2 Corinthians Sowing and Reaping

Review

Bringing to Completion What Had Been Started, 2 Corinthians 8:6-17

Giving Regard to Proper Things, 2 Corinthians 8:18-24

Paul Sent Brethren In Advanced to Ensure the Corinthian Saints are Ready, 2 Corinthians 9:1-5

Paul Knows Their Eagerness, 2 Corinthians 9:1-2

2 Corinthians 9:1–2

For concerning indeed the ministry, the one unto the saints, it is excessive for me to write to you

for I intuitively know your eagerness, which I boast concerning you to Macedonia that Achaia prepared from a year ago, and out from your zeal it provoked the many,

Paul Has Boasted About it to The Saints in Macedonia

Their Zeal has Provoked Many

Provoke is used in a positive way, to stir into action

Not Something To be used on Children, Colossians 3:21

Colossians 3:21 NKJV

Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Paul Sent the Brethren So His Boasting Would Not Be In Vain, 2 Corinthians 9:3

2 Corinthians 9:3

And I have sent the brethren in order that our boast concerning you is not in vain in this part, in order that just as you said, you all are made ready.

Although Not Likely, but if Some Macedonians Came with them And They Were Not Ready, 2 Corinthians 9:4

2 Corinthians 9:4

Lest somehow if perhaps with me Macedonians come and find you not ready, we ourselves should be put to shame, in order that least we should say you, in this substance of the boasting.

Doing All Things Proper

Not Questioning Their Eagerness

Allowing Them Time to Prepare

Paul Considered it Good to Allow Them To Be Prepared Beforehand, 2 Corinthians 9:5

2 Corinthians 9:5

Therefore, I thought it necessary to encourage the brethren in order that we should proceed ahead to you and arrange beforehand the before announced good word from you, this to be ready, thus as a good word and not as covetousness.

He Sent the Brethren Ahead

They Would Arrange the Gift Before Others Got There

Ready as a Good Word

Not Out of Covetousness

Covetousness is idolatry, Colossians 3:5

Colossians 3:5 NKJV

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

It is a work of the flesh, Galatians 5:19-20

Galatians 5:19–20 NKJV

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,

Covetousness is seeking what another has

Living Out Who We Are In Christ Will Not Ever Produce Covetousness, Colossians 3:5

Colossians 3:5 NKJV

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Flattering Words Used as a Cloak of Covetousness, 1 Thessalonians 2:5

1 Thessalonians 2:5 NKJV

For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness.

The Way of False Teachers Today, 2 Peter 2:1-3

2 Peter 2:1–3 NKJV

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

Something that Should Not Be Named Among the Saints, Ephesians 5:3

Ephesians 5:3 NKJV

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;

There is No Pressure from Paul to Cause Them to Do This

It was something they determined to do

Paul is supporting the completion of this gift by working with them

How We Sow Impacts What We Reap, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

The Reaping from Our Sowing, 2 Corinthians 9:6

2 Corinthians 9:6

But this: the one sowing sparingly, sparingly also he will reap, and the one sowing upon a good word, upon a good word also will reap.

What a Man Sows, He Also Reaps, Galatians 6:7

Galatians 6:7 NKJV

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Sowing to the Flesh Always Produces Corruption, Where Sowing to the Spirit Produces Eternal Life, Galatians 6:8

Galatians 6:8 NKJV

For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Paul is Not Talking About Giving Producing Money

The Prosperity Gospel is about the flesh

Sowing on the Bases of a Good Word is Sowing to the Spirit

God Speaks Well of Us Concerning Spiritual Things, Ephesians 1:3

Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV)

Blessed (Εὐλογητὸς) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed (εὐλογήσας) us with every spiritual blessing (εὐλογίᾳ) in the heavenly places in Christ,

Not Returning the Which lacks in Character for Wrong, but a Good Word, for We Inherit a Good Word, 1 Peter 3:9

1 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)

not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing (εὐλογοῦντες), knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing (εὐλογίαν).

How We Are To Give, 2 Corinthians 9:7

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NKJV)

Just as each one purposed in the heart, not out from grief nor out from need, for the God loves a cheerful giver.

The Purpose of the Heart is What a Person Has Before Chosen

Not to be Done Out From Grief

Not Done Out from Need - If by Need, not Voluntary, Philemon 14

Philemon 14 NKJV

But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.

God Gives Us What We Need To Share With Others, 2 Corinthians 9:8

2 Corinthians 9:8

And the God is inherently able to make all grace abound unto you, in order that in all things, at all times, in all way, while having sufficiency you all abound in all good works.

If You Have the Means, and the Desire, Do According to What is Voluntary

God Has Prepared Good Works for Us, Ephesians 2:10

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Just as it is Written, His Righteousness Remains Into the Age, 2 Corinthians 9:9

2 Corinthians 9:9

Just as it is written, "He sowed abroad, he gave to the day-laborer. His righteousness remains into the age.

He Gives to the Day Laborer - One Who Works from Paycheck to Paycheck

His Righteousness Remains into the Age

He Supplies the Seed and the Food, 2 Corinthians 9:10

2 Corinthians 9:10

And the One supplying seed to the sower, also bread for food, He will supply and multiply your seed and it will grow the harvest of your righteousness,

Making Us Rich In All Things, 2 Corinthians 9:11

2 Corinthians 9:11

while you are made rich in all things unto all sincerity, which works out thanksgiving to God through you.

Abounding to Giving Thanks to God, 2 Corinthians 9:12-15

2 Corinthians 9:12–15

Because the ministry of this religious service not only is supplying the needs of the saints, but also abounding through many thanksgivings to the God,

through the proof of this ministry, while glorifying God upon the basis of the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of the Christ and sincerity of fellowship unto them and unto all,

and through their supplication concerning you, while longing for you because of the super abounding grace of God upon you.

Thanks to the God upon the basis of this indescribable gift

Scripture Reading

Paul Sent’s Brethren In Advanced to Ensure the Corinthian Saints are Ready, 2 Corinthians 9:1-5

2 Corinthians 9:1–5

For concerning indeed the ministry, the one unto the saints, it is excessive for me to write to you

for I intuitively know your eagerness, which I boast concerning you to Macedonia that Achaia prepared from a year ago, and out from your zeal it provoked the many,

And I have sent the brethren in order that our boast concerning you is not in vain in this part, in order that just as you said, you all are made ready.

Lest somehow if perhaps with me Macedonians come and find you not ready, we ourselves should be put to shame, in order that least we should say you, in this substance of the boasting.

Therefore, I thought it necessary to encourage the brethren in order that we should proceed ahead to you and arrange beforehand the before announced good word from you, this to be ready, thus as a good word and not as covetousness.

How We Sow Impacts What We Reap, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

2 Corinthians 9:6–15

But this: the one sowing sparingly, sparingly also he will reap, and the one sowing upon a good word, upon a good word also will reap.

Just as each one purposed in the heart, not out from grief nor out from need, for the God loves a cheerful giver.

And the God is inherently able to make all grace abound unto you, in order that in all things, at all times, in all way, while having sufficiency you all abound in all good works.

Just as it is written, "He sowed abroad, he gave to the day-laborer. His righteousness remains into the age."

And the One supplying seed to the sower, also bread for food, He will supply and multiply your seed and it will grow the harvest of your righteousness,

while you are made rich in all things unto all sincerity, which works out thanksgiving to God through you.

Because the ministry of this religious service not only is supplying the needs of the saints, but also abounding through many thanksgivings to the God,

through the proof of this ministry, while glorifying God upon the basis of the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of the Christ and sincerity of fellowship unto them and unto all,

and through their supplication concerning you, while longing for you because of the super abounding grace of God upon you.

Thanks to the God upon the basis of this indescribable gift