11.06.2022 | BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING
BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING
Genesis 14:18
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.
Genesis 14:19-20
And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.
Philippians 4:19
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
Matthew 6:25
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what will you put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Hebrews 7:1-2
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace.”
How did Abraham walk in the blessing of God and how can we follow his example?
1. Recognize God’s Ownership
Genesis 14:19
And he [Melchizedek] blessed him [Abraham] and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth.”
Possessor – Creator, one who brings forth, owner, redeemer
Psalm 24:1
The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.
God owns everything; we don’t own anything.
1 Corinthians 6:20
For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Corinthians 4:2
Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
“The toughest lesson we learned is the fact that we need to know this is God’s business.” – David Green, founder of Hobby Lobby
Genesis 14:22b
I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth.
2. Bring the Tithe into His House as a First Fruit Offering
Genesis 14:20b
And he [Abraham] gave him [Melchizedek] a tithe of all.
Tithe – one tenth
Abraham gave Melchizedek one tenth of everything he had just won in battle.
Genesis 28:22b
And of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.
“All that we have comes from Him and we honor Him by bringing the tithe as a first fruit offering into His house.” – Spirit-Filled Life Bible
Proverbs 3:9
Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase.
Malachi 3:10a
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house.
We want to put God first!
3. Walk in the Blessing of Abraham
Genesis 14:19a
And he [Melchizedek] blessed him [Abraham] and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High.”
Genesis 24:1
Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.
Galatians 3:13
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”).
Galatians 3:14
That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Malachi 3:10
“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.”
Father God wants to bless us so that we in turn can be a blessing to others.
“When we fail to tithe, it robs God the Father of an opportunity to bless us and others through us.” – Jack Hayford
We want to put God first and watch Him work!
Discussion Questions:
1. Can you share of a time when you experienced God’s miraculous provision in your life?
2. Do you struggle with God’s ownership of you and all that you have? Why or why not?
3. Is the discipline of tithing as a first fruit offering a regular part of your life? Why or why not?
4. Are you a cheerful giver? Why or why not?