Sunday Morning Worship
January 29, 2012
Series: “The Biggest Loser”
Today: “The Test of a Real Loser”

Scripture: Deuteronomy 14:22-23 “You must set aside a tithe of your crops–one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year. Bring this tithe to the designated place of worship–the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored–and eat it there in his presence. This applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn males of your flocks and herds. Doing this will teach you always to fear the Lord your God. (NLT)

Intro:  How many of you would love to lose     ten percent      of your present body weight?

A.  The Bible lays out a basic      financial        plan for God’s people to follow.

B.  The Bible seldom makes a challenge without a     promise    —a compelling reason to meet that challenge.

I.    TITHING TEACHES US TO      REVERENCE        THE LORD.

A.  The Bible makes it very clear that we must fear or reverence the Lord.

Deuteronomy 10:12 And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul

Luke 1:50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

B.  Reverence is a result of doing something that stretches us; scares us; is beyond us—then seeing God __come through__  for us.

II.   TITHING IS A       TEST       FOR GOD.

Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

A.  There are only two real reasons people choose not to tithe:

1.   First, they don’t      value       kingdom building.

2.   Second, they fear that God will        fail the test      .

B.  We all want God to pass the test because of what it would mean:

Malachi 3:10b …see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Conclusion:  The most compelling reason to tithe: God loves a      cheerful       giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Remember:

If we pass the test of      trust      , God will pass the test of        trustworthiness       .