REVELATION 1:3 - THE BOOK THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY

REVELATION

A Verse by Verse Study

A journey of Studying What’s Revealed to Me

Revelation 1:3

Verse 3  Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

John the Apostle, the author of the book of Revelation speaks both a blessing and a condition over not only the readers but the hearers of the book.

One of the things people most often in life want is to be happy.  To be blessed is to be happy but it’s not the happiness the world brings but a specific happiness that comes from God.  When a life is blessed it is because God has invoked a blessing upon that life.  It means he has declared the blessing through his mouth which can’t lie.  Blessings are also the result of obedience.  While grace comes to an undeserving life, there is a correlation between obedience and blessing.  To read the book of Revelation with an understanding and receptive heart, with ears that are willing to hear what God says to his church (in all ages,) will bring the blessing of knowledge and understanding!  Reading and understanding the book of Revelation brings a blessing which can only be gained by carrying out the action.  The blessing is a direct result of the action.  

There will be happiness that comes from understanding the book!

Most people avoid this book because of the intensity of the prophecies.  They have erroneously believed the book will instill fear and uncertainty in their heart.  The contrary is true.  

The book of Revelation is a book of hope. It is a book of victory and a book of good news. 

While at times Revelation is sobering, it also contains the promises of victory, reward and the final making of things right on the earth. Reading and understanding revelation will make the lover of Christ happy!  

Understanding the book of Revelation will also fill you with important information in your witness.  Your knowledge and the confidence you gain in knowing the things which must shortly come to pass will help you in your witness of Christ.  Your knowledge and ability to communicate that knowledge could lead a person to the choice they make to place their hopes in the victorious King rather than the defeated deceiver!  Take courage as you read the book and be prepared to be made happy!

Understanding in the heart of a person prepares that person for life.  Understanding will bring you to a more fulfilled life and guide you in decision making.  Understanding dispels confusion.  Understanding helps you to judge situations more clearly.  As this world grows darker and the time for Christ’s return draws nigh, understanding will give you light. There is truly a blessing in reading AND hearing with an understanding ear the book of Revelation. 

God has revealed these things by his Spirit and not left them secret.  Many people avoid the book but God says to read it and hear it. You will be blessed if you do!

My recommendation would be to go through the book with the help of the Spirit of God. Only he can open the ears of your understanding. Ask him to give you wisdom and understanding in knowing him.  Let the Words of God take root in your heart understanding and growing from  what God reveals to you. 

God’s desire is not that we know times as in the day nor hour but that we understand seasons and grow in the knowledge of him.

There are things that are for babes in Christ and things that are for the more mature. Don’t worry about the things you can’t grasp but grasp the things you can, as the Holy Spirit helps! There’s no shame in being a babe in Christ but if you aren’t growing, it’s time to change!

Hebrews 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

Hebrews 5:13  For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

1 Peter 2:2  as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

May we walk through this book gaining the growth, wisdom, knowledge and understanding God will open our ears to hear!

Revelation is a book of prophecy.  That doesn’t mean everything is for the future. Take for example the letters written to the churches.  There are seven churches mentioned that address several issues.  These churches existed at the time of writing but are applicable both today and in the future.

Prophecy is the revealed will and Word of God. It may be true today, come to pass tomorrow or come to pass at some disclosed or undisclosed time in the future.  No matter when it comes to pass, it is the Word of God and we can glean from it now!  

No matter when the ultimate fulfillment, we can glean knowledge and understanding applicable for today! Through the Bible, we can know God. We can know his ways and we can know his plans. We can know his character, his attributes and his desires for mankind.  We will undoubtedly be blessed as he opens our understanding of the book of Revelation!

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.. “Bible Gateway. 2013. 11 May 2013. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=revelation%201:3&version=NKJV

Neglecting or Possessing- A Little Umph for Your Get Up and Go!

NEGLECTING OR POSSESSING

a little "umph" for your "get up and go"

Joshua18:2 But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance. 3 Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you? 4 Pick out from among you three men for each tribe, and I will send them; they shall rise and go through the land, survey it according to their inheritance, and come back to me. 5 And they shall divide it into seven parts.

IF A STEP IS REQUIRED,  THEN A STEP YOU MUST TAKE

What has God promised you, that he has also revealed to you, that the time to receive that promise is now?

Sometimes we are not actively pursuing what we know we've been promised and what we know God has said it is time for now!

Go is a word of action. It means to take steps. Joshua said go and possess. Before you can possess, you first have to go. Some people just need to take a step and watch God move on their behalf.

We all have heard how Peter walked on water but he never would have done that if he hadn't taken a step.

We've all heard of how Abraham left his homeland to come into the new land God was showing him but that never would have happened if he hadn't taken a step.

Even Joshua would have never led the children of Israel into the promised land if he had refused the leadership role and refused to move forward.

We could go on with example after example of those that took steps in order to receive their promises.  I won't take time to tell the stories of Elijah, Elisha, Ruth, Nehemiah, Ezra, David and many many more! How about the wise men, the shepherds, and even Mary and Joseph?  Each had to take a step of obedience.

One thing is for certain- if a step is required, then a step you must take! 

Joshua had led the children of Israel into the promised land.  They were in the land and had defeated many kings and enemies through the help of God! 

In Joshua 18:2 it says, though that seven tribes had "not yet" received their inheritance.  This is in spite of the fact the possession was right in front of them- right under their nose!

Is there something you know you should have possessed already that you haven't?  Is there something God has promised that he has told you is available now? 

SOME UMPH FOR YOUR GET UP AND GO

Joshua had to confront these seven tribes and inject a  little "umph"  into their "get up and go!"

These Israelites were complacent where they were. They were not taking the steps necessary to inherit what was right under their nose! Joshua asked them why they were neglecting to do what was clearly time to do. Here Joshua told them to go and survey the land, pick out what they wanted, and come back to him and they would divide it!

Maybe some people need to just start moving forward in their plans, survey their land and watch God perform a miracle on thier behalf!

If God spoke the promise to you, then he will surely fulfill it but if he has said the time is now, then it's time to take a step.  Don't get this far, to your appointed time and abandon the promise now!

Go ahead, get up and go, take a step, survey the land and possess your inheritance!  Amen!

GOD IS NOT IN LACK

GOD IS WILLING AND GOD IS WANTING

God is not in lack. He has resources to supply all of your needs and he is both willing and wanting to.  My God will supply all of your needs according to his riches in glory is what we are told in his Word which is faithful and true.  If you aren't seeing your needs supplied, you may be moving into his will.   He could be pressing you into his will; a place in him he is moving you to.  On the other hand, maybe you are not tapping into his never ending, forever flowing, abundantly available steams of glory that are available to you. If you only knew what lies just below the surface, you'd get a drill and a shovel and you'd access what lies just beneath where you are. So what I'm saying is if you aren't seeing his never ending abundant supply, we know that it's not because he is lacking. We also know we have his promise of supply.  Therefore you have to press in for all he has for you without giving up.  In famine, you will strike water like Isaac did if you just keep on digging!

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

We must also remember to keep on sowing.  The promise of having all needs supplied was given to a group called the Philippians who were always giving into the work of Paul's ministry.  Isaac struck water because he dug but he also had to sow in famine.  Elijah carried a Word to a widow who was about to give up and die.  To keep being supplied we have to keep giving out.  There are an endless number of bible references that prove this but the Philippians are a greate example:

Philippians 4:14-20  14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

You can see they shared (gave) to Paul for his ministry over and over again and Paul said they had a revelation of both giving and receiving.  They did this over and over again, and not just once.  Paul said he sought not a gift but fruit for them that abounds to their account.  You can bet God keeps accounting records on giving.

GOD IS LEADING

 If you don't strike water (find resources) where you're at, listen to his voice and move into his will and like Elijah, you will find a place of abundance. It may be a physical place or it may be a place in him but Elijah had to move from a brook to find the widow in Zarapheth.  Press into him.  He'll tell you what to do.  For Isaac he said, "Stay right here and dig."  For Elijah, he said, "Arise and go to Zarephath.... behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee." God isn't in lack and God isn't withholding but rather listen closely and you'll find God is in fact leading! Amen!

BLESSING: REPLENISH & FILL THE EARTH WITH THE GLORY OF GOD- Part 1

FILL THE EARTH WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD

Genesis 1:28
Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”(NKJV)

BLESSING:  FILL THE EARTH

Part of the blessing God spoke over man was to fill the earth. We have seen how we fill the earth with all manner of fruitfulness, whether spiritual or natural fruit.  Did you know that when God blessed us he ordained that we be blessed, spirit soul and body.  He spoke a blessing of increase over us in every area.  This blessing was spoken to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and on and on through the generations down David and then through the generations to Jesus who has passed that blessing to us!  Through Christ, we have inherited all the fullness of God and blessings both natural and spiritual.

SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS

When we were filled with the Spirit, God blessed us in filling us with a treasure that we carry in earthen vessels.  We were blessed with spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1:3-13 tells us we are blessed with all spiritual blessings, we are made us holy and without blame, we are adopted us as sons, we are accepted, redeemed, forgiven and given us an inheritance.  It goes on to say we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, the guarantee of our inheritance.  The Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we are sons of God!(NKJV)

The Holy Spirit is a treasure.  He's a treasure carried inside of us that although our lives are poured out as an offering to him, his life is manifested in and through us.  That manifestation of the life of God reaches out to a needy world and brings life and glory to those upon whom he is poured out!

2 Corinthians 4:7-12  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.(NKJV)

SEALED AND FILLED

The bible says in Acts 2:1-4 that on the day of Pentecost, those followers of Jesus who had obeyed him in waiting in the upper room for the promised outpouring of the Spirit were filled.  This is when the Holy Spirit was poured out.  It was these believers that received this outpouring that went beyond the seal.  Every believer receives the seal of the Holy Spirit but not every believer received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  It was these believers that received the infilling and a baptism of the Holy Spirit that empowered them to be witnesses.

Acts 2:1-4  When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (NKJV)

It was at this event that the life of Jesus was poured out upon and into the 120 when the Holy Spirit came upon them! Five hundred had received instruction to attend this event but only 120 had obeyed in waiting.  Is that an indication of a church that doesn't rely on the power of the Holy Spirit today? In another scripture there is a verse that talks about a form of godliness that lacks power.  I hope it isn't the case but there's a reason the bible says only 120 received this infilling.

Every believer has a well of salvation but not every believer is filled with a river of life that flows out of them.  Jesus in John Chapter 4 spoke of a well (a fountain) for every individual but in John 7 he spoke of a river that would flow out of individuals.  It's one thing to drink for yourself and be refreshed with your own salvation but it's another thing to be a vessel poured out!   Upon believing you receive a well of salvation in your innermost being but only upon drinking of his Spirit through a mighty baptism in his Spirit that fills to fullness do you receive a mighty river that flows out of your innermost being!

John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (NKJV)

The well above speaks of a fountain springing up to everlasting life but the passage below speaks of a river of living water flowing from an individual!

John 7:37-39 on the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (NKJV)

It's the infilling of the Holy Spirit that causes you to speak the Word with boldness.  From out of the mouth of the speaker comes the very living Word of God to bring conviction and life to the listeners.

Acts 4:31
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

When's the last time you saw a place visibly shaken by the power of God after believers assembled together and prayed.  This was the model of the early church and there's no "Amen" to the book of Acts.  In the same way the first believers had to rely on the Holy Spirit for boldness and power, we should be relying on him today!  If our meeting places are not visibly shaken by the power of God then maybe we need to re-think whether we're relying on that power!

FILLED TO BE POURED OUT

In the same way the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost filling those that were waiting with power and boldness, he poured out from them to bring the good news of the gospel and the power of God to a world in need of salvation. This power not only gave them the boldness to speak but it was the equipping for signs, wonders and miracles that would bring deliverance from all manner of evil!   In the same way the life of Jesus was poured out in his earthly ministry,  the life of Jesus Christ would continue to be poured out only now it would be through those upon whom the Holy Spirit was poured out.  Be blessed and better yet be a blessing by filling the earth with the glory of God! Amen!


(This was a really long post so I've divided it into two parts: Be on the lookout for Part 2- the demonstration at the Wedding of Cana!)

The Tithe- God's Answer Supernatural Answer For the Economy

TITHE- GOD'S ANSWER ON ECONOMY

The tithes and offerings are God's answer in a failing economy!

God has an economy that works.  God's economy is working well when man's economy fails.  When men through covetousness, jealousy, greed and self-reliance find themselves in a failing economy, there is a Kingdom of God economy that is high above this world that will deliver a man from the worst of circumstances.  Man's systems fail but God's systems never fail.  If a man will allow God to bring him through a transition where his own ways and the ways of man are put to death and the ways of God are implemented, God will lead that man into blessing and success that will see him through the storms of life and bring unexpected abundant blessing.  It is God's desire that his people be blessed.  It is my desire that this Old Testament story will draw a picture of an eternal truth- that when a man chooses God's way, that man will be blessed not only in the life to come but in this life as well!

TEXT:

Malachi3: 8-12

 8 “ Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say,  ‘ In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 

9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me,  Even this whole nation. 

10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, 

And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, 

“ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.11 “ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,  So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,  Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”  Says the LORD of hosts;   12 And all nations will call you blessed,  For you will be a delightful land,”
Says the LORD of hosts.

THE JERICHO FACTOR

Who remembers the Battle of Jericho where Joshua led the armies of Israel to defeat an entire city?  This was a city fortified with high, thick walls with armed men and guards both on the walls and inside the city protecting it.   Under God's command, an army with no weapons was able to cause the walls to fall by completely following God's instructions.

Before the battle of Jericho God had commanded that all the silver, gold, bronze and iron would be brought to the treasury of the Lord.  The above passage from Malichi talks about the tithe but in Jericho God wanted it all!  To bring all is obviously more than a tithe.  The actual definition of the word tithe in both the Hebrew and the Greek is 10% but there are times when God asks for more!  In the case of Jericho, the booty didn't even belong to the people, but rather, it belonged to God!  It wasn't their money to give a tithe off of.  It was the booty of the land and God was requiring all of what they took in their victory to be dedicated to the house of the Lord.  This is far more than a tithe.  God wanted it all!  That's what God wants with us.  He actually wants our all!  When God has our all, then he can direct us and we will have a more successful life but greed, covetousness, and fear restrain some from giving their all.  If God asked you to empty your pockets would you trust him?  If God asked you to give half of all you own would you?

Joshua 6: 19 But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the LORD; they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.” (NKJV)

There was great victory in Jericho.  The fortified walls of the city had fallen after the army of Israel circled the city for 6 days and on the 7^th day at the sound of the trumpet, at God's command, the walls fell and the city was won, AS GOD HAD PROMISED!

MORE BATTLES

After Jericho there were more battles to fight.  The promised land was an entire land, not just one city.  Although there was victory at Jericho there were more battles to fight.

There are giants in the land and as they are defeated we gain territory and take land.

Every act of obedience results in land taken for God!  We graduate to new places and are able to come into all God has for us.  The promised land represented and was the inheritance of God for the children of Israel.  One of the biggest problems Israel would face and they still face today is a result of not fully obeying God in taking all the promises.

CONTINUAL OBEDIENCE

After the massive victory at Jericho, Joshua and the armies were so confident, they proceeded to the next city.  They even sent in fewer men after seeing how easily the walls of Jericho fell. Just picture it- men circling a fortified city with nothing more than a line of priests with trumpets and ordinary people following them with a shout!   With God on their side, how could they lose.  With the shout of a unified army bringing down the walls and with the power of God on their side, why should they send all the men?  At this point Joshua did not know that a sin had been committed in Jericho that would affect future battles.

Joshua 7: 1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the LORD burned against the children of Israel. 

Here, in Joshua 7:1, Joshua still did not know Achan had taken some of the accursed thing that God had warned the children of Israel to stay away from in Jericho.  This was the first mention of the sin that took place in Jericho, the place of a past victory.  Ai was to be the next city taken after Jericho.  Sometimes we think that one victory ensures the next victory but it doesn't.  The obedience before the battle is what guarantees present victories which is why we have to have continual obedience to God.

GOD SEES WHAT MAN DOESN'T SEE- GOD KNEW

It was God that told Joshua about the sin but God didn't tell him until they had lost a battle.  After all the children of Israel had been through and after all they had seen you would think every single person would have learned to obey but Achan's temptation and covetousness overtook him and it affected the entire army.  God had commanded in Joshua 6 before going into Jericho to stay away from the accursed thing and Achan had taken the accursed thing for himself, thereby troubling the entire camp.

Joshua 6:18 And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19 But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the LORD; they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.” (NKJV)

DEFEAT IN THE NEXT CITY

Now after such a victory in Jericho, Joshua was ready to send an army into the next city.  After all, God had told them to take an entire area, not just one city so in Joshua's mind, it was onward and upward toward the high call of God into victory after victory and then more victory!  The story continues but not according to planned.  The unexpected loss was a surprise for the bold leader, his army and his camp:

Joshua 7:2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying, “Go up and spy out the country.” So the men went up and spied out Ai  .3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few.” 4 So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai. 5 And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

THE TRUTH COMES OUT-THE SIN OF ACHAN

  
Joshua fell on his face to seek the Lord. After all, God had promised victory in the promised land!

Joshua 7:10 So the LORD said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? 11 Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff. 12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you.

GOD TOLD JOSHUA TO GET UP!

GOD TOLD JOSHUA THE REAL PROBLEM!

SOMEBODY WAS ROBBING GOD AND HIDING IT BUT GOD KNEW IT!

ACHAN HAD TO DIE! (This represents the sin of man that hinders the blessing!)

THE TWO SINS OF ACHAN

Joshua 7:20 And Achan answered Joshua and said, “Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I have done: 21 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it.”
22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver under it. 23 And they took them from the midst of the tent, brought them to Joshua and to all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD. 

Achan had taken what was appointed to be consecrated to God and hidden it among his own stuff.  There is always a tendency to hide sin but there is especially a tendency to hide sin when that sin involves robbing God!  What would tempt a man to rob from God?  Why would a man not trust God, give him what rightfully belongs to him, keep his own hands off of it and as a result see the victories God has for him?  

HE COVETED AND HE STOLE

COVETED:  Verse 21 says saw the Babylonian garment, the silver and gold.

HE TOOK: Verse 21 says that after he saw it, he took it!

WHAT WAS THE ACCURSED THING AND WHY WAS IT CURSED

Accursed defined:

1)a thing devoted, thing dedicated, ban, devotion

2) a net, thing perforated

3) have been utterly destroyed, (appointed to) utter destruction

The accursed thing is something that has been set aside, devoted and banned to utter destruction.  It is something that has been perforated from man, or set apart as untouchable.  Isn't that what the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was in the garden?  It was the ONE untouchable thing in the garden yet mankind (both male and female) just could not leave it alone.  They coveted and they partook.  Here, Achan coveted and he took.  God did not want the children of Israel craving in any way the idols, the wealth or the belongings and practices of the people in the opposing camp.  He also required obedience if they were to be victorious in every city.  We are there to take the city, not for the city to take us!  We are there to take the city, not to become like the city.  The world should crave what we have!  We have God, yet, so often rather than be an example and a witness for God, we allow our own covetousness to destroy our testimony!

This was about things that were set apart for God. God had said to put all the silver and gold in the treasury of the Lord. 

Joshua 6: 19 But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the LORD; they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.” (NKJV)

TITHE WITHHELD AND KEPT EQUALS A CURSE

Now let's bring it all together.  Back at the starting text, we read about the tithe.  Throughout the story of Jericho and Ai, we have read about a man that took the accursed thing.  Let's look and see what the cursed thing is.  The cursed thing is anything about which  God has said, "Don't touch!"  In the case of the tithe, it belongs to God and God has said, "If you touch it, you are robbing me!"  However, not only is there a command not to touch but there is a promised blessing for obedience. 

Malachi 3:9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. 10- Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

God had said all the silver and gold were to go into the treasury of the Lord.  This was not only a tithe, meaning ten percent, but this was a first-fruit, meaning all of the first!  Jericho was the first city and this was the first of the silver and gold that was to be transferred out of the hands of the wicked and into the hands of the people of God.

THE TITHE BLESSES YOU WHEN GIVEN, AND CURSES YOU WHEN WITHHELD

People withhold the tithe claiming churches just want their money but that's just an excuse to withhold the tithe.  God promises that when we tithe he will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing.  Achan's sin was in robbing the first-fruits that were dedicated to God.  God's economy is that the first tenth of a person's increase is set aside for the work of the house of God!  This is in the place of worship that you attend.  I don't have time to teach on the place and where your tithe goes, but just to say it goes to the place you worship and the minimum principle taught in the Word of God is ten percent off the top of your increase belongs to God!  Beyond that God does require offerings that are over and above the tithe.  That's why he said people had robbed him in tithes and offerings.  Whatever God asks you to do you do. Even in the New Testament, Mary, the mother of Jesus said, "Whatever he says to do, do it!"  It all belongs to him after all and with each act of obedience, there is an attached blessing but the tithe is the minimum and the tithe belongs to God!  The word tithe in the Old Testament and in the New Testament means 10%.  It is the definition of the word in both the Hebrew and the Greek language.  Whose money was it that Achan saw, coveted and kept?  It was God's!  The question in the Malachi passage is, "Will a man rob God?"  Think about it.  Do we really want to rob God?  Do we want to rob the creator of the entire earth?  Do we really believe we can hide it?  Achan apparently believed he could hide his act from God!  God had said to take all the silver and gold and put it in the treasury of the Lord.  Was this the people of Jericho's gold?  No, it was God's to give just as the land was God's to give.  God was the creator and can give it where he pleases.  In case there's any question about who owns the silver and the gold:

Hagai 2:8 'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the LORD of hosts.

Some say the New Testament changed everything and we were delivered from every curse when Jesus hung on the tree.  The following scripture is just one of the base scriptures for that false belief:

Galatians 3:13 ¹³ Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), ¹⁴ that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Now how can I argue with the fact that the bible clearly says that through Jesus, we are delivered from the curse?  I can't!  We are delivered through the cross.  Does that mean that the principles of God are no longer in effect because we have been delivered from the curse?  Emphatically I say no!  Can we continue in adultery, cheating, lying and stealing just because we have been saved by Jesus!  Absolutely  not!  Sin is still sin but Christ has delivered us from the penalty of sin!  Now we are free to live by the Spirit with the power to live our lives for God!  Now we live for him because we choose to walk according to the Spirit of God! We obey the principles of God and therefore see the blessing of God in our lives.  We cannot continue to live in sin just because we have been saved and I would say that just as surely as robbing from man and businesses is a sin, so is robbing from God!  Look at what the New Testament book of Romans says about continuing in sin after salvation:

Romans 6: ¹ What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? ² Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? ³ Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Let me just make some points about the tithe.  Those who believe they don't have to tithe will probably continue believing that.  Those who hold wholeheartedly to the principle of the tithe will continue doing so.  Maybe this will help anyone that may be wavering concerning the tithe:

·         In the New Testament, Jesus said we should tithe and not neglect weightier matters such as love and justice! (Luke 11:42)

·         Abraham tithed before the "law of God" was instituted because it was the right thing to do, recognizing that the high priest was greater than himself! (Hebrews 7:4-7)

·         Jesus is now receiving tithes in heaven which is better than the Levitical priesthood receiving them by law!  Hebrews 7:8 a Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them...

DOES GOD ROB US?

Man withholds the tithe believing they will have less.  This is the perfect example of unbelief in the supernatural ability of God to bless man, not according to sight but according to faith.  God does not rob man.  Unbelief and self-reliance must be put to death with the old man if we are to live by faith in God and his principles.

THE BLESSING OF OBEDIENCE

After this sin was put to death and the accursed thing was burned in the fire, God speaks to his leader once again and this is what he says:

Joshua 8: 1 Now the LORD said to Joshua: “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. 2 And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its cattle you shall take as booty for yourselves.

Once again God speaks to Joshua, but not before the sin in the camp was dealt with!  He once again, as in times past says not to be afraid.  He also makes a precious promise- that the place that had become a place of defeat was now to be won!  He also promises that the booty of the next city would be theirs to keep!

That's how living by faith is!  Before you can see the next blessing, you must put to death the sins of the past!  You must choose to walk in the promises of God, but not on your own terms.  Instead you walk in obedience to God and his principles.

Key points:

• The coveted thing was burned.
• The thing withheld was no longer withheld.
• They gave God what was rightfully his.
• God released a blessing far beyond what was coveted and withheld.

THE PROMISE OF THE TITHE- BETTER TO FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE- THE BLESSING OF GOD!

As we can see in the story of Jericho and then Ai, once obedience was observed and the sin was put to death, God had a much greater blessing in mind that they didn't previously see.  The tithe brings the same sort of promise.  God says that if you don't rob him and withhold the tithe he will release a blessing you can't contain.

Malachi 3:10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, 

And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, 

“ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

I have a great idea!  Why don't we all lay aside covetousness, trust God and renew our commitment to tithe!  Let's also commit our entire lives and tell him all that we have is available to him.  Let's not only commit to the tithe but let's bring him an offering as well.   When we commit to a lifestyle of tithes and offerings we will surely see the windows only heaven can open come flying open and pouring out a supernatural blessing on our lives!  I'd say that's a choice I want to make!