TREASURE PRINCIPLES “Opening Heaven’s Windows” 1. EVERYTHING BELONGS TO THE LORD “The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.” (Psalm 24:1 NASB); “…Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!” (1 Chronicles 29:14 NLT) 2. TITHE IS 10% OF GROSS INCOME, AND IT IS THE LORD’S – IT IS HOLY “One-tenth (tithe, 10%) of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD and must be set apart to him as holy.” (Leviticus 27:30 NLT) WE RETURN THE TITHE OUT OF OUR OBEDIENCE, NOT OUT OF OUR ABUNDANCE “You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 28:2 NLT) WE TITHE OUT OF OUR HEART “…you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law – justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.” (Matthew 23:23 NLT) “…‘pay to the Emporer what belongs to the Emporer, and pay to God what belongs to God. When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.” (Matthew 22:21-22 GNT) 3. GOD…THE LORD OF HOSTS, RESPONDS “ ‘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.’” (Malachi 3:10 NKJV) GOD OPENS THE WINDOWS IN HIGH PLACES HEAVEN’S CURRENCIES CAN BE RELEASED, AND POURED OUT Life Group Discussion: What is the “Tithe”, and whose is it? According to Malachi 3:10, Where do you give the tithe to? Why? How does tithing cultivate a person’s heart to become more like Jesus? ACTION STEP: Budget the tithe into your personal finances. NOTE: “If you don’t receive income (i.e. unemployed), then you don’t tithe.”