Bible, Obedience, Faith, Giving, Generosity, Trust, Spiritual Growth, Money, Idols

How Obedience Builds Your Faith

It’s easy to want a stronger faith—but much harder when obedience feels uncomfortable. For many of us, that tension between comfort and surrender is where we get stuck. In this message, we talk about how God uses obedience—especially through our finances and generosity—to strengthen our trust in Him. You’ll learn that tithing isn’t about what God wants from you, but what He wants for you—and that faith always grows on the other side of surrender.

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How Obedience Builds Your Faith

Big Idea: Every act of obedience is spiritual strength training. Faith grows when we trust God enough to act on what He says.

Obedience Activates Your Faith

[Malachi 3:10]
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do… I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”

  • Faith doesn’t grow by wishing—it grows by doing.

  • The first step of faith isn’t feeling—it’s obedience.

  • Each act of obedience trains your heart to trust God.

  • You’ll never know God is trustworthy until you test His word with obedience.

[Genesis 4:3–4]
“When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. Abel also brought a gift—the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift.”

  • Abel gave first and best; Cain gave some.

  • Faith gives first, not last.

Obedience Strengthens Your Faith

[Luke 16:10]
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.”

  • Every time you tithe, you lift something heavy—fear, control, or pride—and hand it to God.

  • You can’t be spiritually mature and financially selfish at the same time.

  • Money is one of God’s greatest training tools because it reveals where our security lies.

[Leviticus 27:30]
“One tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to Him as holy.”

[Malachi 3:8]
“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! But you ask, ‘What do you mean?’ You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me.”

  • Holding back the tithe isn’t just disobedience—it’s distrust.

  • Tithing isn’t generosity—it’s obedience. Generosity begins where obedience ends.

Obedience Matures Your Faith

[2 Corinthians 9:10–11]
“For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.”

[Matthew 6:31–33]
“Don’t worry about these things—what will we eat, what will we drink, what will we wear?… Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

[Philippians 4:19]
“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”

  • The goal of obedience is deeper, stronger faith.

  • God’s faithfulness is always stronger than your fear.

  • Every bold act of obedience tears down fear, greed, and pride and replaces them with confidence, gratitude, and peace.

Application

  • Obedience initiates your faith—take the first rep.

  • Obedience strengthens your faith—stay consistent.

  • Obedience matures your faith—trust God to keep His word.

  • The more you obey, the more you’ll see God come through.

Closing Truth

Tithing isn’t what God wants from you—it’s what He wants for you. It’s the gym where faith is trained, tested, and strengthened.

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Application Questions

  1. What stood out to you from this message and why?
  2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?
  3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?
  4. How will this message change how you act at home, at work, and in your relationships?

It’s easy to want a stronger faith—but much harder when obedience feels uncomfortable. For many of us, that tension between comfort and surrender is where we get stuck. In this message, we talk about how God uses obedience—especially through our finances and generosity—to strengthen our trust in Him. You’ll learn that tithing isn’t about what God wants from you, but what He wants for you—and that faith always grows on the other side of surrender.

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