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Recent Sermon Notes
Pastor Jim wished all the mothers in the congregation and online a very happy Mother’s Day. It was a day dedicated to the celebration of motherhood, acknowledging the great devotion mothers have toward their families. He pointed out there was one specific thing at which mothers are very good—how to feed their children the Bread of Life like no one else can.
Pastor Mac taught a message entitled, “The Accuser of Brethren.” “This message is important,” he said, “because it encapsulates our challenge in this life and summarizes things in a significant way.” His subject? How to avoid deception! The basic truth of this message is this: If the enemy can’t deceive you, he can’t defeat you!
Pastor Jim preached a message subtitled, “The Holy Spirit Leads You Out of the Dominion of Sin.” This is his 33rd message in his teaching series on the book of Romans called “Unveiled Grace.” The message was based on Romans 8:13, “For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever.” (Amp.) This verse tells us that through the Holy Spirit, we have the power to put to death the evil deeds of the body.
Pastor Mac taught a message on the celebration of Easter. He said, “The kingdom of God is based upon the Word of God. In fact, the kingdom of God is a manifestation of the Word of God and His purposes on the earth.” The celebration of Easter is a centerpiece of all that He’s done to enable humanity to rise to the level only possible in Him—and to escape the realm of death!
Pastor Jim taught the 31st message in his series on Romans: “Unveiling Grace.” The Bible is clear, under the New Covenant, there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Yet many believers are walking around under the weight of condemnation. Pastor Jim explains these believers are trying to absolve themselves of their sins through their own self-effort, which is another way of saying “through their flesh.” What they’re trying to do is live under Old Covenant laws. There’s a word for Christians like that—miserable!
For His Kingdom, part #3: The Tithe | Pastor Mac Hammond | November 13, 2022
Recap:
The tithe matters to you—yes, you! The tithe is your way to acknowledge that Jesus is your Lord and Savior. It’s much more than a teaching of the law. The principle of the tithe is throughout the Bible. That’s why Pastor Mac took the time this past weekend to teach us the truths of the tithe and why the tithe is valuable in our walk with the Lord. As we seek to reach for the goals God has given us in Vision 2023, we must also remember that the tithe is the first fruits of our increase and should be given first.
Dive Deeper:
As we heard into 2023, we are excited about all of the places God has called Living Word to advance His kingdom. From global church plants to expanding the Winner’s Minute to building up our in-reach opportunities, we have big things ahead, and everything pledged to Vision will go to fund our vision items. That’s all the more reason why we need to be aware of why the tithe still matters.
The tithe isn’t optional. God commands His people to bring ten percent of their increase into the storehouse. This simple action of choosing to bring part of your increase to God is a declaration of His lordship in your life. It points you back to Him.
The principle of the tithe started all the way back in the Garden of Eden. God gave Adam a choice to follow the world and partake of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, representative of worldly understanding. His alternative was to follow God’s direction to partake of the tree of life. Even back then, Adam had a choice to choose God.
Now, remember the tithe unlocks the promise of God to meet your needs and provide you with so much that there “shall not be room enough to receive it” (See Malachi chapter 3). That doesn’t mean you’ll run out of ways to receive money. It means God will turn your heart into a giving heart. You’ll want to bless people because you know that God will continue to take care of you!
Read About It:
Genesis 2:16–17 KJV
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Malachi 3:10–11 KJV
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.
Hebrews 6:20–7:8 KJV
Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: but he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think God set the tithe in place?
2. How does the tithe help the local church?
3. Have you made the tithe a part of your giving routine? If not, what’s stopping you?