Psalm 65:11 Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.
UNDERSTANDING THE GRACE OF GOD FOR ABUNDANT LIVING
September 19, 2010
Frustrating “Take Over” Grace I
(Tidbits on Tithing)
There is a financial grace that gives you an anointing to “take over”.
A. I Peter 4:10, The Amplified Bible
- The grace of God has many sides because our lives have many sides.
- A gift differs from a talent:
a. A talent is received by way of your first birth [natural birth]; a gift is received by the anointing at your second birth [salvation].
B. I Corinthians 3:10, The Amplified Bible
- Grace is an endowment [the advantage] to perform your task [assignment] in life.
C. I Corinthians 15:10
1. The grace of God causes you to properly function in life.
2. Saving grace is only one facet of grace. (Ephesians 2:8)
3. Functions of grace:
a. Grace is God’s advantage [abundant favor] given to believers to make both spiritual and natural progress.
b. Grace is the power given to the believer to overcome lack.
c. Grace functions to overcome lack.
d. Grace is the sufficiency of God that supplies needs and gives the believer power to overcome lack.
D. St. John 10:10, KJV & The Amplified Bible
E. Galatians 2:21, The Amplified Bible
1. When the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable.
2. If you do not understand the purpose of grace, you will abuse and frustrate grace.
• Jericho was the first city in Israel’s “taking over” the promise land.
• God took care of the children of Israel in the desert [midst of nothing] with quail and manna.
• Joshua, guided by God, leads the Israelites into unprecedented military success in Jericho – causing the defense walls surrounding Jericho to implode.
I. Frustrating “take over” grace
A. Joshua 6:1-3; 17-19
1. God promises the children of Israel everything except the silver, gold and the vessels of brass and iron was to be used for the building of His house. (verse 19)
2. In verse 19, the silver, gold, brass and iron are types of the tithe, offering, and first fruit that connects the believer to promises of God.
3. There is no need to steal [tithe, offering, first-fruit] because you have a covenant with God.
4. [Accursed defined in verse 17]…devoted, dedicated, or designated gifts for the ceremonies of God’s house; to set apart from ordinary use
a. What was designed to bless the Kingdom can be a curse if misappropriated or used.
b. Example of misuse: the quality of salt and sugar naturally appear the same, but misused even in a small amount [10%], the effects are noticeable and can be disastrous.
c. Example of misappropriation: Opening someone else’s mail is paralleled to misappropriating the tithe, offering and first fruit; these are addressed to God for the usage of building the Kingdom.
5. [Accursed thing defined in verse 18]…that which is banned, prohibited, or forbidden; marked to destroy if not yielded
a. Example of destruction if misused: water to the human body yields tremendous benefits; liquid plumber freely unclogs a drain; both products look similar but liquid plumber consumed by a human will cause that human’s destruction; water poured into a clogged drain has no effect on the drain.
• EAST LOCATION ONLY
B. Joshua 7:1-6, 10; 22-26
1. Achan takes of the accursed thing and frustrates the Israelites ability to “take over”.
a. Achan stole [violated the covenant] in Jericho but the consequences did not manifest until the second city, Ai. (verse 1)
b. Achan’s disobedience frustrated the Israelites “take over” anointing resulting in the death of 36 innocent men when just one city before Israel’s victory was effortless. (verse 5)
c. Touching the accursed thing [tithe, offering and first fruit] can negate the financial grace that gives you the anointing to “take over”.
d. The amount Achan stole only totaled $612.75 but the results were disastrous:
1. 36 innocent men lost their lives. (verse 9)
2. All that Achan had were destroyed: his sons, his daughters, his oxen, asses, sheep and tent. (verse 24)
3. Achan was stoned and burned by the Israelites. (verse 25)
e. Satan has access to the area where grace is frustrated.
f. God’s desire is for the believer to trust Him not the “stuff”.
(c)2010 George Matthews Ministries. All Rights Reserved.