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I’m Ready For The Test // Six Figures (Part 4) // Michael Todd
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In Week 4 of Six Figures, Pastor Michael Todd challenges us to examine whether God truly has first priority in our lives. This message reminds us that honoring God with our increase is about obedience, trust, and recognizing that everything we have...
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I'm Kiana, and I leveled up my business with Shopify. Once I figured out that Shopify was a thing, I never turned back. I can create a site with my eyes closed. Shopify thinks ahead of us, you know, and it thinks about the customer more than anything. Every day I'm thinking about some other new business, but Shopify is doing it to me because it's so easy to use. It's like, I can't stop. I'm addicted. Start your free trial@shopify.com. want to get more work done with less effort? On TikTok, creators are sharing AI automation tips that save time and deliver better results. Tap to discover. Try TikTok now. Welcome to Transformation Church podcast, where we represent God to the lost and found for transformation in Christ. We're so glad you're here. And wherever you're listening from, we believe God will transform your life through today's message. Yeah, you said come on with it. You know what? There's certain people that you can always come wherever I preach. You hear me? I'm a talk back preacher now. I know we got all kinds of people. I know some of y' all grew up in churches where you don't say anything. It's like, shh. But, like, you can. Like, you can use your cultural expression here. Like, I just want you to. I just want. I mean, don't offend nobody. But what I'm saying is if you're a cowboy and I say something that's good, you can be like, yee haw. Like, you can do that. Y' all got what I'm saying. Like, I know there's some people that grew up in the hood, and. And if you grew up in the hood, Like, I'll fight you. Like, that's not a. That's not. That's not. That's not bad to me if you know the connotation of it, you understand what I'm saying, so. And you can just use amen and hallelujah, too, okay? But at this church, we love freedom of expression. And I'm in week four of a series that's called Six Figures. And this series is important to me because it changed my life. I think about pivotal moments in my journey, and one of the most pivotal moments that changed and touched every area of my life is when God taught me how to not be greedy and actually be generous. Changed my life. You don't know the Michael who was stingy. The Michael who was literally. I don't want to say I was a bad person. I was a Unfinished person. And I'm still unfinished, but I was really unfinished. Yeah. Raw. Has anybody ever, like, just looked back and be like, man, I was raw back then. Like, that. That I had no understanding. And I thank God for the progression. But today I want to share this from a place of not speculating. I want to share it from a place of trying to give you something that has transformed me. And I know that there will be many people that find value in this because it has not just changed my life, it's changed this church. And there are thousands of you that already participate in the level of generosity that I'm talking about. But this is not about money. I need everybody to hear me say this. If I could just wear a shirt. Not about money. Like, I need you to understand that because some people, the block is there, and you won't hear the principle because you think it's about money. This is not about money. This is about your heart. This is about your thoughts. This is about your soul. And so if you can. If I can make you a promise today, I'm not going to ask you for any money. I'm not asking you for no money. We're not taking no offerings we've been giving in this series. I just need you to hear me. Relax. Nobody's coming to spy on your bank account. I don't have a prophetic sense that's, oh, she's in the negative. I don't. I. There's nothing I can do to you except present to you truth. And then you choose. So today, look at your neighbor and say you choose. I'm not gonna make you choose. Look at your other neighbor you didn't like as much and say you choose. Proverbs, chapter 11, verse 24. The Bible says, the world of the generous. One of my favorite scriptures. The world of the generous gets what larger and larger, but the world of the stingy gets what smaller? And my question is, how big is your world? I can't answer that question. But you know if your world is big and you know, if your world is small, I'm not talking on the outside. I'm talking about right on the inside. How big is your world? It says, the one who blesses others. Watch. This is abundantly. Here's our word, Blessed. And those who help others are always helped. That's what I want for you, your pastor. If I had a desire that I could ask God right now to give to you, I would pray that you live in abundance of everything you think you need. Abundance of love, abundance of peace, abundance of wisdom. I mean, like, somebody asks a question, and just wisdom comes out of you. Somebody shouted me. Abundance. That's the life that God came for you to have. John 10:10. The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But Jesus came that we might have life and life abundantly. How big is your life? And the truth of the matter is, God's not in control of how big it gets. You are today. You could change the size of your world by changing a few of your actions. But today, you've been blaming the man. You've been blaming government. You've been blaming your parents. You've been blaming. And they may also have a little piece to do with that. But you. 49, let's be clear. Nobody has made you who you are. You came out looking like your parents. You die looking like your decisions. Do y' all hear what I'm saying to you right now? And some of you need to choose or decide something different. You don't got to be mad no more. You can forgive. You don't have to be broke no more. God can give you the ability to produce wealth. You don't have to be stingy no more. You can get. You do not have to live the life you have lived. But it starts with you realizing God has given you the power to switch this whole thing up. Look at your neighbor one more time and say, you choose. And so one of the things that is exciting in my life right now is that right now, I'm in the thick of raising children. Like, when I say thick of raising children, I got. I'm in the thick of it. You understand what I'm saying? I got children. Whoa. I didn't really know how much time and effort and energy children take. It makes you need God. Y' all want to know where you need God? If you have kids, you need God. But there are some beautiful moments that happen where you feel like, man, this is why I'm they. Daddy. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, I don't know, Daddy. So one of those happened to me this past week. My daughter came in. Isabella. She's so studious. She's so smart. And she was a little overwhelmed by studying for a test. She had to learn all 66 books of the Bible for a test and know how to spell them. It's that second part that just. Habeka Malachi like. And. And so she. She got. She got overwhelmed. And I had this idea. I was like, oh, yeah, Daddy does music. So I'm gonna. I'm gonna make you a song that. And so I went to my recorder, and I started Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus. And I started doing this, and I threw it in the AI app, and I. Da, da, da. And I made a song. Can I share it with y'? All? It's cool. This is just honest. No spiritual connotation. Just wanted to share it with you. Could you play that real quick? The books of the Bible. This is just the Old Testament. Real quick. Just play it real quick. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, these song songs. So I did that for my daughter. Is that okay? Now watch. Now watch. Immediately, she learned all the books of the Bible. She got a hundred on a test. Shout out to Bella, okay? And that's when I realized that's where our similarities end. Because she was so excited to take the test because she was prepared. And then I started to think, have I ever been excited to take a test? And she's more like her mother on the study side of it. And I was like, I don't think I've ever been excited to take a test. Usually when I went into school, test day anxiety. Many times I would come into class, clown. Ha ha. Look at you. Your mama doing all that other stuff. And then the teacher is like, all right, get ready for the test. And my thing would be like, what test? Okay, Come on. Do I got any. What test? People, I know you. What? Hold on. What test? What you talking about? Did you study? Give me your notes. I thought about this. Is that anytime you're tested, Watch this, write this down. A test is either exciting or exposing. Y' all remember them people who used to be excited for tests? And you want to punch them in the head. Teacher, are we taking the test now or. Shut up, boy. Okay? I want to know those people. Who are those people? Come on. We love you with the love of the Lord. Why are you saying this, Pastor Mike? Because a test is an automatic definer. A test defines either you're ready or you're resistant. And there are many people under the sound of my voice that think tests are bad. But the truth of the matter is, when I dig deeper and I go through therapy and I do the things that God has done on me, I figured out why I didn't like the test. It wasn't the test. It was. I wasn't prepared. And the three times. I can count them, the three times I was ready for a test, I became the person I didn't like. Hey, teacher, how are you? When are we taking this test? We taking a nap? The only reason you get excited is because you're prepared for it. And what I found out that there are many believers that don't know that we take a test every time we get paid. Oh, you saw that turn you. Everybody. Ah, no, no, no. I'm just letting you know, maybe you didn't know, but every time you get increased, every time your check goes up, every time that cha ching hits your cash app or bank account, it's a test. And the test is, who do you trust with your finances? And maybe you didn't know. Maybe the issue of money and church, it was all about a building fund that never got built. Or it was maybe about the. The. The pastor driving a certain car while there was no air conditioning. We ain't talking about none of that here. I'm talking about a test that God gives to every one of his children before there was a law. I can prove to you in scripture that tithing and generosity was literally 2,500 years before Moses ever got a law. But it's not even about a law. It's about, are you prepared? Are you ready for this test when it comes? And the truth of the matter is, people are hearing this message. I'm like, what test? And then there are other people like, oh, I'm excited about this test every time I get paid because I'm ready for the test. And today, I just need you to understand that the tithe exposes who you trust. And today. Pastor Mike, what are you saying to tithe? I don't understand. Let me give you a definition of what the tithe is. Tithing is a biblical principle and practiced, established not by the church, not by a pastor, not by a group of people who thought it was a good idea for everybody to do a pyramid scheme and put a little bit in. And like, it's. It was established by God. I'm going to give you examples of it. But it was established by God for every person who trusts him to return the first 10% and underline first 10% of your increase back to God through the local church. Now fight with your mama. No, no, no. I just need to say this because there are people who are going to hear this, and they're going to automatically start. Start trying to tear down the principle God put in place. You don't ever have to tithe, Ever. And you can still go to heaven. Hold on. Look at me. Your salvation is not dependent on you tithing. So you can go ahead, relax. But your ability to live in abundance in this life is dependent. Watch this. Not on tithing, on obedience. See, you missed it. You missed it because there are people who tithe that don't forgive. Okay, hold on. Let me stop. Because I'm talking about tithing. But I want you to understand the principle's bigger than tithing. The principle is obedience to God's word. So there are people who don't tithe, but they do forgive. And God's saying, we need to get both of them. You think we could upgrade to both of them? But y' all know what I'm both of them. Y' all know. Not both of them. It's both of them. It's one word. Okay. Anyway, I'm telling you right now, this is a principle that God set up not for his benefit. Heaven's not running short on gold for the streets. You think God needs our money? He calls gold what we would fight over. It's concrete. The light bill in heaven is not too big for God. Y' all got what I'm saying? So there must be a deeper reason why he put this principle in place for the children he made. This is why I think tithing is so important. Because it's not about percentage. It's about priority. Why 10%? Why not 25? Why not 50? Why not 100? It's not about the percentage. It's about priority. And my question to you is, where is God in the priority of your life? I can't answer that question. And you don't get to worship your way to him being the priority. Okay, all right. Why pray 19 hours a day? But you disobedient. Like, do you understand? Like, we try to substitute stuff for other stuff. It's like, take out the trash. Well, I clean the toilet, but the trash, it's overflowing. But I cleaned out the cobwebs. But the trash. And what do you do? You try to teach your children. It's not about just doing things. It's about doing what I ask you to do. And I just believe that God, I'm coming to you as gently as I can to give you a principle that God's saying, could you just obey and do what I'm asking you to do? Because if you make me your priority, it changes everything in your life. And this is where I hear a lot of people that are cynical against this message, they be like, but why you got to take that test all the time? Every time you get paid every two weeks, every month. What if they just cash map me an extra, honey. Do we, Todd, it ain't my job. But it is. Did you get increase? And people try to finagle and play checkers and try to play tic tac toe with the ti. Y' all know what I'm talking about. I don't know if this is birthday money. Oh, I've heard everything. My granny sent me $250. Do you tithe off of $250? Do you buy stuff with $250? Did you get increase? Did you? God says, I need you to think anytime you get increased. Just honor me. Honor me. Just honor me. I promise you. Watch this. 90% with my blessing is better than 100 without it. Okay, write this point down. Multiple tests reveals the value of a material. Anytime something is tested multiple times, it's because the material must be very valuable. So the reason God tests us every time we get paid, because he's trying to get us a point. This is important for you, how you deal with money. Your heart, posture, what you do. It's important. Nobody would ever tell a doctor to go to less school. Oh, you want to be a brain surgeon? Oh, don't take those tests. But please work on me. Nah, bro. Why? Because it's so important that they are tested because what they're doing is valuable. The reason why God gives us this test over and over is because what it does to us is very valuable. And that's why it's the only place in scripture when you talk about the tithe where God does something he does nowhere else. He tells you to test him. What would happen if I got to go into my 9th grade geometry class and the teacher said, michael, today is your test. And I'm like, yeah. And when I finish this test, I'm testing you. That would have felt amazing to be able to say, I'm testing you. Do you know what the teacher said? Do you know what the principal said? Just give you a test back. Because it's so many times there's this discrepancy that getting tested. But what's the guarantee God is so good that his grace says, I believe in this so much, I'm gonna let you. The creation tests me, the Creator. Okay, you don't believe me? Malachi, chapter 3, verse 10. Bring the whole tithe. Everybody say tithe into the storehouse. That would be our local church. It says there so that there may be food in my house. Watch this Testament. Test me in this, test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I won't throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour you out so much blessing that you will not have room enough to receive that Sounds like abundance to me. He gonna pour out so much blessings you don't have room enough to receive. That means you become somebody who's supposed to give it away. But the truth of the matter is, everybody wants that without the test. And today, I'm telling you, one of the greatest things you can do. I don't care if you're a high school student and you get a $35 allowance. That means out of the $35 that you get, $3.50 belong to God. And I'm telling you, if you learn this principle at $35, it's a lot easier to do when you make $350,000. And I won't be a ball of six figures. You're not going to obey God then? If you don't obey him, it's way harder to give away 35,000 in a check than $3.50. But the principle is the same. Okay, all right. Somebody's about to get this. So. So I just want to let you know, all through the Bible, the word tithe actually means test. 10th test. Okay, so I got a couple of questions. I'm gonna give you a test right now, and there's a pattern, so don't get scared, okay? You're gonna pass this test, okay? And I want you to answer me out loud, even at home. Okay? How many plagues were there in Egypt? Look, y', all, ten. There's a pattern. How many commandments did God give to Moses? Say it with your chest. How many? Okay. How many times did God test Israel in the wilderness? How many times were Jacob's wages changed? It's a pattern. Even if you don't know the answer. The next one is 10. Here we go. How many days was Daniel tested? How many days of testing were in Revelations? How many disciples were there? Okay, some of y'. All. All right. Okay. Some of you, like, 10. Oh, God. Get them a Bible. I just want to let you know this is not a principle that God has made exclusive for today. He's a pattern to God. He tries to make it easy. So there's a pattern. So even if you didn't know, you would hear Everybody else saying, 10 or Tithe or give or. And you'll be like, oh, I don't even have to study no more. This is what we do. Oh, my gosh, this is what we do. I want you to pass the test. What's the answer? Yes or no? Everybody keeps saying yes. Yes. Yet we all just do what God has put as a principle. And when you understand it, it makes it easy. And this is the point that I love. God agrees to take the test, too. He said, if you trust me in this world with 10 cents out of every dollar, he said, I bet you I won't ever fail you financially. Pastor Mike, why are you saying it? Because you put me. Everybody say first. Now, again, this is about priority. And I can't tell you what your priority is. But when God agrees to take a test, too, it changes everything. And this is what I found only people get offended about a test if there's something on the inside of them that is not prepared. Okay, let me give you a real time example, and I want you to write this point down. A test only gets a rise where there is no internal resolve. I'm gonna say it again, and then I'm gonna explain it. A test only gets a rise out of somebody when there is no internal resolve. I was talking to a friend recently who dealt with infidelity. Their marriage went through a really hard time. God healed it, and God has made it healthy and changed everything. But time to time, the wife is needing some extra reassurance that everything is good. And so this man could have two responses. Hey, could you share your location with me? Why you need my location? Don't you trust me? Yes, but you cheated on me. Even to this level. Hey, would you take a polygraph test? Some of y' all marriages would be destroyed. Destroyed with just the question, do y' all. The. The eyes that are looking at me right now. Would you take a polygraph? You wouldn't get a rise out of somebody if it was internally. If you know you ain't been dming nobody. If you know you ain't had a longer conversation with nobody. If you know you took off the channel that you wasn't supposed. If you knew, you wouldn't. But the rise comes because there's something on the internal. There are couples that don't even have a code today. Spouse's phones. I got questions. It's quiet. It's tight in here. Okay, Let me back up off of this, okay? Because I knew we weren't supposed to watch transformation. I see you right now. Let me try to get you the principle of tithing, because people rarely get offended by a test they feel secure in. Oh, if somebody asked me to take a drug test, cool. I don't have any. There is. There is nothing in me that could come out of me that I didn't put in me. There is nothing that y' all hear what I'm saying? And so. And so the only reason people. And then they try to make it about what it's not about. Oh, you don't trust me? I'm a grown man. I'm a grown woman. I'm this, I'm that. And it's like, hey, you're missing the point. The test offends if you're internally unresolved. This is why a lot of people get offended by the tithe, because it's a test that exposes internal. There you go. I don't trust the church. Let's deal with that. You said, I don't believe in the tithe. Well, hold on. Wait. God said that? Why did the church just want my money? Which church did you even give to to find out if they just wanted your money? Let's be honest. Nike just wants your money. Like, they literally tell you, do you want to buy it? Just do it. Do you understand what I'm saying? Like, what are we talking about? They tell you straight up, but let's deal with the real issue. But anytime there's a test, what most people do is deal with the semantics and the things around it instead of the real issue. So today I just want to move the COVID back. Don't ever give anything to this church if God has not called you to do that and be a part of this. But I do want you to get this principle. If you actually ever get the mantra, test me. It's the freest life you could ever live. Test me, Pastor Mike. Why are you saying it? Because I used to be a liar. And there would be things I would lie about that I knew if I got confronted with it. That's why I became really good at lying, because I needed to make sure. You didn't even ask me no questions. I need to make sure that y' all know some of y' all liars are in here. You. You make it so that you even forget. What an exhausting life. But when I got free, Test me, my wife. Where you been? Where this thing has tracked me to here, Here. You need the clothes. You need to. What? Why? Because there's nothing on the inside with the test of tithing, what comes up? What gets arise? Is there fear there? Because you really don't think God will provide. Let's deal with that. Don't throw out the principle because there's some pain under it. Oh, God. Don't throw out the principle because somebody did something and abused it. In a different season of your life, let's deal with, you had a bad pastor. Let's talk about that. Let's talk about how you didn't grieve leaving that church where all your friends were there, but it was toxic and abuse. Let's talk about that. But let's not take away the principle that God put in place, because now guess what. You're passing on disobedience to your children because they've never seen you do it. A good man, a good woman, leaves an inheritance for his children's children. I found out you can leave an inheritance of ignorance. Oh, God. Y' all not ready to talk to me today? Y' all ever heard of that story where there was. Yeah, y' all heard about the pan where they cut off the ends of the ham? And if you ain't heard it, I'll tell you real quick. You want to hear? Here. Go. A young lady was trying to learn how to cook for her new husband. And what ended up happening is she always remembered her mom cutting off the ends of the ham. And she called her mom and was like, I know I'm supposed to do this, but I don't know why. And so she called her mom and was like, mom, why did you cut off the ends of the ham? And she said, I don't know. My mama did it. And she called her mama and said, mama, why did you cut off the ends of the ham? She said, because that's how. How big the pan was, I had. And so generationally, now we are wasting half a ham bacon. Like half a ham gone because of ignorance. Church. What I'm trying to tell you is if somebody could get this principle and live it out, what you would see is generational blessing on your family. And every. How many people want generational blessing to come from you? Okay? So watch this. If you were to take that little polygraph test, just. I'm just being ethereal right now. I need to tell you something. The response to the question is as important as the result. Hear what I just said. Would you take a test to see if you lying? Uh, they already answered. We already know. But if the answer is, okay, when. Where. So many people want the results of tithing, but your response is telling on you. The way you tithe looking at me right now, some of y' all crusty right here on your lips. Just. Just take. Just do this. Do this, because we're talking about honoring God with our finances. What I'm saying is your response is exposing you. It's not more money. It's a different heart posture. So I just want to let you know a few things. Number one, write it down. Tithing is biblical. Leviticus 27:30 and all the tithe of the land, whether the seed of the land or the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's. It is holy and set apart for the Lord. So the tithe means it's something that I set apart first to honor God with. So this is biblical. Give you one more. Because you're like, that was Old Testament, New Testament, Matthew, chapter 23, verse 23. Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, church people. For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin. These are all spices back in the day. It's like saying you pay tithe of your lorries and what other seasons, hot sauce and whatever your seasoning is. But you neglect the weightier matter of the law, justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done without leaving the other one undone. So God is saying to these people, you tithe off of the things that come into your life. Cool, he said, but these other things you should tithe on too. It doesn't matter what increase comes to your life. You gotta honor God with it. So listen to me. Tithing is biblical. Say it with me. Tithing is biblical. One more time for the people in the back. Tithing is biblical. Second one. Tithing is practical. Okay, so you were like, how does this tithe thing work? We give into the church and then y' all FedEx it to heaven. Like, what happens? Y' all know we'll find any excuse. I'm trying to be very ground level to let you understand this is not just biblical, it's practical. Hebrews, chapter 7, verse 8. I love the Bible. It says here, when you tithe, mortal men receive the tithes. Regular people. But there, when you do the act, it's accredited or it's received in heaven, whom is a witness that he lives. What the Bible is saying right here, if you break it down, is like, you give it here. But that exchange got recorded in heaven. Just like unforgiveness gets recorded in heaven. Okay, just. Y' all understand what I'm saying? Just like sin, if you don't believe in this, then you wouldn't believe in salvation. Because you're making an act, a heart decision, a mind decision to say, I am giving my life to God. You say the prayer according to Romans 10, 9. You believe that he lived and he died. And now you're being given, given a new life. There is not a. You don't get world up in your whole world. Like, it is a spiritual act that is activated by practical faith. Tithing is the same thing. It's a spiritual act activated by practical faith. And giving is practical practice. That proves my faith every 15 days. Do you know that according to the calculations of all people that say they go to church, 3% of the church tithes? Not this church. No, no, no. Because y' all thought, oh, 3%. No, no, no, no. I'm talking about. That's the people who only come once a year. What does that say about how the church trusts God? 3%. That means out of a thousand of y', all, 30 people trust God. So tithing isn't just biblical. Tithing is practical. And then watch this. Tithing is first, can you bring my chairs up here real quick? Because y' all don't understand this. I need three very competitive people. Okay? I'm gonna take you with the afro. Come on. Come on. I'm gonna take you, sis. I need one more competitive person. Come on. You stood up. Come on, two afros. Come on. You come, come. Just. Just put them right here. All right. I'm gonna need to bang. Y' all gotta hurry, though. You can't be cool coming down here. I'm gonna pick somebody else. Come. Come on. Come on. What's up, man? What's your name? My name is Kimarion. Kimarian. Your parents was creative with your name. Like, that's like Omarion and some other people. Okay? What? I know you. That jacket is fire. Okay, where's my last guy? You being too cool. Afro. Come here, man. Get up here. Okay, no, stand up, stand up, stand up. Have y' all ever. What's your name, bug? Jeremiah. Okay, cool. All right, watch this. We're going to play musical chairs. Have y' all played musical chairs in a while? Okay, cool. Whoever wins first place gets $100, okay? So very easily she said, yes, I can pay for this jacket. No, just play. Okay, so we're gonna play musical chairs. I need the band to help me. Okay? So y' all start playing when you hear the band go around and then stop on it. All right, y' all ready? Here we go. Y' all gotta go this way, go this way. Play band. Do we have band? You were slow coming down here, and you were slow sitting down. Come on, get off the stage. God bless you. God bless you. Y' all go and get up and take one of the chairs. I knew he was gonna lose when he came down here. He was like, I'm competitive, and he took nine years to get out here. I was like, he's not gonna. I Love you, Bubba. Jeremiah, that is a long walk back. He's like, oh, my God. Okay, start me up, man. Who y' all think gonna. Okay, okay, okay. She's a mother. She's a mother. She's a mother. You lost, though. Get out of here. Kimaria, give it up for him. Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. Sis, sis, sis, sis, sis, sis, sis, come here, come here, come here, come here, come here, come here. You won, right? Here's the hundred dollars. Hold on. Wait, wait, wait. Why y' all mad? Hold on, hold on. Wait, wait, wait. He was first, but I made her the priority. No, no, no, no. Listen. Some of you are offended at me now because who was clearly first? I didn't honor. I did not honor who was first. I honored who I wanted. And this is the exact way most of you treat God with the tithe. You say you got to give it up. Oh, okay. You can give it to. To. You can give it to. Look at it. He don't know if he want to take it. Give me. Okay, now watch. Now watch. Thank y' all so much. Y' all give it up for him real quick. God bless you. Good job, Bo. Yeah. Yeah. He. He. He was first. Whether you acknowledged it or not, The. The question is, will you honor who already sits on the throne? And some of us put other people in those seats. It's the mortgage. It's the credit card. It's the bank, it's the. It's the lattes. No, come on, y'. All. $9 coffee twice a day for a year. You drink your tithe and to use the bathroom after. I've been teaching my kids. I got a. Got a thousand dollars here. Why y' all say woo when I pulled out a thousand dollars? Woo. Stop. The reason I'm saying this is because if there's ten $100 bills, my question to you is, which one is the tithe? They're all $100. But the only one that's the tithe is the first one. Because it doesn't take faith to give what's left. It takes faith to give what's left. Hey, sis, where you at? Come get this. I want you to see what sparked this. It was her willingness to give up what was given to her to honor somebody else. Let that bless you. Go buy two. Two or three of them jackets. Okay, Here we go. Okay, watch this. The tithe is the first one that leaves your hand. And practically, God is not up there. It was like you paid you Paid the grocery bill. What you doing? Oh, you trying to take the example further. She handing out hundreds. Y' all mad? Y' all sit on that side. Y' all mad. You better rejoice with those who rejoice. Did you give out all of them? Now, why you have to go and do that? Now, why you have to go and do that and do that? All right. You know, when the Holy Spirit start talking to you, you gotta process a little bit. Okay. All right. I was hoping she kept one. You know, at least one God. Genesis, chapter four, verse three. God. Dog. Natalie. Okay, Scott, you already know. All right? Genesis, chapter three, verse four. The reason why this is important, guys, is because Cain and Abel gave us an example of why God only accepts first. Okay? So Genesis, chapter four, verse three. Do y' all feel like the lightness. Like, do y' all feel like. I'm not trying to attack you, I'm not trying to beat you over the head. I'm not. I already tell you, going to heaven if you believe in Jesus. I'm. This is. I'm just trying to give you the principle. You can leave it or take it, but I don't want to be responsible when I get to heaven. And God's like, why didn't you tell him about that thing? You preach everything else. You preach about grace, you preach about love, you preach about relationship goals all the time. But you ain't telling about the thing that transformed your life, that changed you from being more like you to being more like me. I gotta give it to you. The day came that Cain brought a gift of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. But Abel brought a gift of the firstborn of his flock. And the fat parts are the good parts. And the Lord showed favor to Abel and his gift. If you know the story, the reason why God could not accept Cain's offering, because the passage says, at some time he gave him some. There was no priority with. Was just, like, over a course of time. Cain brought something, but Abel, he said he brought the firstborn. He said as soon as he was increased, he said, this one's God's. And he said the favor came to him because he put God. And can I tell you something that's a little strong, but I want you to hear it. Even if Cain would have brought the sacrifice, he couldn't have received it, because God doesn't accept seconds. He only does firsts. So, Pastor Mike, why are you telling me this? Because I just want you to remember three things. Three things, and we're going home. Why Does God care about the tithe? If you can answer. If I can answer this question to you for you, I think a lot of you will begin to see this whole thing differently. Why does God care about this? Because it's all about remembering. Why does God care about the tithe? Number one, because you remember to reset every time you tithe. You remember, God is my source. Blank is not. And you get to fill in the blank. Every time you get that thousand dollars and you write a hundred dollars to whatever church you go to, you are remembering, I could not trust God. But I'm choosing to. And with gas prices going crazy and my kids just keep growing out of their shoes, I just bought the these last week. Y' all got what I'm saying. The cares of this life, heat and air bills. I gotta get a wig now. Cause my hair thinning back here. Y' all know what it real life. I gotta get Botox, cuz. Whoo. All these things that people make priorities. Hear me what I'm saying. I'm using real life examples. I need a new car. I get a new car every three years. Okay, but is that a priority? Or having God rebuke the devourer? Because there's only two options when it comes to the tithe. The Bible says, bring the tithe. You can't give it. Hear what I just said? You only can give something that's yours. You bring something that already was somebody else's. I got four brothers, and I randomly see them wearing my things. Might be some glasses, some shoes, a hat. We're relatively the same size. And if I see them wearing it, it's good. They already know it's nothing. But when I need it, I don't say, hey, could you give me those shoes you had on yesterday, creasing them? I just say, yo, can you bring. Bring those Jordans back? Why? Because it wasn't theirs to begin with. God's not asking you to give him anything. He's asking you to bring him back a piece of what he's giving you the ability to manage. That's a whole different attitude. I have no problem sharing 1 donut out of 10 when you paid for them. But there are many people that feel like tithing is God taking something from them. And the Bible's clear. He says you only have two options with the tithe. You bring it or steal it. That's not me saying this. That's scripture. He said, you thief. And the. The people listening. And I. I don't even want to go into the whole thing. Because I need you to understand this is all scripture. I need you to. He's like, you stealing from God. And it's like, in what way am I stealing from God? In tithe and offering. He said, you went to the club. You paid for that subscription. You went on vacation. Not with what. I need you to give me what I needed you to bring me back. So when we tithe, it resets us. Everybody say reset. Some of us need a reset. Often some. Sometimes money is a thing for us. Can I tell you that? Sometimes we gotta reset so that we remember this is just a tool. He is my source. If I get let go of my job, I'm gonna be okay because I'm in the hands of God. Y' all remember the song? I'm safe. Sustained. Why not? Because of that job. Thank God for the job. Thank God for the inheritance. Thank God for my parents that left me something. Thank God for all that. But if I ain't got nothing else, I'm in the hands of God and he won't fail me and he won't drop me, and he's going to keep me. And that's why he's saying, test me, man. Just see if I won't open the windows and bl. And. Come on, man. So you remember to reset. I brought this today. I found this cleaning out my attic. This was my reset. I remember this gray book. I was flipping through it, and I found a page with the Greenwood offering envelope from 2011 and a picture with all the bills and money that I had. And at the top, it says, soon to increase finances. God, you are provision. I wrote this six months to a year into me being the pastor of the church, when I told you I didn't know how to handle finances. And I wrote down, I'm literally $2,322.16 plus 1,000. I was still contracting people and producing for them on the side. So that gave me $3,322 and 16 cent. My rent was $600 at the time. My God, today, simpler times. My cell phone was 200. I was paying $70 to my choice, which was a credit card that I maxed out. My car was $700, but at this time, it didn't work. But I still had to pay the bill. Don't judge me. I saw you Uber here today. No, I'm just playing. I'm just playing. My bills were $300 because I had roommates. And then that left me $1,452 savings category nothing. Y' all this is real. But at the top, then I start putting food, clothing, toiletries, gas. Because I had to pay people gas money to get. When you don't have a car, you still gotta pay for gas. Because the people you ask for a ride, if you ask them too many times, you don't get no ride. So. So I had to. But at the top, it says, soon to increase finance. This was my faith. God, you are provision. And I put over here my tithe. I got emotional looking at this book. And there's other things in here that really, really mess me up to think of where I am today. But the crazy thing is on the offering envelope, it says 1031. 20. 11. 11. Michael and Natalie Todd. It's me and my wife. And this is in her handwriting. Because we decided as a family we were going to honor God with nothing. And how. I've watched God prove his principle to me over and over and over again. I can only stand here as a testimony. The word of God works. I'm not trying to manipulate you, convince you. I'm just here as a testimony. If you honor God with all of your increase, he opens up the windows of heaven and pours you out a blessing you don't have room enough to receive. And the only reason you're scared of this test is if you're not prepared. And today, I just want you to be prepared. It's coming. Some of y' all gonna have a test this week. What's today's date? Some of y' all just missed the test. Woof. Oh, Jesus. The 15th. Or you might get a retake. God's challenging. Some of you take the test and don't just take it once decide. This is how you're gonna always take the test. So remember to reset. Second thing, remember, I'm a river, not a swamp. God wants to flow through you, not just to me. Put up a picture of a swamp. Who. Who would want to go take a bath in this? Not me. Who would want to go fishing in this? Not me. There. There could be an alligator in there. Do you know why a swamp is a swamp? Because there's no flow. Some of your life looks like this. Not because you're bad. It's just there's no flow. And if you've ever been around a swamp, it starts to stink. The only thing that lives there are predators. Huh? Y' all just hear what I'm saying to you. But could you put a picture of a river up there? Flowing water, Something that people come to to drink from? God Tells us in his word, gives us a picture. I want you to be planted next to the rivers of living. What would happen if everything you did was a pass through like God said? Oh, yeah, I'll trust you with millions because I know you. I can get it through you. Or I'll trust you with wisdom because I know you'll give it away. Oh, I'll trust you with those connections because you'll connect people. Some of y' all aren't even stingy with money. You're stingy with relationships. You got one text message you could make to change somebody's life, and you said, no, no, you need to get it out the mud. Like, I got it out the mud. God says, swamp. Okay, I'm not even gonna go. You a swamp. You're a spiritual swamp. You're a relational swamp. You stink. That was me. That wasn't God saying that. I. I said that you stank. What I'm saying is, like, become a river. Let it flow. Say that. Let it flow. Someone more time. Say, let it flow. So I'm gonna remember to reset. Every time I'm presented with the opportunity to tithe, I'm going to remember that I can tithe because I'm a river, not a swamp. Somebody say there's more. Oh, the last thing is remember, tithing is reverent. This is one of the most spiritual acts you could ever do. Watch this, cuz God did it first. What church did God tithe to you? Let's think about it. When you tithe, it has to be first. For God so loved the world that he gave not one of many sons, he gave the first and only on the potential that all of his other children would be reconciled back to him. He gave first so the rest could be blessed. Oh, God. Maybe tithing is more important to God than you think. Jesus is God's tithe. Is there any other way? Nope. I gotta give the first one to be sacrificed so that all my other kids can know that I love them. It's not a point on there, but I think it is. Tithing is personal. It's personal to God. There was a song that came up in my spirit earlier because I know there's people that want to know the semantics of everything and like, okay, is this it or this it? The truth of the matter is either we right or we're wrong. Either this God thing works or it don't. And literally, I think I'm on the right side. Like, either. If you just, like, just think about it. If you live your life generously tithing, 10% giving. When God tells you to give and we find out at the end, end of this life the Jesus Christ thing was all fake, you still would be a better person. There's nobody who lives generously that's like, I hate you generous people. It's just like, oh, forgive them, give them more grace. Oh, you need a thousand. You need a hundred. Thousand what? Like, yeah, let's just say, let's just say we got it all wrong, but we forgave. Like Jesus doesn't exist at all. I, this is an example for everybody that's watching and just tuned in right here. I just need you, cuz y' all be liking to clip stuff up. I'm giving you an example. Let's just say Jesus didn't exist at all. But you live, you lived your life thinking on things that were good and lovely and of a positive report. You lived your life forgiving. You lived your life being generous. You will get to the end of this life and be like, well, sure lived the best one I could now imagine. If you're wrong and all of this was really important and you about to get tested again at the Great White Throne Judgment and you're like, hey, hey, hold on. What's happening? I'm, I'm three people back. Hold on. They really, they really pulling up on the big screen of heaven. Everything I did on earth, how I spent my money, who I slept with, what? Hold on, wait. Everything. When I lied, when I, they really. Can I get a redo? And he said, no, you can't get a redo. That's why I was trying to reset you. I wanted you to have a reset. Cuz when you get to heaven, you don't get a redo. So today, church, We should be ones that would be like, you know what? If all of these principles are in God's word, I'm just going to obey them because I got too many signs around me. If the stars were made to worship somebody, say so will I. If the mountains bow in reverence, if the oceans roar your greatness, so will will I. For everything that exists, it exists to lift you high, so so will I. That's about priority. Standing all over this building today, I'm going to pray that if you're watching online or you're in this room before you move, I want to pray for you. Hear me? I'm going to pray that you obey God. Just like the winds, the waves, the sea, the trees, the sun, the mountains, they're all standing and doing what they were created to do. They're obeying God's word and your response should be so will I. So if God tells me to forgive, your response should be so if God tells me to love, my response should be if God tells me to tithe, Would you lift your hands all over this place? God, we're asking for your help because many times there's fear around stepping out in faith. And I pray for every person from a middle schooler who's just getting allowance to the CEO whose business just got bought out. And I'm asking you that you would give us a heart to obey you by honoring you with the first 10% of everything that you increase us with. God, I declare and I believe that you are removing all doubt around trusting you. And I'm thanking you that people are about to step out in crazy faith and they will never be disappointed because you are a God that keeps your word. Thank you that when you give a test, you help us with it. It's open book test. We can't fail if we stay close to you. So for every person that is struggling with the concept, give them peace right now. For every marriage that needs to come into agreement based on the hurts and the pains of the past, I thank you for unity in the name of Jesus. For every young person who doesn't know if this God thing is real, God, thank you for an encounter with you. If the stars were made to worship, so will I. I will obey your word even if I don't understand it fully. Because miracles happen when the logic stops. Faith begins where understanding ends today. God, we say we trust you. We will listen, we will hear, we will obey. In this moment, many of you need to ask the question, holy Spirit, what are you trying to say to me? Because somebody just got laid off and you're like, why would this message come to me right now? Because God's trying to get your heart. If the stars were made to worship, so will I. The mountains bow in reverence, so will I. The oceans roar, your grace is so alive. For if everything begins to lift you high, so will I. If the wind goes where you send it, so will I. Jesus, if the rocks cry out in silence, so will I. If the sun some of our praises still for sh and we'll sing again 100 billion times, so will I. If the stars will make to worship, so will I. If the mountains bow in reverence, so will I. If the oceans roar your greatness, so will I. For if everything tends to lift you high, so will I. If the exits where you Sit in it, so will I. If the rocks cry out in silence, so will I. Light. If the sum of all our praise is still for we'll sing again one million times. I have to give every person under the sound of my voice, as God is still speaking to you, the opportunity to receive the benefit of God's tithe Jesus today because God gave his first. Now we can be redeemed, bought back from the lies of sin, the bondage of sin. You don't even have to do nothing but receive it today. It's a heart posture that changes and your eternity changes. So for every person who is like me in any way, liar, manipulator, addicted to pornography, or you just don't know Jesus or never accepted him, today is your day. Because of what God gave us in Jesus, today we can be reconciled or put back together with the Father, and it changes us. We go on a journey of progression over perfection, where he's the only one that if you give him your heart, he'll help you change those habits you've tried over and over. Why can't you beat them? Because you need supernatural help. And today Jesus wants to come and live with you every day of your life. So if that's you and you're saying, pastor, I want you to include me in this prayer and that I want to make Jesus Christ my personal Lord and Savior. Your eternity is going to be secure and your history is about to be transformed. Today is a day of salvation. And if you're watching this from a jail cell or you're in this room, or you're seeing this 10 months from now on, rebroadcast, and it's coming to you because somebody sent you a link. Today is the day of salvation. I need the church to begin to pray. Your whole life has led up to this moment, and all you have to do is make a choice. Choose Jesus. I set before you today life and death. And I'm gonna give you the answer to the test. Choose life. And if that's you, on the count of three, I just want you to slip your hand up, whether you're online or in the room. 1. You're making the greatest decision of your life. 2. I'm so proud of you. But more than that, your name is going to be written in the Lamb's book of life. 3. If you want to accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior, lift your hands. I see you right there. I see you right there. Amen. I see you. God bless you. I see you. I see you, Big dog. So proud of you more than that. God sees you. And at Transformation Church, we're family. Nobody prays alone. So would you just lift your hands? It's our last prayer. And just repeat after me. Say, God, thank you for sending Jesus just for me today. I give you my life. Here I am. I am. I repent and I turn to you. I believe you lived, you died, and you rose again so I could live in freedom. Change me, renew me, transform me. I'm yours forever. In Jesus name, Amen. Can we celebrate right now? Oh, y' all can do better than that. All of heaven is rejoicing right now. Can we celebrate? We want to say welcome to the family. You made that decision. I want you to text saved to 828282. And as the altar workers are coming right now for those who text saved, we literally have content, discipleship, content digitally that we want to give to you. And you can click the QR code or our team will send it. As you're leaving today, I want you to remember that God desires for all of us to obey his will. And that's in every area of our life. You will be tested this week, and the question is, are you prepared or are you ready for the test? Father, bless this church. Bless your people as they go. Keep them safe. And for those who need prayer, Father, and need agreement because things are happening right now, I thank you for meeting them right now at the point of their need today. Father, whatever you ask us to do, we will be the ones who do it. So will I. Have your way, Father? God, in Jesus name, feel a spirit of worship in this house. If you need prayer for anything, if you're online, just stay in this atmosphere for a second. I believe God's going to hear heal you if you need to go. We will see you next week. I believe God is going to do something super special. But if you need healing, you need prayer. Come down to the front. Thank you for joining us today. If you said that prayer and accepted Jesus into your heart, it's the best decision you could ever make. We want to celebrate with you and we have some tools to help you on your journey. Text saved to 828282 and to find out more more about TC Text, connect to 828282. Be sure to subscribe and share this podcast with your friends. Thanks for listening. Now go out and live a transformed life.