The Basis of God's Blessings (sermon)

 Mal. 3:7-15

The Basis of God's Blessings

Malachi was the last of the Prophets. The times in which he lived-about 400 years before Christ- we remarkably similar to our day and generation. 

The religious leaders failed to proclaim and maintain the laws of God. The house of the Lord was being robbed of its glory and its Tithes and offerings. God's chosen people were intermarrying with the pagan nations around them and failing, therefore to fulfill their rightful responsibilities to God and to His servants. 

Malachi's message was one of the exposure, rebuke, and challenge. Right at the heart of his prophecy, however this faithful preacher lays down the basis of God's blessings that applies to all times even in our time.

In Malachi's day, the blessing  was primarily material and physical, but in this Church age God's purpose for his people is also that of spiritual refreshment, a delight in the presence of the Lord. 

How the windows of God's blessings be open to us what He Challenged and promised to us?

A. The Moral Restoration - (To bring back to its original condition by repairing or cleaning it)

God said "Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from my ordinances and have not kept them - "Return unto me", and I will return unto you, saith the Lord. In God's point of view of divine blessings there is no substitute for "repentance and obedience"
When nations or individuals depart from the laws of God and manifest a spirit of rebellion, God demands nothing less than moral restoration. 
Restoration that is initiated by genuine repentance. 
God said "Return unto me, and I will return unto you"
Repentance signifies a change of mind leading to a change heart and life. (I John 1:9) If you want the Heaven open - to God"

We need to get right with God in our"
1. Worship
2. Way of life 
3. Words 
4. God's Works - failed to support and getting involve with it

B. The Material Restitution - (The act of returning something that was stolen from its Owner) Damages that needs to be paid. 

Bring ye all the Tithes and offerings into the storehouse. 
The principle of the material giving to God is consistent and absolute throughout the Bible. When we give God blesses; when we withhold God curses. 

Malachi had to challenge the Nation to bring the Tithes, because God's people failed to do so. As a result, they were not living in God's blessing. 

This word on material restitution in not addressed to obedient givers but to the withholders. 

1. The place of the restitution - bring all the tithes into the storehouse. 
From the time of Hezekiah there was in the Sanctuary a storehouse  built for depositing the tithes and the offerings of God's people. (2 Chro. 31:11) in the New Testament it is the Local Church. 
Storehouse tithing means bringing God's tithes to the place where our church membership is established, then it should over and above the required tithes to our church. 

2. The Proportion of the Restitution - 
Bring ye all the Tithes into the Storehouse - Tithing is 400 years older than the Law. Abraham gave tithes to God through Melchizedek, the king priest. (Gen. 14:18-20) in Hebrews 7 - Melchizedek is a type of Christ in his resurrection. He gave Abraham bread and wine, a symbol of service, and Abraham acknowledged his indebtedness to God by giving Him tithes of all his poils. In other words, tithing is the scriptural way of saying thank you to God for all that He has done for us. 
The Bible teaches that God demands the Tithes, whereas, He deserves our offerings.

3. The Purpose of this Restitution - 
Bring ye all the tithes into the Storehouse, that there maybe meat in my House. The tithesand the offerings were the only means by which the priests lived; they have no inheritance of their own (Num. 18:20-23) In a similar the church must function by tithes and offerings of His believing people. (1 Cor. 9:1-14)
God curses those who disobeyed Him. Without moral restoration and material restitution there will be no fullness of God's blessings. 


C. A Miraculous Realization - 
"Prove me now herewith, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven" (revival) It is the realization of God's presence and power. It is the proving of God in personal experience. 

Consider what this blessing produces?
1. The Rewarding of our Faith - (sufficiency in all things) I will open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall be no room to receive it. 

2. The Rebuking of our Foes - I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes. (That means you defeat the enemy and be delivered from financial slavery and poverty. 

3. The Renewing of our Fruitfulness 
God's purpose for the Church is that she should be delightful land - a paradise of fruitfulness and fragrance. The Church is made of individuals 
-you and me is the fruit of the spirit can be seen in us-

Conclusion:
How is you giving to the Lord through the Local Church?
This is the reason why many of God's churches today in our time.