Sermon #15                                                                                                                                Malachi Sermons

 

      Title:                                 More than a Tithe

 

      Text:                                 Malachi 3:8-12

      Subject:               Robbing God

      Date:                                Sunday Evening — December 27, 2010

      Tape:                                Malachi #15

      Readings:           Bob Duff and Allen Kibby

      Introduction:

 

ÒYe are not your own, for ye are bought with a price.Ó Is that true? Do you belong to the Lord Jesus Christ? Has he bought you with his precious blood? If so, this is in every way a reasonable deduction: — ÒTherefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are GodÕs.Ó Is that reasonable? Is this not an inference which commends itself at once to your conscience? Not only is it reasonable, it demands our attention, because it is the Word of God himself.

 

If I am not my own, if I have been purchased and redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, I ought to be utterly consecrated to God my Savior, dedicated entirely to him. DonÕt you think? Anything less would be worse than base ingratitude. Anything less would be robbery. Indeed, that is exactly what God calls it in our text (Malachi 3:8-12).

 

(Malachi 3:8-12) ÒWill a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 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. 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. 12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.Ó

 

The title of my message is — More Than A Tithe. I want to talk to you as pointedly and practically as I can about robbing God. Let me say this at the outset: — This business of robbing God goes far beyond paying tithes or not paying tithes. May God the Holy Spirit be pleased now to make his Word applicable to your heart and mine.

 

Every faculty and talent, great or small, God has given me, every possession, everything I call my own, belongs to my God. That which I possess, he has put into my hands, he has trusted to my hands to use for him: His Honor and Glory, His People, His Church, His Kingdom, His Gospel, His Cause. I am not responsible to the Lord for what he has not bestowed upon me; but I am responsible for all that he has trusted to me. I am not responsible for what he has put in your hands; but I am responsible for what he has put in my hands. And everything he has trusted to my hands, as a steward in his house, be it ever so little or ever so great, is to be consecrated to and employed for his glory.

 

I do not much like the word ÒdutyÓ as a motivator; but the Scriptures do use that word; and it is often implied even where it is not written. ÒDutyÓ is not the highest or best of motives. Yet, it is our ÒdutyÓ to obey and honor our God, even though after we have done all our duty, we are but Òunprofitable servantsÓ (Luke 17:10). As Robert E. Lee used to teach his students, respecting every aspect of life, — ÒDo your duty in all things. You cannot do more, you should never wish to do less.Ó Even in the performance of duty to our God, there is delight. David sang about it in Psalm 19.

 

(Psalm 19:7-11) ÒThe law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.Ó

 

In the keeping of GodÕs statutes, in obeying his Word, in doing his will, we find great reward. As we are enabled of the Triune Jehovah to trust and delight in him, our ever-gracious God, our souls are made to rejoice in the Lord. As we are enabled of him to love one another, as we find ourselves walking in love, our very lives are sweetened by the love of the brethren. Every heaven born soul can truly say, with Paul, ÒI delight in the law of God after the inward man.Ó

 

Rowland Hill once said, ÒI do not expect to be saved by a rule, but if I am saved I shall be ruled.Ó And he was exactly right. The law of God in which we delight and by which we are ruled is the whole of his revealed will in Holy Scripture. And the law of God in which we delight is the whole of his will concerning our daily lives, as he makes it known to us.

 

We have meat to eat that the world can never know. Our meat is to do the will of our God. If I do not render him the fruit of those powers by which I am made capable of serving him, then, according to the expression of our text, I rob God! Be sure you get that. — If we do not render him the fruit of those powers by which we are made capable of serving him, then, according to the expression of our text, we rob God! If we do not utterly devote ourselves to him, the Lord our God declares, ÒYe have robbed me!Ó — ÒWhether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of GodÓ (1 Corinthians 10:31). — O my soul, taste not, drink not, except to the glory of God! — Whatever we do — Whatever you do — Whatever I do — let us Òdo all to the glory of God!Ó — To do less is to rob God.

 

Addressed to Believers

 

I am specifically talking to you who are the LordÕs, to you who are redeemed by the blood of Christ, called by his grace, born again by his Spirit, to you who believe on the Son of God. It is to you and me that this portion of Scripture is distinctly addressed. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head, every human being is the creature of God and the property of God; but you cannot serve God until you are born of God.

 

It is only by the omnipotent power of GodÕs grace in Christ fallen manÕs perverted faculties are restored and made obedient to the Creator. Fallen man has power only to injure, power to injure himself and others, but none to help, and none with which to serve God who made him.

á      We can stop our ears; but we can never open them.

á      We can darken our eyes; but we can never enlighten them.

á      We can harden our hearts; but we can never melt them.

Yes, we have power to injure ourselves, but none to help. — ÒMy help cometh from the Lord!Ó

 

Only the heart sanctified by grace, only the regenerate mind has the power to rise above self to a life devoted to GodÕs glory. To that I aspire. DonÕt you? — Oh, may God the Holy Spirit give us grace to live for Christ, unto Christ. This is the thing Paul cravedÉ

 

(Philippians 3:8-14) ÒYea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.Ó

 

ÒWill a man rob God?Ó — Rob God! It is a horrible crime for a man to rob man. The more intimately acquainted the men are, the more heinous the crime. It is a terrible thing to rob a stranger; but when a son robs his own father, the father who loves him even as he is robbed, the crime is unspeakable. Yet, that pales into insignificance when we think of a man robbing God. — ÒWill a man rob God?Ó O how we rob him! We rob GodÉ

á      We rob God whenever we fail to use our tongues to show forth his praise. O my brother, my sister, loved of God, redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, sanctified by the Spirit, show forth the praises of your God! — In Supplication! — In Speech! — In Song!

á      We rob God whenever we rob him of worship. — Public Worship. — Private Worship.

á      We rob God when we live unto ourselves (Romans 14:7-9).

 

ÒFor none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the LordÕs. 9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.Ó

(Romans 14:7-9)

 

á      Again, we rob God if we give not to our dear Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ, the peculiar honors and glories that belong to him as God our Savior.

 

I will not deny him the honor of his precious atonement, nor fail to acknowledge his justifying righteousness. — I will not rob God the Father, by denying the everlasting purity of his law. Neither will I rob God the Son by refusing to ascribe to him all the merit and efficacy that belongs to him as my Redeemer. — And I will not rob God the Holy Spirit by professing to work out my own sanctification. — He who is our God is a jealous God; and wherever he carries on his mighty works and operations of grace, he causes the saved sinner to give him the glory. No heaven born soul takes that glory to himself that belongs to God alone!

 

ÒNot unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truthÕs sake.Ó (Psalms 115:1)

 

More than a Tithe

 

ÒWill a man rob God?Ó — Those words in their original reference referred to the Levites, who were robbed of the tithes and offerings by which God had ordered they were to be maintained. They had no other inheritance. But God requires more than a tithe. He requires, he desires and he deserves much more than a tenth of our hearts and lives. He demands the whole and he deserves the whole of my being. — ÒMy son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my waysÓ (Proverbs 23:26; Proverbs 3:5-6).

 

ÒTrust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.Ó

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

 

Faith in Christ is nothing less than the willing, deliberate, voluntary surrender of my very life to the rule and dominion of the Son of God as my Lord and Savior.

 

á      It is trusting Christ alone for my salvation, trusting him alone as my sin-atoning Substitute, trusting him alone as all my righteousness before God, trusting him alone to keep me by his grace and bring me at last into the everlasting bliss of heavenly glory.

 

But Christ is more than a fire escape from hell. Salvation is more than the hope of going to heaven and having eternal life when we die. We often speak of Christ saving our souls; but that is not Bible language. The Son of God did not die at Calvary to save anyoneÕs soul. He will never save your soul. Christ saves sinners, body, soul and spirit. He will either save you, all of you, or damn you, all of you! Do you understand what I am saying? The Lord Jesus Christ demands all of you. If he is not Lord of all, he is not Lord at all.

 

á      The Lord Jesus Christ demands that we trust him with the rule and government of our lives, that we commit, consecrate and devote our lives to him and to him alone (Mark 8:34-35). The Son of God demands absolute surrender in the city of Mansoul. He will have nothing less.

 

(Mark 8:34-35) ÒAnd when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (35) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospelÕs, the same shall save it.Ó

 

Illustration: LeeÕs Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse

 

I am calling on you now, this very hour to give up yourself to Christ, to believe on the Son of God, to acknowledge that you are his, lock, stock and barrel, that you are from this day forward his servant. I am calling upon you to devote your life, your entire life (All your family, all your time, all your talents, all your money, everything!) to the service of his kingdom, his glory and his cause alone, acknowledging that you have no right to claim anything for yourself, no right to use anything for yourself, no right even to have a thought, or will of your own.

 

                        Illustration: Baptismal Confession

 

Perhaps you think, ÒBro. Don, that sounds great. It seems to be that right thing to do. But itÕs just not practical and reasonable. Surely, the Lord does not expect me to totally give myself up to him. Surely, he does not expect anyone to trust him absolutely. — Is it really safe and wise to trust the Lord?Ó

 

I cannot tell you that it is physically, mathematically, economically, or philosophically safe and wise to trust him. That which is demanded of God can never be made to fit any human graph or scale. In fact, I must honestly tell you that in all earthly terms, faith in Christ is anything but reasonable. As Martin Luther once said, ÒThe first thing that faith does is to knock the brains of reason out.Ó

 

Listen to our SaviorÕs word (Matt. 6). When he calls us to believe God, to trust him, he says — If the Lord God, your heavenly Father, watches over and feeds the sparrow, donÕt you know that he will watch over and feed you? He who has numbered the very hairs of your head will meet your every need. If your heavenly Father clothes the worthless lilies of the field in splendor, he will never fail to supply your needs. Trust him.

 

(Matthew 6:31-34) ÒTherefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (34) Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.Ó

 

Can we really be expected to put Christ first in everything? Not only is it expected, it is demanded that we trust him for everything. I do not suggest, or imply, think, or imagine that this trust is perfect. Far from it! Our highest faith in our God is so full of unbelief that it would sink us all to the lowest hell, were it not bathed in ImmanuelÕs blood and robed in his righteousness.

 

Proposition: Faith is never perfect in us; but true faith is that which trusts the Son of God in all things and for all things, — absolutely. Such faith compels the believing soul to surrender all things to his dominion.

 

I know what you are thinking. — ÒIf I so trust Christ that I devote my entire life to him, how can I live in this world? How can I provide for my family? If I allow nothing to keep me from worshipping God and obeying him, what will happen to my business? Is that really safe and wise?Ó LetÕs look into the Book of God, and see what he says about these very practical things.

 

Exodus 34:24

 

First, I want us to look at a text in Exodus 34. You will remember that in the Old Testament the Lord God required every male Israelite to leave his land, his herds, his fields, his business, his home, everything three times a year to travel to Jerusalem and spend a week there worshipping him.

 

All their pagan neighbors would soon be aware of the fact that these people not only refused to allow anything to interfere with their daily worship and their weekly sabbaths, those Jews were such religious zealots that they left everything three times a year to go to Jerusalem to worship for a week. We can mark our calendars and take everything they have without resistance when they are away worshipping Jehovah. And the Jews might reasonably fear that their worship of God would make them vulnerable to such people, except for one thing — Exodus 34:24!

 

(Exodus 34:23-24) ÒThrice in the year shall all your menchildren appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel. (24) For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year.Ó

 

Leviticus 25:18-22

 

We have a similar situation in Leviticus 25:18-22. LetÕs camp here for a few minutes. — Leviticus 25:18-22.

 

In this passage of the law, the Lord does not require the children of Israel to neglect their livelihoods for a week, but for a year, once every seven years (Leviticus 25:1-7). During this sabbath year, they were not allowed to gather crops from the previous year, or sow their fields that year. That meant that they had to trust the Lord whom they worshipped, the God they served, and him alone to miraculously provide them with food for three years! God required them to trust him and obey him because they trusted him. Is that safe? Is that wise? LetÕs see.

 

(Leviticus 25:18-22) ÒWherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety. (19) And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety. (20) And if ye shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase: (21) Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. (22) And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store.Ó

 

The Lord here gave his people assurance that they would lose nothing by observing these years of rest. In fact, rather than losing by obedience, they would gain much. Look at what the Lord promised.

 

1.    He promised them safety. — ÒYou shall dwell in the land in safetyÓ (vv. 18-19). The word ÒsafelyÓ means more than physical safety and security. It means — You shall both be safe and inwardly confident and secure. You shall neither experience evil nor fear it.

 

2.    He promised them plenty. — ÒYou shall eat your fillÓ (v. 19). When we are obedient to our Savior, obedient to the revealed will of God, we may cheerfully and confidently trust him to provide for us all that we need (Philippians 4:19).

 

3.    He promised that they would not lack provisions during that year in which they neither sowed nor reaped. — ÒI will command my blessing in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three yearsÓ (v. 21).

 

This was a standing miracle of providence. At other times one year yielded food for the next. But in the sixth year the fields would yield enough to last for three years. The blessing of God upon our provisions makes a little go a long way. Our Savior still multiplies loaves and fishes for his own. He who gave manna every day of the week, but gave none on the sabbath, gave twice the daily provision on Friday, so that his people could give themselves without concern on the sabbath to worship him.

 

All of this is intended to be an encouragement from our God to us. Here he teaches you and me to obey him in all things, to put him first in all things, confidently trusting him and casting all our care upon him. He assures us that nothing is ever lost by faith in and obedience to our God. He declares, — ÒThem that honor me I will honor.Ó

 

I want to show you five things, five very important spiritual lessons from these verses. May God the Holy Spirit drive them home to our hearts.

 

The Obedience of Faith

 

First, If we would honor our God by obedience to him, we must understand that obedience arises from faith in Christ (v. 18).

 

(Leviticus 25:18) ÒWherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety.Ó

 

There is no keeping of GodÕs statutes and judgments apart from faith in Christ.

 

(1 John 3:23) ÒAnd this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.Ó

 

Let us not rob God by refusing to obey him; but understand that obedience begins with faith in Christ. — Throughout this blessed Book, the Lord God calls for obedience to that which is revealed in the Book upon one basis. It is repeated throughout the Book. And it is repeated again in the last verse of Leviticus 25.

 

(Leviticus 25:55) ÒFor unto me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.Ó

 

Here the Lord God says, I call for you to obey me becauseÉ

á      You are my servants.

á      I brought you out of the land of Egypt. — I redeemed you and saved you. — I bought you and you are mine (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 19-20).

á      I am the Lord your God.

 

ÒKnow ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.Ó

(1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

 

ÒWhat? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are GodÕs.Ó

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

 

The Lord God demands that we constantly acknowledge that he is our God and we belong to him. Nothing we are or have is exempted. All must be consecrated to him. It is his right as our God.

 

                                    Illustration: Two Borrowed Jewels

 

Obedience to the will of God is always costly. It always causes problems. It always requires that we make choices, choices that are sometimes painful. But God still requires obedience. And as we obey him, he takes care of the problems that arise because of our obedience.

 

The Danger of Worldliness

 

Second, we must never allow the cares of the world to keep us from the worship of and obedience to our God. — When I speak of worldliness, I am not talking about wearing stylish clothes, watching television, or even going to the movies. I am talking about something far more serious. I am talking about the love of the world (1 John 2:15-17). Nothing is so dangerous as worldliness. Nothing is such a powerful poison to our souls as Òthe care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches

 

It is the love of the world, more than anything else that keeps people who profess to love Christ from doing that which they know is the will of God, that which they know is best for their souls and that which they know most serves the interests of GodÕs glory. — It is the love of the world, more than anything else that men and women to rob God!

 

(1 John 2:15-17) ÒLove not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (17) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.Ó

 

(Ecclesiastes 3:10-11) ÒI have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. (11) He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.Ó

 

(Matthew 13:22) ÒHe also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.Ó

 

The Promise of Providence

 

Third, I want you to see that the Lord God our Savior pledges his providence to protect and provide for us as we seek to worship, serve and honor him in this world (Leviticus 25:18-19, 21).

 

(Leviticus 25:18-19) ÒWherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety. (19) And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety.Ó

 

(Leviticus 25:21) ÒThen I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years.Ó

 

Our Lord Jesus clearly refers to this passage in Matthew 6 and Luke 12, where he tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be supplied. In those two passages, our Master tells us that our primary purpose on this earth must be the will and glory and kingdom of God, and assures us that he will take care of us.

 

The Lord pledges his providence on our behalf. Surely, this should be enough for every believing heart. Our Savior said, — ÒYour heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.Ó Yet how often we are overcome by the fear of losing money, or friends, or the good opinion of family, or some little toy, if we devote ourselves to his cause! Oh, how little we trust GodÕs faithfulness! Should we not leave in his hands all our difficulties as to the matter of our provision and his method of providing it?

 

Has he not promised that he works all things together for our good? — ÒHe who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up freely for us all, How shall he not with him also give us all things?Ó

 

Besides, it is GodÕs blessing, not our industry, or skill, or foresight, that is the source of all our safety and provision. There is nothing to sustain faith, but the assurance here given that the Lord our God is able and willing to do for us all that we need. His heart is full of love for us. His holy arm is full of strength for us. It is most reasonable that we should trust him implicitly and obey him universally.

 

The Hindrance of Fear

 

Fourth, we see in Leviticus 25:20 that it is the hindrance of fear that, more often than not, keeps us from obeying our God without hesitation. — How fear robs God!

 

(Leviticus 25:20) ÒAnd if ye shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase:Ó

 

á      If I worship God rather than working today, I may not be able to meet my obligations.

á      If I worship God rather than spend the evening in frivolity with my family or friends, what will they think of me?

á      If I give my money to support the gospel of Christ, how can I wisely and prudently expect to provide for my family?

 

Zedekiah, the whining, wimpish king of Judah, discovered (Jeremiah 38:17-19) that he would have been far more safe and far more wise to obey God than to have been kept from obedience by his fear of the Jews and BabylonÕs king.

 

(Jeremiah 38:17-19) ÒThen said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of BabylonÕs princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house: (18) But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of BabylonÕs princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand. (19) And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.Ó

 

In the eleventh year of his reign, Bablyon invaded Judah and destroyed Jerusalem.

 

(Jeremiah 39:7-8) ÒMoreover he put out ZedekiahÕs eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon. (8) And the Chaldeans burned the kingÕs house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.Ó

 

The Assurance of Grace

 

Fifth, in Leviticus 25:21, the Lord our God teaches us that we will never impoverish ourselves, or suffer any loss by honoring him.

 

(Leviticus 25:21) ÒThen I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years.Ó

 

(Psalms 37:25) ÒI have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.Ó

 

(Luke 22:35) ÒAnd he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.Ó

 

(Galatians 6:7-9) ÒBe not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (8) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (9) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.Ó

 

Our God has promised us safety in the path of faith and obedience; and he has promised us plenty; and he is as good as his Word! That fact ought to forever element from our minds every doubt, fear, and hesitation!

 

Illustrations:            Brant Seacrist

                                                                        Walter Groover

                                                                        Fred Evans

                                                                        The Pearl

 

Tell me O my God, how I am to live more abundantly to thy glory and praise. Teach me how to redeem my time better, that it may be better spent for your honor and in your service, to your glory and for the benefit of your people. Let me not rob my God!

 

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

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