What You Sow God Will Grow | Kingdom Principles of Tithes & Offerings — Part 1

Devotional

Day 1: Abraham’s Tenth: Gratitude Before Commandment

When victory comes, the first response is remembrance. Abraham gave a tenth of his spoils not because he had to, but because he recognized God’s hand in his breakthrough. This act predated laws or requirements—it flowed from raw gratitude. Tithing becomes worship when we see every blessing as evidence of divine partnership. The tenth isn’t a tax; it’s a testimony that God alone sustains. [07:14]

“Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.”
(Genesis 14:19-20, NLT)

Reflection: What recent “victory” in your life have you yet to acknowledge as God’s provision? How might returning the first tenth shift your perspective from ownership to stewardship?

Day 2: The Tithe Is Holy: Not Yours to Touch

Holiness isn’t abstract—it’s practical. Leviticus declares the tithe “set apart,” untouchable, like a boundary line around what belongs to God. That 10% isn’t a budgeting tool; it’s a declaration that God’s claim supersedes every bill, crisis, or desire. To withhold it isn’t frugality—it’s trespassing on consecrated ground. Trust grows when we release what was never ours to begin with. [12:08]

“One tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy.”
(Leviticus 27:30, NLT)

Reflection: Where have you rationalized “borrowing” from God’s portion during tight months? What practical step can you take this week to safeguard the holy tenth before any spending?

Day 3: Firstfruits, Not Leftovers: Giving God Your Best

God rejects bargain-bin devotion. The law forbade swapping healthy livestock for defective ones—no downgrading our offerings. Modern equivalents include delayed tithes, adjusted percentages during lean seasons, or giving only when surplus appears. True worship offers the choicest cut, not scraps. When we prioritize God’s portion, we declare His worthiness over our comfort. [20:35]

“You may not pick and choose between good and bad animals, and you may not substitute one for another.”
(Leviticus 27:33, NLT)

Reflection: What area of your giving has become a “leftover habit”? How might offering God your first and finest disrupt patterns of spiritual complacency?

Day 4: Storehouse Giving: Fueling the Gospel’s Fire

Tithes aren’t abstract donations—they’re fuel for specific kingdom engines. Deuteronomy ties giving to the “designated place” where believers gather, learn, and grow. Your local church isn’t a charity case; it’s a living organism sustained by obedient stewards. When tithes flow, pastors preach freely, ministries operate, and communities get served. The storehouse isn’t a building—it’s the heartbeat of gospel work. [34:17]

“You must bring everything I command you—your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, your sacred offerings…—to the designated place of worship.”
(Deuteronomy 12:11, NLT)

Reflection: How does seeing your tithe as “gospel fuel” change your attitude toward regular giving? What ministry in your church directly benefits from your faithfulness?

Day 5: Testing God’s Faithfulness: The Invitation to Trust

Malachi’s challenge turns transactional religion into relational adventure. God doesn’t negotiate—He invites us to audit His reliability. Tithing becomes a laboratory where we observe His multiplication miracles. Financial breakthroughs often follow the boldness to obey first and calculate later. The windows of heaven open not because we merit it, but because we dare to verify His promise. [51:16]

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease.”
(Malachi 3:10-11, NLT)

Reflection: What fear holds you back from a full “tithe test” this month? How might documenting God’s provision during obedience strengthen your faith for future storms?

Sermon Summary

What you sow, God will grow stands as the kingdom principle behind tithes, offerings, seed, and stewardship. The tithe is not treated like some little church tradition or a money grab. The tithe starts before the law, when Abram gives Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods recovered after victory. That tenth becomes a reminder that the victory came from God, and that whatever lands in the hand came there because God provided it.

The tithe belongs to the Lord, and Leviticus makes that plain. One tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, is holy unto the Lord. Holy means set apart, consecrated, not to be touched, not to be eaten, not to be negotiated. The tenth is not generosity yet. The tenth is obedience, giving back what already belongs to God.

The order matters. The cart cannot pull the horse, and seed cannot come before tithe. God has an order in his house, and financial blessing cannot be manipulated by throwing leftovers at him. The tithe comes first, then offerings, then special seed. The offering comes from the heart, but the tithe has already been measured by God at ten percent.

The purpose of the tithe is tied to the work of God. Numbers shows the Levites supported by the tithes because their inheritance was not land but service in the tabernacle. That same principle continues as the church supports those set apart for gospel work. The tithe keeps the house supplied, keeps the bread in the house, and allows the gospel to keep going forward.

The storehouse is the designated place of worship, the place where God sets his people and feeds them spiritually. Deuteronomy calls God’s people to bring tithes, offerings, sacred gifts, firstfruits, and vows to the place where his name is honored. The tithe does not just float wherever emotion takes it. It belongs where the people of God are planted, fed, corrected, healed, and built up.

Jesus affirms tithing while rebuking hypocrisy. Matthew 23 shows that the Pharisees tithed even from their herb gardens, yet neglected justice, mercy, and faith. Jesus does not throw out tithing. Jesus says, “You should tithe,” but the heart cannot hide behind giving while neglecting the weightier matters.

Paul carries the same principle into the New Testament. Those who work in the temple eat from the temple, and those who preach the good news should be supported by those who benefit from it. Malachi then brings the invitation home: bring all the tithes into the storehouse, and God says, “Try me.” The question becomes simple: does God’s people trust the God who gave everything they have?

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Key Takeaways

1. The tithe remembers the victory [07:14] Abram’s tenth was not forced by law, because Moses had not even received the law yet. The tenth came out of gratitude after God defeated his enemies and put goods back into his hands. Tithing keeps the heart from pretending that victory came from skill, hustle, luck, or strength. The tithe says that the provider behind the provision is still God. [07:14]
2. Holy means not touchable [16:15] Leviticus calls the tenth holy, which means set apart unto the Lord before anything else touches it. The tithe is not the leftover after bills, emergencies, and personal plans have spoken first. The test comes when pressure shows up and tries to make obedience look irresponsible. Faith treats God’s portion as untouchable because God already knows the need. [16:15]
3. God’s house has an order [04:52] The cart cannot pull the horse, and seed cannot replace tithe. The kingdom does not operate by spiritual guessing, emotional giving, or tossing things at God and hoping something sticks. Tithes, offerings, and seed each have their place, and disorder creates confusion in the harvest. God blesses according to his word, not according to human shortcuts. [04:52]
4. The storehouse feeds the soul [34:17] Deuteronomy places giving in the designated place of worship, where God has chosen his name to be honored. The storehouse is not simply a building or a bank account, but the place where spiritual bread is received. Giving there joins worship, provision, correction, healing, and gospel work together. The tithe belongs where God has planted and fed his people. [34:17]
5. Jesus affirms more than money [40:32] Jesus says the Pharisees should tithe, yet he exposes the danger of hiding behind exact giving while neglecting mercy, justice, and faith. Tithing cannot become a mask for an untouched heart. Obedience with money matters, but God also searches the character that carries the gift. The hand can release ten percent while the heart still withholds what God weighs most.

## [40:32]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:40] - Starting Seed Month
[01:03] - What You Sow, God Will Grow
[05:43] - Tithing Before the Law
[07:14] - Abram Gives a Tenth
[11:17] - The Tithe Belongs to the Lord
[16:15] - The Tenth Is Holy
[20:08] - Do Not Give God Leftovers
[24:09] - The Purpose of the Tithe
[30:13] - Supporting God’s Work
[33:03] - Where the Tithe Belongs
[39:48] - Jesus Affirms Tithing
[42:50] - Paul on Supporting Gospel Ministry
[49:25] - Bring All the Tithes
[53:37] - The Call to Trust God

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Genesis 14:18-20
And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought Abram some bread and wine. Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who has defeated your enemies for you.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered. [07:14]

Leviticus 27:30
One-tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD and must be set apart to him as holy. [16:15]

Numbers 18:21
“As for the tribe of Levi, your relatives, I will compensate them for their service in the Tabernacle. Instead of an allotment of land, I will give them the tithes from the entire land of Israel. [30:13]

Deuteronomy 12:11
you must bring everything I command you—your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, your sacred offerings, and your offerings to fulfill a vow—to the designated place of worship, the place the LORD your God chooses for his name to be honored. [34:17]

Matthew 23:23
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. [40:32]

1 Corinthians 9:13-14
Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it. [42:50]

Malachi 3:10
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! [49:33]

Observation questions

In Genesis 14:18-20, what had God just done for Abram before Abram gave a tenth, and what exactly did Abram give? [07:14]
In Leviticus 27:30, what words are used to describe the tithe, and what do those words show about whose it is? [16:15]
According to Numbers 18:21 and 1 Corinthians 9:13-14, who was supported by the tithe and offerings, and what kind of service were they doing? [42:50]
In Deuteronomy 12:11 and Malachi 3:10, where were God’s people told to bring their tithes, and what was supposed to be in that place because of their giving? [49:33]

Interpretation questions

Abram gave a tenth after victory, not before a command was quoted. What does that suggest about the connection between tithing, gratitude, and remembering where provision came from? [07:14]
Leviticus says the tithe belongs to the Lord and is holy. How should that shape the way a believer thinks about the first tenth of what comes into his or her hands? [16:15]
Jesus says, “You should tithe, yes,” but also rebukes people who neglect justice, mercy, and faith. How can a person be outwardly accurate in giving and still be spiritually off in the heart? [40:32]
Malachi 3:10 ties the storehouse, food in God’s house, and God’s invitation to trust him together. Why might financial obedience become such a real test of whether a person truly sees God as provider? [49:33]

Application questions

Abram’s tenth remembered that the victory came from God. What victories, breakthroughs, or provisions in this season need to be consciously traced back to God instead of to personal effort alone? [07:14]
If the tithe is holy and untouchable, what usually pressures a person most to treat it like available money—fear, bills, emergencies, frustration, or something else? How has that pressure shown up recently? [16:15]
God’s house has an order, and the tithe is not the same thing as an offering or special seed. Has there been any confusion in personal giving—such as giving occasionally, giving emotionally, or calling something an offering while neglecting the tithe? [04:52]
The storehouse is the place where spiritual bread is received. What church family has truly been the place of worship, correction, healing, and feeding for this season of life, and does present giving reflect that? [34:17]
Jesus affirms tithing but refuses to let money cover over a hard heart. Is there any area where generosity has been easier than justice, mercy, forgiveness, or faithfulness? [40:32]
Those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it. How does giving change when it is seen not as paying bills, but as helping keep gospel work going forward for other people too? [42:50]
God says, “Try me,” in Malachi 3:10. If trusting God in finances has been difficult, what would a real step of trust look like over the next month—honest, deliberate, and done with faith instead of pressure? [49:33]

Sermon Clips

48s

#HeartNotHypocrisy

“``So Jesus didn't condemn tithing, he condemned it he condemned what? Hypocrisy. It was the heart behind. It was the hiding behind the tithing but not living anything to deal with to have any kind of fruit producing character that lined that lined up with God. Amen? You can't hide behind a giving and that's all that you're gonna do in your Christianity. Amen? God's saying you're neglecting the more weightier matters. You're not carrying out mercy, justice, you're not showing love but you come give to the house of God. He condemned them for being hypocrites. You come and you understand about tithing. You got that part, yes, and I'm confirming that part, but I want you to make sure that you're doing the other as well. Hallelujah.”

52s

#TitheBeforeTheCross

“Well, that's it. Jesus said it. We're done. Right? It should be. I don't know why people say, well, that was before the cross though. That's how preachers, word of faith preachers will kind of explain it away. That Jesus was before the cross so that was still talking Israel. So technically, that was still under the law but we saw that it was predated before the law. Amen? The principle of giving has always been there. Amen? And so Jesus is simply confirming. When you start saying that this was before the cross then you're gonna have to pick and choose what Jesus said and tear apart his ministry if you're not careful. Hallelujah. He came to what? Fulfill. Not to abolish, but to fulfill the law.”

43s

#TryGodWithTithes

“God brings giving back, giving back to him to a trust, to a try me, to a test me, and see if I will not. He says, try me. Come in. Let's let's let's let's do this thing together. The bible says, do not tempt the lord thy god. Do not test the lord. The only time god tells you in scripture to test him when it comes to your finances. Give it a month. If you've never done it and you're in this church and you personally have never given your tent, try for a month. Try four Sundays giving your tithes and see what god does. You come back and tell me it didn't work. Amen? He'll do it for you.”

64s

#TrustGodAsProvider

“Church, we walked through all the scriptures this morning. We had fifty three minutes and I went through all of these. We've seen Abraham give before the law. We've seen God declare that the tithe belongs to him. Amen. We've seen the purpose of the tithe. We've seen God's people bring it to the place of worship. We've heard Jesus say you should tithe while reminding us that our heart matters. And we've seen the New Testament principle of supporting the work of the gospel. And now God brings us to this simple question, do we trust him? Now I want you to understand this isn't God needing our money. God doesn't need anything from us about whether we trust the God who gave us everything we have. We put God first, we're saying God, you are my source, you're my provider, everything I have, it ultimately comes from you. And finally, what you sow God will grow church. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Let's stand.”

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What You Sow God Will Grow | Kingdom Principles of Tithes & Offerings — Part 1 | Pastor Jesse Diaz