Sweet Sounds From Heaven

Today my Pastor preached on Tithing. It was refreshing. Tithing is one of the first things the Holy Spirit taught me almost 30 years ago. It has been part of my life style ever since. There were times when my mind questioned Tithing, but just because I did not want to be among the God Robbers (robbing God of His ability to Bless me), I continued to Tithe. Over the years, I have learned what it is, how it works and why it is important.

Malachi 3:10-12, Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed; for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.

That scripture alone is enough to make me want to tithe. Proving God on an issue. He rebukes the devourer for my sake. He opens the windows of heaven and pours out blessings I can’t contain them all. All nations shall call me blessed and I will be delightsome in their eyes. It don’t get no better than that! Just taking God at HIS WORD, knowing He can not lie and HE CHANGES NOT. Tithing is a privilege, not pressure.

Pastor worked the message in a very foundational way. We don’t tithe because God needs our money. God needs to see us faithful with the money He has allowed us to have. Pastor dealt with the 90% which God allows us to keep. A tithe is a 10^th. It grieves me to see people struggle in the area of finances. I have struggled in that area, so I know how difficult it is. God does not want us to want. He wants us to have plenty for giving and plenty left over for living.

Tithing was my life style, yet it seemed like not much was changing in my circumstances. One day, I realized, things were changing all along. Little by little, debt was leaving my house. God was preparing me for promotions. Favor was abounding in my direction. Sewing my own clothes and buying at the Goodwill got me through the tough times, but I could see past oatmeal and beans for the first time in years. Learning to live with what I had was a College Education. Faithfulness was my friend. My words were and still are wonderful servants. God’s Word is settled in heaven, powerful and always working, when put to work. I got my degree!!!

What is tithing? It is God’s method for successful living. How does it work? It works like a pump. Put a little water in and prime it to get a full flow of blessings. Why is it important? Nothing works right unless we do it God’s Way. He gave us the plan and it’s already Blessed. Anything contrary to God’s Way of Doing Things always ends in frustration and defeat.

Tithing and Offerings are two different things. We can not give an offering until we have satisfied the requirement of tithing. II Corinthians 9: 6-8, But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.

So, here we have a heart issue. According as we purpose in our heart. If we give regretting it, God cannot bless our giving. Just keep it, you’ll need it. And, like everything that has to do with God, we give in faith. Hebrews 11:6, But without faith it is impossible to please Him for he that cometh to God must believe that HE is and that HE is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

Everything that God tells us to do in His Word is for our benefit. He has our best interest at heart. He is our Father. He loves us enough to tell us the Truth. Let’s honor HIM enough to Believe Him and Obey HIS WORD.

Money is the tithe. Tithing is done with the mouth! Don’t ever just plunk it in the bucket. According to Deuteronomy Chapter 26, Prime that pump by speaking: “I was a sinner, held in bondage and in darkness by Satan. I cried unto the Lord Jesus and He heard my cry. He lifted me out of my affliction and oppression. He took me in and forgave me. He made me His Own through HIS SHED BLOOD and gave me authority over the evil one.” Watch Out!, Your gratitude is Showing!!, and God is Watching!! (2 Chronicles 16:9)

“Now I have brought the first fruits of my land which You have given me. I ask You to set it before the Father and worship Him with it. Look down from heaven, Father, in Jesus’ Name and Bless me. Your son (or daughter) and servant, according to Your riches in Glory. Bless my land (job, business, whatever we stretch forth our hands to do) and cause it to flow with milk and honey as You have promised in Your Word. I am Your very own child. You are my very own Father.” God honors that kind of Boldness!!

Prosperity is produced by the Word of God, not by the world. Deuteronomy 8:18, But thou shall remember the Lord thy God; for it is He that gives thee power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant, which He swore unto thy fathers as it is this day. Let’s bring it over into the New Testament, III John 2: Beloved, I wish above all things that thou may prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers. Soul Prosperity is HUGE!!!

God gives us Wisdom to operate by. God’s Way of Doing Things may seem contrary to our way of thinking. Just Remember, Isaiah 55:8-11, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven and returns not thither, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater: So Shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

We understand that God is not Broke. If we are, He can fix it. Let’s line up with His way and watch things improve in our Lives. Let’s check our Heart, Do our Part and Get Ready for an Overhaul. Ps 33:12 Our God is the Lord and we are the People He has chosen for His inheritance. Jesus already Died (and Rose) to give us an inheritance. Don’t miss out on what He’s passing out. This would be a good time to ask Him to make Proverbs 8:12 come alive in our Spirit. I Wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

Filed under: Spiritual Insights