SUBJECT: "THOU SHALT NOT STEAL"
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: EXODUS 20:15
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INTRODUCTION:
THIS MORNING WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THE 8TH COMMANDMENT ---- JUST FOUR WORDS LONG, "THOU SHALT NOT STEAL." THIS COMMANDMENT IS REPEATED EIGHT (8) TIMES THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE. IT IS REPEATED 3 TIMES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT: (EXODUS 20:15 --- LEVITICUS 19:11 AND DEUTERONOMY 5:19) AND IT IS REPEATED FIVE (5) TIMES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (MATTHEW 19:18 --- MARK 10:19 --- LUKE 18:20 --- ROMANS 13:9 AND EPHESIANS 4:28.
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"THOU SHALT NOT STEAL"
DO YOU REMEMBER THE TIME WHEN THERE WAS NO NEED TO LOCK UP THE HOUSE? IT REALLY WASN’T THAT LONG AGO. I REMEMBER THAT OUR HOMEPLACE WAS LOCATED NEAR AN INTERSTATE EXIT AND WE WOULD GO TO BED AT NIGHT WITHOUT THE DOORS BEING LOCKED OR THE WINDOWS PUT DOWN IN THE SUMMER TIME. THERE WAS A CERTAIN THING PRESENT AMONG SOCIETY BACK THEN THAT YOU DO NOT SEE VERY MUCH OF TODAY ----- "TRUST" THEN AGAIN WE WERE SO POOR WHEN I WAS A YOUNG BOY, POOR PEOPLE USED TO DRIVE BY OUR HOUSE JUST SO THEY COULD FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES. SO WE DIDN’T HAVE MUCH OF ANYTHING THAT PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO STEAL. BUT OVERALL, SOCIETY BASICALLY TRUSTED ONE ANOTHER.
HOWEVER, SADLY WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE THAT CAREFREE IN THIS DAY! THERE IS VERY LITTLE TRUST IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC TODAY.
A RECENT GALLOP POLL REPORTED THE SAD INDICTMENT AGAINST THE KINGDOM OF GOD --- IT REVEALED THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC DID NOT TRUST "THE CHRISTIAN" ANY MORE THAN THEY DID "THE SINNER" --- WHEN IT CAME TO BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS AND THINGS THAT REQUIRED "HONESTY" AND "INTEGRITY." THAT IS A SAD INDICTMENT AGAINST THE CHURCH AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD!
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I HAVE SHARED WITH YOU THE TIME MY WIFE AND I WENT TO KNOXVILLE TO VISIT OUR OLDEST SON, CHRIS. I ACCIDENTLY LOCKED OUR CAR KEYS INSIDE THE CAR. AFTER TRYING ALL WE KNEW TO DO, WE FINALLY LOOKED IN THE YELLOW PAGES AND FOUND A NEAR BY LOCKSMITH AND WITHIN 30 SECONDS OF HIS ARRIVAL HE HAD THE DOORS UNLOCKED. HE HANDED ME MY BILL AND I DID NOT HAVE THAT MUCH CASH ON ME SO I ASKED HIM WHO I SHOULD MAKE THE CHECK OUT TO. HE LOOKED AT ME WITH A STRANGE LOOK AND REPLIED, "I DO NOT ACCEPT CHECKS FROM ANYONE, SORRY." IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET HIM TO KNOW HE COULD TRUST ME, I SAID, "SIR, YOU CAN TRUST ME, I AM A MINISTER." HE SAID," I BY ALL MEANS WOULD NOT ACCEPT A CHECK FROM A MINISTER." AT FIRST I THOUGHT HE WAS ONLY JOKING, HOWEVER, I SOON FOUND OUT THAT HE MEANT EVERY WORD OF IT. HE RELAYED TO ME HOW THAT SEVERAL MINISTERS HAD WRITTEN HIM CHECKS FOR HIS SERVICES AND THEY WERE BAD AND HE WAS NEVER ABLE TO GET HIS MONEY. SO ALL I KNEW TO DO WAS HAVE MY SON TAKE ME TO THE NEAREST
A T M MACHINE AND I USED MY DEBIT CARD AND TOOK MONEY OUT OF MY CHECKING ACCOUNT AND WENT BACK AND HANDED HIM THE MONEY. HE MADE AN APOLOGY FOR THINGS BEING THAT WAY AND THEN HE DROVE OFF. I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT INCIDENT MANY TIMES SINCE THEN. BECAUSE OF A FEW DISHONEST PREACHERS, HE HAD NO RESPECT AT ALL FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED TO CARRY THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
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I READ THE WORDS OF A MUSLUM A FEW DAYS AGO. HE SAID: "I APPRECIATE THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS CHRIST. AND I WOULD EVEN CONSIDER BECOMING A CHRISTIAN -- IF -- IT WERE NOT FOR THE CHRISTIANS." THE CHRISTIANS TURNED HIM OFF BECAUSE THEY DID NOT LIVE BY THE TEACHINGS THEY TAUGHT TO OTHERS. HE WENT ON IN THE ARTICLE TO SAY: "IN THE MUSLUM RELIGION PEOPLE WERE WHOLLY COMMITTED TO IT AND 99.9 % OF THEM WERE FAITHFUL IN PRACTICING THEIR DOCTRINE. THE DOCTRINE WAS NOT JUST A "PART" OF THEIR LIFE....BEING A MUSLIM WAS "THEIR WHOLE LIFE." EVERTHING IN THEIR LIVES CENTERED FROM THEIR DOCTRINE 24 HOURS A DAY. THEY CONSIDERED IT THE HIGHEST PRIVILEGE A PERSON COULD EVER HAVE EXTENDED TO THEM; BEING A MUSLUM." SHOULD NOT WE CHRISTIANS WHO SERVE THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD AND LORD AND REDEEMER, JESUS CHRIST, BE EVEN MORE FAITHFUL AND MORE DEDICATED TO THE TEACHINGS OF THE WORD OF GOD, RIGHTLY DIVIDED?
SADLY, THAT IS THE STORY OF MANY PEOPLE TODAY. THEY SEE FAR TOO MANY THINGS FROM THE LIVES OF PROFESSING CHRISTIANS THAT DO NOT MATCH THE TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST. THEY SAY ONE THING AND DO ANOTHER THING.
DURING THE CHICAGO FIRES SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE STORES WERE BEING INVADED FULL FORCE BY LOOTERS. ONE MAN WAS CAUGHT ON CAMERA COMING OUT OF A RECORD STORE WITH AN ARM LOAD FULL OF RECORDS AND TAPES. A TELEVISON REPORTER INTERVIEWED HIM AND ASKED,"WHAT KIND OF RECORDS HAVE YOU GOT THERE?" THE LOOTER ANSWERED, "THEY ARE GOSPEL RECORDS." HE SAID WITH A SMILE, "I AM A CHRISTIAN, I LOVE JESUS!" WHAT A WITNESS!
THIEVERY IS ABUNDANT IN THIS COUNTRY TODAY! IF YOU HAVE IT AND THEY WANT IT --- THEN THAT IS THE ONLY REASON THEY NEED TO FEEL JUSTIFIED IN TAKING IT AWAY FROM YOU. AND AFTER THEY TAKE IT, THERE IS NO FEELING OF REMORSE, GUILT OR CONDEMNATION. I WONDER WHAT DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DO TODAY --- TO FEEL BAD ABOUT IT?
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A MAN MARRIED A VERY BEAUTIFUL WOMAN AND NOT LONG AFTERWARDS ANOTHER MAN CAME ALONG AND STOLE HER AWAY FROM HIM. HE GRIEVED AND GRIEVED. A FEW YEARS LATER, HE MARRIED ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL WOMAN AND THE VERY SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. ANOTHER MAN CAME ALONG AND STOLE HER AWAY.THIS TIME IT WAS ALMOST MORE THAN HE COULD BEAR. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF BEING SINGLE, HE MET ANOTHER WOMAN AND THEY WERE SSON MARRIED. HOWEVER, THE THIRD WIFE WAS TOTALLY DIFFERENT IN LOOKS, SHE WAS U G L Y !!! I MEAN REALLY " U-G-L-Y." WHEN ASKED "WHY" -- HE MARRIED SUCH AN UGLY WOMAN WHEN HIS TWO WIVES BEFORE WERE SO BEAUTIFUL, HE REPLIED, " I MARRIED TWO BEAUTIFUL WOMEN AND ANOTHER MAN CAME ALONG AND STOLE THEM AWAY FROM ME. THIS WOMAN IS INDEED UGLY, BUT NO MAN WILL WANT TO STEAL HER AWAY FROM ME. SHE’S UGLY --- BUT SHE’S MINE!"
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MANY PEOPLE’S THEORY IS: "IF I DO NOT STEAL SOMETHING "BIG" "EXPENSIVE" OR "IMPORTANT" THEN IT IS O K." BUT WHEN GOD DECLARED, "DO NOT STEAL, HE MEANT WE ARE NOT TO STEAL ANYTHING, NOT EVEN A TINY PAPERCLIP THAT DOES NOT BELONG TO US! WE ARE JUST AS LOST SPIRITUALLY WHEN WE TAKE A PENNY AS IT IS WHEN WE TAKE A MILLION DOLLARS. IT IS NOT "THE AMOUNT" THAT MAKES IT "STEALING", IT IS THE ACTION OF "TAKING" SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT YOURS THAT MAKES IT STEALING. TO GOD, IT IS ALL THE VERY SAME. GOD DOES FOCUS ON THE AMOUNT --- HE LOOKS AT THE DESIRERS AND INTENTS OF THE HEART AND SOUL!
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STATISTICS STATE THAT 1 OUT OF 25 SHOPPERS WILL STEAL SOMETHING BEFORE LEAVING THE STORE. THE STORE HAD IT -
- THEY WANTED IT ---AND THAT WAS REASON ENOUGH!
70% OF THEFT IS DONE BY PEOPLE WHO COULD EASILY AFFORD TO BUY IT. OVER 60% OF PICK POCKETING IS NOT EVEN NEEDED ITEMS. IT IS DONE SIMPLY FOR THE THRILL OF TAKING IT AND SEEING IF THEY COULD GET AWAY WITH IT. THERE IS A "DEMONIC SPIRIT" OF STEALING TODAY!
STATISTICS ALSO REPORT --- 75% OF AMERICANS WOULD STEAL FROM SOMEONE WHO WOULD NOT MISS IT. "IF I WOULD NOT GET IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW --- I’D TAKE IT." HOWEVER, THOUGH MAN MAY NEVER SEE YOU STEALING IT, GOD SEES ALL THAT WE DO!
II CHRONCILES 16:9 "FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD RUN TO AND FRO THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH..."
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ON OCTOBER 28, 1987, AN ARMORED TRUCK WAS CRUSING DOWN INTERSTATE 111 NEAR COLUMBUS, OHIO. SUDDENLY, THE BACK DOOR OF THE TRUNK SWUNG OPEN, UNNOTICED BY THE DRIVER, AND BAGS OF MONEY FELL OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY. WITHIN MOMENTS --- OVER 200 PEOPLE FLOGGED THE HIGHWAY --- PICKING UP HANDSFUL OF MONEY AND STASHING IT INTO THEIR POCKETS. ONE MAN HAD A CAMERA AND FILMED THE ENTIRE EPISODE. ONLY ONE MAN RETURNED ANY OF THE CASH. HE TURNED IN $57, 000 THAT WAS FOUND IN ONE BAG OF MONEY. ALL THEY GAVE HIM FOR HIS HONESTY WAS A "THANK YOU."
WHEN ASKED ABOUT HIS REWARD BEING A SIMPLE "THANK YOU" HE RESPONED AND SAID, "THAT IS ENOUGH. I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING BUT WHAT I SHOULD DO. THE MONEY WASN’T MINE. ALL I DID WAS PICK IT UP AND GIVE IT BACK TO WHO IT BELONGED TO."
THE OTHER DAY I MISPLACED MY WALLET. I LOOKED AND LOOKED FOR IT BUT TO NO AVAIL. I HAD A DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENT AND COULD NOT CONTINUE TO LOOK, BUT I ASKED MY WIFE TO KEEP LOOKING. I CALLED HER LATER TO SEE IF SHE HAD FOUND IT AND SHE SAID SHE HAD NOT. SO I TOLD HER, "CALL THE BANK AND HAVE MY DEBIT CARD CANCELLED." I COULD SEE SOMEONE FINDING MY WALLET AND USING MY DEBIT CARD AND WIPING OUT OUR CHECKING ACCOUNT. WHEN I RETURNED HOME FROM THE DOCTOR, I FOUND THE WALLET. NOW I HAVE TO APPLY FOR A NEW DEBIT CARD. MY WIFE SAID I ACTED TOO QUICKLY, BUT I HAD NO "TRUST" FOR THE PUBLIC TO DO WHAT WAS RIGHT IN CASE I HAD MISPLACED IT.
BUT HERE IS THE QUESTION, "IF YOU FOUND A WALLET WITH MONEY IN IT --- WOULD YOU RETURN IT OR WOULD YOU SAY "THANK YOU JESUS. THE LORD DOES PROVIDE. MY SHIP JUST CAME IN!"
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WHY IS STEALING WRONG?
1: STEALING IS A SIN AGAINST GOD:
GOD WANTS US TO TRUST IN HIM FOR OUR NEEDS.
WHATEVER WE NEED IN LIFE --- IF WE LIVE FOR GOD
AND OBEY HIS WORD --- HE HAS PROMISED TO TAKE
CARE OF OUR NEEDS DAY BY DAY. IF WE NEED
SOMETHING WE’RE TO ASK GOD AND HAVE FAITH THAT
HE WILL PROVIDE: WE DO NOT HAVE TO STEAL FROM
SOMEONE ELSE.
JESUS TAUGHT US TO PRAY FOR OUR NEEDS AND TO
PLACE OUR TRUST IN HIM TO SUPPLY THEM. IF HE
TAKES CARE OF THE FLOWERS OF THE FIELD AND HE
KNOWS EVERY TIME A SPARROW FALLS --- THEN SURELY
HE WILL TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF YOU AND ME!
MATTHEW 7: 7-11 "ASK AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU, SEEK, AND YE SHALL FIND, KNOCK AND THE DOOR SHALL BE OPENED UNTO YOU. FOR EVERYONE THAT ASKETH RECEIVETH; AND HE THAT SEEKETH FINDETH, AND TO HIM THAT KNOCKETH IT SHALL BE GIVEN HIM. OR WHAT MAN IS THERE OF YOU, WHOM IF HIS SON ASK BREAD, WILL HE GIVE HIM A STONE? OR IF HE ASKS A FISH, WILL HE GIVE HIM A SERPENT. IF YE THEN, BEING EVIL, KNOW HOW TO GIVE GOOD GIFTS UNTO YOUR CHILDREN, HOW MUCH MORE SHALL YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN GIVE GOOD THINGS TO THEM THAT ASK HIM."
MATTHEW 6:3 "SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU."
2: IT IS A SIN AGAINST SOCIETY:
THE GOLDEN RULE:
"DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEN DO UNTO YOU."
JESUS SAID: "BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YE ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YE HAVE LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER."
JESUS CALLED UPON US TO LOVE EVERYBODY --- EVEN OUR ENEMIES. YOU DON’T STEAL FROM PEOPLE YOU LOVE!
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I BELIEVE THAT ----- WHAT GOES AROUND
COMES AROUND:
ONE DAY A HUSBAND CAME HOME FROM WORK AND FOUND HIS WIFE IN TEARS. IT SEEMED THE NEW HOUSE MAID HAD STOLEN SOME TOWELS OUT OF THE CLOSET. THE HUSBAND ASKS HIS WIFE, "WHICH TOWELS DID SHE TAKE?" SHE SAID: "YOU KNOW, THOSE WHITE TOWELS WE PICKED UP LAST WEEK THAT HAVE THE WORDS "HOLIDAY INN" WRITTEN ON THEM.
"FOR WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP." GALATIANS 6:7
ONE OF MY FAVORITE COMMERCIALS ON TELEVISON:
A MAN IS CHECKING HIS GROCERIES OUT AT THE REGISTRY. THE CLERKS RINGS THEM UP AND AT THE END DECLARES: "THAT WILL BE $32.00." THE MAN, WITH GROCERIES IN HIS ARMS, SAYS: "YEAH" AND WALKS OUT OF THE STORW WITHOUT PAYING ANYTHING. THE CLERK WAS CONFUSED AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. THEN IT DAWNED ON HIM WHAT HIS ANSWER WAS. HE LOOKED AT THE LADY THAT WAS NEXT IN LINE AND SAID,"THAT MEANS YOUR GROCERIES JUST WENT UP $32.OO."
BUT IN REALITY, EVERYTIME WE GO TO THE STORE --- WE ARE PAYING FOR THINGS THAT PEOPLE WALKED OFF WITH AND DID NOT PAY FOR. THE STORES ARE GOING TO GET THEIR MONEY --- IF NOT FROM THE SHOPLIFTER THAN FROM YOU AND ME!
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THERE ARE 3 WAYS WE CAN GET THINGS:
1:) PEOPLE CAN GIVE US THINGS: YOU REALLY DON’T LEARN THE VALUE OF A THING WHEN IT IS GIVEN TO YOU.
2:) YOU CAN WORK AND FOR YOUR WORK -- YOU GET PAID MONEY AND THEN WITH THE MONEY YOU MADE --- YOU GO AND BUY WHAT YOU WANTED.
THAT IS HOW MOST PEOPLE GET WHAT THEY HAVE.
"IF THEY DO WORK, THEY DO NOT EAT." --- PAUL
YOU
YOU MAY DECIDE YOU DO NOT WANT IT AS BAD AS YOU THOUGHT YOU DID WHEN YOU HAVE TO WORK AND PAY FOR IT.
3:) YOU CAN STEAL IT: RIP PEOPLE OFF:
I FOUND THIS STORY OF A WOMAN COMING HOME FROM CHRISTMANS PLAY PRACTICE. THE WEATHER WAS BAD --- IT WAS SNOWING HARD AND THE ROADS WERE TREACHEROUS. AS SHE NEARED HER HOUSE, SHE NOTICED A CAR HAD SLID OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IN HER MIND WERE ALL THOSE WARNING ABOUT HELPING STRANGERS. HOWEVER SHE DECIDED THAT SINCE THE WEATHER WAS SO BAD SHE WOULD STOP AND HELP ANY WAY.
THE STRANGER SAID TO HER, " I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU STOPPED. I THOUGHT I WOULD BE STUCK HERE ALL NIGHT. PERHASPS IF YOU WOULD GET IN THE CAR AND DRIVE IT WHILE I TRY TO PUSH IT, WE CAN GET IT OUT."
FORTY FIVE MINUTES LATER THEY MANAGED TO GET THE CAR OUT. YOU HAVE BEEN SUCH A TREMENDOUS HELP TO ME." THEN HE SPOTTTED HER PURSE LAYING ON THE CAR SEAT --- HE REACHED INTO HER CAR, GRABBED HER PURSE, WHICH WAS FILLED WITH MONEY AND CREDIT CARDS AND SAID: "THANKS AGAIN. THIS WILL DO NICELY."
HE GOT IN HIS CAR AND DROVE OFF!
THE FELT HURT --- BETRAYED --- ANGER AND RAGE OVERTOOK HER.
IT IS NOT THAT WE WORSHIP OUR STUFF --- BUT WHEN SOMEONE ATTACKS WHAT WE HAVE WORKED HARD FOR --- IT IS AN ATTACK ON OUR FAMILY. THEY HAVE TAKEN FROM THEM AND THEIR NEEDS. IF THEY WANT IT --- LET THEM GO TO WORK AND GET IT THE SAME WAY WE HAD TO GET IT.
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VARIOUS WAYS TO STEAL FROM OTHERS:
1: YOU CAN STEAL IT BY: F O R C E
JUST PLAIN OLD FASHIONED THEFT -- ROBBERY --
DEPRIVE -- TAKE IT AWAY --- REMOVE --- WITHDRAW
FROM THEIR POSSESSIONS:
A PASTOR IN OUR DENOMINATION HAD PASTORED IN CHATTSWORTH, GA. FOR MANY YEARS. ONE DAY WHILE IN CHATTANOOGA, TN. AT A DRIVE THROUGH IN McDONALD’S AND AN ESCAPED CONVICT FROM BRISHY MOUNTAIN STATE PRISON IN TN. APPROACHED HIM WITH A GUN AND DEMANDED HIS CAR. THE PASTOR HESITATED TOO LONG AND THE ESCAPEE SHOT HIM AND KILLED AND THEN RAN OFF. HE WAS CAPTURED A FEW DAYS LATER BUT HUMAN LIFE DID NOT MEAN ANYTHING. WHAT HE WANTED WAS TO STEAL THE CAR.
"THEY CAN HAVE THE CAR."
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2: YOU CAN STEAL BY: D E C E P T I O N:
BE DISHONEST --- TRICK -- CHEAT -- HOLD BACK THE COMPLETE TRUTH --- TAKE SOMEONE.
BEING DISHONEST IN BUSINESS DEALINGS WITH THE PUBLIC SELLING A USED CAR -- OR A HOUSE --- WITHHOLDING INFORMATION
"THEY DID NOT ASK AND I DID NOT TELL"
"IT WAS THEIR PLACE TO ASK AND IT WAS MY PLACE TO ANSWER."
MATTHEW 5:16 " LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS AND GLORITY YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN."
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3: YOU CAN STEAL IT BY: D E F R A U D:
WRITING BAD CHECKS --- NOT PAYING YOUR BILLS
TRYING TO GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING
WITHHOLDING WHAT WE OWE
BORRROW MONEY AND PROMISE TO PAY IT BACK BY A
CERTAIN TIME BUT DO NOT
FALSE AND MAGNIFIED INSURANCE CLAIMS
IT IS THING TODAY TO SUE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND
WORKER’S COMP CLAIMS IN HOPES OF GETTING SOME BIG
SETTLEMENT. THE EMPHASIS HERE IS ON "FALSE
CLAIMS" --- NOT JUSTIFIED ONES.
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4: YOU CAN STEAL BY: R O B B I N G GOD:
DO YOU BELIEVE THE WORD OF GOD?
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD IS JUST AS REAL AS THE
PERSON SITTING BESIE OF YOU RIGHT NOW?
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT IT IS WRONG TO STEAL FROM
ANOTHER --- THEN WHY IS IT NOT WRONG TO STEAL
FROM GOD?
MALACHI 3:6-10 "FOR I AM THE LORD, I CHANGE NOT: THEREFORE YE SONS OF JACOB ARE NOT CONSUMED. EVN FROM THE DAYS OF YOUR FATHERS, YE ARE GONE AWAY FROM MINE ORDINACES, AND HAVE NOT KEPT THEM. RETURN UNTO ME, AND I WILL RETURN UNTO YOU, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS. BUT YE SAID, WHEREIN SHALL WE RETURN? WILL A MAN ROB GOD? YET YE HAVE ROBBED ME. BUT YE SAY, WHEREIN HAVE WE ROBBED THEE? IN TITHES AND OFFERINGS. YE ARE CURSED WITH A CURSE; FOR YE HAVE ROBBED ME, EVEN THIS WHOLE NATION. BRING ME ALL THE TITHES INTO THE STOREHOUSE, THAT THERE MAY BE MEAT IN MINE HOUSE, AND PROVE ME NOW HEREWITH, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS, IF I WILL NOT OPEN YOU THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN, AND POUR YOU OUT A BLESSING, THAT THERE SHALL NOT BE ROOM ENOUGH TO RECEIVE IT. AND I WILL REBUKE THE DEVOURER FOR YOUR SAKES, AND HE SHALL NOT DESTROY THE FRUITS OF YOUR GROUND; NEITHER SHALL YOUR VINE CAST HER FRUIT BEFORE THE TIME IN THE FIELD SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS. AND ALL NATIONS SHALL CALL YOU BLESSED; FOR YE SHALL BE A DELIGHTSOME LAND, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS."
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WHY DOES TITHING OPEN UP THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN?
1:) 1ST TITHING KEEPS YOU FROM "ROBBING GOD"
GOD IS NOT GOING TO ANNOINT AND BLESS THE ONE
THAT HAS ROBBED HIM. IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO BLESS
THAT KIND OF DISOBEDIENCE:
1/10 OF YOUR INCREASE IS GOD’S -- NOT YOURS
YOUR 1ST FRUITS -- NOT YOUR LEFT OVERS
WHAT A BARGAIN YOU GET FOR 10 CENTS OUT OF A
DOLLAR -- YOU GET TO WALK ABOUT IN THE
BLESSINGS AND THE ANOINTING OF HEAVEN BELONG
POURED OUT ON YOU. NOT "SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS" BUT
BLESSINGS BEING "POURED OUT BY GOD HIMSELF"
2:) IT SANCTIFIES YOUR INCOME:
"FILTHY LUCRE"
3:) IT REFLECTS YOUR CONCERN FOR THE WORK OF GOD:
GOD’S WORK HAS TO BE FINACNED BY "HIS" PEOPLE
YOUR TITHING HELPS TO "PROVIDE SPIRITUAL MEAT" IN
THE HOUSE OF GOD. "MEAT" -- NECESSITIES
IF EVERY ONE FOLLOWED YOUR PATTERN OF TITHING
AND GIVING === WHAT WOULD YOUR LOCAL CHURCH BE
LIKE?
IF WE WOULD ALL TITHE AND GIVE THERE OUGHT NEVER
HAVE TO BE YARDSALES --- DINNERS --- CAR WASHES
AND SUCH ---- TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE MINISTRY OF
THE CHURCH
4:) IT SHOWS YOUR THANKFULNESS UNTO GOD FOR WHAT YOU
HAVE AND FROM WHERE IT CAME FROM --- FOR ALL THE
TIMES GOD HAS KEPT HIS DIVINE HAND UPON YOU AND
SPARED YOU FROM GREAT INJURY AND SUFFERING.
STOP AND SEE HOW THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN --- IF
NOT FOR THE HAND OF GOD?
READ ON FURTHER DOWN IN THE 3 CHAPTER OF MALACHI
AND GOD TELLS US THAT HE HAS A "BOOK OF
REMEMBERANCE."
5:) SHOWS THAT YOU TRUST IN GOD TO SUPPLY YOUR NEEDS
AND TO TAKE CARE OF YOU.
6:) HELPS TO RELEASE YOU FROM THE CURSE OF
MATERIALISM"
"HARD FOR A RICH MAN TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM
OF HEAVEN."
"FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL,
WHICH WHILE SOME HAVE COVETED AFTER, THEY HAVE
ERRED FROM THE FAITH."
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GOD PROMISED TO OPEN UP THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN AND
POUR OUT BLESSINGS UPON YOUR LIFE -- WHEN YOU GIVE
GOD WHAT ALREADY BELONGS TO HIM --- RATHER THAN
STEALING IT FROM HIM.
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