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Recent Sermon Notes
Pastor Mac’s first message in the vision series for this year was entitled, “The Vision Imperative.” The title underscores the vital importance of vision to your own experience of life. The vision being talked about is God’s vision for your life personally. How do you gain clarity of God’s vision for your life and then the human and financial resources to accomplish that vision?
This past weekend, our very special guest speaker was Lance Wallnau. Brother Lance opened his message by ominously saying: “Something is happening in the United States where the church is reaching a tipping point in its influence in the spiritual atmosphere. And the country’s starting to shake out of something it’s been under and it’s coming to freedom. Our unity is an accelerator. I’m going to be talking a little bit about divine convergence when you’re walking into the timing of God.”
Pastor Mac entitled his new series, “The Vision Imperative.” He based his message on Proverbs 29:18: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” This is a cut-and-dried statement of scripture. There are no “ands, ifs, or buts” about it. Pastor Mac said, “You can pray to God all you want, but if you have no vision, you will perish.” This series will focus specifically on God’s vision and plan for us individually and personally!
Mark Hankins, delivered a message entitled, “The Gift of Righteousness or System of Truth.” He explained that everywhere the Apostle Paul preached and in all of his letters to the churches, Paul consistently taught a “form of doctrine.” The Weymouth translation called it a “system of truth.” This system of truth was designed to create champions, those who would reign in life like a king!
we were blessed to have as our special guest minister, Dr. James Tan. He used Hebrews 5:14 as his text: “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” He cautioned that there were far too many believers who have never grown up and are still drinking milk when they should be eating solid food. A mature believer is someone who is able to discern the manifestations of Holy Spirit and the anointing. Dr. James went on to teach that there are primarily three manifestations of the anointing.
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?