Christ Wesleyan Church
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Who Cares? God; Giving Matters, Part 1
Pastor Arlie Davis
Malachi 3:8 NLT
A. Our giving is directly linked to our relationship with I AM...
Malachi 3:6 NLT
1. God holds out His promise to the people of Israel.
Malachi 3:7 NLT
2. The people have blindly walked away from their awareness of a complete sacrifice.
Malachi 3:7 NLT
3. God clearly speaks to the people of how they have cheated God and the curse that comes with it.
Malachi 3:8-9 NLT
4. God gives clear expectations to His people and a promise!
Malachi 3:10 NLT
5. God gives permission for His people to "test" Him in His promise!
Malachi 3:10 NLT
B. Is This Old Testament command a New Testament expectation and promise?
1. Jesus continues the commandment in the New Testament as He spoke to the Pharisees.
Luke 11:42 NLT
2. Jesus reminds His people to be faithful in little (worldly wealth) to experience the greater wealth (true riches of eternal values).
Luke 16:10-11 NLT
3. Jesus expands the level of expectations from just fulfilling the act of obedience to making sure the heart is fully engaged.
Matthew 5:17, 21, 27, 31, 33, 38, 43 NLT
4. Paul reminds the body of Christ to make sure their giving is cheerful and of their own free will.
2 Corinthians 8:3 NLT
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NLT
C. When you give...
1. You learn the joy it brings.
2. You learn the freedom from possessions that it brings. It breaks our dependency on money.
3. You are including giving in your worship.
4. You are building trust.
5. You are allowing God to be your provider.
6. You are seeing God work through you.
7. You are keeping God first.
8. You are learning God’s values for life.
9. You are storing up treasures in Heaven.
10. You are putting God to the test to honor His promise!
Malachi 3:10 NLT