Robbing Believers

For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. ‘Return to Me, and I will return to you,’ says the Lord of hosts. But you said, ‘In what way shall we return?’

The key word here is: 'Return to Me.'
Israel is not remembered for its obedience to the Lord.
On the contrary, throughout their relationship with God, Israel spent more time in rebellion than in obedience.
They were the firstfruits of God among all the nations, Jeremiah 2.3.
The firstborn of the Almighty.
Yet, they turned their backs on the care that God had shown for them.
Because of their rebelliousness, the Lord considered them robbers.
Robbers of God.
Just like the majority of believers today.

It was not their enemies, nor their neighbors who called Israel robbers. It was God Himself.
Being labeled a robber is extremely upsetting for an honorable person.
Those who hate Jesus also call me a robber.
However, when the righteous Judge is the One defending me, who shall bring a charge against me? Romans 8.33.
But when it is the Judge Himself accusing Israel of being a robber, who will defend them?
If they had not known the Lord or His Laws, Israel would not have been considered a robber.

The same is true with disobedient believers.
They are worse than wicked unbelievers.
They are considered robbers by God the Father, they are considered robbers by God the Son and they are considered robbers by God the Holy Spirit.
This is why most of these people are so unsuccessful.
They can quote many promises, like The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want... But that is not how they live their lives.
Rather, they are servants of the wicked and the unbelievers.

They eat poorly, sleep badly and live miserably; in short, they have horrible lives...
Why is that?
Because they know the Word of God, yet obey the devil.
The devil came to steal, kill and destroy, John 10.10.
They do not kill or destroy, in a literal sense.
But they steal from God.
They do the same thing as the devil.

If the Lord called His chosen people robbers, won’t He also call these Christians robbers?
Will the Lord Jesus defend them just because they say that they believe in Him?
Or just because they are evangelical church-goers?
Or because they carry a Bible and dress in a Christian-like manner?
Or because they do not smoke or drink?
No! A thousand times no!

Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’
In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.

This evil curse is upon these robbers.
What robber can escape judgement?
They may even remain free for a time...
but never, ever for very long.
Sooner or later they will be seated before the Righteous Judge.

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house...

Before a person can restore his partnership with the Holy Spirit it is a requirement for him to obey His Law, which is His Word.
The dedication shown by giving the firstfruits of your income (tithes) and freewill offerings to the house of the Lord is a person’s way of practicing the first works.
It is an exercise in faithfulness, and above all, a demonstration of love for God.
This is what is known as an act of pure faith, because a person is taking his first 10% and placing it on the altar of One who is Invisible.

And try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.

You will only receive honor from the Lord God after you have honored Him.
A faithful tither has the right to demand the Promises of God.
By doing so, they will confirm their truthfulness.

And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground;
The devourer loses his right to consume the fruit of your work when you remain faithful to your covenant with God.
How many people work hard and do not see the fruit of their work?
How many people earn lots of money, but do not enjoy any of its benefits?
Instead, they spend a lifetime working and saving money, but in the end, spend it all on doctors and medicine.
Wouldn’t this be a direct attack from the devourer?
How many struggle from a generational curse?

‘Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,’ says the Lord of hosts.
When there is a partnership with the Creator, nothing fails to bear fruit.

On the contrary, there will be great success with every new endeavor.

And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 3.6-12