Sermon Big Idea:

Because of God’s constancy, we can trust him so that our generosity will be costly.

Sermon Overview:

Pastor Jason opens by observing that everything in life is changing: the earth, human bodies, families, governments, or technology. This universal instability is contrasted with the central truth: God never changes (He is immutable).

• God's Immutability:God's character, purposes, and promises are eternally consistent. He is "I Am Who I Am" (Exodus 3:14), not capable of change.
• God stresses His unchanging character in Malachi 3:6—"Because I, Yahweh, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed." The Israelites' survival, despite their generational unfaithfulness, was due entirely to God's persistent, electing love and covenant faithfulness.

II. God's Invitation Met by Human Failure (Malachi 3:7-9)

God's unchanging love provides the basis for His invitation to the people: "Return to Me, and I will return to you"(Malachi 3:7).

• The Nature of Return: This is a call to repentance—a fundamental redirection away from sin and self-reliance toward restored fellowship with God.
• The Unchangeable Lie: We often fail to seize this invitation because we convince ourselves that we are the unchangeable ones ("That’s just who I am—I can’t change"). Our hope for sanctification (change) rests on the fact that God won't change, which means we can.
• The People's Failure: Instead of humbly agreeing, the people respond with a counter-question: “How can we return?” God lays out the evidence of their failure: they are "robbing" Him by withholding the tithes and contributions (Malachi 3:8). This neglect of stewardship was a symptom of a deeper problem: they believed they owned their resources rather than acting as stewards (tenants) of what already belonged to God.

III. God's Challenge: The Unique Invitation to Test Him (Malachi 3:10)

God responds to their selfishness with a powerful challenge and a promise.

• The Challenge:“Bring the full tenth into the storehouse... Test Me in this way," (Malachi 3:10). This is the only place in the Bible where God invites testing. It is a dare to trust His immeasurable generosity by changing their pattern of withholding to a pattern of costly generosity.
• The Result: The result is a promised blessing—God will "open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure" (Malachi 3:10) and "rebuke the devourer" (Malachi 3:11).

IV. Applying the Law through the Lens of Christ

Pastor Jason explains how the Old Testament tithing commands now apply under the New Covenant using the idea from scholar Jason DeRouchie, who explains how laws pass through the lens of Christ, which they do one of three things. They are either transformed, maintained, or annulled. One option, which must be rejected, is what is evident in the prosperity gospel. The second option would be that the laws are maintained and Christians follow the 10% requirement. The message proceeded to explain the final option.

• The Transformed Law (Option 3): The tithing laws are transformed through Christ. We are not under the Mosaic Law or covenant curses. Jesus rescued us from ultimate exile, taking the covenant curse for us (Galatians 3).
• The New Covenant Standard: Because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), we can trust Him so that our generosity will be costly. Paul applies the principle in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7:
  • Sow generously to reap generously (a harvest of righteousness, not necessarily material wealth).
  • Give" as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver."

V. Conclusion:

• The goal is not a percentage, but a grace-driven rhythm of generous, costly giving, unbound by legalism. The motivation is God's unwavering constancy; the ultimate purpose is to be "enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God."