our finances are one of the biggest battles between God and Satan concerning your life. Satan desires to keep all Christians defeated, especially in their finances, because he knows that you'll use your financial overflow to further God's kingdom; and every soul you reach for God is a soul Satan looses. God's financial plan is to bless you abundantly, not only to supply your every need but to give you the desires of your heart. It brings glory and honor to him when you walk in the truth of his Word.

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Tithing is the first step in God financial plan. It was established by Abraham.

Abraham established the tithe (10%) of all his gross income from his work (in this case a battle) and paid it to the Priest. Genesis 14:20-24

The tithe (10%) was confirmed in the New Testament.

Jesus established that we are to continue paying tithes. See: Matthew 23:23-24 & Luke 11:42

Tithing was confirmed by the early church to continue till Jesus returns.

Just as Abraham paid the tithe to Melchizedek who was High Priest at the time; now that Jesus is our High Priest our tithes are to be paid to him through the ministers of His church. When you give to those who are really doing God's work, according to the scriptures, all the promises for obedience in that area is available to you.God established tithing before the Law was given. It's just one of His ways of maintaining His church here on earth. I've heard it said, "Why does God need money, He can do anything He wants to." First, God can't just do anything He wants to. He won't do anything to remove our freedom of choice. Second, He has bound himself to what's written in our covenant, The Holy Bible. He has to follow the rules that were set up as well as we do. Third, He works with people in the earthly realm that we live. We use a currency system of money, so that's the system by which faith, heavenly currency, will increase. Let's take a look at tithing when it was established.

Hebrews 7:1-10 (Amplified Bible)

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem [and] priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

God intends to bless you, he waits for us to be obedient.

And Abraham gave to him a tenth portion of all [the spoil]. He is primarily, as his name when translated indicates, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, which means king of peace.

Abraham was a cheerful giver just as we are to be.

2 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

This is for seed offerings, missions, special projects etc., as well as tithes. If you have a hard time with accepting this start with tithes and add just a small amount as seed offering and look for places where God blesses you. If you want to grow financially your increase depends on how generous you are with God above and beyond your tithes. The tenth already belongs to Him to run the church (the body of Christ, churches, reaching out to increase the Kingdom of God etc.) Seed offering has a greater return on it, however, it won't just drop on you, you must use faith to receive it.

Without [record of] father or mother or ancestral line, neither with beginning of days nor ending of life, but, resembling the Son of God, he continues to be a priest without interruption and without successor. Now observe and consider how great [a personage] this was to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth [the topmost or the pick of the heap] of the spoils.

If Abraham knew to do this and obeyed (even before the Law was written) how much more should obey our Father, who extends mercy and grace to us in great measure.

And it is true that those descendants of Levi who are charged with the priestly office are commanded in the Law to take tithes from the people--which means, from their brethren--though these have descended from Abraham.

This includes us since we are children of the promise.

Romans 9:8 In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring.

(Hebrews 7 Continued)

If we don't know about God's Financial Plan how can we obey it and receive the promises? God has a set of plans for every area of our lives. It's so important to study His Word to receive the maximum amount of blessings in each area.

Yet it is beyond all contradiction that it is the lesser person who is blessed by the greater one.

If we are not faithful in our tithing then we can't possibly receive the promises from God that go with the tithe. If a person feels they don't have enough money to tithe, so they hold back, they are not trusting God nor putting Him first in their lives. They are disobedient! If you are short on money you can't afford not to tithe. You need miracle power in your finances and tithing plus giving seed offerings is the only way to receive it. Miracle power belongs to God and we have to line up with the Word order for it to work.

Furthermore, here [in the Levitical priesthood] tithes are received by men who are subject to death; while there [in the case of Melchizedek], they are received by one of whom it is testified that he lives [perpetually].

A person might even say that Levi [the father of the priestly tribe] himself, who received tithes (the tenth), paid tithes through Abraham, For he was still in the loins of his forefather [Abraham] when Melchizedek met him [Abraham].

Tithing shows our love for God and our love for others. When you following God's commandment to tithe it benefits so many people, even your own family for generations to come.

1 Corinthians 9:13-14 Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, "the Lord has commanded" that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

Giving tithes is like so many other areas where God has blessings for us, they are designed to pass down through generations of families.

Malachi 2:15 Has not the Lord made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.

What you establish in your heart will be passed on to your children, grandchildren etc. Although, each person has a free will, God does his best to build strong families. It benefits His church.

Our tithes already belong to God; it's not ours to use in any way. I have seen sinners give their 10% to a minister who is about God's business and God miraculously helped them even though they didn't have access to the covenant promises through salvation in Christ. This means God honors his word to everyone. When Christians, who have complete access to the covenant promises, worship God as we give him what rightfully belongs to him he involves himself in the finance area of our lives. He then sees to it that we always have enough with extra for whatever need or desire is next.

Psalm 37:25-26 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.

What are the promises that go with tithing?

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

When you follow in the footsteps of Jesus by acting upon God's word you never loose; you always gain in benefits somewhere in your life. Matthew 19:16-29 is a story of a man who was chosen to be a disciple of Christ but chose to worship his money instead. He walked away discouraged and missed the greatest calling he ever had upon his life. Had he remembered the story of the "Fishes and the Loaves" Matthew 14:17-21 he would have known that instead of loosing his money he would have increased along with receiving other rewards from God.

He did not place value on the words that Jesus spoke and he lost out. Every word in the Bible was given by God to teach us to be better, more like Christ. God wants to lift us up to walk and live in his greatness and our finances are just one aspect of that greatness. When we pray and ask him to take charge, then follow his leadership through obedience to the scriptures, we can have the financial stability that everyone dreams of.

Matthew 19:28-29 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

Mark wrote it this way.

Mark 10:29-30 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. Also see: Luke 18:29-30

This is what I call "percentage times (% x) increase". When you think, act and live God's way, even if it cost you, God works at restoring what you had until it overflows. Then it just keeps on overflowing. Tithing is just part of a Christian's life where God attaches "percentage times (% x) increase" so never count the cost of obeying God, look ahead to the reward. In the Book of Job, although it seemed his life was over, he held on to the values established in his heart by God. It wasn't long until God completely restored his life. He even made it better than before giving him twice (2x) as much as he had in the first part of his life. God will do the same for anyone who loves Him and is obedient to his Holy Bible.

The Bible is full of scriptures pertaining to prosperity for the whole life of a person, physically, mentally and spiritually. Many of those scriptures specify increase of our finances. God does it miraculously as we obey. There have been times when a check would show up in the mail from someone unexpected and other times I didn't know where the money came from but it was just enough to do what needed done; and sometimes more. Other times prosperity is as simple as watching the things that God gave us lasting an excessive length of time, never wearing out or needing repair. This is great in the transportation area of our life with the price of car repairs. God's prosperity is supernatural, beyond what we can do with our limitations. This scripture should give you hope for a prosperous future.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

What about gifts to the church that is over the amount of our tithes?

There are extra blessings in store for us when we give above and beyond our tithes. Extra offerings are considered seed offerings. They can be money, but material goods as well as our time, effort or knowledge is credited to our account. Let's learn more about your account with God and the promises that are attached to it.

How much can god bless us?

It's surprising to some people but we do have a lot of control over the amount of our blessings, as well as, when and where God blesses us, because it's according to our faith, which is lining our thoughts up with His purpose.(Read: What Is Faith?)

Philippians 4:14-19 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. (this is a heavenly account) I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

The Philippians carried the load for the preaching of the gospel, it is credited to our heavenly account when we give tithes and seed offerings freely with love and right motives. Notice they're told that "his God", the God who blesses him and meets his needs, (he's talking from experience) is the same one who will bless them and it will be in accordance to the riches that are in Christ. (He knows and understands how God's financial system works.) What are those riches in Christ?

Hebrews 2:6-9 But there is a place where someone has testified: "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet." In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. (We only see the earthly riches not the heavenly.) ...

Everything in heaven and earth belongs to Jesus because his Father was pleased with his sacrifice. How rich is that? Take a look at heavenly riches. Now take a look at His earthly riches.

Psalm 50:10-12 for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

God promises he will meet our needs according to what belongs to his Son and He gave Jesus everything, that means we can basically have what we want or need, but we have to reach out and take it by faith and faith is produced by knowing the Word and obeying it. The reasons there are no limitations on what we can have is because through gaining faith we are lining our thinking up with God's way of thinking. His way of thinking is like a good father, He want what's best for us, what will improve our lives spiritually as well as physically and materially. He doesn't want us to have anything that will harm us. Understand that if a new car is going to make you proud, feel that your better than others, or spend less time in the Word etc., then it's not good for you. It's your attitude toward things and how you view God's approval that counts.

1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

The things of God don't just drop on us, that would take our freedom of choice away, we must go after them with faith. Faith is the substance that opens the door to the display of God's greatness, which produces rewards that He lavishes on his children who live in His righteousness. Once more when God honors our faith it's all about bringing glory and honor to Him and his Son, Jesus. We reap the reward but we are very aware of where it came from.

Ephesians 1:11 In him (God) we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.

Joshua 24:13 So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.'

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that "in all things at all times", having "all that you need", you will abound in every good work.

Notice the word "all" God is not a partial giver, if we are receiving partial blessings we need to examine our way of thinking and doing and bring them up to God's standards. God is very much aware of what we need especially when we are involved in his work of adding to His Kingdom. He goes so far as to promise us a prophet's reward when we receive a prophet (recognize, learn from and support). When we are responsible, putting our seed money into ministries that teach the truth to bring God's children into the maturity of the word and to those who reach out in missions to expand God's family around the world we receive the fullest benefits available. Examine where your money goes and pray for guidance.

2 Corinthians 9:10 Now he (God) who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

When we support a ministry it's not only about that ministry receiving more resources to do God's work with; but it's just one of the ways God uses to prosper us financially. Seed offerings; which are above our tithes, will always reap blessings and rewards that miraculously increase our lives. Some blessings will take place automatically as you live righteously and grow in the word and others you many have to withdraw or take hold of by believing and using your faith. It's good to keep track of these offerings so when you need one of God's promises you can freely call on him knowing that you have blessings stored in His heavenly bank that are available to you.

Matthew 10:40-42 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."

2Corinthians 9:6-9 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."

Giving to the work of God has great rewards. It doesn't matter how much or how little we have to give God rewards us for our effort and will increase our supply.

Matthew 12:41-44 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."

2Corinthians 9:6-10-11 Now he (God) who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

In this day when the dollar doesn't buy much we can tap into God's miracle power through obedience to his word and reap security and rewards regardless of the economy around us. It doesn't matter if you have been disobedient in the past God still loves you and has prosperity waiting for you. When His people, the Israelites, were disobedient God loved them enough to correct them and make great promises in return for their obedience. He does the same for us.

Malachi 3:6-12 "I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. (They learned disobedience from their ancestors like some of us.) Return to me, and I will return to you," says the Lord Almighty. "But you ask, 'How are we to return?' "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings; you are under a curse, the whole nation of you, because you are robbing me. (Everyone who does not give to God what belongs to God lives under a curse; an open door for Satan to rule in their life. Even if they're rich the curse is upon them and will in some way affect their lives.) 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 you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the Lord Almighty. "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the Lord Almighty.

This scripture on tithing is the only place in the Bible where God says we can test him.

There are two systems of finance: God's way and the world's way. The world's way involves a struggle to pay all the bills from the amount of money earned; and the more money earned the more we spend making bigger bills that need to be paid. God never intended for us to feel the need to push just to get ahead. Borrowing to buy the things we need was not part of His plan. Credit cards, stock markets, loans, interest, inflation and sales are just some of the words in the world's system of finance that can send a person's blood pressure soaring.

God has a simpler way but it works through love and kindness instead of selfishness and greed. It involves giving and receiving with a thankful heart full of appreciation as a solid foundation. God's method of prosperity works by the leadership of the Holy Spirit through obedience to His will for our lives. Depending upon his system takes knowing what the Bible says we can have through our covenant relationship with Jesus Christ. As we follow God's plan for our finances we gain unmovable faith in God's love and ability to take care of us and the return is miraculous living. It doesn't mean there aren't any financial or material problems that arise, it just means that God has all the right answers and he delivers in unusual and marvelous ways.

If you are not born again through the blood of Jesus, he loves you and desires to bless you.