Dr. Montia Setzler, Senior Pastor
February 14, 2016
Series: Stewardship – Obedience to God’s Plan
The Promise of Storehouse Giving
Malachi 3:7–12 (HCSB)
7 “Since the days of your fathers, you have turned from My statutes; you have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Hosts. But you ask: “How can we return?” 8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me!” You ask: “How do we rob You?” “By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions.
9 You are suffering under a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing Me. 10 Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this way,” says the Lord of Hosts. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not ruin the produce of your land and your vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit,” says the Lord of Hosts. 12 “Then all the nations will consider you fortunate, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of Hosts.
- Even when we have strayed, we can return to god. (vv 3:7-10a)
- Be careful when you have turned away from God’s statutes.
“Only one who is aware of the path he has taken can retrace his steps.” – John F. Walvoord
Remedy? Return to God and He will return to you.
- Be sure you are not robbing
Remedy? Bring the tithe into the storehouse (the church ministries).
- we can claim the promise of god through our stewardship. (vv 3:10b-12)
- God says to test Him to see if He will not bless us when we tithe, but this is rare.
Deuteronomy 6:16 (HCSB)
16 Do not test the LORD your God as you tested ⌊Him⌋ at Massah.
- He promises to bless us beyond measure.
- He promises to keep the Devil at bay so that we might prosper.
- He promises to make us the blessed ones of nations.
- we can develop a proper perspective with our giving habits.
- We don’t give to gain.
- Our giving comes from obedience.
- Our motivation comes from gratitude.
When we understand stewardship, the natural inclination is to give to God out of a heart of gratitude for all that He has provided. We can lift the curse of disobedience and receive the blessing God intended for us by being faithful in our giving.
