God is a God of laws and order. All that he does is based on laws; spiritual laws.
D&C 130
20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated--
21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.
I would like to share with you three spiritual laws that if understood and applied, will change your life forever.
The three laws are; first fasting, second fast offerings, and third tithing. These laws come with promised blessings. All three laws have nothing to do with money, but have everything to do with faith.
What if there were a way to overcome any bad habit, addiction or burden that you have? What if there were a way to gain such confidence in the Lord that you could call down the powers of Heaven and know that He is there guiding your footsteps? There is a way.
A person who can discipline himself to fast on a regular basis in the way that God has designed can resist every temptation, overcome any burden, and be set free from any yoke that binds him.
An omniscient Father in Heaven has provided “every needful thing” so that His children can call upon Him with confidence. He provides tools to allow us to overcome every temptation and overcome “the natural man.” One of the most powerful and often neglected tools that God has given us is the law of the fast.
In Isaiah 58:6-11 we are promised very specific blessings and powers if we will fast in the way that God has chosen:
6 [Is] not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
He will free us from the bands of wickedness. He will lift our heavy burdens, and He will let the oppressed go free. In fact He promises to empower us to break every yoke.
Fasting allows us to avail ourselves of this cleansing and purifying power.
Isaiah also teaches the principle of fast offerings. He teaches us that in order to receive the promised blessings, we must not only fast, we must also care for our poor and our needy.
7 [Is it] not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
Verse 10 teaches the same fast offering principle.
10 “And [if] thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness [be] as the noonday:
The Lord promises light, health, and righteousness in our lives. And, just as with the children of Israel, He promises His glory will surround and protect us.
8 “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
In verses nine and eleven, we receive the promise that He will hear our prayers. Our hunger will be satisfied with the bread of life. Our thirst will be quenched with the living water that never fails.
9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I [am]....
11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
The third and final spiritual law is the payment of an honest tithe. Tithing is not a new law.
In Malachi 3, God asks this sobering question.
8 ¶ Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
In verse 10 we find that obedience to God’s laws will result in specific promises based on that specific spiritual law.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
In verse 11 we have the added promises of having the devourer rebuked for our sakes.”
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.”
These three laws are spiritual, they are eternal, they come from God. Each has specific promises and blessings. If we do not obey the law, God will not and cannot offer the blessing. It has nothing to do with money. It has everything to do with faith.
I invite each of you to pay a full tithe. I invite each of you to fast each month. I invite each of you to pay a generous fast offering each month.
If you will I promise you that you will have the necessities of life, the Holy Ghost will direct your life and the windows of heaven will be opened in your behalf and in behalf of your families. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.