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Title: Open Hands/Open Heaven Text: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9) Target: The Kingdom advances at the speed of generosity. 1. The Principle of Tithing: (Old Testament) a. Before the Law: (Patriarchs) i. Abraham gives a tenth to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20) ii. Jacob vowed a tenth to the Lord at Bethel (Genesis 28:20-20) Key Thought: The goodness of God compels generosity in His people. b. Under the Law: (Israel) i. First fruit offering: (Leviticus 27:30-34) ii. Support of the Temple: (Numbers 18:21-24) iii. Ministry of the Temple: Care for the priests, outcasts, broken, orphans, and widows (Deuteronomy 14:22-29, 26:12-13) iv. Prophetic rebuke: (Malachi 3:8-10) Key Thought: Everything belongs to God, and He chooses to meet the needs of His people through the temple. 2. The Picture of Generosity: (New Testament) a. Through the Eyes of Jesus: i. Spoke more about money than heaven and hell combined. ii. Confronts giving for the wrong motives: (Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42) iii. Praises the widow's offering: (Mark 12:41-44) iv. Warns about being enslaved to money: (Matthew 6:19-24) v. Sincerity in giving: (Matthew 6:1-4) b. Testimony of the Early Church: (Acts 2:44-45, 4:32-27) c. Radical Generosity: (1 Corinthians 16:1-2, 2 Corinthians 8-9) Key Thought: The “Tithe” was not abolished; it was transformed. 3. The Pathway of Giving: (Local Church) a. About the Heart: i. Breaks the grip of greed: (Luke 12:15) ii. Declares my trust in God: (Proverbs 3:9-10) iii. Reorders my priorities: (Matthew 6:33) iv. Makes room for God to work: (Luke 6:38) v. Connects me to something eternal: (Matthew 6:19-20) vi. Produces joy: (Acts 20:5) b. About the House: i. Win the lost: (Luke 19:10) ii. Welcome home prodigals: (Luke 15:20) iii. Raise up warriors: (1 Timothy 6:12) iv. Care for the broken: (Psalm 34:18) v. Take Kingdom ground: (Joshua 1:3) vi. Send out missionaries: (Acts 1:8) Takeaway: Giving doesn't change what's in your wallet; it changes what’s in your worship.
November 7, 2025