November 26, 2017 Ephesians 1:15-23 Tithing grace

25^th Sunday after Pentecost     How can you tithe on God’s love for you?  How can you show gratitude?

Psalter Reading Psalm 100:1-5

 A Psalm of Thanksgiving. Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! 2Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. 3Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; a We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. Psalm 100:1-5 NKJV

“15 ¶  Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16  do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17  that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18  the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19  and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20  which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21  far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22  And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23  which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:15-23 NKJV)

My father-in-law Rev Ken Perkins used to say that one of the lasts things a man gave to God was his wallet.  Why do we struggle with tithing or even giving?  Some would say that we have too many bills, others they don’t know what tomorrow will bring, others they need to save for their children’s future and some would say they just want to keep it.

But in reality these non-answers all really say the same thing.  We don’t trust in God to provide for us and be there for us.  If that is true can we really say we trust in God for our salvation?

Can we really say we trust God for all of eternity if we cannot trust God for the coming week or year?  Is our faith in God so small that we cannot trust in His provision?

For over 30 years Bonnie and I tithed to God even when our salary was about $14,000 were living in 2 places and going to seminary.  This is not to brag but to show it can be done.  God has blessed us and shown His glory in our lives and ministries.

Do you really believe that God needs your money?  NO!  So why does God want you to give?  Because knows we need to give!  If we do not share with others we come to expect more and not only become unhappy with what we have we want more of everything. 

Become free of the enslavement to more and find the joy in the Lord as you offer back some of what He has blessed you with.  Discover the presence of God as you give and then you will receive the fullness of God’s love and power!!!