Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, November 02, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

THE FORGOTTEN ORDINANCES AMONG MANY BAPTISTS
(TITHES AND OFFERINGS)

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Malachi 3:1-18

Text: Malachi 3:7

Malachi 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them.

Introduction: What makes a person a Baptist? The Bible doesn’t tell what a Baptist is, because New Testament believers were not called Baptists in the Bible.

Baptists have usually had as one of their distinguishing marks the fact that they observe two “ordinances”: baptism and the Lord’s supper.

The problem is that baptism is nowhere in the Bible called an “ordinance.”

I’m not too interested in you being a good Baptist, as far as the Bible goes. I’m concerned about you being an obedient child of God.

The Lord’s supper is referred to an ordinance in 1 Corinthians 11, but human government is also said to be “the ordinance of God” in Romans 13.

An ordinance is, according to the dictionary (www.dictionary.com):

1. An authoritative command or order.
2. A custom or practice established by long usage.
3. A Christian rite, especially the Eucharist.
4. A statute or regulation, especially one enacted by a city government.

In this sense all the commandments of God are ordinances. Baptism is certainly a command and a custom of believers, and it is one of the first steps of obedience for a new believer. EVERY believer should be baptized, and the New Testament example is to be baptized as soon as possible after conversion.

However, there are two other ordinances that are not declared to be ordinances by Baptists. They are the GIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS.

Malachi 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them.

Giving is an ordinance in the New Testament as well, if an ORDER (see above definition) is an ordinance:

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

This commandment of God is worth considering, if you both trust and FEAR Him.

In our scripture for this morning we see:

I. THERE IS A PROBLEM

Malachi 3:7-8 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, 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? 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

A. They had REMOVED themselves from God’s precepts (ordinances)and Person
1. God’s precepts – “ye are gone away from mine ordinances”
2. God’s Person – “Return unto ME”

B. They had ROBBED God in tithes and offerings

II. THERE IS A PENALTY

Malachi 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

A. A guilty conscience

B. God’s curse
1. I believe many believers have God’s curse on their family, their finances, and their future for not tithing and giving offerings
2. God receives tithes today, according to Hebrews 7:6. Why not GIVE your tithe, rather than wait for God to TAKE it?

III. THERE IS A PRECEPT

Malachi 3:10 Bring ye 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.

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse”

A. This is an unconditional command

B. This is a universal command
1. Every child of God should be taught to tithe.
2. If you give your child an allowance and don’t teach him to tithe, you are training a THIEF.

IV. THERE IS A PURPOSE

“that there may be meat in mine house”

A. Meat in God’s house

B. Ministry to others

V. THERE IS A PLACE

“the storehouse”

“mine house”

A. It is the place of feeding
1. The pastor meets the spiritual needs of the people
2. The people meet the physical needs of the pastor
3. This is God’s plan

B. It is the place of fellowship
1. 1 Corinthians 16 teaches that tithes are to be GIVEN on Sundays, so that no COLLECTION (gathering) may be necessary!

VI. THERE IS A PROVING

“prove me now herewith”

A. Giving proves God’s promises

B. Giving proves God’s power

VII. THERE IS A PROMISE

A. A promise of unearthly provision
1. “the windows of heaven”

B. A promise of unlimited provision
1. “not be room enough to receive it”
2. “according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” – Philippians 4:19

THE FORGOTTEN ORDINANCES AMONG MANY BAPTISTS (TITHES AND OFFERINGS)

THE FORGOTTEN ORDINANCES AMONG MANY BAPTISTS
(TITHES AND OFFERINGS)