Untitled Sermon (2)

Five Blessings Promised by God

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Do you want God’s blessing in your life?

Ephesians 1:3 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessingin the heavenly places in Christ,

· In the verses that follow those blessings are defined as

o The believer’s election by the Father.

o The Christian’s redemption through the Son.

o And the seal of the Holy Spirit given to all who are born again.

· Those blessings from God serve as the basis for all other blessing from God in the life of the Christian.

When you think about the word blessing as it’s used in Ephesians 1:3 it has the idea of God’s specific involvement in your life for your good.

· Therefore, I believe we can all agree that we want God’s blessing.

But, how do we receive God’s blessing?

· In one sense, all that we have and all that we are is the result of God’s sovereign work in our lives.

· And at the same time, there are blessings the God promises that come as the result of our trusting God enough to obey Him.

In 2 Corinthians 9 we’re going to learn about five blessings God gives Christians who give generously.

<2 Corinthians 9:6-15>

In the closing chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul reminds the church to set aside money each week for the Christians in Jerusalem who were suffering from famine and poverty.

· About a year later, the Apostle Paul wrote the letter of 2 Corinthians,

o and in chapters 8-9, he let the church know he’d be coming to pick up the gift so it could be delivered.

It’s in that context that the Bible explains the principles and blessings of Christian giving.

A. Two principles for Christian giving. (6-7)

In chapter 8, Paul encourages Christians to give generously.

· Then, c.9 opens with Paul telling the believers how he’d boasted to the churches in Macedonia about the Corinthian’s desire to give generously to help believers in Jerusalem.

· This motivated the churches in Macedonia to give generously, even though they were poor themselves. (8:1-5)

In v.3-5, Paul tells them that he’s sending Titus to go ahead of Paul and collect the gift in Corinth so that it’ll be ready when he arrives.

· Paul wanted to do this so that neither the Corinthians nor the Macedonians, who he’d be bringing with him, would feel awkward if they arrived and the gift wasn’t there.

The first principle of Christian giving is:

1. Christians give generously.

6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

· This agricultural illustration is universally understood.

o When a farmer puts a corn seed in the ground, he doesn’t just get a corn seed back.

o He gets an entire cornstalk with one or two ears of corn filled with corn kernels. (about 800 kernels per ear)

· Understanding this principle, farmers don’t plant a few seeds and stash the rest away.

o No, they plant entire fields filled with row after row.

It’s important to understand that this principle isn’t stated just one time here in this passage.

Luke 6:38 38 “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”

Proverbs 11:25 The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will himself be watered.

This is not to say that Christians give to get.

· Also. we’re not giving to make us right with God.

· It’s also not saying that we give under compulsion.

2. Christians give from the heart.

· This isn’t giving simply based on emotion.

7 Each one must do just as he has purposed (as he has chosen to do)

in his heart, (All that we are and all that we do comes from our heart.)

· Reluctance to give generously teaches you a lot about what you believe.

not grudgingly (With emotional pain, sorrow, or unhappiness.) or under compulsion, (Under pressure or stress.) for God loves a cheerful giver.

Principle: The one who delights in giving generously learns that God delights in responding by giving generously.

· Jesus is the perfect example for us. <8:9>

You might wonder how exactly God gives generously?

B. Five blessings from Christian giving.

1. Contentment with your life’s situation. (8-10)

8 And God is able (God is the initiator, the source, and the assurance of all five of these blessings.) to make all grace (God’s unmerited favor) abound (to go beyond what is necessary) to you,

· So, God will lavish His unmerited favor on us.

o Now, maybe you hear that and ask, isn’t it true that God lavishes His unmerited favor (His grace) on all Christians regardless of whether they give generously?

Yes, that is true; however there’s:

a) A special blessing for generous givers.

so that always having all sufficiencyin everything,

· The word sufficiencyis also used in 1 Timothy 6:6 but it’s translated contentment.

1 Timothy 6:6 6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.

· In both of these verses, that word means -Being satisfied with your life’s situation.

POINT: The blessing that God promises the generous giver is that your heart will be content in whatever life situation you find yourself in.

· Sometimes, people are reluctant to give generously because they want to spend their money on what they truly believe brings them happiness.

o Maybe it’s a bigger home.

o A nicer car

o It might just be a large amount of money in the bank, so you feel secure.

I’m not suggesting that these things in and of themselves are sins.

· The point being made in the text is that when a person gives generously to God with a happy heart, it’s because:

o They understand all they have and all they are is a gift from God.

o Their hope and joy isn’t based on things that can be bought.

o Instead, they come from our eyes being fixed on Christ and the hope of the resurrection.

It’s a recognition that God’s placed you here in this time and place for His glory, and your heart’s desire is truly to be about your Father’s business.

· We’re actively participating in and giving to the church because we know this is one of the primary ways God’s designed for us to glorify God in this community and the world.

POINT: And as we’re doing this, God fills us with contentment.

QUESTION: How much is contentment worth to you?

· A peace and satisfaction that doesn’t come from possessions or circumstances.

PRINCIPLE: Much of our discontentment comes from holding too tightly to this world.

Now, maybe you think: If I give just a little bit, I’ll have more to give later, but if I give generously, I’ll run out.

· That’s the logical conclusion, however, look what God says.

b) God will supply the generous giver.

8cyou may have an abundance for every good deed;

· God will make sure you’ll have all you need for all you need to do.

9 as it is written, “He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever.”

· This is a quote from Psalm 112, and it talks about the prosperity of the one “who fears the LORD and Who greatly delights in His commandments.” (Psalm 112:1)

o Specifically, the quote teaches us that God will supply the generous giver, as evidenced by the next verse.

10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;

· God is the one who provides the seed for the farmer.

o God is the one who gives the increase, blessing the labors of the farmer.

· In the same way, God will bless the generous giver; He’ll make sure you have what you need to give more.

So, as God supplies the needs for the generous giver, He brings contentment to your heart.

Your giving generously inspires:

2. Others to give thanks to God. (11)

11 you will be enriched(This is both literally and figuratively.) in everything for all liberality, (generosity)

· God enriches so we can continue to give generously.

o That sort of thing is rare, and when we see it, look what Paul says it produces:

which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.

· People will recognize that your generous giving is a gift from God; it’s supernatural.

o Therefore, one of the blessings of your generous giving is that you inspire people to acknowledge and thank God.

o Notice that in this verse, the people giving thanks to God aren’t those who received the gift.

§ Paul and those with him are responding to the gift by giving thanks to God.

The point: Your generous giving encourages others to acknowledge and thank God.

When you give generously:

3. You supply the needs of others. (12)

12 For the ministry of this service(That is, your giving generously) is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.

· This is the most obvious blessing on the list, when you give generously, God works through you to meet the needs of others.

God gives you opportunities to be part of the eternal things He’s doing as you give generously.

· The thanksgivings to God in this verse are coming from those who’ve received the gift.

In addition to you giving occasion to others to thank God, when you give generously:

4. The recipients will praise God. (13)

13 Because of the proofgiven by this ministry,

· The Christians in the church at Corinth claimed to have a desire to give, and then a need provided an opportunity.

o As they gave, it was proof of what was in their hearts.

Christians aren’t just hearers of the Word; we’re doers.

they will glorify God (Why will they do this?)

(1) for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ

(2) and for the liberality (generosity) of your contribution to them and to all,

· When the Corinthian Christians gave, others recognized the work of God in the heart of the giver and they praised God.

SUMMARY: Your ministry of generous giving blesses you by:

· Training you to hold fast to the promises of God rather than the things of this world.

o That results in contentment in your life regardless of circumstances.

· Also, you become the cause for others to thank and praise God as you have supplied needs.

The final blessing Paul lists for the generous giver is:

5. Earnest prayer for the giver. (14)

14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.

· While the things on this list are irrelevant to the unbeliever, Christians know they’re of great worth.

You see in this a fellowship being developed among Christians, beginning with someone giving generously.

A final motivation to give generously.

15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

· God’s gift serves as powerful motivation for Christians.

o God has generously given us what we cannot earn.

o How could we not follow our Lord in giving generously?

God has promised these five blessings for Christians who give generously.

Maybe you wonder why it matters whether you give generously to the church?

· The local provides the ministry and discipleship the Holy Spirit uses to help Christians grow in Christ.

· Your giving supports our local ministries whether it’s helping those in need, the addiction ministries, counseling ministries, Good News Club, and the list could go on.

· It allows us to bring our money together and support missions here in the U.S. and globally.

We’re living in very dark days and you, and I have been placed here in this church, in this community, at this time.

· Your giving provides for our ministry.