I'm Ready For The Test | Michael Todd | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

I'm Ready For The Test

Transformation Church • May 17, 2026 • 77 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this sermon, Pastor Michael Todd teaches that tithing and financial generosity are fundamentally about heart posture, trust, and placing God first in our lives rather than just money. Every time we receive increase, it serves as a spiritual test revealing whether we put our trust in God or in our own resources. When we honor God by bringing the first ten percent of our income to the local church, we align ourselves with His generous character and open our lives to His divine abundance and protection.

Themes

GenerosityTithingObedienceStewardshipFaithPriorityGod's Character

Pastor's Points

1.

Tithing is biblical

2.

Tithing is practical

3.

Tithing is first

4.

Remember to reset

5.

Remember I am a river, not a swamp

6.

Remember tithing is reverent

Key Points

1.
Generosity enlarges a person's life and soul, whereas stinginess shrinks their world, bringing God's divine abundance into our lives when we freely bless others.
2.
Tithing is fundamentally an issue of heart posture, trust, and obedience rather than just a transaction involving money.
3.
Every financial increase serves as a spiritual test that reveals whether we put our trust in earthly resources or in God as our source.
4.
Tithing is a biblical principle set apart to honor God first with our increase, a practice affirmed by Jesus in the New Testament.
5.
Tithing is practical faith in action, where natural acts of obedience on earth are spiritually recorded and recognized in heaven.
6.
The tithe belongs to the first ten percent of our increase, requiring faith to give God priority rather than offering Him leftover remaining funds.
7.
God accepted Abel's offering over Cain's because Abel brought the firstborn and best portions as a priority, whereas Cain merely brought leftovers over time.
8.

Sermon Moments

“The musical chairs illustration demonstrating how people feel offended when priority is given to someone else, mirroring how we often fail to honor God as our first priority.”

“"You came out looking like your parents. You die looking like your decisions."”

“"A test is either exciting or exposing."”

“"90% with God's blessing is better than 100% without it."”

“The ham pan illustration showing how generational ignorance causes us to repeat unexamined patterns and waste potential blessings.”

“The metaphor of a river versus a swamp—a swamp stinks because water flows in but never flows out, whereas a river brings life by letting God's blessings flow through it.”

“Pastor Mike sharing his 2011 journal and offering envelope, testifying how he and his wife chose to tithe when they had almost nothing and watched God faithfully provide.”

“"Jesus is God's tithe" — God offered His first and best so that all His children could be reconciled and blessed.”

This Week

Commit to tithing the first 10% of any financial increase as an immediate act of worship and trust in God as your ultimate provider.

Review your monthly household spending to ensure that honoring God comes before non-essential luxuries or discretionary spending.

Pray over your finances this week, asking God to transform your heart posture from fear or stinginess into joyful obedience.

Identify and forgive any past negative church experiences or financial hurts that may be blocking your current obedience to God.

Choose to live as a spiritual "river" rather than a "swamp" by using your finances, wisdom, and connections to actively bless others.

Teach your children and family the biblical principle of tithing and honor so that generational blessings—rather than unexamined habits—are passed down.

Take God at His word in Malachi 3:10 by trusting Him with your tithe and stepping out in faith to watch Him prove His faithfulness.

Remember This

Tithing is a spiritual test of obedience and heart posture that honors God first with our increase, positioning us to live in His abundant provision and blessing.

A Challenge for You

"You will be tested this week. And the question is, are you prepared or are you ready for the test? ... Whatever you ask us to do, we will be the ones who do it, so will I."

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.