Title: How to receive a blessing from God
Theme: To help people understand that we miss out on God’s blessings when we do not give to him.
Text: Malachi 3:7-17
Today I would like to talk to you about giving.
If there is one thing that is common between the Israelites and Christians it is the idea of giving. When God made the New Covenant with Christians one thing that he kept in tact was the idea of giving. We see it Intertwined in the worship system of the Israelites. If you study the Old Testament you will find that the Israelites gave more than the tenth. They actually gave, and I will give you scripture references,
1) tenth after the firstfruits given to Levites for their livelihood (Lev 27:30-33)
2) tenth paid by the Levites to the priests (Num 18:26-28)
3) second-tenth paid to the Levites for their needs (Dt 12:18)
4) three year tithe for the poor (Dt 14:28-29)
The idea of giving was continued on into the New Testament. We see numerous references of Jesus to the people on how and what to give. Then we see Paul mentions it in
1Corinthians 16:2-AV 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.
So as we can tell it did not stop with the Old Testament but it is required of those in the New Testament church also.
With that we also see that the blessings of God continued. They did not stop with the Old Testament. Now they are not the same and we do not have rights to claim the Old Testament blessings for our own cause but we will receive blessings if we give to the Lord.
Today I want to look at this idea from Mal chapter 3. I call it How to receive a blessing from God?
I. Condition of the Blessings
What is the condition? What is required of us to receive a blessing from the Lord. Let us look at
Malachi 3:10 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].
I want to look at these two words "prove me". This is the Lord speaking to the Israelites and he tells them to prove me. Put me to the test. Try me and see what I will do. The condition to receiving a blessing to the Lord is to try them.
I think about this from an evangelistic stand point. Sometimes I say to myself if I could just get people to experience the Lord one time. Just try the Lord. Just give him a chance to work then they would never desire to turn back.
The Lord says prove me.
B. bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse
How do we prove God? How do we receive the blessings from the Lord? How do we open the windows of heaven? By giving unto him. Giving unto the Lord. We give so little to the Lord for so much that he have given to us. This includes financially but also in our own life.
Now do we receive the same blessings as the Israelites? It is no where promised in the New Testament. But we receive more. When we give to Lord we come into a closer relationship with him. We take part in what and who he is. In no way do we earn our salvation. In no way do we buy our salvation. But when we give we enjoy our salvation.
So many people miss out on the blessings of God when they do not give. I believe this why Paul was praising the Macadonian Christians so much for their giving to his ministry. He wanted them to see their fruit. He wanted them to receive a blessing.
II. We see the evidences of blessings
Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another:
A. They feared the Lord
They had reverence for him because as we draw closer we realize who he is. Then we gain more respect for him. The renmenant.
B. They spoke of the Lord one to another.
They drew closer together. God’s presence draws us closer together. Churches fight when God is not there. God’s people do not fight.
III. Now we see the result of blessing.
A. The Lord listens
and the LORD hearkened, and heard [it],
The Lord listens when his name is called.
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.
B. All that we do is written into a book of remberance
and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
This is a reminder of the book that we see that is written in our own lives every day. God is keeping record of us. There we be no surprises when we get to heaven. Our lives are being watched every day. The question is what do we do?
C. God will protect us and watch over us.
Malachi 3:18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
In conclusion I am not telling you to give unto the Lord just because you will receive a blessing. If our heart and motives are not pure then we are wasting our time. What I am doing is tring to get you to realize what wonder blessing you are missing when you don’t give. Over the years I have come to realize that the more I give the more I receive.
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. (Luke 6:38 AV)
