March 22, 2026

Test Me

Haggai 1:5 (NKJV)

5Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: "Consider your ways!

Haggai 1:6-7 (NKJV)

6"You have sown much, and bring in little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with holes."
7Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Consider your ways!

Psalms 24:1 (NIV)

The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;

Psalms 50:12 (NIV)

If I were hungry I would not tell you,
for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

1 Corinthians 4:2 (NASB)

In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.

2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV)

But since you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you --see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

Prioritize the Principle

Romans 11:16 (NKJV)

For if the first fruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

Proverbs 3:9-10 (NKJV)

Honor the Lord with your possessions,
And with the first fruits of all your increase;
So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Prove the Promise

Perfect the Practice

Malachi 3:6-9 (NIV)

"I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the Lord Almighty.
"But you ask, ‘How are we to return?'
"Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.

Malachi 3:6-9 (NIV)

"But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?'
"In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse--your whole nation--because you are robbing me.

Malachi 3:10 (NIV)

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

Malachi 3:11 (NKJV)

"And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,"
Says the Lord of hosts;

1 It provides for God's house
2 It tells God I trust Him
3 It creates margin in my life for God to fill

4 It reminds me that I am not my source
5 It connects my money to a kingdom purpose
6 It gives my job eternal significance

7 It transforms my money into a seed
8 It breaks greed and self-reliance
off of my heart
9 It lets everything else in my life
know that God is first

March 15, 2026

The Tithe: A Test of Faith

Malachi 3:10-12 (NIV)

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe," says the Lord Almighty. "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the Lord Almighty.

Matthew 23:23 (NIV)

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Tithing is not just a duty but a divine invitation to experience God's provision and blessings.

What would happen if we actually put God first?

Tithe with Trust

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.
Malachi 3:10a (NIV)

Test the Truth

Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
Malachi 3:10b (NIV)

Triumph over the Thief

I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe," says the Lord Almighty.
Malachi 3:11 (NIV)

The blessed life is a God-first life!

March 8, 2026

SEEK FIRST - Aligning Our Priorities

1 Kings 19:3-4 (NIV)

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors."

Never be afraid of an unknown future when you have a known God

1 Kings 19:13 (NIV)

When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted

3. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth

4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled

5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy

6. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God

7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God

8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)

19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:22-23 (NIV)

22"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Matthew 6:24 (NIV)

24"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Matthew 6:25-26 (NIV)

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Matthew 6:27 (NIV)

27Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ?

Matthew 6:28-30 (NIV)

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you--you of little faith?

Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV)

31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?' or ‘What shall we drink?' or ‘What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.