Return To Me - Part 3

meaning back a few weeks ago in January, we began our journey together into studying out the book of Malachi in a series that we had titled Return to Me. And it's rooted to me in one of the most confronting books that is in scripture. We were searching through it. I love the fact that Malachi was not sent to comfort the people. He had a pretty tough job. He had to address some real issues. And we we've been diving into that. I like how it starts out in Malachi 1 and1. It says the burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. It was not just something that he was being impressed by, but he felt that it was a weight that he carried to the people. And he had some difficult subject matter he had to talk about and he wisely anticipated how they would respond because he knew the culture, he knew the day, he knew the people that were there. And he knew that it was going to be tough to address this. And he would often use this saying. and he would say, "This is what God says." And then he would say, "But you say this." It's like, "I know how you're going to respond." And that's part of the problem is they were were they were responding in incorrect fashion. So the first two of these lessons we went through talked about returning to God in our faith because they had drifted away and understanding the meaning and importance and the significance of being true in their sacrificial offerings that they were bringing in and what it represented.

And then the last time we met, which seems like a while ago because of the weather and some other things that fell into play, we talked about the importance of the family unit and the dynamic was there and how that marriage is actually representation of God and the church and how they were treating it in a very casual way. They were divorcing their wives without a proper reason to do that. And then they were crying out on the altar. And God's like, "I don't want to hear what you have to say cuz your wives that you're divorcing are also on this altar, too, pouring out their tears and it's not justified while you're doing the things you're doing." So God basically said, "I'm I'm rejecting it." In fact, at one point, he said, "I wish somebody would just shut the doors. Don't even light the fire. I don't want to hear anything you have to say." But tonight, we're going to move into part three, talk about returning to God in our finances. Before I get into chapter 3 though, I want to read to you how chapter 2 ends because I feel like it sets up the narrative for what we're going to talk about tonight. It says this in Malachi chapter 2 verse number 17. You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you say, in what way have we wearied him?

In that you say, everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them. or where is the God of justice? The people had wearied God with their words. Now, what's interesting about that is it doesn't really line up with scripture. And here's what I mean by that. If we take it on the surface, Isaiah tells us this in Isaiah 40 in verse number 28. Have you not known, have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. So it's look at Isaiah and you're like well hey hang that doesn't make sense. In fact God himself says in Isaiah 43 and 24 you have brought me no sweet canain money nor have you satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices but you have burdened me with your sins. You have wearied me with your iniquities. God may not grow physically tired but he does grow weary of hardened attitudes and cynical hearts and repeated disobedience cloaked in religious language. This is what was wearing him. He wasn't physically tired. He was tired of what they were doing. So, this is how we're setting up tonight is is Malachi was dealing with all the issues in chapter one with them being unfaithful in what they were doing and when they approached the house of God, specifically the priest in chapter one.

But then he he comes from the priest at the beginning of chapter 2 into the actual body that was there or or the nation as a whole and talking about how that they had allowed things to take place inside their marriage that God was never for. God never condoneed those things till we get to the end of the chapter where we hear this language where God is weary. He's just weary. He's just tired of the excuses. He's tired of them not being obedient. He's tired of them not listening to what's going on. So as God is talking through Malachi, the question was asked, where is the God of justice? Now what's interesting is in this time of history, the Jewish remnant had returned to the land of their captivity. From the land of their captivity, we know that they had rebuilt the temple, that Nehemiah had rebuilt the walls, and that they had resumed daily activities. They were they were going back to as much of normal as they possibly could go into. And that and it was because of this it was leading the people to be a little bit frustrated in their expectation of what God should be doing. Now I know it's easy for us to read through the scripture stories that are in the Bible and for you and I to be really harsh in how we view them. So I would caution you for just a minute before you cast down rain down judgment to maybe ask yourself where would you be if you would have been there?

Maybe even a better way to say it is, have you ever found yourself you being frustrated because God hasn't done something that you have expected God to do? Would anybody be bold enough to raise your hand that that's happened to you? Yeah, I got both my hands in the air. There have been times. So, having said that, it's not far-fetched for you and I to find a way to identify with what was going on. Remember they had been held they've been they had been in captivity at one point. In other words, they had been taken from their homeland. Conquering army had come in had taken the way. Now we know that they were taken away. Why? Because of their disobedience. Because they were not doing what they were supposed to be doing. God allowed them to go into captivity. They go into captivity. They cry out to God. And God had already decided and declared the time span that they were going to be there. And God is is is is a God who keeps his word. So they come back from captivity. They rebuild their city. They go back to resuming normal task and duties. But it's like all of us. They seem to never learn from history. They fall back into the same pattern doing the same things. Find themselves still being frustrated with God when the only finger they really need to point is at themselves.

This is what's going on. This is where Malachi is at. They're asking questions that we still ask today. Questions like, "Why are we still struggling?" I know that I'm not alone in my walk with God, having had that same question cross my mind. God, why am I still struggling with this? Or questions like, "Why does it seem like the wicked prosper?" their words were when in Malachi that chapter 2:1 17 it says it's like God prefers the evil over the good. Now have you ever had that thought? Has it ever crossed your mind when you know so and so who doesn't give any any attention to God whatsoever and they seem like everything they touch works their way that they never struggle physically or financially or relationally. It's like like their life just seems to be on autopilot. everything goes and then I'm trying to live for God. I'm trying to do the right things. I'm trying to trying to follow everything I know that I'm supposed to do. And it's like I face opposition around every corner. Anybody identify with that? Yeah. Do you get mad and a little frustrated? Yeah. And what we what do we want to do? It's not fair. God, it's not fair. I'm trying to do and be be all that I know that you want me to be. And why is it that the evil prosper? They were asking that same question then.

or questions like, "Where are the promises that you made me, God? Where are the things that you spoke over my life? When are they coming to pass? I've been hanging on to them, Lord. You gave me a word. I remember I remember the service. I remember the the spot I was at in the sanctuary when I was praying and somebody came up and spoke a word that was that God I know was directly for me. It was a promise that I've been hanging on to. Anybody still hanging on to some promises that God gave you that haven't come to pass yet?" And sometimes it's difficult, isn't it? It is. It's It can be frustrating when we're like, "I'm I'm I've been hanging on. Lord, I know you spoke this to me. Where are your promises at? These are not new questions. In fact, you can go through the Bible and find out that there are many who wrestled with these same kind of things. I often think about Job as he was questioning what was going on." And we know how the beginning of Job starts out that says he was a perfect man, upright, did what was good. Even even tried his best to to take care of what possible indiscretions his kids made. Or about Asaf when you read Psalm 73. He was definitely wrestling with some questions when it came to God.

Or if you ever read the book of Jeremiah, I mean that dude cried about everything. Big crybaby or Habach. He wrestled with the same kind of questions. And I could go on and on and name examples. The reason I bring these up is I want you to know that I need to extinguish the lie that when you come into a relationship with God, you never face adversity. because somehow that narrative has been out there and people are hanging on to it and they find themselves being very frustrated because they they have built up in their mind that as long as I'm got God with me that life's going to be good. Now, I'll tell you life is great with God, but it still has difficult moments. In fact, I'm going to unpack that a little bit more in just a few minutes. A life with him does not mean a life where everything goes according to your plan. In Malachi's day, something was missing. What was missing, and I hope I can get this across today is they had forgotten the conditions of the covenant that God had given them, the promises that had been made. Because here's here's the reality, ladies and gentlemen. More often than not, God's promises have conditions. God's promises are presented with if then language like like Genesis 4:7, if you do what is right, will you not be accepted?

Exodus 19:5, if you indeed obey my voice, 2 Chronicles 7:14, probably one of the most famous, if my people who are called by my name, will turn from their wicked ways, then I will or Matthew 6:14, forgiveness is tied to forgiveness. The Bible uses if then promises. In fact, there's close to I don't know if you can believe this or not, but I'm telling you, go search it out yourself. There there's almost 1,500 if then promises in the scriptures conditional. God saying, "If you will do this, if you'll hold up your end, I promise I'll hold up my end." But he also follows it up with another if then. But if you don't, then I won't. We don't like that, do we? We don't like that. You know, well, you know how how I know we don't like that? I dare say there's anybody in this room that reads the terms and conditions when you're signing up for something, right? It's on your phone. What do you do? Accept. You go buy a new car. Are you reading that document? You're buying a house. I mean, you give up at some point. You're like, "Whatever. I'm going to give my kids away. you want to rubber stamp. That's what we do, Joey. We're like, we don't want to get into We don't like that. We don't want that. We just like, hey, life with God is what I want.

It's It's a good life. Life with God is a good life. But it still brings you some curveballs. The reality is this though with with God, I have someone to turn to, someone I can trust, someone I can lean on, but it doesn't mean it's free of adversity. the blessings that were laid out in Deuteronomy 28. And I would encourage you sometime, maybe even maybe even tonight when you get home or in the morning when your devotion, make your devotion Deuteronomy 28. Just read that chapter. I'm going to read you verse number one. I'm just going to read you one verse out of the whole chapter. Listen, look at it. It says Deuteronomy 28:1. Now it shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God to observe carefully all of his commandments, which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations on the earth. And then he goes on through the rest of that chapter to talk about all the things that he will do for them if they will be obedient to the commands. It's well laid out. But you know what? They didn't pay attention to the terms and conditions. They just said, "Sounds good to us. Bring it." And then you find them two chapters later going, "Where's God?" And I imagine God going, "I don't even know what to say to you.

I told you what you needed to do and what I would do. You don't keep your part and then you wonder where I'm at. But in Malachi's day, they were doing what they were not supposed to do. They were divorcing their wives. They offered polluted sacrifice. They robbed gods and tithes and offering. And they accused God of injustice that the good were always being punished and the wicked were getting away with everything. They were measuring, listen to this, okay? If you're not taker, here's your note. They were measuring God's faithfulness by his blessing instead of measuring their lives by their obedience. I'll say it again. They were measuring God's faithfulness by his blessing instead of measuring their lives by their obedience. What they needed was not justice. What they were desperately needing was mercy. So we see this promise of the messenger. So let's go to Malachi chapter 3 verse number one. Look how this chapter starts. It says this verse number one. Behold, I send my messenger, everybody say messenger. And he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. Even the messenger of the covenant, there's that word. And whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. Now, I got to give you some history with this. Are you guys okay? A little history. Y'all sign up for history class tonight.

Interesting time, right? That's going on. Malachi. Does anybody know where Malachi's at in the Bible? Malachi is the last book of the >> Old Testament. So it ends it out. It's the book end of the Old Testament. Now, how many years pass between Malachi ending and us getting to the New Testament in Matthew? >> 400 years. How many years have we been a nation? >> 200 and we'll be 75, right? >> 50. Sorry. 50. 250. Yeah. Or same. Sorry. 250. So we we have not we've only been a country for 250 years now. Do you do you need to let that sink in for just a minute? There's 400 years of silence from the time Malachi puts his pen down from parchment till we have the New Testament revelation that comes. 400 years longer almost almost twice again us being a nation of silence. Now does that does that wait is it settling in your mind right now? How many think that's a long time? It's a long time. But God is not bound by time. God's promises are not bound by time. You know what's bound by time? Us. And what are we always fussing about? Time. And what do we get cranked up when it comes to God? God, you gave me a promise and I'm running out of time. There in lies our problem is we're always trying to fit God into our narrative.

I'm going to let you know a little secret. He doesn't fit in your narrative. He never has and he never will. The messenger that Malachi is talking about is John the Baptist. He was the forerunner. Matthew 11, Mark 1, Luke 7. We'll get to these verses in just a minute. In ancient times, a messenger went ahead of the king to clear the road and announce his arrival. Behold, the king is coming. Make way for the king. That's what they did. They were the forerunner that went out. That's what John the Baptist was doing. Again, you got to love the way God writes the story because his regal robe was camel hair. He ate locust and wild honey. As Bishop used to say, he was wearing roadkill. Doesn't seem like a royal herald, does it? The messenger seems like he'd have been a little bit more regal in his in his his attire. But again, God doesn't do he doesn't fit into our narrative. The messenger goes forth. John fulfills this role. We see in Matthew 10, excuse me, Matthew 11:10. This is red letter words. Jesus says, "For this time, he of whom it is written, behold, I will send my messenger before you, your face, who will prepare your way before you." Malachi again was the last of the Old Testament writing prophets. But John the Baptist stands as one of the greatest among them because he uniquely bridged the Old and the New Covenants, introducing Jesus to Israel.

He's uniquely positioned. He's in that he's in literally in a threshold between the two. Have you ever thought about him that way? He stands between the two there. He says this in John chapter 1 29. The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, "Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said after me comes a man who is preferred before me for he was before me. I did not know him but he should be revealed to Israel. Therefore, I came baptizing with water." Malachi also speaks in chapter 3 verse number one about the messenger of the covenant. Who's that? You know the answer. His name starts with a J. It's Jesus. So we see in chapter three, he's already setting up that things are changing. The prophet is pinning these words and he's writing. He said, "There's a messenger coming and then there's a messenger of the covenant." He was foretelling of things that are about to transpire if they will get their act together. Jesus would come, the messenger of the covenant to fulfill the law, to establish a new covenant of grace. to Malachi, he asked the people because they're asking the question, "Where's the God of justice?" Right? That's what they're saying in there in in the book of Malachi. They're frustrated because it looks like everybody who's trying to not live for God is getting away with everything.

Where's the God of justice? And he answers the question, there's a messenger coming and the messenger of the covenant coming because the covenant still matters because he's a covenant keeping God. Justice was satisfied because of Jesus Christ at the cross. Jesus Christ fulfilled God's justice completely. Paul talking about Jesus to the Roman church said this in Romans 3 3:26 to demonstrate at this present time his righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Do you want proof that God is not unfair? Then look at the cross. The cross is proof. Even if God never healed another body, if God never answered another prayer, if God never blessed another harvest, he has already given the greatest miracle possible, that you and I have an opportunity of life everlasting, that our sins, our penalty for our sin has been paid in full by him at Calvary. That is proof that he is a fair and a just God because we didn't deserve it. And there was no guarantee when he died that we were ever going to pay him any attention whatsoever. But yet, he died anyway. While we were in our sins, he died for us. That's proof that he is a fair God. But Malachi goes on in chapter two to talk about this this interesting term called the refiner's fire. Look at this verse number two.

But who can endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire, like a launderer's soap. He was set as a refiner and a purifier of silver. He will purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold and silver that they may offer to the Lord an offering of righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the Lord as in the days of old as in the former years. And I will come near your for your judgment. And I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against adulterers, against purggers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, against those who turn away and alien because they do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts. So Malachi describes what Jesus Christ is coming to do. First, he's coming with mercy and grace. All right? There's two comingings. This first coming, the first time he came is with mercy and grace. But there's a second coming of purification and judgment. Again, there's a lot of prophecy being unfolded even in this very chapter about things that were going to unfold. Remember, he's answering their question. Where's the God of justice? Where's our justifier? And he's beginning to say this is there's a messenger coming and there's a messenger of the covenant coming and he's going to bring a refiner's fire with him.

He's going to purge. He's going to purify. He does not come listen this is important. He does not come to save us in our sins. He comes to save us from our sins. Charles Spurgeon, I got a quote for you. He said this. Listen, this this is this language is a little heavy. If any of you, my hearers, are seeking the Lord at this time, I want you to understand what it means. You are seeking a fire which will test you and consume much of us which has been dear to you. We are not to expect Christ to come and save us in our sins. He will come and save us from our sins. Therefore, if you are enabled by faith to take Christ as savior, remember that you take him as the purgger and the purifier. For it is from sin that he saves us. I'm so thankful for salvation. Are you thankful for salvation that God was willing to make that sacrifice with no guarantee of anything out of me yet he did it anyway? I'm so thankful for the blood and the water and thankful for the fire. Are you thankful for those things? Bible has a lot to talk about the blood and the water and the fire. The blood and the forgiveness that covers over. I'm so thankful that my sins have been forgiven. The blood that was applied on the doorpost of Egypt when the Passover took place.

Are you thankful for the water of baptism, the cross, you know, of the Red Sea to be redeemed and remitted of my sins, washed away in that in that precious name of Jesus when I was baptized? I'm thankful for baptism. I'm thankful for the fire, for the infilling of the Holy Ghost, for the purification, that pillar of fire that guided them in the wilderness. All these things were foreshadow of the new covenant that was coming, prophecies being fulfilled. Malachi is bringing back their attention. Again, it was a burden. This is the burden of Malachi. He was eat alive with the story trying to get them back to where they needed to be because they were walking away from the conditions of the covenant was placed before them. Malachi 3 verse number 6. For I am the Lord. I do not change. Therefore you are not consumed, oh sons of Jacob. Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from my ordinances and have not kept them. Listen to this. Return to me and I will return to you. says the Lord of hosts. But you said, "In what way shall we return?" God's crying out for them. He's saying, "I've been pursuing you relentlessly for generations, but you're walking away from me. You're walking away from what I want to do for you. You're walking away and following after what you desire to do.

Return to me and I will return to you." He reminds him of a crucial truth and this is something that's important for us to never forget. He does not change. And that is good news. If God were fickle, Israel would have been destroyed long ago. I'm thankful for his mercy. Aren't you? We need more mercy in our life. I know what would happen if I'd have been God. I'd have wiped them out in the wilderness. We probably wouldn't have made it to the Red Sea. I'd be like, "I'm done with y'all. Too much lip." Or I'd have got them in the middle of the water and be like, "Nope. Start over. Thankfully, I'm not God. I'm thankful you're not God, too, because I can't imagine what y'all would do either. We would make terrible gods. But I'm so glad he doesn't change. He's unchanging. His nature provided space for repentance. That same truth anchors in us today that God remains faithful to his promises and is just in his sacrifice. He says, "Return to me." What powerful words, "Return to me and I will return to you." His invitation is simple. Instead of repenting though, the people asked, did you catch that? In what way shall we return? I think I would have been pretty broken God speaking to me that way. But there they had the audacity to say, well, what in what way?

What are we doing? What are we missing? It reminds me of what I've said many times before. There's nothing new under the sun, right? Solomon's take on that. And not much has changed in humanity. This is this is this is pastor Kevin's version. They asked what's the minimum requirement? What are the things that I have to do for you to return to me? Not what do I get to do? And you know you I've unpacked this many times when it comes to our relationships. No one goes into relationships saying what's the minimum requirement to keep this relationship going? Whether it's a friend, whether it's a friendship or it's a marriage or whatever it is, no one no one goes into that saying, "What's what's what what's what what's what what I what's the minimum, the bare minimum so that I can keep it alive." But when I read that, when God's saying, "If you will return to me, I will return to you." You feel like they should be like, "God, whatever I need to do, whatever I whatever you desire for me, that's what I I want to be with you, God." But instead, they like, "Well, what what do I got to do? give me a list that I can check off so that then I when things don't go right I can point to the list and say I did everything that was on the list because God my relationship with you is boiled down to a to-do list.

Is that a relationship you want to be in a to-do list relationship? Do you think God wants a to-do list relationship? They were missing the point again. Malachi is pleading with them. He's he's he he's being open and raw and honest and he's got this burden that he's trying to unpack to them and and God is speaking through him. He's being the voice piece and God is saying, "If you'll return to me, I will return to you. What do I got to do?" The question reveals either ignorance or denial. But I love that God answers plainly. He says this in verse number eight, "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me." But you say, "In what way have we robbed you? and tithes and offering. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that they may be food in my house. And try me now in this, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit that for you in the field, says the Lord of hosts.

And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land, says the Lord of hosts. Is this this language is covenant language. Remember I told you it was about they they they were they were walking away from the from the from the covenant blessing that was there. They had walked away from it. And God's saying, "You don't know the question?" Well, here's the answer. You ask the question, here's the answer. You You've robbed me. And then we see the if then taking place. God calls their withholding of tithes and offerings robbery. The Hebrew word implies simply boldness of ingratitude and self-destruction. This idea of robbing God is hard to process because let's be honest. How do you rob God? Do you What gun do you use? How do you stick him up? How do you how do you how do you rob God? Well, he spells it out there. The robbery occurred when people withheld their tithe and offering. God labels that robbery because they have unlawfully withheld what would rightfully belong to him. You may say, "Well, Pastor Kevin, everything belongs to God." Correct. Everything does belong to God. He does not typically demand that we give anything back to him. Instead, he trusts us with managing a portion of his resources. However, ladies and gentlemen, tithes and offerings are exceptions. They are not ours to manage, but they are meant for his house.

Giving a tenth or 10% isn't a matter of taking the remaining 90 as if it were entirely ours to use as we wish. Instead, we have to be the best stewards of what God has entrusted for us to manage. Now, there's there's there's this push in Christianity that's been going on for 15 20 years now where they're saying that the tithing is an Old Testament. It's under the Old. Well, that's that's it was a part of the Mosaic law, but it actually predates the Mosaic law. Tithing was before the law. Tithing goes all the way back to Abraham. But just because it was in the Old Testament doesn't mean it's not in the New Testament too. Now a lot of people want to pull out that Paul said that I set up a new institution for giving that you need to set aside certain amount at the beginning of the week that you can give and let it not be that we have to come and ask and take for it that you're just supposed to begin the week just give give what you can. That is not what Paul was doing. He was not negating what had already been set up from almost the very beginning of time when it come to tithe and what belonged to God. There's all God has always had something that belonged to him. Garden of Eden. Of every tree of the garden, you may freely eat except what?

Because God always holds something that belongs to him. They're going to go into Jericho, right? They're going to just win the city. What does God say? Don't you take anything there. It belongs to me. Like, it's not hard to go through scriptures and show you that God is very good about saying you can do this, but that belongs to me. It's a matter of relationship trust. Tithing and offerings are no different. In fact, if you really want to be honest, as I've said this even before, that grace is a higher demand than the law ever was. Grace says you look at Calvary and that's the bar. Grace says 10% is the floor, not the ceiling. Will a man rob God? Will a man rob God? Now, tonight is not my goal. I've done this. I I really encourage you if you have were not with me or with this church when I taught on the the series two masters. It's on our app. It's on the website if you go to I believe it's essential series. Scroll down. It's called two masters. It's four parts. It's a deep dive into ti and offering. really really really encourage you if you struggle or have questions about this to go there and if you still have questions after that comes come see me we'll talk about it but there's there's a principle of first fruits there's a lot of good stuff in there scripturally based that you can see here's what I can tell you about this I have not always this is this is this is I say this with shame not boasting I haven't always lived the way I should for But I have always tithed and I can tell you firsthand living on 90 is way better than living on 100.

Now I know I stand in the room and I'm going to ask anybody raise their hand because that would that would that would cause somebody to be uncomfortable that maybe hasn't tried this before. But I tell you that you're in a room full of witnesses who stand willing to testify that you cannot outgive God. Now, you don't give to get because that's a wrong mindset. That's a wrong attitude. But if you will commit to being a person who lives and giving tithes and praying that God will direct you to give offerings, I promise you life's not going to be ro adverse free. There'll be adversity you face, but I promise you financially your life's much better than when you don't. I got we chass and I got story after story after story about things that just it doesn't make sense. The only thing you can say is God. Not just in cash that showed up, but in how things just unfolded in our life. There's no other way to describe it, but God being faithful and true. You go back to what he said. Jesus or God speaking through Malachi says, "Prove me in this. Bring all the ties into the storehouse." And I'm going to get on that in just a minute. hang it all in the thrs and and and and see if I won't open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing.

Not just a blessing that you can't contain, but he says, "I'll fight the adversary against your crops, against the things you plant, against your vine. I I will go in and I will fight for you. Your stuff will last longer all because you were obedient to giving your tithes and offering again." They were frustrated saying, "Where's God?" And God says, "If you'll return to me, I'll return to you." And they did what? They said, "Well, how how can we return to you?" And he says, "Will you rob me?" Yeah. You say, "How have we robbed you in tithes and offering?" There's often two errors when it comes to tithing. Number one, legalism. Giving to earn righteousness. You you you cannot give your way into heaven. You can't purchase it. It's not for sale. It was already bought and paid for. Giving out of fear or giving without gratitude. The second is neglect by withholding entirely or some are starving the house of God or forcing priests to abandon their ministry like what was taking place in Nehemiah when Nehemiah showed back up. If you read the book of Nehemiah after he rebuilt the wall, went back to his cup bearer's job, went back to check on what was going on. He goes into the temple and goes into the offering room and it's empty. And he looks around, he can't find the priest. And where were they at?

They're out working in the fields because they had to still put groceries on the table. And Nehemiah has a little moment where he checks out. They have a what we what we call a come to Jesus meeting, even though that was a little predated there, and he goes out and corrects the problem. Listen to this. Giving was never meant to be enforced by a threat. Giving was meant to flow from devotion. When we withhold, the reality is we only hurt ourselves by withholding what belongs to God. They were effectively robbing themselves. Now, here's here here's here's the it's the Lord's tithe and your offerings. It's the Lord tithe. Be very careful with what you do with the Lord's tithe. I've had people come in and they were frustrated about some decision that had been made and they came in and then they begin to talk about their tithe. I'm going to take my tithe and go somewhere else. Oo. It's not your tithe. It's his tithe. and be very careful about what you replace his name with and put your name on. I've watched those same people have to deal with a whole lot of frustration in their life. I've heard God speak to me and said, "I will correct the problem. I will take care of them because they just they took on what does not belong to them. I will take care of them." I've seen it.

I've seen people go through things and again, I pray for them. I pray for them. I don't want anybody to go through that. I I'm not the hard-hearted. It's like, "Okay, go ahead, buddy. Lord rebuke you." Like, that's the thing about being pastor. You get chewed up and then you got to turn around and pray for the people. But pray because of God, I need mercy in my life. I I I'm not perfect. I need mercy in my I'm so thankful that God is merciful to me because I need it in my life. I'm just simply telling you, you be very, very cautious about what God has laid out in his word that is his. You need to give it to him. Again, Deuteronomy 28 verse number 8, the Lord will command the blessing on you and your storehouses and all which you set your hand. And he will bless you in the land which your Lord your God has given you. I bring this to you because it's language. It's language. Remember Malachi is talking or God's speaking through Malachi. He's he's speaking to the people and he's saying, "Look, bring all the tithes in the storehouse and I will I will fight for you." It's it's tying it back to the covenant that was laid out in Deuteronomy 28. It's covenant languages. It's co covenant conversation that's taking place. Instead, what was going on in their life?

They were facing plagues, the devour and crops failing to mature. When you withhold from God, you ultimately end up robbing yourself. Keeping what is God's places you under a curse and allows the devourer to diminish your blessing. Hagi chapter 1 verse number six I feel like sums this up perfectly. You have sown much and bring in little. You eat but do not have enough. You drink but you're not filled with drink. You clothe yourself but no one is warm. And he who earns wages earns wages to put in a bag with holes. I've had that bag before. Again, Hagi is pointing out, you've walked away. And what what what is crazy about this is this wasn't something that they shouldn't have known. God spoke about it when he talked about the blessings. He talked about the if then. He said, "If you do this, then I'll fight for you. I'll put you in places. I'll elevate you. You'll be a nation that all will look to. But if you don't, this is what's going to take place. And then they didn't. And they're like, "Where's God?" And God's saying, "I'm in the same place I've always been. I don't change. I don't know what you want me to do for you. I told you if you will do this, I will do that. But if you don't, I won't." Faithfulness in earthly things proceeds to spiritual blessings in our life.

The directive was key to resolve their issue to precisely what God had commanded them to bring all the ties to him. Luke chapter 16 verse number 11 reading from the New Living Translation. And if you are trustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? To me, this verse continues to highlight the if then principle. If we are faithful with earthly wealth, then God will trust us with true riches. Some of you pray and pray pray God make me wealthy. You know, I've prayed that prayer before. Lord, I would be I would be a great millionaire. He hasn't answered that prayer. And I have to trust that he knows best because I don't know that I could handle it. Maybe you can't handle it. If you can't handle what you got now, if you can't be faithful with what you got now, well, pastor, if you seen if you seen my balance sheet, if you knew what I made, you would know that I can't afford to tithe. No, you can't afford not to tithe. I'm continuing on with something that our bishop said many, many times because I believe what he said was correct and accurate and true. If you've never tithed before, I encourage you to tithe. And at the end of a month, if you can't say your life is better with tithing, we'll give it all back.

We keep real good records. Sister Pam is the best. >> Amen. >> She's the best. But here's what I know. The reason I can say that is this isn't dependent on me. God said, "Prove me." The one time in the Bible he says basically in today's language, I dare you. We got some folks that hardly ever ever come in the back door of this church that tithe to this church because they understand this principle. I'm telling you, I'm not saying this because we got to pay the light bill or I'm trying to pad my pocket. You've heard me if you've been around here before. One of the things that I'm that I struggle with the most ever teaching or preaching when is when it comes to money because it can feel like since my salary comes from this church, it's very self- serving. And God convicted me a few years ago and said, "You robbed my people because of your stinking pride and reminded me it had nothing to do with me. It was his word and it was his principle and it was his relationship with you that matters. Luke 6:38 Jesus said this, "Give and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, run over, will be put back in your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." Paul talking in 2 Corinthians 9 said this in verse number six.

But I say this, but this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, but he who sws bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as his purposes in his heart, not grudgingly out of necessity. For God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that you always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As I get ready to wrap this up in the last few minutes we have, I go back to Malachi verse number 13 of chapter 3. Listen to this. Malachi speaks. He says this. Your words have been harsh against me, says the Lord. Yet you say, "What have we spoken against you? You have said it is useless to serve the Lord. What profit is it that we have kept his ordinances and that we have walked as mourers before the Lord of Hosts?" So now we call the proud blessed for those who do wickedness are raised up. They even tempt God and go free. So God is addressing Israel's harsh words against him, revealing their mistake for believing the serving God was for no gain. This question is it is it right? Is it the right thing to ser to to commit their life to God? What's the profit for keeping his charge? Basically, they're like, "This is pointless. Everybody who's trying to do wrong gets away with it.

We're trying to do right and nothing happens." The reality is they had knowledge they didn't embrace. They had knowledge they didn't embrace. It's kind of like, have you ever seen somebody do something that you know they're not supposed to do, but yet it didn't seem to have an impact on their life? And you're like, "Wait a minute. How'd that happen? You ever seen somebody work a piece of machinery and you're like, "No, don't put your hand in there. Don't do it." And they did it and nothing happened to them. You're like, "Well, that shouldn't have happened." And then what do we do? We want to go change the rule books because one outlier grabbed the electric fence and didn't get shocked. You're like, "Why is he even there? It doesn't even work." Then you go over and you get shocked and then you're mad. Why is it that we always look at the outlier and then we make the exception, right? Well, if they got away with it. I mean, if God was really good and just, he would know that they're not what they're supposed to be doing. Why would he be blessing their life? It's no point for me to do anything because God's doing that. You ever stop and listen to yourself? Have you ever been around a four-year-old? They sound a lot like you. We give a lot of grace to foury olds, not so much for 40 year olds.

But that's what we do. We always we always get frustrated when someone else got away with it. In our minds, they got away with it. And what do we do? We want to turn our back on God and say, "What's it even for? What's the point of even trying? Why am I going through all this? Why would I even care, God, when I when I could just live like that? Because they're getting to have all the fun and you still bless their life." It's interesting how we like to throw around that word fair. Do you really want fair? Is that what you want? Be very careful how you answer that question. Do you want fair? You don't. I promise you. You want mercy. You don't want fair. You want mercy every time. They were disillusioned. this disillusionment pointed out this common struggle. Here's another note for you. We become disillusioned when we begin to measure divine favor by material success. We become disillusioned when we begin to divine measure define divine favor by material success. We look at other people like, well, they've got the new car and they've got the new house and they seem to get to go this. I look at their social media pages. They look at their Instagram reel and man, they're just living the best life ever because that tells the story, right? I mean, everybody knows your real on Instagram is what perfection looks like.

They've never faced adversity. I promise you, there was a lot of yelling and screaming that went on before that picture was made, just like it is in your family. It was that family, too. You better look like you're enjoying this. I have to post our perfection so everybody gives me a heart. We've created our own disillusionment. God shifts our focus over to those who fear him when they come together to encourage one another. This act of mutual support did not go unnoticed by God. Listen to his words. He says this as I wrap the chapter up. Verse 16. Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another and the Lord listened and heard them. So a book of remembrance was written before him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on his name. They shall be mine, says the Lord of Hosts, on the day that I make them my jewels, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. Did you catch that? He wrote their names in the book of remembrance. Is it all about your earthly kingdom? Or do you ever give any thought to the heavenly? Are you so captivated by this life that you're not willing to make a sacrifice for that? As I bring this to a close in my last four minutes I got, God is not unjust. He remembers our work and our love, not just his actions, but he also understands and realizes the motives behind what we do.

That's why you really need to be the pure in heart. Do what you do for him. If nobody else ever pats you on the back, it's okay. Did you do it for them or did you do it for him? I think it's important to reflect on these biblical principles, especially when it comes to what was laid out when it comes to our financial stewardship of tithing and offering. We see that returning to God in our finances is not merely a act of fulfilling a religious obligation, but instead it's an act of profound trust and obedience to God. The scriptures remind us that tithing supports his ministry. It honors God and aligns our hearts with his will. But when we withhold our tithes and our offerings, we are not only missing the blessings that God intends for us, but it also impacts ministry. There's a price that's being paid. Faithfully giving demonstrates recognition that everything I have and everything that is in my life was given from him. Every good and perfect gift comes from above. But he doesn't require those things from us. He simply says bring the tithe back that my house may be full. The only time he says, "Prove me in this and see." Where God says, "If you do this, I will bless you. I will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing." Those are his words. Those are God's words.

If you will do this, prove me in it and see if I won't. God won't open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing. His words that you can't contain. And here's the deal, ladies and gentlemen. That is not always in financial terms. I think if you will stop for just a minute, if you will be honest with yourself, I mean really be honest with yourself, we're really blessed people. He has blessed us beyond measure. Shame on us that it takes some kind of natural disaster or some bad diagnosis or some catastrophe in our life for us to make wake up and realize just how good God has been. He is a good and faithful God. And I'm so thankful for his mercy that's new in my life every day and I know you are too. So as I bring this then as you stand with me because I'll keep talking if you don't. He says return to me and I'll return to you. Let us commit ourselves to not only giving our lives, not only our time and our talent, our ability, but also our finances to what God wants to do with them. and let God be God. And let us be thankful for the many blessings he gives into our life every day. Let's pray. Jesus, you are so good. I'm so thankful for the truth that is in your scriptures.

God, the promises that are there, Lord, that we get to hang on to. They are if then promises, but Lord, you keep your end of the bargain. You are always faithful. You are always able to keep what your word says. I pray Lord Jesus if there's someone in this place that's maybe struggling with this financial aspect Lord that they would be willing to step out in faith and and trust in you and see Lord as your word says prove me in this God I pray that someone would have the courage to try that's never tried before and God that they would sense and feel and know that you are there that they could see what you do in their lives be with us as we leave this place bring us back to the next appointed time in Jesus name we pray. Amen.