[00:00:00] Welcome to Bold Bible Living with Don Gossett. In this day of financial downturn, Don Gossett is sharing a scriptural message on keys to financial provisions. From the Bible, Don shares with you those principles God honors in providing for your needs. So now let's join Don as he opens his heart to you with keys to financial provisions.
[00:00:22] Thank you, Mike O'Dell. I'm continuing to share with you keys to financial provision. On my last broadcast, I emphasized not only the speaking word principle, but also the paying tithes and giving offerings to our wonderful Lord. What a privilege. I have before me from the church bulletin of the Christ the King Church in Linden, Pastor Kim Ryan, a long time personal friend of mine, and what he teaches on this subject.
[00:00:50] And he has answered a number of questions. So I want to quote from this church bulletin I have in my hand. He asked the question, What does the Bible teach about tithing? What is tithing? Tithe means a tenth part. And a second question, What is the difference between a tithe and an offering? A tithe is giving the first 10% of my income. An offering is anything I give in addition to my tithe or 10%.
[00:01:18] Why should I tithe? And he then gives eight reasons from God's word. Number one, because God commands it. Leviticus 27 30, A tenth of all you produce is the Lord's and is holy. And the second question, You should tithe because Jesus commended it. In Matthew 23 23, Jesus said, Yes, you should tithe. And you shouldn't leave the more important things undone either.
[00:01:49] And the third answer to this subject, Tithing demonstrates that God has first place in your life. Deuteronomy 14 23 says, The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God in first place in your life. And question number four or guideline number four reason, I think Pastor Kim calls it, Tithing reminds me that everything I have was given to me by God. Deuteronomy 8 18,
[00:02:18] Always remember that it's the Lord your God who gives you the ability to produce wealth. And the fifth reason that tithing expresses your love for the Lord. Psalm 116 12, The question David asked, How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me? And reason number six for tithing is God says refusing to tithe is stealing from him. God says in Malachi 3 8, Will a man rob God?
[00:02:47] Yet you are robbing me. But you ask how we rob you. God says in tithes and offerings, Bring your whole tithe to me. And then number seven reason, Is that tithing gives God a chance to prove he exists, And he wants to bless you. So here it says, Bring your whole tithe. Test me in this says the Lord, And see to it if I will not throw open the windows of heaven, Or the floodgates of heaven,
[00:03:16] And pour out so much blessing, That she won't have room enough to afford all. I will prevent pests from destroying and devouring your crops, And the vines in your fields, And you'll be protected from plagues. And then the eighth reason, Tithing proves that you love God. Jesus said in John 14 15, If you really love me, Do what I command. So the question is,
[00:03:45] Why should you tithe? Or what should you tithe? The first part of what you earn. Not the leftovers. Honor the Lord by giving him The first part of your increase, Or your income. And thank God the question is, About the matter of giving to the Lord, Is that attitude you give with. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9 7, Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give,
[00:04:13] Not reluctantly or under pressure, For God loves a cheerful giver. And this is the truth that I want to emphasize As another principle, Another key to having God's provision financially. For again, the Bible says, God is not a man who'd lie to you. And it's so important that you let God, Be the living Lord to your life. I want to share with you a testimony that, To me, has been a real meaningful one.
[00:04:43] And you see, I'm quite persuaded in all my years of serving the Lord, That the most joyful Christians I've known, Are those who know the blessing of giving unto Christ Jesus. They dare to respond to God's word, To see God will do what he says he will. He says, I am the Lord, I change not. Prove me now herewith with your tithes and offerings, Sayeth the Lord. I'll open you to the windows of heaven, And pour you out a blessing, If there shall not be room enough to receive it.
[00:05:12] And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes. So I dare you to put God to the test in your giving. When you give in this manner, God has given you permission to affirm boldly, I'm proving my God. He's pouring out upon me overflowing blessing. He's rebuking the devourer for my sake. I remember years ago, When I was just a young evangelist, I was traveling out in West Texas ministry,
[00:05:39] And I was invited to stay in the home of a man named Harry Wiltbanks. He's been long in heaven now, But he was one of the most successful Christians I've ever known. His testimony for the Lord was strong. And in our crusade there, Every service, He would bring someone to receive salvation. And I asked him how it was that God blessed him, Because I learned that he was the owner of hundreds of acres of land. He grew cotton, he grew other crops.
[00:06:09] And he then told me how that he came out of the world war, And he began to read the Bible someone gave him. And he was in a financial dilemma himself. And he was unemployed, And he asked the Lord to give him a job. And God did it. He began to read God's promises concerning giving and receiving. And began to become a tither, And giving freewill offerings. Harry was undenying in his faith that God will and must bless him, Both spiritually and financially,
[00:06:38] Because God is not a man he would lie. Harry began to receive abounding blessings. This continued through many years, The man giving scripturally, And God pouring forth his blessing. The result was that by giving, Harry was instrumental in winning multitudes of souls all the time, Through his giving to support the work of evangelism around the world. And I say now, This man is home with the Lord, Reaping his reward.
[00:07:07] The Bible says when we give, We're honoring the Lord. The result again is God's promise that he rewards you with plenty. That's Proverbs 3, 9. When you give of your substance, Recognize that you are actually honoring the Lord. You're giving unto him. And you can expect the reward of plenty, Is what God says. He'll bless you even materially. So this kind of giving is liberal giving, Bountiful giving, Cheerful giving,
[00:07:35] Blessed giving that the Lord wants you to participate in. And what's the blessing of giving like this? Not only opens windows of heaven, But also it'll be a reward for you in this life. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, Shall the Lord give financially his blessing to you. So more important, Your bold giving enables the gospel to go forth to the winning of souls, And the meeting of people's needs.
[00:08:04] Now the opposite of bold giving is cheerful giving. I heard a man say to me, I was afraid to trust God's word for many years. Fear compelled me just to give dimes when I should have given dollars. I found no joy in giving like this, Because of this spirit of fear about. I would not have enough left over if I gave tithes to the Lord. So I began to give cheerfully, The man told me, Liberally, ungrudgingly. And he told me how God had blessed him.
[00:08:34] Well, While I discover this is true in the lives of many Christians whom I've talked with, So dare to abandon yourself to God's promise. You're not only laying up treasures in heaven, But you're experiencing a joy here below. I've known many blessed people in my life, That have had the courage to give liberally, In this manner, And have seen God so wonderfully bless them, In the act of obedience to his word.
[00:09:01] And I thank God for these truths that I have been able to embrace personally, And the influence of many people who have shared with me, How God has worked on their behalf. Now many Christians today run into the problem of believing that tithing is right. They say they just don't believe that it really worked for them, That they can get by with 90%, Better than they can get by with the whole 100%. But of course,
[00:09:29] This is the work of the adversary who wants to protest God's word. And there are many situations that I know are real challenges. And food prices keep increasing. Housing, clothing, All these things are very costly, And the cost of living continues to increase. Gasoline and everything else. But it's a lie from the father of lies himself to tell you,
[00:09:56] That you cannot give and expect provision for your life. I say you cannot fail to give to the Lord, And without knowing the penalty of it. So this is my challenge to you. Don't let Satan's influence to be a perplexity to your life. I say that devil is the one that tells you you can't afford to give. He's the one that tries to get you to withhold from God.
[00:10:24] But there is strong foundation of the word, That the Lord will minister to you and bless you financially. And I've received the testimony of many dear friends, Who have shared with me how God has met their needs. And this is my testimony also, That not only speaking the word as I have discovered so efficacious, But combined with that a spirit of generosity. Of being willing to give the first tenth of my income, Of my increase,
[00:10:54] And to give freewill offerings above that as God directs.
[00:11:16] That as God prompts your heart to sow a cheerful gift, Into the ministry of Bold Bible Living, And I'll receive with gratitude, And God himself will be your reward. And may he bless you as you let the word itself speak to your heart, And respond to God's word. He says try me in this matter, Test me, And see if I will not do what I say I will do.
[00:11:44] And I believe that God will do it for you. So Heavenly Father, With gratitude, I thank you that you led me to understand these principles that I've been sharing, About the blessing that you bestow for those who will honor you with their substance, The first fruits of all their increase. And I pray that you'll touch the hearts of people who have been withholding from you. The Bible calls it robbing God. I pray that they'll no longer rob you Lord,
[00:12:12] But they will give and let your word prevail. In Jesus name, Amen. Well, I can have much more on this subject, And I will continue to share with you the keys to financial provision. There are other conditions that you must rise above poverty, And you must embrace God's principles of the giving heart, And honoring him with your substance.
[00:12:39] And I would like to invite you to participate with me in this ministry with all of our outreaches, And may the Lord guide you and bless you as you share with us. And now, this is Don Gossett. Will you stop for 20 golden seconds and join me as we praise our Lord, Praise You, Lord!
[00:12:58] Praise You, Lord! Hallelujah!