Michael Todd - Fresh Foundation (Tithing and Honoring God First)
Welcome to week six of a series we’re calling «Somebody Shouted Me: Fresh Fruit.» Fresh fruit! Say it with faith! Fresh fruit! Fresh fruit! How many people have that desire this year? You want fresh fruit? I don’t want anything stale or old in my marriage or in my life; I want fresh fruit! We’ve been talking about being connected to the True Vine. What’s His name? Jesus! Okay, staying connected and making sure that the Gardener can come in and give us a fresh cut. If He wants to prune us, we’re not going to run from it; we’re going to know that He is the one giving us a future because He’s cutting off the things that would hinder our growth. So, for anybody, I just want a little caveat: for anyone feeling like loss means that you’re losing, that’s a lie. When God is cutting on you, «lost» actually means that you’re about to level up! You missed it! He said there’s more fruit coming! I know it feels bare right now, but whatever you think you lost, check back with me in a different season, and I will have somebody say «leveled up.»
Last week, I felt a burden to begin talking to our church about something that’s just a part of the culture around here—it’s a regular thing. I don’t know what church everybody came from and how people talked about this certain topic, but when it comes to Transformation Church, it’s regular. We talk about generosity, stewardship, and finances, and usually, if you’re in this church this year, I do a six-week series on generosity and giving, and how to properly steward finances because the top three things we counsel about are relationships, money, and anger—like the results of all those things. So people need to know about it, but nobody wants to talk about it.
Come on, let’s be honest: when it comes to money, everybody’s butt gets tight, everybody’s lips get chapped, and everybody starts thinking about what they don’t have. I’m telling everybody to relax; I’m not teaching you something from a place of needing something. I want to say this because in a lot of churches, it’s like, «Why are we going to talk about money today? Lock the doors!» Like this building has been getting built for 59 years and today we’re finishing it! We’re not doing that! Because many times, if there’s pressure, compulsion, or emotionalism, you don’t give with the right—watch this—heart. And giving is all about the heart! Some of your biggest problems and all the things you’re managing are not because you’re doing everything wrong; you’re just doing this one thing wrong. You’re not putting God first in your finances!
A lot of my issues arose because I was just not putting God first in my finances. I thought it could be part of the list, not the priority of my list. And some of you have convinced yourselves, «Well, nobody knows my financial situation; me and God have a deal, and we’re going to do our thing. He knows my heart.» He does—that’s why He told me to speak this message, because you’re delusional and want God to bless you with more of what He can’t trust you with now! Everybody’s going to be generous when they hit the lottery, «Oh, when this job comes through, when I have more!» And God said that’s not even how the principle works. If you’re not faithful with little, He cannot make you a ruler over much! And today, can I be completely honest, humble, open, and transparent? Can I be? I said, can I be completely honest and humble? Okay, when many ministers of the Gospel who look like me preach about money, there’s some ulterior motive behind it.
I want to apologize for anybody that’s been in those environments. And it’s not just Black people; it’s people whose hearts have turned toward manipulation. My team will tell you I’ve been intentional about this since the day I became the lead pastor of the church because it turned so many people off from finding out about Jesus. They were like, «Jesus! The church just wants my money! The church just wants my money!» And I was like, «Man, if we could ever become a church that was like, 'The church doesn’t want my money. The church gives a bunch of money! ' The church actually changes the community! The church is actually going into downtown Tulsa and finding Black-owned shoe stores, buying the whole store for people, and then taking it to the boys' home for young men that don’t have parents, giving them sneakers.
Like, we’re going into homes where these young ladies have aged out of programs, buying houses for them. And hold on, there are people with wheelchairs and special needs, and we’re buying kitted-out vans!» For years we’ve been doing that! I can stand here today, and the reason I’m saying this isn’t for everybody; most of y’all know, but there’s like 3% of people watching this who are like, «I’m not listening to anything you’re saying because you’re just going to use this to take my money.» No, no, no, I’m letting you know that we’re going to be generous as a church, no matter what you do. But what I want you to do is know that you may be missing out on the very thing that adds abundance to your life. We partnered with the Pando app and went into jails to give them Transformation Church.
Do you know we get hundreds of letters every single week from people in prison all across America because Transformation Church has literally helped them become men and women they would have never been without the Word of God? Y’all can give it up for that! Y’all, this is huge! In the last years, we’ve given away over $12 million! Come on, man! I can’t mess with y’all! I’m going to find the exact number and tell you tomorrow; it’s been way over that! I’ve been being conservative; we always err on the side of caution so you don’t think this is a hype train! The reason I’m saying all this is because I’m trying to ease somebody’s tension and let you know that this is a place that wants to give, not take, anything from you. I really want to give you this principle because it changed my life from having a poverty mindset to bringing me into a place of abundance.
As your pastor, I want that for every person under the sound of my voice! I’m not talking about everybody making the same amount of money; I’m talking about everybody living in abundance. There are people with millions of dollars who still have poverty mindsets, and there are people working at fast food restaurants making minimum wage who live in abundance! This isn’t about a dollar amount; it’s about a heart position. And today, church, I want to give you a principle that has transformed my life. It changed me! Last week, we talked about having fresh seed, and I know some of y’all have been sowing seeds everywhere. Y’all have been like, «Where am I going? Anywhere to sow seeds!»
There was something funny that happened this week: my daughters like popcorn a lot, so I went to make some for her. I don’t really think about popcorn; I literally just get the little brown sack, don’t even think about what’s in there, and I put it in the microwave. But for some reason, I was talking and felt something moving in there. For the first time in my life, it connected! I was today years old when I realized what’s in these packages; it’s a bunch of seeds! Y’all got a whole celebration at the microwave! I took these seeds, laid them out in the microwave, put them in, and hit the double-pump button. I was sitting here, and you know me—they tell you not to stand too close to the microwave, but I’ve always been a little rebellious!
So I looked in there and watched this, and the Holy Spirit began to speak to me. He said, «Michael, when you take seeds and put them in a process that allows them to be uncomfortable for a season…» I said, «Holy Spirit, don’t do me like this on a Tuesday in front of this microwave!» He said, «My people don’t see the expanded version of their seed because they won’t get uncomfortable for a short season. They won’t change their budget for a short season. They won’t stop buying the shoot; they don’t stop visiting places that always have sales.» You keep walking past the same thing, and you’ve got all of this stored in cabinets but nothing expanding! He said, «Michael, if you would take the seeds I’ve given you and just for a moment put them in an uncomfortable position, you’ll start to hear the change of what’s on the inside beginning to expand and make a little noise.»
So I was literally sitting here watching this popcorn expand. Y’all hear that? You hear a little bit? She said, «No, check your ears!» If you were closer, you’d hear individual seeds expanding; it caused a reaction that then caused another seed to say, «Well, maybe I need to expand too!» It’s not just one seed doing the expanding; it is the conglomerate of all of these seeds being uncomfortable for a short season that makes everything around it expand. Everybody shout at me, «Expand!» I read this Scripture, «Ooh, hold on! Even when it came out, if you could feel this, it’s still popping!» Dang, this is hot! After I did this little experiment making some popcorn for one of my kids, the Holy Spirit said, «Michael, I want Transformation to sow some seed.» I said, «Okay, what do you want me to do?» He said, «You’re believing God for the vision I gave you 37 days into being a pastor that the Spirit Bank Event Center would be Transformation Church. Go back to that and look at all the stuff I said.»
One of the things He said is, «This arena will be filled three times over every weekend.» I said, «What? I don’t even know if I want that, Lord!» He said, «This is not about what you want; it’s about what I want, God!» He said, «Remember, when it comes to seeds, some plant, some water, but God adds the growth.» He said, «I want Transformation Church to sow with that model.» I’m like, «What do you mean?» He said, «Find a church that’s about to plant, and sow some seed!» I literally saw a church—it’s Life Point Church in Phoenix, TJ and your beautiful wife who just moved to Phoenix. Transformation Church is sowing some seed right now, and we’re sending you a check for $100,000 before you have your first interest meeting!
Transformation Church, can we give God—hold on, can we give God a shout? Life Point Church Phoenix, we’ve got some popcorn on the way for you! I didn’t have to pray about that; I didn’t have to fast about that. Why? Because when God spoke it, the resources of this house are not mine. Come on, God! If He wants to do something, it’s easy to obey Him because it was His in the first place! That’s my question: is that the same for your house? Because the same exact thing we just did, that happens for me and Natalie to the tune of whatever He says. I’m talking about before church; I wrote a check! It doesn’t matter about the amount—am I telling the truth? I wrote a check before church because He said to!
Can we talk about something else, Lord? Can we? No, y’all, every time I start talking about finances, it costs me! I’m not—y’all, I’m being for real! This is not about the church; I want the principle to be so in you that God can tap you on the shoulder at any moment and He says, «That extra McDouble…» See, y’all thought it had to be a lot—"That extra McDouble, go give it to that man!» «Well, Lord, you know I eat two McDoubles and two chicken sandwiches; that’s the pattern of prosperity!» But the only reason you grieve is that you thought it was yours. The only reason you get frustrated is that you thought it was yours. I got some more popcorn here; y’all think we should pop some more? Let me just put some more seeds in here. I wonder who that’s for!
When it expands, when my seed expands, it makes everything around me get bigger! That bag was flat when it went in, but because it was put in the right environment, it didn’t just expand the seed; it expanded the bag too! You want your world to get bigger? You might want to plant some more seeds! Proverbs 11:24 says, «The world of the generous gets larger and larger, and the world of the stingy gets smaller.» Today, I want to talk to you about a foundational principle that made my world get larger and, more than my world, my heart be more turned toward the idea of God. I’m going to be straight with you; this one thing exposed my heart. It helped me solidify my priorities, and it honestly helped me defeat pornography. Y’all want to stay in the same cycles, but this was a game changer for me, and the principle is tithing.
I’m not going to sugarcoat it. I’m taking 10% of all my increase before I pay for everything else—before I buy the house, the shoes, the outfit, or pay for my kids' sporting events. Before I make that a priority, I said, «God, I want You to be the foundation of my life.» So, I’m going to trust in first things first, and I’m going to take this holy portion of the resource You gave me and put it into the house of God You’ve called me to. I want everybody to hear me: if your house of God that God has called you to is not Transformation Church, take your tithe to the place that God has assigned you in this season. If you’re watching this as supplemental content and we’re encouraging you, do not send your tithe here; go to First Baptist or wherever you go. I’m just trying to be very clear for you: you are supposed to sow right there. If everybody does what they’re supposed to do in the garden they are planted in, the entire Kingdom grows.
And y’all see, this is how you know this is not about me. I could be trying to manipulate and use our influence to get more people. You should talk to the place that’s feeding you; you should tithe to the place where God has called you. Okay, let me quit. In the Kingdom of God, tithing is the foundation of our finances. So, it’s always tripped me out that people try to give offerings when they haven’t tithed. The offering is illegal without the tithe! I can’t even mess with you. Is it beeping? I feel like one of those people from Blue’s Clues. What was his name? Steve? Is it B? Let’s see. Some plant on Life Point Church in Phoenix is about to plant. I think their interest meeting is this week.
Some—that means that would be a church that’s already going, and they just need a little water on top. This is hot! Wow! Um, somebody text a couple that is in Seattle, One Church Seattle: there’s a check for $100,000 coming to you right now. We just wanted to water a little bit the seeds of God that you are spreading in Seattle. Y’all, don’t stop! It’s so crazy. This is exposing some people’s hearts because some of y’all don’t know the scripture that says, «You rejoice with those who rejoice.» How would you act if somebody just texted you that your business, organization, or nonprofit got $100,000 unexpectedly? Brother Phil, God sees what you’re doing. He sees what you and your wife are doing. Send them this bag of popcorn. Should we pop some more? No, no, y’all are not going to be focused. Y’all are just going to be looking at this the whole time, so hold on. In the Kingdom of God, it’s so crazy that when generosity starts, you don’t know whose name is on the next bag.
In the Kingdom of God, tithing is the foundation of our finances. I want to tell something to everybody that really helped me understand: if you don’t do what’s required, what you do that seems like excess is denied. Do y’all hear what I’m saying? Okay, um, if you don’t do what’s required—it’s like qualifying for a track meet. It’s like we’re going to state, but to run at state, you have to actually hit this time in the regional meet, and people show up to state stretching. This is what we do in church. And it’s like, «What are you doing? I’m about to smoke these fools; I’m about to run this race, and I’m going to win.»
The truth of the matter is you could run this race and win, but because you didn’t qualify, because you put the energy and effort into the extra thing, the exciting thing, the thing that everybody sees, and you didn’t do what was required, your ability gets trapped in your neglect. The ability that you could be the fastest person there gets trapped because you neglected to do the ordinary thing. That’s what I think so many times when it comes to our tithe and offering. We, as a church, think we’re tipping God: «The church was good today; let me throw a 20 in there. Good job!» But you are 14 years backed up on the requirement. Wow! You bought car after car, house after house, put the mat out that says «blessed,» and then you come to church, judge, don’t serve, talk about it, and when you feel really good, you tip Him. I just want you to see honestly how we approach God. He said, «Yo, Mike, I just need you to tell people that they can have.» Watch this—this is the title of my message: «A Fresh Foundation.» A fresh foundation! This is all about tithing and honoring God first.
Let me help somebody, because some of y’all—the 14-year backlog—you just got depressed right there. You were like, «I can never!» I will never be able to go back. And like I said, His grace and mercy is new every morning! Okay, so somebody—oh my! Hey! Oh glory! What I’m saying today is, could today be the day that it’s said you changed your family’s generational future? Because as a single woman or a single man, or as a couple with not a lot of finances, or you’re balling out of control, and your financial adviser doesn’t think this is wise? Oh, I’m talking about real stuff. See, you start talking to people who have money; they’ll try to convince you that you should honor God in a different way at a different time of year because at this time the taxes will be better. I had to tell my financial people to shut up. The only reason you have a job! Y’all don’t hear me. I know it would be better for me financially, but it won’t be better for my faith. So what I need you to do is take 10% of everything that increases in my household and send it to Transformation Church.
«Well, Pastor, I completely understand the heart behind…» No, you don’t, because you weren’t there when me and Natalie lived in Bishop’s rent house, living in 700 square feet using borrowed couches. Y’all know those couches that are like pleather? Y’all know the brown ones? Why are they all brown? They’re all brown! If you’re hot, you get stuck to them! And like, y’all know what I’m talking about. Some of y’all still have that couch. I’m praying that you get a fresh foundation! Hear what I’m saying to you? You weren’t there when we were believing God to change our financial situation, and God said, «I’m not going to give you more; I’m going to give you more wisdom to manage what you have.»
And today, as a church, I don’t care if the world gets this. This is not a principle for the world; this is a principle for people who call themselves Sons and Daughters of Christ. Tithing is an ordinary principle of children of God, and if you don’t—watch this—you’re not going to hell! See, this is what we try to do. We try to scare people into actually doing what’s right. Your salvation can be completely intact, and you still may not get the full benefit of the full life Christ had for you on Earth. I know, I know, I know this message hits you. It’s like, «Am I a bad person?» You’re not a bad person! Yeah, you’re not! You just have not taken advantage of the full benefit of living a life with Jesus Christ.
Watch this; everybody say, «Lord.» Lord! Okay, so that’s why Matthew 6:19 says, «Don’t store up for yourself treasures here on Earth where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in Heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves do not break in and steal.» Watch this; wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be also. Write it down in a point: your finances expose your heart, and your heart exposes your foundation. People come up to me all the time when I do series on finances and stuff like that, and they’re like, «Jesus is first in my life, Pastor! Oh, I love Jesus!» Oh, there’s something about the name, and you know I’m trying to be very relationally intelligent and think about them and all that other stuff, but inside I just want to say, «Prove it!» You can say anything, but prove it.
And the thing that I found out is the proof is in the fruit. When it comes to Jesus being your foundation, show me your checking account. Show me your Chase bank statement. Show me your last year’s money statement, 'cause I can tell without you seeing any—I mean, what people start doing is explaining why. «Well, I mean the house, you know what I’m saying? We got in a bad season, and then the interest rate was… and like, but then I mean it was my daughter’s 16th birthday, so we had to buy her car because I told her she was going to buy her car. And then, oh, that was a trip to Miami. Me and the guys had a good time in Miami, so it was my 40th birthday.»
And I had—and he’s my Foundation! Wherever your treasure currently is, it exposes where your heart is. Many of us, our heart is in our house. Some of us, our heart is in makeup and fashion. Some of us—come on! I want you to think about it. Where is your treasure? Locate your treasure right now! I don’t care how much treasure you have. Where is it? Some of y’all’s treasure is sitting on 24s. You always wanted a truck riding on them things, and now you’re sitting up high. But is that some of your treasure? Is it in your kids' sports? Is some of your treasure in stocks, bonds, Bitcoin? I mean, some of your treasures are in NFTs and technology. Some of your—like, where’s your—I’m questioning: is any of your treasure designated first for God’s house? And if it’s not, today I’m not coming to beat you up; I’m coming to offer you a fresh foundation.
See, because this is what happens with a foundation: most of us build our foundation on things that can’t really hold us up. I’m 225 lbs; that’s a miracle in itself. But if I want to build my life on this— I don’t know if a career can hold the weight of my life! And many of us, let’s be honest. This is why you go to college! This is why you take that program! This is why you do this—'cause you’re about to build your life! Uh-oh! That doesn’t even feel—one leg doesn’t even feel—y’all see how that’s bent in? Somebody say, «Don’t do it.» But you do it every year, and you’re encouraging your kids to do it!
«No, you going to college!» Hold on; wait, wait. Why? Why are you telling me? «'Cause you gotta get a good career to build.» Oh yeah, that doesn’t—and so many of us, we build on a career. And then we be like, «Yeah, once I get a good career, then I can actually take and put my relationships.» That’s the only way she don’t want to go to Cheesecake Factory, so I gotta get that money so then I can find a dime piece. Oh no, no! Why is it? It’s not stable. It’s not stable yet we build our families on this! God, how in the world do I put the children that God trusted me with? Like, I’m building this on something that can’t hold me up! And then I’mma put—if I’m just building on a career, there ain’t no other room for nobody, even on this box. Yeah, I’mma get me a—I’mma get Shorty; we gonna be doing vacations, and we gonna—I’m just practicing! I’m just trying to—I’m just trying to—and we going around trying to convince people if they get a good job and they have a decent relationship, then they got a strong foundation.
And then what they do is they be like, «Yo, matter of fact, now I got a little money, I gotta turn it into something. I gotta become a podcaster. I gotta be an entrepreneur!» Whoa! It feels like she say sinate! Okay, what do I need to go this way? Is it this way? A little more? Back over to the left? It’s so crazy that you’ll have people from the outside telling you how to actually—that’s positioning! What still can’t hold you up? You can tell me to move it forward, move it backwards, move it over, 10x my company! Move it to this! Take an offshore account! You can tell me to do all of that, but if I needed to stand on this, it’s still going to fall.
And do you know how many people, instead of walking in a blessing, are balancing? That’s so good! They spend their whole life—winds start blowing, the economy starts doing this, and they’re like, «Shoot! We about to die!» 'Cause they built their life on the wrong. What kind of dad would I be to tell Ava or Bella or Gia to come up here and stand on this? «This is what we’re doing generationally! Hey, look at me! Our people came here—we were slaves—and I worked hard so that you could have a better future! So you go to college, and you get this, that, and the third, and if you turn that into a good relationship, then you better get a boss too! Don’t marry.»
No little housewife, little, little—you better get yourself a boss in real estate marketing! I’m telling you, these are real conversations that happen with people, so all that sacrifice I made is for you all. Praise God, we love Jesus; we give Him the glory on Sundays, but Monday through Saturday, it’s about this career and relationship. You don’t even have to have a perfect marriage; it’s a business relationship. Y’all know how many people stay together just because they say, «It’s cheaper to keep her.» Y’all know we work hard, then she’s going to take half. No, no, no, and your kids are sitting there watching generational dysfunction form right in front of them. But what if we built our life on something solid, a sure foundation?
I mean, what if I built my life on His name? What happens is I get to rearrange all the areas of my life if Jesus is my foundation. If I commit, submit, and make Him a priority, what He says and how He does it becomes a priority. Then I can say, «Okay, what can I build? Oh yeah, I can build my finances on Jesus, and I can build my relationships on Jesus.» And then I can build my life. Nobody’s screaming now because I’m standing on something sure. Nobody’s afraid of me because I built my life on something that could hold me up. Now listen, I’ll still be standing if my career falls, if the relationship fades, and if the finances go. I’m still solid on the rock of Christ—the solid rock I stand—all other ground is sinking sand. I build my faith on Jesus, and this is the reason why so many people get hurt and run away. Yes, sir, because they think Jesus forsook them. But He said, «No, you just built your life on something that couldn’t hold you.»
Today, I’m offering you a fresh foundation. Hey, come here, come here, real quick! The beautiful thing about this moment is very simple, and this is why I want you to grasp this principle of giving. It’s simple for me to teach my children to trust something I’ve already stood on. Come here, jump. I want you to see; all she knows is a family that builds their life on something solid. Gigi, come here; just bring my baby. Look, we can sit down on this. We don’t have a lot of finances, and all of our relationships won’t be perfect, but as long as we have Jesus. It feels like this is what men of God should do: hear me, hear me, hear me—lead their families first. I’m not saying none of these other things aren’t important; I’m just saying we could build a foundation.
One day, I’ll be gone. Y’all stay right there. One day, I’ll be out of the picture. Right now, they’re not scared because the foundation their life was built on is strong enough to hold them, even when Daddy is gone. Oh my God! I want you to see that if we don’t teach our children to build their lives on that foundation, they’ll wonder, «Mom and Daddy, why are we moving?» «Because we’ve got to take care of our finances a little better.» Are we poor? No, we’re not poor; we’re pruning. I’m telling you, we’re going to come together as a family; we’re going to play Uno. No, we don’t need all the technology right now; we’re going to draw together, right now, and be close. One day, we’ll look back on these moments, and it will be the best time of our lives.
What I’m trying to teach you is to build your life on Jesus. When Jesus asks you to give up relationships, finances, career ideas, and things, I want you to know it’s worth it because He can hold it. My whole family can fit on this solid foundation, and I don’t want to exacerbate this analogy, but we’re not leaving a good playbook for our children to follow. Right now, when I look at how frantic people are around their resources, we’re teaching them—You say, «I didn’t teach them.» Yes, you did! Because some things are taught; other things are caught. They’re catching the spirit of fear around finances, they’re catching the spirit of poor stewardship. I thought you said we were cutting back, and then y’all are at Olive Garden buying extra drinks and desserts. You know you’re rich when you order desserts. When appetizers and desserts are happening, it’s like somebody got paid! They’re catching the spirits. Maybe we need to build our foundation on—say His name one more time—Jesus!
Okay, alright, so let’s go; Jesus is the only firm foundation. 1 Corinthians 3:10: «Because of God’s grace to me,» somebody say «His grace to me,» «I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it, but whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful, for no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have laid: Jesus Christ.» You want to know who the foundation of anybody who believes is? It’s right here—what’s His name? Jesus Christ!
So, today, I hope to undo probably one of the most manipulated scriptures in the world about tithing—it’s Malachi 3, and I want to give you a revelation that transformed my life. I’m going to give it to you, and then we’re going to go home. Okay, I forgot; I got one more—somebody said the popcorn. Do y’all see how fun it is to steward your resources in one season so you can be a blessing to others in a different season? Like, you’re not getting blessed, but you’re happy? Alright, here we go. Malachi 3:6: «For I am the Lord; I do not change.» That’s important for you to understand—who’s talking? The Lord. And what does He say? «I don’t change.» Therefore, you are not consumed.
Verse 7: «Yet from the days of your fathers, you have gone away from My ordinances,» that word ordinance means ordinary teaching. The OGs used to do this; it was ordinary, and now you new school people have gone away from the ordinary things we did and have not kept them. «Return to Me, and I will return to you,» says the Lord of hosts. Who’s talking? He keeps telling you who’s talking so you know this is not made up. This is not a preacher. This isn’t a minister; this is not a minor prophet or a major prophet. He says, «The Lord of hosts is saying this to you.» He says, «But you say, in what way shall we return? I thought we were with you, God. I thought we were in the tabernacles all the time. I thought we sang Yahweh. I thought we were with you.» And He says, «Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me.» «Lord, that’s not even funny; you know I wouldn’t rob you!» «How could I?»
This is what it says, «But you say, in what way have we robbed you?» His response: «In tithes and offerings.» He said, «You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.» Think about our nation—prayer out of schools, coming against churches' ability to have nonprofits. It’s like our nation has turned its back on the money that says, «In God We Trust.» That’s words; it’s not in our hearts, even this whole nation. He said, «Bring all the tithe into the storehouse,» and the storehouse represents the church or places where God chooses to dwell. «That there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,» says the Lord of hosts. Who’s talking? He keeps reminding you.
«This is not Pastor Mike. This is not Pastor whoever you think; the Lord of hosts is saying this.» He says, «Try Me in this. See if I won’t open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive.» Watch this. Now, most people get stuck here because there are two things in this scripture that jam everybody up: «How am I robbing God? And I’m cursed? How, me, little old me? I make two hundred twenty-two thousand dollars a year!» I can’t deal with that! This is the revelation God showed me; He said, «Michael, people read these words and don’t feel My Spirit in it.» It says, «How does a man rob God?» He said, «I don’t need your money.» He said, «This is just the requirement to bring you into another level of blessing.»
A good dad wants to bless His kids, but He blesses them based on their obedience. So, if I tell you to make your bed, but you take out the trash and didn’t make your bed, I can’t bless you the way I want to. Not because you didn’t do something; you didn’t do what I asked you to do. All I need you to do is obey Me. Somebody say, «Obey.» All of this is for God; He says you keep robbing Me. Watch this. This is the revelation that God gave me about five years ago; it changed everything. When you don’t tithe, you rob God of the opportunity to bless you greatly. «Oh, but God, you didn’t do it!» Oh, wait, it feels like it’s done—"Some plant, some water, but God adds the increase.»
We heard about this church in Atlanta, Spirit and Truth Atlanta, under Pastor Workmore. There’s a check for one hundred thousand dollars to take what you’re doing to the next level and increase you. Somebody give God some praise! Now send them some popcorn! Y’all know the only reason we’re able to do this is because when it’s time for my check to come in and for your check to come in on the 1st and the 15th, I don’t even think about it anymore; it’s gone. When I look at my stuff, it’s after God got His. This is worth adjusting your life for, because when you don’t tithe, you rob God of the opportunity to bless you. You’ve got to hear me! I’m living proof! When I went from a poverty mindset—hiding dollars in my mattress, keeping money stashed just in case I run out—yes sir. And God said, «Boy, if you don’t give up that Egypt mentality, if you don’t stop acting like a slave, I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I’m Jehovah Jireh, your provider. I will make you the lender and not the borrower!»
But I had to break it by honoring God, watch this, by faith. It’s not going to make sense; it’s going to make a miracle. You have to start tithing. «How do you get saved?» «How are you going to get saved?» By faith, by worship of God, by faith in what you’ve never seen! But then when it comes to money, the math needs to be math. What I’m saying is, Okay, I’m telling you, everybody’s not going to get it, but I believe there’s at least a thousand of you that are about to change the foundation of your life! Watch this! When you don’t tithe, you rob God of the opportunity to bless you. Okay, so that’s how you rob Him. Everybody: «I’m cursed.» Let me help you—you’re not cursed!
Galatians 3:13: «Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.» So, when He was telling this, this was in the Old Testament; Jesus hadn’t come yet, right? So He said, «You’re cursed!» What? When Jesus enters in, He says, «You are no longer cursed!» If you don’t tithe, that means you can be saved, you can be delivered, you can work in healings and miracles, but when it comes to your finances, you’re not cursed; you simply put a cap. Somebody say, «I’m not cursed; I just have a cap!»
I wrote it out because I want everybody to hear and see this very clearly! Okay, if you don’t tithe and you believe in Jesus, you’re not cursed. However, some blessings have terms and conditions. Wow! Good, «I’m going to be wealthy; I’m going to do this, I’m going to do that.» And God was like, «Yeah, until you follow My terms and conditions, I cannot trust you with that level of resource.» All money actually does is magnify who you really are. You’re a cheater without money; you become a really good cheater with money. True! You’re a liar without money; you become—do y’all hear what I’m saying? Right now, He’s saying, «All I want you to do right now is honor the terms and conditions.»
And somebody’s saying, «Well, Pastor Mike, that’s the Old Testament.» I’m going to show you Jesus saying you should tithe in the New Testament—Luke 11:42: «But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe on mint and rue and herbs, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done without neglecting the others.» Yeah, he’s saying you should give love, mercy, justice, and peace. You should do that, and you should tithe on all your increase. Yeah, the way Jesus put this bothered me at the beginning because I thought he should have just said it—just say, «Tithe, my people, tithe!» and then it could have just been over. But he said, «Michael, the reason I coded the language is because it’s a test.» He said they have to trust me, and this is a test. Tithing is a test. I said, «But God, you could have just made it really, really, really clear.» He said, «I did.» He said, «You tithe on stuff that doesn’t matter, and you won’t tithe on the stuff that is really my heart.»
The reason he said it is that this is ordinary; we just tithe 10% set aside for God. What does that mean for my finances? It means he’s going to have to take care of them. What does it mean for my vacation? It might mean I won’t take one this year. What does that mean for my wardrobe? Wear it again? No, no, no. I’m telling you, this doesn’t become something that you do if you do not adjust your life, and most people want the blessing without adjusting their life. I didn’t lose weight by eating the same thing I ate to get smaller. I didn’t go sit down and watch movies to get the transformation; I had to change what I was doing. Too many people, when it comes to finances and generosity, won’t change what they’re doing. So the Holy Spirit said, «Michael, I just want you to offer the people a fresh foundation.»
And this is what I found: 90% with God’s blessing is better than 100% without it. For anybody that’s struggling with Malachi 3, I did a whole message on it in a different series. I want you to go, but God told me not to go super deep into this financial thing. He said that my people don’t need a revelation; they’ve matured enough—they just need a reminder. Some of y’all just need a reminder. You got off holidays; it was crazy. Some different things happened, and you got hit with some stuff. And God said today we’re going to give you a fresh foundation.
Malachi 3 is not a weapon; it’s wisdom. He’s saying, «Honor me, honor me, honor me.» God, what I got for you, you ain’t even ready for! Think about the language God uses. He’s done some pretty wild things, like splitting seas, like letting ravens be the first Uber Eats. He’s done all kinds of really good things, and he says, «Test me; see if I won’t open up the windows of heaven.» What does a window of heaven look like? Think about that—think of your windows. He said, «I’ll open the windows of heaven,» and then gets gangster and says, «I’ll pour you out a blessing you don’t have room enough to receive.» When you don’t have enough room to keep it all, it means you have to give. He said, «You tithe, I’m gonna bless you so much that you will have to give.»
So y’all, if I could just transfer the level of assurance I have in you and in God into you, when it comes to this—I’m a living witness, not because I’m a pastor, it’s because I got the principle, and I want this for every person that at least calls Transformation Church your spiritual home. We are supposed to change the world, not just through prayer. Oh Lord, I’m going to need a whole series. Lord, tell me when I can do it; some stuff I shouldn’t have to pray about. I should just be able to meet the need. But if you’re always in need, you can never meet it. Then I don’t pray, «God, provide for me» anymore; I pray, «God, show me who to provide for.» I’m not… Oh God, and see you up there in a purple suit.
What is that, velvet? You over here, and you talking, and I know what the enemy is telling you: he’s taking your money, he’s stealing. God blessed me outside of here. God told me to write a book, and I obeyed him, and when I wrote that book, it changed my life. They just told me that the «Relationship Goals» book just got put in French. I can’t speak one word, but I’m going to Paris with the book! Y’all, Mo, you already know I’m going to Paris. He said, «You got it, Mike!» They just called me this week and told me they are starting filming «Relationship Goals» the movie in June. Y’all missed it! I can’t play with y’all! I’m talking about Amazon is making the movie right now. He said, «You don’t have to know how I’m about to bless you, but if you honor me as your foundation, I’ll call it from the north, the south, the east, and the west. I’ll allow you to find income from places you didn’t even know were available to you.»
The reason they called me is they said, 'Because I told them at the beginning, I said, «Number one, I want to make a movie,"'—come on! Okay, come on! I’m trying to prepare my church right now for the backlash. Okay? We’re making a real movie—not the Christian kind. I’m going after the lost. I want them to be watching a rom-com and 'Relationship Goals, ' and I want it to be real to them, where they’re at. It’s baited. Okay, you can’t clean a fish you ain’t caught! So I’m not making this movie for church people. Let me bring the camera. I’m not making 'Relationship Goals' the movie for you; I want to cast it into the sea where people never come to this church. But one of the stipulations is that we would be a part of the movie, like it wouldn’t be based only on the book. They are going to come here and shoot scenes at Transformation Church with all the people.
Now I’m telling you all that so y’all don’t act wild. I’m telling you now months in advance. 'Cause they’re going to be real actors. Like if I start naming them, you’ll be like, «Oh my God!» Yes, it’s a real movie. She said, «Denzel,» not Denzel! You’re married, ma’am! Sit down—not Denzel! Denzel is out of the budget. Maybe on the next one, maybe. But if anybody knows Denzel, you know what I’m saying. The internet is a powerful thing! If anybody knows Denzel, «Relationship Goals: The Movie.» It’s only crazy! Y’all know how… Anyway, but currently, to the budget, he is not it. What the point I’m making is when I decided to tithe, there were already blessings God had that he couldn’t reveal to me because if he would have revealed them, that would have been the motivation.
Remember, giving is all about the heart. He says you can’t know what I have up here because if you knew that, everybody would do that. Yeah, that doesn’t take… that would take someone who doesn’t believe in God. Yes, that makes sense. Tithing is a two-way test, and I love this because you grow up thinking, «Don’t question God.» First off, he can handle all your questions. He is big enough to handle all the stuff that people can’t answer, and he’s not obligated to tell you until you get to heaven, but he is big enough to handle it. This is one of the only places it deliberately says, «Test me.» Many people don’t know this; that are believers, that every time you get paid, you take a test: whom will you honor with your finances?
Every time that check comes, direct deposit, and the first thing that goes out is who you honor. Most of us honor the mortgage company, honor the car company for that car that really was a self-esteem boost because of the insecurity we had inside of us, and we thought if we drove that name brand, it would make us feel better. But we found out it gets dirty and dusty like every other car! And now this payment is crushing me. But it is not that bad that I would swallow my pride and turn that sign into a Honda! I’m talking about real stuff! Y’all, some of the things we don’t need to pray about, we just need to make a decision to honor God with it. Malachi 3:10: «Try me, test me,» he says, «see if I won’t do so much more.» But you gotta make me your foundation.
Hey, uh, Charles, will Scott, come here real quick! Last analogy, we’re going home. Let’s say I’m going on a trip, and I’m going to be gone for an extended period of time. Y’all come right here. I’m gonna be gone for an extended period of time, and I want to provide for my wife, Natalie. I’m taking care of her, but I want to provide some extra finances just in case she gets in a spot. I’m going to give each one of y’all $10,000. Hold on; it’s just an example, okay? Just an example. Scott, calm down! I’m going to provide $110,000 extra for her through all of you, and all I want you to do is give her $1,000 each time I send you the $10,000. The other nine you can keep; you can do whatever you want with it, but I just want to give you that money! Okay, and what if I talk to my wife every night, «What’s up, baby? How you doing? Oh, I miss you.» Y’all remember?
Okay, cool! So I’m talking to her and I’m like, «Hey, you remember those finances that I was going to have Charles, Will, and Scott give to you? How’s it been going?» And she says, «Yeah, so Charles sends $1,000 every first and 15th, like clockwork. It’s like $1,000, $1,000; it just keeps coming!» I’m like, «Okay, that’s good!» I said, «What about Will?» Will, for some reason sends $2,000. Nice guy! I was like, «What? I just told him to send $1,000!» I know, but every first and 15th he sends $2,000, and it’s just been consistent! All over! And I was like, «Okay, so what about the thief? I mean, what about Scott?» And she said, «Well, let’s talk about Scott for a second.» God, she said the first time he sent $700, the second time he sent $500, and this last month he didn’t send anything. I said, «What? Scott didn’t send anything this last month?» She said, «Nothing.» I said, «But I gave him the $10,000; the other nine is his!» «Yeah, but why would…»
Oh, he spent it on them shoes! Them shoes are shining! No, this is just an example! Yes, sir! Okay, listen, listen to what I’m saying. Who would I stop sending resources to? Not because he’s a bad person—yeah, yeah! —it’s because he didn’t do what I asked to be done with the resources. And if you don’t believe that’s real, go study the parable of the talents. Yeah! Where God literally took from the one who did not do what he asked him to do, and he gave it to the ones who did! Now listen, listen to me. This is an example of me trying to provide for my bride, but Jesus calls the church his bride. He set up a system so that his wife would always have wealth and resources to bless people.
And when we don’t do with our resources what he gives us the ability to do—it’s he that gives us the ability to produce wealth. You’re working that job, but he’s the one that’s giving you the activity of your limbs, the breath in your life, the ability to have your right mind. It’s him! And he’s saying, «You won’t even take care of my wife? I can’t send no more seed to the one who won’t give!» Could it be said that tithing may be more personal to Jesus than we think? Would everybody stand? Hebrews 7 says, «Here mortal men receive tithes,» but there—it’s talking about in heaven—Jesus receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Hear what I’m saying at whatever church you go to, if you’re watching this online or Transformation Nation—wherever you’re at—if you give here, I need everybody to hear me! And everybody, don’t stop moving yet! It’s like, «I got it, Pastor! I’m tithing!» No, calm down!
Hey, wait a minute! I’m going to restore hope to you! I want you to hear what I’m saying. However you give, by passing buckets or plates or you send it online or all that other stuff, all I’m asking everybody to do is make God the foundation of your life—not just in words but in action. How do I do that? The tithe! If you work at McDonald’s and your check is $578, how much is the tithe? $57.80! You don’t got to round it up; it’s blessed at the mark of the 10%! And I think the reason he did that is 'cause it’s fair to everybody. If you make $300,000 or you make $300, it’s one penny on every dollar! Church, I want to unlock us, and I believe today is going to be a fresh foundation for so many people under the sound of my voice. I cannot wait to hear the testimonies of the fruit! Somebody shout, «Fruit!» Of making God your fresh foundation. And I have to say this; I hear you, Holy Spirit.
Some of you are saying, «I make a lot of money! Do you know how much my tithe is?» This is not everybody, but I’m talking to a small group of people, 'cause if you started actually tithing, it’d be enough to buy some cars and some houses and some land and some investments. And God says, «I can change this if you want me to, sir! I can change the dynamic of you having so much that your tithe looks like somebody’s income!» It reminds me of a story in the Bible where the man of God realized that the people weren’t tithing. I think it was Hezekiah. He realized he was reading Scriptures and found out that tithing was before the law, during the law, and after the law. And he realized that his land, the people he was leading, was under a curse because they didn’t tithe.
So he made a decree that all the people should bring 10% to the house of God. Whether that was fruit or grain, whatever they had of the increase of their house, they were to bring 10%. He went away, came back, and he looked, and it was so much there as the 10% he said, «Are the people okay? This is so much!» And the people reported back to him. And this is what I believe is going to happen for Transformation Nation. He said, «Oh, this is just the 10%! If you think this is a lot, go see the 90% that the people are living in!» Somebody should just clap right there! By faith, there’s going to be a turnaround in your finances, in your mindset, in a fresh foundation! We’re not looking to our job or career; we’re looking to Jehovah Jireh, our provider! If you want a fresh foundation in the area of finances and make a fresh commitment to tithing to whatever House of God He’s called you to, would you just lift your hands?
Now listen, before you lift your hands, this is not nobody taking a screenshot to hold you accountable—nobody! I’m just talking about the desire. I don’t know how it’s going to happen right now. I have to go back and crunch a bunch of numbers. I got the captain, and I need to crunch these numbers. I don’t know how this is going to work, but if you have the desire, I want you to lift your hands in this place. Come on!
Father, I’m praying in the authority that you’ve given me, and I thank you, Father God, that just as you broke the spirit of poverty, lack, and low thinking over my life, I thank you for the people you’ve called to this house. For those, Father, who have the faith to connect with this word, I thank you that you would start a transformation in every person under the sound of my voice that would change generational relationships with finance forever. God, I thank you that they would see you as the source of their life, that the job is a resource, that the entrepreneurial endeavor is a resource, and that the things everyone is getting into, that’s just a resource. But you are our source, God, and we decide to build our life on a sure foundation. God, I thank you for wisdom right now for every person under the sound of my voice, that you’re going to show them the areas where they need to be intentional to make a transformation in this one area of tithing. God, I thank you for longevity, commitment, and I thank you for the blessing. Open up the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing they don’t have room enough to receive. Thank you that our minds are changed because we have a fresh foundation by honoring you, where our treasure is, our heart will be. Father, we are telling you that our treasure will always be found in your heart, in your house. We give you glory, we give you honor, and we give you praise, in Jesus' name.
Right now, in this same moment before we go, there are some people who need a heart transfusion. You can’t believe God for your finances because you’ve never given Him your life. If you’re in this room and you’ve never given Jesus your life, today I want to offer you the most amazing opportunity. It will redeem you from every curse: the curse of your families or the curses of others. You have to get under the wisdom and life of Jesus. Today, it changed me. I can stand as a testimony from being a liar, a manipulator, and addicted to pornography, having all kinds of crazy things in my heart. It changed me—not to a perfect man but to a progressing man, a man who is standing firm on the foundation of Jesus. Today, I want to offer you that.
If you’re sick of running, you’re tired, you’re weary, come to Jesus. Today is the day of salvation. I need the church to begin to pray because someone’s soul is in the balance right now. Tomorrow is not promised, but we have this moment right here. I believe God has been drawing you all week. Even if you’re watching online, somebody brought you here. I’m telling you, this is your moment right now to receive Jesus. I don’t care what you will lose; you will gain so much more. If you want fruit in your life, make Jesus the foundation of your faith.
On the count of three, if that’s you and you want to make Jesus your personal Lord and Savior, I don’t care how old you are; I want you to lift your hand. One, you’re making the greatest decision you’ve ever made. Two, I’m proud of you, and your name is going to be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Three, shoot it up strong and proud. I see you, my brother. I see a whole row. I see you—glory to God! Oh, Transformation Church, I see you—glory to God! Husband and wife, thank you, Lord! Online, just go ahead and put your hand up in the chat—glory to God! Hey, at TC, we’re a family. We’re all going to lift our hands and pray this. Somebody say:
God, God, thank you for sending Jesus just for me. Today I give you my life and make you my fresh foundation. Thank you for living the life I couldn’t live and changing my life. Renew me and transform me. I’m yours. In Jesus' name, amen.