Key 1 - Tithing/Giving

• We are like cell phones, God is the outlet, the power cord is the Keys to Power: without power, your battery runs dry

• Power = “the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events.”

• It’s in our nature to desire to be in control: Genesis 1 - Adam and Eve created to rule.  There’s actually nothing wrong with wanting to be more in control of your life and the world around you.  God made you this way.

• What is original sin?  The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was the tithe for Adam and Eve.  They robbed God of the tithe by eating from what they were forbidden to eat from.  The same is true for us today.  If you don’t give tithe but you spend the money that should go to tithing, you are robbing God of the tithe.  Robbing God of the tithe is the same as trying to seize control from God/ elevate ourselves above the status God created us for - in Genesis 3, they wanted to BECOME gods themselves, being on equal or higher level to Him.

• Tithing/giving is humbling ourselves, saying, “God, please be in control again.  You be God.  I don’t want to be.  I submit to you.  I TRUST you.”  It is also making sure we aren’t continuing to commit the original sin of Adam and Eve.  If He stripped them of most of their authority and power because they robbed Him of the tithe, will He give US any power and authority if we continue to rob Him of it?

• Tithing/giving is not just 10% of money - give what you can, but try to at least stretch yourself a bit.  Stretching yourself makes it meaningful.  There are other ways to give including giving to one another.  This should be on top of tithing to your home church.

• Consider this: If you don’t allow others to give to you, you may be denying them the ability to be like God/ the ability to receive His rewards.  Share with your brothers and sisters in Christ, and let them help you with your problems.  (Yes, of course, avoid moochers, but actually there are more non-moochers in Christ than moochers.)  You are not a moocher if you let someone else help you.  It is actually pride that prevents most people from allowing others to help them.  

• In Acts, NONE of the Christians in the Early Church had needs because they all shared one another’s problems, helping one another with whatever issues they had.  THEY were Jesus to one another - they were His Hands and Feet.  God didn’t need to solve their problems for them.  He worked THROUGH His Children.