2. THE TITHE BELONGS TO GOD.

Let’s read Leviticus 27:30 in the ERV version. It says “A tenth of all crops belongs to the Lord. This means the crops from fields and the fruit from trees—a tenth belongs to the Lord.
Now let’s take a look at that verse in the Amplified versionLeviticus 27:30 (AMP) 30 ‘And all the tithe (tenth part) of the land, whether the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord.

The original Hebrew word for Tithe means: payment of a tenth part.
The Dictionary Definition of Tithe means: the tenth part of all agricultural produce, personal income or financial increase set apart as an offering to God for works of mercy.

The tithe is not a gift, it’s what is already due to God.
The word Holy in it’s original Hebrew translation means: belongs; is most Holy, to devote, set apart and dedicate to God, treat with great respect and honor, sacred,

The tithe is Holy (meaning it belongs to God alone, and to no one else) The tithe should be treated with honor and reverence

A. WITHHOLDING OUR TITHE IS WITHHOLDING OUR HEARTS AND LIVES.

Our tithes represent our lives. Just like the tithe is Holy, we are Holy and belong to God. When we come with our tithes, we come with our lives and hearts. When we withhold our tithes, we are withholding our lives and our hearts.
Here is a scripture that some might have heard already. Malachi 3:7-8 (AMP) 7 “Yet from the days of your fathers you have turned away from My statutes and ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ You Have Robbed God. 8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings [you have withheld].

This scripture is telling us that when we turn away from God’s “statutes and ordinances” we are actually turning away from Him!
Question: Based on this scripture, why is tithing so important?

B. WITHHOLDING OUR TITHE IS THE SAME THING AS TURNING AWAY FROM GOD.

Usually before a person leaves the church or backslides, they first stop tithing.
When a person finally tithes, they are finally surrendering all and giving God their whole heart.
We always see massive spiritual growth, joy and a heart sold out to the ministry after someone’s first tithe.

The original words for Turned Away in Hebrew mean: to turn aside, to depart, to avoid, to be removed, to come to an end, to cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, to retract, reject, abolish, take off, to go, leave undone, rebel, remove, to revolt, be sour, withdraw, be without.

C. WITHHOLDING OUR TITHE IS ROBBING GOD.
The word Rob means: to take money or property from a person or place illegally: To take something illegally that belongs to someone else.

D. WITHHOLDING OUR TITHE LEADS TO A CURSED LIFE NOT A BLESSED LIFE. Malachi 3:9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, this whole nation! The original Hebrew word for Curse means: lay under a curse, put a curse on, to be made a curse, be devoted to misfortune and evil,

Question: Why would withholding your tithes put you under a curse? Question: Is it okay to just “forget” to tithe?
Whenever someone decides not to tithe, they are under a curse by choice.

E. RETURNING OUR TITHE IS THE SAME THING AS RETURNING TO GOD
Malachi 3:7 AMP “Return to Me, and I will return to you”
That’s why there is so much spiritual warfare on the tithe, because it has nothing to do with the tenth but everything to do with our relationship with God and how close we are to Him.
When we return to Him, He will return to us: His peace will return, His revelation will return, His favor will return, His power will return, His restoration will return, His protection will return, His blessings will return, etc.
Think about this: Are you missing any of these things in your life? Could it be that you may b withholding what belongs to God?
The original translation of the word Return means: to turn back (to God), repent, to turn away (from evil), to come back to spiritual relations and human relations, to bring back, to restore, refresh, rescue, repair, retrieve, reverse, reward, return, revoke, to give in payment, to answer, to defeat, to bring back to mind, to be brought back, to deliver, idea of returning to the starting point, come back home, call to mind, convert.

Question: How can we return back to these wonderful blessings that we just talked about?