“His Indescribable Gift”
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 15 viewsNotes
Transcript
MATTHEW Henry, the famous Bible scholar wrote in his diary after he was robbed, "Let me be thankful first, because I was never robbed before; second, because although they took my wallet, they did not take my life; third, let me be thankful that although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed and not I who robbed."
What a perspective!
Theres always reasons to give thanks. Its never not a opportune time to thank God.
2 Corinthians 9:15 (NKJV)
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
(MSG): Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!
(AMP): 15 Now thanks be to God for His Gift, [precious] beyond telling [His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift]!
This is the indescribable gift.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
The indescribable gift is that He became poor for our sakes so we could become rich!
This word indescribable isn’t found in the classical greek. It appears for the first time in the NT.
It is a word that the Apostle Paul coined himself. He used this word because this gift that He is speaking about is to extreme to be expressed in words.
Indescribable gift- signifies that this gift cannot be recounted, narrated, or told. It implies a story that is beyond all telling, a story that again and again calls forth amazement, wonder, and praise.
It refers to the inexpressible gift which Christ bestowed liberally on the whole world by his incarnation.
Everything that we give in life should flow out of this indescribable gift. Every thanksgiving should come from this place.
If we have no other reason to give thanks this should be the well that we draw our thanks this “indescribable gift.”
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
What Paul has been saying up into this point in the letter could be taken as a ∆≥¨˙≤¥© to his ministry.
Paul started off the letter with many hurdles. And it could easily sound depressing.
- Paul went to Troas an seen an amazing opportunity for ministry but he had to cut it short. He was unable to fulfill his mission.
- he couldn’t find his brother Titus. His son in the faith.
Corinthian church failed to forgive a brother who commited a offence in the church.
He spoke about his suffering and afflictions for the gospel sake. He was burden beyond measure , above strength, he despaired even of life. He lost hope at times.
There was criticism about Pauls integrity.
But Paul balances this some what depressing account and he strikes with a positive note.
2 Corinthians 2:14 “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”
Paul describes his suffering like soldiers coming back home from a victory. Victorious soldiers in a triumphal procession.
Though one suffered so much there is victory through suffering.
Thanks be to God!!
And through us God spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere.
Our who Christian walk is this triumphal procession. Victory through suffering.
Its not victory devoid of suffering but victory through it. And we thank God because Christ ensures that we are victorious and that we are effective through the ministry He has given us.
What is Gratitude?
Gratitude. Natural expression of thanks in response to blessings, protection, or love. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, gratitude is not a tool used to manipulate the will of God. It is never coerced or fabricated in one’s mind; rather, gratitude is a joyful commitment of one’s personality to God.
Gratitude isn’t this false humility for some kind of gain.
It isn’t something you say after you receive a gift or someone opens the door for you. Though it is polite.
You ever try to walk slow so some didn’t have to hold the door for you. Just because you didn’t want to say thank you? Or did you ever speed up so you didn’t have to hold the door because you didn’t want the interaction?
But thankfulness is the end of all humility! At the end of all humility there is thankfulness. And the outpouring of thankfulness is praise.
“Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grows. A proud man is seldom a grateful man; he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.”
Henry Ward Beecher
Gratitude to God is the only condition in which life can be enjoyed.
If I’m not thankful for my wife I won’t enjoy my marriage.
If I am not thankful for my single hood I wont enjoy my single hood
If I’m not thankful for my house I won’t enjoy it. I will find every reason to complain about it
If I not thankful for my church I will be hyper critical of the church and won’t enjoy it.
Same thing with God.
Thankfulness is the only way we can enjoy anything in this life.
Thanks why its a very important quality.
Anything apart from thankfulness I will become critical.
Thankfulness is rooted in contentment.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Thanksgiving is an act of self-denial.
William Gurnall
Every place where you have Gods Lordship there should be thankfulness.
For Jews, every aspect of creation provided evidence of God’s lordship over all life.
The Hebrew people thanked him for the magnificence of the universe
(Pss 19:1–4 ; 33:6–9; 104:1–24).
The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.
Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,
When they received good news they thanked God for his goodness and great deeds (1 Chr 16:8–12 ). When the Ark was brought to Jerusalem David gave thanks.
Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works!
Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!
Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
When they received bad news, they also gave thanks, trusting that he was a just God (Jb 1:21 ).
And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
The people of Israel thanked God for his faithfulness to covenant promises:
(1) for deliverance from enemies (Pss 18:17; 30:1; 44:1–8) and from death (Ps 30:8–12; Is 38:18–20;
(2) for forgiveness of sin (Pss 32:5; 99:8; 103:3; Is 12:1 );
And in that day you will say: “O Lord, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.
(3) for answers to prayer (Pss 28:6 ; 66:19);
Blessed be the Lord, Because He has heard the voice of my supplications!
(4) for compassion toward the afflicted and oppressed (Psalm 34:2 ; 72:12);
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
(5) for executing justice (Dt 32:4; Ps 99:4 );
The King’s strength also loves justice; You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
(6) and for continuing guidance (Ps 32:8; Is 30:20-21 ).
And though the Lord gives you The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, But your eyes shall see your teachers.
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.
Gratitude aways manifest itself in praise.
Anytime there is a praise it comes from a heart of gratitude.
Gratitude was such a vital part of Israel’s religion that it pervaded most ceremonies and customs. Thank offerings acknowledged blessings from God (Lv 7:12, 13; 22:29; Ps 50:14). Shouts of joy (Ps 42:4), songs of praise (145:7; 149:1), and music and dance (150:3–5) all added to the spirit of thanksgiving in worship. Feasts and festivals were celebrated in remembrance of God’s steadfast love throughout their history (Dt 16:9–15; 2 Chr 30:21, 22). King David appointed levitical priests to offer God thanks (1 Chr 16:4). This custom was carried on by the kings Solomon (2 Chr 5:12, 13) and Hezekiah (31:2), and by those who returned from the exile (Neh 11:17; 12:24, 27).
How do you know I’m free? is when I’m grateful. A heart of gratitude is a life of freedom.
In the NT, the object of thanksgiving is the love of God expressed in the redemptive-work of Christ. The apostle Paul thanked God for that gift of grace (1 Cor 1:4 ; 2 Cor 9:15)
I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus,
and the ability to preach the gospel (2 Cor 2:14 ; 1 Tim 1:12 ).
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
Paul thankfully participated in the spiritual gifts (1 Cor 14:18 ).
I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;
Gratitude for love and faith among believers pervades his letters (Rom 6:17 ; Eph 1:15- 16 ; Phil 1:3–5; Col 1:3- 4 ; 1 Thes 1:2-3 ).
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,
remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,
We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints;
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.
Because the expression of gratitude is tied so closely to the response of faith, Paul encouraged believers to give thanks in all things (Rom 14:6; 1 Thes 5:18). He commanded Christians to pray with thanksgiving (Phil 4:6; Col 4:2) in the name of Christ, who has made all thanksgiving possible (Eph 5:20). In his teaching on how to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, Paul specified that Christians should give thanks, just as the Lord “had given thanks” (1 Cor 11:24).
Thanksgiving belongs to the one true Giver alone.
his thanksgiving is implicitly nothing other than the reception of the charis, the grace and giving of God.
Us receiving grace should be enough for us to be thankful
Paul now shifts attention from God’s grace to the concrete gift that God has given. For this indescribable gift, this gift beyond all telling, Paul gives thanks.
Who knows hope this story of salvation will play out in your life. How many people will be saved. And follow Christ. Hope this gospel will impact you.
Romans 11:33–36
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
34“For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has become His counselor?”
35“Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?”
36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
taking up biblical tradition, he praises God’s “unsearchable judgments” and “untraceable footsteps.”
But what is the gift that Paul has in mind? We know its contours. It involves God’s self-giving in Christ, the wonder of his taking upon himself our poverty, sin, and guilt; the wonder in which he has made us rich.
It entails Christ’s grace, which not only meets our every need but also elevates us to share in the divine giving.
To attempt to define the gift that Paul names, to pin it down and describe it without reserve, would be to violate his intentional silence.
