Hebrews 7:1-3 (NKJV) For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.
The main focus of Christianity is our relationship with God. In fact, God cherishes our relationships with Him so much that He sent forth His Son to be a propitiation for our sins. The Christian lifestyle is a lifestyle of faith in God. God is a jealous God who wants our full worship, attention, consecration, and complete reliance on Him. Therefore, Christians should not prioritise money and materialism over God as we are pilgrims and sojourners in this world, and there should not be any idols in our hearts including the love of money. We should see ourselves as stewards of everything that God has graciously blessed us with in our lives, and learn to live a lifestyle of faith in God by consecrating our plans and purposes so that they are in line with His will and living by faith in Him.
Some Christians are afraid to live consecrated lives. They are afraid that they will lose control over their lives and God will not provide enough for them because they wrongly associate poverty with godliness, thus creating friction between their will and the will of God in their lives. Therefore, we must exalt the truth that we are blessed by God to a point where we will never outgive Him in our lives. If we truly believe in this truth, we will have successfully shifted from trusting in Mammon to trusting in God by living the consecrated life.
Many people don’t understand the practice of tithing, but as believers, we need to practise the Word of God so that we can know and experience God’s faithfulness. We need to walk with Him in good and not just bad times, because if we have been practising biblical financial principles and have experienced God’s faithfulness, it should eradicate fear or anxiety in any circumstance. The whole lifestyle of faith is about living a surrendered life to God, walking out His plans for us by trusting Him, and proving to be a good steward by obeying what He demands of us.
God is such a great giver that nobody can outgive Him, and He will give good gifts to those who ask Him. As Christians, we tithe because we believe God is the source of our provision. Besides serving Him with our gifts and talents, we also choose to honour and worship Him with our giving. It keeps our hearts right with God with a constant dependence on Him. It is an important foundation.
Sermon Series: A Steady Walk of Faith with God
过信靠神的生活方式
希伯来书 7:1-3：这麦基洗德就是撒冷王，又是至高神的祭司，本是长远为祭司的。他当亚伯拉罕杀败诸王回来的时候，就迎接他，给他祝福。亚伯拉罕也将自己所得来的，取十分之一给他。他头一个名翻出来就是仁义王，他又名撒冷王，就是平安王的意思。他无父，无母，无族谱，无生之始，无命之终，乃是与神的儿子相似。
基督教的主要焦点是我们与上帝的关系。事实上，上帝非常珍视我们与祂的关系，以至于祂派遣了祂的儿子来为我们的罪作赎罪祭。基督徒的生活方式是一种信靠上帝的生活方式。上帝是忌邪的，祂要我们全心敬拜祂，专注于祂，将自己完全奉献给祂，并完全依靠祂。因此，基督徒不应将金钱和物质主义置于上帝之上，因为我们在这个世界上是朝圣者和客旅，我们的心中也不应该有任何偶像，包括对金钱的爱。我们应该视自己为上帝一切恩赐的管家，通过把我们的计划和目的奉献给祂，好教这些都符合祂的旨意，凭着对祂的信心而活，学习活出信仰的生活方式。
一些基督徒害怕过奉献的生活。他们害怕失去对生活的掌控，害怕上帝不会充足地供应他们，因为他们错误地将贫穷与敬虔联系在一起，造成了他们的意愿与上帝对他们的生命的旨意之间的摩擦。因此，我们必须明确这样一个真理：我们蒙了上帝的祝福，这意味着无论我们在生活中奉献给上帝的有多少，都永远不可能比祂给我们的更多。如果我们真正相信这个真理，并活出那奉献的生命，我们就可以从信任钱财转变为全然信靠上帝的生活方式。
许多人不理解为什么要什一奉献，但作为信徒，我们需要践行上帝的话语，这样我们才能认识和经历上帝的信实。我们需要与祂同行，顺境时也要与祂同行，而不仅仅是在逆境之时。因为如果我们一直在践行圣经的财务原则并经历上帝的信实，这应该能够在任何境遇下消除恐惧或焦虑。整个信仰生活方式是关于活出对上帝的降服，信靠祂，按着祂对我们制定的计划而行，并通过遵行祂一切的指令来证明我们是一个好管家。
上帝是如此慷慨的施予者，没有人能够超过祂，对于向祂求告的人，祂会赐予丰富的赏赐。作为基督徒，我们奉献什一是因为我们相信上帝是我们供应的源头。除了用我们的恩赐和才能事奉祂之外，我们也选择用我们的奉献来尊崇和敬拜祂。这保持了我们的心与上帝的关系是正确且健康的，并保持对祂的持续依靠。这是一个重要的基础。
讲章系列：坚定信靠神
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