INTRODUCTION: A House of Worship! God is looking for Worshippers!
John 4:23– “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.”
When God used Moses to deliver the Children of Israel from slavery in Egypt He was looking for Worshippers!
Exodus 8:1-“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go back to Pharaoh and announce to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me.”
After they are delivered from Egypt and as they move through the wilderness God gives Moses clear instructions to build a Tabernacle exactly according to the pattern He gives Moses.
BUILD THE TABERNACLE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CAMP!
Build a place to meet with Me! God desires to dwell among his people. He’s looking for people to Worship him!
Who builds the Tabernacle? The Children of Israel.
WHATEVER GOD ASK YOU TO DO HE PROVIDES FOR. WITH GOD’S VISION COMES HIS PROVISION!
WHERE DID THE PROVISION FOR THE TEMPLE COME FROM?
IT CAME THROUGH THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL! WHERE DID THEY GET IT!
Psalm 105:37– “The Lord brought his people out of Egypt, loaded with silver and gold;
and not one among the tribes of Israel even stumbled.”
God used the Egyptian people to bless and provide for His kids! They didn’t deserve it, God just blessed them when he delivered them!
BUT NOW! It comes the time to build the Tabernacle. The place to meet with God! The place to Worship God for who He is!
Exodus 25:1-2– “God spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites that they are to set aside offerings for me. Receive the offerings from everyone who is willing to give.”
“The offering was to be a free will offering of worship from the heart, not a tax that was imposed.”
God had blessed them and now He wanted them to use a portion of what He blessed them with to give back to him and build a house of Worship!
You can only build a house of worship from a heart that worship’s and that is a willing heart!
The only true worship is willing worship and your giving is worship!
2 Corinthians 9:7– “…. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”
1 Chronicles 29:3– “Furthermore, because my heart is in this, in addition to and beyond what I have gathered, I’m turning over my personal fortune of gold and silver for making this place of worship for my God:…”
Verses 5-6 “And now, how about you? Who among you is ready and willing to join in the giving? Ready and willing, the heads of families, leaders of the tribes of Israel, commanders and captains in the army, stewards of the king’s affairs, stepped forward and gave willingly.”
Verse 9-17 “The people rejoiced over the offerings, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord, and King David was filled with joy.” Then David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly: “O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever! Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.“O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name! But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! We are here for only a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days on earth are like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace.“O Lord our God, even this material we have gathered to build a Temple to honor your holy name comes from you! It all belongs to you! I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously.”
The only proof that everything you have belongs to God is when you give a portion of what He’s given you back to Him!
THAT’S WORSHIP!
Genesis 14:20– “And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought Abram some bread and wine. Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing:“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you.”
Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.”
WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TITHING? ABOUT GIVING A PORTION BACK TO GOD.
- Tithing is Worship
Genesis 28:22- “And this memorial pillar shall become a place for worship; and I will give you back a tenth of everything you give me!”
JACOB HAS AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD. After he wakes up he pours olive oil over the stone and calls the place “Bethel” which means the House of God.
Then his response is Worship God with a tithe. With giving God a tenth!
When we worship with our tithe it’s the response of a grateful, humble people expressing their praise to God for His provision!
- Tithing is a Test
Tithing is a Test of your Heart.
Matthew 6:21– “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
Tithe means Tenth and the number ten represents testing in the Bible.
- How many plagues were in Egypt? (God tested Pharaohs heart)
- How many commandments did God give Moses?
- How many times did God test Israel in the wilderness?
- How many times were Jacobs wages changed?
- How many days was Daniel tested in Daniel chapter 1?
- How many virgins were tested in Matthew 25?
- How many days was the church in Revelation 2:10 tested?
- How many disciples did Jesus have?
The number 10 (tithe) represents a testing. Every time you get paid you’re tested!
There are more than 500 verses in the Bible concerning prayer, 500 verses concerning faith, but more than 2000 verses on the subject of money and possessions.
Jesus talked about money in 16 of his 38 parables. Clearly, from the Bible’s standpoint we need to understand money and how to handle it.
How I handle the money in my possession says more about my heart than I realize!
- Tithing is First
“Seek First the Kingdom of God…”
Genesis 4:3-7– “And in the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground. But Abel brought [an offering of] the [finest] firstborn of his flock and the fat portions. And the Lord had respect (regard) for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and his offering He had no respect. So Cain became extremely angry (indignant), and he looked annoyed and hostile. And the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you so angry? And why do you look annoyed? If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it.”
Jude 1:13– “Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.”
THE WAY OF CAIN: GREED AND REBELLION
Why do people not put God first in their giving? Greed and rebellion!
Tithing that is Worship is first. It’s about giving God your best!
CONCLUSION:
Proverbs 3:9-10– “Honor the Lord with your wealth
And with the first fruits of all your crops (income);
Then your barns will be abundantly filled
And your vats will overflow with new wine.”
To build a house of Worship you must have a heart of worship. Tithing is Worship. Tithing is a Test. Tithing is First!
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?