GRACE GIVING

Faith is a demonstration of trust in God, the execution of our “Gods Will” over the willings of our attitude towards God.

During the past few weeks we have explored the Type Faith (by sight or by faith), the Style of Faith (living/walking—faith expressions) , and the need for faith

1. GIVE EXPECTANTLY

1 Corinthians 16:1–2 NASB95

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.

Giving applies to me, “so do you also.

Giving must be set aside, “each one of you is to put aside.”

Giving is linked to my prosperity, “as he may prosper.”

2.GIVE GRACIOUSLY

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 NASB95

Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

How I sow is DEPENDS on how I reap, “he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly.” Method of Giving

How I sow is CONTINGENT on how I reap, “he who sows bountifully WILL also reap bountifully.” Process of Giving

How I give is EQUAL to whats in my heart, “Just as he purposed in his heart—NOT grudgingly OR under compulsion; FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER”

3. GIVE EQUALLY—EQUALS GRACE GIVING —1

2 Corinthians 8:1–15 NIV

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 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. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 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. And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”

2 Corinthians 8:9–15 NASB95

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. But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality— at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality; as it is written, “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

Gods is still the GIVER of Grace, “ we want you to know about the GRACE that GOD GIVEN the Macedonian Churches.”

GOD giving is NEVER EASY its a sacrifice, “In the midst of a VERY SEVERE TRIAL, (their overflowing joy) and their extreme poverty WELLED UP in RICH GENEROSITY.”

GOD giving requires FAITH, “For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, AND beyond their ability.” Any time you do anything “GOOD” beyond your ability is an act of God.

GOD giving is EXPRESSED in your willings to share with others, “Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded for the privilege of sharing.”

Entirely on their own, means God leaves it totally up to you. You decided Blessed or Cursed—90% blessed or 100% cursed, you decide.

Sharing EXPOSES the PRIVILEGE of how I feel towards God “V5 And they exceeded our expectations!”

GOD giving is a CALLING , “V5 but they first gave themselves to the Lord AND TO US BY THE WILL OF GOD!

GOD giving is a HIGH-CALLING, “V7 since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, in love, —SEE that you also EXCEL in GRACE OF GIVING.”

10% a tithed is REQUIRED (commanded) of God but GRACE GIVING is SINCERE LOVE “V8 NOT SPEAKING A COMMAND but I WANT TO TEST THE SINCERITY OF YOUR LOVE.”

Grace giving GIVES any time, all of the time, from anything and everything, “V12 For if the willingness is there, the GIFT is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.”

DO YOU KNOW THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST? Are you saved? V9 Paul is speaking directly to you! listen-up

CONCLUSION: VV 9—15

Christ not only did He leave it all behind but He gave the most precious valuable commodity—life its self! So that we would be without the desire of lack in presences of need.

Giving is not a means to an end, giving is the catalyst to a means called willingness expressed through faith.

V12 “FOR IS THE WILLINGNESS IS THERE, THE GIFT IS ACCEPTABLE ACCORDING TO WHAT ONE HAS, NOT ACCORDING TO WHAT ONE DOES NOT HAVE.”