to make me a millionaire. I would. I do I think I could do it, baby. I think I could. I think we would be good at it. We got plans, girlfriend. We got plans. I mean, I would be the best giver. Guys, y'all don't even know. And I've prayed for that. And you know what God has done for me? He has not answered that prayer. I don't know why, but I have to trust that he knows me better than I know me.

And he knows what I can handle because as I just read to you in Mark chapter 8, what good would it do for me to gain the whole world and to lose my soul? Or maybe maybe maybe even me to add to that just a little bit. What good would it do for me to gain the whole world and lose my family? Better for us to eat beanie weenies, baby. Make it to the pearly gates. I'm being a little tongue-in-cheek and a little bit funny there, but I'm being serious at the same time. Like understand God knows what you can handle. Now again, I'm a We're blessed.

Uh there's not a person in this room right now that's not blessed. Compared to the the rest of the world, we you and I are rich beyond measure. Most of the world lives on a couple dollars a day. Couple dollars and this and you you'll pay $12 for some fru fru drink over there at the cafe. That's a week's wages for some people in the world. I said this a couple times. I've been in some third world countries. I watched an entire family bang on a rock. Literally bang on a rock all day long to take a big rock, a big boulder, and make it a pile of gravel.

And if they didn't get that big rock turned into a pile of gravel, they didn't get another big rock. That's the only way they got paid is they had to turn it and I asked how much they and he said about $10 a day is what they get for banging a rock into a pile of gravel. We're blessed. We're blessed. We're blessed. Don't ever forget you're blessed. You may not have everything that you want, but I promise you you have everything that you need. That's what he said. See, when you do this the kingdom way, when you understand the principles of dominion and giving, you may go through times of of leanness and drought, but when we are committed to God in his time of plenty and the end in his time of want, you'll find that his children are never begging for bread.

Here's what I know today. There's a house full of witnesses that I feel like would be willing to stand to their feet and say, "God, you've been good to me. And what pastor's preaching today is 100% true. God, my life is better off when I'm committed to you, when I've given my finances over to you, Lord. I've lived in ways I could never imagine, never dream. It doesn't mean I always had everything I wanted, but God, I've always had everything I needed. And I woke up today with a roof over my head, and there was food in the pantry. I slept on a mattress. I drove here in a car.

It may not have been the car that everybody else had, but it was a car that got me from A to B. Hey, has he been a good God? Is there anybody else willing to stand up and say he's a witness? I'm trying to break a stronghold in this place. Don't stand up if you don't believe it, but if God has been good to you, then stand to your feet, throw your hands up, close your eyes. Let there be a praise come out from that says, "God, you have been faithfully good to me. My Come on, CENTER POINT. HE'S A GOOD GOD. HE'S BEEN LAVISHING BLESSINGS ON YOU YOUR ENTIRE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE IN THIS ROOM TODAY IS PROOF THAT HE'S A GOOD AND A FAITHFUL GOD.

AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. >> >> MAY WE NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT GOD IS doing in this journey. Thank you. You can be seated. And I use that word journey on on purpose. Journey brings ups and downs, good times and bad. God in his wisdom takes the process of the journey to teach us to trust him in different ways. Has anybody learned that lesson yet? Yes, amen. If you allow yourself to covet what has been given to you, and when you receive the blessing, often times the blessings get turned off. Do you love the blessing more than the God that gave you the blessing? Cuz those things have a way of setting themselves up and become idols.

In fact, the word of God talks about covetousness. So, here's the deal. God's not asking me for my millions cuz I don't I don't have millions to give. But he's asking me about that secret hundred I got stacked in my wallet over in the corner. He talks to me about that sometimes. Or that twenty you got burning a hole in your pocket when I walk by somebody that obviously was in need. Are you allowing God to speak to you in the everyday of life? Again, he's not asking us to have a vow of poverty. He's wanting to know, am I lord of all of your life, or just the parts that you think are important?

Am I lord of all of your life, or only the parts that you like to control? Where are you at? See, I have to make God lord of all over all the things that he's blessed me with, and then in turn, he knows that he can trust me with more. Let me give you a secret to to this morning. The only way to break the power of money and influence is to give it away. And that starts with tithing. >> Yes. >> It starts with recognizing that it starts with a tenth. Now, there are some who believe that the tithing belongs to the Mosaic law and the old covenant and the old testament doesn't belong to us today, but that's simply not true.

The Bible shows us that tithing belongs to the order of Melchizedek. Now, I know some of you are like, "Mel who? Pastor, what are you talking about?" I'll get to that in just a minute. Give me a minute. I promise I will. The Lord God tells us in Leviticus 27 that the tithing belongs to him. A tenth of the land, a tenth of the livestock, a tenth of the first fruits, a tenth of the increase of the holy the increase of the land that was holy and belonged to God. When we pay our tithes, we're not giving to God from our abundance. We're starting to return what already belongs to him to start with.

Everything you have, he gave you. You pastor Kevin, I got out and worked for this. Yeah, who gave you the health to do that? Who gave you the brains between your ears? Who put that air in your lung? Who did that? Did you do it? No, you didn't do it. God did. God gave it. And what he says is, "Look, I give you this ability and what I ask in return is that you give me a tenth back." It's a It's a trust factor. He He's asking for you to have this mindset of you can live on 90 better than you can 100. Now, the world says that's absolutely lunacy, but I'm telling you, I've been living for 50 years of my life I've lived this that principle of and there's been things that have in our in our life in my life as before marriage and in my life during marriage that doesn't make any sense other than God has walked with us because we have allowed him to be Lord of all of our life.

We're not perfect, but I'll tell you when it comes to finances, there's never been a day in my life that I didn't tithe. Never. And I'll tell you this and I say this with sometimes when I'm talking about this process and this is a true statement. Sister Pam can back me up over there. She's been doing our finances for a long time. There are people who tithe to this church that don't attend this church. And God still blesses their life because God honors his principle that is there. It is. Am I telling the truth? Yeah, they do. Cuz they figured it out. That God always backs his word up.

Some of you want to say that tenth belong to Mosaic law, but Hebrews chapter 7 makes it clear that the tithe did not come through the order of Aaron. Okay? Through the Levitical, but it came through uh the order of Melchizedek. Abraham established this before the law through the order of Melchizedek. Now, I've got I'm getting into a little bit of technical stuff, but it felt like it's important. You guys still with me? Everybody awake? See somebody sleeping around now, give them a little nudge. It's going to be okay. It's only 12:37, guys. Abraham represents the church. Everybody say the church. We're the seed of Abraham through adoption.

You and I have been grafted in. Are you happy about that? Yeah. Well, I don't know about you. If If unless you're a Jew, you should be really happy right now. >> >> Yeah, you should be happy. We got grafted in. What I'm going to show you is tithing belongs to Jesus Christ who came in the order of Melchizedek. If the tithing does not belong to the church, and it doesn't, it does not belong to Center Point, it doesn't. It's his tithing. It does not belong to me, it does not belong to the ministry. No, sir, it belongs to Jesus Christ. It does not belong to the church for the church to hold a preacher captive, nor does it belong to the preacher for the preacher or the pastor to hold the church captive for him to live a lavish life.

It has It has been abused. And I I I I constitutionally wholeheartedly disagree with that. I'm telling you it is his tithe. That's why we say in this church, we're now going to take up the Lord's tithe and your offerings. They are different things and I'll get into that in a couple weeks. It's his tithe. It belongs to him. Now, we also have command in the scriptures that we are to live from that those of us involved in ministry. Paul makes this statement 1 Corinthians chapter 9, "Do you not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? And they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

Verse 14, even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." This was established by God and we see it here in the New Testament that the tithe does not belong to the pastor, but the pastor draws his living from the tithe. The tithe belongs to the Lord. Maybe you're asking this morning, "Why does it belong to God?" Couple of verses of many that are in the scripture for the sake of time, I'll give you two. One in the Old Testament, one in the new. Old Testament, Psalms 24:1, "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the whole world that they and they that dwell therein." 1 Corinthians 10:26, "For the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." Anybody confused about who who the world belongs to?

Who's it belong to? The Lord. It's his. The tithe belongs to the Lord because the earth belongs to him. We're just renting right now. It all belongs to him. When we bring our tithes and give it to God, we are saying this, "I'm living in my house because you gave it to me." I'm eating these groceries, God, because you blessed my life with them. I'm bringing my tithe to you because you have blessed me. The earth is yours and the fullness thereof. It's a beautiful thing. Did you know in the government that's established in the scriptures, the way it's laid out scripturally, that the the Lord never let anybody own the land?

Cuz if you own the land, you control the stuff. Now, this is not a conspiracy thing. Nobody write me up, okay? All right, don't turn me into the government. But there's a reason why that is. In fact, the the the prophet tried to warn the people, "You don't want a king." Cuz if you get a king, he's going to take your land, he's going to take your sons, he's going to take your daughters, he's going to do these things. You don't want that. But they didn't listen. Now, here's the deal. We live in America. I love living in America. It's the best place to live.

But here's the deal. You know, I I we we're we're we're so close to owning our little piece of earth down here. But do we really own it? Cuz we still got to pay taxes on it. Isn't that interesting? Once you get it paid for, I still got to pay taxes. You know why? Cuz I don't really own it. Neither does the government. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. Jesus was setting a precedent way back then to let everybody know it ain't yours. It belongs to me. But I'm going to let you live there because I want you to steward it. Everybody say steward.

That's the child of God's responsibility for you and I to be good stewards of all that God has entrusted us with. And nowhere is that more important than when it comes to our money. That we get to steward it in a correct way, in a correct fashion. Because in stewarding it the way God intended, we are openly declaring who it really belongs to. It's not mine. It's just been entrusted to me. We see this principle play out for those of us that have kids. How many of you have children in the room? Even if they're 100, how many of you have kids? Yeah. Yeah. And when God blesses you with children, in fact, the word of God says the fruit of the womb is his reward.

He didn't give them to you for you to do whatever you wanted to do with them. He gave them to you for you to steward them correctly. Now, what that means, and I'm going to simplify this, this is not the Bible study for today, but I will tell you this that you have responsibility, mom and dad, to rear them and raise them in the fear of God and admonition. In fact, you want to go to back to Deuteronomy. He's very specific on what you're supposed to be teaching them daily. Daily. I'm going to go back over here because I feel a meddling spirit coming on me.

Dominion. Everybody say dominion. Here we are. I know there's room for a lot of people to believe in this. Whoever rules my money rules my world, my life. Tithing is about dominion and authority. Money, unrighteousness, filthy lucre, but sometimes it happens that the when we tithe on it, something takes place. The moment we tithe it, it becomes sanctified and holy. Filthy lucre until I tithe it, and then all of a sudden it becomes sanctified and holy. Money is brought in and given brings its loyalty to the one true king. Well, basically, when I come in and we get paid and I pay my tithes, I'm saying to God, God, you are Lord of my life.

You're Lord of all of my life. And the thing that was come was was was filthy becomes all of a sudden holy and acceptable. I'm telling you a truth. God will struggle in maintaining residence in your heart until he becomes Lord of your money. It's okay if you're quiet. It's still true. God will struggle in maintaining residence in your heart until he becomes Lord of your money. When you tithe to God, you're bringing him a part that represents the whole. By being obedient and bringing your tithe, you are sanctifying the entire 100%. If you If you earned $100, however you earned it, and then you take $10 from that 100 and you say, "God, I'm paying my tithes on this 100." It makes the other 90 holy.

And that 90 always works, lasts, spends, grows better because it has been sanctified than if I try to keep the whole 100 myself because then if I do that, it still remains filthy lucre. The remaining 90, listen to me. All right. All right. I'm going to I'm going to I'm going to I'm going to rub you further wrong way. That's funny. The remaining 90 is not for you to spend any way you want. It is for you to be the best steward according to the way his spirit leads you. Now, can you buy things that you desire? Sure you can. Sure you can. Sure you can.

You can buy that pair of shoes, girlfriend. Just calm down. You can buy that new fishing pole. You can. Just calm down. But you are to process what he wants to do you to do with what you have left over. Okay? So, the tithe thing sanctifies it for you then to be the best steward with what is left over. When you put your tithe in, you are agreeing with God to make a statement that God is Lord of all of your life. Giving tithes breaks with me. Listen, I'm going to teach you something. The stronghold of coveting or covetousness. We have a warning in Colossians 3:5.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you. Sexual immorality, we get that one. Impurity, we get that. Passions, we get that. Evil desires, I get that. Covetousness, which is Wow, look at that. That's the only one that is said become an idol. To a God who says, "I will have no idols before me." You're not to have anything that comes between me and you. And what gets called out? Coveting. And when you try to keep the whole, you make the money an idol. That's why Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters. You'll love the one or hate the other." You have to be very careful because in doing so, you unintentionally make an idol out of the thing.

Why? Because you find your safety and your security in it instead of God. Therein lies the chief problem by being overly secure in your finances is that you think your money buys you the things you need to sustain instead of understanding all of that comes from God. >> >> Some of you have learned this life's lesson because you've lived enough life and all of a sudden everything was just great blue skies and and smooth sailing and then you got a pink slip when you went into the office or they sit there holding a a a Xerox copy box with all your stuff and it says to you something along the lines of I don't know how we're going to do this without you but starting tomorrow we're going to try.

Yeah. We've had those moments there there's enough of us in this room that says you know what I I thought everything was going good and then I got my world rocked and then I had to go back and trust God. You got to be you got to be careful in these moments when you're putting too much emphasis on the finances and not the one who gives you the finances. Therein is the problem. We have to break the power and grip that this has in our life. We have to break what culture and society says is rampant or it says is important because it's running rampant in our world.

Abraham will go to Genesis 14. It's only 12:47. You guys are okay? We're still ahead of schedule. Everybody good? Can I teach you a couple things right here so maybe make this work more make make some more sense. Genesis 14. Now that to set this up there's there's been a fight. There's been there's been a there's been a battle that took place. I think most of us know the story about Abraham and Lot, right? How that they reached a point because they had so much stuff and that and that day their bank account was out there eating grass. And all of a sudden Lot's herdsman and Abraham's Abraham's Abraham's herdsman are they're kind of fighting with each other and they said look we don't need to do this.

Look let's divide up and they divided up. In the process of division and I'm not here to preach about all of Lot's bad decisions but Lot got himself in a place where he didn't really need to be. In fact what what what what what we're going to see in Genesis 14 is he actually gets captured. There's some there's some battle there's some infighting going on in these these regional kings that are going on there. Kings with big long names that I'm not going to try to pronounce. But you can read it for yourself. But here's the deal. Abraham realizes that Lot's been captured and he gathers about 300 of his best guys and he goes after him and he overtakes the enemy, defeats the king, and he comes back.

He's got Lot, he's got everything that's been stolen. He's He's coming back into the territory when this meeting takes place. Okay, this is where we pick up the story. Everybody okay with what I just said? All right, here we go. We're picking up mid-story. Genesis 14:17. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Kedorlaomer and the kings that were with him which is in the king's dale. And Melchizedek, there he is. I told you I was going to get to him. King of Salem brought forth bread and wine and he was the priest of the most high God.

I'm going to read that verse again to you. And Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine and he was the priest of the most high God. So we have a representative of God here. It's what the what the Bible tells us. He's bringing forth what? Bread and wine. All of a sudden we're starting to see what? There's a covenant meal taking place here. This is like the Lord's table. You guys seeing some connections? Everybody with me so far? This is exciting stuff. You should be more excited. Abram, the man of the covenant who we know later becomes Abraham, is confronted here with two different ways of life.

Everybody say two different. There's two different views. There's the world's view and there's God's view. There's the world's view and there's God's view. As I read this story, I want you to think about there's there's two things you see. There's the world's view and there's God's view. The king of Sodom with Sodom the way of doing life and money. Now, if you've been around church at all, you know Sodom's not the place you want to be associated with, right? Yeah, nobody likes Sodom. That's not That's not where you want to live. So we already know that Sodom, this king, is representative of the world's way.

When God ends up condemning Sodom though, this is where it gets confusing. So I'm going to give you some some Bible facts here. This is good trivia knowledge for you. Often times people think that the Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed for what? It's okay. You you can say it's homosexuality, right? That's where it's where most of the time gets gets associated with, but that's not what the word of God says. All right. What does it say? It says in Ezekiel 16:49, the prophet said, "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness." Oh my word. That sounds like the good old United States of America.

Doesn't it? Pride, fullness of bread. I mean, how many of you guys enjoyed all those little reals that you were watching when the rest of the world came over here for the World Cup and they're like, "Man, it's unlimited sodas. I can have 75 bags of chips and salsa before I even get to What do we have? We we definitely have fullness of bread. Big fat yeast rolls, that's us. And abundance of idleness. So that's what Sodom got in trouble for. It wasn't that God was happy with the the Sodomite stuff either. He wasn't. But so so often we think, "Well, as long as I'm not doing that." Well, isn't it interesting how we can qualify everything that we want to do?

Well, I'm not I'm not doing that. And the prophet said, "Yeah, it was pride and fullness of bread and abundance of idleness was was there. Neither did they help the poor or needy." So the king of Sodom here is representing the world. Then we see the king of Salem who had a completely different way of life. The king of Salem brings forth bread and wine, the precursor to the Lord's Supper, and he was the priest of the Most High God, king of Sodom representing the world, king of Salem representing the most high. Two views, the world's view, God's view. In Genesis 14:19, and he blessed him, and he said, blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth, and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thine hand.

And he gave him tithes of all. Here we see this institution, this first instance of the giving of tithes. Look at how these blessings are flowing. It's a cycle of blessing that Abram's living in. And because of the cycle of blessings that Abram's living in, he uh recognizes, look, I got to make a decision here. Am I going to pay attention to what the world says, or am I going to pay attention to what God says? Abram, you belong to God, who possesses heaven and earth, who has given your enemy into your hands. Abram is standing there with looking at these two things and tries to make a decision.

And it says Abram gave him tithes of all, all he had, all he had gained, tithes of all. Abram understood that blessings come only from God. And because of that, Abram gave back because of the blessings, the provision, the protection, and the deliverance. He understood, God, I have because of you. So, why would I not give back to you? Why would I not go ahead and declare because of your goodnesses in my life, because of what you have done for me, that I will give back to you? Now, listen, some of you are checking out on me, I can see it already. Some of you are looking on your phones.

In Jesus' name, I pray that they would break right now. Cuz I'm telling you, like I'm being serious. I'm praying there's a stronghold in this place right now that is needs to be broken. You think I'm just talking about money because the church needs money. The church don't need We're doing fine. One of the hardest messages I ever preach is this message. Cuz it feels very self-serving because I draw my income from this church. But I'm telling you God has raked me over the coals too many nights, and I had to repent because I held back because of my discomfort in not preaching the truth that is in the scriptures.

I'm telling you your family's being held hostage. You're being held hostage because you won't be obedient to what God wants from you. What his desire is for you. I'm telling you you're going to live a life that's less than and you're going to be frustrated the entirety of of your life because you won't embrace the principle that is here. Don't miss this point. It all started with Abram. When Abram is standing there, Abram was already a man who had means, who had wealth. And he's standing there looking at two different scenarios. The world's view of things and I'll explain the world's view because this is what happens in verse number 21.

And the king of Sodom and this is I'm getting ready to come to close. In fact, the musicians can come. 21 transformational moment. And the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons and take the goods to thyself." That's what the world says. Now listen to me. I'm going to I'm going to get right down where you live. This is This is what happens, okay? You can tell me I'm crazy. I I don't care. I'm I'm pretty secure in myself. I'm not saying that arrogant. I I trust the Lord. He defends me. And I have to sleep at night. I have to lay my head down at night knowing I did what God asked me to do.

Listen to me. Listen, this is the truth. This is why I'm telling you there's a stronghold that needs to be broken. Abram is standing in the middle of a transformational moment. On one side stands Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God, and then on the other side stands the king of Sodom representing an entirely different kingdom, an entirely different way of thinking. And listen to Sodom's offer, "Give me the persons and take the goods to thyself." In other words, you give me the people and you keep the stuff. Give me your family. Give me your children. Give me the people who matters most and you just take the stuff and enjoy it.

Take the bigger house. Take the nicer car. Take the vacations. Take the toys. Take the clothes. Take the bank account. Take the things that your hearts desire. Just give me the people. And I wonder how many times that same deal is still being offered today. The world says, "I'll give you money. Just give me more of your time." I'll give you the promotion. Just give me your priorities. I'll give you the lifestyle. Just give me your family. I'll give you everything you've been chasing. Just give me the people. But Abraham had it already made a decision. I love his response and it's the response that we're to have.

Listen to me. Go to verse 22 and Abraham said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted up my hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread, even a shoe latchet. And I will take anything that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, 'I have made Abram rich.'" In other words, Abraham said, "You didn't give me anything. God gave it to me. >> >> I was able to go and defeat I was able to take back what had been stolen because God helped me defeat my enemies. So, I've already raised my hand up.

I'm not going to be bought by convenience. I'm not going to be influenced or enticed by money. I'm not even going to take a shoestring from you unless you have the ability to look at me and say, 'I'm the one that made you.' You didn't make me anything. God made me. I've already decided who's my source and who owns everything and who gets my allegiance. I will not allow Sodom to take credit for what God is doing in my life. I'm not obligated to this world. I will not allow money to become my master and I will not trade those that are most important to me for any kind of temporary possession that will eventually burn up and pass away.

I will not be obligated to anyone except my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And maybe, I don't know, maybe that's where some of you are standing today. I don't know. I don't know everyone's thoughts. But I do know this. I have eyes to see. Now, I didn't go in ask Sister Pam to run me an account of everybody's tithes and see that cuz the only people that know those stuff is is Pam and I. I didn't I didn't do that. Did I do that? I didn't I didn't Cuz someone tell you right now, here's what happens every time I see that giving statement. It frustrates the snot out of me and humbles me at the same time.

Cuz there's some of you jokers I've been praying for and you're not letting God be Lord of your money. And I'm having to pray for you to get a job. Come on. And there's some of you who give. And oh my goodness, I know where you're at and I see what you do and I'm so humbled by it. But you figured it out. He's the source. So, here I'm going to I'm going to end this day and I know what I God spoke to me in prayer this morning. I'm not asking you to become to the altar today because this surrender issue is hard.

It's tough. So, I'm not asking you to come because you want to surrender everything, but maybe there's some things that have slowly started competing with God in your life. Maybe money's become more than a tool. Or success has become more than just a goal. Or possessions have got a hold of your heart. Or you've been living as though everything belongs to you. But today, at the end of this message, you can settle the question. You can lift your hands to the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth, and declare, "Jesus, you are Lord of all of my life. You are my provider. You are my source of everything I have, and everything I have belongs to you." If that's your prayer today, I want you to step out from where you are and come down to this altar.

And let's fill this place with people who are making the decision all over again, that Sodom doesn't own me. >> >> That money doesn't own me. That this world doesn't own me. That Jesus owns me. It's prayer time. I invite you to come. Jesus. In this moment right now, God, I pray that we can evaluate all the influences that we have in our life to make sure that our priorities are where they need to be. >> >> That you truly are Lord of every area of our life. Lord, I know today there are strongholds in this room, but Lord, you are more than able to break those things.

More than able to make the changes that are necessary >> >> for lives to be changed, for families to be restored, for lives to be new. >> >> So, I pray right now in the authority that's in the name of Jesus Christ that every stronghold in this place will be broken. >> >> That we could find ourselves renewed and refreshed in you as Lord of our life. In Jesus' name, let it be. It's prayer time, church. I invite you to come.