Will A Man Rob God?
Malachi 3
Intro: I’ve been
preaching since July 13th, 1993 and this is the first time that I
can remember ever preaching an entire message on these verses. These are some of my favorite verses, and yet
I have avoided preaching them because it bothers some people and makes then
either upset or nervous.
·
JOKE: A man died and went to heaven. He was met at the Pearly Gates by St. Peter
who led him down the golden streets.
They passed stately homes and beautiful mansions until they came to the
end of the street where they stopped in front of a rundown cabin. The man asked
St. Peter why he got a hut when there were so many mansions he could live
in. St. Peter replied, “I did the best
with the money you sent us.”
Today, I’m going to preach these verses for three reasons:
1. They
are Scripture – preach the whole counsel of God
2. They
are Simple – it doesn’t take a doctor’s degree in theology to expound these
verses
3. They
are Sensational – you can’t find move vivid picture of God’s unlimited blessings
in the Bible
I. The Lord’s Rebuke
·
Malachi
3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have
robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have
robbed me, even this whole nation.
A. Notice the Inquiry – Will a man
rob God?
B. Notice the Ignorance – But ye
say, Wherein have we robbed thee?
C. Notice the Implications – ye
are cursed with a curse
II. The Lord’s
Request
·
Malachi
3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in
mine house,
A. Notice the
Percentage – the tithes (10%)
Most people make two salaries:
1.
the amount they make when they are bragging
about how much they make
2.
the amount they make when it’s time to tithe
What should I tithe on? The Gross
or the Net?
Question – how much did you earn?
Or better yet, what does the
government make you pay taxes on? The gross or the net?
·
Proverbs
3:9 Honour the LORD with thy
substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
B. Notice the
Place – the storehouse – the local church is the storehouse
·
I
Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the
collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia,
even so do ye. Upon the first day of the
week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that
there be no gatherings when I come.
JOKE: A little boy in church for the first time watched as the
ushers passed around the offering plates. When they came near his pew, the boy
said loudly, “Don’t pay for me, Daddy, I’m under five.”
C. Notice the
Purpose – that there may be meat
God wants meat in His house! It’s not enough to have the
house – there has to be meat in it!
God isn’t a vegetarian!
1. A Picture of Sustenance
The Old Testament Priests – the Levites – were sustained on
the offerings of the people.
The meat that was brought in was used to help support those
laboring in the ministry.
·
I Cor.
9:6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not
we power to forbear working?
7 Who goeth a warfare
any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the
fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the
law the same also?
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou
shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take
care for oxen?
10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For
our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope;
and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is
it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
12 If others be partakers of this power over
you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer
all things, lest we should hinder the gospel
2. A Picture of
Soulwinning – reaching the world is the will of God
·
John 4:32
But he said unto them, I have meat to eat
that ye know not of. Therefore said the
disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith
unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his
work.
·
Acts 11
– the vision of the sheet come down from Heaven representing the people of the
world
3. A Picture of
Stability - a church that strives to strengthen and mature its people needs
money
·
Hebrews
5:12-14 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one
teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are
become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in
the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them
that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses
exercised to discern both good and evil.
III. The Lord’s Reward
A. A Pouring - Vs. 10b
·
Luke 6:38
Give, and it shall be given unto you;
good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men
give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be
measured to you again.
·
II Cor.
9:6 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.
B. A Protection
·
Vs. 11 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
C. A Promotion
·
Vs. 12
And all nations shall call you blessed:
for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
Conclusion: I’ve
met a lot of people that flat out deny the truth of these promises. I’ve heard
people say, “Pastor, I’ve tried tithing. It doesn’t work.”
First of all, if God said it, IT WORKS!Secondly, God said –
bring ye ALL the tithes – not just
some of it.
You can’t tithe once a month, or 6 months out of the year,
and expect God to keep His end of the bargain!
