Abundant Grace

2 Corinthians 8:1–8 (KJV 1900)

1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

There was a love offering to help Paul the apostle to minister

He took the money and distributed to saints in need

Abound in everything - not rich materialistically

Family life - abounding

Marriage

Faith

Utterance

This was a gracious church

Surpass measure

When God gives abundant grace you can’t put a number on it

John 10:10 KJV 1900

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Abundant life doesn't mean we won’t have problems

warfare

2 Peter 1:1–9 KJV 1900

1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

I. Abundant Faith

There are those we thought would always be faithful

They served

they won souls

Demas hath forsaken me - The apostle Paul said

The moment we drop the shield of faith

When we don’t abound in faith we stop growing

a. Faith grows by hearing

There must be a relationship with the Word

Romans 10:17 KJV 1900

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

b. Faith grows through testing.

Job 23:10 KJV 1900

10 But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

You need trials, you need battles - it strengthens you

c. Faith grows through prayer

Prayer humbles us

Standing

Kneeling

Prostrate

d. Faith grows by giving above what we are able

God wants His people to give

God is not only helping others through our giving, but God is teaching and growing us through giving

e. Faith grows when there is a task God calls us to do that is greater than our ability

Teaching

Soul winning

Bringing someone to church

II. Abound in Utterance

The word of God is intertwined in our everyday lives

When our conversations refer to and reflect the Word of God

Lovingly

Kindly

Speaking God’s word in our daily conversation

1 Peter 4:11 KJV 1900

11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Praying the Word of God

Praying the Promises of God

In church

everyday life

God keeps His promises

a. Meditating on God’s Word Causes Us To Abound In Utterance

Meditating

Psalm 1:1–4 KJV 1900

1 Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Joshua 1:8 KJV 1900

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

b. Memorizing God’s Word Causes Us to Abound In Utterance

c. Submitting To God’s Word Allows Us to Abound In Utterance

Victories being shared because of submission to God’s word

How are we supposed to think about

Modesty

Entertainment

Marriage

Friends

Hobbies

Go to social media to get an opinion when they should be going to the Bible

Find what the Bible says and believe it

III. Abounding in Knowledge

This is a reference to the wisdom of God and

Proverbs 19:27 KJV 1900

27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction That causeth to err from the words of knowledge.

What you believe and why you believe it

Satan fights against God’s wisdom and us realizing The knowledge God has for you

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 KJV 1900

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

There is a knowledge that will rise up against God’s knowledge

this knowledge is to be rejected

This knowledge is to be thrown down

God show me more knowledge of you

God show me wisdom

Our children are copying proverbs

Proverbs 3:13–18 KJV 1900

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, And the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: And all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand; And in her left hand riches and honour. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her.

Abounding in knowledge

IV. Abounding in Diligence

Diligence = Eagerly accepting every task as from the Lord and accomplishing each task with all my might.

Colossians 3:23 KJV 1900

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Colossians 3:24 KJV 1900

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Proverbs 22:29 KJV 1900

29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men.

Training children

training ourselves

Modeling diligence - being an example

Everything we need to do Comes from God

When I give my children an assignment it is the most important thing they have to do

Earnestness - moving speedily

Ignoring the unimportant

God loves diligence

When we are diligent it pleases God

God instructed Israel this way:

Exodus 15:26 KJV 1900

26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.

When God speaks to you, you respond by removing all competing voices and give full attention and hearken.

God is speaking to you all the time

God loves it when His Children are obedient

Deuteronomy 6:17 KJV 1900

17 Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.

God wants children to be trained in the Word of God

Deuteronomy 6:7–9 KJV 1900

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

God wants parents to understand they have a special duty to train their children about Him and His ways

When you wake up

throughout the day

Mark 12:30 KJV 1900

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

If we wait till we feel like doing what is right, it won’t be done

Love when you don’t feel like loving

God loves when we diligently study His Word

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV 1900

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

God loves when we are zealous

Titus 2:14 KJV 1900

14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Romans 12:11 KJV 1900

11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Cleaning - fervent

Teaching -

Singing

Fervency

God loves to see His Children

2 Peter 1:5–7 KJV 1900

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

Godliness - responding like Jesus

God loves when we seek Him fervently

Deuteronomy 4:9 KJV 1900

9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;

Hebrews 11:6 KJV 1900

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Diligently protecting your heart

Proverbs 4:23 KJV 1900

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.