2 Corinthians 8:1-11
Notes
Transcript
God’s Grace Leads to Abundance of Joy
God’s Grace Leads to Abundance of Joy
Theme: The Generosity of God
Introduction:
As we start this series, my prayer is that we will learn the amazing generosity of our God - that He is very generous - and that we will share his character of generosity, and become an imitator of God in the area of giving as focus on one of the amazing picture of LOVE in the BIble.
We may become a more loving people because of what see and learn from this passage.
To give you proper context, we need to understand the readers and their situation.
Corinth is a major city located in Europe.
The church - They are sharers of suffering and sharers of comfort (1:7)
Paul is rejoicing in the fact that these believers in Corinth are growing in obedience (7:15-16).
They were not perfect church, but a growing church ---just like we are...
Let us go to our passage and discover God’s message for us today...
Observations :2 Cor. 8:1-2
Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
Grace of God - What is grace? It is the unmerited favor of God. In the NT, the saving grace of God speaks of Eternal Salvation.
Paul is saying that God gave grace to the churches of Macedonia....
1. Paul is trying to inspire generosity by sharing the example of the Macedonians (2 Corinthians 8:1).
1. Paul is trying to inspire generosity by sharing the example of the Macedonians (2 Corinthians 8:1).
Paul used the example of the Macedonian church to exhort the Corinthian church to contribute for the needs of the saints.
The Macedonians also supported Paul’s needs - 2 Cor. 11:9.
What do we know of the situation of the churches of Macedonia? Are they rich financially?
2. Affliction and poverty didn’t cease when the Macedonians came to faith (2 Corinthians 8:2).
2. Affliction and poverty didn’t cease when the Macedonians came to faith (2 Corinthians 8:2).
that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
affliction - NASB, severe test - ESV, severe trial - NIV, suffering - NET
when they became Christians, they were afflicted (physically, financially) because of their faith. They were financially and materially challenged....
3. These afflicted believers were overflowing with joy despite their poverty (2 Corinthians 8:2).
3. These afflicted believers were overflowing with joy despite their poverty (2 Corinthians 8:2).
ABUNDANCE OF JOY
deep poverty - NASB, extreme poverty - NIV, ESV, NET
POVERTY IS NOT AN EXCUSE NOT TO BE JOYFUL - BECAUSE OF THE GRACE OF GOD
OVERFLOWED LIBERALITY - GENEROSITY
4. Their abundance of joy and extreme poverty produced generosity (2 Corinthians 8:2-3)
4. Their abundance of joy and extreme poverty produced generosity (2 Corinthians 8:2-3)
that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity.
They did not wait to become financially rich to be able to give generously....
We can give what we have to God - God can surely multiply what you have (remember the 5 loaves and 2 fish?)
For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
5. They gave willingly, sacrificially, and joyfully (2 Cor. 8:3-5)
5. They gave willingly, sacrificially, and joyfully (2 Cor. 8:3-5)
They gave willingly, sacrificially, and joyfully (v.3),
they were begging for favor to participate in the support of the saints (v.4)
they gave themselves to the LORD and to us by the will of God (v.5) - LOVE for GOD
They understood that what they have belongs to the LORD and should be used to glorify the LORD.
The Macedonian church were in poverty but still they give contribution as an act of sincere LOVE for God and God’s people.
But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
In verse 7, the Corinthian believers were described by Paul as having FAITH - KNOWLEDGE - DILIGENCE / EARNESTNESS - LOVE -
Now, Paul is exhorting them to apply the faith-knowledge-love that they have ----by abounding in grace giving.
6. Christians are called to excel in the “grace of giving” ( 2 Cor. 8:7)
6. Christians are called to excel in the “grace of giving” ( 2 Cor. 8:7)
Abound = excel, to be in abundance, to overflow, to increase
A. it implies that we should not stop to be generous.
B. it implies that we should continually look for opportunities to give and participate in contributing to the needs of the saints, and for the furtherance of God’s Kingdom.
C. It implies that God will give many opportunities of giving so we can practice and excel in giving - the church needs our generous giving, God’s people needs our generous giving, the lost needs our generous giving.
God’s generosity is displayed when we increase in giving.
I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.
Paul is not commanding but reminding....
proving your sincerity / testing your genuineness or sincerity.
GIVING should be done even if we are not commanded, giving is the expression of LOVE.
7. Paul called this kind of generosity, “love” (2 Corinthians 8:8).
7. Paul called this kind of generosity, “love” (2 Corinthians 8:8).
GIVING is a proof / test of SINCERITY OF their LOVE FOR GOD AND FOR GOD’S PEOPLE.
WHAT IS LOVE?
Love (2 Corinthians 8:8) is the overflow of joy (2 Corinthians 8:2) in the grace of God (2 Corinthians 8:1) that meets the needs of others (2 Corinthians 8:2).
How did Jesus expressed his love for sinful human beings?
With joy and grace, he met our need - our need of salvation from eternal damnation!
Our need of mercy - he gave us mercy - that is new every morning!
Our need of love - he gave us unending and unchanging love
Our need of identity - he adopted us in His family! and became children of God.
You can GIVE without LOVING, but you cannot LOVE without GIVING.
Jesus showed His GREAT LOVE by Giving His Life.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.
8. The Love of Jesus is our example and motivation in giving (2 Cor. 8:8-10)
8. The Love of Jesus is our example and motivation in giving (2 Cor. 8:8-10)
The Corinthian church were the first to exhibit generous giving to the Macedonian churches (8:10) As they receive the richness of Christ (v.9) and so they give generously to those in need - This is the Gospel at work!
If you find yourself unwilling and fearful to give sacrificially - remember the sacrifice of Jesus!
Remember the willingness of Jesus to give his life for the undeserving sinners like you and me.
Remember God’s generosity!
Illustration: The Grace of God in the life of Zaccheus - Luke 19:8
Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.”
Jesus did not command Zaccheus to give, but as soon as Zacky realized the amazing grace of God, he gave what he has to those in need and to set his heart right!
300 Quotations for Preachers from the Reformation (Christians May Be Known by Mercy and Love)
We teach and maintain by the word of the Lord, that all truly believing Christians are members of one body and are baptized by one Spirit into one body; that they are partakers of one bread; that they have one Lord and one God. Inasmuch as they are thus one, therefore it is Christian and reasonable that they divinely love one another, and that the one member be solicitous for the welfare of the other, for thus both the Scripture and nature teach. The whole Scriptures speak of mercifulness and love; and it is the only sign whereby a true Christian may be known. MENNO SIMONS
PART II.
Confirmation from 2 Corinthians 9:7–8
Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
1. God loves a cheerful (or joyful) giver. Giving that pleases God is the overflow of joy (2 Corinthians 9:7).
2. Our giving relies on God making grace abound to us (2 Corinthians 9:8).
3. Grace leads to joy, and joy produces generosity (2 Corinthians 9:7–8).
4. Contributing to the needs of the saints is an act of obedience to their faith in the Gospel of Christ (2 Cor. 9:13)
The Grace of God leads to abundance of joy expressed in generosity.